WASHINGTON – The Cora Brown Lecture Series (CBLS), in the Department of Political Science, returns to Howard University for its third year of enlightening conversations lead by Assistant Professor of Political Science Keneshia Grant, Ph.D. Grant created the series to highlight the political careers and accomplishments of African Americans who serve or have served in elected and appointed positions in state and local governments. In keeping with this year’s theme Young, Gifted, and BLACK!, the Cora Brown Lecture Series welcomed former Mayor of Tallahassee and 2018 Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Mayor Andrew Gillum on Sept. 12. The conversation focused on Mayor Gillum’s earliest political work and how  young people can become involved in state & local politics.

“The Department of Political Science is thrilled for Dr. Grant’s State and Local Government class to host the 2018 Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Mayor Andrew Gillum, to expose our students to the intricacies of statewide campaigns and running local government,” says Chair and Professor in the Department of Political Science Ravi K. Perry, Ph.D. “An opportunity like this is the perfect example of the experiential learning opportunities we look forward to engaging in within the department.”

Mayor Gillum, comes to Howard with more than 15 years of experience as an elected official, in the state of Florida. He was the youngest person ever elected to the Tallahassee City Commission, at age 23. As a student leader at Florida A&M University, Gillum led hundreds of his peers to protest Governor Jeb Bush’s attempt to end affirmative action, a moment that speaks to his humble beginnings as an elected official. As a City Commissioner, he championed restorative justice programs to rehabilitate and educate offenders and also created public-private partnerships to secure funding for computers and internet access for middle school students.

“I was a student at Florida A&M when Mayor Gillum won his election to the Tallahassee City Commission. His election made me feel like everyday people. including students, could accomplish anything when we worked together,” Grant explains. “I am hoping that my students left the talk feeling like they, too, can accomplish great things through political action.”

A student of Grant’s State and Local Government class, Kevin Chisolm, a junior political science student from Maplewood, New Jersey, earned the honor of introducing Mayor Gillum to his peers. Following the audience’s warm welcome, Gillum spoke to students gathered inside the Mackey Building Auditorium about his journey to the present day – from humble beginnings as the son of a school bus driver and a construction worker living in Miami, Florida, to becoming the Florida Democratic Party’s first African-American gubernatorial nominee.

“It is truly an honor to be invited to speak with you all by my good friend, Keneshia Grant,” Mayor Gillum said as he began his talk. “I am extremely excited to be on the campus of The Howard University, one of the most remarkable institutions that we have in this country. I love that institutions like this remain so important and so relevant, where we can life up examples from our very own community of how we lead at the state, local and especially at the national level. I’m hoping that during the time we have here together, if there are certain questions you want me to answer, specific to you personally, broadly, more public policy wise, or local and state policy wise, I am happy to do so.” 

And that’s exactly what Mayor Gillum did. After his remarks, Grant presented questions posed by four students in the State and Local Government class. The questions focused on everything from how citizens can support candidates beyond monetary donations, the future of Florida politics following the expansion of the vote to formerly incarcerated individuals, advice for his younger self, and his thoughts on the ideal Democratic nominee for the 2020 Presidential Election.

The 2019-2020 Cora Brown Lecture Series is open to the entire Howard University community. For more information, including upcoming guests and lecture dates, contact Keneshia Grant, Ph.D., keneshia.grant@howard.edu.

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Photograph 1 – (L-R) Ravi K. Perry, Ph.D., Mayor Andrew Gillum, Keneshia Grant, Ph.D.

Photograph 2 – Mayor Gillum addresses students inside the Mackey Building Auditorium

Photograph 3 – Mayor Gillum snaps a selfie with students of Dr. Grant’s State and Local Government class

ABOUT HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media contact: Ramzey Smith, Office of University Communications, ramzey.smith@howard.edu