Leading Lawrence – Mayor Deb Whitfield on Progress, Diversity, and Opportunity

In this episode, we sit down with Deb Whitfield, the trailblazing mayor of Lawrence, Indiana — the first woman and first African American to hold the office in Marion County. Mayor Whitfield reflects on her first year in office, sharing insights into leading a city of 50,000 with a rich and diverse population. She highlights Lawrence’s unique assets like Fort Benjamin Harrison and its expansive state park and discusses efforts to improve community-police relations through a new critical response team. She also outlines her vision for revitalizing the Pendleton Pike corridor with new housing and retail investment. It’s a candid conversation about leadership, legacy, and opportunity.