The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization representing solely African-American mayors in the United States. AAMA exists 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.
• Creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.

AAMA was launched in 2014 in Washington D.C. by a group of black mayors as an alternative to NCBM, with a focus on founding principles of transparency and accountability. In 2016 AAMA purchased the NCBM’s assets after bankruptcy and their naming rights, becoming the successor to its history and practices.

The AAMA serves African-American mayors and collaborates with other mayors’ associations to enhance its impact and address common challenges through:

• Networking and Partnerships
• Policy Advocacy
• Coalitions and Alliances
• Research and Data Sharing
• Joint Initiatives

In April 2025 AAMA announced a new initiative in partnership with the American Beverage Foundation to provide grants to seven cities with African American mayors to help improve community health. The cities include Atlanta and Savannah, GA, New Orleans, LA, Dumfries, VA, Maywood, IL, Earle, AR, and Rankin, PA. Mayors in these cities will use the funds for projects and resources such as community gardens, food pantries, and healthy family cooking classes.

Background

In 1974 the Southern Conference of Black Mayors was incorporated, having been founded by thirteen mayors elected after the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At the prompting of mayors from the Midwest in 1976, the mayors voted to expand the organization’s scope by changing the name to the National Conference of Black Mayors, Inc. (NCBM). The same year, NCBM obtained tax-exempt status as a 501(c)3 organization and presented a series of municipal management clinics in local communities, producing a number of proposals that led to a significant increase of public support to member communities.

NCBM articulated public policy positions and served as a clearinghouse on information pertinent to municipal development and financing for forty years. NCBM provided technical and management assistance through cutting-edge research, best practices, and partnerships that enabled its mayors to challenge and overcome grappling issues that erode the vitality and sustainability of the nation’s cities. In 2014 due to financial issues NCBM began bankruptcy proceedings and final dissolution in 2016.

Resources

AAMA & American Beverage Foundation Press Release

NCBM Archived Website

NCBM Bankruptcy Press Release