Rodney Slater to keynote Red Jacket luncheon in May
by March 31, 2024 7:21 pm 524 views
Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater.
Former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater will be the keynote speaker for City Year Little Rock’s 3rd annual Red Jacket Luncheon in May.
Held in advance of the nonprofit’s 20th anniversary this fall, the event will focus on how national service helps unify and strengthen communities. Slater currently serves on City Year’s national board of trustees.
Details about tickets and sponsorships for the Red Jacket Luncheon are available here.
“Secretary Slater is widely recognized for his inclusive and innovative approach to tackling our country’s most pressing challenges,” said Jennifer Cobb, City Year Little Rock’s senior vice president and executive director. “From his childhood in the deeply divided Arkansas Delta to an incredible career in government, he brings a unique perspective on the power of national service in building a stronger, more equitable future.”
The Red Jacket Luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8 at 11:30 a.m. in the Robinson Center’s William Grant Still Ballroom at 426 W. Markham St. Along with Slater’s keynote, the event will include student-led entertainment, a panel discussion with AmeriCorps members and a presentation of the Susan Purvis Excellence in Teaching Award. There will also be a memorial tribute to City Year Little Rock founder and board chair Bruce Moore.
As U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President Bill Clinton, Slater spearheaded historic legislative initiatives, including the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century. He was the first Black administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
Slater previously served as Arkansas assistant attorney general, Arkansas Highway Commission chairman and Arkansas State University’s director of government affairs.
He is a partner at Squire Patton and Boggs and the industry group leader of its automotive and transportation group. He is also chairman of the firm’s foundation board, which promotes the role of public service and pro bono work in law and public policy development.
He is a charter trustee of City Year, Inc. and board chair of Renew America Together, a nonprofit designed to reduce partisan division and gridlock and achieve common ground.
City Year currently has 40 AmeriCorps members serving in the Little Rock School District and Jacksonville North Pulaski School District. These 17-25-year-olds provide individual tutoring, small group instruction, skill building and after-school programming. With the nonprofit’s support, 600 students receive one-on-one intervention, and 3,700 students benefit from whole-school activities. In addition to their service as student success coaches, City Year’s AmeriCorps members complete 12 community projects each year.
City Year Little Rock has served Central Arkansas since 2004. During 2023-2024, AmeriCorps members are full-time tutors and mentors in the Little Rock School District (Chicot Elementary, Cloverdale Middle, J.A. Fair K – 8 Preparatory Academy, Mabelvale Middle and Stephens Elementary) and Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (Jacksonville Elementary School).