CAR CEO Talks Advocacy & Community with Coalition of African American Leaders

CAR CEO Michelle Mills Clement accepted an invitation to be the keynote speaker at the Coalition of African American Leaders’ (COAL) monthly meeting on Saturday, October 4 in Calumet Heights. COAL is the public policy arm of multiple local African American social clubs. In her speech, Michelle outlined CAR’s most recent initiatives, including:

• The creation and expansion of our External Affairs and Commercial Services departments.
• The introduction of our new diversity committee, The 77, which is now accepting member applications.
• The three placemaking activities we are involved in, including a partnership with the Greater Chatham Initiatives (GCI). CAR will commission a mural to remind the community of the icons, such as Gwendolyn Brooks, who once called the south side of Chicago home.
• Our position on different public policy issues, including rent control and affordable housing.

Many CAR leaders and members attended the meeting, including 2020 president Maurice Hampton, president-elect Nykea Pippion McGriff, past presidents Frank Williams and Zeke Morris, as well as CAR members Dean Reid, Marki Lemons, Lutalo McGee, Anthony Hardy and Alessandra Halliburton. At the end of the meeting, COAL founding member and retired U.S. Senator Roland Burris said, “I am really excited to see this program this morning. Not only did the speaker bring herself, she brought her team…This is one of the best forums we’ve ever had at COAL.” Past speakers have included members of Congress, other elected officials, academics and public policy experts.