Our Mission
The Lucius D. Amerson, Bridge Builder Foundation commemorates the life and groundbreaking achievements of Lucius D. Amerson, the first Black sheriff elected in the South post-Reconstruction. Our mission is to uphold his legacy through education, advocacy, and historical preservation.
Vision Statement
“Our vision is to honor the legacy of Black sheriffs, whose service to their communities dates back to 1869, by advancing their contributions, preserving their history, and fostering a future where African American officers in the Office of Sheriff continue to thrive as pillars of support, leadership, and justice in our communities”
Executive Director
Anthony E. Amerson is a distinguished figure with a rich background in international affairs and a notable lineage in American law enforcement. As a retired Foreign Service Contracting Officer with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), he demonstrated a commitment to global service with assignments in Pakistan, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia. Beyond his diplomatic career, Mr. Amerson is the son of the late Lucius D. Amerson, a trailblazer in law enforcement who made history as the first Black sheriff elected in the South after Reconstruction. Anthony himself is an accomplished author, having penned the book “Great Courage: The First Black Sheriff Elected in the South Since Reconstruction.”
Educationally, Mr. Amerson holds two degrees—a B.A. in Accounting from Tuskegee University (1990) and an M.A. in Procurement and Acquisition Management from Webster University (2003).
His dedication to preserving the legacy of Black Sheriffs is evident in his initiation of the Lucius D. Amerson Bridge Builder Foundation in 2022. The foundation advocates for the unique challenges faced by African American sheriffs, serves as an archival depository on Black elected sheriffs past and present, and awards scholarships to high school graduates pursuing careers in workforce development in trade fields.
Bridge Builder Training Academy
The foundation will utilize its Bridge Builders Trade Academy (BBT) to collaborate with stakeholders and raise funds to offer scholarships to graduating high school students as a career alternative. The primary objective of BBT is to connect graduating high school students from marginalized communities with job training opportunities in various trades. By partnering with corporate shareholders in the trade sector, we aim to intervene positively in the lives of troubled youth, redirecting them towards constructive career pathways and reducing their involvement in crime. The program will teach young people skills in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and more. These programs will serve as interventions to redirect troubled youth towards positive and productive career pathways, reducing their involvement in crime and supporting their personal and professional development.