Leaders in our own backyard
You don’t have to look far to find people changing lives. These Atlanta leaders champion health equity, fair treatment, affordable homes and civil rights—and they got there by speaking up.
Libby Saylor Wright
President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
Libby took the helm of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta in June 2025, bringing 20+ years of corporate, nonprofit and community leadership—and a lifelong passion for mentoring young people.
Read Libby’s story
Dázon Dixon Diallo
Founder & President, SisterLove
In 1989 Dázon founded SisterLove, the first organization in the southeastern U.S. devoted to women’s HIV and sexual and reproductive justice—and she has led it ever since.
Read Dázon’s story
Jeff Graham
Executive Director, Georgia Equality
Jeff leads Georgia Equality, working statewide for fairness, safety and opportunity for LGBTQ+ Georgians—advocacy he began as a college student in the mid-1980s.
Read Jeff’s story
Leonard L. Adams Jr.
Founder, President & CEO, Quest Community Development Organization
An Army veteran and Detroit native, Leonard founded Quest Community Development Organization and has grown it into a force for affordable housing on Atlanta’s Westside and in Knoxville.
Read Leonard’s story
Stephanie Cho
Director, Democracy Lab South · Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Atlanta
After leading Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Atlanta as executive director, Stephanie now heads Democracy Lab South, bringing 20+ years of organizing experience to new work across the region.
Read Stephanie’s story
Azadeh Shahshahani
Legal & Advocacy Director, Project South
A human rights attorney at Project South, Azadeh defends migrants and Black and Muslim communities across the Southeast—work that has sparked a U.S. Senate investigation and changed Atlanta policy.
Read Azadeh’s story
Nathaniel Q. Smith
Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Partnership for Southern Equity
Nathaniel founded the Partnership for Southern Equity, which created the South’s first equity-mapping tool and helped bring MARTA to a new county for the first time in 45 years.
Read Nathaniel’s story
Terri L. Badour
Executive Director, American Red Cross of Georgia
Terri leads the American Red Cross serving Greater Atlanta—and made history as the first female CEO of the Red Cross of Georgia.
Read Terri’s story
Paige Alexander
CEO, The Carter Center
Paige became CEO of The Carter Center in June 2020, guiding it through the pandemic and into new work on mental health, political polarization and climate.
Read Paige’s story
John Ahmann
President & CEO, Westside Future Fund
An Atlanta native, John leads the Westside Future Fund, a public-private-philanthropic partnership investing in the future of Atlanta’s historic Westside.
Read John’s storyWho’s the hero on your block?
Tell us about someone who makes your community better. We read every nomination.