Today we’d like to introduce you to Councilwoman Yterenickia “YT” Bell.
Councilwoman Yterenickia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been involved in public service since I was very young. As a small child, I remember advocating for my fellow classmates to get more recess time. Decades later, I’m advocating for my constituents in the City of Clarkston as their Councilwoman and, soon, the residents of Georgia Senate District 41.
As a current city council member in Clarkston, I have assisted with passing progressive legislation, such as the non-discrimination ordinance, Welcoming America Resolution, and established the first Census Complete Count Committee in DeKalb County, while serving as a champion for the people. I want to take that same passion for service and zeal for change to advocate for more people to further improve the quality of life for everyday people like me throughout Senate District 41 which includes parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey to City Council has been just that, a journey. I’m originally from Sandersville, Georgia, which is a small rural town in Washington County. The resources for me to succeed were few but I was fortunate to have teachers who believed in me and a supportive grandmother who reinforced the notion that I could do and be anything.
Please tell us about YTBellforSenate – what should we know?
YTBellforSenate is far bigger than YT Bell. When I’m elected as the next State Senator for District 41, I will be establishing a pipeline for the next generation of leaders. When elected, I will become the youngest, black female to ever serve as the Senator in Senate District 41. I will lead by example not only for future black female leaders but for those younger than me by letting them know it’s never too early to answer the call to service.
As I mentioned, YTBellforSenate is far bigger than me. That said, I’m running to help improve the lives of everyday people. Everyday people need access to affordable healthcare, better schools, and someone who is willing to work to improve the voting process to ensure the voices of all Georgians are heard and counted equally. Every person deserves access to quality healthcare as it directly impacts our quality of life. This issue is very near and dear to me. I recently lost an aunt due to the lack of sufficient providers within close proximity to her. The closest hospital in her rural area was between 50 and 60 miles away from her. A few years before losing my aunt, I lost a close friend because she had to choose between buying expensive medication or buying food to eat so that she would not go hungry. Healthcare is a human right and everyone should have access to it.
Education is the foundation of who I am, and I believe every child should have access to quality education. In order for our children to have a quality education, we must equip our educators with the necessary tools and resources to develop our next generation of leaders. Not only that, we must work to ensure that our educators reflect the cultural diversity that is the reality of today’s classrooms.
As far as voting rights, I will work with my colleagues under the Gold Dome to continue to improve the voting process so the voices of all Georgians are heard and counted equally.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The qualities or characteristics that I feel are most important to my success as a public servant are a selflessness and transparency. Public service is undoubtedly about prioritizing the needs of others above your own. You were elected to serve and represent the people. In order to do that well and uphold the foundation of elected office, you must be selfless and remain transparent with your constituents.
Contact Info:
- Website: ytforsenate.com
- Phone: (404) 304-2384
- Email: ytbellforsenate@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ytforsenate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YTforSenate/
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
