RALEIGH -- Area civic, business and educational leaders on November 15, 2007 will celebrate the 34th anniversary of the election of Clarence E. Lightner. In the 217 years that Raleigh has been in existence Clarence Lightner is the only African American in history to have served as the Capital City's Mayor. The Lightner banquet is expected to attract 500 Triangle citizens to the North Raleigh Hilton Hotel. The banquet will serve as a benefit fundraiser to continue programs of the youth leadership academy that was established in honor of the late mayor. The youth training initiative started in June 2003. The mission statement of the program is to encourage and promote the responsibility for civic duty awareness and participation by youth residing in Wake County through the teaching and implementation of leadership development strategies, philanthropic and community service projects.
