A True Son of Atlanta

Antonio Lewis, a fifth-generation Atlanta resident, represents District 12 on the Atlanta City Council. Lewis was raised by his grandmother after his mother was tragically killed when he was only three years old. This loss forever shaped his view of how impactful and essential it is to be involved in the community. This passion to positively impact his community lead Antonio to a life of public service, being awarded the “Outstanding Georgia Citizen” proclamation and garnered him the title of a “true son of Atlanta” in a New York Times profile.

Antonio grew up playing sports at Rosel Fann Recreation Center and was educated in our Atlanta Public Schools System where he served in student leadership roles from Cleveland Ave Elementary, to Crawford Long Middle and South Atlanta High School.

After graduating with honors from South Atlanta High School, where he was captain of the basketball team, Antonio went on to intern in the office of Mayor Shirley Franklin and was soon awarded the Mayor’s Youth Program Scholarship.

This enabled Antonio to continue his education at Lincoln University, an HBCU in Missouri, where he served as the student government president. His commitment to student service and leadership provided him the opportunity to become the first student to speak at the commencement ceremony in 30 years and in 2025 was inducted and recognized as an Outstanding Alumni.

While in college, Antonio met Ashlee Fogle who would become his future wife. At the time she was the SGA President of Albany State University. Ashlee became an attorney and the couple were married in 2021 and reside in the South River Garden Community.

After graduation, Antonio furthered his objectives of service by working diligently in Washington, D.C. for U.S. Representative Lacy Clay Jr. from Missouri’s 5th District. While serving there, he also worked closely with the Congressional Black Caucus, including the late Representatives John Lewis of Atlanta and Elijah Cummings of Baltimore, to draw national attention to the issue of police brutality in Ferguson.

In 2012, Antonio joined the Barack Obama reelection campaign “Organizing for America,” helping sign up over 6,000 people for health coverage in Atlanta through the Affordable Care Act.

Antonio’s passion for addressing issues that working families face lead him to work in the labor movement for one of America’s most powerful and politically engaged unions, AFSCME (American Federation for State, County, and Municipal Employees). While at AFSCME, Antonio tenaciously fought for the rights of workers on campaigns across the country.

Throughout these years, Antonio has remained a persistent voice for change in his community through his activism and mentorship. He organized protests against injustices like the murder of his close friend Rayshard Brooks by police, worked with community artists to paint several murals, and many other impactful deeds throughout the city. He’s also spoken at schools and mentored youth by coaching sports teams and conducting college tours with upcoming graduates.

In 2021, Antonio ran for Councilman in Atlanta’s 12^th District and was selected by the voters to serve. He currently chairs the important Atlanta Utilities Committee, a role seldom granted to freshmen members.

Since his election, Antonio has delivered for the residents of the 12^th District and the people of Atlanta. He has helped secure investment in trails and transportation, a new fire station now under construction, $17.9 Million for new fire trucks, 1500 new street lights, improvements in Pittman Park/Rosel Fann Recreation Center, a new skatepark, and advancing the Southside Sports Complex.

Councilman Lewis has also worked diligently to improve the quality of life for all district residents with crime down 22.9% in Zone 3, initiating the free lock box gun safety program, promoting the Safe Routes to Schools, protected bike lanes for CW Long and Sylvan Hills Middle School, welcoming the opening of the Fulton County Behavioral Health Crisis Center in the district, the Atlanta Year of the Youth Summer Employment Program, free laptops for high school seniors, more resources for senior citizens, as well as organizing and supporting food and resource distribution.

Antonio Lewis has come a long way from the teen who swept up at the barber shop to help his grandmother and earn money for school, but he has never forgotten the helping hands that lifted him along the way. It is why he works so hard to lift others.