GeorgiaForward

06/04/2026

We're looking forward to seeing familiar faces and making new connections at the Georgia Municipal Association's 2026 Annual Convention in Savannah, June 26-30!

City officials from across Georgia will gather for four days of education, networking, and celebrating the incredible work happening in communities throughout our state. 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐚𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 is excited to be part of it.

We're especially excited to hear from keynote speaker Colonel DeDe Halfhill (USAF, Ret.), who will bring her Master the Unseen™ approach to help leaders recognize and navigate the hidden dynamics shaping their teams.

See you in Savannah!

06/03/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬!

𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧

Danielle Jefferson is the Human Resources Director for the City of Thomaston and a seasoned public sector leader with more than fifteen years of experience in city, county, federal, and international operations. She has guided budgets, capital projects, workforce strategy, and organizational development across multiple governments.

Her work includes modernizing systems, strengthening community partnerships, and building workforce pipelines that earned statewide recognition, including the Georgia Municipal Association's Visionary City Award for her Pathways Internship Program. She is known for improving operations, developing people, and helping leaders make decisions that move communities forward.

06/02/2026

This is what local leadership looks like.

Lee County Library recently partnered with the City of Leesburg to host a Mayor's Reading Club Puppet Show with Mayor David Daughtry, bringing together civic literacy in a fun, meaningful way for their community.

This is exactly the kind of local action that makes the Mayor's Reading Club so powerful. When Mayors show up for reading, they send a clear message: literacy matters, and so do the young people in our communities.

GeorgiaForward is proud to support these efforts alongside our partners at the Georgia Public Library Service, Lee County Library, and the Georgia Municipal Association as mayors across our state bring the Mayor's Reading Club to life through reading, storytelling, and civic engagement.

Is your city participating in the Mayor's Reading Club? Find out or get started at https://www.georgiaforward.org/literacy.

Local leaders are promoting the importance of literacy by participating in the Mayor’s Reading Club.

Lee County Library recently partnered with the City of Leesburg to host a Mayor's Reading Club Puppet Show with Leesburg Mayor David Daughtry. This event promoted civic literacy and Georgia Reads for America 250.

The Mayor’s Reading Club was established by Georgia Forward, the nonprofit arm of the Georgia Municipal Association

06/01/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬!

Dr. Bruce James II, PharmD

Dr. Bruce James II is a healthcare executive, philanthropist, and public health strategist from Bainbridge, Georgia. He is the founder and CEO of Healthcare & Emergency Solutions (HCES), a multimillion-dollar government contracting firm providing clinical staffing, behavioral health, and emergency management support to state and local agencies.

Since launching HCES in 2021, Dr. James has grown the firm to more than $10 million annually, deploying multidisciplinary teams across Georgia, Florida, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to strengthen child welfare systems, expand access to care, and support communities during crises and disasters.

Deeply committed to philanthropy and youth advancement, Dr. James has invested more than $100,000 in scholarships, community programs, and equity-driven initiatives supporting underserved students and future leaders. Guided by his belief that transformational change requires service to those who can never repay you, his work is rooted in legacy, access, and generational impact.

05/30/2026

Big things happening in Midway, Georgia!

Mayor Malcolm Williams officially kicked off the Mayor's Reading Club by visiting Liberty Elementary School and reading alongside kindergarten students.

The Mayor's Reading Club is a statewide initiative that harnesses the leadership of city mayors to strengthen literacy skills and foster a love of reading in children and youth across Georgia. When local leaders show up for kids, it makes a lasting difference.

Thank you, Mayor Williams and the City of Midway, for investing your time and enthusiasm in the next generation of Georgia readers.

05/28/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬!
𝐉𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

Joanna Jackson is a community organizer, caregiver advocate, and founder of Connect The Dots, a fatherhood and family engagement initiative serving Southwest Georgia. As a certified Community Health Worker, doula, and perinatal navigator, she elevates the voices of working families by bridging gaps between community needs, policy, and care systems.

Joanna's leadership includes statewide advocacy for paid leave, maternal health equity, and caregiver support, and she recently provided impactful testimony before the Georgia Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services.

Known for her ability to mobilize communities through storytelling, relationship-building, and cross-sector collaboration, she creates spaces where families feel seen, empowered, and supported. Joanna is committed to strengthening rural Georgia through creative problem-solving and equity-centered community development, bringing lived experience, courage, and a solutions-driven mindset to every space she enters.

05/27/2026

What a wonderful morning in Toccoa! 📚☀️ We are so excited to celebrate Mayor Evan Hellenga and the City of Toccoa for participating in the Mayor's Reading Club! Families gathered on the lawn for a beautiful outdoor read-aloud, and Mayor Hellenga did an absolutely fantastic job connecting with the little ones in his community.

A huge thank you to MRC Program Coordinator Shantelle Grant for her incredible work making this event happen, and to our amazing partners at the Northeast Georgia Regional Library System and Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) for their continued support of early literacy across the state. The reading kit and the acknowledgment of Toccoa mean so much!

This is what community looks like. 💚 When mayors read, kids lead!

05/26/2026

Lee County is throwing the ultimate Happy Birthday USA Party, and you are invited!

Red, White & Bluey at The Bindery at Oakland Library will begin Tuesday, June 9, at 1:00 PM! This FREE celebration is packed with fun for the whole family. Mayor Daughtry will kick things off with a special reading of Hey, Georgia by Malcolm Mitchell, plus there will be balloons, dancing, cake, and pictures with Bluey himself!

This event is part of Georgia Reads for America250, celebrating our nation's birthday through the power of literacy. Brought to you by Lee County Library and Literate Lee. This is one party you do not want to miss!

See you there! 💙❤️🤍

Read with Malcolm - Share the Magic Foundation

05/22/2026

𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃!

"𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐚𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 is making a statewide impact by uniting and developing emerging leaders to tackle real community challenges through collaboration, civic engagement, and innovative problem-solving. I chose to be personally involved with the GeorgiaForward mission because it aligns with my commitment to strengthening communities through leadership, collaboration, and practical solutions. Through programs like Young Gamechangers, Youth Councils, and leadership development initiatives, GeorgiaForward helps communities strengthen local leadership pipelines, improve economic opportunity, and build more resilient, inclusive communities across Georgia."

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐲
Area Manager, Georgia Power

05/20/2026

The Mayor’s Reading Club is all about coming together as a community to make literacy a priority from the very beginning and helping families build a love for reading at home. We support each other, stay accountable, and work together to give every child a strong start."

Mayor Rashida Taylor, City of Metter Government