Atlanta Downtown Improvement District Appoints George Chidi as Social Impact Director

October 8,2015

On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) launched a new strategic impact plan to optimize the organization’s effectiveness across key programmatic areas. Guided by the findings from an extensive research project conducted by McKinsey and Company, ADID’s new plan focuses on four areas: safety and quality of life; cleanliness and attractiveness; vibrancy; and convenience.

Managed by Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), ADID’s mission is to foster a livable, vibrant and economically robust Downtown. To further this mission, ADID has reallocated resources to support a newly created Social Impact Director position, recently filled by George Chidi. In this role, Chidi will focus on leading and convening stakeholders to understand and promote efforts that address key quality of life issues.

Chidi is a former Atlanta Journal-Constitution Reporter with published work in Atlanta Magazine, Creative Loafing, The Bitter Southerner, The Guardian, VICE, InfoWorld and other publications. His reporting and commentary has covered technology, police, community development and social issues. Chidi began his reporting career as an enlisted military journalist for the 25th Infantry Division, where he served as a public affairs specialist and field journalist for the Multinational Force and Observers mission along the Egyptian-Israeli border. He currently serves on the city council of Pine Lake, a small town in central DeKalb County. Chidi holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA from GA Tech.

“As ADID’s new Social Impact Director, George fills a critical void that currently exists within Downtown’s public safety and quality of life sector,” said CAP/ADID President AJ Robinson. “He brings a strong understanding of the key issues that affect our community and has a keen ability to amplify awareness of innovative solutions.”