Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I believe every voice in Columbus deserves to be heard, especially the ones too often overlooked. For more than 15 years, I have served as a Licensed Professional Counselor and community leader, working on the frontlines of justice reform, mental wellness, education, and program development. These experiences have shaped my vision for a stronger, more united city.

As a researcher, I was honored to help shape Georgia’s Survivors Justice Act, the first of its kind in our state. I also founded Breaking Cycles, a program dedicated to restoring families impacted by long-term incarceration, violent loss, and community trauma through trauma-informed care and emotional regulation.

My commitment to education is deeply personal. Through my published work on Black male educators in Georgia classrooms, I have worked to highlight solutions for closing academic gaps and supporting both teachers and students. I have also partnered with Fulton County Jail to implement reentry and mental health competency programs, ensuring that our justice system provides pathways to healing and second chances.

But beyond the research, policies, and programs, I am a mother raising a teenage son here in Columbus. I walk the same school hallways with him, shop in the same neighborhoods, and face the same challenges that so many families in our city do. Alongside my partner, I continue to work toward bridging the gap between justice reform and mental health advocacy, because I know firsthand that families like ours deserve a future filled with hope, healing, and opportunity.

As your Mayor, my focus will always be to ensure that every family is supported and every neighborhood is seen. Together, we can build a Columbus where balanced growth, fairness, and opportunity reach every corner of our city, where no community is left behind.

With gratitude and determination,
Dr. Jaketra Bryant