ATLANTA — State Rep. Tyrone Brooks on Monday urged elected officials across Georgia to help Morris Brown College overcome a financial crisis that is threatening to close the school’s doors.
Brooks, president of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, is holding the group’s winter conference at the embattled historically Black college this weekend to bring attention to the crisis. He made his plea alongside Interim President Stanley Pritchett, asking lawmakers statewide, regardless of political affiliation or race, to give $1,000 from their campaign coffers to the institution as a “show of faith in Morris Brown’s courage and commitment.”
“We plan to spend a great deal of time focused on Morris Brown College,” said Brooks, an Atlanta Democrat, who says he is writing a $1,000 check this weekend to the school. “We are here for the sole purpose of assisting Morris Brown College in its quest to raise funds, build enrollment and meet all the challenges this great institution is facing.”
Brooks said he expects 100 to 200 people will attend this weekend’s conference. Membership in GABEO totals more than 700, and Georgia boasts among the highest number of Black elected officials in the country.
Brooks said that since many Georgia elected officials run unopposed each year, they have leftover funds that they cannot spend on themselves and usually donate to charity — money that could easily be given to Morris Brown, he said.
