City Of Greenboro: City Council Chamber Named In Honor Of Katie Dorsett

Greensboro NC

29 November, 2021

12:18 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Greensboro: 11/29/2021 9:04 AM The Greensboro City Council Chamber inside the Melvin Municipal Office Building is now officially named the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber. The signage was installed and complete for the November 1 meeting. The renaming of the chamber was proposed by Councilmember Dr. Goldie Wells at the July 13 meeting and seconded by Councilmember Sharon Hightower, before being approved unanimously. Katie Dorsett, who passed away on July 6, 2020, was the first African-American woman ever elected to the Greensboro City Council. Dorsett served two terms from 1983 through 1986, during which she advocated for a review of the City of Greensboro boards and commissions membership and was instrumental in the passing of a Greensboro City ordinance for a Minority and Women's Business Enterprise program. Dorsett also served as a Guilford County commissioner from 1990 to 1992 and was appointed Secretary of the Department of Administration by former NC Governor Jim Hunt. Dorsett was the first African-American woman to hold a NC Cabinet post and to be named to head a NC state agency. She served four terms in the NC Senate from 2003 to 2011. She also served as an associate professor at NC Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race, now NC Agricultural and Technical State University, from 1955 to 1987. The Greensboro City Council Chamber inside the Melvin Municipal Office Building is now officially named the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber. The signage was installed and complete for the November 1 meeting. The renaming of the chamber was proposed by Councilmember Dr. Goldie Wells at the July 13 meeting and seconded by Councilmember Sharon Hightower, before being approved unanimously. Katie Dorsett, who passed away on July 6, 2020, was the first African-American woman ever elected to the Greensboro City Council. Dorsett served two terms from 1983 through 1986, during which she advocated for a review of the City of Greensboro boards and commissions membership and was instrumental in the passing of a Greensboro City ordinance for a Minority and Women's Business Enterprise program. Dorsett also served as a Guilford County commissioner from 1990 to 1992 and was appointed Secretary of the Department of Administration by former NC Governor Jim Hunt. Dorsett was the first African-American woman to hold a NC Cabinet post and to be named to head a NC state agency. She served four terms in the NC Senate from 2003 to 2011. She also served as an associate professor at NC Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race, now NC Agricultural and Technical State University, from 1955 to 1987. This press release was produced by the City of Greensboro. The views expressed here are the author's own.