Carol Bell
Alderman At-Large, Post 1
Carol Bell serves on Savannah City Council as Alderman At-Large, Post 1.
Mrs. Bell served the city as the Post 1 Alderman for eight years from 2012-2020, the last four as Mayor Pro-Tem. During that time she helped lead efforts to establish The Front Porch program to care for neglected children; established and managed they city’s first “Summer 500” program that introduced more than 1,000 city teens to private workforces; and helped bring to completion the city’s new arena that had been stalled for 20 years. Her passion for improving the community led her to initiate vital programs in juvenile justice reform, police reform, workforce development, and public-private partnerships.
A CLEAR PATH FORWARD
Alderwoman Bell’s mission is to create opportunities for all citizens, young and old; keep our neighborhoods, families, and citizens safe and secure; and make Savannah an affordable place for all to live and prosper.
Successful Leadership
Alderwoman Bell led the efforts to merge the needs of Chatham County’s Juvenile Court and District Attorney’s office, leading to the establishment of The Front Porch. Its significance and necessity were proven when children began showing up at the center seeking help before the office was even opened.
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Her leadership to combine the city’s efforts with private businesses led to summer jobs for teens who had never been offered employment opportunities and opened doors for career opportunities that exist today, years later.
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Prior to that, she worked for the City of Savannah in a variety of positions including assistant city manager. During Carol’s tenure with the city, she spearheaded key initiatives, including the establishment of the "311" non-emergency city-wide reporting system to facilitate seamless communication between residents and city government. She also introduced a city-wide retirement recognition program to honor the dedication of long-serving employees.
Committed to the Community
Since 2020, Carol has embarked on promoting equity and inclusion training for the private sector, aiming to foster a more inclusive and harmonious business environment.
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Throughout Carol's career, her dedication to public service has been acknowledged through numerous awards at the local, regional, and national levels, celebrating her impactful contributions to the Savannah community. She was the first black chair of the United Way of The Coastal Empire and led numerous mentoring programs for inner city youth. She continues to serve on the Graduate Education Advisory Board for the University of Georgia. She also is a wife, mother, grandmother and a licensed minister.
