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African Community Endorses Mayor Dixon By Seyi Oduyela/Baltimore Africans living in Baltimore and neighboring cities organized a reception for the Mayor of Baltimore City, Mrs. Sheila Dixon on Wednesday, August 29 at the Iroko Gallery and Café in Baltimore. The Gallery was packed with Africans all over Baltimore and other parts of Maryland to honor and show their support for Mayor Dixon bid for the position of Baltimore City Mayor.
Though the event was put
together by Ms. Adetoun Olumide, Mr. Olumide was the moderator. He praised the
Mayor for her leadership and expressed joy in her interest for the position. He
promised Mayor Dixon that Africans living in Baltimore will surely support her
and that the essence of the reception is for Africans in Baltimore to let her
know that they are behind her. They will not only vote but also assist in
campaign. He urged the Mayor to tap into Africans wealth of wisdom by carrying
them along in her government. Chief Olu Adeuyan, one of Nigerian elders living
in Baltimore also eulogized the Mayor but appealed that the Mayor should bring
Africans on board. According to him, Africans have a lot to offer and it will be
in the good interest of Baltimore City to tap into the wealth of knowledge.
Mayor Dixon in her reaction, associating with Africa gave her a good sense of one going back to her root. She said that her mother side family came from Madagascar and her great great grand mother married an Irish. She said in her 17 years working with International Trade missions, she has taken business to Nigeria, Ghana and many other African countries. She also said that Africans and African Americans share so much in our culture and ‘I am looking forward to really enhance that,’ she said.
The Maryland ProTem Speaker, Adrienne Jones said that Mayor Dixon is the most suitable of all the candidates; she said this is based on her wealth of experience as a teacher and also on the International Trade. Also present yesterday was the Chairman of Oranmiyan Foundation, USA Prince Molade Binuyo.
Sheila Dixon’s
story started in Baltimore
where she was born and raised. She is a graduate of the Baltimore City public
school system and holds a bachelor's degree from Towson University and a
master's degree from Johns Hopkins University. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher at Steuart Hill Elementary School and as an adult education instructor with the Head Start program. She is an advocate for children who understands the challenges our teachers face and is committed to improving Baltimore's schools. For 17 years, Mayor Dixon worked as an international trade specialist with the Maryland State Department of Business and Economic Development. She knows how to retain and attract businesses to Maryland and she's committed to building an economy that works for all Baltimore residents.
Sheila Dixon became the 48th Mayor of Baltimore on January 17, 2007, succeeding Mayor Martin O'Malley. She is the first woman to serve as Baltimore's mayor.
As Mayor, Sheila Dixon is
building a cleaner, greener, healthier and safer Baltimore. She's made Baltimore
healthier by passing the smoking ban. She's making Baltimore cleaner thanks to
record funding for campaigns to clean up city streets and neighborhoods. She's
making Baltimore greener through beautification programs and environmentally
friendly policies. And, she's working to make Baltimore safer by pursuing
comprehensive strategies to curb the possession of illegal guns and address
violent crime through targeted enforcement, community engagement and
partnerships with state and federal agencies.
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Mayor
Dixon also talked about teaching American children different culture, according
to her it does not matter where we come from we are all human and it is good to
learn and share. She said she has been reaching out to other non-American
communities in Baltimore- the Korean, Pakistani, and Indian Communities.
For
over two decades, Mayor Dixon has dedicated herself to public service, working
to improve the city she loves so much. In 1987, she won a seat on the Baltimore
City Council representing the 4th Council District, where she served for 12
years. In 1999, she became the first African-American woman elected as City
Council President. 
Mayor
Dixon has been a strong advocate for public health issues, including HIV/AIDS,
breast cancer and lead poisoning in children. Mayor Dixon is an avid athlete
with a rigorous weekly fitness routine. Beyond her concern for her personal
health and fitness, Mayor Dixon is an advocate for programs that improve
children's health through a more nutritional diet and exercise routine.