Mayor Derrick R. Wood Represents Dumfries in Washington and Receives National Recognition at AAMA 2026

April 10, 2026

There are moments when leadership is not just about showing up for your town. It is about making sure your town is represented in the rooms where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and the future is being shaped.

That is what the 2026 Annual Conference of the African American Mayors Association represented for me.

Held in Washington, D.C., this gathering brought together African American mayors from across the country, along with policy leaders, business partners, and changemakers, to talk plainly about the issues cities are facing right now and the solutions local leaders are working to advance. The central question was simple: What does leadership look like in this moment?

From where I stand, the answer is clear.

Leadership looks like action.
Leadership looks like collaboration.
Leadership looks like courage.
And leadership looks like mayors who are willing to stand on the frontlines for the people they serve.

That is why this conference mattered.

For me, attending AAMA 2026 was not just about being present at a national event. It was about making sure Dumfries had a seat at the table. Too often, people underestimate small towns. They see the size and miss the significance. But I have said before that people do not always see what is there. They see what they are programmed to see. And part of leadership is helping people see differently.

Dumfries may be 1.6 square miles, but our vision is not small.

We are doing the work of transformation. We are building a stronger future. We are fighting for economic opportunity, infrastructure investment, community visibility, and long-term impact. So whenever I have the opportunity to represent Dumfries in national spaces, I take that responsibility seriously, because I know what is at stake.

During this year’s conference, I was also honored to receive the Reginald F. Lewis Award.

I receive that recognition with gratitude, but also with perspective. Because no award means much if it is not connected to service. For me, this honor is not just about an individual moment. It is a reflection of the work, the relationships, and the responsibility that come with leadership. It is a reminder that what we are building in Dumfries is being seen, and that local leadership still matters.

That matters to me because I have always believed that local government is where people feel leadership the most. It is where quality of life is shaped. It is where investment either shows up or it does not. It is where trust is built or broken. And it is where communities either stay overlooked or begin to become unforgettable.

That is why gatherings like AAMA are important.

They give mayors the chance to learn from one another, sharpen ideas, build partnerships, and return home better equipped to lead. The issues may look different from city to city, but the responsibility is the same: solve problems, create opportunity, and move your community forward.

I was proud to represent Dumfries in that space. I was proud to stand among leaders from across the country who are doing the work. And I was proud to bring back not just recognition, but renewed focus.

Because for me, leadership has never been about just holding a title. It has always been about impact.

And I remain committed to making sure Dumfries is not just in the conversation, but in position.

We are still building.
We are still growing.
And we are still showing what is possible when leadership is rooted in vision, purpose, and service.