Dr. Jodi Merriday, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Jodi Merriday is the Founder and Executive Director of The Southwest Atlanta Foundation, Inc. She is native Atlantan who believes that Southwest Atlanta’s global impact and legacy merits preservation and requires expansion. She established the Foundation to galvanize resources and strengthen educational achievement, social mobility and community revitalization in NPU-P, City Council District 11, and School Board District 6 of Southwest Atlanta. The SWAT’S Foundation raises funding, establishes partnerships, and coordinates volunteers to support seven Programs: Back to School - Ready-Set-Go!; Read to Succeed; S.O.S. (Summer Opportunities for Students); Adopt-a-Family; Reading Corner; and Legacy & Learning.
Dr. Merriday is a Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Title IX and Multiculturalism subject matter expert, curriculum developer, trainer, speaker, and curator. Over 100 Universities, Corporations and School Districts have utilized her curriculum for Trainings, Leadership and Professional Development Programming, New Student and Employee Orientations and Heritage Month Commemorations.
Dr. Merriday has over 30 years of experience in higher education, public education, and government which has included work as an Assistant Professor at Gordon State College, Lecturer at Spelman College, Community College of Philadelphia, Art Institute of Philadelphia and Clark Atlanta University, Adjunct Lecturer at Georgia State University, Special Assistant to the President of Spelman College and as the Assistant Director of the Georgia State University Neighborhood Collaborative.
A transformational career highlight occurred in 2014 when she was appointed Ombudsman to Atlanta Public Schools for a two-year term following the cheating scandal. As the designated Neutral, she provided impartial and confidential recourse in more than 1,600 cases of conflict escalation. This body of work pivoted her to distinction as a subject matter expert, skilled facilitator, and diplomacy whisperer. She is often called upon to moderate crucial conversations and create safe spaces for unpacking bias, prejudice, microaggression, trending topics, controversial events, and incidents of organizational or community fracture.
Dr. Merriday is a member of The Association of Title IX Administrators, State of Georgia Registered Neutral and Advanced Mediator {Atlanta Justice Center}, Arbitrator {Henning Mediation and Arbitration}, Certified in the Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Theory and Practice (International Ombudsman Association), Certified Anger Management Specialist and Fellow {National Anger Management Association}, Certified Trainer, Managing Workplace Conflict {Eckerd College} and Certified Workplace Mediator {Eckerd College}. She received her M.A. from Temple University in Sociology, M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in Development Management and Ph.D. from Temple University in African-American Studies.
Shinitra Russell, Program Director
Shinitra Russell is a Southwest Atlanta native and graduate of Presbyterian College. She started her public service journey as a member of the Elizabeth Baptist Church youth outreach program. In College she served as the President of the Multicultural Student Union, Stirling Student Ambassador, and Campus Lead for the C.H.A.M.P.S. (Communities Helping, Assisting, and Motivating Promising Students) community organization/s. She recognizes her most rewarding service as the vice-chair for SVS (student volunteer services) where she coordinated programming with Habitat for Humanity, Area 5 Special Olympics, Thornwell Home for Children, and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life signature fundraiser.
Shinitra's professional career started as an intern for the Environmental Protection Agency in the Office of External Affairs and continued thereafter as a Public Affairs intern in the Atlanta District Attorney’s Office. She has most recently worked as Regional Director for Fulton County and South Fulton Democratic Party of Georgia and as the Deputy Organizing Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. She is the recipient of certification from The Campaign School at Yale University and was awarded 1st Place in her Case Study for the upcoming Washington State Senatorial race.
Shinitra is a member of the NAACP, SCLC and League of Women Voters and is passionately committed to public service and community engagement. Her service as Program Director for the Southwest Atlanta Foundation includes partnership development and implementation of programmatic imperatives.
ACEY palmer jr, operations manager
Acey Palmer, Jr. is a Southwest Atlanta native and graduate of the Benjamin Elijah Mays Cluster. He attended the United States Air Force Academy and graduated from Presbyterian College. While at Presbyterian College he served as President of the Multicultural Student Union for two years and was a distinguished student athlete.
Acey is a recipient of the Joseph O. Nixon Leadership award and was recognized as the top student leader on campus. After graduating he served on the African American Alumni Association of Presbyterian College and built bridges of inclusion to connect the community and address divisiveness on campus. His leadership was instrument in modifying policies to strengthen diversity, equality, and inclusion.
Acey is a member of the Atlanta Citizens Review Board, volunteers to feed the unsheltered, and is passionate about mentorship. He has been a part of the Foundation since 2019 when he volunteered as a part of the Read to Succeed Program to strengthening literacy. He currently serves as the Operations Manager and continues to contribute to the strategic vision of the foundation as a part of the Executive Leadership Team.