As We Begin the Year 2022 View as Webpage
Greetings!

“Democracy is not a state. It is an act…Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting into what I call good trouble, necessary trouble. Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society.” John Lewis

We have voted for and helped, in many ways, elect or appoint the following individuals in the state of Illinois and for the Vice President of the United States of America. It should be their understanding that we expect and insist that they act in our best interest.
FEDERAL
Hon. Kamala Harris, Vice President, United States
Hon. Danny Davis, U.S. Congressman
Hon. Robin Kelly, U.S. Congresswoman
Hon. Bobbie Rush, U.S. Congressman
STATE
Hon. Julianna Stratton, Lieutenant Governor
Hon. Scott P. Neville, Justice - State Supreme Court
Hon. Jesse White, Secretary of State
Hon. Kwame Raoul, Attorney General
Hon. Christopher Belt, State Senator
Hon. Jacqueline Y. Collins, State Senator
Hon. Napoleon Harris, State Senator
Hon. Mattie Hunter, State Senator
Hon. Adriane Johnson, State Senator
Hon. Emil Jones III, State Senator
Hon. Kimberly A. Lightford, State Senator
Hon. Mike Simmons, State Senator
Hon. Elgie Sims, State Senator
Hon. Doris Turner, State Senator
Hon. Patricia Van Pelt, State Senator
Hon. Carol Ammons, State Representative
Hon. Kambium Buckner, State Representative
Hon. Lakesia Collins, State Representative
Hon. William Davis, State Representative
Hon. Marcus C. Evans Jr., State Representative
Hon. Mary E. Flowers, State Representative
Hon. LaShawn Ford, State Representative
Hon. Jehan Gordon-Booth, State Representative
Hon. LaToya Greenwood, State Representative
Hon. Sonya Harper, State Representative
Hon. Thaddeus Jones, State Representative
Hon. Camille Y. Lilly, State Representative
Hon. Rita Mayfield, State Representative
Hon. Debbie Meyers-Martin, State Representative
Hon. Cyril Nichols, State Representative
Hon. Lamont Robinson, State Representative
Hon. Justin Slaughter, State Representative
Hon. Nicholas K. Smith, State Representative
Hon. Curtis J. Tarver, II, State Representative
Hon. Emanuel Chris Welch, Speaker, State Representative
Hon. Maurice A. West, II, State Representative
Hon. Jawaharial Williams, State Representative
COOK COUNTY
Hon. Toni Preckwinkle, President Cook County Board
Hon. Tim Evans, Chief Judge Cook County Circuit Court
Hon. Kim Foxx, Cook County State’s Attorney
Hon. Karen Yarbrough, Cook County Clerk
Hon. Dennis Deer, Commissioner, Cook County Board
Hon. Brandon Johnson, Commissioner, Cook County Board
Hon. Bill Lowry, Commissioner, Cook County Board
Hon. Donna Miller, Commissioner, Cook County Board
Hon. Stanley Moore, Commissioner, Cook County Board
Hon. Deborah Sims, Commissioner, Cook County Board
Hon. Larry Rogers, Commissioner, Board of Review
Hon. Kimberly Neely Du Buclet, Commissioner, MWRD
Hon.Barbara J. McGowan, VP Commissioner, MWRD
Hon. Kari K. Steele, President Commissioner, MWRD
CHICAGO
Hon. Lori Lightfoot, Mayor- Chicago
Hon. Erin Ervin, City Treasurer- Chicago
Hon. Pat Dowell, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Sophia King, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Leslie Hairston, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Roderick Sawyer, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Gregory Mitchell, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Michelle A. Harris, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Anthony Beale, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Stephanie Coleman, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. David Moore, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Derrick Curtis, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Jeanette Taylor, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Howard Brookins, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Michael Scott Jr., Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Walter Burnett Jr., Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Jason Ervin, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Chris Taliaferro, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Carrie Austin, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Emma Mitts, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Matt Martin, Alderman - Chicago
Hon. Maria Hadden, Alderman – Chicago
SUBURBAN COOK
Hon. Andre F. Harvey, Mayor – Bellwood
Hon. Katrina Thompson, Mayor/President – Broadview
Hon. Robert E. Polk, Mayor - Burnham
Hon. James W. Ford, Mayor - Calumet Park
Hon. Thaddeus Jones, Mayor - Calumet City
Hon. Ronald Denson, Mayor - Country Club Hills
Hon. Fitzgerald Roberts, Mayor - Dixmoor
Hon. Tiffany Henyard, Mayor - Dolton
Hon. Thomas A. Brown, Village President - East Hazel Crest
Hon. Michelle Nelson, Mayor - Flossmoor
Hon. Charles Griffin, Mayor - Ford Heights
Hon. Rory Hoskins, Mayor/President - Forest Park
Hon. Vernard Alsberry Jr., Village President - Hazel Crest
Hon. Christopher J. Clark, Mayor - Harvey
Hon. Jada Curry, Mayor - Lynwood
Hon. Roger A. Agpawa, Mayor - Markham
Hon. Sheila Y. Chalmers-Currin, Village President - Matteson
Hon. Nathaniel George Booker, Mayor – Maywood
Hon. Sterling M. Burke, Village President - Olympia Fields
Hon. Taylor Wells, Mayor - Phoenix
Hon. Lawrence L. Jackson, Mayor - Riverdale
Hon. Darren Bryant, Mayor - Robbins
Hon. Derrick Burgess, Mayor - Sauk Village
Hon. Joseph E. Roudez III, Mayor University Park
GREATER ILLINOIS
Hon. Richard C. Irvin, Mayor – Aurora
Hon Thomas Simpson, Mayor - Cairo
Hon. Rickey Williams Jr., Mayor – Danville
Hon. William E. Mason, Mayor - East St. Louis
Hon. Leon Rockingham, Jr., Mayor – North Chicago
Hon. Rita Ali, Mayor – Peoria
Hon. Billy McKinney, Mayor – Zion
In addition to the listed officials, there are a significant number of appointed Heads of major state, county and local Agencies and Departments, City Managers and Administrators, City and Village Aldermen and Trustees, Committeemen, as well as a number of retired Elder Statesmen and Stateswomen.

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” 
- Frederick Douglass

The above are all African-American. We voted them into office or they were appointed by someone we voted for. Let’s demand that they make a positive, most needed, and measurable difference in Black lives.

Clarence N. Wood, Chairman Emeritus, COAL

Craig K. Wimberly, President, COAL
The song Glory states,
“No one can win the war individually,
 It takes the wisdom of the elders and young people's energy”

COAL builds upon this and states,
“No one can win the war individually,
 It takes the wisdom of the elders and young people's energy,
and the courage and committed work of our elected representatives..."s….”

COAL strongly calls upon our black elected and appointed officials to “gather your courage and together, rise to this moment, to deliver on behalf of black people.”
JANUARY IS...
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month is dedicated to raising awareness about the different forms of human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, and educating people about this crime and how to spot it.
The History Behind the Month
The significance of January originates from the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln issued on January 1, 1863, declaring 3.1 million slaves free. In 1865, Congress passed and the states ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, officially outlawing slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States.
More than 20 years ago, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 enshrined the United States’ commitment to combating modern slavery domestically and internationally. With this bipartisan law, the United States reaffirmed the fundamental promise of “forever free” enshrined within the Emancipation Proclamation.
In 2010, by President Obama’s proclamation, January was declared National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Despite the bleak picture human trafficking paints, there are ways to take action. Become informed and get involved.
Desmond Mpilo Tutu, OMSG CH GCStJ
October 7, 1931 - December 26, 2021
The Most Rev Desmond Tutu Obituary

Blessed Meeting w/Bishop Desmond Tutu
by Aurie A. Pennick, Esq and Clarence Wood
Desmond Tutu, Whose Voice Helped Slay Apartheid, Dies at 90
The archbishop, a powerful force for nonviolence in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.
About COAL
COAL is an umbrella organization founded by 13 of Chicago's historic African American mens clubs. COAL's overarching mission is to identify, examine, illuminate and find resolution to issues impacting the greater community. We strive to use our collective experience, expertise and resources to improve the quality of opportunity, quality of preparedness and the quality of outcomes (expressed as 'quality of life') for our Community.
Founding Member Organizations
100 Black Men Of Chicago ■ Chicago Assembly ■ Chicago Connection ■ Druids Club ■ Frogs Club ■ Lunch Bunch ■ New Committee ■ Original 40 Club Of Chicago ■ Rat Pack ■ Royal Coterie Of Snakes ■ Saints ■ Sigma Pi Phi Beta-Boule ■ UIC Male Forum (now Chicago Good Health Group)
 What We Believe
The Coalition of African American Leaders believes that it is important to examine the critical issues confronting the African American community where injustice, inequality and the absence of access and opportunity continue to prevail, thereby negatively impacting us as a people. COAL is an assemblage that advocates and organizes for appropriate and responsible public policy change, system behavior change and equality of opportunity. We aim to achieve for all of our people the fullness of the life experience without any form of racism or exclusion as a deterrent. We believe we must prepare ourselves for the opportunity of this full participation, thereby achieving the necessary education and training to participate.
Contact: Clarence Wood, Chairman 312.404.8269 - Craig K. Wimberly, President 773.350.9315
Email: publicpolicy@coalchicago.com