Buffalo, NY – Mayor Byron W. Brown will travel to Washington D.C. on Wednesday, April 19th, returning Saturday, April 22, to meet with other African American Mayors around the country to share best practices and innovative reforms for their cities. The annual conference connects Black mayors with thought-leaders, Presidential administration officials, members of Congress, advocacy organizations, and corporations to forge alliances, focus on unique local challenges, and exchange ideas that will foster safer and more prosperous communities for millions of Americans.
Mayor Brown will use his time at the conference to continue to raise awareness about the need for sensible gun reform and highlight what his administration has done since the mass shooting in East Buffalo on May 14, 2022. The act of domestic terrorism by a white supremacist resulted in the deaths of ten individuals and wounded three others. Ahead of the conference, the Mayor released the following statement:
Mayor Brown stated, “I look forward to this year’s annual conference and connecting with other mayors from across the country who share my concern about gun violence throughout our nation, as well as my commitment to stay engaged in the effort to eradicate gun violence once and for all. As Buffalo prepares for 5/14 Remembrance Weekend: Reflection, Healing & Hope”, in honor of those who died in last year’s mass shooting, I thank AAMA for its continued support as we work together to further reduce gun violence across our nation.”
The theme of this year’s conference is, “Our Mayors Our Cities: The Catalyst for Equitable and Inclusive Growth”, with the goal of elevating a dialogue that informs and empowers the future of leadership, change, and growth in cities across America. AAMA has been a leader in supporting the work of African American mayors since its creation in 2014. It has empowered mayors to seek economic and social justice and to speak in a unified voice on the public policy matters that impact our cities.
The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization exclusively representing over 500 African American mayors across the United States. AAMA seeks to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the AAMA includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.