(Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) this morning announced that J. Rodney Chesson will be his guest today when Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia addresses a Joint Session of Congress.

“I am delighted that Mr. Chesson will be able to join me on this historic occasion,” said Langevin. “As an active member of the Liberian community in Rhode Island, Mr. Chesson has worked tirelessly to inform and educate countless individuals about his native country.”

Mr. Chesson is the editor-in-chief of the Pepper Bird Magazine, a quarterly publication about Africa and African American communities. He is also an assemblyman for the Liberian Community Association of Rhode Island.

Prior to immigrating to the United States from Liberia in 1985 he served as an attorney in the Liberian government. He served on active duty in the US Army from 1986 to 1990 and was in the Army Reserves until 1994. He is currently employed by the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.

In November 2005, President Johnson Sirleaf was the first woman to be elected president on the African continent. She is a graduate of Harvard University. This is her first official visit to the United States.
 

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