Chakira's Corner: DeKalb County District 4 Updates

How the DeKalb Library System Provides Literacy, Digital Access, and Community | Chakira’s Corner

In this episode of Chakira's Corner, Commissioner Chakira Johnson sits down with DeKalb County Public Library Director Alison Weissinger to pull back the curtain on everything the county's 23-branch library system actually offers — from early childhood programs like 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten to free Wi-Fi hotspot loans, LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, and no-cost digital access to the New York Times. They talk about how individual branches respond to their specific communities, what the county is doing to ease pressure on libraries from unhoused residents, and why current federal threats to library funding should matter to every DeKalb resident. If you have a library card and aren't using these resources yet, this episode will change that. And if you don't have one, you'll want one by the time it's over. * 0:00 Intro * 1:21 Director Weissinger's Path to the Library * 2:54 30 Years of Change at DeKalb Libraries * 4:13 Why Libraries Matter for District 4 * 6:12 Beyond Books: Programs and Community Resources * 8:08 A Thousand Books Before Kindergarten * 12:12 Summer Reading and Fighting the Summer Slide * 13:33 Free Online Resources with Your Library Card * 19:17 Hotspots, Chromebooks, and Digital Access * 25:35 Threats to Libraries and How to Help * 29:14 Supporting Libraries Through Advocacy and Donations * 31:11 The Library Foundation and Friends Groups * 36:16 Stay Connected with the Library and Commissioner Johnson Links: DeKalb County Public Library  DeKalbLibrary.org DeKalb Library Resources for Young Children dekalblibrary.org/read-and-grow A Thousand Books Before Kindergarten  dekalblibrary.org/read-and-grow/1000-books Computers and Technology  dekalblibrary.org/using-the-library/computers Friends of the Library  dekalblibrary.org/support-us/friends-of-the-library Library Newsletters  dekalblibrary.org/newsletters Library Events Calendar  events.dekalblibrary.org/events Email Commissioner Johnson  chakira@dekalbcountyga.gov Commissioner Johnson, All Links  linktr.ee/commissionerchakirajohnson

DeKalb Public Safety Update: EMS Response, Crime Center, Text Alerts, and More | Chakira's Corner

DeKalb County’s new Director of Public Safety, Darnell Fullum, joins Commissioner Chakira Johnson to discuss what residents are experiencing around public safety. They cover EMS response improvements, the Real Time Crime Center, and how the county is strengthening coordination across agencies. The conversation also highlights less-visible departments like 911, Emergency Management, Animal Services, and the Medical Examiner’s Office. Commissioner Johnson shares how budget priorities connect to retention, stability, and safety.00:00:24 Welcome to Chakira’s Corner and today’s focus00:00:45 District 4 priorities and Commissioner Johnson’s committee roles00:01:08 Introducing Director Darnell Fullum and the episode format00:01:42 Start date and early priorities in the new role00:02:36 Fullum’s early life in Pittsburgh and path into public service00:03:29 Army service and moving to Atlanta to join the fire department00:05:17 Top public safety concerns from constituents: EMS response and crime00:06:47 EMS contract changes and how performance is being improved00:08:45 Real Time Crime Center and why technology matters00:09:42 What Public Safety oversees: Fire, Police, 911, Animal, ME, DEMA00:10:32 Ride-alongs, breaking silos, and building cross-department synergy00:19:12 DEMA, warming centers, and preparing residents for severe weather00:23:13 Code Red transitioning to Rave and reducing alert fatigue00:25:46 Department wins: recognition, staffing progress, SPLOST, accreditation00:30:11 Closing takeaways and how to contact Commissioner Johnson

DeKalb County Rent, Homeownership, and the Unhoused with Dr. Alan Ferguson | Chakira's Corner

DeKalb County's first Chief Housing Officer, Dr. Alan Ferguson, joins Commissioner Chakira Johnson to talk about housing challenges and solutions in DeKalb County. They discuss rising rents, homelessness, and housing diversity. The conversation also details where residents should turn if they are worried about paying rent or staying housed. Learn how to plug into the zoning rewrite, the countywide housing strategy, and other opportunities to help shape DeKalb's housing future. Chapters 00:00 Intro and Commissioner Johnson's roles 01:33 Introducing Chief Housing Officer Dr. Alan Ferguson 02:26 Growing up in South DeKalb and choosing public service 05:22 Why DeKalb created a Chief Housing Officer role 07:24 What the Chief Housing Officer does and does not handle 12:18 Common misconceptions about county government and housing 18:06 If you miss a paycheck, where to call and how to get help 23:00 Development without displacement and neighborhood stability 27:10 Preserving neighborhood character and the zoning rewrite 33:05 Early wins: housing strategy, Affordable Housing Fund, Park 500, NACA 39:06 Key takeaways on housing priorities in DeKalb 41:25 Commissioner Johnson's new role as Presiding Officer44:46 How to contact Commissioner Johnson and stay connected Links DeKalb Housing and Chief Housing Officer info:https://bit.ly/DeKalbDrFerguson [https://bit.ly/DeKalbDrFerguson] DeKalb Zoning Rewrite information:https://bit.ly/ZoningDeKalb [https://bit.ly/ZoningDeKalb] United Way of Greater Atlanta (including 211):https://unitedwayatlanta.org/ [https://unitedwayatlanta.org/] ARCHI Collaborative:https://www.archicollaborative.org/ [https://www.archicollaborative.org/] DeKalb Resource Guide:https://bit.ly/DeKalbResourceGuide [https://bit.ly/DeKalbResourceGuide] Commissioner Chakira Johnson Linktree:https://linktr.ee/commissionerchakirajohnson [https://linktr.ee/commissionerchakirajohnson]

2025 Recap, Looking to 2026: Progress & Priorities in District 4 of DeKalb County | Chakira’s Corner

In this episode of Chakira’s Corner, Commissioner Chakira Johnson looks back on the biggest lessons from 2025 and shares what’s ahead in 2026. Topics covered include housing and homelessness, water infrastructure and the consent decree, Memorial Drive revitalization, youth development, and services for New Americans. She also previews Resources Day on April 18, 2026 (in tandem with the Community Connection Breakfast), explains how residents can reach her team, and encourages District 4 constituents to consider serving on county advisory boards and commissions. 00:23 – Intro: committees + District 4 focus areas 01:39 – Why Commissioner Johnson ran for office 03:02 – One year in: reflections from 2025 04:43 – Priorities: housing/homelessness + water infrastructure 07:38 – How to contact the Commissioner 10:23 – Resources Day + Community Connection Breakfast (Apr 18, 2026) 14:34 – Community Connection Breakfasts + Jan 31, 2026 preview 19:10 – “Chakira’s Cookout” back-to-school event recap 21:21 – Boards & commissions: what they are + how to serve 29:00 – District projects: Park 500 + Memorial Drive (4380) 30:18 – Memorial Drive next steps: safety, transit, CID/BID 33:00 – Youth development + services for New Americans 35:30 – 10,000-foot view: 2025 to 2026 + closing RELEVANT DATES Saturday, January 31, 2026 — Community Connection Breakfast (Q1 2026) — 9:00 AM Location: East Central DeKalb Senior Center & Community Center  Saturday, April 18, 2026 — Resources Day + Community Connection Breakfast (combined) Location: DeKalb Conference Center @ Georgia Piedmont Technical College (Clarkston) Summer 2026: Chakira’s Cookout: back-to-school event Typically the last weekend in June (exact date TBD) Open advisory board positions: * Open Positions: Community Council, * PDK Airport Advisory, * Watershed Customer Service & Billing bit.ly/DeKalbBoardsAndCommissions [https://bit.ly/DeKalbBoardsAndCommissions] Data Center Text Amendment (on Engage DeKalb’s site) bit.ly/DCGADataCenterTextAmendment [https://bit.ly/DCGADataCenterTextAmendment]  Commissioner Chakira Johnson (District 4) • Website: https://www.commissionerchakirajohnson.com/ • Contact form: https://www.commissionerchakirajohnson.com/contact • District 4 (official county page): https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/board-commissioners/district-4 • X (Twitter) referenced: https://x.com/CommissionerCJJ [https://x.com/CommissionerCJJ]

Small Business, Zoning, Permitting & Growth in DeKalb County with Juliana Njoku | Chakira's Corner

In this episode of Chakira’s Corner, Commissioner Chakira Johnson talks with DeKalb County’s Director of Planning & Sustainability, Juliana Njoku, about how zoning, permitting, housing, and economic development all work together to shape DeKalb’s future. Juliana shares her path into public service and what makes DeKalb’s mix of communities, land, and cultures so distinct. They also break down how Planning & Sustainability serves as the “guardrails” for growth—guiding where parks, homes, and businesses go; improving permitting and licensing; and launching tools like the Planning Community Academy 101 and Engage DeKalb so residents and small business owners can stay informed and involved. Featured Resources: • Planning & Sustainability: https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/planning-and-sustainability/planning [https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/planning-and-sustainability/planning] • Decide DeKalb (Economic Development): https://www.decidedekalb.com [https://www.decidedekalb.com/] • Engage DeKalb (Public Input Portal): https://engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov [https://engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov/] • Email Commissioner Johnson: chakira@dekalbcountyga.gov • Linktree – Commissioner Chakira Johnson: https://linktr.ee/commissionerchakirajohnson [https://linktr.ee/commissionerchakirajohnson] Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & Episode Overview 01:20 – Juliana’s Path to Planning & Public Service 04:30 – What Makes DeKalb County Unique 06:20 – How Planning & Sustainability Supports the Vision 12:00 – Parks, Businesses & Economic Development 17:50 – Department Goals, Structure & Technology Upgrades 21:10 – Helping Small Businesses Succeed 32:20 – Community Academy 101 & Resident Engagement 38:30 – Permitting, Pre-Application Meetings & Realistic Timelines 51:00 – A Shared Vision for DeKalb’s Next 5–10 Years 55:00 – Closing Thoughts & How to Connect