During its annual Visionary Dinner gala, Southface recognized former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin’s outstanding achievement in realizing a sustainable future.
The Argon Award for Excellence in Sustainability was presented at Southface’s annual Visionary Dinner held at Flourish, Atlanta on September 12, 2018. The award recognized Shirley Franklin and her contributions to environmental sustainability initiatives and equity in the City of Atlanta, in addition to her ongoing work with Purpose Built Communities that builds on that legacy of good governance. The Visionary Dinner is an annual event that raises awareness of and guarantees a secure future for Southface’s continued work in creating vibrant, healthy communities for all.
In 2002, Atlantans elected Shirley Franklin to the first African-American woman to be mayor of a major southern city. Franklin served two terms as mayor, during which the City of Atlanta experienced unprecedented growth and afforded Mayor Franklin the opportunity to partner and collaborate with many local and regional leaders in addressing urban policy challenges, including urban planning, economic development and infrastructure.
She is best known for tackling major government operations and ethics reform, launching the Atlanta Beltline, planning and executing over $5 billion in airport and water infrastructure improvements, leading the acquisition of the Morehouse College Collection of Martin Luther King Jr. Papers, launching the Atlanta Regional Commission on Homelessness, and developing successful private and public sector partnerships and alliances.
Currently, Franklin is executive chairman of Purpose Built Communities, a non-profit consulting firm that works side-by-side with local leaders across the nation to plan and implement holistic neighborhood revitalization efforts.
2000 Ray Anderson, Interface 2001 Arthur Blank, The Home Depot 2002 Dr. William Chase, Emory University 2003 R. E. “Ted” Turner, The Turner Foundation 2004 Jim Jacoby, The Jacoby Group and 2004 Pam Sessions, Hedgewood Properties, Inc. 2005 Sam A. Williams, Metro Atlanta Chamber 2006 Martin Melaver, Melaver, Inc. 2007 Edward Callaway, Callaway Gardens 2008 TOTO USA 2009 The Coca-Cola Company 2010 Whole Foods Market 2011 United Parcel Service 2012 Laura Turner Seydel and Rutherford Seydel 2013 The Kendeda Fund 2014 Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed 2015 Cox Conserves 2016 Dennis Creech 2017 Steve and Marie Nygren
For more information about Southface or to arrange an interview with our President Andrea Pinabell, members of the media should contact: communications@southface.org.
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