A respected leadership development program in DeKalb County, Leadership DeKalb was founded in 1986 by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce to educate community leaders and to address issues facing the growing population. The Steering Committee consisted of Chairman Sid Johnson, Judy Arrington, Lee Conn, Doug Dillard, Jimmy Fluker, Barry Gary, Kick Hills, Polly Lewis, Jack Mathis, Dick McGinnis, Bob McMahan, Mal McSwain, Charlotte Rowell, Mo Thrash, Jim Topple and Dr. Tim Waits.

Diverse leaders united through Leadership DeKalb and focused on finding ways to move the county forward. In 1994, Leadership DeKalb became an independent nonprofit organization. Since then, more than 1,000 community leaders have completed the program. Graduates of the program include CEO’s of top public and private companies, as well as a large number of DeKalb’s elected officials, educators, judges, entrepreneurs, volunteers and nonprofit leaders.

Members created Youth Leadership DeKalb in 1989 to educate high school sophomores and juniors. In the program, students learn about diversity, teambuilding, economic issues, politics, education and personal leadership. More than 400 students have completed the program. Graduates of the youth program have enriched the community with their leadership skills and have gone on to work in rewarding careers.

The presence of Leadership DeKalb has helped shaped its community and throughout the years, Leadership DeKalb has received recognition for its leadership from the Georgia State Senate, DeKalb County, DeKalb Community Relations Committee and the South DeKalb Business Association.

With more than 25 years under its belt, Leadership DeKalb adheres to the same mission it set forth from day one. Leadership DeKalb continues to unite ethnic and diverse leaders and provide them with the tools to bring a positive change in the community.

Leadership DeKalb collaborates with other organizations to create events of interest to the community, including political forums and our popular Eggs & Issues Breakfasts where the public is invited to join us. As a non-partisan organization, Leadership DeKalb welcomes conversations of importance to the well being and future of the county and the metro region. The organization enters its third decade of community leadership training with an emphasis on bringing the many ethnic and cultural groups closer together as we create a viable and healthy region and a better place for our children and their children.

Mission Statement

Founded in 1986, the Leadership DeKalb leadership development program is a non-profit organization for positive change which continues to annually train and build a network of ethnically and culturally diverse, well-informed leaders and emerging leaders who are committed to addressing and resolving issues that impact the quality of life in Georgia’s DeKalb County. Leadership DeKalb is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that began as a program of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and became independent in 1994.

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