The Honorable Karen Freeman-Wilson began serving as president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League in January 2020. She brings a passion for equity and social justice to the organization, which works to achieve equity for black families and communities through social and economic empowerment.
Having served in the public arena most of her professional life, Freeman-Wilson has deep experience in addressing issues that impact urban communities. She was mayor of her hometown of Gary, Indiana, from 2012 through 2019. She was the first female to lead the city of Gary and the first African-American female mayor in the state of Indiana. Her mayoral accomplishments included job creation, completion of a $100 million airport runway relocation, and the development of key areas in the city.
She also previously served as Indiana Civil Rights Commission and presiding judge of the Gary City Court. She also served as CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and Executive Director of the Drug Court Institute.
Freeman-Wilson is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. She is the past President of the National League of Cities and past Chairperson of the Criminal and Social Justice Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. In addition, she is a member of Israel C.M.E. Church; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; the Links, Inc.; the NAACP; the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, and the Indiana Bar.
She and her husband, Carmen Wilson II, have a blended family of four children.
N’DIGO sat down with Karen Freeman-Wilson and talked about her goals as the new President of the Chicago Urban League and this years Golden Fellowship Dinner.
N’DIGO: Karen, you are the new president of the Chicago Urban League; what are your top three goals?
Karen Freeman-Wilson: My three top goals for the Chicago Urban League stem from our strategic plan update. I strive to secure our status as a trusted convener in the Black community; to support programs in the areas of leadership development (IMPACT), Housing and Financial Empowerment; Entrepreneurship, Economic Development; Workforce Development; Youth and Family Services, and Research and Policy that reduces the racial wealth gap and fight institutional racism and to make the CUL a great place work on behalf of the community.
You were the Mayor of Gary, Indiana; what experiences do you bring as Mayor to the Urban League?
Serving at the Chicago Urban League has many similarities to serving as Mayor. I have the opportunity to work with a team to make our community better. At the same time, we have faced historical challenges in both places. Finally, both positions bring gratification in the wake of success. The great news about the League is that I don’t have to worry about garbage or potholes, although I am still responsible for snow at the League. (LOL)
What are the major problems of the city?
The major challenges faced by city residents include poverty, crime, and educational inequities. Many of these issues have a nexus to the cities’ history of racism and discrimination. Racial inequities continue to challenge the city and create poverty, crime, and hopelessness.
Tell me about this year’s Golden Fellowship Dinner.
This year’s GFD will be a night to remember. We will celebrate the phenomenal contributions of Dr. Helene Gayle, Dr. Walter Massey, and Professor Nikole Hannah Jones and the work of the League in the community. We will also enjoy the old and new sounds of Charlie Wilson. It will be a good time for a good cause.
The League has been responsible for corporate relationships with Black enterprises. How do you see corporate retaining today to Black enterprise?
The League has long understood the importance of forging a relationship with the business community. As investors and employers, businesses are responsible for ensuring that residents of our city have an equal opportunity to thrive. Some members of the business community understand this as corporate responsibility and have demonstrated commitment. Others believe that others are responsible. The League is uniquely positioned to encourage an alliance between private, community-based, and governmental entities for the benefit of citizens. The Chicago Urban League readily embraces this role.
How do you view the national political landscape?
The national political landscape is especially unnerving. Political leaders have promoted a climate of intolerance. That intolerance has filtered down to the state and local levels. The latest example of this intolerance and political recklessness is the comments made by gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey about the city of Chicago. These comments are primarily motivated by race and partisan politics. We can be political opponents without spewing hatred.
The League is nonpartisan, but we are looking to administrations at all levels of government who will address disinvestment and inequity experienced by Black residents.
How would you mentor young women today?
I have been blessed to mentor young people for most of my adult life. When I mentor young women, I always encourage them to know their worth, respect themselves and demand respect from others. I am also careful not to judge. Young people have so much pressure from social media and other external forces. We can not hold them to our standards. I always cringe when someone starts a sentence with “Back in the day. . . “ because we are no longer back in that day. We must equip our young people with wisdom for today and not yesterday.
What do you like most about Chicago?
I love “summertime Chi.” I also love the heart and commitment of people in our city and how they have embraced me as a newcomer to the city.
What do you do in your leisure time?
I am a huge fan of live music and love traveling with my family. COVID also allowed me to rediscover my love of cooking. I make a great shrimp creole and crab cakes and have mastered lobster thermidor. Of course, cabbage is a mainstay as well.
Who do you most admire?
I admire my mother, Delores Freeman, and my daughter, Jordan Wilson. My mother gave me my love for the community. As a six-time stroke survivor, my mother has taught me the lesson of faith and resilience. I love my daughter’s tenacity as someone who has never taken the word “no” to heart. She is also quick to forgive and give people grace—she aspires to be a good friend.
