Education
New England Law School, J.D.,
Boston, MA (2005)
Macalester College, B.A. Journalism
and Communications, St. Paul, MN
(1991)
Selected Professional
Experience
Legislative Affairs Director & Senior
Counsel, Massachusetts League of
Community Health Centers
(2008-Present)
Senior Policy Advisor, Corporate
Affairs Division, Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Massachusetts (1998-2008);
previous leadership positions in IT,
Audit and Customer Service
Co-founder, Afrocentric Productions
(artist management, event
production), Boston (1998-2006)
Founder & CEO, Boston Agenda
Consultants (speakers bureau),
Boston (1991-1996)
Certifications, Licenses
Member of the Massachusetts BAR
Graduate of the Executive Leadership
Council’s (ELC) Institute for
Leadership Development &
Research; Strengthening the Pipeline
(October, 2005), a national program
aimed at training and developing
high potential, African American
business executives.
Diversity Trainer, certified by AntiDefamation League (1996),
conducted trainings for over 1,000
people in both public and private
sector.
Honors, Awards, and Speeches
Betsey K. Cooke Advocacy MVP
Award, National Association for
Community Health Centers (2013)
Keynote Speaker, Malcolm X
Breakfast, Black Community
Information Center, Boston (2013)
“Young Civic Leaders Award” (2013)
MICHAEL A. CURRY, ESQ.
President, Boston NAACP (2011 – Present)
Unit #2045
In November 2010, Michael Curry was elected
President of the Boston Branch of the NAACP, after
over a decade of service. Since Mr. Curry’s election,
more than 2,500 new members have joined the branch,
monthly membership meetings are at capacity and a
younger generation of leaders has become active in the
organization. He successfully executed a strategy to
strengthen the influence and voice of the NAACP in the
Greater Boston area by rebuilding partnerships and reengaging city officials. In 2011, he
instituted mandatory, quarterly leadership trainings for his Executive Committee and
negotiated with a local contractor and owner of a community mall to build the Boston
NAACP a new office in Roxbury, the heart of Boston’s black community—at no cost.
Over 100 residents come through the office weekly for forums, discussions, meetings,
trainings, volunteer activities or to file a discrimination complaint. The Boston NAACP’s
Annual Freedom Fund Dinners now host over 700 guests and draws many of the state’s
elected and appointed officials, business leaders and activists.
In November 2012, Attorney Curry was reelected as President after several months of
strengthening the membership base of the organization. As a result, in 2013 the Boston
NAACP received the Chairman’s Trophy for the highest membership increase in the
country (2011-2012) and the Lucille Black Award for the highest total membership
production (2012). Michael’s intense focus on Civil Rights and his passion for the history
and legacy of the NAACP affords him the opportunity to serve as a keynote speaker on a
wide range of issues.
Described by the Boston Business Journal as a “Straight Talker,” Michael has focused
intently in the area of diversity and urged the public and private sector to wipe out the
taint of race and finally embrace a more diverse workforce. Under his leadership, the
branch launched an annual discrimination training, in collaboration with several
investigative and enforcement agencies. The Boston NAACP serves as a leader on many
of the critical issues impacting our communities, such as racial profiling, criminal justice,
health disparities, economic development, poverty, youth violence, workforce
development and education.
In 2012, Michael launched the inaugural Boston NAACP’s Summer Job – Pipeline to
Leadership Program, where NAACP youth receive a stipend to support the NAACP’s
activities, participate in community meetings and receive training in the key areas for
effective leadership. Over the past two years, Pipeline participants registered over 2,000
new voters, engaged over 20,000 residents on the importance of voting and launched an
anti-violence campaign. Michael has also been acknowledged for leading local
redistricting efforts that resulted in more minority-majority seats on both the state and
local level. Last year, the City of Boston adopted a redistricting plan that was based in
large part on the map proposed by the NAACP.
Keynote Speaker, Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA) and Blacks in
Government Annual Event,
Massachusetts (February, 2013)
Angel of Mercy Award, Ebenezer
Baptist Church (2012)
Collaborative Spirit Award, Young
Black Women’s Society (2011)
Citizen of The Year Award, Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity, Inc, Iota Chi Chapter
(2007)
The Black Pages of New England’s
100 Most Influential People of
African Descent (2007 Edition).
Community Service Award, Action for
Boston Community Development
(2005)
Top 60 graduates of Massachusetts
Boy’s State Program (2005)
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Roxbury Community College,
Trustee; RCC Investigation
Committee Chairman (investigated
allegations of state and federal
violations)
Higher Ground, Board of Directors
Massachusetts Budget and Policy
Center, Board of Directors
Kids Count, Board of Directors
Former Board Chairman, Harvard
Street Neighborhood Health Center
Boston Public School Quality
Working Group, Member
Mayor of Brockton’s Task Force,
Member (2009)
Brockton Redevelopment Authority
(MA), Vice Chair (2009-2011)
NAACP: Leadership 500, presenter;
Image Awards Committee, Member.
Urban League of Eastern
Massachusetts, Member
Urban League of Eastern
Massachusetts’ Young Professional’s
Network, Advisor
Attorney Curry credits the success of the branch to the mentorship of long time NAACP
leaders, such as former New England Area Conference Presidents Charlotte Nelson and
Darnell Williams, as well as all of the living past Presidents of the Boston NAACP who are
still engaged in branch activities. He reminds his mostly under 45 Executive Committee,
“If you know the beginning well, the end won’t trouble you,” and urges them to develop
their own “civil rights compass” through service and a study of our issues. On the
national level, he is an active participant in the annual Religious Leader and Leadership
500 Summits, and credits the summit and new leadership on the national level for
inspiring his 2010 run for President.
Michael is also the Legislative Affairs Director and Senior Counsel for the Massachusetts
League of Community Health Centers. In this role, Michael manages state and federal
advocacy for the 50 community health centers throughout the Commonwealth, serving
more than 850,000 patients in over 285 communities. Based on his work, he has been
recognized locally and nationally for his leadership in health care policy and frequently
requested as a panelist on the issue of health reform. Prior, Michael served as Senior
Policy Advisor for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, where he worked on the
passage of the 2006 landmark Massachusetts Health Care Reform law, as well as
initiatives aimed at ending health disparities. He also has over 20 years of experience in
community relations, public affairs and internal communications.
Michael’s work and service to the community has taken him from Blue Hill in Roxbury, to
Beacon Hill (Massachusetts State House) to Capitol Hill. Mr. Curry is
a product of busing and vividly recalls riding the school buses in the
early 1970s from Roxbury to Charlestown in Boston, as white
protesters and the Boston Police lined the streets and rocks pelted
the bus. He grew up in a racially divided Boston and witnessed the
NAACP’s efforts to address systemic racism and eliminate the many
forms of discrimination. That work continues today.
Michael was raised by a single mother in Boston’s Lenox Street
Housing Projects and then on Quincy Street in Roxbury—both communities
overwhelmed by drugs, gangs, poverty and unemployment.
He credits his
accomplishments to having a strong, black mother from Moundsville, Alabama, who
grounded him in his Christian faith at Ebenezer Baptist Church and Charles Street A.M.E.
Church. He is now a member of Morning Star Baptist Church in Mattapan,
Massachusetts.