A large crowd attended “A Conversation on DeKalb: Past, Present and Future” on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. DeKalb County, the state’s fourth largest county, has one of the highest populations of Black residents in Georgia, and four of DeKalb’s six CEOs have been Black. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta VoiceIn one of her first events before she takes office as the sixth chief executive officer (CEO) of DeKalb County and the first African American woman to hold the position, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson hosted a panel with DeKalb’s living CEOs for “A Conversation on DeKalb: Past, Present and Future.” In the theater of the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in Decatur on Wednesday, Cochran-Johnson was joined by Liane Levetan, DeKalb’s first woman CEO, Vernon Jones, and Burrell Ellis. Michael Thurmond, the former CEO who held office from 2017-2024, was unable to attend. Jones, DeKalb’s first African American CEO, noted a time in the county when African Americans barely had access to anything. Today, DeKalb has one of the highest populations of Black residents in Georgia, and four of DeKalb’s six CEOs have been Black. “Few people can understand the magnitude of what we’ve embarked upon. It’s important for us to come together, not only as leaders, but as a community,” Cochran-Johnson said. Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will take the oath of office on Friday, Jan. 10. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta VoiceFrom bond referendums that helped build parks, new roads, bike trails and revitalize South DeKalb through green space to new libraries and senior centers and projects such as Arabia Mountain, the CEOs of DeKalb’s past talked about their accomplishments and the legacy they leave as they hand the baton to its next CEO. “When you walk around and see these things in DeKalb County — like they used to say — if you see a turtle on the top of a fence post, it didn’t get there by itself. Somebody had to put it up there,” Jones said. A common sentiment throughout the panel was the reality that it takes a community to solve the problems of a county — not just one official. The CEOs emphasized that its residents also bear the responsibility of making sure DeKalb County lives up to its expectations. “There is a thread between all of us, and the knot at the bottom is that we’re here to make this county a better place. And the reason it’s going to be a better place, to continue to be a better place, is because we’ve got citizens like you,” Levetan said as she held Johnson’s hand in sincerity. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta VoiceAs the panel concluded, Jones and Ellis also left Cochran-Johnson with encouragement as she prepares to command a role they all once led. “Let’s roll up our sleeves, and some I’ve told it’s time to sharpen the pencil. But I look forward to taking the baton and finishing the race strong. And I want each one of you to know that I’m extremely committed to you because I understand that I, like Esther, was chosen for such a time as this,” Cochran-Johnson said.Her oath of office ceremony will take place on Jan. 10.The post DeKalb County’s first Black woman CEO hosts panel with former CEOs  appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.