Mayor Otis Johnson Named NASW Public Elected Official of the Year

Savannah Mayor chosen for dedication to social work and public service

Washington-- The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is pleased to name Mayor Otis Johnson the 2005 Public Elected Official of the Year honoring his dedication to highlighting and remedying social issues important to the City of Savannah .

Well into his first term as Mayor of Savannah, Otis Johnson has gained the respect of its citizens by translating his valuable social work skills into positive changes for Savannah-Chatham County . Mayor Johnson ran on a platform using the acronym N.E.E.D. – Neighborhood Empowerment and Economic Development. He is striving to provide continuity of services for members of the community as it relates to crime, health, education, and community services.

While in office, he has implemented several strategies to reach out to the community to determine their greatest needs. Quarterly town hall meetings and live Internet chats make the Mayor accessible to residents. He encourages community members to voice their opinions, making everyone responsible for developing solutions to resolve problems.

Tackling difficult issues and creating innovative solutions has been the hallmark of Mayor Johnson’s life’s work and the benchmark of his administration. His social work experience began 30 years ago working in anti-poverty programs in Savannah . Over the course of his social work career, he has also worked closely with youth on issues of drugs, school dropout prevention, and teen pregnancy. His work in academia allowed him to establish an undergraduate social work program at Savannah State University .

Mayor Johnson was the first black Savannahian to graduate from the University of Georgia . He continued his studies at Atlanta University School of Social Work where he received a Masters of Social Work. He completed his education with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Social Welfare from Brandeis University , with a specialization in social policy and planning.

“Through his leadership, Mayor Johnson is guiding others to not just stop at the symptoms, but to take a holistic view of the problems,” says Ruth Keith, MSW, LCSW, BCD, nomination chair at the NASW-Georgia Chapter. “His view of the issues is from a social worker’s perspective.”

To interview Mayor Johnson, please contact NASW Communications at media@naswdc.org. For more information about NASW, please visit www.socialworkers.org.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 150,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.