Abu Edwards

Director, Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement (OBME)
Philadelphia

• Oversee the Mayor’s Commission on African American Males, providing executive leadership to 30 mayoral appointees and advancing citywide policy recommendations addressing disparities impacting Black men and boys.
• Forged partnerships with City agencies and community organizations to plan and execute 100+ community engagement events, expanding access to resources, strengthening neighborhood relationships, and advancing citywide priorities.
• Conceptualized and launched the inaugural State of Opportunity Summit, convening 200+ attendees through strategic partnerships with Girard College, City agencies, and community stakeholders to advance mentorship, leadership, and economic opportunity.
• Established and launched the Brotherhood Empowerment Network (B.E.N.), a school-based mentorship and leadership development initiative reaching approximately 550 young men across 11 Philadelphia schools.
• Organized and led the OBME Youth Leadership Summit at Philadelphia City Hall, convening 150 young men for a citywide experience focused on leadership development, civic engagement, mentorship, and opportunity.
• Launched OBME 1,000 Black Male Mentors Recruitment Campaign by mobilizing faith-based institutions, schools, mentoring organizations, and community stakeholders; convened roundtables engaging 100+ mentoring organizations to strengthen Philadelphia’s mentorship network and expand access to positive mentoring relationships for men and boys across the city.
• Convened six cross-sector policy roundtables, engaging community stakeholders, subject-matter experts, and youth leaders to identify challenges and develop actionable recommendations in public safety, mental health and wellness, mentorship, and education.
• Serve as a liaison between the Mayor’s Office, City departments, city council and Philadelphia communities, representing the Mayor at public events, delivering remarks, and engaging residents and stakeholders to advance administration priorities and strengthen community relationships

• Led Justice-Impacted Voter Engagement (JIVE) initiative, built coalitions across seven Pennsylvania counties, and established statewide advocacy network to expand voter registration and strengthen civic participation for incarcerated and justice-impacted individuals.
• Directed more than $75,000 in microgrants to community-based partner organizations across seven Pennsylvania counties, strengthening organizational capacity, expanding grassroots engagement, and supporting locally led voter registration and civic engagement initiatives.
• Led statewide stakeholder engagement for All Voting Is Local, serving as the organization’s primary Pennsylvania liaison to justice-impacted communities, advocacy organizations, and coalition partners across seven counties to advance civic participation, voter access, and policy reform.
• Increased voter turnout by 150% in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh-area county jails through strategic stakeholder engagement, cross-sector partnerships, and coordinated voter education and outreach initiatives serving justice-impacted populations.

• Rebuilt and diversified the organization’s coalition structure across 10 states, expanding strategic partnerships and mobilizing community organizations, public health professionals, advocacy leaders, and policy stakeholders to advance national policy and public education priorities.
• Advocated before elected officials across six states and on Capitol Hill, lobbying state and federal policymakers to advance legislative priorities and influence public policy.
• Partnered with communications teams to coordinate press conferences and public advocacy campaigns across 20 cities, mobilizing stakeholders and elevating public health policy priorities directly outside elected officials’ offices.
• Cultivated strategic partnerships with state legislators, Black Caucus members, senatorial leadership, and national and local NAACP chapters, aligning policy advocacy with community-driven priorities.
• Led field operations for Michigan’s largest public health ballot initiative, directing signature-gathering, phone banking, and canvassing efforts that engaged more than 200,000 voters across Detroit and surrounding counties.
• Delivered public testimony before legislative committees in four states, advocating for public health policies and presenting research-backed recommendations to state lawmakers.

• Led statewide strategy across Pennsylvania to engage Black male voters, building trusted relationships with barbershops, faith leaders, and community stakeholders to expand outreach and participation.
• Designed and executed barbershop tours and community conversations, creating culturally relevant spaces to connect directly with Black men on key issues and voting access.
• Organized grassroots outreach events, including concerts, tabling, and community gatherings, engaging diverse audiences in urban and suburban areas to foster voter participation.
• Coordinated campaign events with national surrogates, including Hakeem Jeffries, recruiting and mobilizing volunteers to maintain community engagement leading up to Election Day.

• Worked as a constituent services representative, addressing community concerns, resolving resident inquiries, and facilitating connections between constituents and government resources and services to meet neighborhood needs.
• Established a district-wide education roundtable, bringing together public and private school representatives, educators, and community stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, address local education needs, and expand opportunities for students.
• Represented Rep. Youngblood at community meetings and public events, engaging residents, gathering constituent feedback, identifying neighborhood concerns, and communicating community priorities to inform legislative and district initiatives.