Philadelphia, September 15, 2011 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter signed an executive order reestablishing the Mayor’s Commission on African-American Males. It was first formed under then Mayor W. Wilson Goode, Sr. in 1991. The Commission will address the issues related to unemployment, incarceration, lack of education and health within the African-American male community.
“I am honored to reestablish a body that will comprehensively address the issues of African-American men in Philadelphia,” said Mayor Nutter. “Twenty years ago, Mayor Goode recognized challenges unique to the African-American male community which are even more entrenched today. Now is the time for African-American men to get the education, job training, employment opportunities and health services necessary so they can take part in the city’s bright future. Philadelphia cannot move forward as a city unless all of its residents are on a path to success.”
Former Philadelphia Mayor Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. added, “One of the most important issues facing this city now and over the past two decades has been the plight of the African-American man. In several areas including high school dropout rates, incarceration, HIV/AIDS rates, unemployment and underemployment, homelessness—in all of these areas, African-American men fare the worst. This Commission is part of an institutional effort to address these issues and to point men in the right direction. I am pleased to have a second chance to complete this mission.”
The Commission will include at least 30 men spanning multiple generations. Members of the Commission will serve without compensation and will submit to the Mayor an annual report on the state of African-American males in Philadelphia, with proposed action steps and recommendations. The co-chairs of the Commission are:
• Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr., Executive Director, AMACHI
• Bilal Qayyum, President, Father’s Day Rally Committee, Inc.
• Jamar “Izzo” Izzard, Radio Host, Hot 107.9 FM
