“Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”

This week, the City of Atlanta recognized Karl Barnes and Handy Johnson

On Monday, Councilman Jason Dozier awarded official city proclamations to Handy Johnson and Karl Barnes, recognizing their decades of service and dedication to the historic West End community and celebrating their tireless work in preservation, planning, and advocacy.

Dozier emphasized the lasting impact Johnson and Barnes have had on West End: “Standing on the shoulders of these two giants has really helped motivate me to do my part to make sure the City of Atlanta is supporting communities like The West End.”

Handy Johnson Jr., a South Carolina native and U.S. Army veteran, has lived in West End since 1971. His work in historic preservation and environmental stewardship has shaped the neighborhood’s development. A graduate of South Carolina State University, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Georgia—where he became the first African American to earn a master’s degree in landscape architecture—Johnson played a key role in founding the West End Neighborhood Development (WEND) organization. His efforts have influenced city planning, environmental conservation, and neighborhood beautification.

Karl Webster Barnes, an expert in city planning and historical preservation, has dedicated over five decades to revitalizing West End. A graduate of Georgia Tech and the Wharton School, Barnes helped secure historic designations for the neighborhood and participated in Atlanta’s Urban Homestead Program, restoring a home after purchasing it for just $1. His leadership in zoning, planning, and preservation efforts has protected the cultural and architectural heritage of West End.

Myrna Anderson Fuller of the West End Merchants Coalition praised both honorees, calling their work “well overdue for recognition” and a testament to their commitment to “community building and preservation.”

Terry Ross of Neighborhood Planning Unit T added, “The work they’ve done—often without recognition—has made us all better off.”

The proclamations reinforce the significance of Johnson’s and Barnes’ contributions, ensuring that their legacies remain an integral part of Atlanta’s future.