Los Angeles (March 3, 2014) The California African American Museum (CAAM) will host Conversations at CAAM Saturday March 8, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., with former president of the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL), John W. Mack who will discuss his lifetime achievements and storied career.

Mack will be interviewed by CAAM’s History Council member Karani Marcia Johnson for this installment of Conversations at CAAM. As president of LAUL from 1969 until his retirement in 2005, Mack led the organization into becoming one of the most successful community-based organizations in Los Angeles, with an annual budget of more than $25 million. Following his retirement, Mack was selected as president of the Board of Police Commissioners for the Los Angeles Police Department by then Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. 

September 30, 2013 Mack was appointed to the City Planning Commission by Mayor Eric Garcetti  “These commissioners will help us strengthen each of Los Angeles’ unique neighborhoods,” Garcetti stated. Sitting on the board of the City Planning Commission Mack helps handle appeals from the seven Area Planning commissions and also has jurisdiction over major developments in the city.

Mack earned his bachelor of science degree in applied sociology from North Carolina A&T State University in 1958 and a master's in social work from Clark Atlanta University, where he was a student civil rights leader. He was a teaching fellow at Harvard University John F. Kennedy School Government's Institute of Politics. In addition, he has received numerous honorary degrees and civic awards, which include an elementary school named in his honor.

Current Exhibitions in the CAAM Galleries

Soul Stirring: African American Self-Taught Artists From the South through April 6, 2014 

A Memoir Movement: Carmen de Lavallade & Geoffrey Holder through May, 2014 

Question Bridge: Black Males through Jun 15, 2014 

Hands on Design through August 3, 2014

The March on Washington: A tribute, 50 years Later – ongoing

CAAM is located at 600 State Drive in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037. ADMISSION IS ALWAYS FREE! Accessible parking for all of Exposition Park is located at 39^th & Figueroa for $10 per vehicle. For more information on CAAM call (213) 744-7432 or visit www.caamuseum.org. Find CAAM on Twitter and Facebook at www.twitter.com/CAAMinLA and www.facebook.com/CAAMinLA.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

CAAM is a state agency charged with researching, collecting, preserving and interpreting for public enrichment the history, art and culture of African Americans. Collaboratively operating in partnership with its 501(c) (3) non-profit organization Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum, CAAM houses a permanent collection of over 3,000 objects of art, artifacts and historical documents, and a publicly accessible Research Library containing more than 20,000 volumes.

CAAM hosts up to 13 exhibitions annually and tours several of its organized exhibitions nationally. CAAM also presents a wide variety of more than 80 annual public programs ranging from educational and curriculum-driven lectures and tours with scholars and experts to art workshops, film screening, and its highly popular signature series of monthly live performances, Target Sunday at CAAM.

In furtherance of its value driven commitment to mentor the next generation and give back to the community, CAAM proudly trains and employs high school students year-round through its Young Docent program; offers Buses & Docents as a source of equitable access to field trip opportunities for school and community groups that otherwise could not afford the transportation; fosters cross-issues, cross-town and cross-cultural learning and dialogue through its Young Voices at CAAM school exchanges; actively advocates literacy, books readying and written expression through Heads are Turning, Children are Learning; and, creates small business development and customer out-reach opportunities for artists through its on-site vending program.

                                                                                 CAAMpost

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