Dr. Mark Baker
Dr. Mark Baker, widely known as the Progressive Councilman for the Culture, represents a rare blend of scholarship, public safety expertise, legislative boldness, and cultural fluency. His life’s work sits at the intersection of education, governance, and community transformation.
A retired Fulton County Schools Resource Officer, Dr. Baker served on the frontlines mentoring and protecting young people for over a decade. He is a certified instructor in Law Enforcement Response to Weapons of Mass Destruction through FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—training that reflects both discipline and preparedness at the highest levels of public safety. His real-world experience in crisis management, youth engagement, and institutional leadership uniquely informs his policymaking approach.
Academically, Dr. Baker is a former Professor of Current Issues in African American Studies and Introduction to Women’s Studies at Clark Atlanta University, where he also earned his master’s and doctoral degrees. Beyond the classroom, he rose through the ranks of the university’s Department of Public Safety, serving as Community Relations Officer, Sergeant, and Shift Supervisor—bridging scholarship with structured leadership.
A proud graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans, Dr. Baker became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, pledging the Beta Gamma Chapter. He later returned to serve as On-Campus Advisor to the Gamma Kappa Chapter at Clark Atlanta University, mentoring young men in achievement, accountability, and service—principles that mirror his public life.
Nationally recognized for advancing what he calls The Radical Honesty Movement, Dr. Baker has shared platforms with luminaries such as astronaut Mae Jemison, journalist Roland Martin at Georgia Tech, and artist-activist David Banner under President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. His voice—grounded in truth, empowerment, and community accountability—has made him a trusted cultural translator capable of connecting generations and institutions alike.
In 2017, emerging from a field of 72 candidates, Dr. Baker became one of the eight founding councilmembers of the newly formed City of South Fulton—and the first elected representative of District 7. His legislative record redefined what municipal leadership could look like in Georgia:
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First in the state to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day
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Decriminalized marijuana, treating minor possession as a civil offense
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Banned the Box to expand opportunity for returning citizens
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Established a $15 minimum wage for city employees
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Activated and chaired the city’s first Development Authority to drive equitable economic growth
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Passed a 5G Safety Resolution requiring due diligence and public health safeguards
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Authored the Breonna Taylor Law banning no-knock warrants
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Passed the “Eight That Can’t Wait” police reform measures, addressing excessive force policies