ATLANTA, Ga., April 8, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) – Despite the continued efforts of many leaders to suppress the voices of Georgia’s residents, voters in black and brown stood out in record numbers, choosing the most diverse leadership in the state’s history . Last week, the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda Women’s Network, Georgia Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR), took a brief hiatus from its fight against laws suppressing archaic voters to recognize the historic leadership of local black women during a virtual event: ” Celebrating brave women of voting: Refusing to be silenced. “
“Black women have worked extremely hard over the past year to ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot that counts without fear or intimidation,” said Helen Butler, executive director of the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda. “We wanted to take a moment to see the impact of your ministry on our community locally and nationally.”
The first brave woman to vote, Dekalb County Commissioner Mereda Johnson, was elected to District 5 in 2015. A co-founder of the Johnson Hopewell Coleman law firm, Commissioner Johnson has been a practicing attorney for more than 33 years. Focus on family law. In 1985 she became the first black female judge to be appointed before the DeKalb County Courts.
“I decided to be part of the change I wanted to see in Dekalb,” said Commissioner Johnson. “I wake up every day to serve my neighbors and improve the quality of life in my community.”
Gwinnett County’s Commissioner Nicole Love Hendrickson was elected Chair of the Board of Commissioners in 2020. This made her the first African American woman to hold this position. She was the founding director of the Gwinnett County Community Outreach program, where she launched several community-level initiatives and served on the boards of the United Way Gwinnett Community and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Elected in 2020, Henry County Commissioner Carlotta Harrell is the daughter of a pastor and freedom fighter. She is the managing partner and VP of Business Development at The Harrell Group, a women-owned consulting firm. Commissioner Harrell was chief of staff to the Henry County Commissioner in District V and an advisor to the Georgia Conference of African American Mayors. He has assisted mayors and cities in identifying over $ 300 million to fund infrastructure and economic development projects.
Before she was sworn in as the county’s first black and first female chairman, Cobb County Commissioner Lisa Cupid served on the Board of Commissioners for eight years, representing District Four. Commissioner Cupid is a lawyer and former mediator, policy analyst and manufacturing process engineer. She is known as a strong advocate for the fair treatment of all Cobb residents and stakeholders, regardless of their geographic, demographic, or economic location. Her accomplishments include advocating for Cobb’s newly established Sunday transit service and advocating for improved public safety measures.
The Rita Jackson Samuels Trailblazer Award was given to Felicia M. Davis, co-founder of the HBCU Green Fund and organizer of the Black Women’s Roundtable in Clayton County. Davis was a staunch advocate for climate justice and spent just as much time promoting the vote. Davis was introduced by renowned civil rights activist Dr. Joseph E. Lowery oversees and led local and national voter registration, education and mobilization initiatives. She is a board member of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and a partner of the late Rita Samuels at Women Flying High, a company dedicated to increasing women’s participation in Atlanta airport contracts.
“My friend, Dr. Rita Jackson Samuels, would be so proud of the historic number of elected black women officials in Georgia,” said Davis. “Rita dedicated her life to empowering women, especially the choice of black women. Today we are leaders in Clayton, Cobb, Gwinnett, Dekalb, Henry, and Douglas Counties and throughout the state. “
Dr. Samuels was a civil and women’s rights visionary who worked with some of the country’s most powerful leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She became the first black woman in Georgian history to serve on a Georgia Governor’s staff who went on to serve on President Jimmy Carter’s staff.
The Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda (https://thepeoplesagenda.org/) prides itself on promoting health, wealth, and economic prosperity for women through the Georgia Black Women’s Roundtable, a subsidiary of the National Coalition for the Black Civic’s Black Women’s Roundtable Participation, to promote (blackwomensroundtable.org); An intergenerational leadership development, mentoring and empowerment arm for black women and girls that continues to be at the forefront of promoting justice and just public policy.
Contact: Edrea Davis Phone: (770) 961-6200) / (818) 613-9521
NEWS SOURCE: Georgia Coalition for the Peoples Agenda
This press release is issued on behalf of the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples Agenda (News Source) of Send2Press® Newswire, which is solely responsible for its accuracy. Information is believed to be accurate but not guaranteed. Story-ID: 70541 APDF-R8.2
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