Statewide Agency Serving African American Men Makes History

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio Commission on African American Males (OCAAM), a nonpartisan statewide advocacy organization, for African American Males is pleased to announce the election of two of its commissioners as Chair and Vice-Chair.   Commissioner Reyahd D.J. Kazmi has been elected Chair and Commissioner Eric J. Troy, has been elected Vice-Chair.

Commissioner Reyahd D.J. Kazmi, a law student at Moritz College of Law and graduate student at The Ohio State University's Glenn School of Public Affairs, has been elected Chair.  At 27 years old, Commissioner Kazmi is the youngest commissioner to ever be elected to Chair the Commission in its twenty-one year history.  

Commissioner Kazmi was appointed by Governor Ted Strickland to OCAAM in 2007 and was re-appointed in March of 2009. Kazmi is intensely involved in many humanitarian efforts and has an impressive academic career that includes accolades such as graduating magna cum laude and receipt of the Academic Excellence Award for the highest GPA of all graduating African-American males.

Commissioner Kazmi has volunteered his time in various political campaigns including the historic election of President Barack Obama where he served as a community organizer, public liaison and African-American Outreach Coordinator.  He has also worked for former Democratic Caucus Leader Joyce Beatty and Governor Ted Strickland.

Commissioner Eric Troy is the Assistant Director for the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).  Prior to joining ODE, Commissioner Troy directed the Leadership Center for African American Males for the Ohio Board of Regents. In addition, Commissioner Troy held dual positions at The Ohio State University as a program director for the Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center and the African American Male and Manager of Public Relations & Special Projects for the Office of Minority Affairs. Under his leadership, the Center achieved a 92% first year retention rate for African American male students.

A graduate of Morehouse College and The Ohio State University, Commissioner Troy is listed in Who's Who in U.S. Executives and has more than 20 years of experience in the areas of education, advertising, marketing, media relations and sports development in both North America and South Africa.

For more information about OCAAM and its programs designed to promote positive outcomes for African-American males in Ohio, contact The Ohio Commission on African American Males at 1-800-732-8776 or visit us at www.ocaam.org.

About OCAAM:

The Ohio Commission on African-American Males (OCAAM) advocates and lobbies for the reinforcement of positive existence of African-American males in Ohio. OCAAM is committed to providing the highest quality of services. Programs consist of ideas, actions and strategies designed to achieve specific outcomes. Visit www.ocaam.org for more information about programs and policies that enhance the quality of life for black men and boys.

SOURCE Ohio Commission on African American Males (OCAAM)