After stepping down as Director of LGBTQ Affairs for the City of Atlanta, Malik Brown has announced his new position as the Project Director of the LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study at the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority.
“I’m spending the next year working with a talented and diverse Exploratory Committee to really understand what our community needs and wants in a dedicated space for Atlanta’s LGBTQ community,” Brown told Georgia Voice. “This could be a cultural, educational, or recreational hub—or all of the above.
Brown will be overseeing the one-year exploration of the feasibility, potential, impact, and sustainability of a dedicated LGBTQ+ cultural and community space in Atlanta. In November 2024, the Atlanta City Council approved $150,000 in funds to go toward the exploratory effort.
“This isn’t just about a building – it’s about possibility,” Brown said in an Instagram post announcing the position. “It’s about bringing together community voices, bold ideas, and collective purpose to create something that truly reflects the heart of Atlanta. As a lifelong Atlantan and advocate, I’m proud to be part of this innovative and community-forward initiative. The work ahead excites me, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Dr. Alie Redd, the CEO of Covenant House Georgia, and Paul Conroy, the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Out Front Theatre Company, join Brown as co-chairs of the committee, which includes the following members:
• Bishop OC Allen, Senior Pastor and Founder of The Vision Cathedral of Atlanta
• William Duffee-Braun, Owner of Valiant Marketing
• Dyllón Burnside, Founder and Executive Director of Burnside Artist Retreat
• Stephanie Cho, Director of Democracy Lab South, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta
• Tori Cooper, Director of Community Engagement of the Trans Justice Initiative at the Human Rights Campaign
• Amir Farokhi, Atlanta City Council representative for District 2
• Jonathan Foulk, Vice President of the Board of Directors of Joining Hearts
• Jeff Graham, Executive Director of Georgia Equality
• Sam Greene, Chair of the Midtown Neighbors Association
• Jonathan Gould, Lecturer of Architecture at Kennesaw State University
• Brian Tolleson, Co-founder of Lexicon Strategies
• Jim Fielding, author and executive coach
• Nathan Regan, Global Data Centers – Strategic Navigator at Google
• TJ Kaplan, Principal at J.L. Morgan Company, Inc.
• Andy Levine, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group
• Neal VanMarter, Regional Outreach Coordinator and Military Liaison to the Office of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff
• Tim’m West, Executive Director at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• Dr. Angelica Geter, Founder and Principal Consultant at Impactful Collaboration
• Tracee McDaniel, Board of Directors at the Trans Housing Atlanta Program
• Joshua R. Newton, Senior Vice President of Advancement and Alumni Engagement at Emory University
• Richard Ramey, Owner of the Atlanta Eagle
• Adam Rimes, CFO at Aprio
• Dr. Jason Schnieder, Physician at Grady Health Systems
• Clark Seydel, Principal at Smithson Seydel
• Courtney Smith, Chair of NPU E
• Dan Preister, Managing Director of Coxe Curry and Associates
• Tony Uceda, Senior Director of Institutional Giving at U.S. Soccer
• Andrea Wiggins, Northwest Outreach Director at the Office of U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock
Together, Brown and the Exploratory Committee will devise and deliver a community-informed recommendation report to city officials regarding the development of the community center.
According to the mayor’s office, the community center is expected to open in 2030 and the cost of construction would be between $30 and $50 million, raised through government funds, philanthropy, fundraising, and individual donors.
To learn more about the LGBTQ+ Community Center Feasibility Study, complete a partnership interest form, or subscribe to the newsletter for updates and progress on the study, visit atlgbtqcenter.com.
