The Hon. David N. Dinkins, the 106th Mayor of New York City, will be the keynote speaker at this year's LEO Banquet, Saturday, April 7 at the Concourse Hotel in Madison. Mr. Dinkins, who is currently a Senior Fellow of the Columbia Center for Urban Research and Policy and a Professor in the Practice of Public Affairs at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, will speak on the topic "American Justice on Trial."

The Banquet will bring together current students in the LEO (Legal Education Opportunities) Program with alumni, faculty, and any friends of the organization who would like to attend, in celebration of the organization's 33rd anniversary. To make a reservation, call Theresa Dougherty at the Law School, 608-262-0618. The cost is $30 per person. Social hour begins at 5:30, and dinner at 7 p.m. The deadline for receiving payment and menu choice is March 29.

Keynote speaker David Dinkins is a 1950 honors graduate of Howard University, and earned his LL.B. degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1956. He maintained a private law practice from 1956 through 1975, and began his career in public service in 1966 in the New York State Assembly, where he helped create the SEEK program, which provides low-income students with grants and educational assistance.

Mr. Dinkins served as president of the New York City Board of Elections from 1972 through 1973, during which time he established guidelines that encouraged wider voter registration. He was appointed City Clerk in 1975, a post he held for 10 years. He was elected President of the Borough of Manhattan in November 1985, and as Mayor of the City of New York in November 1989, serving a four-year term.

Mr. Dinkins is a founding member of the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus of New York State, the Council of Black Elected Democrats of New York State, One Hundred Black Men (now an honorary board, the Black Americans in Support of Israel Committee, and he was the first male member of the National Women's Political Caucus.

Currently, in addition to his work at Columbia, Mr. Dinkins hosts a public affairs radio program, "Dialogue with Dinkins," and continues to advocate for children, education, compassionate urban policy and tolerance. He serves on the boards of numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations, including many which assist young people, and is national chairman of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.

Submitted by on February 28, 2001

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