Council Member Samantha L. Hudson
Title: Council Member Samantha L. Hudson
Phone: 470-409-5443
shudson@fairburn.com
Councilwoman Samantha L. Hudson, elected to Fairburn City Council on November 07, 2023, is a native of Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of eight siblings, a proud mother of four children, and a grandparent. A high school dropout determined to overcome marginalization, she returned to school at 30, obtained a GED from Kennedy King Community College, and moved on to achieve an Associate of Arts in Social Work degree from 2002 to 2004, becoming a first-generation college graduate. As a result of her scholarly work, she earned the Who's Who Among Students award in junior college and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.
Understanding the importance of higher education and her passion for improving systems that negatively impact disenfranchised communities, Councilwoman Samantha L. Hudson continued her studies as a social worker at Northeastern Illinois University from 2004-2006. During this academic experience, she designed and conducted qualitative investigative research as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. The study investigated the nature and extent of treatment modalities offered to youth with mental health disorders and detained in juvenile justice settings. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Sociology and graduated Magna Cum Lade. As a result of her empirical work and outstanding academic record, she received a full-tuition scholarship to attend the accelerated Whitney M. Young School of Social Work program from 2006-2007. Councilwoman Samantha L. Hudson completed the accelerated Master of Social Work degree and graduated with a GPA of 3.76. She is completing her Doctor of Public Administration at Walden University and maintains a GPA of 3.85.
Councilwoman Samantha L. Hudson brings over 20 years of public service experience to this role, beginning with but not limited to local school council chairperson at a Chicago Public School, Parent Liaison for the Chicago Light House for the Blind, Social Service Supervisor- Georgia Department of Children and Family Services and PTA President- Creekside High School. A certified Georgia English/Language Arts Special Education Teacher, Councilwoman Samantha Hudson, celebrates success in increasing literacy rates of diverse learners. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vision Center of Hope, Inc., a human services non-profit. Her philosophical belief is that "Change doesn't happen until we act." A collective voice that includes all of Fairburn encourages her policy focus on rewriting the outdated city charter, innovative economic development, infrastructure improvement, environmental justice, equity, diversity, and smart growth development.
As a social worker, educator, community advocate, and elected leader, she celebrates wins in improving the quality of life for at-risk families, advocating against social injustices that impact minority communities, and informing policy for educational equity. These efforts yielded success in the following areas:
- Increased permanency outcomes for children in foster care by 85%.
- She facilitated 100% student growth in literacy and writing during the 2021-2022 academic school year.
- She hosted the first 2022 Midterm Primary Election candidate forum in Fairburn, GA, with 17 confirmed and attended candidates.
- She organized water distribution in Fairburn, GA. The water crisis in December 2022.
- She hosted Fairburn Family Fun Day, a community outreach initiative to engage disenfranchised Black voters.
Councilwoman Samantha L. Hudson is leading communities through collective action and servitude.
