びびなび : アトランタ : (アメリカ合衆国) Atlanta

** Note From Mayor Andre Dickens
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February 2026
https://youtu.be/XMZhBZ_IXqc?si=BTFrNtBNcNE_TRli

Click to watch Mayor Dickens’ Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI):
Community Listening Session Video

February was a reminder that progress in Atlanta isn’t just measured in projects, it’s measured in people and neighborhoods. During Black History Month, we also took time to reflect on the leaders who helped shape the city we know today. At the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center, we unveiled a new exhibition honoring the life and legacy of Councilmember Clarence Terrell “C.T.” Martin, a champion for Atlanta’s westside communities and a reminder that lasting change begins with service to others.

Across the city, we’re continuing the work of reinvesting in communities and making sure residents are shaping what comes next. Through neighborhood listening sessions and ongoing outreach, we’re hearing directly from Atlantans about what matters most where they live — from housing and safety to opportunity and quality of life. That input is helping guide how we move forward together.

At the same time, we’re seeing the impact of people-centered investments in real ways. Programs like Teens After Dark gave hundreds of Atlanta teens a safe place to spend their winter evenings — playing basketball, connecting with friends, and simply having space to be young. When young people feel supported and connected to their communities, it strengthens neighborhoods for the long term.

Our teams are also continuing preparations for the FIFA World Cup. The goal is simple: make sure Atlanta is ready in ways the benefit residents as much as visitors, from infrastructure upgrades to new opportunities for local businesses.

As we move through the year, our focus remains clear: keep investing in neighborhoods, keep listening to residents, and keep building a city that works for everyone who calls Atlanta home.


** February Highlights from City Hall
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Investing in Youth and Opportunity

Creating Spaces for Atlanta’s Next Generation

Atlanta’s commitment to young people was on full display this month through programs designed to create safe, supportive, and inspiring spaces for teens.

During winter break, the City’s Parks and Recreation team hosted Teens After Dark, a free after-hours program that gave teens access to recreation centers for sports, games, music, and connection. The program provided safe evening options for families while reinforcing the City’s broader focus on youth engagement and prevention.

These efforts reflect Atlanta’s continued commitment to ensuring young people have opportunities to grow and thrive — both inside and outside the classroom — and reinforce the belief that investing in youth today helps shape a stronger city tomorrow.
Learn More (https://atl.direct/teens-after-dark-winter-break-program/)

Strengthening Neighborhood Investment

Residents Helping Shape What Comes Next

Neighborhood engagement remained a key focus this month as the City continued advancing the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative — a long-term effort to invest in Atlanta communities through housing, infrastructure, public safety, and economic opportunity.

As part of that work, residents participated in listening sessions held across the city, sharing feedback on local priorities and what reinvestment should look like in their neighborhoods. From housing stability to community safety and quality-of-life improvements, the conversations helped surface real-time insights that will inform how future investments are shaped and delivered.

These sessions reflect a broader approach centered on pairing investment with community voice — ensuring residents are not just recipients of change, but partners in shaping what comes next for their neighborhoods.
Learn More (https://atl.direct/neighborhood-reinvestment-listening-sessions-recap/)

Financial Strength and Stability

A Strong Foundation for the Future

City leaders also shared an update on Atlanta’s financial position, highlighting the fundamentals that continue to keep the city on strong footing.

Atlanta maintains healthy reserves, a clean audit, and a AAA credit rating — indicators that reflect disciplined fiscal management and long-term planning. These benchmarks help ensure the City can continue delivering essential services while making strategic investments in infrastructure, neighborhoods, and public safety.

In an uncertain economic climate, that stability provides confidence that Atlanta is growing responsibly while protecting the resources residents rely on every day.
Learn More (https://atl.direct/atlanta-financial-stability-update/)

Preparing for the World Stage

From Behind the Scenes to Front and Center

As the countdown to the FIFA World Cup continues, preparation across Atlanta is moving from behind-the-scenes coordination to more visible, public-facing progress. Through platforms like Showcase Atlanta and the Road to FIFA hub on ATL.DIRECT, residents and businesses are beginning to see — and access — the growing body of work preparing the city for the global stage.

Since launching the Road to FIFA series, the City has published dozens of updates capturing how departments are preparing across infrastructure, public safety, youth programming, and small business support. These efforts are creating a centralized place for residents to track progress while making it easier for partners and communities to stay informed.

This month’s featured efforts include the Department of Watershed Management deploying artificial intelligence tools to detect underground water leaks before they surface, helping protect infrastructure and ensure reliable service during periods of peak demand.

Public safety partners are also expanding human trafficking awareness training across sectors including hospitality and transportation, strengthening prevention efforts as Atlanta prepares to welcome visitors from around the world.

In addition, new tools and resources available through Showcase Atlanta are helping small and local businesses prepare for the opportunities global events will bring — ensuring communities across Atlanta can benefit from the momentum.

Together, these efforts reflect a city moving from planning to visible progress, as Atlanta prepares to deliver a welcoming, safe, and well-prepared experience for residents and visitors alike.
Read all the stories related to Road to FIFA here (https://atl.direct/theroadtofifa/)


** Infrastructure Program Progress
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The Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure program — the voter-approved bond accelerating investments in streets, parks, and public safety facilities — continues delivering results across Atlanta. With more than $119 million already invested citywide, projects are moving from planning to construction in neighborhoods across the city.

Transportation upgrades remain one of the most visible areas of progress, alongside continued investments in parks, recreation spaces, and public safety facilities designed to strengthen long-term community well-being.

By the numbers:
* $119M+ invested citywide through Moving Atlanta Forward
* Over half of projects underway or complete
* $52M+ improving streets, bridges, sidewalks, and trails
* $40M+ invested in parks and recreation upgrades
* $21M+ advancing modernized public safety facilities



** Meet Mayor Dickens’ Cabinet
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Cabinet Spotlight: Gabrielle Slade, Deputy Chief of Staff

Gabrielle Slade serves as Deputy Chief of Staff, bringing nearly two decades of experience in municipal government and a deep understanding of how city operations translate into real outcomes for residents.

Most recently, Slade served as Deputy Chief Equity Officer in the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, where she helped advance citywide equity strategies and embed inclusive practices across departments. Her work focused on ensuring policies and services reflect the needs of Atlanta’s diverse communities.

Over her 19-year career with the City of Atlanta, Slade has held senior roles across multiple areas of government. She spent a decade in the Mayor’s Executive Office, including five years in legislative affairs, where she represented the City before legislative bodies, helped advance key policy priorities, and supported more than 20 successful annexations that expanded Atlanta’s reach and services.

She later led strategic planning for the Department of Parks and Recreation, guiding the agency to achieve national accreditation — a distinction earned by fewer than one percent of parks systems nationwide.

A graduate of Spelman College, Slade is known for her policy expertise, steady leadership, and ability to bring people together across departments and communities. In her role as Deputy Chief of Staff, she continues to help drive the administration’s focus on delivering thoughtful, people-centered results for Atlanta’s neighborhoods.

Atlanta city skyline with skyscrapers and trees


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