Our History

In April 1984, The Honorable Johnny Ford, then Mayor of Tuskegee, Alabama, USA, and President of the National Conference of Black Mayor s, Inc. (NCBM), convened mayors from the United States, Asia, the African continent, and the Caribbean Islands, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA , and organized The World Conference of Mayors, lnc. (WCM). This historic meeting occurred during the NCBM Annual Meeting, and Ford and other African American mayors throughout the United States enthusiastically welcomed the international mayors to S t. Louis. From the beginning, it was agreed that the NCBM and Union Des Villes Africans (UVA), the organization of African Mayors, would be the two founding organizations, Members of both organizations would automatically become members of the new World Conference of Mayors, Inc. From that organizational meeting, Ford was elected Founding President, along with a Board of Directors, and staff headed by Michelle Kourouma. In the fall of 1984, The World Conference of Mayors was incorporated by Attorney George Howell in the state of Georgia. The WCM first Annual Convention and Board Meeting was convened in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. The World Conference of Mayors' march toward becoming a United Nations of Cities had begun. This global organization of Mayors from throughout the world is a non ­ profit, non-partisan organization. The primary objective of The World Conference of Mayors is to stimulate positive and constructive relations between mayors internationally, based on interlocking interests and concerns. Through a network of international municipal associations, mayors and units of local governments, The World Conference of Mayors plans, designs, and manages an international, intergovernmental communication system, through its promotion of seven fundamental goals: Trust, Trade, Tourism, Technology, Treasury, Training, and Twin city programs and services between mayors and cities of the world.