W. Imara Canady is an executive leader, nationally known for building partnerships and collaborations that have a sustainable community impact.

Imara was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, graduated from Northside School of the Arts, though spent most of his early academic years at Woodward Academy. He received an Associate’s Degree in Journalism from Atlanta Metropolitan College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations and Broadcast Journalism from Georgia State University. His career in government began in the late 90’s when he served as Special Projects Coordinator for former Atlanta Mayor William Campbell, where he developed and managed youth programs and initiatives for the city, including the establishment of the Youth Ambassador Force for the 1996 Summer Olympics, the Mayor’s Collegiate and Youth Councils, and working with the United Way executive leadership on the development of Atlanta’s Promise, a local response to General Colin’s Powell successful national youth program, America’s Promise. Immediately following his time with Mayor Campbell, he worked for the Office of Vice-President Al Gore and then as Budget Manager for Gore’s 2000 Presidential campaign, managing a multi-million-dollar budget and over-seeing the campaign’s national event strategy. He was a key aide to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin serving as Special Assistant to the Mayor/Special Events Director, after leading her communications and brand strategy as Communications Director/Press Secretary for her successful historical election in 2001. During his tenure in city government, Imara had many accomplishments including revamping the City’s special event permitting process, which resulted in a yearly increase in revenue generation of over a quarter of a million dollars, while decreasing the negative impact on community residents. He assisted former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin in the successful multi-million-dollar fund-raising effort to secure the city’s purchase of the historic papers of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He worked with the State of Georgia and developed the preliminary process of the city’s current structure for supporting film projects, thus increasing the number of films, movie and television projects secured to shoot in Atlanta and the increase in production studios being opened in the metro area. He has been a part of the leadership team of many key initiatives, including the Brand Atlanta marketing campaign, the blue-ribbon committee that conceptualized the Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Diversity Committee, inaugural advisory board member and current board chair for the BronzeLens Film Festival and the founding organizing committee for the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. Through his leadership, vision and ability to develop win-win partnerships and collaborations, he led the charge in attracting national entertainment related business to Atlanta, including the VIBE Music Festival, the Soul Train Music Awards, the BET Hip-Hop Awards and many others, and was recently honored to work with Oprah Winfrey and the OWN Network team around the international launch and execution of the week-long series BELIEF. Imara has a strong passion for art and culture, that is exhibited through his work as a consultant for the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, a staff member with the Theatre and Dance Programs for the 1996 Cultural Olympiad of the Centennial Olympic Games, his many years of service to the National Black Arts Festival, the High Museum of Art Community Outreach committee and as ViceChair for the Fulton County Arts Council.

His fund-raising skills and engagement partnerships helped him serve many non-profit organizations as well as his many boards including the Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, American Red Cross Minority Recruitment Board, AID Atlanta, Alliance Theatre’s Advisory Board, Horizon Theatre Company Board, Georgia Perimeter College, Fund for Southern Communities, Joseph and Evelyn Lowery Institute for Human Rights, National Forum of Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University, GA State University National Alumni Board, The Breman, Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta Advisory Board, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, Atlanta Regional Commissions Education Committee and as Board Chair for the Future Foundation, BronzeLens Film Festival and Hammonds House Museum and Galleries.

He is a member and former co-chair of the Black-Jewish Coalition of the American Jewish Committee – Atlanta Chapter, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, 2018 Class of the Atlanta Regional Commissions Regional Leadership Institute, 2007 Class of Leadership Atlanta, 2005 Class of the MAACC Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta, the 1999 Class of the United Way Volunteer Involvement Program (V.I.P.), Legacy Life Member of the National Council of Negro Women, Life Member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, having been a founding member of the chapter at Atlanta Metropolitan College.

He has been featured in an array of national and regional media outlets including The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Saporta Report, Encore Magazine, the Jewish Georgian, Upscale Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, WSB-TV, The Atlanta Tribune and Georgia Trend.

He has received numerous awards and honors including being chosen as 1 of the 150 Future Leaders of America, an International Game Changer by the internationally acclaimed organization People to People, an Outstanding Atlantan in 2002, a National Comrade Awardee from the National Black HERstory Conference, a ‘Man of Distinction” by Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, a “Person to Know” by Atlanta Magazine, one of GA Trend’s “best and brightest” 40 Under 40, an award-winning director for the film, “A New Day In Mississippi” and as executive producer for the broadcast presentation of “All Boy’s Aren’t Blue” and a multi-year National Association of Black Journalist Salute to Excellence and Emmy award winner and/or nominated television producer for his work on the weekly public affairs program, In Contact.

He was also served as Co-Chair and Executive Producer for the inaugural events for Atlanta’s 61st Mayor, the Honorable Andre Dickens and served as a co-chair for his re-election campaign.

(adapted from Rotary Club of Atlanta West End https://www.atlantawestendrotary.org/meeting/14751)