1970-2009
"Our 39th Year of Leadership for Atlanta"

Leadership Atlanta (Atlanta Leadership Development Foundation, Inc.) is the oldest continuously running training program of its type in the country. It was formed by a group of concerned citizens over three decades ago to address the growing need for a trained cadre of committed young leaders. The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce selected the first class in the summer of 1969 and in the spring of 1970, 46 leaders and future leaders of Atlanta graduated from the nine-month program. Among the class members were a future U.S. Senator, several corporate CEOs, judicial and civil rights leaders, and many committed business leaders and community volunteers.

Atlanta at this time was a growing regional city, attracting more and more residents and businesses to its temperate climate, convenient location, and growing economy. This was also a time of racial integration challenges, as Atlanta was deeply embroiled in the throes of the Civil Rights movement. The power structure was shifting with the demographic trends of the region, and as the population grew, more families moved out to the suburbs, and the African-American middle class developed economic and political power.

With this unprecedented growth and change in the region, Atlanta had a pressing need for informed, inspired, and committed leaders, and for a sense of unity, commonality, and dialogue between the diverse constituencies. Leadership Atlanta was built in response to these needs and the conviction that the early selection and training of leaders was too important a function to be left to chance. The founders envisioned an organization that would be a conduit through which people could make a difference in how Atlanta worked and would build upon and leverage one of Atlanta’s strongest assets—the tradition of cooperation among its businesses, community organizations, and public officials. The program would also serve as a mechanism by which new leaders could be brought into the fold and by which leaders with diverse backgrounds, positions, and interests could come together for social interaction, dialogue, and creative problem solving.

While much has changed over the years, the idea of selecting leaders for a rigorous, interactive curriculum to be engaged in all aspects of the Atlanta community remains the foundation on which thirty-eight successful Leadership Atlanta classes have been built. Since 1969, over 2,500 men and women, selected from Metro Atlanta counties and representing the diversity of our community, have completed this program and have taken their place as leaders in the community. There are now over 1,000 leadership development programs in the United States, many of which were modeled after Leadership Atlanta.

The true impact of Leadership Atlanta is hard to measure. Many of Metro Atlanta’s most influential CEOs, educators, judges, elected officials, entrepreneurs, community organizers, non-profit leaders, and professionals are graduates of the program. Leadership Atlanta alumni hold key volunteer leadership roles throughout our community. Through its network of alumni, Leadership Atlanta has been an instrument of positive change.

In 1977, Atlanta Leadership Development Foundation, Inc. became an independent, non-profit educational organization. Over the years, there has been a process of continual improvements, in organizational structure, participant diversity, the selection process, program content, and alumni activities and services. But thirty-eight years after its founding, Leadership Atlanta adheres to the same principles and values that were established at its founding.

Leadership Atlanta continues to grow and flourish as this year we celebrate our over 2,500 alumni and our 40th class.