Senator, Maryland State Senate, District 45, 1994-2019

President Pro Tempore, Maryland State Senate, 2007-2019

Majority Leader, Maryland State Senate, 2003-2007

Baltimore City Council, 2nd District, 1982-1987

Member, Joint Committee on Gaming Oversight, 2013-present

Member, Senate Special Committee on Ethics Reform, 2012-present

Member, Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government, 2011-present

Member, Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding, 2010-present

Member, Education Committee, Southern Legislative Caucus, 2008-present

Member, State Council on Cancer Control, 2001-present

Member, Commission to Coordinate the Study, Commemoration, and Impact of Slavery's History and Legacy in Maryland, 2000-present

Member, Maryland Correctional Enterprise Management Council, 1999-present

Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 1995-present

Member, Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, Baltimore City, 1994-present

Former Member, Audit Committee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Budget and Taxation Committee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Capital Budget Subcommittee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Committee on Pensions, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Executive Nominations Committee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Gaming Oversight Committee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Legislative Ethics Committee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Legislative Information Technology and Open Government Committee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Legislative Policy Committee, Maryland State Senate

Member, Off-Street Parking Commission, Baltimore City, 1983-87

Former Member, Pensions Subcommittee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Rules Committee, Maryland State Senate

Former Member, Spending Affordability Committee, Maryland State Senate

Member, Work Group to Review Disclosure Requirements of the Public Ethics Law, 2012-2013

Member, Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding, 2010-2012

Member, Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting, 2011-2012

Member, Work Group to Consider Gaming Expansion, 2012

Chair, Baltimore City Delegation, 1997-2010

Member, Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, Maryland State University, 2003-2010

Member, Joint Legislative Work Group to Study State, County, and Municipal Fiscal Relationships, Maryland State Legislature, 2009-2010

Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2008

Member, Maryland State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, 2004-2008

Member, Task Force on Minority Participation in the Environmental Community, 2006-2007

Member, Task Force to Study Raising the Compulsory Public School Attendance Age to 18, 2006-2007

Member, Advisory Committee on the Naming of State Facilities, Roads, and Bridges, 2005-2006

Member, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, Maryland State Legislature, 1995-2006

Member, Joint Subcommittee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Land Preservation, Maryland State Legislature, 1995-2006

Member, Special Committee on Substance Abuse, 2001-2006

Member, Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes, 2002-2005

Member, Advisory Council on Offender Employment Coordination, 2001-2004

Member, Council on Management and Productivity, 2000-2004

Member, Task Force to Study Public School Facilities, 2002-2004

Member, Joint Committee on Federal Relations, Maryland State Legislature, 1995-2003

Member, Joint Committee on Welfare Reform, Maryland State Senate, 1996-2003

Member, Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2002, 2003

Member, Special Commission on Legislative Prayer, 2003

Co-Chair, Study Panel on Funding Needs of Trauma Centers, 2001-2003

Member, Baltimore Region Rail System Plan Advisory Committee, 2001-2002

Member, Committee on Redistricting, Maryland State Senate, 2001-2002

Member, Task Force on Charitable Giving, 1996-2001

Member, Juvenile Offender Aftercare Assessment Team, 1999-2000

Member, Task Force to Study the Maryland Enterprise Zone Program, 2000

Member, Governor's Task Force on African-American Entrepreneurship in Baltimore City, 1996-1999

Member, Maryland Comprehensive Transit Plan Transit Advisory Panel, 1998-1999

Member, Study Panel to Review Economic Development Financing Programs, 1999

Vice Chair, Task Force to End Smoking in Maryland, 1999

Member, Partnership Policy Council on Block Grants, 1998

Member, Privatization Advisory Panel, Mass Transit Administration, 1997-1998

Member, Small Business Development Center Network Advisory Board, 1997

Member, Advisory Committee, Department of Secondary Education, 1985-1990

Member, Jail Industries Advisory Board, Baltimore City Jail, 1984-1988

Facilitator, Lake Clifton/Eastern Senior High School, 1998-present

Teacher, Baltimore City Public Schools, 1968-present

Work-Based Learning Manager, Baltimore City Public Schools, 1997-1998

Coordinator of Educational Opportunity Program, Lake Clifton and Eastern Senior High School, Baltimore, 1988-1994

Head, Social Studies Department, Southwestern Senior High School, 1987-1988

Coordinator of Community Affairs, Sojourner-Douglass College, 1985-1988

Principal, Dunbar Adult Evening School, 1979-1982

Head of Social Sciences Department, Lombard Junior High School, 1975-1982

Teacher, Dunbar High School, 1968-1975

Member, Board of Directors, 1 to 1: The Baltimore Mentoring Partnership, 1997-present

Member, Prince Hall Masons, 1996-present

Member, 100 Black Men of Maryland, 1994-present

Member, Committee of 100 Associated Black Charities, 1994-present

Member, Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Incorporated, 1986-present

Member, Advisory Committee, Department of Secondary Education, Morgan State University, 1985-present

Member, Eastside Neighborhood Association, 1983-present

Member, Baltimore Urban League, 1982-present

Member, Lakewood Chase Improvement Association, 1982-present

Member, Police Community Relations Council, Eastern District, 1982-present

Member, Board of Directors, East Baltimore Community Corporation, 1971-present

Life Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 1970-present

Member, Advisory Board, Youth Fair Chance, 1994-present

Member, King David Lodge 18

Member, Southern Baptist Church, present

Member, Joseph Fund Board, 1999-2001

Member, Board of Directors, RAISE, Incorporated, 1994-1997

Chair, Urban Services Agency, Baltimore City, 1985-1988

Member, Advisory Board, Johns Hopkins Medical Plan, 1985-1987

Member, Advisory Committee, National Youth Sports Program, The Johns Hopkins University, 1984-1987

Member, Board of Directors, Helping Unite Baltimore, 1985-1987

Member, Board of Overseers, Baltimore Polytechnic High School, 1984-1987