KENNESAW, Ga. | Nov 16, 2021

Each fall, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) releases the results of a wide-ranging public opinion survey on issues of local interest called “Metro Atlanta Speaks.” The project is executed by Kennesaw State University’s A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research.

The survey asks more than 4,000 people in 11 metro-Atlanta counties questions about quality-of-life issues. The 2021 survey was released on Nov. 16 at the ARC’s annual State of the Region breakfast for leaders from throughout the organization’s service area. The Burruss Institute has conducted the survey for eight of its nine years of existence.

“The ARC is a leader in shaping dialogue of public policy issues, and the Metro Atlanta Speaks survey has served as a foundation for those discussions,” said Christy Storey, director of operations at the Burruss Institute.

The ARC is the official planning agency for the Atlanta region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties, as well as the city of Atlanta and more than 70 other cities.

For more than 30 years, the Burruss Institute has created and maintained large, high-quality datasets, and provided a wide range of technical assistance in a broad spectrum of policy areas to nonprofit organizations and governmental entities at various levels. Known for expertise in survey research and program evaluation, the Burruss Institute also provides Kennesaw State faculty with opportunities to participate in applied research projects when external clients require subject-matter experts.

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.