It changed my values on life. What you thought was important is not. You have a better understanding of life by going to another country.
A journey of 4,000 miles reshaped the outlook of State Representative Rhonda Burnough, connecting Forest Park to its Sister City Yene in West Africa and reinforcing her mission of service, sustainability, and ethics at home.
A Journey Across the Atlantic
Traveling with the HBCU Green Fund, Burnough joined Forest Park Mayor Angelyne Butler and Palmetto Mayor Teresa Thomas-Smith on a delegation to Senegal. The visit reached its emotional peak on Gorée Island at the House of Slaves and the Door of No Return — a solemn memorial to the victims of the transatlantic slave trade. “You put your foot into the Atlantic and think, you are an ocean away …” Burnough said. “It changed my values on life.”
Culture, Community & Connection
After a traditional drumming welcome, the 22-member delegation donned Senegalese attire and spent nine days touring the Museum of Black Civilizations, Cheikh Anta Diop University, and La Ferme des 4 Chemins — a women-led farm supporting local families. Burnough was moved by the hospitality and self-reliance of the women she met.
When the group visited Yene Mayor Massamba Mbengue, they noticed a photo from his previous trip to Forest Park — a reminder of the deepening bond between both cities. “What I learned on this visit is that the American Civil Rights Movement influenced their fight for freedom,” she said.
The HBCU Green Fund Mission
Founded by Felicia Davis, the HBCU Green Fund advances environmental sustainability at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their surrounding communities. It trains students in renewable energy, urban agriculture, and sustainable transit. This trade mission strengthened commercial and cultural ties between Georgia and West Africa.
Back to the Georgia Capitol
Upon returning home, the District 77 representative resumed work at the Georgia House of Representatives. She notes that 85 percent of bills are bipartisan, but personal interests can spark divides. Burnough praised Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley for uniting Democrats under Speaker Jon Burns following the late Speaker David Ralston’s moderate tenure.
Championing Literacy & Education
As a former school administrator, Burnough supports legislation to boost student literacy through the Georgia Early Literacy Act, K-12 English Language Arts Standards, and dyslexia initiatives. “These programs are a step in the right direction,” she said. “Clayton County is not at the bottom anymore.”
Leading Ethics Reform in Clayton County
Burnough is sponsoring a bill to revise and update the Clayton County Board of Commissioners ethics code. The measure creates an independent Board of Ethics with citizen appointees and a new Ethics Officer and Administrator to investigate potential violations.
The bill outlines clear standards — prohibiting officials from using public office for private gain and ensuring transparency in government conduct.
Service, Sisterhood & Legacy
Burnough recently celebrated two milestones: turning 70 and marking 50 years as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The Georgia House honored her half-century of sisterhood, scholarship, and service with House Resolution LC 112 2651 on January 13, 2025.
As she said while embracing a soror in a local restaurant, “You always have friends.” Her life and work prove that connection — across oceans or across the aisle — can transform communities.