DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson and Metro chairwomen highlight leadership, equity at Women’s History Month fireside

DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran Johnson and county chairwomen from Gwinnett, Cobb, Henry and Clayton counties used a Women’s History Month fireside at the Fern Bank Museum to describe how they entered public life and to urge more women to engage in local government.

The event, hosted by Maria Boynton of Odyssey Atlanta, opened with spoken‑word and musical performances and a brief introduction by DeKalb Chief Communications Officer Diana Smith, who praised the regional leadership of women and summarized Johnson’s early actions in office, including a multi‑billion‑dollar water‑infrastructure investment and investments in police compensation and technology. “When women lead, we don’t just take the seat, we transform the room,” Johnson said during the conversation.

The panelists traced varied routes into elected office. Nicole Love Henderson, chairwoman of Gwinnett County, said her background as a social worker and community outreach director led residents to encourage her to run during a period of social and public‑health unrest in 2020. “We needed a leader who demonstrated vision and compassion,” she said.

Lisa Cupid, chairwoman of Cobb County, described a nontraditional path—from engineering to law—where mentors and community visibility pushed her toward public service. She urged women to be visible at meetings and to vote, calling civic participation "your power." Dr. Alika Anderson Henry, chairwoman of Clayton County, recounted moving from a teaching career into school‑board leadership in response to a crisis in school accreditation; she later pursued county leadership to improve local outcomes for children and families.

Carlotta Harrell, chairwoman of Henry County and a retired law‑enforcement lieutenant, said her civil‑rights‑era upbringing and public‑safety experience shaped her priorities: community policing, accessibility and housing attainability. Harrell described convening local partners and the legislative delegation to advance long‑stalled GDOT projects and said the governor’s budget included a substantial allocation for projects she had prioritized.

Throughout the discussion, speakers emphasized preparation, persistence and fact‑based advocacy. Johnson advised emerging leaders to “get your facts together so when you use your voice, you speak with an authority and a clarity that makes people acknowledge what you’ve said.” Panelists repeatedly urged attendees to attend local meetings, speak during public comment and vote as concrete routes to shape policy.

The program closed with calls for mentorship and intergenerational support. The panel credited mentors such as former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and encouraged the next generation to prepare rather than wait for permission to lead.

The evening combined celebratory performances and a policy‑focused conversation but did not include formal votes or policy actions; attendees were directed to DeKalb County’s website for a published year‑in‑review report referenced during remarks.