November 30, 2006

(Washington, DC) Ward 8 Councilmember and former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry has been selected by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) to receive the 2006 Nation Builder Award during its 30th Annual Legislative Conference November 29-December 3, 2006 in Jackson, Mississippi.

The citation announcing his selection noted Barry's “exemplary service as a leader and civil rights activist. As one of the first African American Mayors of a major city, the policies and programs you enacted uplifted citizens of the District of Columbia and created a model for other mayors around the world.”

The Nation Builder Awards were established by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators to recognize those African-Americans who have distinguished themselves through lifelong service and dedication to the enfranchisement and inclusion of Americans of African decent into the national body of politics. Others so honored have been Dr. Dorothy Height, the late Johnnie Cochran, Jr. and the late Commerce Secretary Ronald Brown.

Councilmember Barry stated: “Throughout my life, I have tried to serve people and I am gratified to be honored in this way by my peers in public service. It has been a long winding road for me from Mississippi to the civil rights movement to the school board to the Council to the Mayors office, back to the Council and so on; but to be recognized as a nation builder by African- American public officials from all over the country makes my heart full. I am now more energized than ever to fight for the people of ward 8 and by the grace of God I am still on the battlefield.”

The National Builder award will be presented to Councilmember Barry during a gala awards dinner on the evening of December 1, 2006.

For further information, contact Keith Andrew Perry at (202) 724-8045.