The president and CEO of one of the nation’s historic leading civil rights organization, Charles Steele Jr., will step down at the end of the month.
The Atlanta-based Southern Christian Leadership Conference said Charles Steele, Jr.’s last day will be Aug. 31, after the SCLC’s 65th Annual Conference, which is being held Friday and Saturday.
The organization was cofounded by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and historically has been a leader in the struggle for social justice and equality. The SCLC was established n 1957 with King as its first president.
Ask why Steele was stepping down, Jerry Thomas, a spokesman for Steele, said, “He’s 78 years old. He’s at the stage of his life that he wants to do something that he’s passionate about and committed to doing.” Steele wants to put a focus on affordable housing and will continue serving as president emeritus in an advisory role, according to a news release from SCLC.
“I have been at the SCLC for almost 20 years,” Steele said in the release. “We have to take the movement to another level, and I am just extending myself to be a part of the next level. Being in my current position, I cannot take it to the next level. ... We will still be in civil rights, but we are dealing with fulfilling the dream of Dr. King through affordable housing and getting people in the position to own homes. More than ever, people are being evicted, and we must provide a solution.”
Steele served as president and CEO of the organization for about five years and took a three-year hiatus in 2009. He returned in 2012.
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