Karen Freeman-Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karen Freeman-Wilson
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| 20th Mayor of Gary | |
| In office January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Rudy Clay |
| Succeeded by | Jerome Prince |
| 40th Attorney General of Indiana | |
| In office June 8, 2000 – January 14, 2001 |
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| Governor | Frank O'Bannon |
| Preceded by | Jeff Modisett |
| Succeeded by | Steve Carter |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Karen Marie Freeman
October 24, 1960 Gary, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Carmen Wilson
(m. 1982) |
| Residences | Gary, Indiana |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, JD) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Karen Marie Freeman-Wilson (born October 24, 1960) is an American lawyer and politician. She served as the top lawyer for the state of Indiana (called the Attorney General) from 2000 to 2001. Later, she became the mayor of Gary, Indiana, serving from 2012 to 2019. Since January 2020, she has been the President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, an organization that works for civil rights and economic empowerment.
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Early Life and Education
Karen Freeman-Wilson was born and grew up in Gary, Indiana. She went to Harvard University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After that, she studied law at Harvard Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. This degree is needed to become a lawyer.
A Career in Public Service
Karen Freeman-Wilson has spent much of her career working for the public. Before becoming a state official, she served as a judge in the Gary City Court from 1995 to 2000.
Serving as Indiana's Attorney General
In 2000, the Governor of Indiana, Frank O'Bannon, chose Karen Freeman-Wilson to be the state's Attorney General. She took over for Jeff Modisett, who had resigned. She served for about eleven months.
During her time as Attorney General, there were some questions about how certain funds were managed. An audit found that some grants were given out without all the necessary approvals. Freeman-Wilson admitted that "mistakes were made" in how these funds were handled.
Working for Nonprofits
After her time as Attorney General, Freeman-Wilson worked for several nonprofit organizations. She was the CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. This group helps courts that focus on helping people with addiction. She also directed the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, which works to protect people's rights.
Mayor of Gary
In 2011, Karen Freeman-Wilson decided to run for mayor of her hometown, Gary, Indiana. The previous mayor, Rudy Clay, supported her campaign. She won the Democratic primary election, which meant she was very likely to win the main election.
She won the general election with a large number of votes. This made her the first female mayor of Gary. As mayor, she and her team created a plan called "New Day" for Gary. Their goals were to make the city safer, help the economy grow, and improve the city's appearance.
In 2016, Mayor Freeman-Wilson appeared on a TV show called Undercover Boss. On the show, she disguised herself to work alongside city employees. This helped her see what it was like for them and find ways to make working conditions better. She used private donations and careful budgeting to help her city and its workers.
In 2019, Karen Freeman-Wilson ran for a third term as mayor but lost in the primary election to Jerome Prince. Jerome Prince then became the new mayor of Gary on January 1, 2020.
