African American Engagement Office

An African American Engagement Office is a United States-based center established by Republican Party operatives in an effort to secure the votes of African Americans. Currently there are two African American Engagement Offices, one in Charlotte, North Carolina ^[1] and one in Detroit, Michigan. First established in late 2013, the offices are part of the Republican National Committee's $10 million voter engagement push in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. ^[2]

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul presided over the inauguration of Detroit's African American Engagement Office in December 2013. ^{[3] [4]} The office's current national director is Ashley Bell ^[5] and its Deputy National Director is Ayshia Connors. ^{[6] [7]}

References

1. Curtis, Mary C. (October 22, 2013). "GOP launches minority outreach in N.C., defends voter law in court". Washington Post.
2. Whitesides, John (July 11, 2014). "Black voters skeptical of Republican Party's $10 million campaign to win them over". Raw Story. Reuters.
3. Woods, Ashley (November 22, 2013). "GOP Taps Rand Paul To Open Minority Outreach Office". Huffington Post.
4. Edwards, Breanna (December 6, 2013). "GOP Opens Outpost in Detroit, Hoping to Woo African-American Voters". The Root. Archived from the original on August 23, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
5. Agboola, Adedamola (February 21, 2018). "Trump Administration Appoints Its First Minority Director to the Small Business Administration". Black Enterprise.
6. Burke, Lauren Victoria (October 6, 2016). "RNC Hires Deputy Director for African American Engagement". NBC.
7. Gangitano, Alex (March 30, 2017). "Black Republican Staffer Association Membership Has Doubled". Roll Call.