Kiwanis Club of Atlanta

We have a great line-up of guest speakers for the month of March. Here is a little more info on our speakers. We hope that you can join us. March 4 Rodney Bullard, CEO, The Same House Unity in Action: Bridging Divides in Challenging Times March 11 Dietmar Exler, COO, AMB Sports and Entertainment Atlanta's Journey to the FIFA World Cup 26 March 18 Gene Kansas, Historic Preservationist & Developer The History of Our Neighborhood March 25 Jon Willis, VP, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta The U.S. Economic Outlook Did you know you can register early and attend all meetings for each month? Reach out to [email protected] or visit kiwanisatlanta.org to register today! #kiwanisatlanta #kiwanis #learnserveconnect #atlanta

Great time visiting with and hearing Rodney Bullard with The Same House come speak at our Kiwanis Club this week. In a time of such division, it was inspiring and encouraging to hear what all we can do to unite together and impact those around us. Everyone was moved and rose to their feet, touched by your words! Thank you for your leadership across metro Atlanta. You reminded us we may never know the impact we are making but we can all use the gifts and talents that God gave us to make a difference in our family, our neighborhood, our community and our great City aka House of Atlanta. Our Kiwanis Club of Atlanta’s Program committee with Chair Karen (Chesson) Sheldon has been hitting it out of the park lately with such amazing speakers!! So great to also see our Coxe Curry & Associates friend MacKensie Brandt! Thanks for visiting!! We are always looking for visitors to come check out our club. #kiwanisclubatlanta #thesamehouse #kiwanis #kidsneedkiwanis #learnserveconnect #atlanta

Thank you Rodney Bullard for delivering a standing ovation keynote address to my Kiwanis Club of Atlanta yesterday! You embody a true servant leader and I am glad that Atlanta has you leading the charge on so many issues. #KidsNeedKiwanis Toya M Russell Phillips, MBA Russell Wagner

Here are our guest speakers for the rest of February. Come join us. February 11th Doug Ellis and Jeanine Chambers, MBA from Angel Flight Soars, Inc. February 18th Mary McCartin Wearn, PhD, President of Georgia Humanities From Stories to Success: Georgia Humanities in the Community and Classroom February 25th Bill Crane, Principal, CSI Crane 2024 Politics: The Year in Review Did you know you can register early and attend all meetings for each month? Reach out to [email protected] or visit kiwanisatlanta.org to register today!

A beautiful tribute to Laura McCarty by fellow Kiwanian and friend Phil Smith. https://lnkd.in/ejb2RTMH

Come join us Tuesday, February 4th for STAR Student Day at The Dogwood at Westside Paper. Please note, we will NOT be at the Loudermilk Center for this meeting. While we will highlight our STAR Students, we will also have Robby Gulri, Field CTO at RapidScale, as our guest speaker. He will share a discussion titled, "The Rise of AI - Human Delight or Demise?" Make sure to register to reserve your seat! Robby is a cybersecurity and cloud professional, currently serving as Field CTO at RapidScale and a board member for Atlanta Technical College. With over 30 years of experience, he has launched multiple SaaS products generating $250M+ in annual revenue. Gulri runs the nonprofit SevaSecurity to combat digital inequality, raising $11M in grants and providing $1M in pro-bono services annually. He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Business, is fluent in four languages, and frequently speaks on technology’s role in business and social impact. INTRODUCTION: Tayen Hazqiyal INVOCATION: Danielle Boyd

Thank you Mayor Andre Dickens for coming to share the annual update on the City of Atlanta with our club. The room was packed and we finished before the next snow and winter storm rolled into the Atlanta area. Our fellow Kiwanians always look forward to this meeting. Thanks for “Moving Atlanta Forward.”

Let's finish off January with another amazing speaker. We will have fellow Kiwanian, Emily Acker, CEO of Hillside, Inc, as our guest speaker. Emily will share on January 28th and her message will be "When Home Isn't Enough: Understanding Residential Treatment for Children's Mental Health." Emily Acker, CEO of Hillside, leads one of Atlanta's most respected mental health treatment centers for children and adolescents. With over three decades of experience, Emily has committed her life to helping young people in crisis understand their worth, find their strengths, and live healthier lives. Her career began in a counseling role for troubled teen boys, where she discovered her calling to support at-risk youth. Now, as a mother and grandmother, her mission has evolved to include empowering entire families navigating the challenges of serious mental illness. Under Emily's leadership, Hillside has gained national recognition as the first residential facility in the U.S. to receive program certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) from the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, a specialized approach that equips children with emotional regulation and coping strategies. Emily's dedication to this approach reflects her deep understanding of child neurodevelopment, helping kids build resilience during their formative years. Hillside's treatment options are comprehensive, spanning both inpatient and outpatient services, including virtual programs, to support families at various stages of need. Beyond treatment, Emily is a tireless advocate for reducing the stigma surrounding youth mental health, encouraging parents to seek intervention early and educating communities that mental health issues are not matters of discipline but medical concerns. Her message to families is rooted in hope: with the right care and environment, children can thrive. Emily’s personal philosophy, “Every child matters,” shapes every aspect of Hillside’s work, reminding families and communities alike that each child has the potential for a bright and fulfilling future. Her vision, expertise, and compassion have positioned her and her team as a trusted authorities in children’s mental health. INTRODUCTION: Susan Adams INVOCATION: Jim Duffie

Thank you Mayor Andre Dickens for another informational annual update on the State of Atlanta at Kiwanis Club of Atlanta. Continue being fabulous and moving Atlanta forward. ?????? #KidsNeedKiwanis

It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of our friend and former president, Laura McCarty. Laura was a humanities person through and through—passionate about poetry, music, and local history, deeply curious about people, and gifted with a remarkable ability to connect. She could befriend a new acquaintance in seconds flat and find a “humanities moment”—an opportunity to learn, grow, and better understand one another—in any situation. Laura retired in 2024 after 30 years of service to Georgia Humanities, and her career touched nearly every aspect of our work. She began as a program assistant for grants, nurturing projects into award-winning initiatives, and contributed articles to the?New Georgia Encyclopedia. As state coordinator of National History Day Georgia, Laura guided hundreds of students and teachers, staying in touch with many as their careers grew. Later, as executive vice president and eventually president in 2018, she led with kindness and compassion, championing projects that celebrated Georgia’s story and uplifting organizations across the state. Laura’s love for the humanities and the people behind them left a lasting mark. As our board chair, Cameron Bean, put it: “Laura served Georgia Humanities for the better part of her life, and we are a better organization because of her.” Our thoughts are with Laura’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. We invite you to share your stories and memories of Laura as we reflect on her life and the impact she had on so many.