Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis was joined by DeKalb County Commissioners, residents, businesses, and community leaders to develop a new vision for improving neighborhood empowerment in DeKalb County during the DeKalb Neighborhood Summit on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Maloof Auditorium.

More than 500 citizens, representing more than 300 neighborhood and civic associations, participated in community roundtables and presentations, and received valuable information on county services including neighborhood watch, greenspace and cooperative extension.

“It is great to see the community come together to express the importance of strengthening neighborhoods while building a collaborative regional voice,” said CEO Ellis. “It is important that we take all necessary steps to elevate the quality of life for our community which will lead us to become even stronger as a county. Hosting this summit was my way of reaffirming the importance of Neighborhood Empowerment.”

The primary purpose of the neighborhood summit was to showcase county services and form a new partnership between neighborhoods and county government, which is a one of the many initiatives CEO Ellis pledged to create. The Neighborhood Empowerment Initiative focuses on enhancing neighborhoods, empowering people to make positive contributions in their communities, and bringing government closer to citizens.

During the summit, citizens completed surveys to provide feedback to county officials and participated in simulation exercises, which gave groups the opportunity to work through scenarios that present challenges to neighborhood organizations.

Participants were very enthusiastic about the summit because CEO Ellis gave neighborhoods from around the county the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest. “Never before have we had, in DeKalb County, bridges being built, joining all communities together with our many diversities. I saw only one DeKalb. No north, south, east or west—just one DeKalb because of CEO Ellis’ positive vision,” said Brenda Pace, President of East Lake Terrace Neighborhood Association.

Due to the overwhelming community participation, CEO Ellis plans to relocate the summit to a larger facility next year. A second neighborhood summit is planned for early next year.