ADC Convention Program

ANNUAL Virtual REPORT

Annual Convention

Protecting Democracy, Advancing Our Vote Saturday, August 7, 2021 • 9:00 a.m

The Honorable Steven L. Reed 57th Mayor, City of Montgomery Steven L. Reed became the 57th mayor of the city of Montgomery on November 12, 2019.

In his first eight months in office, Mayor Reed has successfully led Montgomery amid the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic that jeopardized regional hospital capacity and businesses’ livelihoods.

During this pandemic, the murder of George Floyd sparked worldwide protests and calls for change in police-community relations as well as an overhaul of the systemic injustices still plaguing the nation. Despite these unique challenges, Mayor Reed is ready to advance an agenda that deals with the community’s most pressing issues and puts Montgomery on-track to become a leader in the New South.

As Montgomery County Alabama’s first African-American and youngest elected Probate Judge, he has expanded access to representation, improved facilities and modernized the office to better serve the community.

His contribution toward the creation of the Alabama Healthy Minds Network has helped hundreds of people get the treatment and services they need instead of spending time in jail. He has made drastic improvements to mental health services and other areas administration. In addition, Steven correctly stood up for the rule of law in a legal challenge to former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore over marriage equality.

Mayor Reed has also worked across the aisle with former Sec. of State Jim Bennett to initiate a statewide voter PR campaign centered on educating the public about new Voter ID laws. In addition, he was named to the Department of Homeland Security’s Election Integrity Commission.

Steven has invested himself in his hometown. An alumnus of Leadership Alabama, he enjoys volunteering as a YMCA football coach and participating in various community service initiatives. He also serves on the boards of the River Region United Way, the Metro Board of the Montgomery Area YMCA, Trustmark Bank, and Valiant Cross Academy. Steven is the Moderator at Community Congregational United Church of Christ, as well as an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Mayor Reed has received the Dr. Martin Luther King Leadership Award for Governmental Service and was chosen as a New Deal Leader. Steven was also invited to the Aspen Institute Justice and Society Seminar and traveled to Israel at the invitation of the American Israel Education Foundation. As Probate Judge, he delivered over a million dollars’ worth of new voting machines and expanded the office’s efforts to increase voter participation.

Steven Reed was born and raised in Montgomery, AL where he matriculated through Montgomery Public Schools. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Morehouse College, where he also lettered

in football. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Mayor Reed and his wife Tamika are the proud parents of three children.

Program Reverend Randy Kelley, Presiding Alabama Democratic Conference Vice Chair 9:00 a.m.

Invocation Mrs. Carolyn Bates, Marengo County Pledge of Allegiance Arbrianna Wilkins, Student, Millbrook Middle School

Overview Dr. Joe L. Reed, Chair, Alabama Democratic Conference

9:30 a.m. - 10:25 a.m.

Reading Between the Lines: Reapportionment and Redistricting Presenters: Khadidah Stone, Data and Training Manager, Alabama Forward Teumbay Barnes, Program Coordinator, Southern Partners Fund Trupania Bonner, Director, Crescent Media Group 10:30 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.

So, You Think You Can Win? Presenters: Kirk Hatcher, Alabama State Senate, District 26 Ruby Dennis, Founder and Executive Director, Elect Black Women PAC Sheena Gamble, Gamble Advertising Yterenickia Bell, National Organizing Director and Former Clarkston City Councilmember Recruiting Electable Candidates Presenters: Merika Coleman, Alabama House of Representatives, District 57 Arlissa Minnifield, Municipal Clerk and Treasurer, Town of Newton, Alabama Felix Parker, Youth Chair, Alabama Democratic Conference 11:30 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.

We Dare Defend Our Right to Vote Presenters: Robert Kennedy, Executive Producer & Show Host - Kennedy For Alabama Kynesha Brown, Board Member, Alabama Forward Evan Milligan, Executive Director, Alabama Forward Monica Riley, Policy Director, ACLU of Alabama

Theme: Preparing Professionals to Educate, to Organize, and to Lead

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Program (cont.)

12:45 PM – 1:00 PM Break 1:00 PM Greetings Yancy Mitchell, Chair, Elmore County ADC Mose Jones, Chair, 4th District Honorable A.J. McCampbell, Alabama House of Representatives, District 71 Commentary Honorable Terri Sewell, 7th District U.S. House of Representatives Introduction of Speaker Joe M. Reed, Chairman, Montgomery County Democratic Conference Speaker Honorable Steven L. Reed, 57th Mayor City of Montgomery, Alabama Remarks Dr. Joe L. Reed, Chair Alabama Democratic Conference Adjournment

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Theme: Preparing Professionals to Educate, to Organize, and to Lead

Necrology Report Bullock County Bertha Poe

Coosa County David Tuck

Hale County James Coleman Lois Fields Carnell Jackson Gilbert Slay Willie Smith Arnetha Winn

Jefferson County Johnny Long Fred Williams

Macon County

Eloise Anderson George W. Grimes, Jr. Floreida Madison Robert (Bobby) Warren Jerry Washington Rose E. Washington

Pickens County Doris Bonner Rosalind Guyton

Russell County Arthur Alexander Shirley Smith

Theme: Preparing Professionals to Educate, to Organize, and to Lead

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Message Presenters from the Chapter President policy, grassroots leadership development, journalism, and higher education to her work. A passionate childcare and sexual assault prevention advocate, her philosophy is “creating change begins within.”

Ruby Powell Dennis is

the Founder and Executive Director of Elect Black Women PAC. In addition to having run for office herself in 2020, Ruby has served as campaign manager for a for US Senate candidate and led candidate training and development as National Deputy Director of the Leaders of Color Initiative at Education Reform Now (ERN).

Ruby is a proud alumna of The University of Florida where she studied advertising, political science and minored in secondary education. Ruby completed her master of arts in organizational communication at Southeastern Louisiana University and her master’s in business administration at The University of Memphis.

Ruby is married and has two children under 4.

Teumbay (Tee) Barnes

brings more than 15 years of experience in community organizing, advocacy, page 4

Tee holds a communications BA from Alabama State University and a master’s in post-secondary education from Troy University. She is also a 2010 graduate of the National Women’s Law Center PLAN (Progressive Advocacy Leadership Network), a 2011 fellow of the Inaugural Class of Greensboro Justice Fund Fellows at the Highlander Center, and a graduate of the Leading by Example Leadership Program and she serves as an Adjunct Instructor.

Monica Denise Riley

is an electoral organizer and the policy strategist for the ACLU of Alabama.

She first discovered her passion for Voting Rights while a student at Troy University. Eager to take an action in the political process, Riley increased her political involvement which ultimately led to her involvement with the Alabama Democratic Party, where she currently serves as the State Democratic Executive Committee

Representative for House District 89. The SDEC is the governing body of the Alabama Democratic Party.

Riley is also the Chair of the Pike County Democratic Party.

operating areas.

Teaching people how to advocate for themselves and for their communities has always and continues to be one of her top priorities.

Monica is a proud native of

Robert holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Science in Leadership & Human Resource Development from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University, University and a College of Education guest presenter for numerous undergraduate and graduate classes.

Monroeville, AL.

After completing his military service, Robert transitioned to a civilian career in business, consulting, and communications.

Robert Kennedy, Jr., grew up in Prichard,

Alabama. He attended Greater Morning Star Baptist Church and John S. Shaw High School. After graduating with honors, he left home to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Upon graduating from the Naval Academy, Robert was stationed in Japan, where he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer on an amphibious transport dock, and in Singapore where he served as the Officer-In-Charge of the Military Department on a combat oiler. Robert spent nine years on active duty in the United States Navy and completed overseas deployments in the Asia Pacific and Arabian Gulf

Arlissa Minnefield

was born in Baltimore, Maryland but raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from William M. Raines High School as Salutatorian then attended Florida A&M University on a full academic scholarship.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, she started working for Sony Magnetic Products of America in Dothan, Alabama as a Chemical Process Engineer. A chance meeting at a Dothan hospital changed the course of her life when she met and later

Theme: Preparing Professionals to Educate, to Organize, and to Lead

Presenters married Eric Minniefield.

After several years of being a “stay-at-home mom”, Arlissa changed career paths and started working in municipal government; first as a Municipal Court Magistrate in the Town of Midland City, Alabama and currently as the Municipal Clerk and Treasurer of the Town of Newton, Alabama.

She is the first AfricanAmerican person to serve in this capacity for the Town of Newton.

Arlissa began working at Dothan Real Estate Team in 2020 to utilize her skills, talents and abilities in the private sector. In 2021, she utilized the plethora of skills learned over a lifetime to embark upon a new career as a licensed Realtor for Keller Williams RealtySoutheast Alabama. She has not looked back!!

In between being actively involved in ministry with her AMAZING husband of 20 years and raising 4 children ages 30, 25, 18 and 10, she manages to participate in numerous clubs and organizations in Ozark and Dale County.

She is a licensed Zumba® fitness instructor and in 2014 became the first AfricanAmerican woman to run for Dale County Revenue Commissioner.

people’s quality of life.

YT has worked as a social worker and public policy professional serving vulnerable populations, and solving complex problems for almost a decade.

Evan Milligan is the

executive director of Alabama Forward, a statewide civic engagement table advancing efforts of nonpartisan organizations throughout Alabama to expand the voter base, protect voting rights, and make election systems as accessible as possible. He and his wife Jennifer have two children Ruby (4) and Elijah (1).

Yterenickia “YT” Bell

serves as the National Organizing Director for Care In Action. She is a native Georgian who graduated from Georgia State University with degrees in Criminal Justice, Political Science, Social Work, and Public Administration. As a graduate student, YT coupled her academic work with a career at Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates in the Public Policy Department. YT values community, good governance, and policies that assist with cultivating change and improving

Prior to joining Care In Action, YT was the Project Director for the Progressive Governance Academy at re:power. She also served as the Deputy Director of a public policy coalition table, where she provided strategies and best practices for successful programmatic implementation. Moreover, YT was the Councilwoman in the city of Clarkston, where she worked diligently to create an inclusive city from 2017-2020.

Merika Coleman was

elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2002 and is now serving her fifth term as a member of the Legislative body.

She currently serves as a member of leadership of the 105-member body as the Assistant Minority Leader, the first person ever to serve in this position.

Representative Coleman is a member of the powerful Judiciary committee that creates and develops all criminal and civil laws in the state of Alabama. In

Theme: Preparing Professionals to Educate, to Organize, and to Lead

addition, she is the only female member of the Banking Committee and is a former member of the Ways and Means Committee that develops the budget for all Alabama State Departments. Previously, Representative Coleman served as Chair of the Boards and Commission Committee, one of only three women of House of Representatives that served in leadership at the time.

In addition to Representative Coleman’s two degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), a Bachelors of Arts in Communications and a Masters of Public Administration, she completed her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Birmingham School of Law and was a member of the 2017-2018 graduating class, graduating with honors.

Professionally, Representative Coleman presently serves as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Social Justice Initiative Special Assistant at Miles College located in historic Fairfield, AL. In addition, she is the owner of the Law Offices of Merika Coleman, LLC, a law firm specializing in criminal and family law as well as estate planning. She is also the founder and host of a new radio show on WJLD, Beyond the Capitol.

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Presenters

Sheena Gamble is

the Founder and CEO of Gamble Advertising, a full-service advertising & public relations agency that combines datadriven media solutions with creative concepts to craft innovative media campaigns. A three-time graduate of the University of Alabama, she holds Undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Advertising, Public Relations, Political Science and Political Communication. She is a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee and Vice-Chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Conference.

Kynesha is currently the Social Action Coordinator for the Southern Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – which includes the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and the Bahamas. She is also the Vice Chair of Alabama Forward Board of Directors, which is a civic engagement state table advancing the work of nonpartisan organizations throughout Alabama.

Kynesha has formerly served as the president of the River Region Young Democrats, former Vice President for Alabama Young Democrats, and Minority Affairs Chair for the Montgomery County Democratic Party, and has served on various boards Kynesha resides in her hometown of Montgomery, Alabama, where she works for the Alabama Education Association as a Lobbyist and Director of Public Relations.

of the class of 2003 of West Blocton High School.

Mr. Parker completed his undergraduate studies at Huntingdon College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in May 2007. Shortly after graduation, he joined the Democratic National Committee’s 50 State Partnership Program. From 2007- to 2013, Mr. Parker helped to advance the cause of the Alabama Democratic Party. In May 2015, he received his Masters of Arts in History from Alabama State University. Mr. Parker also helped organize the campaign of Montgomery’s first African-American mayor, the Honorable Steve L. Reed.

previously worked for the Alabama House of Representatives. Fighting for people’s rights has always been a passion of hers, but it wasn’t until her work for the House of Representatives where her fight became stronger.

Khadidah has gained a wealth of knowledge on political campaigns over the years. Khadidah currently serves as the Youth Development Director for Women in Training, a non-profit dedicated to fighting period poverty in the lives of girls and women. One of Khadidah’s favorite quotes is by James Baldwin “Ignorance allied with power is the most ferocious enemy justice can have”. During her free time she enjoys reading books, gardening, hosting her podcast, and spending time with family & friends

Khadidah Stone is a

Kynesha Brown has

worked in the capacities of Volunteer Organizer, Field Organizer and Strategist with several local, state, and national political campaigns, She is very passionate about activism, voting empowerment, engagement, and restoring voting rights for those impacted by felonies.

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Felix Parker is the former

Vice-Chair for Youth Affairs for the Alabama Democratic Conference. During his political arena, Mr. Parker has advised Democratic candidates and political groups on the values of data and organization.

Educated in the Bibb County school system, Mr. Parker is a proud graduate

native of Montgomery, Alabama where she currently works as Alabama Forward Data and Training Manager.

She is currently pursuing a dual degree in Spanish and American Sign Language from Troy University. Upon graduation, she plans to obtain her masters degree in International Relations with a concentration in National Security Affairs. Prior to her work for social organizations such as Alabama Institute for Social Justice and Feminist Majority Foundation where she worked as a grassroots organizer, Khadidah

Trupania Bonner is

a filmmaker, demographer, community advocate and native son of New Orleans, La working at the nexus of census, redistricting and electoral engagement.

Bonner has been featured in various news articles relating to voting rights and Louisiana elections.

He is founder of the civil and human rights advocacy & media agency Crescent City Media Group/Center for Civic Action and creator and

Theme: Preparing Professionals to Educate, to Organize, and to Lead

Presenters Media Group/Center for Civic Action and creator and facilitator of the Democracy & Power Civic Engagement Institute. CCMG currently anchors the Redistricting Lab a political education and skill building traininghoping to develop a more diverse field of community demographers.

Our goal is to put the ‘Power to Map in the hands of the People.’ Bonner also currently serves as redistricting consultant with Southern Partners Fund and Alabama Forward.

CCMG utilizes a combination of media & civic action trainings in support of proactive policy advocacy throughout the Southern US and believes, “Changing the narrative begins with your voice, changing the political landscape begins with your Civic Action.”