Clayton County reports crime reductions, housing investments, and economic growth as Chairwoman Alieka Anderson-Henry outlines priorities during the 2026 State of the County address.
By Milton Kirby | College Park, GA | March 19, 2026
Clayton County leaders laid out a vision of growth, stability, and continued investment Wednesday as Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry delivered her second State of the County address before a sold-out crowd of more than 450 attendees.
The event, hosted by the Council for Quality Growth at the Georgia International Convention Center, brought together business leaders, elected officials, and residents to hear updates on public safety, economic development, housing, and infrastructure.
Anderson-Henry framed Clayton County as a rising hub in metro Atlanta, calling it both a “global gateway” and a place of expanding opportunity.
“Clayton County is not just where planes land,” she said. “It is where possibility lands.”
Public Safety Improvements Highlighted
Among the most notable updates were gains in public safety. The county reported a 17% reduction in overall crime and a 30% drop in vehicular fatalities over the past year.
Officials also highlighted the launch of a Whole Blood Program through Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services, allowing first responders to administer blood transfusions in the field—an initiative still rare nationwide.
In addition, the Police Department expanded its Co-Responder Mental Health Initiative, pairing officers with mental health professionals to respond to crisis calls.
Economic Development and Small Business Support
Clayton County’s economic strategy centered on both large-scale investment and grassroots support.
The county distributed $5 million in federal ARPA funding to more than 300 small businesses and nonprofits, while also securing a $224 million expansion from TOTO USA in Morrow.
Leaders also pointed to regional recognition, including the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Visionary Planning Award for the Tara Boulevard Livable Centers Initiative, a project aimed at transforming a key commercial corridor.
Housing, Infrastructure, and Smart Growth
Housing emerged as a central priority moving forward. Anderson-Henry announced a new Clayton County Housing Plan and a multi-department Housing Task Force focused on expanding attainable housing and homeownership.
The county has already deployed more than $6.2 million in HUD funding to support housing stability and has begun a comprehensive zoning rewrite to guide future development.
Infrastructure investments included resurfacing nearly 19 miles of roadway, expanding parks and trail systems, and advancing sustainability projects such as solar installations and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Resilience efforts, including the Flint River Flood Mitigation Project, were also highlighted as part of long-term planning.
Workforce and Governance Initiatives
County leaders emphasized workforce development through partnerships with Clayton State University, expanded GED and vocational training programs, and workforce events that attracted more than 1,000 participants.
On the governance side, Anderson-Henry stressed transparency and fiscal discipline, noting efforts to modernize procurement, improve budget communication, and strengthen oversight.
Voter-approved initiatives—including the 2027 SPLOST expected to generate more than $412 million—are expected to fund future capital improvements.
A County Still in Motion
Despite the progress, Anderson-Henry made clear the work is ongoing.
“We are proud—but we are not finished,” she said, pointing to continued priorities in housing, economic development, and community investment.
She closed by emphasizing Clayton County’s evolving identity—not just as a transportation hub anchored by Hartsfield-Jackson, but as a place of long-term opportunity and growth.
“Clayton County is not just a place you pass through,” she said. “It is a place you build in, grow in, and live in.”
Atlanta’s West Midtown will once again serve as a hub for connection, conversation, and celebration as Tee It Up for Women hosts its 3rd Annual Tee Up Meet Up on Thursday, March 26.
The event, scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Back Nine Golf, blends golf, networking, and Women’s History Month recognition into a single evening designed to bring professionals and enthusiasts together.
Organizers say the annual gathering has grown into more than a social event. It has become a platform where corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members meet, exchange ideas, and build relationships in a relaxed but intentional setting.
“This is about creating access and opportunity in spaces where relationships matter,” organizers noted in the event release. “Golf has long been a place where business gets done — this event ensures women are fully part of that conversation.”
A Featured Voice Behind Atlanta’s Global Stage
This year’s featured guest speaker, Bev Carey, brings a global perspective rooted in decades of high-level event strategy and execution.
Currently serving as Atlanta’s FIFA World Cup Host City Director, Carey plays a central role in preparing the city for one of the largest sporting events in the world. Her work spans operational readiness, logistics coordination, and stakeholder integration all critical to ensuring Atlanta delivers on the global stage.
Through her firm, Carey Communications, she has spent more than 20 years managing complex projects across sports, entertainment, nonprofit, and technology sectors. Her experience includes Olympic and Paralympic planning, large-scale live event production, and crisis management strategy.
Her recent appearance as a lead panelist at Mercedes-Benz Stadium underscores her leadership in shaping Atlanta’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
At Tee Up Meet Up, attendees will hear firsthand how those experiences translate into leadership, innovation, and opportunity particularly for women navigating traditionally male-dominated industries.
Networking, Play, and a Unique Atlanta Twist
The evening includes a mix of structured and casual engagement. Attendees will enjoy golf bay play, a putting challenge, appetizers, and drinks while connecting with fellow professionals and sponsors.
But the experience doesn’t end when the golf clubs are put away.
Participants are invited to continue the evening just steps away at American Axes, where a one-hour bonus axe-throwing session will extend the networking experience.
The event’s design reflects a broader trend in Atlanta’s professional scene — blending business development with experiential environments that encourage authentic interaction.
How to Attend
For registration details, sponsorship opportunities, or additional information, readers are encouraged to contact the event organizer directly:
Bill Pickett Rodeo leader Margo Wade-LaDrew launches Soul Country Music Stars, creating national opportunities for Black country artists and reshaping the genre’s cultural narrative.
THE ARCHITECT OF SOUL COUNTRY MUSIC STAR
How Margo Wade‑LaDrew Helped Reimagine the Black West
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA| March 17, 2026
When cable technician Shannon Whitaker stepped into Margo Wade‑LaDrew’s living room in Baldwin Hills, California he didn’t pause for the television or the equipment he’d come to repair. His eyes locked onto a jacket draped across a chair, unmistakably embroidered with the crest of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.
“I went when I was nine,” he said, suddenly grinning like a child. He was forty‑eight now. The memory had lived inside him for nearly four decades.
Moments like this follow Margo everywhere. They are reminders — unplanned, unscripted of the cultural force she has helped shape. For nearly thirty years, she has been one of the quiet architects behind the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR), the nation’s only touring Black rodeo association and the spiritual home of Black Western culture. And in recent years, she has become the visionary behind its newest cultural branch: Soul Country Music Star, a platform designed to restore Black presence in a genre Black people helped create.
To understand how she arrived here at the intersection of rodeo, music, fashion, philanthropy, and cultural preservation you have to start long before the arena lights, long before the crowds, long before the sound of a banjo or the thunder of hooves.
You have to start in Richmond, Virginia.
Photo courtesy BPIR – Margo Wade-LeDrew
A Childhood of Work and Responsibility
Born in 1961, Margo Wade grew up in a household shaped by both love and hardship. When she was twelve, her mother began cycling in and out of hospitals with schizophrenia. The responsibility of raising two younger brothers fell to Margo and her sister while their father worked long hours to keep the family afloat.
“I’ve worked all my life,” she says, not as complaint but as fact.
By fourteen, she had a job in a Richmond hospital. By ten, she had already been knocking on doors selling flower seeds and Christmas cards. She didn’t know it then, but she was learning the skills that would define her adult life: how to connect with people, how to read a room, how to sell, and how to build trust.
Her first dream was to become a flight attendant. But life had other plans — plans that would take her into the heart of Black beauty culture, Black media, and eventually, Black Western history.
The Black Institutions That Formed Her
In her twenties, Margo entered the beauty industry, modeling in Richmond before moving to Chicago then the epicenter of Black haircare. She worked temp jobs until she landed at Johnson Publishing Company, the powerhouse behind Ebony and Jet. There, she became a merchandiser, then a sales rep, then a national sales manager.
Johnson Publishing didn’t outsource creativity. They held internal think tanks where Black professionals brainstormed campaigns, promotions, and strategies. It was a training ground in cultural authorship a place where Black people shaped how Black people were seen.
From there, she moved through World of Curls, Dark & Lovely, Magic Shave, Bronner Brothers — a constellation of Black-owned companies that defined Black aesthetics for generations. She learned event planning, sponsorships, branding, and community outreach. She learned how to build programs from scratch.
And then she stepped into the NAACP Image Awards, where she wrote her first bid for services without ever having written one before and won. For six years, she helped produce one of the most important cultural events in Black America.
She didn’t know it yet, but all of this was preparing her for the moment she would walk into the Burbank Equestrian Center in 1996 and see something that would change her life.
The Revelation: Discovering Black Cowboys
She had gone to volunteer for a friend. She expected a community event. She did not expect to see Black cowboys and cowgirls — not in California, not in the 1990s, not in a world where Westerns had erased them.
“I had never seen Black cowboys before,” she says. “I didn’t even know there was a traveling Black rodeo.”
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo was celebrating its tenth anniversary that year. Founded by promoter Lou Vason in 1984, it was the first and only touring Black rodeo in the country. It had been built from scratch, city by city, without internet, without mainstream support, without recognition.
Margo was stunned. She was also hooked.
When her friend left for a job at BET, she asked Margo and another colleague to take over her role. They didn’t know rodeo culture. They didn’t know sponsorship strategy for Western sports. They didn’t know the logistics of animals, arenas, or ticketing.
But they learned. And Margo stayed.
For the next twenty years, she worked alongside Lou Vason, traveling from city to city, counting tickets in hotel rooms until 3 a.m., building relationships with cowboys, cowgirls, families, and communities. She watched the rodeo grow from a grassroots operation into a cultural institution.
And she watched Lou a legendary Black music promoter tie entertainment to the rodeo because he understood something essential: Black people would come for the culture, not just the competition.
That insight would later become the seed of Soul Country Music Star.
Sidebar – What Is Soul Country Music?
Soul Country Music, as envisioned through the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo’s Soul Country Music Star competition, blends the storytelling structure of country music with the emotional force, vocal texture, and lived experience long rooted in Black musical traditions. The concept pushes back against the narrow way country music has often been marketed and remembered. It creates room for artists who may sound country, soul, gospel, blues, or genre-crossing, but who still carry the themes of struggle, family, faith, place, love, and resilience that define country storytelling. For Margo Wade-LaDrew, the idea is not about inventing something new from scratch. It is about naming, elevating, and investing in a tradition that has always existed.
The Leadership Era: Black Women Take the Reins
When Lou Vason became ill in the early 2010s, his wife, Valeria Howard Vason, began traveling more, learning the books, the logistics, the operations. When Lou passed in 2015, she stepped fully into leadership becoming the first Black woman to run a national rodeo.
Margo became her right hand.
Together, they modernized the organization:
expanded the tour
secured major sponsors
built the BPIR Foundation
created grant programs
partnered with Crown Royal, Toyota
brought BPIR to television for the first time in 2021
returned to Fort Worth’s historic Cowtown Coliseum
grew the Fort Worth stop to ten sold‑out performances
became Hollywood’s go‑to rodeo for authenticity
They did all this with a tiny staff. No salaries for leadership. No corporate infrastructure. Just commitment, cross‑training, and a belief that the rodeo mattered.
And then came the idea Margo had been carrying for a decade.
The Birth of Soul Country Music Star
For years, Margo had watched Black country artists show up at BPIR with guitars in hand, hoping for a chance to perform. They had no platform. No industry support. No place to belong.
She and her husband, Lawrence LeDrew, talked often about creating something for them — a showcase, a competition, a cultural home.
After Lou’s passing, she kept bringing it up.
Finally, Valeria said, “Stop talking about it and just do it.”
And she did.
In June 2024, during BPIR’s 40th anniversary, Soul Country Music Star launched. It was a tribute to Lou Vason’s entertainment legacy, to Valeria’s belief in the idea, and to the artists who had been waiting for a door to open.
The program quickly grew:
60–70 artists have come through
six finalists per city
two winners so far
$10,000 prize
winners travel with the rodeo
artists perform halftime and pre‑show
BPIR promotes their music
artists sell merch at the rodeo
mentorship in branding, booking, and performance
Suddenly, the world was paying attention to Black country music. Soul Country Music Star was no longer a niche idea it was part of a national cultural moment.
Photo courtesy BPIR – Soul Country Music Star
The Cultural Lineage: Restoring What Was Always Ours
Margo is clear about the history:
The banjo is African.
The harmonica was central to early Black country and blues.
DeFord Bailey was the first Black star of the Grand Ole Opry — and they hid his race.
Linda Martell was the first commercially successful Black female country artist — and the industry pushed her out.
Charley Pride broke barriers but was treated as an exception.
Ray Charles reshaped country music by adding soul.
“Country music is ours,” she says. “We’ve always been there.”
Soul Country Music Stars is not a novelty. It is a restoration.
The Rodeo as a Cultural Homeplace
Ask Margo why BPIR matters, and she won’t talk about prize money or logistics. She’ll talk about:
the seven‑year‑old boy who whispered, “I see Black cowboys”
the woman who begged for tickets with a childhood photo
the families who plan reunions around the rodeo
the fourth and fifth generation children growing up in the stands
the music, the clowns, the announcers, the rope tricks
Howard Johnson singing Lift Every Voice in the dirt
the Black flag flying beside the American flag
BPIR is a place where Black people see themselves — past, present, and future.
The Legacy She Wants to Leave
When asked what she wants future generations to remember, Margo doesn’t hesitate.
“That the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo cared,” she says. “That we opened doors. That we loved our community enough to keep going.”
She wants BPIR in museums. She wants the traveling museum to become permanent. She wants the documentary finished. She wants the nighttime drama about a Black family running a rodeo to be televised.
And she wants The Greatest Show on Dirt — the story of BPIR — on the big screen.
She has already begun the work.
A Cultural Architect for the Next Generation
Margo Wade‑LaDrew’s life is a blueprint of Black cultural stewardship:
a childhood of responsibility
a career in Black-owned institutions
two decades shaping the rodeo under Lou Vason
a leadership era defined by Black women
a foundation built on grants, scholarships, and community
a music platform restoring Black country’s rightful place
a commitment to legacy, memory, and cultural truth
She is not simply preserving history. She is expanding it.
And somewhere in Greater Los Angeles, California, cable technician Shannon Whitaker is telling someone about the day he walked into a house, saw a jacket, and remembered the first time he saw a Black cowboy. That is the legacy she is building — one memory at a time.
Country Roots, Diverse Beats: Celebrating the Rich Tapestry of Soul in Country Music.
Agricenter International Showplace Theater – 7777 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis, TN
Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
Music Competition – Friday, April 10, 2026 | 7:00 pm 8:00 pm Competition
BPIR Rodeo – Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 1:30 pm or 7:30 pm
Upcoming in the TSJ series – Inside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
Part 3 — Kirk Jay: The Sound of Country Soul at the Rodeo Part 4 — Nathaniel Dansby (Mr. Bowleggs) : The Sound of Country Soul at the Rodeo Part 5 — Rodeo for Kids’ Sake and the Next Generation
The Obama Presidential Center will open June 19, 2026 in Chicago with four days of celebrations, public events, and a civic campus designed to inspire future changemakers.
By Milton Kirby | Chicago, IL | March 11, 2026
The long-awaited Obama Presidential Center will officially open to the public in June with four days of celebrations designed to highlight civic engagement, culture, and community on Chicago’s South Side.
The Obama Foundation announced that the grand opening festivities will run June 18 through June 21, 2026, beginning with a global dedication ceremony and continuing with public celebrations, performances, and family-friendly activities across the new 19.3-acre campus.
The opening marks a historic milestone for the presidential center created to preserve the legacy of Barack Obama while also serving as a living civic campus focused on leadership, community engagement, and democratic participation.
“This is not a monument to the past,” Obama said in a video announcing the opening. “It is a living destination for people who refuse to accept the status quo.”
Four Days of Celebration
The opening events begin Thursday, June 18, with a dedication ceremony at John Lewis Plaza, named for the late civil rights leader and longtime congressman John Lewis. The ceremony will be livestreamed globally and will include performances by international artists and remarks from prominent leaders.
The campus will then open fully to the public on Friday, June 19, allowing visitors to explore the museum and public spaces for the first time.
Community celebrations will continue on June 20 and June 21, featuring live music, art, food vendors, storytelling, and activities across the campus grounds in Chicago’s historic Jackson Park.
The opening weekend will also include special gatherings for volunteers, supporters, alumni of Obama-era programs, and young leaders connected to the Foundation’s initiatives.
A Campus Built Around Public Access
Unlike many presidential libraries, the Obama Presidential Center was designed as an open civic campus rather than a traditional archive-focused facility.
Most of the campus will be free and open to the public, including outdoor spaces and several community-oriented facilities.
Visitors will be able to explore:
The Forum, a building dedicated to public programming and events
A new branch of the Chicago Public Library
An accessible playground for children
Public art installations across the campus
Landscaped park spaces and walking paths connecting to nearby lagoons and the Museum of Science and Industry
Additional features include the Women’s Garden, Great Lawn, Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden, picnic areas, and a wetland walking trail.
Visitors will also be able to dine at a café and restaurant on campus and shop at the center’s retail store.
Museum Tickets Coming This Spring
While most of the campus will be free, admission to the Obama Presidential Center Museum will require a timed entry ticket.
Tickets will go on sale in spring 2026, with prices expected to align with other major Chicago cultural institutions. The Foundation says the museum will include discounts and designated free days for Illinois residents.
A Symbol of “Hope and Change”
The announcement of the opening date was made on March 7, the anniversary of the historic Selma voting rights marches that helped shape the modern civil rights movement.
During the 50th anniversary commemoration of those marches, Obama delivered one of his most widely remembered speeches, calling on Americans to continue what he described as the “glorious task” of improving the nation.
Those words now appear engraved on the exterior of the museum building.
Valerie Jarrett said the center is intended to inspire visitors to take that mission into their own communities.
“We have always believed in the power of ordinary people to come together to make extraordinary change,” Jarrett said. “The opening of the Obama Presidential Center will be a beacon of hope to the world.”
More Than a Presidential Library
Unlike traditional presidential libraries managed by the National Archives and Records Administration, the Obama Presidential Center will be operated by the Obama Foundation as a community-focused civic institution.
Foundation leaders say the center will host year-round programs, leadership initiatives, and public discussions aimed at strengthening democracy and empowering the next generation of changemakers.
“The Obama Presidential Center is about the everyday people who make our democracy work,” Jarrett said.
For many supporters, the June opening represents more than the unveiling of a new cultural destination. It is the culmination of more than a decade of planning and construction tied to the legacy of the nation’s first Black president and the community that helped shape his rise.
A National Destination with Local Roots
When the gates open in June, the center is expected to draw visitors from around the world to Chicago’s South Side — a neighborhood that played a defining role in Obama’s early career as a community organizer.
The Foundation says the campus is designed to reflect that history while looking toward the future.
As Obama said in announcing the opening:
“If you feel that something better awaits and you’re willing to work for it, this is your invitation to join us.”
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Atlanta launches ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, outlining worker protections, housing initiatives, and community safeguards tied to the global tournament.
Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | March 11, 2026
Atlanta leaders say hosting the world’s largest sporting event must reflect the city’s long tradition of civil and human rights leadership.
This week, the City of Atlanta publicly launched the ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan, a framework designed to protect workers, safeguard vulnerable communities, and ensure that the global spotlight of the World Cup leaves lasting benefits for Atlanta residents.
The initiative, led by the Mayor’s Office of One Atlanta, was formally adopted by the Atlanta City Council through Resolution 26-R-3106. City officials say the plan will guide how Atlanta prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when matches will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Atlanta has a legacy of leading the conscience of the nation for civil and human rights,” said Andre Dickens. “The ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan reflects the city’s values and decades of the unforgotten voices of the greatest civil rights leaders in history who called Atlanta home.”
City leaders say the plan is built on a simple principle: the World Cup should happen “with Atlanta, not to Atlanta.”
Officials say that philosophy guided months of planning and community engagement aimed at making sure the event strengthens neighborhoods rather than placing additional burdens on them.
Community Voices Help Shape the Plan
The Human Rights Action Plan was developed through an extensive public process that included more than 75 hours of community engagement and participation from more than 25 organizations.
Those discussions included labor leaders, disability advocates, immigrant-serving nonprofits, faith groups, youth organizations, anti-human-trafficking coalitions, and residents across the city.
Multiple city departments participated in the effort, including the Mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction, the Mayor’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs, the Department of Emergency Preparedness, the Department of Innovation and Performance, and the Atlanta Department of Labor and Employment Services.
Candace Stanciel, Atlanta’s Chief Impact Officer who led the effort, said community voices were central to the plan’s development.
“This Action Plan was built through partnership,” Stanciel said. “Their voices shaped every section of this document, and their continued partnership will be essential to its success.”
Four Pillars of the Plan
The framework addresses a wide range of issues that can arise when cities host major global events.
Officials organized the plan around four major pillars.
The first pillar, Inclusion and Safeguarding, focuses on protecting vulnerable populations. Initiatives include preventing human trafficking, supporting unsheltered residents, expanding language access, protecting children, and ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities.
The second pillar, Workers’ Rights, establishes labor standards for World Cup-related jobs coordinated by the city. Officials say a $17.50 hourly minimum wage will serve as the baseline for those positions, alongside protections for safe workplaces and wage theft prevention.
The third pillar, Access to Remedy, creates a unified grievance reporting portal in partnership with FIFA and strengthens the Atlanta Human Relations Commission as the city’s primary anti-discrimination mechanism.
The fourth pillar, Accountability and Monitoring, commits the city to quarterly public progress reports and a comprehensive human rights impact report within six months after the tournament concludes.
Why Cities Now Create Human Rights Plans
Human rights action plans have become increasingly common as cities prepare to host global sporting events.
In recent years, international sports governing bodies have encouraged host cities to adopt formal frameworks designed to prevent problems that have emerged around previous mega-events, including worker exploitation, displacement of residents, trafficking risks, and limits on civil liberties.
By identifying risks early and establishing safeguards in advance, cities aim to ensure that global sporting celebrations benefit local communities rather than harming them.
Atlanta officials say the ATL26 plan reflects those lessons while building on the city’s longstanding role in the American civil rights movement.
A Legacy Beyond the Final Match
Beyond event preparation, the plan outlines eight “Legacy Impact Initiatives” designed to deliver long-term benefits to Atlanta residents.
Among them:
• A human rights resource network connecting more than 15 partner organizations • Youth leadership programs expected to serve more than 200 young people • Career exposure opportunities in the sports industry • A citywide accessibility readiness guide for major events • Efforts to support 500 permanent supportive housing units and help 2,000 households find housing • Anti-human-trafficking training for more than 1,000 individuals • FIFA-connected Pride programming providing health and legal resources • Expanded outreach and training through the Human Relations Commission
City officials say the effort is meant to ensure that when the final whistle blows in 2026, Atlanta will be stronger than before the tournament began.
“This Action Plan is both a commitment to the standards we believe every host city should uphold,” the city said in its announcement, “and an invitation to make the 2026 World Cup a model for how global sporting events can advance fairness, justice, and shared humanity.”
Sidebar
Atlanta and the Olympics: What the 1996 Games Teach Us About Hosting Global Events
When Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, the city stepped onto the global stage in a way it never had before.
For two weeks in July 1996, millions of visitors and television viewers saw Atlanta as the capital of the New South a city of economic growth, cultural influence, and civil rights history.
The Olympics brought major benefits. They helped create Centennial Olympic Park, accelerated downtown redevelopment, expanded tourism, and helped reshape Atlanta’s international reputation.
But the Games also revealed the challenges large global events can create.
Housing advocates raised concerns about displacement of low-income residents as redevelopment accelerated. Civil liberties groups also criticized aggressive security policies and the removal of unhoused residents from parts of downtown during preparations for the Games.
Those lessons are part of why cities today often develop formal human rights frameworks when hosting global sporting events.
Atlanta’s ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan, tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reflects that evolution. City leaders say the goal is to ensure that when the world returns to Atlanta in 2026, the benefits of the event will extend beyond the stadium and into the communities that call the city home.
The CFPB’s decision to step back from regulating Buy Now, Pay Later services could leave millions of Americans with fewer protections as BNPL use continues to surge.
Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | March 11, 2026
Millions of Americans now use Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services to spread the cost of everyday purchases. But a regulatory shift by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is raising new questions about how much protection consumers will have when problems arise.
On May 6, 2025, the CFPB announced it would no longer prioritize enforcing a rule that treated BNPL services similarly to credit cards. The agency also signaled it may rescind the rule entirely.
While the announcement initially drew limited national attention, its consequences are beginning to surface as more households rely on installment payment platforms such as Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm.
These services promise convenience: consumers can split a purchase into several smaller payments, often four installments with no interest. Retailers promote the option heavily at checkout, especially for online purchases.
But consumer advocates warn that without strong oversight, the model carries risks.
“With the CFPB stepping back, consumers are more exposed than ever especially when something goes wrong.”
Previously, the CFPB had moved toward regulating BNPL services more like traditional credit cards. That approach would have required clearer billing disclosures, stronger dispute rights when purchases go wrong, and standardized rules for fees and collections.
The agency’s decision to step back leaves uncertainty about how those protections will be applied going forward.
If a purchase arrives damaged, if a refund is delayed, or if a billing error occurs, consumers may face a more complicated path to resolving the issue than they would with a traditional credit card.
The CFPB said it is shifting resources toward protecting servicemembers, veterans, and small businesses — priorities the agency considers urgent. However, the move also creates a regulatory gap in one of the fastest-growing segments of consumer finance.
BNPL’s Rapid Growth
Even though the CFPB announcement came nearly a year ago, its relevance continues to grow.
Buy Now, Pay Later usage has expanded rapidly, particularly among younger consumers and families facing rising costs for housing, food, and transportation. Retailers are increasingly promoting installment options during checkout, encouraging shoppers to divide purchases into smaller payments.
For many consumers, the appeal is simple: smaller payments feel easier to manage than a single large charge.
But financial counselors warn that juggling several small installment plans at once can quickly add up. Multiple BNPL purchases — each with its own payment schedule — may strain household budgets.
Complaints about billing errors, refund delays, and late fees have also increased as the industry grows.
Without the standardized protections that apply to credit cards, some consumers may find it more difficult to dispute charges or resolve transaction problems.
How the CFPB Works
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created by Congress in 2010 following the financial crisis to protect consumers in the financial marketplace.
The agency regulates products such as mortgages, credit cards, and student loans, and it has increasingly examined emerging financial tools like BNPL services.
Several features of the CFPB’s structure help explain how policy changes occur:
• Independent but Executive: The bureau operates independently but remains part of the executive branch. • Single Director: It is led by a director appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2020), the president can remove the director at will. • Independent Funding: The CFPB receives funding through the Federal Reserve System rather than through congressional appropriations. • Broad Authority: The agency enforces federal consumer financial laws and supervises both banks and non-bank lenders.
Because of this structure, the bureau’s regulatory priorities can shift when presidential administrations change.
What Consumers Should Know
Financial experts emphasize that BNPL services may feel different from traditional loans, but they still carry obligations.
Payments are typically scheduled automatically through debit cards or bank withdrawals. Missing a payment can trigger late fees, and some companies may report missed payments to credit bureaus.
For consumers already managing multiple subscriptions, credit cards, and bills, installment plans can create additional complexity.
With fewer federal guardrails in place, financial responsibility increasingly falls on the individual shopper.
TSJ will continue monitoring how federal regulators, lenders, and retailers shape the future of Buy Now, Pay Later financing — and what it means for families trying to stretch every dollar in an unpredictable economy.
Sidebar
Five Things Consumers Should Watch When Using BNPL
Missed or Late Payments BNPL apps often auto-debit accounts. If funds are not available, late fees can accumulate quickly.
Billing Disputes Resolving problems such as damaged goods or delayed refunds may take longer without standardized protections.
Unexpected Fees Some providers may introduce or increase fees if regulatory pressure decreases.
Credit Score Effects Not all BNPL companies report payments the same way. A missed payment could affect credit unexpectedly.
Multiple Plans at Once Several small “pay-in-four” loans can quickly become difficult to track and manage.
Valeria Howard Cunningham reflects on 42 years of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, preserving Black cowboy history while inspiring youth and building community nationwide.
The Legacy of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo: Valeria Howard Cunningham on History, Community, and the Future of Black Cowboys
Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | March 10, 2026
A little boy walked into the arena in Memphis dressed like a cowboy from head to toe, boots, jeans, a large buckle, a western shirt, and a hat. He was about seven years old.
Like many children entering a rodeo arena for the first time, he wrinkled his nose at the smell of the animals. Then he stepped closer to the arena rail. He stopped in his tracks. Hands on his hips, eyes wide, he stared at the riders preparing to compete. “I can’t believe this,” he said. “There are real Black cowboys and cowgirls.”
Standing nearby was Valeria Howard Cunningham, the longtime leader of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. She watched the moment unfold and felt tears come to her eyes. “For me,” she later said, “that moment spoke volumes.”
For more than four decades, moments like that have defined the mission of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo not simply as a sporting event, but as a living classroom where history, culture, and community meet.
In a recent interview with The Truth Seekers Journal, Howard reflected on the journey that has taken the rodeo from modest beginnings to sold-out arenas across the country, and on the people and purpose that have sustained it for more than 42 years.
Overcoming Fear and Breaking Barriers
Cunningham does not pretend the journey was easy. Taking the reins of a national rodeo organization as a Black woman came with uncertainty and pressure. “You know, that was scary within itself,” Cunningham said. “Being a woman, being a Black woman, trying to run an African American rodeo association. Were people ready for that?”
There were moments of doubt. But Cunningham said she was never alone. She remembers the circle of women who stood beside her, believing in the vision and pushing her forward when the responsibility felt overwhelming. “I had Black women surrounding me who had my back,” she said. “They assured me they would be standing beside me.” That support system became one of the foundations of the rodeo’s success. Howard quickly points out that the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo has always been a team effort.
Among those who helped shape the organization are longtime partners like national sponsorship director, Margo Wade-LaDrew, who is ready to step in and take the reins if need be, Acynthia Villery, Social Media Director, and the first African American female professional rodeo announcer, public relations director Michelle Johnson, and a network of coordinators, volunteers, and rodeo professionals across the country.
“I was surrounded by incredibly talented women,” Cunningham said. “They guided me on the things I didn’t know.”
From Empty Seats to Sold-Out Arenas
When the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo first began touring, success looked very different. In the early days, simply filling a few seats felt like a victory. “We started just hoping to see some people in the seats,” Cunningham said. Today, many arenas are filled to capacity. The growth did not happen by accident. Cunningham credits the rodeo’s competitors, the cowboys and cowgirls who travel across the country. They compete in events that require extraordinary skill, discipline, and courage.
BPIR courtesy photo – Valeria Howard Cunningham, President and CEO of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
“The Black cowboys and cowgirls that are part of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo are professionals,” she said. “People come because they want to see great competition.” But competition alone is not enough.
Cunningham believes audiences deserve excellence when they buy a ticket. “If you’re going to produce a show,” she said, “you must respect your audience and make sure they get the best experience possible.”
The True Culture of Black Cowboys
Cunningham is passionate about correcting misunderstandings about Black cowboy culture. Too often, she says, people reduce the culture to modern trail rides or social gatherings. But the real tradition runs much deeper.
“Black cowboy culture is about people who love the animals, love the sport, and take pride in being the best at what they do,” she said. At a Bill Pickett rodeo, spectators see that culture up close.
They see barrel racers flying around the arena at full speed. They see bull riders climb onto two-ton animals. These animals can throw a rider in seconds. They see steer wrestlers launch themselves from horses in a test of strength and timing.
Every event carries risk. Every competitor carries pride. And every ride connects today’s riders to generations of Black cowboys who helped shape the American West.
The Business Behind the Show
Behind the excitement of the arena is a complex operation. Producing a rodeo requires moving livestock, equipment, competitors, and staff across multiple states. Venue decisions alone can determine whether an event is financially successful.
Cunningham remembers one expensive lesson from decades ago. During an indoor rodeo in Philadelphia, the organization paid $50,000 just to bring dirt into the arena and then remove it afterward. “That’s when I said we’re not in the dirt business,” Cunningham said. Experiences like that shaped the organization’s strategy.
Cunningham said she is careful to choose venues that allow the rodeo to keep ticket prices affordable. “Our community has to be able to participate,” she said. “That’s the reason we do what we do.”
Investing in the Next Generation
For Cunningham, the rodeo’s mission extends far beyond competition. She credits her upbringing for that outlook. “My mother raised me to believe that when people give to you, you must give back,” she said.
That philosophy led to the creation of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Foundation, which provides scholarships, community programs, and youth outreach. Young riders are also part of the show itself.
The rodeo features Pee-Wee divisions for children as young as 5. There are also junior competitions that allow young riders to develop their skills. “These kids invest time and effort,” Cunningham said. “When they do something positive, we should showcase it.”
Rodeo for Kids’ Sake
One of the rodeo’s most impactful programs is called Rodeo for Kids’ Sake.
Each year in Memphis, thousands of elementary and middle school students attend a special Friday morning rodeo designed just for them. Before the competition begins, students receive a history lesson about Black cowboys and cowgirls who played important roles in the development of the American West. Teachers can also download curriculum workbooks. These workbooks connect rodeo history to lessons in reading, math, and art.
BPIR Courtesy photo – Valeria Howard Cunningham
About 4,000 students attend the Memphis program each year. For many of them, it is the first time they have ever heard about Black cowboys. Sometimes, it is the first time they have ever seen one. Cunningham still remembers the moment that little boy in Memphis stopped and stared at the arena. “I can’t believe this,” he said. “There are real Black cowboys and cowgirls,” Cunningham said. She could only stand there and cry. In that instant, she understood the true reach of the rodeo. “It means they see themselves,” she said.
A Legacy Built by Community
Cunningham experienced another powerful moment during the rodeo’s 40th anniversary celebration in Oakland. Standing at the top of the arena entrance, she watched families stream through the doors. Parents pushed strollers. Children held hands. Elderly guests arrived in wheelchairs. “It didn’t matter if you were a newborn or a senior,” she said. “Everyone was coming to share the experience.”
One man stopped her and shared his story. He had attended the rodeo every year since childhood. Now he was bringing his own children and his mother. “That’s when I realized the span of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo,” Cunningham said.
Looking Toward the Future
Now in its 42nd year, the rodeo continues to grow.
Alongside the competition, the organization has launched Soul Country Rodeo Weekend. This event pairs the rodeo with a national music competition to discover emerging country music talent. But Cunningham says the future of the rodeo ultimately belongs to the next generation. “We’re preparing the next school of leaders,” she said. These are leaders who will carry the Bill Pickett legacy forward. They are the leaders who will keep telling the story. And they will make sure the next little boy who walks into a rodeo arena can still look out at the dirt, the horses, and the riders and say with wonder: “There are real Black cowboys and cowgirls.”
Agricenter International Showplace Theater – 7777 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis, TN
Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
Music Competition – Friday, April 10, 2026 | 7:00 pm 8:00 pm Competition
BPIR Rodeo – Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 1:30 pm or 7:30 pm
Country Roots, Diverse Beats: Celebrating the Rich Tapestry of Soul in Country Music.
Upcoming in the TSJ series – Inside the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
Part 2 — Margo Wade LaDrew: Building the Rodeo Brand Part 3 — Kirk Jay: The Sound of Country Soul at the Rodeo Part 4 — Nathaniel Dansby (Mr. Bowleggs) : The Sound of Country Soul at the Rodeo Part 5 — Rodeo for Kids’ Sake and the Next Generation
Georgia farmers who suffered devastating losses during Hurricane Helene are set to receive more than $531 million in federal disaster relief, according to an announcement from U.S. Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.
The funding will be distributed through the Georgia Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program, a federal relief initiative designed to help farmers, ranchers, and foresters recover from one of the most destructive storms to hit Georgia’s agricultural economy in recent history.
The relief comes nearly two years after Hurricane Helene tore across large portions of South and East-Central Georgia, leaving widespread destruction across farms, forests, and rural infrastructure.
“This announcement is welcome news for the Georgia producers and farmers that have been forced to wait far too long for this desperately needed relief,” Warnock said. “I’m glad to see that the application for these block grants will open in the coming weeks.”
Ossoff emphasized that Congress approved disaster funding shortly after the storm but said the process of getting the money to farmers has taken longer than expected.
“Less than 90 days after Hurricane Helene devastated Georgia agriculture, Senator Warnock and I passed disaster funding for Georgia farmers,” Ossoff said. “Now, over a year late, USDA is finally getting those funds to Georgia farmers. I am glad Georgia farmers are getting the help they’ve long deserved.”
Billions in Agricultural Losses
Hurricane Helene inflicted massive damage across Georgia’s agriculture and forestry sectors.
According to state and federal estimates:
Roughly one-third of Georgia’s pecan and cotton crops were destroyed
More than 100 poultry houses were damaged or wiped out
Approximately 1.5 million acres of timber were damaged or destroyed
Altogether, the storm caused an estimated $5.5 billion in total agricultural losses, making it one of the costliest disasters in Georgia farming history.
Beyond the economic devastation, the human toll was also severe. More than 250 people lost their lives nationwide, including 37 Georgians, as the storm moved through the region.
Who Can Apply for the Relief
The block grant program will help producers recover losses across a wide range of agricultural operations.
Eligible producers may seek assistance for damages affecting:
Timber
Farm infrastructure
Poultry operations
Beef and dairy cattle
Milk and dairy feed losses
Pecans and blueberries
Citrus crops
Nursery operations
Plasticulture systems
Bare ground farming practices
Applications will be administered through the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
The application window will open March 16, 2026, and remain available for six weeks, closing April 27, 2026.
Bipartisan Push for Relief
Warnock and Ossoff both credited bipartisan advocacy for helping secure the funding.
In March 2025, Warnock led a bipartisan group of lawmakers urging the United States Department of Agriculture to accelerate disaster assistance for Georgia farmers. Members of the Georgia congressional delegation joined the effort as pressure mounted from agricultural groups and rural communities still recovering from the storm.
Warnock, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, has repeatedly pushed for stronger federal support for farmers dealing with extreme weather events.
Georgia’s agricultural sector — one of the state’s largest economic engines — continues to face increasing risks from hurricanes, drought, and other climate-driven disasters that can wipe out crops and infrastructure in a single season.
A Long Road to Recovery
For many farmers, the new funding represents a critical step toward rebuilding operations damaged during Helene.
Farmers across South Georgia reported losing entire orchards, poultry facilities, and timber stands that took decades to grow.
While the new federal relief will not fully replace the estimated billions lost, agricultural leaders say it will provide much-needed capital to help farmers stabilize their operations and prepare for future planting seasons.
For rural communities whose economies depend on agriculture and forestry, the funding could also help preserve jobs, stabilize local businesses, and keep family farms operating after one of the most damaging storms in recent memory.
SIDEBAR: Hurricane Helene’s Impact on Georgia Agriculture
When Hurricane Helene swept through Georgia, it left one of the most damaging agricultural disasters in the state’s modern history.
The storm’s powerful winds, heavy rain, and flooding devastated farms, forests, and rural infrastructure across South and East-Central Georgia, regions where agriculture is the backbone of many local economies.
State and federal assessments estimate that the storm caused approximately $5.5 billion in total agricultural losses across Georgia.
Key Impacts
Crop Destruction Helene wiped out or severely damaged large portions of Georgia’s specialty crops. Nearly one-third of the state’s pecan and cotton crops were destroyed, while blueberry and citrus growers also reported widespread losses.
Timber Losses Georgia is the nation’s leading timber-producing state, and the storm struck some of its most heavily forested regions. Roughly 1.5 million acres of timber were damaged or destroyed, representing years — and in many cases decades — of lost growth.
Poultry Industry Damage The storm also hit Georgia’s massive poultry sector. More than 100 poultry houses were damaged or destroyed, disrupting one of the state’s most important agricultural industries.
Farm Infrastructure Beyond crops and livestock, farmers reported losses to irrigation systems, fencing, barns, tractors, storage buildings, and other critical infrastructure needed to operate their farms.
Long-Term Effects
Agricultural disasters can take years to recover from. Unlike row crops that can be replanted quickly, pecan orchards and timber stands may take decades to fully recover.
The federal block grant program announced by Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff aims to help farmers rebuild operations and stabilize rural economies that depend on agriculture.
For many Georgia producers, the funding represents a critical step toward recovery after one of the most destructive storms to hit the state’s farming sector.
The State Bar of Georgia regulates more than 50,000 attorneys, enforces ethics rules, and provides programs that help Georgians resolve disputes with lawyers.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | March 7, 2026
The joke surfaces almost every time a large group of lawyers gathers: if Georgia has a “State Bar,” does that mean the state also has an official tavern?
Inside the headquarters of the State Bar of Georgia at 104 Marietta Street NW in downtown Atlanta, the answer quickly becomes clear.
Photo by Milton Kirby State Bar of Georgia
The State Bar is not a social club, and it is certainly not a bar in the traditional sense. It is the institution that determines who may legally practice law in Georgia and the body responsible for disciplining those who violate professional rules.
That reality was on display last month as judges, attorneys and journalists gathered for the 35th Georgia Bar, Media & Judiciary Conference, an annual forum designed to improve communication between the legal profession and the press.
For The Truth Seekers Journal, the conference offered a closer look at one of the most influential and often misunderstood institutions in Georgia’s justice system.
Inside the Conference Discussions
Participants described the discussions as detailed, transparent and highly engaging, particularly around the challenges journalists face when covering courts and government institutions.
One session focused heavily on Freedom of Information practices, offering reporters practical guidance on how to navigate overloaded agencies and obtain public records necessary for investigative reporting.
Panelists shared strategies for overcoming bureaucratic delays, understanding legal limits on disclosure, and ensuring journalists can still access the information required to do their jobs.
Another panel titled “The New Ecology of College Sports” examined the rapidly evolving world of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) compensation for college athletes. Speakers discussed the enormous financial changes reshaping college athletics, where some players now receive substantial endorsement deals while others earn little or nothing raising new questions about fairness and competitive balance.
Safety in the field was also addressed during a session called “Navigating Immigration Reporting,” which offered practical advice to journalists covering sensitive immigration stories while protecting themselves and their sources.
Kirby arrived late and missed the opening session titled “Beating the Rap,” but said the conversations he attended reflected the conference’s broader purpose: strengthening understanding between lawyers, judges and journalists responsible for explaining the justice system to the public.
A Mandatory Bar
Georgia operates as what legal scholars call a unified or integrated bar state.
Unlike voluntary bar associations in places such as New York or Illinois, membership in the State Bar of Georgia is not optional. The organization operates under the supervision of the Supreme Court of Georgia, which oversees the legal profession statewide.
If a lawyer wants to represent clients, appear in court, or even hold themselves out as an attorney in Georgia, they must be an active member in good standing.
Failure to pay dues or meet professional requirements such as continuing legal education can result in suspension. Once suspended, an attorney cannot represent clients, provide legal advice or practice law in any capacity.
Attempting to do so constitutes the unauthorized practice of law, a violation that can carry civil penalties and, in some cases, criminal consequences.
Different Paths Within the Profession
Not every member of the Bar is actively practicing law in a courtroom. Attorneys can maintain several different membership statuses depending on their career stage.
• Active: Fully authorized to practice law and required to complete continuing legal education. • Inactive: Lawyers who maintain their license but are not practicing and cannot provide legal advice. • Emeritus or Retired: Veteran attorneys who have stepped away from active practice but remain connected to the profession.
These distinctions matter. In a mandatory bar state like Georgia, an inactive or retired attorney cannot casually offer legal advice to friends, churches or community groups.
Regulation and Discipline
The State Bar currently serves more than 50,000 attorneys across Georgia.
Through its Office of the General Counsel, the Bar investigates grievances filed by clients and members of the public. If an investigation finds probable cause that an attorney violated the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, the case may be prosecuted before the Georgia Supreme Court.
Sanctions can range from private reprimands to suspension or permanent disbarment.
Public Services for Georgians
The Bar also operates programs designed to help the public navigate legal problems.
The Client Assistance Program (CAP) serves as a first point of contact for many residents experiencing issues with an attorney. CAP helps resolve communication breakdowns, billing disputes and other conflicts before they escalate into formal disciplinary complaints.
The Bar also offers fee arbitration, allowing disputes over legal fees to be resolved without going to court.
Through the Pro Bono Resource Center and partnerships with GeorgiaLegalAid.org, attorneys are connected with opportunities to provide free civil legal assistance to low-income Georgians.
Major CLE Changes Begin in 2026
Significant changes to Georgia’s continuing legal education requirements take effect January 1, 2026.
Under a new order from the Supreme Court of Georgia, the state will move from an annual CLE reporting system to a biennial compliance period.
Lawyers will now complete 18 CLE hours every two years, including three hours of ethics and two hours of professionalism training. The previous “trial hours” requirement for trial lawyers has been eliminated.
Attorneys with 40 years of active membership without suspension or disbarment will qualify for a CLE exemption beginning with the next compliance cycle.
Technology and the Future of Law
Artificial intelligence is also reshaping the legal profession.
AI tools are increasingly used for document review, legal research and contract analysis. While these technologies promise efficiency, they also raise new questions about transparency, accountability and the role of human judgment in legal practice.
Supporting the Legal Community
The Bar has also developed programs focused on professional wellbeing.
The Center for Lawyer Wellbeing promotes mental health resources and professional support for attorneys. Programs such as SOLACE, Support of Lawyers/Legal Personnel All Concern Encouraged provide non-monetary assistance to members of the legal community experiencing serious illness or major life events.
Not the Bar Exam
A common misconception is that the State Bar administers the bar exam.
That responsibility actually belongs to the Office of Bar Admissions, which determines who qualifies to enter the profession. The State Bar regulates lawyers once they have been admitted.
Education Beyond the Courtroom
The Bar’s influence extends into classrooms through its Law-Related Education program, which provides resources for K-12 teachers to incorporate legal concepts into civics education.
Programs such as Journey Through Justice help students understand legal rights, responsibilities and the role courts play in a democratic society.
Why This Matters to Everyday Georgians
For most residents, the State Bar may feel distant from daily life. But its role becomes important the moment someone hires or has trouble with a lawyer.
If an attorney stops returning calls, refuses to release a client’s file or fails to explain billing practices, the Client Assistance Program can help mediate communication before the problem escalates.
In more serious cases involving ethical violations, the Bar investigates grievances and can recommend disciplinary action ranging from reprimands to disbarment.
Trust and Accountability
In a time when public trust in institutions is frequently tested, the work of the State Bar operates largely out of the spotlight but carries significant consequences.
The organization helps ensure that the lawyers who represent clients, argue cases and influence court outcomes follow professional and ethical standards. For Georgians navigating the legal system, that oversight helps safeguard the integrity of the courts and the fairness of the process.
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DeKalb County will host its 9th Annual Reverse Trade Show & Procurement Summit on March 19, connecting local businesses with government decision-makers and contracting opportunities.
By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | March 6, 2026
DeKalb County is inviting entrepreneurs, contractors, and service providers to connect directly with government decision-makers at the county’s 9th Annual Reverse Trade Show & Procurement Summit on March 19.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in Decatur.
Hosted by the DeKalb County Purchasing and Contracting Department, the summit is designed to help local businesses better understand how to compete for government contracts while building relationships with county departments that purchase goods and services.
Unlike traditional trade shows, the event uses a reverse format.
Instead of vendors setting up booths, county departments and public agencies host the booths. Business owners walk the floor and speak directly with procurement staff, program managers, and other decision-makers responsible for county purchasing.
The goal is simple: make it easier for local businesses to learn how to do business with DeKalb County.
For small and emerging companies, the opportunity can be significant. County governments purchase millions of dollars in goods and services each year, from construction and maintenance to technology, consulting, and office supplies.
This year’s summit will feature several new elements aimed at helping businesses navigate the procurement process more effectively.
Business owners will be able to schedule one-on-one meetings with procurement professionals for personalized guidance on vendor registration, bidding opportunities, and navigating the county’s purchasing system.
Certified Local Small Business Enterprises (LSBEs) will also be able to schedule direct meetings with county departments seeking specific services. Participants are encouraged to bring capability statements, including NIGP codes, descriptions of services offered, and professional references.
To increase accessibility, several educational sessions will be offered twice during the day, allowing attendees to choose either morning or afternoon sessions.
The summit will also include a “Stump the Expert” panel, where participants can ask procurement professionals questions about government contracting, vendor registration, and DeKalb’s LSBE ordinance. Organizers say the interactive session is designed to make the procurement process more transparent and easier to understand.
For many local entrepreneurs, events like the Reverse Trade Show provide a rare opportunity to speak directly with public officials responsible for purchasing decisions.
By strengthening those connections, DeKalb County hopes to expand opportunities for local companies while ensuring taxpayers receive competitive pricing and high-quality services.
The event is open to contractors, suppliers, and service providers interested in working with DeKalb County.
For additional information, contact Michelle Butler, Chief Procurement Officer, at mnbutler@dekalbcountyga.gov or 678-472-8507.
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