Meet the Atlanta City Council candidates: Toni Belin Ingram for District 11

This November, the entire Atlanta City Council is up for election, including the District 11 position, which council member Marci Collier Overstreet is vacating after two terms to run for council president. One candidate is Adams Park resident the Rev. Toni Belin Ingram, whose unique résumé includes church leader, Realtor and family therapist. Her answers to Atlanta Community Press Collective questions about her background, District 11 and objectives if elected are below.

Answers are condensed for space.

How would you describe District 11 in its qualities and challenges?

The strength of District 11 lies in our rich history, cultural pride, faith communities and deep sense of belonging. We are a community of resilience and legacy, home to families who have lived here for generations—raising children, building businesses and creating neighborhoods where people look out for one another. Our strengths help us meet our challenges. 

We face disinvestment in our infrastructure—roads, sidewalks and transit have not kept pace with our needs. We have food deserts and an insufficient number of urgent care facilities. Too often our young people lack opportunities close to home, and our seniors struggle with rising costs on fixed incomes. Growth is coming, and District 11 must not be left behind.

What about your experience in church leadership and as a family therapist sets you apart from other candidates?
I know how to bring people together across differences. I am a deep listener. I lead with integrity and accountability. Stress, trauma and miscommunication fracture families and communities, while patience, determination and tools for growth can heal and restore. I have observed this in my ministry: as Presiding Elder, I have overseen 44 churches, supported pastors and partnered with neighborhoods to respond to needs. I led congregations in purchasing land, creating financial literacy programs and establishing partnerships with schools and nonprofits to strengthen our community. As a family therapist, I see the whole person, not just the problem, and I understand how to guide families and communities toward restoration. These skills—listening, building coalitions and fostering growth—are exactly what District 11 needs.

Would you expound on your business experience and how that shapes your policy on job creation and small businesses?
Ownership and capital are critical to building wealth in our community. Having worked as a Realtor, investor and administrator, I know firsthand the challenges families and small business owners face when they lack capital or support. Helping families thrive has been the center of my work, whether business, nonprofit leadership or community partnerships. 

My business experience shapes my policies in two ways. First, I will fight for resources that help entrepreneurs: access to capital, simplified permitting, mentorship networks and financial literacy programs for small business owners to sustain and scale. Second, I will protect legacy businesses from being pushed out by rising rents and redevelopment. Job creation must come with pathways for our young adults and local hiring requirements that keep our dollars circulating in District 11.

Transportation remains a conundrum for Atlanta. How would you address it?
In District 11 it is an equity issue. Many residents rely on one car per household or long, unreliable bus routes. My top priority will be advancing the Campbellton Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, a project promised to our community for years. It is essential not only to improve mobility and shorten commutes, but also to spark equitable economic development along one of our district’s most important corridors. 

At the same time, as we create more housing, we must ensure infrastructure can support it by tying new development to improvements in roads, sidewalks, utilities and transit access. Planning must be community-centered: Residents must have a voice in shaping projects where they live and work. Transit investments must be paired with protections against displacement so families can benefit from improvements without being priced out of their homes. My vision is a system that treats every rider with dignity and reliability.

Safety is a theme of your campaign. What does public safety mean to you, and how would your policy reflect that?
Public safety means more than policing. It means safe streets, well-lit sidewalks, thriving youth programs, mental health support and neighbors who feel secure in their homes. Safety is a child walking to school without fear, a senior sitting on her porch with peace of mind and businesses staying open without risk of crime. My policy balances accountability in policing and investments in prevention, including violence interruption programs, after-school activities and crisis response teams. I will also support our officers by ensuring they have the resources they need: mental health training, counseling and wraparound support services that help them manage the stress of the job while strengthening their connection with the community. Officers must know they have our respect and appreciation, even as we demand accountability. By investing in community programs and officer well-being, we can create a holistic system of safety rooted in trust, fairness and care.

How would your approach differ from outgoing District 11 Council Member Marci Collier Overstreet?
I bring 40 years of lived experience in Southwest Atlanta, and I honor the service of Council Member Overstreet. My approach will differ because I will be serving in a different time, with emergent needs of the people of District 11 in heart and head. With a relational, transparent leadership style, I will marshal the resources of our community and city to meet those needs. District 11 will grow, develop and become a stronger, more vibrant community for all residents.

For more information on Belin Ingram and her platform, visit beliningramfordistrict11.com.