Mayor Kenney Appoints Black Male Engagement Chief

Philadelphia’s Mayor has picked a person to concentrate on African American male engagement in the city.  WHYY’s Tom MacDonald reports.Philadelphia Community College Professor Jack Drummond will assume the helm of the Office of Black Male Engagement.  Drummond says he’s inspired to be appointed to the position.

“I’m also very excited to be a part of your administration under the leadership of a mayor who cares about this particular group, black men and boys.  I think a direct reflection of your caring for the position is you kept this position under your administration.

The position was created in the Nutter administration and Drummond says the first thing he will do is research.

“looking at learning what the past administration has done with the role  and also focusing on serving as a unifying body for many of the black male initiatives that take place in the city.”

A charter change is in the works but would require a voter referendum to make permanent a Commission on African American males that was started in the Goode administration, but did not gain traction until the Nutter administration.