SMYRNA, GEORGIA / THE PUBLIC RECORD

A. COW2025-077 Racial Trust Building Initiative Discussion – Bridges Holmes Mayor Norton explained that the Racial Trust Building initiative began around four years ago modeled after a program in Lagrange, GA. There have been several workshops, but attendance has diminished. It is time to move onto the next phase. Chief Marcos introduced Bridges Holmes who spoke at a recent Small Business Association event who made an impact with his presentation. Bridges Holmes is from Smyrna (Kenwood neighborhood) and attended UGA where he experienced his first encounter with racism. He is launching a practice around professional coaching and leadership development, Moray Advisors, which will help people learn how to communicate again. Mr. Holmes presented the following: Why are we here? Original Smyrna Racial Trust Building Initiative • Intended to bridge relationship gaps among the many diverse communities within Smyrna • Began during pandemic, continued through early 2025, with updates ahead • Initiative included a racial workshop series and a breakfast fellowship that spotlighted guest speakers • Gain great insights gathered from participants, but attracted a very small subsection of citizens • Felt siloed and awareness was not widely visible There is a better way to activate more participa

2025-09-04 · discussion no recorded action · minutes

Title extracted from action record; no matching structured agenda item.

The council record

Recorded roll call
Position	Count	Published names

Authorization and later evidence are separate events. A later record does not by itself establish causal impact.

01 / THE PLACE

Start with the place. Then move through the votes, the dollars and the records that connect them.

Smyrna City HallSMYRNA, GEORGIA / THE PUBLIC RECORD

02 / THE VOTE

Follow the documented decision, its authorized next step and what the later record actually shows.

What did council decide?SMYRNA, GEORGIA / THE PUBLIC RECORD

03 / THE DOLLARS

Move from a fund to a department, an account, and the published spending lines beneath it.

What did the vote fund?SMYRNA, GEORGIA / THE PUBLIC RECORD

04 / YOUR STREET

Place public decisions alongside your address, city boundary and ward. Keep proximity and impact distinct.

What is near you?SMYRNA, GEORGIA / THE PUBLIC RECORD

05 / THE ROOM

Open the meeting, its minutes and the documented motions. Read the vote in its original context.

Where was it decided?SMYRNA, GEORGIA / THE PUBLIC RECORD

06 / THE EVIDENCE

Follow the citations and see the gaps. A later event and a council authorization are separate pieces of evidence.

What can we verify?SMYRNA, GEORGIA / THE PUBLIC RECORD

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