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Last week, CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson hosted her 1st Annual Mayors Retreat, bringing together city leaders from across DeKalb County for a full day of strategy, collaboration, and collective visioning.
Held at Emory University’s Miller-Ward Alumni House, the retreat was more than a meeting—it was a working session focused on alignment. Mayors from each of DeKalb’s municipalities presented their top three priorities and engaged in targeted discussions on housing, infrastructure, public safety, economic development, mental health, and more.
The goal was simple but powerful: to align on what matters most to the people of DeKalb and strengthen how we work together to deliver it.
What Was Discussed
Throughout the day, mayors and leaders highlighted overlapping needs and emerging opportunities, including:
- Affordable and workforce housing development
- Infrastructure investments—roads, sewer, water, and stormwater systems
- Transit planning and improved regional mobility
- Support for unsheltered residents and expansion of mental health services
- Economic revitalization and downtown development
- Public safety initiatives, including technology upgrades and fire/EMS service delivery
- Youth engagement, job creation, and green space expansion
Each mayor presented a focused, data-informed snapshot of what their communities need and what’s working. These discussions weren’t theoretical—they were centered on how decisions made today will affect families, seniors, and small businesses across the county tomorrow.
“When we align our goals, we can deliver more meaningful results for the people we serve,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson during closing remarks.
Why This Matters for DeKalb County Residents
While the retreat itself was a behind-the-scenes event, its impact will be public-facing.
For residents, this alignment means:
- Faster, more coordinated solutions to countywide issues like traffic congestion and emergency response times
- Smarter use of funding across multiple jurisdictions, avoiding duplication and filling gaps in services
- A stronger regional voice when advocating for state and federal resources
- Greater accountability—leaders are clear on each other’s goals and where their efforts intersect
By creating space for direct city-to-county dialogue, this retreat ensures that decisions affecting your daily life - whether it’s a new sidewalk project, public safety response, or zoning updates—are informed by a more complete picture of our communities.
This isn’t just collaboration. It’s strategic alignment that puts DeKalb’s 700,000+ residents first.
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