Norma Joy Barnes

Chief Executive Officer and President, Community Council of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc.

Norma Joy Barnes has a life-long legacy of service to humanity. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Norma graduated from Boggs Academy (Keysville, Georgia) and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Sociology and Psychology from Clark College, Atlanta, Georgia. Her graduate studies include Georgia State University (Sociology) and Atlanta School of Law.

For over forty years, Norma worked in human services. Her areas of expertise include non-profit management, program development, project management, mediation, and training. As a result of her concern about young black males, who she felt were facing seemingly insurmountable odds, Norma retired from her position of Federal Mediator in 2008, and founded the Community Council of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and the Priority Male Institute, a life skills and job readiness program for young Black males, 18-28 years of age. In 2014, Norma created the DNA Young Fatherhood Initiative to empower young men to become Devoted, Noble and Accountable fathers.

Since 2008, Norma has worked tirelessly, without pay, contributing her time and her personal funds to provide empowerment workshops, a life-skills and job readiness institute, a fatherhood program, and other resources needed to run the unfunded organization. In nine years, over 3,000 persons have been served by the CCMA.

A widow, Norma is the proud mother of one son, Reginald E. Arnold, and the grandmother of an eighteen year old grandson, Austin Miles Arnold. She has received national and local recognition for her contributions to the welfare of mankind.