A little-known part of President Barack Obama's Winning the Future initiative is the Champions of Change program. Through it, the White House highlights a particular sector each week and honors its "champions" — from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders — for the work they do to strengthen their communities.
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This week the honoree is Beverly Scott, the CEO of Atlanta's MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) public transit system. A 30-year veteran of the industry, she has earned a reputation for bold leadership, which is well-illustrated by the following example from the White House's announcement of her award:
During the height of the economic downturn, Scott and her volunteer team painted red X’s on MARTA buses and trains to help the general public, State and regional leaders understand the devastating impact that 25-30% transit service cuts would have on the region’s economy, employers, and — most directly on people’s daily lives — the thousands of daily transit riders without other options. It helped and resulted in a historic demonstration of support from the Atlanta Regional Commission — comprised of elected officials and policymakers across the greater Atlanta region.
We congratulate Scott and hope that this award inspires her to keep up the great work.
Read more from the White House.
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