Shirley Franklin served as Mayor of Atlanta from 2002 -2009 as the first woman to be elected the position. This period of unprecedented population growth afforded her to partner and collaborate with many local and regional community leaders in addressing current urban challenges including urban planning, economic development and infrastructure. Her community service over the 35 years in Atlanta spans the arts, homelessness and higher education. Currently she holds the position of William and Camille Cosby Professorship at Spellman College in Atlanta, co chairs the Regional Commission on Homelessness, serves as Vice Chair of the Center of Civil and Human Rights and serves on the board of the United Nations Institute For Training and Research. Franklin holds a Bachelors of Arts and a Master of Arts in Sociology conferred by Howard University and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively.

The Imagining Symposium culminates the The T. Gordon Little Lecture Series in Imagination, established in honor of celebrated Atlanta interior designer T. Gordon Little (1915-2004). This series celebrates Little’s unwavering pursuit of imaginative design and his remarkable generosity of spirit. Free and open to public, thanks to a generous grant from the T. Gordon Little Foundation.

More information regarding speakers for Saturday, March 13 and registration (required for Saturday) >>