ELECTION CANDIDATE: COURTNEY

“If you love Midtown, you love city living.  You believe in public transit and walkability scores.  You are someone who shares easily as we get closer and closer to one another.  You embrace diversity and believe that a difference in opinion can spark growth and not stifle it.  You love a good sidewalk patio on a Sunday afternoon when there isn’t a festival to stroll through in Piedmont Park.  You know that the line for a bagel at the Green Market is ok at 9 AM and insane at 9:15 AM.  You are likely a member of the High, frequent the Fox, and call Piedmont Park your backyard.  If you love Midtown, you may equally appreciate the usefulness of Whole Foods but also the local entrepreneurship of Savi Market.  You spun the spinning rock and played badminton for a hot second at 10^th & Piedmont.  You probably know APD Major Schierbaum (who lives in Midtown!) and you’ve met Councilmen Farokhi and Ide because our leadership is engaged with us.  You have a love/hate relationship with QT.  If you love Midtown, you may have lived in both the MID and the Garden District and you still don’t know which one you love more.  If you’re a veteran lover of Midtown, you may have found yourself perusing spines at Outwrite Books, at Backstreet at 2 AM or sitting in the infamous shoe chair at Leopard Lounge.

I’ve loved all of these aspects of living in Midtown.  I also love the complexity – and we are complex, for sure.  I love the web of perspectives at play with every challenge.  I love the give and take that we all have to embrace to find harmony.  Midtown is often on the forefront of new issues.  This is a gift.  We frequently get to ask the questions of how and why and be part of a team that finds the answer.  To shape history is an incredible gift.

I love Midtown because I love how intelligent, compassionate, creative and welcoming we are as a community.  In 1996 when I arrived on the Georgia Tech campus, I knew Midtown was home for me.  Nothing has changed.  I am incredibly proud to be a Midtown resident.”

“I bring

• an insatiable energy for service;
• well-developed critical thinking skills;
• a balanced and measured approach to problem-solving;
• extreme organizational standards;
• an ability to envision MNA’s growth and potential and drive organizational motivation;
• a professional background in finance and project management;
• strong relationship management skills;
• and time.

Since joining MNA committees in 2014, I have been an integral leader in our recent growth and development.  Working alongside my MNA colleagues, we’ve rebranded the organization, established standards and protocols, revamped membership record management into a CRM platform, refreshed the energy of the MNA Board, restructured the MNA Safety program, enhanced social programming, embarked on storytelling historical projects, expanded our marquee events, and bolstered our relationships with important organizations throughout the City of Atlanta, APD, NPU, and Midtown Alliance.  We have maintained a standard of accountability and transparency.  All of this hard work has resulted in MNA being a respected advisor to other neighborhoods and seated at the tables of important development and legislative conversations.  I am proud of what we have accomplished as a team and I have been honored to serve as MNA President during this time.

I will continue to devote my full-time attention to this vital organization.  I see a future for MNA that is bigger than it’s ever enjoyed – record member numbers, reliable communication, social connections rooted in rich programming, innovative new projects, strong civic leadership on important issues, and consistent attention to quality of life issues that need our engagement today.

Most importantly, I will support each of my fellow residents who choose to show up and join us in making a difference in Midtown.”

“Big picture:  I care, I show up, I listen and I volunteer my time and skills without reservation.

I pass out flyers door to door, pull up hex pavers, clean up green space, wear a very hot costume to the Dogwood festival (ahem), support important organizations like Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Atlanta PRIDE, Piedmont Park Conservancy and the High Museum.  I check on my neighbor when the storm is raging and accept their Amazon package when they are gone.  I remember names and what we spoke about last and I reply to 99% of my emails.  I’ve reviewed over 200 permit applications, evaluated City of Atlanta code, and studied best practices in other cities to find innovative answers for us.  I’ve attended hundreds of meetings with the best interests of Midtown residents at the forefront.

I’ve encouraged community connection.  I believe that we all need to enjoy a sense of place.  We all need to feel that we matter.  Through growing MNA engagement, we can make sure this continues to exist in Midtown.”