ATLANTA — Debra Tyler-Horton has enjoyed an illustrious career in advocacy that includes an august body of experience in nonprofit management, budget oversight, and being appointed to travel to South America as an Eisenhower Fellow to focus on poverty and illiteracy. She has also helped fight drought and hunger as a board member of Project Tanzania in Africa.
Working in the service of others is not only Tyler-Horton’s profession. It is her raison d’etre. It is her calling.
Therefore it was apropos that Tyler-Horton would be named the new State Director for the Georgia AARP, which is a seamless transition from her previous role as the AARP North Carolina’s Associate State Director – Multicultural Outreach to this state’s top decision-making position.
Tyler Horton joined the AARP NC team in 2010 tasked with developing a deeper presence in diverse communities by strengthening visibility, engaging volunteers and members, building key relationships, conducting grassroots activities and participating in educational forums. Tyler-Horton has demonstrated success leading and managing teams, engaging volunteers, and innovating to achieve results. Tyler-Horton, former host of AARP’s “Real Life, On the Radio,” a weekly public affairs and discussion program, was heard throughout the Eastern Seaboard for five years.
Tyler-Horton is not only committed to building community in Georgia with strong partnerships; she is positioned perfectly to leverage her 20 years of experience to spearheading a volunteer-centered community engagement effort for AARP’s presence statewide.
“Georgia is leading the country in thinking boldly and creatively about ‘Real Possibilities,’ for the 50+ population and I’m excited to be here in the state as your new AARP State Director,” says Tyler-Horton. “I look forward to our work together to develop Age-Friendly communities, support for family caregivers, strengthen financial resiliency, and protection from fraud, scams, and identity theft.”
Tyler-Horton brings a wealth of experience to the role, and in her new capacity she will lead the AARP Georgia staff, hundreds of volunteers from throughout the state and more than one million members. AARP Georgia is among a targeted number of large populated states within the AARP organization. She plans to strengthen AARP’s presence in Georgia communities through strategic advocacy efforts, education opportunities and other innovative offerings to enhance the quality of life for Georgians.
Prior to her role at AARP, Tyler-Horton served as the Deputy Director of the North Carolina Justice Center in Raleigh for more than 13 years, the state’s leading progressive advocacy and research organization.
A native of the Brooklyn borough in New York City, Tyler-Horton has received numerous awards and accolades over the years, but the one she says she is proudest of is being lauded by the National Council of Negro Women for her devoted service to the community.
Tyler-Horton holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in psychology from Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. and is an ordained deacon.
