Reimagining Community Development: the Cross-Sector Imperative
Mayor Jonathan McCollar, City of Statesboro Mayor McCollar recognized early on in his life a desire for public service and being a voice for the voiceless. His entire career has been focused on public service and he has had the opportunity to work with such stellar organizations as Educational Services of America, Goodwill Industries International, and The American Cancer Society and Georgia Southern University. In each of these capacities, he was recognized for his ability to be an effective leader. Since making history in 2017, when he was elected as Statesboro’s first African American mayor, Mayor McCollar has reduced the city’s poverty rate by 30% and cut unemployment by more than half. Mayor McCollar's vision for the city of Statesboro is for the city to become a destination class city that is thriving economically with a culture of inclusion.
Kim Clifton, MSW, Executive Director, Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, Inc. Kim Clifton has served as the Executive Director of the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) since January 2025. Prior to her work with CGIC, she served as the Executive Director of HALOS for over 17 years, where she spearheaded the development of the first program in South Carolina supporting kinship families, attracting significant investments, while expanding organizational impact through strategic community and state partnerships. The program became a model for the state, and established kinship care as a recognized and supported system in South Carolina. During this time, HALOS grew from a volunteer project to a highly regarded nonprofit, earning the Erin Hardwick Award for Nonprofit Management Excellence.
Mayor Van Johnson, City of Savannah As the 67th mayor of Savannah, Georgia, the Honorable Dr. Van R. Johnson II embodies purpose, passion, and a relentless commitment to people. In 2004, Mayor Johnson began his political career as the First District Alderman, a position he held for 16 years. Throughout his tenure, he championed equity, inclusion, and justice, using his platform to advocate for the underserved and underrepresented—the least, the last, and the lost. On the national stage, Mayor Johnson is the President of the African American Mayors Association, the 1st Vice President of the National League of Cities, and a member of the United States Conference of Mayors. A trailblazer in youth development, Mayor Johnson's visionary leadership as Director of the Chatham County Youth Commission for more than 30 years has shaped future generations. His mentorship has inspired the creation of youth leadership programs nationwide, including co-founding the Savannah Youth Council in 2004. Mayor Johnson's visionary leadership, humanitarian efforts, and transformative impact have earned him widespread recognition. Savannah State University conferred him a Doctor of Humane Letters, and he has been honored as one of Georgia Trend Magazine's 100 Most Influential Georgians for six consecutive years.
