For Immediate Release
Date: May 11, 2017

ACCG, Georgia’s county association, recently awarded Savannah Alderman Van R. Johnson II (District 1) with the 2017 Civic and Community Engagement Advocate of the Year Award. Each year, ACCG uses its Awards and Recognition Program to honor individuals, businesses and organizations that work to further the mission of county government, ACCG, or both. Johnson accepted the award on April 29th at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center during the 2017 ACCG Annual Conference.

“Alderman Johnson is everything we look for in regards to civic and community engagement,” said ACCG Executive Director Ross King. “From giving back to his local community, to mentoring the youth of Coastal Georgia, to helping create one of the nation’s leading youth commission programs, Van has long been a voice for civic engagement in Georgia.”

Alderman Johnson has a long history of community engagement, specifically with serving the youth of his community. In addition to his previous leadership role on the Savannah City Council as mayor pro-tem, he serves as the Director for the Chatham County Youth Commission and has led the commission for over 20 years. He has served on the Savannah Regional Youth Detention Center Advisory Board, as Co-Founder of the Savannah Youth Council, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chatham County Department of Family and Children Services. He regularly participates in the ACCG Youth Caucus and is dedicated to providing mentorship counties and cities to develop youth programs across Georgia.

“I am unbelievably blessed and honored to have my efforts recognized in such a big way,” says Alderman Johnson. He adds, “We are fortunate for the relationship that Chatham County and the City of Savannah shares with ACCG & the visionary leadership Dr. Priscilla Thomas & the Chatham County Commission has shown for over 25 years. But in the final analysis, it is all about your young people!”

ACCG created the partnership and advocacy awards to recognize outstanding individuals, county programs, business leaders and media representatives who support the efforts of county governments as well as further the association’s mission.

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ACCG is Georgia’s county association and works on behalf of county officials and their communities by providing public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership development, civic and community engagement initiatives, insurance and retirement programs that specialize in local government needs and other cost-saving programs. Formed in 1914 when county officials came together to help fund the state’s first highway department, ACCG today serves as a catalyst for advancing Georgia’s counties. For more information, go to www.accg.org.