Liliana Bakhtiari

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Lili Ana Bakhtiari

Buket Urgen

Bakhtiari, Liliana – LGBTQ+ Victory Fund

Our Team — DISTRICT 5

Liliana Bakhtiari was born and raised in Atlanta and is serving their first term as a member of the Atlanta City Council, representing the citizens of District 5. They are the first out queer Muslim elected official in the state of Georgia, and the first openly non-monogamous elected official in US history. A longtime resident of Southeast Atlanta and the daughter of Iranian immigrants, Liliana grew up working at her father’s pharmacy in the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood where she learned the value of hard work and what it takes to run a small business. She began organizing in the community from a young age, and by college, began investing her time in student-led coalitions at Georgia State University and causes such as affordable education and the Georgia Dreamers program. Liliana followed their passion for people abroad, spending their early adulthood fighting for affordable housing, women’s and children’s health, and environmental justice across 26 countries around the world. Back at home in Atlanta, Liliana has tackled initiatives locally, including suburban and rural voter engagement during critical elections, direct services for unsheltered populations, blood drives, senior partnerships, public art initiatives, and more. Professionally, Liliana served as the public affairs manager of Planned Parenthood Southeast and lobbied for voting rights with ProGeorgia. They served as a consultant for Echo Market Research helping to build out their Social Justice Division. She also collaborated with Partners for Home to establish a hotel program housing Atlanta’s at-risk unsheltered population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Liliana continues to invest her time in the causes that mean the most to her at the local level on a volunteer basis. She previously served on the boards of Lost-N-Found Youth, Victory Fund, PEDS, and gloATL. Liliana currently serves as the strategic director for the Blue Neighbors Project and as a curator of Black Futures Matter Collective, while also serving on the board of Georgia Equality.

Liliana is a public affairs manager at Planned Parenthood Southeast, where she advocated for reproductive health policies. Earlier in her career, she lobbied for voting rights with ProGeorgia, consulted for Echo Market Research to develop their Social Justice Division, and collaborated with Partners for Home to create a hotel program for at-risk unsheltered individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also grew up working at her father’s pharmacy in the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta.

Lili Ana is currently a member of the Atlanta City Council, representing District 5. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her first term.

Supports expanding resources for employment, training, and fair labor practices in Atlanta.

Economy

Supports embedding full-time case managers in underserved communities to help unhoused individuals access shelter and support.

Supports the Grocery Store Initiative, which aims to invest $6 million to attract major supermarkets and grocery stores in underserved areas.

Supports investing $16 million in park improvements, including $5 million for District 5 parks.

Public Services

As a city council member, authored legislation providing access to legal counsel for individuals facing eviction.

Supports requiring all landlords receiving City subsidies to accept low-income residents receiving rental assistance.

Supports embedding full-time case managers in challenged communities to help the unhoused receive shelter and support.

Supports the Grocery Store Initiative, which allocates $6 million to attract major supermarkets and grocery stores in underserved areas.

Supports increasing affordable housing and has helped build or start construction on over 7,300 affordable housing units in Southeast Atlanta in three years.

Housing & Urban Development

As a city council member, authored legislation providing access to legal counsel for individuals facing eviction, de-criminalizing abortion, and expanding housing voucher requirements for city funded projects.

Public Safety

Prioritized neighborhood connectivity and pedestrian safety by paving lane miles, filling potholes, installing stop signs, adding traffic calming measures, and expanding safe routes to schools and ADA infrastructure.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

- City council members work together with the rest of city council to set and implement city policy. 
- City council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city council members in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 