PRESS RELEASE MAYOR-ELECT CHOKWE LUMUMBA ANNOUNCES TRANSITION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE June 18, 2013 – Mayor-Elect Chokwe Lumumba announced his selection of people to serve on his Transition Executive Committee. The transition executive committee will be looking at and helping the Mayor-Elect determine what the strengths and weaknesses are in the municipal government. It will also serve in an advisory capacity and offer recommendations that will be made public in a transition report. Mayor-Elect Lumumba says, “The citizens of Jackson deserve a seamless transition as well as a transparent government. I have selected a group, reflective of the make-up of the City of Jackson that is diverse. The diversity is represented in the gender, age, professional skill-sets, community involvement and yes, race. This is a group of worthy, committed and knowledgeable people who are assisting me in moving Jackson forward”. The executive committee includes Dr. Safiya Omari, Synarus Green, Akil Bakari, Bill Chandler, William Dilday, Barry Howard, Nsombi Lambright, Merrill McKewen and Michael Thomas. Dr. Omari and Mr. Green will co-chair the committee of ten (10). Safiya Omari is an associate professor of Social Work and Health Sciences and Director of the Southern Institute for Mental Health Advocacy Research and Training at JSU. Dr. Omari’s career has been dedicated to improving the welfare and quality of life for residents and abroad. Dr. Omari served as Mr. Lumumba’s campaign coordinator. Synarus Green serves as a legislative aide to Congressman Bennie G. Thompson of U.S. Congressional District 2 as well as staffer to the Committee of Homeland Security. Mr. Green, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, graduated from Murrah High School and Jackson State University and brings his nearly 20 years of experience in the local, state and federal government. Akil Bakari is the Managing Partner for Expert Professionals Solutions, LLC. His business provides computer network services and IT training and support to businesses in the Mid-South Region. He is also a member of the Mississippi Minority Business Association. Bakari is a Jackson, Mississippi resident. Bill Chandler is the Executive Director of Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance (MIRA). He is a longtime labor leader and organizer here is Mississippi and abroad. William Dilday is the owner of the Kerimax Communications here in the Jackson area. The business specializes in marketing and advertising. A political analyst, Mr. Dilday’s experience also includes being the general manager for local broadcast stations, WLBT and WJTV. Barry Howard, Esq. is a senior partner at the Howard Law Firm here in Jackson, Mississippi. Mr. Howard also acted as the finance director for Mr. Lumumba’s campaign. Nsombi Lambright, a Callaway High School graduate, is the Director of Resource and Communications for “One Voice”. Ms. Lambright is also the former Executive Director of the ACLU here in Mississippi. Merrill McKewen is the Resource Development Director for Habitat for Humanity. She has organized and worked for a number of charitable organizations here in Mississippi. Michael Thomas is the Vice-President of Finance for Jackson State University. Dr. Thomas has spent the last twenty (20) years as a finance and operations manager working on performance improvement for public entities such as Jackson Public Schools and Jackson State University. Latrice Westbrooks, Esq. will also serve as the Interim-Media & Communications Liaison. An attorney for over fifteen (15) years, Ms. Westbrooks has hosted a local radio program and assisted the campaign with its public relations.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:46:05 +0000