The Cobb Chamber’s South Cobb Area Council, which represents South Cobb’s three distinct districts of Austell, Mableton, and Powder Springs, has selected three community advocates as their 2023 Citizens of the Year: Delores Powell for Austell, Dr. Christopher Boyd for Mableton, and Laurie Wong for Powder Springs.
The Citizen of the Year Awards are given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model. These outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she have made their community a better place to live. Awards are given based on local area nominations. The 2023 South Cobb Citizens of the Year awards were presented at the South Cobb Area Council luncheon at the Riverside EpiCenter.
2023 Austell Citizen of the Year
Delores Powell, Founder & Executive Director of Cool Kids Committee
Delores Powell is the Founder & Executive Director of Cool Kids Committee. The mission of the Cool Kids Committee, (Courageous Outspoken Outgoing Leaders Kind Independent Determined) Inc. is to positively influence the lives of at-risk youth through a Gang and Bullying Prevention Program by uniquely bridging partnerships with local law enforcement, schools, community leaders, and parents to build a sense of awareness, love, and unity through communication and social interaction.
Powell has a heart for all young people, believing that all deserve a fair chance at life and can recover from difficulties to prosper and grow into fine, upstanding, contributing individuals. Over her 20 years in Cobb, Powell has continuously contributed to the wellbeing of the Austell community through her servitude and dedication.
of the Year, Ollie Clemons, Mayor of the City of Austell
2023 Mableton Citizen of the Year
Dr. Christopher Boyd, General Manager at Riverside EpiCenter
Dr. Christopher L. Boyd serves as General Manager at Riverside EpiCenter, a 113,000 square-foot multi-function / multi-purpose facility owned by Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral, constructed to promote the balance of life in service to the Mableton/Austell community and beyond.
Dr. Boyd is a tremendous community partner and advocate for the residents of the Mableton community. For the past several years, Dr. Boyd has expanded the services offered onsite at the EpiCenter to make this site a hub in South Cobb. He has launched a business incubator space and hosted countless business and community groups regardless of their ability to pay. Dr. Boyd has been a spectacular public health partner throughout the pandemic and continuing today. He has hosted free daily COVID-19 drive through testing, vaccination and 24/7 kiosk testing services, and regularly hosts blood drives and educational meetings for residents to learn how to improve their health. He continues to selflessly dedicate himself to helping improve the quality of Mableton and the wellbeing of its citizens.
Citizen of the Year, Michael Owens, Mayor of the City of Mableton
2023 Powder Springs Citizen of the Year
Laurie Wong, Founder & Executive Director of Reflections of Trinity
Laurie Wong is the Founder & Executive Director of Reflections of Trinity, an organization that serves families in need and combats hunger in the community through service and education. Every weekend she serves more than 350 families with healthy food and necessary supplies. She and her team of 22 employees manage the daily operations of Reflections of Trinity and have served 13 million pounds of food to more than 500,000 individuals in need.
For the past 20 years Wong has faithfully served communities within and around Powder Springs as a provider of resources to families facing crisis. Her entrepreneurial spirit, her visionary leadership, and her heart of service are reflected in the charity organization she founded more than 20 years ago. Although Wong dedicates most of her time to serving her community through her charitable organization, she finds time to work with youth and seniors and partner with local churches and charitable organizations. She is always willing to support the community engagement goals of the City of Powder Springs and contributes to the wellbeing of the community.
Citizen of the Year, Henry Lust, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Powder Springs
For more information about Area Councils, contact Katie Guice at kguice@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2334. Thank you to Series Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, Program Sponsors, Georgia Power and Six Flags Over Georgia, and Citizen of the Year Award Sponsor, Capital City Bank.
