Carmalitha Gumbs will participate on the ME TOO Women's Empowerment Panel. Carmalitha can vividly remember sitting across from her boss after going up for a promotion with her current job. She often reflects on that day as she was told that she was not receiving the promotion because she needed to wait her turn, and not right now. Feeling defeated, Gumbs vowed that she would never let anyone determine her future with the words, “You can’t do it”. This is the roadmap that has feverishly led Gumbs to who she is today.
Gumbs was sworn-into office on April 29, 2017 as the first-ever city councilperson for District 2 in the newly incorporated city of South Fulton, one of Georgia’s newest municipality. Gumbs, who ran on a platform that focused on public safety, economic development and enhanced quality of life, received 54 percent of the vote in the April 18, 2017 runoff. With nearly 100,000 residents, South Fulton is now Georgia’s third largest city. It is the first predominantly African-American city to be chartered in the U.S. since the 1920s. Gumbs was told that she was the underdog, and that she could not win in the South Fulton race. Gumbs’ firm commitment to serving her community allowed to rise to the top, defeating her 11 other opponents that ran for the open seat.
Gumbs is humbled to have the honor to serve the citizens of South Fulton, and to work with them to ensure that everyone can live, work, play and raise their children in a vibrant, healthy and safe community. Even though Gumbs is excited about her new venture in to public service and the being a part of the inaugural administration in setting up a new city, she has always been a champion in the community for seniors and youth. After relocating to Atlanta, Gumbs quickly began to build her passion for community advocacy by getting involved in countless organizations throughout the metro area.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Norfolk State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work, Gumbs earned a master’s in business administration in marketing management and a master’s in health administration from Strayer University. Her career highlights include working for such organizations as Humana, Inc., The Collaborative Firm, DeKalb County Local Government, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and JenCare Senior Medical Centers. Over the course of her career, she has advocated for at-risk youth, families and seniors as a social worker, and fought to stimulate economic development to bring opportunities and resources to deserving communities as a local government employee and passionate healthcare advocate. Carmalitha is a believer that the community needs to have a static agenda for Black women, black children, and black families.
Gumbs is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the newly installed president of The Drifters, Incorporated for Metro Atlanta and Junior League of Atlanta, and has served on the boards of Dekalb for Seniors, Inc. and Sporty Girls, Inc. Whether she is line dancing with seniors, mentoring for our youth, and ensuring that the residents she serve are receiving the resources they deserve, her goal is to always make a meaningful impact in the various lives she encounters, especially the youth that she mentors always encouraging that “you can’t” is not an option, only the pursuit of excellence. “You must have a seat at the table. If not, you’re on the menu”. Gumbs has admitted that being a public servant is a great but is adamant that her greatest accomplishment is being the mother to her daughter, Kerrington.
Gumbs was sworn-into office on April 29, 2017 as the first-ever city councilperson for District 2 in the newly incorporated city of South Fulton, one of Georgia’s newest municipality. Gumbs, who ran on a platform that focused on public safety, economic development and enhanced quality of life, received 54 percent of the vote in the April 18, 2017 runoff. With nearly 100,000 residents, South Fulton is now Georgia’s third largest city. It is the first predominantly African-American city to be chartered in the U.S. since the 1920s. Gumbs was told that she was the underdog, and that she could not win in the South Fulton race. Gumbs’ firm commitment to serving her community allowed to rise to the top, defeating her 11 other opponents that ran for the open seat.
Gumbs is humbled to have the honor to serve the citizens of South Fulton, and to work with them to ensure that everyone can live, work, play and raise their children in a vibrant, healthy and safe community. Even though Gumbs is excited about her new venture in to public service and the being a part of the inaugural administration in setting up a new city, she has always been a champion in the community for seniors and youth. After relocating to Atlanta, Gumbs quickly began to build her passion for community advocacy by getting involved in countless organizations throughout the metro area.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Norfolk State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work, Gumbs earned a master’s in business administration in marketing management and a master’s in health administration from Strayer University. Her career highlights include working for such organizations as Humana, Inc., The Collaborative Firm, DeKalb County Local Government, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and JenCare Senior Medical Centers. Over the course of her career, she has advocated for at-risk youth, families and seniors as a social worker, and fought to stimulate economic development to bring opportunities and resources to deserving communities as a local government employee and passionate healthcare advocate. Carmalitha is a believer that the community needs to have a static agenda for Black women, black children, and black families.
Gumbs is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the newly installed president of The Drifters, Incorporated for Metro Atlanta and Junior League of Atlanta, and has served on the boards of Dekalb for Seniors, Inc. and Sporty Girls, Inc. Whether she is line dancing with seniors, mentoring for our youth, and ensuring that the residents she serve are receiving the resources they deserve, her goal is to always make a meaningful impact in the various lives she encounters, especially the youth that she mentors always encouraging that “you can’t” is not an option, only the pursuit of excellence. “You must have a seat at the table. If not, you’re on the menu”. Gumbs has admitted that being a public servant is a great but is adamant that her greatest accomplishment is being the mother to her daughter, Kerrington.
