— GeorgiaForward has selected Temple High School Assistant Principal Maegan Day as one of the 45 promising professionals to serve the organization’s 2023 Young Gamechangers program. YG is a unique leadership action program hosted by GeorgiaForward, a non-profit organization administered by the Georgia Municipal Association. Young Gamechangers brings professionals from across the state to work on the persistent challenges of one Georgia community.

Columbus-Muscogee County is hosting the Young Gamechangers in 2023. Columbus leaders have finalized their four “Challenge Questions” that the 2023 cohort will be charged to answer through the eight months they will spend developing specific, actionable recommendations for the community. These questions focus on economic development, community engagement, local entrepreneurship, and more.

Day, a native of Villa Rica, has worked as an educator for the last 10 years. In 2020 she formulated and launched PEARLS, a program to support young ladies within Carroll County Schools. PEARLS aims to strengthen social and emotional wellness, develop plans to meet short and long term academic and career goals, educate students on etiquette, social graces and the importance of service to their community.

“I am so excited to work with such a diverse group of accomplished, creative and hard-working Georgians and create a positive impact on the City of Columbus,” Day said. “I can’t wait to meet my fellow Gamechangers in April and positively impact the lives of others!”

The 2023 cohort of Gamechangers will meet for the first time in Columbus on April 26 and their work will culminate with a community presentation of their findings and recommendations October 19.

“We are delighted to bring the Young Gamechanger program to Columbus after a very successful run in Dalton,” said AJ Robinson, chair of GeorgiaForward’s board of directors. “This program has proven beneficial to every locale in which it has taken place, bringing new and fresh ideas to cities and counties across the state. It is a premier leadership development opportunity which produces results on many levels.”

Previous Young Gamechangers Host Communities are Americus-Sumter County, Dublin-Laurens County, Douglasville-Douglas County, Augusta-Richmond County, LaGrange-Troup County, Milledgeville-Baldwin County, Albany-Dougherty County, Monroe-Walton County, and Dalton-Whitfield County.

About GeorgiaForward: GeorgiaForward is a convener, connector, and unifier. We exist to unite our state, strengthen communities, and create a talent pipeline within Georgia. GeorgiaForward engages young professionals with leaders in civics, industry, government, academia, and the media to find a common vision for Georgia. The nonprofit organization, which is administered by the Georgia Municipal Association, accomplishes this by creating an environment in which vision and pragmatism can overcome political deadlock, fostering communication and goodwill among Georgia’s stakeholders, and seeking innovative solutions to Georgia’s biggest challenges. To learn more about GeorgiaForward visit, georgiaforward.org.

About the Georgia Municipal Association: Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and consulting services to all of Georgia’s 537 cities. GMA anticipates and influences the forces shaping Georgia’s cities and to provide leadership, tools and services that assist municipal governments in becoming more innovative, effective and responsive. Created in 1933, the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) is the only state organization that represents municipal governments in Georgia. For more information, visit www.gacities.com.