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To honor, recognize, and celebrate the life of Lester F. Wright, 1938 - 2025
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WHEREAS, Lester “Les” Mae Frazier was born on May 7th, 1938, in Keiser, Arkansas to Hannah Sellers and Lester Fraizer; and
WHEREAS, Les Wright was a lifelong advocate for women and children founding three organizations focused on equity and enriching residents’ quality of life. The first was the Alliance of Black Women in 1982, to encourage black women to seek political office, followed by Corporate Sisters, in 1995, a networking group to support and empower black women working in corporate and public sectors. In 1992, she created Strategies Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), a nationally recognized nonprofit clearinghouse for community-based initiatives, focused on violence prevention. Its signature event, the SAVE awards, showcased videos written by Columbus public school children to promote peaceful conflict resolution; and
WHEREAS, in 1990, Les Wright became the first Black woman to serve on Columbus City Council, elected twice and serving as President Pro Tem in her second term. During her time in office, she garnered national recognition for her innovative work with law enforcement, juvenile courts, and faith leaders to address school truancy and youth violence through midnight basketball in local church gymnasiums. A program that is today, still in operation through the Columbus Department of Recreation & Parks. The success of the program led to her appointment as co-chair of the National League of Cities’ Task Force on Youth, Education, and Families; and
WHEREAS, Les Wright had an ability to transcend labels, which made her comfortable with people of every income, age, class, education-level, and status, in a single day in Columbus, she could have breakfast with the mayor, lunch at an all-you-can-eat cafeteria, and dinner at a new downtown restaurant; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus extends its sincere condolences to the friends and family of Lester F. Wrig...
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