Celebrating Atlanta’s 58th Mayor

Today the City of Atlanta held a very meaningful event to acknowledge the incredible leadership of our 58th Mayor, Shirley Franklin. Highlights of the day included renaming a portion of Central Avenue as Shirley C. Franklin Blvd, as well as renaming Westside Park for our esteemed former Mayor.  Today’s ceremony featured moving testimony from those whose lives and leadership have been inspired by the wise mentorship of Mayor Franklin, notably including Mayor Andre Dickens, State Rep. Inga Willis, and Courtney English. 

Franklin is the first and only woman ever to serve as Atlanta’s mayor, following her dozen years of public service staffing both Mayor Maynard Jackson and Mayor Andrew Young. She did groundbreaking work during her two terms as mayor.  Two notable achievements were tackling the incredibly costly modernization of the city’s sewer system (earning her the title “Sewer Mayor”) followed by an ambitious dream of offering every city high school graduate who successfully completed her program with a fully paid college scholarship.  She of course raised the money to fund both of these efforts and personally mentored the students on Saturday mornings! 

Shirley C. Franklin is revered here at home and recognized nationally and internationally as a visionary, tireless in her efforts to contribute to building a bright future for one and all whose lives she has touched.  Today we saw and felt the outpouring of our collective love and respect for a remarkable leader who continues to this very day in her commitment to build new generations of leaders. Thank you, Shirley.  Today we all cheered when the sign Shirleyville was presented to her by city leaders!