ALBANY, NY – The Albany County Legislative Black Caucus – officially created on March 12, 2018 – celebrated its 7th Anniversary with friends, allies, music, and networking at the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce & Social Club on Wednesday.

Composed of members of the Legislature from districts where the majority of the population comes from minority groups along with members of color, the Caucus was created by Resolution No. 125 in 2018 that pointed out, “underrepresented and protected groups have increased their participation in Albany County government, it has become more diverse and a legislative caucus has evolved to give voice to those individuals and groups of protected classes.”

The Caucus’ original founding members included original Caucus Chair Bill Clay (District 12) then Legislator Wanda Willingham (District 3), along with Legislators Norma Chapman (District 4), Lucille McKnight (District 1), Merton D. Simpson (District 2), Samuel I. Fein (District 6).

Clay, Chapman, and Knight have since retired.

The current Caucus includes now Legislature Deputy Chairwoman Willingham, current Caucus Chair Dr. Carolyn McLaughlin (District 1), and Legislators Simpson, Fein, Mark Robinson (District 4), Beroro T. Efekoro (District 7), and Danielle Gillespie (District 12).

Albany County Legislature Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham said: “I am so proud of everything that the legislators and staff of the Legislative Black Caucus have accomplished over the past seven years. It is an astonishing amount. I do wish that we were celebrating a 70th anniversary today, but nonetheless, I have hope that they will continue to push me and the Legislature as a whole to be better and give a voice to populations that have been overlooked in the past.”

Albany County Legislature Deputy Chairwoman Wanda Willingham said: “The crucial role that people of color, especially African Americans, played in the creation and growth of Albany County goes back to its founding nearly 400 years ago. For so many years, so many missed out on the prosperity they created through forced and then undervalued labor. For so many years, the voices of so many didn’t even register with leadership. They were ignored, overlooked, or rejected. Today we celebrate the progress we have made, but we will continue to push, advocate, and campaign with all of our strength to ensure that all the people of Albany County have their problems addressed, their hopes considered, and their dreams acknowledged.”

Albany County Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus Dr. Carolyn McLaughlin said: “My district, my city, my county, and my country are always a work in progress. Every day we remember, analyze, and learn from the triumphs and the challenges of the past to inform us in the present on what we need to do in the future. Today, we are celebrating one of the best steps forward we have taken in this county in decades. Tomorrow, we are going to wake up and make sure that we honor that progress by continuing to push forward on behalf of all of the people we represent – especially people of color and African Americans in particular.”

Albany County Legislature Democratic Majority Leader Dennis Feeney said: “For seven years, the Legislative Black Caucus has been a vital part of our Democratic Majority, driving equity, representation, and progress in Albany County. Their commitment to amplifying the voices of underrepresented residents has strengthened our Legislature and helped shape policies that make our County more inclusive. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with them and look forward to their continued success.”

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said: “For seven years, the Albany County Legislative Black Caucus has been a beacon of progress, advocacy, and empowerment in our community. This milestone is not only a celebration of the progress we have made, but a call to action as we continue to strive for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all. Let us continue to work together to enact meaningful change for every resident in Albany County.”