Though Pittsburgh Police Assistant Chief Maurita Bryant took time to inform the audience at the African American Chamber of Commerce about the history of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, her main point was to tell them the organization is holding its national training conference in Pittsburgh in August 2013.
“We’ll have about 2,500 delegates here, and they like to spend money,” she said during the PowerBreakfast meeting. “Estimates are that the conference will bring more than $2.5 million to the city.”
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| INFORMATION—Pittsburgh Police Assistant Chief Maurita Bryant tells Chamber members that NOBLE is holding its national training conference in Pittsburgh in August 2013. (Photo by Rossano P. Stewart)
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Bryant said she is pleased because she has been working to get the annual conference here for several years.
“This is an opportunity to showcase the city and what we are made of,” she said. “We’re not talking just about police officers, but representatives from federal bureaus like the FBI, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as civilian members.”
Not only can businesses help NOBLE by helping to sponsor various aspects of the convention, they can help themselves by putting their names in front of the delegate with things like gift certificate, or by providing in-kind services.
The convention will also need about 200 volunteers she said, to help visitors find their way not only to the various venues including the Carnegie Science Center, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and any of the five downtown hotels being booked, but also to local restaurants and clothing stores. Businesses can also participate as exhibitors and vendors
Though she didn’t say so, another reason to support the NOBLE convention is, by the time it gets here, Bryant, a 34-year police veteran, will be the organization’s national president.
“In July at next year’s convention in Little Rock, Ark., I’ll be installed as the president of NOBLE,” she said.
It would be fitting, as Bryant is largely responsible for getting a NOBLE chapter in Pittsburgh in 1999. The national organization was formed in Washington, DC., in 1976 by Black law enforcement administrators—including Pittsburgh’s first Black Police Chief William “Mugsy” Moore—to highlight the achievements of their fellows and to increase diversity throughout law enforcement management.
The organization now boasts 56 chapters throughout the country and also has delegates in London, England; St. Kitts, VI.; and in five African countries. The organization also supports initiatives to support women’s shelters, reduce domestic violence and also sponsors youth enrichment services to expose youth to law enforcement work and careers.
The Pittsburgh convention will also feature a Youth Leadership Conference with 250 local youths attending. Attendees will also participate in a Memorial March through East Liberty and Homewood, followed by a service at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church.
Chamber President and CEO Doris Carson Williams said she and VisitPittsburgh would help promote and support the conference. She also said retired Highmark VP Aaron Walton and his wife Gloria had agreed to serve as honorary hosts for the conference.
This is something we can all support and take pride in,” said Williams.
(Send comments to cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
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