MLK Keynote Speaker 2024: Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms

Office of Inclusion & Engagement presents:

MLK KEYNOTE SPEAKER: MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS
Monday, January 15 at 6 p.m.
Keller Theatre • Lenfest Center for the Arts

Keisha Lance Bottoms served as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta, and the senior advisor and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. She is a visionary leader in bringing equitable outcomes to the forefront of government and commerce. Bottoms became the first Mayor in Atlanta's history to have served in all three branches of government, having previously served as a Judge and a City Council member.

For Speaker tickets
2024 Schedule of Events, please visit:
https://my.wlu.edu/office-of-inclusion-and-engagement/programs-and-events/mlk-week

W&L will host Keisha Lance Bottoms as she presents her remarks as our featured speaker for our 2024 MLK Week. Join us in the Lenfest Center for the Arts or on Zoom webinar on Monday, January 15th at 6 pm. Stay after the event for a reception with Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Bottoms served as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta, and the senior advisor and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, she is a visionary leader in bringing equitable outcomes to the forefront of government and commerce. She became the first Mayor in Atlanta's history to have served in all three branches of government, having previously served as a Judge and a City Councilmember. Sworn in on January 2, 2018, Bottoms has served as Mayor during one of the most challenging times in the history of Atlanta. In the midst of a global pandemic and a racial justice movement, she became a leading spokesperson regarding the challenges and opportunities facing cities and leaders across America.

Bottoms steadfast leadership and equity-focused philosophy have led to numerous accolades and leadership positions, including having served as the Chair of the Community Development and Housing Committee and the Census Task Force for the United States Conference of Mayors and as a Trustee for the African American Mayor's Association. She was also selected to Chair the Platform Committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention and serves as the DNC's Vice Chair of Civic Engagement and Voter Protection.

Tracing her family's roots to a slave plantation in Georgia, it was Bottoms highest honor to be named 2020 Georgian of the Year by Georgia Trend Magazine. She also was named one of Glamour Magazine's Women of the Year and was named a member of Ebony Magazine's prestigious Power 100 List. She has also been honored as a BET 100 Entertainer and Innovator of the Year and was named the Smart Cities Dive's 2020 Leader of the Year. Bottoms was also the recipient of the Distinguished Civil Rights Advocate Award presented by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law in recognition of her equity-driven leadership to help guide and protect marginalized communities.