Darryl J. Terry, II, better known as D.J., was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia on the Westside. He is willing and ready to serve the great people of the State of Georgia. He attended Atlanta's historical Frederick Douglass High School in Dixie Hills where two generations before him also attended and graduated high school. D.J. graduated from Douglass HS as Valedictorian of his class receiving more than three million dollars in scholarships and receiving acceptance into the nations premier colleges and universities. A product of the largest cheating scandal in the history of public education, D.J. persevered to ultimately attend Georgia Tech where he graduated with a degree in Public Policy and served as the Speaker of the House overseeing the legislative body that allocated more than four million dollars in state funds while also playing a pivotal role in creating a one million dollar fund to address mental health at Georgia Tech. 

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In the past, D.J. served as the Chief of Staff to Atlanta City Council member Byron Amos of District 3. He has also worked as an aide to Council members Michael Julian Bond and Keisha Lance Bottoms as well as State Representative "Able" Mable Thomas. D.J. has experience as a Grant Manager and Fundraiser for a national non-profit organization known as the SkillUp Coalition - managing a portfolio of nearly $9 million, where the mission is to help individuals impacted by COVID return to the workplace. After graduating college, D.J. served as an International Baccalaureate World School American Government Educator in Southwest Atlanta at D.M. Therrell HS. While teaching, D.J. extended his relationship with students through coaching by serving as Head Coach for Junior Varsity Football, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs for Varsity Football and as the Head Baseball Coach.

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D.J. currently serves as the Principal Consultant for Royalty Atlantic Advisors. D.J. is an experienced municipal government leader with executive level experience developing and implementing municipal programming across multiple service delivery areas. As Principal, D.J. focuses on the execution of municipal legislative action, directs the implementation of new programs and policies for a multitude of municipalities, manages projects and office administrative functions, oversees governmental relations and personnel issues, manages special events and assignments, and conducts budgetary and financial responsibilities. D.J. has a proven ability to build relationships, strengthen partnerships, manage staff, and leads crucial municipal projects delivered timely and efficiently for residents across the Southeast United States. D.J. also serves voluntarily as the Executive Director and Chairman of the K.I.N.G. (Kids In Need of Guidance) Academy which he founded in 2013.The Kids In Need of Guidance Academy seeks to develop the skills of underserved black male youth to reduce juvenile detention and increase their interest in higher education and post secondary opportunities thorough mentorship and academic coaching.

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D.J. has a proven track record of working with other government leaders in his service to the City of Atlanta. He was instrumental in and wrote the legislation for the creation of the Park Rangers Program which aims to make Atlanta's Park System of over 3,000 acres and 33 recreation centers safer. Darryl served as the first Student Chair for the Atlanta Council of PTA's. Further, Darryl has worked on every level of local government (city, county & state levels).

 

A strong spiritual foundation established at Zion Hill Baptist Church in South Fulton helped teach him the importance of helping others and service to his community. Darryl lives in the Southwest neighborhood of Atlanta with his family and fur-baby, Beaux. In his free time, D.J. can be found at a coffee shop or restaurant more than likely - somewhere on Atlanta's Westside. D.J. identifies as a heterosexual cisgender male and his pronouns are He/Him.