News

News

Election brings first wave of change to young DeKalb city (Atlanta-Journal Constitution)
11/8/21

While Democrats lost the most prominent race in Tucker, they did have at least one victory down-ballot. Alexis Weaver, a senior manager at Atlanta Community Food Bank, was elected to serve in Tucker’s District 3, Post 1 seat with 54% of the vote. She also touts that her district had the highest voter turnout of any area in the city.

Weaver said the issue of poverty motivated her to run, especially after the City Council adopted an “urban camping” ordinance in February that intended to curb public homelessness in the city. She said dozens of residents, including herself, felt like their concerns were ignored.

“I think at minimum when citizens attend a meeting and reach out to their representatives…they deserve to be heard and taken seriously,” Weaver said.

Tucker elects new councilmembers, one race headed to Nov. 30 runoff (Tucker Observer)
11/3/21

Downtown Tucker was alive late into Nov 2, Election Day, celebrating the city’s races for Mayor and City Council. Roger Orlando, Virginia Rece and Alexis Weaver are the newest Tucker City Council members. Weaver thanked those who supported her campaign by writing post cards, making phone calls, passing out literature, telling a friend and voting.

“I want to express my appreciation to District 3 voters who placed their confidence in me. I entered this race because of my commitment to public service and belief that it is essential to have representation that reflects the inclusive values of Tucker. As I said throughout the campaign, I believe that diversity is Tucker’s greatest strength, but yet there is still so much work to be done. As councilwoman, I promise to work tirelessly to make sure everyone’s voice is heard, especially those voices that have been unheard and ignored for far too long,” Weaver wrote in a statement to Tucker Observer.

Georgia Equality endorses seven LGBTQ candidates in local races (Project Q)
10/21/21

Georgia Equality weighed in with endorsements in several municipal races as early voting continues and Election Day approaches on Nov. 2. The endorsements also steered clear of several races — including the one for Atlanta mayor — at least until some likely runoffs narrow the field.

In an announcement earlier this month, Georgia Equality endorsed seven LGBTQ candidates across races in Tucker, Hapeville and Atlanta.

In support of Tucker City Council District 3, Post 1 candidate Alexis Weaver (Tucker Observer)
10/10/21

I knew within five minutes of meeting Alexis Weaver that I would be throwing my support behind her campaign for Tucker’s District 3 City Council seat. Before sitting down for coffee outside of Corner Cup to talk about her vision for Tucker’s future I had never met her. But all it took was five minutes for her to hook me.

 Georgia Equality Releases 2021 Candidate Endorsements (Georgia Equality)
10/8/21

“During municipal elections, voters may tend to be less engaged than during higher profile years, but these races couldn’t be any more important to our work,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality. “Right now, thirteen Georgia cities and counties protect LGBTQ people from discrimination and this year’s endorsed candidates will help grow that number when they are elected. We’re particularly focused on the City of Tucker, where we hope to help elect…Alexis Weaver to City Council– to shift the politics so that Tucker can join the growing list of municipalities in Georgia to protect LGBTQ folks and others from discrimination.”

Candidate Q&A – Tucker City Council District 3, Post 1 candidate Alexis Weaver (Tucker Observer)
10/6/21

I am running to represent District 3 on the Tucker City Council because of my commitment to public service and belief that it is essential to have representation that reflects the inclusive values of Tucker residents. We chose to make Tucker our home over eight years ago because of the rich diversity of this community and the terrific amenities. It is important to me to be rooted in a place where everyone has an opportunity to flourish and find success.

Through two decades working as an urban planner and nonprofit leader to address poverty, homelessness and hunger in communities, I have focused on empowering stakeholders to have a seat at tables of power and a voice in the way decisions are made. I am a leader who intentionally seeks to increase citizen engagement and listen well. I will be a champion for an open and transparent city government that values creativity and collaboration as we provide opportunities for all residents to engage, contribute and thrive.

Run For Something 2021 Endorsement (Run For Something)
10/6/21

Alexis is running to ensure that everyone in her community has an opportunity to flourish and find success. She’s fighting for inclusion, seeking to pass a much-needed Non-Discrimination Ordinance to protect her LGBTQ neighbors, and pushing back against the current leadership’s efforts to criminalize homelessness. Tucker is a diverse city experiencing rapid growth, and Alexis is committed to transparency, equity, seeking creative solutions to complex problems, and amplifying unheard voices. She is passionate about connecting with and convening residents to hear their hopes and concerns, and responding with action.

No Years Off! We’re not done recruiting great candidates for 2021 (Run for Something)
10/6/21

The year may be winding down, but at Run for Something we believe in always standing up great candidates for state and local office—no years (or quarters, or months off)! Meet the 25 incredible candidates that earned our endorsement for October.

 District 3, Post 1 Tucker City Council candidates discuss urban camping, zoning (Tucker Observer)
9/23/21

Whether you’ve lived here for 30 years or three years, your voice is as equally important, said Weaver.

“We haven’t had a lot of discussion and dialogue because we’ve had uncontested races historically, so I think it’s a really good, healthy time for us as a community to be talking about what types of leadership that we’re looking for, how we can make sure that people feel represented by their city leadership,” she said.

Nondiscrimination policy debate stirs up Tucker elections (Project Q)
9/9/21

Several city council candidates vow to push for the ordinance if elected in November. Alexis Weaver said she is an “enthusiastic supporter.” She is one of three candidates in the District Three, Post One race.

“The lack of willingness of our elected officials to even discuss the proposed ordinance is a glaring example of failed leadership and speaks to the urgent need for new voices on the Tucker City Council who value diversity and will take this first, most basic step toward inclusion,” she said.

Anti-hunger advocate Alexis Weaver running for Tucker City Council (Tucker Observer)
8/24/21

With a background in urban planning, citizen engagement and stakeholder engagement, Weaver wants to make sure all voices are heard. Her campaign is focused on inclusivity and economic growth. Prior to moving to Tucker, she worked for a chamber of commerce.

Weaver believes Tucker needs to be future oriented. The city can be a community accessible only for people who have enough funds to access it, or it can be a community that leverages economic growth, reinvests in public infrastructure and creates zoning to make sure that people can afford to live there, she said.

“We are going to grow. We are in a great community and a great location, with solid foundations and a wonderful amount of diversity and perspective. I think we can afford to be careful about the kinds of growth that we solicit,” she said.

Tucker passes ‘urban camping’ ordinance; law will primarily affect homeless within city limits (Tucker Observer)
3/8/21

Resident Alexis Weaver said at the Feb. 8 meeting, “A community-based framework allows for a compassionate, well-informed response, so it works with those impacted, rather than against them. Starting this process with criminalization is wrong.”

Task force members and Tucker city officials talk homelessness in first meeting (Tucker Observer)
2/11/21

Moderated by Alexis Weaver, a Tucker resident and senior manager at Atlanta Community Food Bank, joining the Zoom call were 30 city officials and experts on food insecurity, social work and the homeless community.

Weaver said her dream is to see a community coalition on housing. One individual or one organization cannot alone solve homelessness.

“There are roles that each of us have to play and strategies each of us can come together around that can help us as a community, without resting the onus of action on any one sector or participant,” said Weaver.

Tucker City Council members split the vote, urban camping ordinance deferred (Tucker Observer)
2/9/21

Experts in attendance against the ordinance were Tucker residents Alexis Weaver of Atlanta Community Food Bank, David Fisher of Networks Cooperative Ministry, Shawn Duncan of Focused Community Strategies, Cliff Gates of Map to HOPE and volunteers in the homeless community.

Weaver, who holds an advanced degree in urban planning and has worked for a decade on poverty, homelessness and hunger, asked council members to reframe the way Tucker plans to respond to homelessness. She suggested creating a coalition of diverse stakeholders including service providers, business community, city staff and people experiencing homelessness.

“A community-based framework allows for a compassionate, well-informed response so it works with those impacted, rather than against them,” Weaver said. “Starting this process with criminalization is wrong.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 18, 2021

Nonprofit leader and advocate Alexis Weaver announces run for Tucker City Council, District 3

TUCKER, Ga. — Alexis Weaver, an anti-hunger advocate and urban planner with nearly two decades of experience in economic and community development, is running to serve on the Tucker City Council, representing District 3, Post 1.

Weaver, a mom of three young children, is a senior manager at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, where she helps low-income Georgians achieve economic mobility utilizing the charitable food system and also assists food pantries across metro Atlanta increase their impact. She is a board member of Tucker’s NETWorks Cooperative Ministry and a deacon at Smoke Rise Baptist Church.

“Our family loves living in Tucker,” Weaver said. “We chose to make Tucker home eight years ago because of the rich diversity of this community and its terrific amenities. It is important to me to be rooted in a community where everyone has an opportunity to flourish and find success. I am running for Tucker City Council, District 3, because I believe it is essential to have representation that reflects the inclusive values of our community.

She emphasized that inclusion and empowerment have been central to her career and will be at the forefront of her campaign.

“Through two decades working to address poverty, homelessness and hunger in communities, I have focused on empowering stakeholders to have a seat at tables of power and a voice in the way decisions are made,” she said. “Our city is at a precipice of growth that can either offer opportunity for a few, or opportunity for all. I am a leader who intentionally seeks to increase citizen engagement and bring in and amplify the unheard voices of our diverse community, and I will be a champion for an open and inclusive government that provides opportunities for all residents to engage, contribute to and thrive.”

She noted the importance of her three children seeing and valuing civic engagement to ensure that their community is a safe and welcoming place to grow up in.

“Tucker is a young city experiencing fast and multi-faceted growth that requires creative solutions to the complex challenges we face,” Weaver said. “Strong and representative leadership energized for the present as well as the future is needed now more than ever.”

Weaver details some of her campaign priorities at Alexis4Tucker.com. These include:

When not enjoying the playgrounds, trails and tennis courts at nearby Henderson Park, Weaver said she and her husband can be found cheering on and coaching their two Livsey Elementary students playing football, soccer, basketball and tennis.

Weaver is a graduate of Baylor University (B.A., Economics and Environmental Studies) and the University of Texas at Austin (M.S., Community and Regional Planning). Her husband, Dr. Aaron Weaver, a University of Georgia graduate, is director of communications for a national faith-based nonprofit based in Decatur, Ga., and affiliate faculty at Emory University. They have three children: Oliver (9), Miriam (7) and Hannah (2).

Learn more about Alexis Weaver and join and support her campaign for Tucker City Council, District 3 at www.Alexis4Tucker.com.

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