Birmingham Civil Rights Institute announces leadership transition

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) — The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute announced president and CEO DeJuana Thompson will be transitioning from her post.

The reason for the transition is so she can increase her focus on voting rights activities and community organizing in advance of the national political elections in the fall. Isaac Cooper, the BCRI board chairman, will take over as interim president and CEO. Thompson joined the BCRI in 2021 and has been president and CEO since May 2022.

“BCRI is grateful for Ms. Thompson’s leadership during a difficult time,” Cooper said in a statement. “She came in at a critical juncture in our history, steadied the ship and helped us expand our reach. We wish her all the success in the future as she returns to her first love of community activism and empowering people across the country.”

Thompson is turning her attention on leading Woke Vote , the 501c3 voter education and advocacy organization she founded in 2017, to solve voting rights issues. She intends to start a nationwide engagement tour aimed to inspire action across the country, particularly among Black and brown communities.

“Given the current state of the country, we must both protect institutions like BCRI and safeguard our democracy,” Thompson said via a news release. “My work with Woke Vote will allow me to directly address these threats, train new organizers, and engage our communities in the fight for our fundamental rights.”

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