City of Douglasville Mayor Rochelle Robinson Inspires CSKYWLA Students During Ninth Annual Shirley Clarke Franklin Lecture Series

By: Alicia Sands Lurry

The Honorable Rochelle Robinson, mayor of the city of Douglasville, delivered the keynote address for the Ninth Annual Shirley Clarke Franklin Lecture Series in Celebration of Women’s History Month to a captivated group of Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy (CSKYWLA) students and guests. During the lecture, Robinson, who is the first female and African-American mayor of Douglasville, shared her inspiring personal and professional journey with students, encouraging them to “bloom where you are planted” and to be kind and sisterly to one another.

The theme for this year’s lecture was “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government.” Named for former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, the Shirley Clarke Franklin Lecture Series was created by Atlanta Public Schools and the Georgia Coalition of Black Women Inc. to provide a forum for students from CSKYWLA in honor of National Women’s History Month celebrated in March.

Atlanta Public Schools Celebrates the Ninth Annual Shirley Clarke Franklin Lecture Series.

Mayor Robinson Encourages CSKYWLA Students to “Bloom Where You Are Planted.”

CSKYWLA Students Share a Selfie Moment with APS Superintendent Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen.

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