Regional Administrator Denise Leggett Standard Bearer Public Stewardship Awardee

Group photo: Left to right - Lynniece Oliver-Washington, Keyra Lynne-Johnson, Dr. Valerie Montgomery-Rice, Madison James, Calvin Vismale, Jr., Mayor Ryshonda Harper-Beecham and HUD SE Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett.

Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett Keynote address to conference attendees.

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund during the 18th Annual Creating Opportunity Conference recognizing women in leadership recently met in Atlanta where HUD Region IV Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett was honored as the national Standard Bearer for Public Stewardship Awardee before over 300 attendees.

Also honored for their outstanding leadership were Dr. Valerie Montgomery-Rice, President and Dean, Morehouse School of Medicine, as Trailblazer for Health Equity, Keyra Lynne Johnson, Managing Director, Global Diversity and Inclusion, Delta Airlines, as Corporate Advocate for Inclusion; Ryshonda Harper-Beecham, first African American Mayor of Pelahatchie, Mississippi, Pioneer in Public Service Award and Lynniece Oliver-Washington, District Attorney, 10th Judicial Circuit, Bessemer, Alabama, as Crusader for Justice Award.

The program was hosted by Madison James, award winning broadcast journalist on B95.5 FM and the welcome was provided by Calvin Vismale, Jr, Executive Director, Rainbow PUSH-Citizenship Education Fund and Juanita Craft, provided the musical tributes. Highlighting the program was the special recognition ceremony honoring Reverend Doctor C.T. Vivian by presenter Reverend Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Each of the awardees provided stirring comments of how their life was shaped by their circumstances, choices and those that influenced them along their life journey. Janis Mathis, Executive Director of the National Council of Negro Women introduced HUD Regional Administrator Leggett who provided the keynote address as the Standard Bearer for Public Stewardship awardee and shared her life story and goals going forward.

The women in leadership program was part of the 18th Annual Creating Opportunities two-day conference addressing economic equity.

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