WASHINGTON — Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell has been invited to sit in the guest box of first lady Michelle Obama during the State of the Union address, the White House announced Sunday.
There were 23 people in various fields across the country chosen to sit in the box with the first lady, Jill Biden and senior advisor to the president Valerie Jarrett. The guests “personify President Obama’s time in office and most importantly, they represent who we are as Americans: inclusive and compassionate, innovative and courageous,” according to the White House.
Luttrell was highlighted for his efforts in criminal justice reform, focusing on rehabilitation over incarceration and helping people successfully integrate back into society after prison. The White House also praised him for his partnerships with local, state and federal agencies.
Along with the 23 guests, there will also be a seat left empty “for the victims of gun violence.” The empty seat represents how “they need the rest of us to speak for them,” and it is meant to “remind every single one of our representatives that it’s their responsibility to do something about this.”
The other invitees are:
- Sue Ellen Allen (Scottsdale, AZ) — Criminal Justice Reform
- Gloria Balenski (Schaumburg, IL) — Letter Writer
- Jennifer Bragdon (Austin, TX) — Community College Student
- Edith Childs (Greenwood, SC) — Greenwood County Councilmember
- Cynthia “Cindy” K. Dias (Las Vegas, NV) — Veteran, Veterans Homelessness Advocate
- Mark Davis (Washington, D.C.) — Small Business Owner
- Cary Dixon (Huntington, WV) — Mother, Opioid Reform Advocate
- Lydia Doza (Klamath Falls, OR // Anchorage, AK) — College Student, STEM Advocate
- Refaai Hamo (Troy, MI) — Syrian Refugee
- Lisa Jaster (Houston, TX) — Major, U.S. Army Reserve, Ranger School Graduate
- Gov. Dannel P. Malloy (Hartford, CT) — Connecticut Governor
- Braeden Mannering (Bear, DE) — Let’s Move!
- Satya Nadella (Bellevue, WA) — Microsoft CEO
- Jim Obergefell (Cincinnati, OH) — Activist
- Chief Kathleen O’Toole (Seattle, WA) — Police Chief, Community Policing
- Ryan Reyes (San Bernardino, CA) — Activist
- Ronna Rice (Greeley, CO) — Small Business Owner
- Cedric Rowland (Chicago, IL) — ACA Navigator
- Naveed Shah (Springfield, VA) — U.S. Army Veteran
- Earl Smith (Austin, TX) — Veteran
- Spencer Stone (Sacramento, CA) — Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
- Oscar Vazquez (Fort Worth, TX) — Veteran, DREAMer, STEM leader
For more information, visit WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU.
