The New Georgia Project (NGP) and New Georgia Project Action Fund (NGPAF) are entering a new phase with their latest announcement: the appointment of Rev. Dr. Roslyn Satchel as Interim CEO. According to an NGP announcement, Dr. Satchel's extensive background in community organization, advocacy, and interfaith coalition leadership are anticipated to enhance the work of NGP/AF, especially in mobilizing Georgia's young and Black populations, along with other historically marginalized communities.
“I’m honored to step into this role and continue building power with Black, young, and other left out and underestimated communities–a commitment to which I’ve dedicated my career,” Dr. Satchel stated in an announcement obtained by NGP, she also emphasized the importance of the current year as critical for issues such as racial justice, economic justice, healthcare access, and reproductive freedom and she's energized, confident in the power of Georgia voters to shape the future. Her emphasis on justice for underrepresented groups continued to be a defining factor in her career, which spans across teaching law and ethics and advocating for juvenile justice in Atlanta.
NGP Board Chair and NGPAF Treasurer Francys Johnson lauded Dr. Satchel, saying, “Rev. Dr. Satchel is one of the country’s leading scholars on race, media, and public policy as it relates to Black and Brown people across the U.S. and throughout the African diaspora,” further acknowledging her readiness to tackle the complex political and social issues that impact Georgia's voters. Johnson's praise in a statement accented the critical role Dr. Satchel would play in advocating for those facing voter suppression and political disenfranchisement.
With Georgia's status as a key swing state in the 2024 election, NGP and NGPAF have been gearing up, knocking on doors, recruiting poll workers and aiming to register 50,000 Georgians to vote - focusing particularly among Black communities and communities who have traditionally been excluded from the political process, according to the NGP statement. Dr. Erin L. Ryan, chair of Dr. Satchel’s former department at Kennesaw State University School of Communication and Media, emphasized Dr. Satchel’s dual excellence in academia and activism, declaring, “She’s got that ‘It Factor’ that motivates people to action” – highlighting the impact of community activism in political representation and decision-making.
Dr. Melina Abdullah of Black Lives Matter Grassroots praised Dr. Satchel for her capabilities in coalition-building, support mobilization, strategic messaging, and inspiring action – skills critical to her new role, as quoted in a NGP interview. Dr. Satchel’s talents in citizen journalism and media relations are touted as instrumental components in her toolkit for community empowerment and the ongoing fight for inclusive democracy.
