- ► December (4)
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- ► October (4)
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September
(5)
- LAST CALL for the Neighborhood Summit: Will your neighborhood be represented?
- Add your voice to the region's long-range plan: Participate in the Plan 2040 Forum
- Civic League membership: Simplified and on sale
- Looking for leaders and visionaries: Now accepting nominations for Founders' Award
- Regional resources
- ► August (4)
- ► July (4)
- ► June (5)
- ► May (6)
- ► April (6)
- ► March (4)
- ► February (5)
- ► January (4)
| A true story |
|
Once upon a time, there were three organizations with three different yet related missions. One provided policy research for use by the leaders of a certain metropolitan region. A second worked mostly behind the scenes, pairing public- and private-sector expertise to solve broad, regional problems. And the third organization sought to give "real people" insight into the workings of the fast-growing region. After years of success working independently, the three organizations took a risk.
Merging three organizations with three boards of directors, three missions and three budgets is no mean feat. The process began in 2005, and we’ve enjoyed some significant successes along the way. But in the last 18 months, that Civic League that the three groups imagined has finally come into its own.
• In support of Atlanta Regional Commission’s Fifty Forward visioning initiative, The Civic League facilitated a series of Neighborhood Forums around the region on topics including sustainability, diversity, land use and housing, transportation and public health. So far, over 700 people have participated and generated more than 3,000 ideas for creating the ideal region by 2054. • We currently have 3,200 members and we are privileged to have had participation from citizens and civic and elected leaders from each of the 10 counties in the region. • Thanks largely to a core group of talented, committed volunteers, we’ve hosted an outstanding annual meeting and, with the Regional Business Coalition, a mock legislative session on transportation for recent graduates of the region’s leadership programs. • We launched this monthly e-magazine to regularly connect with members and keep them informed of Civic League news and resources of interest from around the region. We are grateful to our partners - especially the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University for giving us a home and access to top-tier researchers. Also, the Regional Business Coalition, Atlanta Regional Commission and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta have been a big part of our success. And we are particularly grateful to our sponsors for their faith and investment in our efforts.
Myles Greene Smith, Executive Director |
To create a balanced and inclusive framework for setting policy in the region, there would need to be one organization that could provide citizens with accurate information on the issues, ties to policy makers and a capacity for building consensus. And that is how Research Atlanta, The Metro Group and the Regional Leadership Forum became The Civic League for Regional Atlanta.
• This fall, we hosted our first regional Neighborhood Summit, a daylong event that drew some 500 participants who came to learn and exchange ideas for improving their communities.
Though The Civic League’s story continues, Chapter 1 ends on a high note. Best wishes for the holidays, and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
