T E L L I N G O U R S T O R Y CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT

The citizen engagement team spent 2022 expanding Spalding County's social media footprint and doubling content production and media relations efforts, ensuring residents get accurate, transparent, and helpful news as soon as possible

Citizen Engagement Specialist DeAndre Smith continued strengthening relationships with the community through events, partnerships, and leadership opportunities with the Kiwanis Club of Griffin, Griffin+Spalding Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations.

In January 2022, we launched InSpalding TV on YouTube, creating a dedicated home for meeting streaming and recordings as well as informative videos. The platform's comment function offers residents an additional way to engage when they can't attend meetings in person.

For the first time, Spalding County partnered with Southern Crescent Technical College to host five film and web design interns for the fall semester. They provided creative support to the citizen engagement team and helped maintain the county’s social media platforms and website More intern participation is planned for 2023

Also in 2023, the team is scheduled to open a studio at Spalding County Public Works where breaking news can be captured, interviews filmed, and information shared with the public more efficiently and professionally.

Spalding County's citizen engagement team communicates critical public information like breaking news, office and road closures, planning activities, SPLOST and TSPLOST updates, severe weather information, and weekly meeting notices. They also help produce events like "Beat the Heat" and "Spalding BRITE" as well as celebrate our residents, such as the men and women highlighted during 2022's Black History Month.