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 has held important roles, including serving as the Indiana Attorney General and as the mayor of Gary, Indiana. Since January 2020, she has been the President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, an organization that works to help people in urban communities.
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Early Life and Education
Karen Freeman-Wilson was born and grew up in Gary, Indiana. She worked hard in school and went to Harvard University. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then continued her studies at Harvard Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor degree, which is a law degree.
Karen Freeman-Wilson's Career Journey
Karen Freeman-Wilson has had a long and interesting career in public service and law. She started as a judge and then moved into state and city leadership roles.
Serving as a Judge
From 1995 to 2000, Karen Freeman-Wilson served as a judge for the Gary City Court. In this role, she helped make decisions in local legal cases.
Becoming Indiana's Attorney General
In 2000, the Governor of Indiana, Frank O'Bannon, chose Karen Freeman-Wilson to become the Indiana Attorney General. The Attorney General is the state's top legal officer. She served for about eleven months after the previous Attorney General, Jeff Modisett, resigned.
During her time as Attorney General, state auditors found that some grants were given out without all the necessary approvals. Karen Freeman-Wilson admitted that "mistakes were made" in how these grants were handled. She ran for the position again in 2000 but was not elected.
Working with Non-Profit Organizations
After her time as Attorney General, Karen Freeman-Wilson dedicated her efforts to non-profit work. She became the CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. This organization helps create special courts that focus on treatment and support for people dealing with drug issues, rather than just punishment. She also served as the Executive Director of the National Drug Court Institute and was a director for the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.
Leading Gary as Mayor
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 and then won the general election by a large margin. This made her the first female mayor of Gary.
As mayor, Karen Freeman-Wilson and her team created a plan called "Blueprint for Gary." This plan aimed to make the city better by improving public safety, helping the economy grow, and making the city look nicer.
Mayor Freeman-Wilson on "Undercover Boss"
In 2016, Mayor Freeman-Wilson appeared on the TV show Undercover Boss. For the show, she disguised herself as someone else to work alongside city employees. This allowed her to see firsthand the challenges workers faced and find ways to improve their working conditions. Instead of using city money for gifts, she used private donations and her own money to help employees and invest in the city.
End of Mayoral Term
Karen Freeman-Wilson ran for a third term as mayor in 2019 but lost in the primary election to Jerome Prince. Jerome Prince then became the next mayor of Gary in January 2020.
Images for kids
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Karen Freeman-Wilson
