INAUGURAL EVENT CHAIRS

Ali Katoot

MK Industries

Angela Graham

Graham & Associates 

Aziz Dhahani

Premier Petroleum

DeKalb Residents, Elected Officials and Friends,

We are very excited to officially cement Lorraine Cochran-Johnson as the sixth Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, Georgia. As part of her inauguration activities, we are thrilled to invite you to join us in celebrating her installation at the 2025 Inaugural Gala, hosted in her honor. This wonderful event will take place on the evening of January 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Fernbank Museum.

DeKalb County is Georgia’s fourth-most populous county and has the highest population density of any county in the Atlanta metropolitan area. DeKalb is filled with rich history, from its early dairy farms to its world-class destinations like Stone Mountain and the most diverse mile in America in Clarkston, Georgia. DeKalb is well poised for exponential growth; DeKalb has a long-standing history of being a regional leader. From our world-renowned Stone Mountain to our nationally top-ranked educational institutions, DeKalb continues on a trajectory to live out our mission of impacting global outcomes.

This momentous occasion cements the next phase of an expanded vision and continued leadership as we achieve new heights for our more than 780,000 residents. Together, we can lay the foundation required to continue and expound upon existing efforts by ensuring residents have the best possible quality of life – through good government.

Thank you in advance for your support. We look forward to celebrating the future of DeKalb with you on January 11 at Fernbank Museum in grand style for Renaissance themed celebration. Please show your support by underwriting a sponsorship package or purchasing a table to support CEO-Elect Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.


2025 Inaugural Event Chairs

DeKalb Residents, Elected Officials and Friends,

We are very excited to officially cement Lorraine Cochran-Johnson as the sixth Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, Georgia. As part of her inauguration activities, we are thrilled to invite you to join us in celebrating her installation at the 2025 Inaugural Gala, hosted in her honor. This wonderful event will take place on the evening of January 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Fernbank Museum.

DeKalb County is Georgia’s fourth-most populous county and has the highest population density of any county in the Atlanta metropolitan area. DeKalb is filled with rich history, from its early dairy farms to its world-class destinations like Stone Mountain and the most diverse mile in America in Clarkston, Georgia. DeKalb is well poised for exponential growth; DeKalb has a long-standing history of being a regional leader. From our world-renowned Stone Mountain to our nationally top-ranked educational institutions, DeKalb continues on a trajectory to live out our mission of impacting global outcomes.

This momentous occasion cements the next phase of an expanded vision and continued leadership as we achieve new heights for our more than 780,000 residents. Together, we can lay the foundation required to continue and expound upon existing efforts by ensuring residents have the best possible quality of life – through good government.

Please consider purchasing a table or securing an underwriting package in support of the Inauguration Scholarship Gala to create unparalleled opportunities for today’s and tomorrow’s students, turned global leaders.

Thank you in advance for your support. We look forward to celebrating the future of DeKalb with you on January 11 at Fernbank Museum in grand style for Renaissance themed celebration. Please show your support by underwriting a sponsorship package or purchasing a table to support CEO-Elect Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.


2025 Inaugural Event Chairs

Christopher Tucker is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Tucker grew up in Decatur, Georgia, and after graduating from Columbia High School, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his comedy career. His comedy influences were Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy, and Tucker was known by his teachers and high school classmates for making people laugh by doing impressions of Murphy, Michael Jackson, and others. Tucker began showcasing his comedy skills before an audience in local Atlanta comedy clubs until he decided to move to Los Angeles in 1990 to further pursue his stand-up comedy career.

Tucker made his debut in 1992 as a stand-up performer on the HBO comedy series Def Comedy Jam, where he frequently appeared on the show during the 1990s. He made his feature film debut in House Party 3 in 1994 and gained greater recognition in Friday the following year. In 1997, he co-starred in the films The Fifth Element and Money Talks and appeared in a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. Tucker gained widespread fame and popularity in the 2000s for playing Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series.

In 1992, Tucker was a frequent performer on the HBO comedy series Def Comedy Jam. He made his cinematic debut in House Party 3 in 1994 and gained greater film recognition alongside N.W.A rapper Ice Cube in Friday the following year. In 1997, he co-starred in the films The Fifth Element and Money Talks. He also played a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown and had a starring role in the spy comedy Double-O-Soul, but the latter was never released.

Along with Hong Kong actor and martial artist Jackie Chan, Tucker starred as LAPD detective James Carter in the martial arts action comedy film series Rush Hour. After the commercial success of the first Rush Hour film, he held out for a $20 million salary for Rush Hour 2, and was paid $25 million for Rush Hour 3. The latter was part of a $40 million two-movie contract with New Line Cinema that also included an unnamed future film. He was also to receive 20% of the gross from Rush Hour 3.

He starred in Michael Jackson’s video “You Rock My World” and made a cameo appearance in Tupac Shakur’s “California Love”. On February 13, 2009, Tucker participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend’s Celebrity Game. Other celebrities participating included rapper Master P, NBA Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Dominique Wilkins, wide receiver Terrell Owens, and four Harlem Globetrotters.

Tucker was announced in 2007 to star in the New Line drama film Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra, directed by Brett Ratner and based on George Jacobs’s autobiography of working as Frank Sinatra’s valet during the Rat Pack era of 1953–68.

In 2011, Tucker made a comeback to stand-up comedy. The next year, he returned to film in Silver Linings Playbook, co-starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro. Tucker’s performance in the film was well received by critics and audiences alike. The film itself received numerous nominations and awards including the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast. He also hosted the 2013 BET Awards. In 2016, he appeared in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. In 2023, he portrayed Nike executive Howard White in the film Air.

In 2021, Tucker joined the Heal Los Angeles Foundation as an official ambassador. The Foundation is co-founded by Michael Jackson’s son, Prince Jackson, and their purpose is to help inner-city youth in Los Angeles by ending homelessness, child abuse, and hunger in the city.

During the 2022 Halloween Thriller Night hosted by the Heal Los Angeles Foundation, Tucker and Steve Harvey were honored and received the inaugural “Man in The Mirror” Award. The award is given to influential individuals using their platforms for good. Tucker accepted the award that was presented by Prince Jackson.

LETTER FROM CHRIS TUCKER

DeKalb Residents, Elected Officials and Friends,

We are very excited to officially cement Lorraine Cochran-Johnson as the seventh Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, Georgia. As part of her inauguration activities, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to invite you to join us in celebrating her leadership at the 2025 inauguration Scholarship Gala, hosted in her honor. This wonderful event will take place on the evening of January 11, 20245, at 6:00 p.m. at the Druid Hills Country Club.

DeKalb County is Georgia’s fourth-most populous county and has the highest population density of any county in the Atlanta metropolitan area. DeKalb is filled with rich history, from its early dairy farms to its world-class destinations like Stone Mountain and the most diverse mile in America in Clarkston, Georgia. DeKalb is well poised for exponential growth; DeKalb has a long-standing history of being a regional leader. From our world-renowned Stone Mountain to our nationally top-ranked educational institutions, DeKalb continues on a trajectory to live out our mission of impacting global outcomes.

This momentous occasion cements the next phase of an expanded vision and continued leadership as we achieve new heights for our more than 780,000 residents. Together, we can lay the foundation required to continue and expound upon existing efforts by ensuring residents have the best possible quality of life – through good government.

Please consider purchasing a table or securing an underwriting package in support of the Inauguration Scholarship Gala to create unparalleled opportunities for today’s and tomorrow’s students, turned global leaders.

Thank you in advance for your support and we look forward to celebrating the future of DeKalb with you on January 11. Please respond by November 1 to secure your table or underwriting package and recognition as a supporter of CEO-Elect Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.

To secure your table, please submit the Online Pledge Form and remit with your sponsorship check by November 15, 2025. For mailed correspondence, please use the following address: For interest in underwriting opportunities, please contact Allison Slocum at campaign@lorraineforchange.com.

Mr. Chris Tucker
Honorary Chair
Inauguration Scholarship Gala