Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is one of nine progressive leaders selected to join the NewDEAL, a 150-person network working to enact "pro-growth progressive solutions" in communities across the country.
Woodfin joins other Alabamians: House minority leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, and Steven Reed, Montgomery County probate judge, in the group.
The NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders) is led by honorary co-chairs U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, and former Democratic Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware.
Woodfin was selected out of more than 1,000 nominations.
Woodfin and his peers in the new class of leaders were recognized for their "unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity, as they work to move their communities forward in the new economy and reject the idea that leaders can or should want to turn the clock back to a prior era," the NewDEAL stated in a press release.
These network will work to build on NewDEAL's The Way Forward, a policy agenda released last fall with ideas to address the most pressing issues facing Americans today.
"Anyone wondering where to look for a bench of talented rising Democrats should take note of the NewDEAL's innovative network of results-oriented and forward-thinking leaders,". Warner and Markell said in a statement. "We are excited to welcome Mayor Woodfin as part of another class of innovative pro-growth progressives from throughout the country who are committed to meeting the demands of a changing world and rebuilding trust in government. We look forward to promoting his work as part of NewDEAL's policy agendas, while giving him the chance to learn from other leaders and work with them to set a vision for the future."
NewDEAL Leaders have found broad support for their work, with 98 percent of members winning elections in 2016 and 2017, across red, blue, and purple states, including ten elected to higher office. Four members were elevated to statewide office, including in the swing states of Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
"I congratulate Mayor Woodfin on joining this special network," Daniels said in a statement. "It's a well-deserved honor for a leader who is both visionary and pragmatic, with the ability to make major and lasting improvements for the people of Birmingham. I, and the other NewDEAL Leaders across the country, will learn from all he has to offer to our work promoting a pro-growth progressive policy agenda, and I know he will benefit from interacting with other leaders and policy experts."
Elected last November, Woodfin won knocking on doors in each of the city's 99 neighborhoods and prioritizing neighborhood revitalization. He also supports attracting, developing, and retaining talent in Birmingham to make the city an economic hub that fosters a regional culture of innovation and inclusion. He has emphasized the importance of small business, making it a priority to catalyze entrepreneurship and create opportunities for emerging women and minority-owned companies.
"I am excited to be part of NewDEAL's impressive network of public servants across the nation dedicated to expanding opportunity for everyone in the new economy while making government work more effectively," Woodfin said in a statement. "Joining this organization presents a great way to discover policies that are working across the country and I believe the lessons we are learning in Birmingham have something to offer to other leaders looking to improve their communities."