Major leadership change at Birmingham Civil Rights Institute [Video]

Citing the urgency of the upcoming fall elections, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) CEO DeJuana Thompson, a long-time leader in voting rights advocacy, is leaving the position to return to Woke Vote, the 501c3 voter education and advocacy organization she founded in 2017, the institute announced Wednesday.

“Given the current state of the country, we must both protect institutions like BCRI and safeguard our democracy,” Thompson shared in a statement. “My work with Woke Vote will allow me to directly address these threats, train new organizers, and engage our communities in the fight for our fundamental rights.”

Thompson joined BCRI in 2021 and was named president and CEO in May 2022. “I love the institute,” she added.

BCRI board chair Isaac Cooper will serve as interim president and CEO, while BRCI begins a national search for a successor.

“BCRI …