Saturday, March 24 on The Local Take on Jazz 91.9 WCLK, I talk about Women's History Month with Attorney Bettieann Hart, a member of the Georgia Coalition of Black Women. This year the coalition will honor one of their own, Dr. Rita Jackson Samuels. Ms. Hart explains that while Dr. Samuels got her start in the civil rights arena working for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she went on to become the first African American woman to serve on the personal staff for a Governor of the State of Georgia.
Dr. Samuels followed that governor, Jimmy Carter from the state house, where she served the Coordinator of the Governor's Council on Human Relations, to the White House where she worked on the staff as a consultant. She experienced many firsts including her behind the scenes work for the installation of a portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Georgia state capitol building. She initiated this due to her awareness of the symbolic importance.
After returning to Atlanta, she served on Mayor Andrew Young's staff as the director of his Office of Citizens and Community Affairs. Throughout her storied career, Dr. Samuels always made sure that African-American women had a voice and were included in any initiatives that supported women.
On March 30 at the Carter Center, Dr. Samuels will be honored by the Georgia Coalition of Black Women and Women Flying High, LLC for her work of service.
For more information and tickets email iask@bellsouth.netor 678.612.6497
