NPR, Mayor Frm Legislator, Councilman, U.S. Presidential Appointee, Ambassador

Ford got his start in politics working for U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy’s presidential campaign, and he later worked for the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service.

A native of the great State of Alabama, Johnny Lawrence Ford grew up in Tuskegee, the home of Tuskegee University, “the Pride of the Swift-Growing South,” also the home of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. He graduated from Tuskegee Institute High School and received his B.A. degree in history and sociology from Knoxville College, Knoxville, Tennessee, and a Masters of Public Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery. He also received 5 honorary degrees including The Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Alabama A & M University in 2004.

Elected as the 1st African-American Mayor of the City of Tuskegee in 1972, Mayor Ford served six consecutive terms from 1972 – 1996 and was again elected to that office in September, 2004 and 2012. In 1998, he was elected Representative from District 82 to the State Legislature, where he served on the County and Municipal Government Committee, the Lee County Legislation Committee, the Health Committee, and the Tourism and Travel Committee. The Honorable Ford retained his legislative position until his return to office as mayor of Tuskegee.

As Founder of the World Conference of Mayors, Inc., The Honorable Ford also serves as Secretary General. He is a Founder and President-Emeritus of the National Conference of Black Mayors, Inc., and a former member of the Alabama Foreign Trade Commission and the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority. While Mayor, Banjul, The Gambia was designated as the Tuskegee Sister City; therefore, he has worked closely with the country, The Gambia, for many years. Furthermore, he has served as Co-Chairman of the National Policy Alliance, which is an arm of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. The National Policy Alliance Center for Political and Economic Studies is comprised of The National Bar Association, The Congressional Black Caucus, The World Conference of Mayors, The National Conference of Black Mayors, The National Association of Black County Officials, The National Black Caucus of School Board Members, Blacks in Government, The National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, as well as the Joint Center For Political and Economic Development.

The Honorable Ford has served as a former U.S. Presidential Appointee to the National Advisory Committee on Federalism, and the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade. He is a past President of the Alabama League of Municipalities, and the first African-American in Alabama History to be elected to this statewide position.

He is married to the Honorable Judge Joyce London Alexander, Retired, Former Chief U. S. Magistrate Judge, of the District of Massachusetts. She was the First Female Chief United States Magistrate Judge in the USA. She is Past Chair of the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association, and of the Board of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

He is also the proud father of three adult children…John, Christopher, and Tiffany…The Honorable Ford has four grandchildren. The Fords have a second home on Garden Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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Best-Selling Author & Distinguished Carter G. Woodson book award presented to exemplary books written for children and young people each year at the NCSS Annual Conference.

My Show looks at the Important Role Children Payed in The Fight for Civil Rights in America. I consider it a Privilege to cover the True Foot Soldiers who were physically THERE during the Events that Changed History in American Civil Rights to All.

My Guest is author Robert H. Mayer author of the book "In the Name of Emmett Till"

Children played a significant role in Birmingham’s crucial civil rights struggle, and this stirring history of the movement, with many photos, news reports, and quotes from all sides, emphasizes the connections between the young people’s power and that of the big leaders. Martin Luther King called Birmingham the most segregated city in America, and his Letter from Birmingham Jail is quoted at length. But when the adults’ protest lost momentum, the leaders’ decision to call on young people galvanized the movement--Hazel Rochman

Robert H. Mayer is the award-winning author of When the Children Marched: The Birmingham Civil Rights Movement and the editor of The Civil Rights Act of 1964. As a teacher, Mayer’s passion continues to be making history relevant and accessible to young people. His time spent in Jackson, Canton, and McComb, Mississippi, as well as meeting scholars and activists integral to the civil rights movement, fueled the desire to write In the Name of Emmett Till. He lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with his wife Jan, where he writes, teaches, and tutors youth in a local middle school.

The 1955 murder of Emmett Till in Mississippi is widely remembered as one of the most horrible lynching's in American history. African American children old enough that year to be aware personally felt the terror of Till’s murder. These children, however, would rise up against the culture that made Till’s death possible. Over the next decade, from the violent Woolworth’s lunch-counter sit-ins in Jackson to the school walkouts of McComb, the young people of Mississippi picketed, boycotted, organized, spoke out, and marched, determined to reveal the vulnerability of black bodies and the ugly nature of the world they lived in. These children changed that world.


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My guest is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Carvin Haggins.

Carvin is best known for receiving two Grammy awards, collaborating with such artists as Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, Jill Scott, Patti Labelle, Mary J. Blige, Music Soulchild, Rick Ross, Mario, Ace Hood and many others. The multi- platinum producer / songwriter has received over 25 Grammy nominations and 10 ASCAP writer awards.

He was named Philly 360 Creative Ambassador of Philadelphia. Also he serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Angel Foundation; and he is often invited to speak to young people about his life journey and experiences at various nonprofit organizations and functions. In addition, Haggins is also a Minister and Sunday School teacher at the Southern Baptist Church in North Philadelphia.

Haggins states, “My greatest influence is Jesus Christ and I now understand my mission in this life is to be subservient to my calling to help others through his name

He is also a leader in 360 Entertainment International (360EI). Don Fryson, President & CEO of 360 Entertainment International; Founder and originator of 360EI Records / Clean Money Music stated, ʺwe believe Carvinʹs work ethic and concern for todayʹs music falls in line with our vision. His dedication to the community, artist development and bringing a different perspective to the music industry makes him a perfect choice to head 360EI Records, and lead the Clean Money Music movement that is gaining traction across the nation.”

Clean Money Music™ a healthy lifestyle, the new generation of hip hop – features male and female artists who take responsibility to improve the conditions around them. Clean Money Music™ returns rap music to its original hip hop roots, with social commentary, lifestyle, culture, and fun as it’s basis. We feel the use of foul language, violence, misogynistic images and lyrics has created an environment that has undermined our communities for far too long. The purpose of the Clean Money Music movement is to bring a different dynamic to the way people and the media perceive the hip hop artist and the communities they represent.

Carvin Haggins, says ʺI had no choice but to take the position of President. The world needs and wants change. Clean Money Music is that change.ʺ

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