Franchising giant La-Van Hawkins will talk about "Building Success in Downtown Detroit;" at noon, Oct. 30, in Alumni House at Wayne State University.

Hawkins, who grew up in Chicago Cabrini-Green housing project, is a former gang member who had a $2,000 a day drug addiction. Following the death of his father, he dropped out of high school to care for his ailing mother and began working full-time at one of his uncle's McDonald's franchises. Today he owns Hawkins Food Group, a multimillion-dollar franchising conglomerate that owned more than 100 Pizza Hut stores. He owns Sweet Georgia Brown restaurant in Detroit and his net worth is estimated at $300 million.

The free lecture is part of the Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives Lecture Series and is open to the public. Reservations are required - call (313) 577-2300 for a seat or more details. A box lunch can be ordered in advance for $8.

For details on metro Detroit events for WSU alumni and friends, go to Alumni Events.