Regional Leadership Forum¹
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

The Regional Leadership Forum is an independent, non-partisan citizens' league that convenes citizens and leaders from the Atlanta region to learn about and discuss the difficult and complex challenges that cross county lines and city limits. RLF provides a forum for dialogue and debate, and an opportunity for reaching consensus on how our region can best meet these challenges. RLF was founded in 1994 by graduates of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Regional Leadership Institute, who recognized the need for an organization that could develop and sustain an infrastructure for civic engagement. Today, RLF has nearly 400 members from the 10-county Metro Atlanta Region. Membership is open to all and includes public officials, civic leaders, corporate executives and private citizens.

In 2003, RLF forged a strategic alliance with Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, making GSU its home. This partnership allows RLF to broaden the scope of its programs and services and gives RLF access to many of the university’s vast academic and administrative resources. Other partners include Research Atlanta, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Metro Atlanta Mayors' Association, and the Regional Business Coalition. Steve Rieck heads the RLF.

Programs/Seminars

In 2004, the RLF produced a number of programs and events dealing with five regional issues:

Regional Leadership:

• 2nd Annual Lunch with the Mayors, in cooperation with Research Atlanta, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the Metro Atlanta Mayors’ Association. A panel discussion of the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s Quality Growth Task Force recommendations. May 4, 2004.
• LINK Rush Hour Forum. A retrospective on eight years of LINK visits by regional leaders to other U.S. cities, in cooperation with the Atlanta Regional Commission. May 19, 2004.
• RLF 10th Anniversary Annual Meeting. A tribute to the vision of George Busbee, Manuel Maloof and Harry West. Presented the first "Founders Awards" to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Bill Bolling of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. October 7, 2004.

Education:

• Breakfast with Georgia School Superintendent Kathy Cox, to discuss the proposed performance-based curriculum for Georgia's public schools. April 16, 2004.

Water:

• Breakfast with Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson to discuss his proposal for a municipal sales tax in Atlanta to help pay for water/sewer system repairs and upgrades. January 2, 2004.
• Rush Hour Forum with Councilwoman Clair Muller, to discuss the history behind Atlanta’s water/sewer system problems and options for their resolution. February 3, 2004.
• RLF Presents “H2Uh-O!”, 30-minute public service television program on WSB-TV, watched by an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 viewers. May 29, 2004.
• RLF Presents “H2Uh-O!” in cooperation with Georgia Public Broadcasting. A panel discussion on water conservation in metro Atlanta using public service television program, “H2Uh-O!”, to guide discussion. June 22, 2004.
• RLF/Urban Land Institute Rush Hour Forum, on water resource planning in cooperation with the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and the Urban Land Institute’s Atlanta District. August 10, 2004.
• Metro South & “H2Uh-O!” in cooperation with Metro South, Inc. and the Henry County Chamber of Commerce. A discussion of water conservation issues on Atlanta’s Southside. October 12, 2004.

Transportation:

• RLF was one of several cooperating sponsors of The Georgia Economic Developers Association Transportation Committee as they presented The Transportation Forum at Georgia Tech's Global Learning and Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia. This event was designed to build awareness of the interdependence of economic development and transportation systems; create an understanding of creative alternatives for improving transportation; and develop support for enhancing resources for encouraging transportation investments throughout Georgia. November 15-16, 2004.

'Neighbor to Neighbor' Program on Building Social Capital

• One of RLF's central missions is to build social capital in the Atlanta region. RLF is pleased to partner with the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, and the Atlanta Regional Commission to present the "Neighbor to Neighbor" Program on Building Social Capital, a special program that focuses on important recent research on successful neighborhoods. Knowing your neighbor may be the most influential factor in creating effective and safe communities. The simple act of calling a neighborhood child by his or her name could have a profound effect on the child's achievements, according to new research by Harvard sociologist Robert J. Sampson and his colleagues. December 9, 2004.

Media Coverage

"Tax may spare car dealers,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 29, 2004.

“How to share pain of tax hike unclear,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 2, 2004.

“Leading The Leaders: Steve Rieck thinks the time is right for a regional forum,” Georgia Trend, February 2004.

“Boston holds up beacon of hope,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 17, 2004.

“City leaders seek pointers in Boston,” Citizens for Progressive Transit, April 20, 2004.

“H2Uh-O!”, WSB-TV, May 29, 2004.

“Georgia Week in Review,” Georgia Public Broadcasting, June 25, 2004.

“Regional water issues concern ULI, governments,” Atlanta Business Chronicle, October 8-14, 2004.

“Three leaders lighted the way for region,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 10, 2004.

Regional Leadership Forum Board of Directors 2004

Executive Director

Steve Rieck

Executive Committee

Committee Chairs

Directors

1. For a complete listing of AYSPS Active Research Sponsored Grants from CY2004, see the Appendix: Report on External Funding.