@gaforward Instagram profile, stories

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We are excited to welcome Sophia Price as Georgia Forward's 2026 PIN Summer Intern! Sophia is finishing up her second year studying Urban Planning and Spatial Analytics at @georgiatech . Originally from Loganville, GA, she has loved calling Atlanta home and brings a passion for impactful, community-driven work. This summer, Sophia will be diving into meaningful projects that expand her knowledge and skills. We can't wait to see the fresh perspective she brings to the table! Fun fact: Sophia is Greek and will be traveling to Greece with her brothers this August! Welcome to the team, Sophia! #PINInternship #CivicInnovation #UrbanPlanning #NextGenLeaders

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6 hours ago

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America's 250th birthday is a moment to celebrate and a call to act. GeorgiaForward is proud to join the national @america250 celebration by investing in the next generation of Georgia leaders. We have developed two free resources to help communities engage young people in meaningful civic action: the Youth Council Project Guide and the Mayors Reading Club Guide. Both are available now at georgiaforward.org/america250. These tools empower Youth Councils and local leaders to connect history, literacy, and civic engagement in ways that leave a lasting impact on Georgia communities. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫?Your support fuels leadership development programs that are building a stronger, more connected Georgia. Sponsor our America 250 efforts today at georgiaforward.org/america250.

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3 days ago

! Rebekah Hollar is a native of Evans, Georgia and a graduate of Evans High School, where she served as Student Body President, CCBOE Student Advisory Board member, and completed the 2018 Youth Leadership Program through the @columbiacountychamber.Rebekah earned a Marketing degree with a Graphic Design minor from @merceryou and now serves as the Programs & Marketing Manager at the @@macon_chamber. In this role, she leads marketing strategy and community programming for Leadership Macon and Choose Macon.Rebekah's commitment to community extends beyond her career. She serves on the @braggjam Board of Directors, supporting one of Macon's signature live music nonprofits and continuing to invest in the city she now calls home.#GAForwardYG2026

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𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬! 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 Rebekah Hollar is a native of Evans, Georgia and a graduate of Evans High School, where she served as Student Body President, CCBOE Student Advisory Board member, and completed the 2018 Youth Leadership Program through the @columbiacountychamber . Rebekah earned a Marketing degree with a Graphic Design minor from @merceryou and now serves as the Programs & Marketing Manager at the @@macon_chamber . In this role, she leads marketing strategy and community programming for Leadership Macon and Choose Macon. Rebekah's commitment to community extends beyond her career. She serves on the @braggjam Board of Directors, supporting one of Macon's signature live music nonprofits and continuing to invest in the city she now calls home. #GAForwardYG2026

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4 days ago

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Did you miss our webinar with @scholastic ? No worries! The recording is now available! This session is packed with practical resources and opportunities to support literacy in your community, including ways to strengthen summer reading initiatives, keep students engaged while school is out, and explore partnerships and accessible book options for your Mayor's Reading Club. Head to our Facebook page to watch the recording and start making an impact this summer! #LiteracyMatters #MayorsReadingClub #SummerReading

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4 days ago

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Mark your calendars! @gacities 's 2026 Annual Convention is coming to Savannah, June 26–30. City officials from across Georgia will come together for four days of education, networking, and celebrating the incredible work happening in our Georgia communities. Registration is now open! Learn more and sign up at /events/gma-annual-convention #GMAConvention2026 #GeorgiaCities

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6 days ago

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We are excited to welcome Sam Samiya as one of Georgia Forward's 2026 PIN Summer Interns! Sam is currently studying Data Science with a minor in Mathematics at @georgiacollege and serves as Student Body President. As an international student from Pakistan, Sam has built a strong foundation in leadership and community impact during her two years in the U.S. This summer, Sam will join the Georgia Municipal Association, bringing her passion for analytics and systems thinking to the work of improving public decision-making, and we can't wait to see the impact she'll make! Fun fact: Sam has only one legal name: Samiya. In the official records, Sam's first name as "FNU" - First Name Unknown! Welcome to the team, Sam! #PINInternship #CivicInnovation #DataScience #NextGenLeaders @gacities

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6 days ago

"GeorgiaForward empowers young people who will be tomorrow's leaders, helping them become leaders today. And we do that while tackling some of the biggest issues that Georgia is facing, like literacy and civic engagement.Being part of GeorgiaForward has been a very rewarding experience as I see the impacts of our work across our state. Grab a seat at the table. And realize you belong at the table and bring unique perspectives. Decisions are made by those who show up."Benjamin AndrewsStatewide Program Manager, ATDC at @georgiatech

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𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃 "GeorgiaForward empowers young people who will be tomorrow's leaders, helping them become leaders today. And we do that while tackling some of the biggest issues that Georgia is facing, like literacy and civic engagement. Being part of GeorgiaForward has been a very rewarding experience as I see the impacts of our work across our state. Grab a seat at the table. And realize you belong at the table and bring unique perspectives. Decisions are made by those who show up." Benjamin Andrews Statewide Program Manager, ATDC at @georgiatech

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10 days ago

Every student deserves a community that believes in them, and Columbia Elementary has exactly that.Georgia is proud to celebrate this incredible @georgia__reads Community Award moment shared alongside Portal of Commencement Midpoint Shelter, Inc.From story time to test prep encouragement, these are the investments that shape Georgia's next generation. Keep shining, Columbia Elementary!

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Every student deserves a community that believes in them, and Columbia Elementary has exactly that. Georgia𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 is proud to celebrate this incredible @georgia__reads Community Award moment shared alongside Portal of Commencement Midpoint Shelter, Inc. From story time to test prep encouragement, these are the investments that shape Georgia's next generation. Keep shining, Columbia Elementary!

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11 days ago

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TOCCOA AREA FRIENDS! Mark your calendar for Tuesday, May 12 and plan to join Mayor Evan Hellenga for a Mayor's Reading Club story time at the Tugalo Street Greenspace in Downtown Toccoa. This is the perfect opportunity to visit with the Mayor, ask questions, and learn more about local government. Bring your family, friends, lawn chairs, lunch, and blankets! @toccoamainstreet @toccoalibrary

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12 days ago

Georgia is excited to share this opportunity from our partners at the @gacities!City officials and staff are invited to join the Small Cities Conference in Gainesville, GA, on May 13–15, and the lineup speaks directly to the heart of what we do — build financially strong, vibrant communities across our state.From downtown development and housing solutions to public safety and local growth strategies, this is exactly the kind of collaborative problem-solving that moves Georgia forward.If you're a city official or municipal staff member, this is your room. Register by May 7 at the link below. /small-cities-conference#SmallCities #GMAConference #CivicLeadership #CommunityDevelopment #VibrantCommunities

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Georgia𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 is excited to share this opportunity from our partners at the @gacities ! City officials and staff are invited to join the Small Cities Conference in Gainesville, GA, on May 13–15, and the lineup speaks directly to the heart of what we do — build financially strong, vibrant communities across our state. From downtown development and housing solutions to public safety and local growth strategies, this is exactly the kind of collaborative problem-solving that moves Georgia forward. If you're a city official or municipal staff member, this is your room. Register by May 7 at the link below. /small-cities-conference #SmallCities #GMAConference #CivicLeadership #CommunityDevelopment #VibrantCommunities

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13 days ago

! Carissa Hendricks began her career in employee wellness, where she helped organizations build healthier, more supportive work environments from the inside out. Today, she serves as the Regional County Director for Liberty and Long County with @unitedwaycoastalempire, championing programs that strengthen families and improve community well-being across the region.Carissa's work is rooted in a deep commitment to connection and care. She approaches every initiative with empathy, grace, and intention, creating spaces where individuals and families can access the support they need to thrive. Her background in wellness continues to inform how she leads, bringing a people-first perspective to community development and organizational partnerships.Whether at work or at home, she remains dedicated to nurturing environments where people can grow, flourish, and build lives full of meaning.#

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𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬! 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 Carissa Hendricks began her career in employee wellness, where she helped organizations build healthier, more supportive work environments from the inside out. Today, she serves as the Regional County Director for Liberty and Long County with @unitedwaycoastalempire , championing programs that strengthen families and improve community well-being across the region. Carissa's work is rooted in a deep commitment to connection and care. She approaches every initiative with empathy, grace, and intention, creating spaces where individuals and families can access the support they need to thrive. Her background in wellness continues to inform how she leads, bringing a people-first perspective to community development and organizational partnerships. Whether at work or at home, she remains dedicated to nurturing environments where people can grow, flourish, and build lives full of meaning. #𝐆𝐀𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐘𝐆𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

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14 days ago

We’re continuing our tour of 2026 Georgia Reads Award communities!Last month, Georgia celebrated alongside @georgia__reads and the Georgia Municipal in Jackson and Lumpkin counties. Mayor Sam Norton and our friend and literacy mentor Malcom Mitchell also joined in. @readwithmalcolm

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We’re continuing our tour of 2026 Georgia Reads Award communities! Last month, Georgia𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 celebrated alongside @georgia__reads and the Georgia Municipal in Jackson and Lumpkin counties. Mayor Sam Norton and our friend and literacy mentor Malcom Mitchell also joined in.👏👏👏 @readwithmalcolm

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16 days ago