Phenix City Mayor Eddie Lowe, the city’s first African American mayor, will be one of two keynote speakers at the city’s second Diversity Conference, March 21-22.

The conference, presented by the Mayor’s Commission on Unity, Diversity and Prosperity, Columbus State University and the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, will be held at CSU’s Cunningham Center.

The other keynote speaker will be University of Georgia professor Stephanie Jones, whose writing and research focuses on poverty and education.

“I know too intimately that when you are born into a family with meager economic resources, you get the short end of the stick in almost every deal,” said Jones, associate professor in the UGA Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education.

The conference will begin at 9 a.m. each day, with Jones speaking Thursday and Lowe on Friday. There is a $15 fee, but students are admitted free. Lunch will be provided each day and is included in the fee. Pre-registration is advised by calling 706-653-4712 or going to columbusga.org.

Mayor Teresa Tomlinson created the Commission on Unity, Diversity and Prosperity to “create a community where every person is valued and presented with equal access to opportunities,” according to a city release.