A Monumental Conversation: The Influence of African Americans on the National Mall
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
We are proud to introduce a new series of virtual events throughout 2021 with special guests talking about the history and heritage the National Mall represents.
The Trust for the National Mall invites you to our first Monumental Conversation virtual event on Wednesday, February 24, from 5:00 - 6:00 pm EST.
Join us for an engaging conversation with Sheila C. Johnson, Founder and CEO, Salamander Hotels & Resorts, and Vice Chair, Trust for the National Mall, and Harry Johnson, Sr., President and CEO, MLK Jr. Memorial Foundation. This Monumental Conversation will be moderated by Georgette “Gigi” Dixon, Head of External Engagement, Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion (DSRI), Wells Fargo.
In this Monumental Conversation, our special guests will discuss the influential role African Americans have played on the National Mall, throughout history and today.
About the Speakers
Sheila C. Johnson
Founder and CEO, Salamander Hotels & Resorts, and Vice Chair, Trust for the National Mall
Sheila C. Johnson is founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, which operates a collection of properties along the East Coast and in the Caribbean. As Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Ms. Johnson is the only African-American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, for which she serves as President and Managing Partner. Ms. Johnson has received numerous public service awards and serves on several boards, including the Trust for the National Mall.
Harry Johnson, Sr.
President and CEO, MLK Memorial Foundation
A career lawyer, entrepreneur and public servant. He served as City Attorney for Kendelton, Texas from 1996 to 1999, and taught at Texas Southern University in both the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and School of Public Affairs from 1994 to 1999. Johnson is a former National President of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Georgette “Gigi” Dixon
Head of External Engagement, Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion (DSRI), Wells Fargo
Georgette “Gigi” Dixon is a 27-year financial industry veteran and the head of External Engagement at Wells Fargo. In this role, Gigi is responsible for diverse stakeholder relationships, sponsorship activation, and advocacy and influencer strategies. She currently serves as a Vice Chair for the NAACP Foundation, Corporate Advisory Board member for UnidosUS, Chair of the Opera Carolina board of advisors and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
About the Trust for the National Mall
As the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan philanthropic partner of the National Park Service dedicated to restoring, enriching and preserving the National Mall, the Trust for the National Mall brings expertise, private funding and in-kind support to time-sensitive restoration and sustainability projects, mobilizes volunteers and provides educational opportunities to ensure that the National Mall endures and evolves as a vibrant space for all. With over 36 million visits annually to the National Mall, combined with aging infrastructure and the need for better visitor amenities throughout the park, the Trust is helping the National Park Service tackle the more than $800 million needed for critical repairs and improvements.
