Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DeKalb County designated a 'County of Peace' in proclamation recognizing HWPL work
Summary
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson officially proclaimed DeKalb a "county of peace," honoring Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) and its local programming. HWPL representatives accepted the proclamation and committed to expand peace education locally.
DeKalb County commissioners and Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran Johnson on Tuesday proclaimed DeKalb County a "county of peace" and presented a proclamation recognizing the work of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) in the region.
The proclamation, read into the record by the clerk and presented by Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, cites HWPL's work on community revitalization, legislative peace programming and youth peace leadership academies and notes the group's special status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The board formally designated June 2025 as the month to encourage expansion of peace education across county schools and community organizations.
Why it matters: The board's action is ceremonial but intended to signal county-level support for peace-focused curricula and community engagement programs. HWPL representatives and local partners said the designation will help them expand youth-focused peace education and interfaith programming in the Atlanta metro area.
Kim Thomas, identified in the meeting as HWPL's chief branch manager, accepted the proclamation and thanked county officials for the recognition. "We are dedicated to making this county a county of peace," Thomas said, adding that local school and community partners had already been involved in HWPL programs.
Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, who sponsored the proclamation, read the county's formal declaration into the record and called for other municipalities across Georgia to consider similar efforts.
The proclamation notes memorandums of understanding between HWPL and some local institutions for Peace Leadership Academy programming, and it encourages expanding related educational and community activities. No funding or binding county policy change was attached to the proclamation.
Ending: County leaders and HWPL said they intend to continue coordinating on programming and outreach to schools and community groups, with further details to be developed by the organization and its partners.
