If you regularly attend meetings of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners or the South Cobb Redevelopment Authority you have probably seen Monica Delancy speaking on education and affordable housing, among other issues, and highlighting the achievements of residents in the south Cobb community.

She is the founder and executive director of We Thrive in Riverside Renters Association.  When asked the purpose of the renters association, she said,

We’re an association that helps mobilize renters that live in the Austell and Mableton area.  This area, which is (zip code) 30168, is majority renters.  And also, our schools have a 40 percent renter by resident rate.  So with that being said, there’s a need for an organization such as the renters association to mobilize, to get them involved in community issues, (like) schools and government, and also to help empower parents, to let them know that they’re the leaders of the community. So that’s what the renters association does.

Delancy’s group is involved in a parents summit this Saturday at Riverside Intermediate School.  The event will have a number of workshops aimed at getting parents in south Cobb active in the local schools.