GeorgiaForward

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬!
𝐉𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

Joanna Jackson is a community organizer, caregiver advocate, and founder of Connect The Dots, a fatherhood and family engagement initiative serving Southwest Georgia. As a certified Community Health Worker, doula, and perinatal navigator, she elevates the voices of working families by bridging gaps between community needs, policy, and care systems.

Joanna's leadership includes statewide advocacy for paid leave, maternal health equity, and caregiver support, and she recently provided impactful testimony before the Georgia Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services.

Known for her ability to mobilize communities through storytelling, relationship-building, and cross-sector collaboration, she creates spaces where families feel seen, empowered, and supported. Joanna is committed to strengthening rural Georgia through creative problem-solving and equity-centered community development, bringing lived experience, courage, and a solutions-driven mindset to every space she enters.

The Mayor’s Reading Club is all about coming together as a community to make literacy a priority from the very beginning and helping families build a love for reading at home. We support each other, stay accountable, and work together to give every child a strong start."

Mayor Rashida Taylor, City of Metter Government

We are excited to welcome Sophia Price as Georgia Forward's 2026 PIN Summer Intern!

Sophia is finishing up her second year studying Urban Planning and Spatial Analytics at Georgia Tech. Originally from Loganville, GA, she has loved calling Atlanta home and brings a passion for impactful, community-driven work.

This summer, Sophia will be diving into meaningful projects that expand her knowledge and skills. We can't wait to see the fresh perspective she brings to the table!

Fun fact: Sophia is Greek and will be traveling to Greece with her brothers this August!

Welcome to the team, Sophia!

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬!
𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫

Rebekah Hollar is a native of Evans, Georgia and a graduate of Evans High School, where she served as Student Body President, CCBOE Student Advisory Board member, and completed the 2018 Youth Leadership Program through the

Rebekah earned a Marketing degree with a Graphic Design minor from Mercer University and now serves as the Programs & Marketing Manager at the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she leads marketing strategy and community programming for Leadership Macon and Choose Macon.

Rebekah's commitment to community extends beyond her career. She serves on the Bragg Jam Board of Directors, supporting one of Macon's signature live music nonprofits and continuing to invest in the city she now calls home.

Did you miss our webinar with Scholastic? No worries! The recording is now available!

This session is packed with practical resources and opportunities to support literacy in your community, including ways to strengthen summer reading initiatives, keep students engaged while school is out, and explore partnerships and accessible book options for your Mayor's Reading Club.

Watch the recording and start making an impact this summer!

Mayors Reading Club: Partnering with Scholastic for Summer Reading Success Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.