2025 Year in Review: Showing Up for a More Connected Sandy Springs
In 2025, Sandy Springs Together doubled down on a simple belief: when neighbors have clear information, real ways to plug in and a welcoming space to talk about what matters, they show up. We set out to make civic participation easier, focus attention on the choices that shape our future and build trust through action.
Putting civic education into practice
Local elections decide how our neighborhoods grow, how our streets function and whether families can stay rooted here. We had a record number of candidates running, indicating that more people are engaged and more people have ideas about what will make our city stronger. To make those choices accessible, we built a voter guide for the municipal election. It walked residents through registration, key dates, polling locations, candidate information and ballot questions. In the weeks before people headed to the polls, we also explained why municipal elections matter and laid out a simple plan to register, learn and vote.
And you responded with a record number 32,727 of you turning out to vote; and of those, over 6000 were voters who don’t usually vote.
In addition, We knew that information alone would not reach every household. Through our Vote Together program, we provided voter information to residents in apartment communities and neighborhoods where civic outreach is rare. In fact, of the voters we contacted, an incredible 66% turned out to vote, and the city saw higher participation overall. We saw concrete proof that when neighbors receive consistent reminders and respect for their voice, they are ready to engage.
Building community through events and youth leadership
Community has as much to do with relationships as it does with elections. Early in the year, we sponsored a Celebrating Black Excellence program with Sandy Springs Charter Middle School. We brought together a panel of professionals who shared their journeys from middle schooler to professional. They spoke of their challenges and how they overcame them and what kept them going when things didn’t go as they hoped. They spoke of their dreams and goals as a young person, and how they reached those goals The goal was to show young people that leadership comes in many forms and that their dreams have a home in Sandy Springs.
On Earth Day weekend, we hosted the city’s first Beyond the Bin bulk recycling day. Cars lined up, trunks full of refrigerators, grills and long‑forgotten clutter. Volunteers from our team, Leadership Perimeter and Keep North Fulton Beautiful helped unload, sort and haul away recyclables. In all, 175 vehicles registered and some came through twice, and twenty‑four volunteers helped keep the lines moving. Residents told us they recognised Sandy Springs Together from our emails and appreciated having a place to responsibly dispose of bulky items. We left that day with cleaner homes, stronger partnerships and a plan to do it again this year, so stay tuned!
May brought Mental Health Awareness Month and an opportunity to elevate youth voices. Working with VOX Teen Communications and Sandy Springs Education Force, we supported students at North Springs High School through a four‑week journalism workshop. They chose podcasting and produced an honest conversation about ADHD, self‑harm recovery and pandemic stress. By listening to them, we learned how powerful peer support can be and how much young people want adults to hear their stories.
Keeping housing and growth at the center
Housing remained a unifying theme throughout 2025. We reported from the city’s annual retreat, where experts noted that Sandy Springs has more housing units than neighboring cities yet faces a shrinking population. They called for preserving existing apartments, creating more homes for families earning between $65 000 and $120 000, and rethinking underused shopping centers as mixed‑use spaces. We also summarized the city’s adopted priorities, highlighting the continued emphasis on redevelopment, housing and engagement.
In early spring, we used feedback from a community survey to show that residents want more shopping and dining,g yet often push back against the housing needed to support it. We pointed out that workers in our favorite cafés and stores must be able to live nearby and that accessible housing is not just a social good; it is an economic necessity. We also pointed to successful mixed‑use developments in other metro communities and listed the benefits of workforce housing—from improved public safety to lower traffic congestion.
Unfortunately, this year we also saw the closing of Spalding Elementary, our highest performing elementary school, due to low enrollment. We connected housing stability to the success of our public schools. More than thirty per cent of students in our city’s schools do not finish the academic year in the same building. We explained how eviction prevention programs and assistance from the Community Assistance Center help but that long‑term solutions require more diverse housing options and zoning that encourages homes for a range of incomes.
In June, we broke down the city’s first SWOT analysis and noted that leaders identified housing costs as a major threat, redevelopment delays as both a weakness and an opportunity and public apathy as a challenge. We pointed residents to upcoming decision points like the housing needs assessment update and the 10‑year comprehensive plan. At every step, we translated technical discussions into everyday language and invited participation.
Inviting residents into planning and celebrating our heritage
Public participation does not happen by accident. When the city announced a design guidelines survey, we explained why a “sense of place” matters and encouraged readers to share their vision. We outlined the questions being asked—from district character to landmarks—and linked to the city’s presentation and survey. Dozens of responses followed, reminding us that people will speak up when they know their input will be used.
History can inspire the future. During Women’s History Month, we honored Eva Galambos, the economist and activist who led the incorporation movement and became Sandy Springs’ first mayor. Her leadership in pursuing cityhood, pioneering the public‑private partnership model and championing social services for families shows what sustained resident advocacy can accomplish. Her story reminds us that meaningful change often starts with determined neighbors coming together for a common purpose.
Looking ahead
2025 taught us that progress is not an abstract idea. We watched volunteers load trucks with old appliances, teenagers create media that destigmatizes mental health and a huge number of voters show up at the polls for a local election. We saw the city’s leaders name housing affordability as a pressing threat and call for more inclusive engagement. We demonstrated that community events, clear explanations of policy debates and sustained outreach can make civic life feel more welcoming and responsive.
This year will bring a housing needs assessment, the launch of a 10‑year comprehensive plan and continuing work on design guidelines. Sandy Springs Together will keep serving as a bridge between residents and decision‑makers and celebrating the stories that knit us together.
Our community network more than doubled this year, growing to over 18,000 engaged subscribers. Thank you for voting, volunteering, sharing posts, filling out surveys, and showing up. Together we are building a Sandy Springs that honors its past and welcomes its future.