The Louis Stokes Symposium will have a fitting speaker this year. Marcia L. Fudge’s work parallels that of the man who the event honors.

The famed Stokes dedicated a third of his life to representing Cleveland, and his entire existence to representing justice. A graduate from Western Reserve University, he went on to practice law and become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He still serves Case Western Reserve University’s campus as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.

The repertoire of cases and investigations he served on is extensive, but he maintained a strong stance, no matter the trial. Another person who has utilized her influential position to do great things is Fudge.
“Congresswoman Fudge continues to build upon a quickly-earned reputation among her colleagues of being a hard worker and a knowledgeable legislator with leadership qualities.” This remark comes straight from Stokes’ mouth, and is one of many reasons why Fudge was selected to speak at the Louis Stokes Leadership Symposium this year.

The annual symposium asks prominent figures who have taken exceptional efforts in serving their roles as leaders to reflect on how public service truly affects the people it is meant to help. It is a free public forum that provides a correlation between social issues and the community by giving local Clevelanders and keynote speakers a platform to convene.

This event is usually geared toward events in Cleveland and surrounding areas, which is another reason why Fudge qualifies as an appropriate speaker. Hailing from Warrensville Heights, she has the experience and desire “to do the people’s work,” as she says. She was the town’s first African-American female mayor, and currently serves on several House Committees and Caucus seats. The results of her various efforts have earned her the people’s vote on numerous occasions, and she continues to work as a devoted representative to this day.

The Louis Stokes Leadership Symposium featuring Congresswoman Fudge will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, in Amasa Stone Chapel, located at 10940 Euclid Avenue.