“Able” Mable Thomas
“Able” Mable Thomas for over 30 years has been at the forefront fighting for freedom, justice, and equality for all Georgians and disenfranchised people around the world. Her emergence onto the political stage began in 1984 when she was chosen as a presidential delegate for candidate Reverend Jesse Jackson at the Democratic National Convention held in San Francisco, California.
Able Mabel is the founder of the Greater Vine City Opportunities Program Inc., which provides youth and family enrichment and educational opportunities for high-risk urban youth throughout Atlanta’s Westside. She purchased the Historic English Avenue Elementary School in the English Avenue community. The building will be converted into a multi-million dollar state of the art, environmentally friendly, high-tech, global community center. This 3.2 acres development will also include Community Gardens.
During her 26 years in office, Mable was the youngest member of the House in 1985. In 1997, she sought another public office, winning the Atlanta City Council, Post 1 At-Large seat which allowed her to focus on quality of life issues most impacting people throughout Atlanta.
Representative “Able” Mable Thomas is the convener of the 12 Mothers of the Reproductive Justice Movement in America, which coined the phrase“reproductive justice” and set up the framework for principle application. She is one of the founders of the organization, Women of African Descent for Reproductive Justice and is currently the executive director. The conference took place in Chicago, June 1994. This is the 30th anniversary of this remarkable accomplishment.
During the 2020 session of the GA General Assembly, as an answer to the maternal mortality crisis, she along with other black women legislators passed the expansion of Medicaid for postpartum mothers. Placing $20 million dollars in the budget which included $500,000 for Morehouse School of Medicine which leveraged about $60 million for research, training and community development.
She was instrumental in ensuring the passage of landmark legislation requiring mammograms, pap smears and prostate exams to be covered. As the first mandated benefit in the State of Georgia, it required that insurance companies pay for mammograms, pap smears and prostate cancer tests as a regular part of the medical benefit plan.
Representative Thomas authored the Rape Shield Legislation that makes it harder for women’s past sexual history to be included in rape trials - unless there was a past relationship between the two - giving the case a chance to be tried on its merit.
She is the Author of the first updated Hit and Run bill that was passed and signed by the Governor in May 2019. As a member of the Atlanta City Council she was responsible for passing an Affordable Housing Policy Bill, obtaining $4.9 million for Atlanta Green Space Conservation and was a major stakeholder in community efforts to secure the Historic Westside Revitalization Project.
Representative Thomas was the Chair of the study committee on Minority Participation, Diversity and Inclusion in the $9 Billion Dollar Film and Television Industry in Georgia.
Able Mabel Thomas was a Member of the Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Technology, Economic Development & Tourism and Congressional Reapportionment.
Able Mabel was outspoken In the Georgia General Assembly, she was always willing and ABLE to stand up, speak out and pass innovative legislation, whether it was women’s reproductive health, educational reform, living wages, racial profiling, economic development, access to health care or senior issues. Her passion has been around women, family and health issues,thereby leading the charge to prevent Black women from dying at childbirth. Georgia leads the nation in maternal morbidity. As a community organizer, civil and human rights activist or elected official, she has been a consistent force for good. She is a sought after Motivational Speaker at conferences, colleges and churches and has traveled throughout Africa, Asia and Europe.
“Able” Mable Thomas is the recipient of several prestigious Awards:
2024 – Georgia General Assembly Women Caucus Leadership Award
2023 – City of Atlanta Proclamations & Trophies Awards
2023 – Grace Towne Hamilton/Evelyn Gibson Social Justice Award, Clark Atlanta University
2023 – Ric Mathis Leadership Award
2022 - Let Us Make Man, Lifetime Achievement Award
2022 – Women Engaged “Ella Baker” Change Maker Award
2022 – Samuel H. Johnson Education Award
2022 – Lindsay St. Park Merit Award
2021 – Bright Futures Award
2020 – The NAACP Jubilee Award
2019 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Forward Award
2019 – The Women of Color Award
2019 – Sister Reach Visionary Award to the Convenor of the 12 Mothers of The Reproductive Justice Movement in America