SR 399: Side by Side Clubhouse Day; recognize March 11, 2025

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes any rights or requirements. It commends Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc., a DeKalb County nonprofit founded in 2000, for 25 years of helping Georgians recovering from brain injuries and related disabilities. The resolution recounts the organization's history, its use of the 'Clubhouse model' of rehabilitation where participants are treated as members of a working community, and notes it has served more than 800 Georgians. It designates March 11, 2025 as Side by Side Clubhouse Day at the state capitol and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the organization. It does not create funding, penalties, or new legal obligations.

• Formally commends Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc. for 25 years of work supporting Georgians with brain injuries.
• Designates March 11, 2025 as Side by Side Clubhouse Day at the Georgia state capitol.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the organization.
• Creates no new law, funding, or legal requirements, since it is a commendatory resolution rather than a bill.

Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc., its staff and the more than 800 Georgians it has served since 2000, and by extension the DeKalb County community where the organization operates in Stone Mountain Village.

The resolution has largely symbolic effect: it gives official state recognition to a nonprofit's work but does not change funding, regulations, or services for people recovering from brain injuries. Its practical impact is a formal honor and a designated day at the capitol.

• The resolution recounts Side by Side's founding in March 2000 by Cindi Johnson with support from the Shepherd Center and Emory Healthcare.
• It describes the organization's use of the 'Clubhouse model,' following standards from the International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance and Clubhouse International.
• It states Side by Side is Georgia's only brain injury clubhouse and has served more than 800 Georgians since 2000.
• The operative resolving clause commends the organization and designates March 11, 2025 as Side by Side Clubhouse Day at the state capitol.
• A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the organization.

1. 2025-03-18Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-13Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Elena Parent (D, SD-44)Primary sponsor
• Donzella James (D, SD-28)
• Harold Jones II (D, SD-22)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-40)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-41)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-55)
• Freddie Powell Sims (D, SD-12)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-8)
• Nabilah Parkes (D, SD-7)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-5)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
• Michael 'Doc' Rhett (D, SD-33)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-38)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-47)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-34)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-17)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-43)
• David Lucas (D, SD-26)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-35)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-19)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
• John Albers (R, SD-56)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-14)
• John F. Kennedy (R, SD-18)

• brain injury recovery
• DeKalb County
• nonprofit recognition
• disability support
• Georgia Senate resolution