Alderman Joe Davis, Sr. has been selected to serve as a special member of the Board of Directors of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) for the National League of Cities (NLC).
Alderman Davis was named to the post last week by incoming NBC-LEO Board President Jacquelyn Johnson during the National League of Cities’ Congress of Cities and Exposition in Boston. Ms. Johnson, a member of the City Council of East Orange, NJ, credits Alderman Davis with serving as a helpful mentor when she first joined the NLC, and has worked closely with him on NLC initiatives.
“As the new President of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, I was honored that Alderman Joe Davis accepted my request to serve the organization as my Board Member at Large appointment to the Board of Directors for the ensuing year,” Ms. Johnson said. “Alderman Davis has been a longstanding member of NBC-LEO and has served our organization with distinction for many years as the Region 7 Director. The people of Milwaukee should be extremely proud of Alderman Davis’ service to NBC-LEO and to his city.”
Alderman Davis, who was also appointed to a second term on the NLC’s Board of Directors, said he is “very honored by President Johnson’s selection.” “I truly want to thank President Johnson for her confidence in me to serve on the Board of Directors as a representative of the City of Milwaukee ,” Alderman Davis said.
The alderman said NBC-LEO will be turning its attention to Milwaukee next summer, when the city will host the NBC-LEO Annual Summer Board Meeting and Conference in August 2013. “President Johnson has entrusted me and Alderman Ashanti to coordinate the summer conference, and we are moving forward in planning for what we believe will be a very successful event,” he said.
Alderman Davis said he believes his contributions as a special NBC-LEO board member will also have a bit of international flavor. He said his work to facilitate an international memorandum of understanding to secure cooperation between the NLC and the South African Local Governments Association – as well as his service in hosting various international delegations at NLC conferences – has prepared him for future projects in international trade and cooperation.
Alderman Davis also offered congratulations to Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, who last week was elected to serve as Region 7 Director for NBC-LEO (an area that includes Wisconsin , Minnesota , North Dakota and South Dakota ). “Alderwoman Coggs is an excellent choice and I believe she will bring some great ideas and initiatives forward during her service,” he said.
NBC-LEO was created in 1970 to represent the interests of African American elected officials. NBC-LEO’s objectives include increasing African American participation on NLC’s steering and policy committees to ensure that policy and program recommendations reflect African American concerns and benefit their communities.
The organization also works independently with its members to inform them on issues affecting the African American community and helps to devise ways to achieve their community objectives through legislation and direct action.
