City Launches Greener Atlanta Environmental Program
Mayor Shirley Franklin introduced the City’s new environmental program, Greener Atlanta, and provided updates on the BeltLine, an integral component of the program, to hundreds of residents and stakeholders gathered last weekend at Grant Park for Arms Around Atlanta, an Earth Day Celebration.
Greener Atlanta encompasses sound environmental initiatives that will improve the quality of life for residents and visitors for generations to come. Arms Around Atlanta was the official launch of the program. During the two-day event, more than 1,500 volunteers in 31 different areas of the city cleaned up rights of way around neighborhoods and parks on and close to the BeltLine, a Greener Atlanta sustainable development project.
Volunteer teams worked to remove 10,000 illegally dumped or used tires, pick up 6,000 bags of litter and collect 40,000 pounds of electronic waste. The tires and electronic waste collected will be recycled and used to furnish local parks with benches, jogging tracks and other eco-friendly items.
In addition, Mayor Franklin provided the following updates on the BeltLine development:
- In 2006, the BeltLine Partnership embarked on a 5-year, $60 million capitol campaign. Mayor Franklin announced that the Partnership has raised $12.4 million toward that goal, which is approximately 21 percent.
- The City and its land acquisition partner, Trust for Public Land, have acquired nearly 200 land acres over past nine months. This, in addition to acres previously acquired, is about 38 percent of the 5-year goal to acquire 500 acres for park land.
- A BeltLine Affordable Housing Advisory Board was recently formed. The board includes representatives from the Mayor’s Office, Atlanta City Council, Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Atlanta Public Schools and AHAND/ANDP. A Tax Allocation District (TAD) Advisory Committee and the creation of BeltLine taskforces and sub-committees have also been established.
- About 100 residents and stakeholders attended the April 17 quarterly update meeting. The next citywide quarterly meeting for the BeltLine will be held on Thursday, August 9 from 6 – 8 p.m. Location to be determined.
For more information on Greener Atlanta, please visit here.
For more information on the BeltLine, visit www.beltline.org. Click here to view the five-year plan.
Mayor Shirley Franklin thanks volunteers at the first citywide Earth Day Celebration, Arms Around Atlanta. The event included more than 1,500 volunteers who cleaned 31 different areas throughout the city.
Information displays (like the one above by the Department of Watershed Management) were critical to the education component of Arms Around Atlanta. Pictured: l-r, Marilyn Johnson, director, DWM Education/Community Outreach and Mayor Shirley Franklin.
Monica Pearson (right) joined Mayor Shirley Franklin for the City’s first-ever Earth Day celebration, Arms Around Atlanta, as the mistress of ceremonies.
Arms Around Atlanta included entertainment, organic food tastings and information booths for residents and stakeholders who want to go “green.” |
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Atlanta Fire-Rescue Cadet Program Helps to Develop Future Workforce
Last week, nine Mayor’s Youth Program participants in the Atlanta Fire Cadet co-op program completed their Cadet Physical Ability Exam (CABE), bringing them one step closer to realizing their goal of becoming Atlanta firefighters.
The Atlanta Fire Cadet program is a partnership between the Atlanta Fire Rescue (AFR) Department, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) and the Atlanta Public Schools (APS). The program serves two critical functions: it introduces seniors to viable career options before they graduate from high school and helps to develop a future workforce that is prepared to fill entry-level AFR firefighter positions.
APS seniors in the program spend 80 hours per month learning basic fire service skills. Each day, they come to work dressed in uniform and learn an assortment of skills including fire suppression, emergency medical assistance, fire and life safety education and leadership skills. Students are never placed in fire-fighting situations.
Following their initial training, they are assigned to an AFR station for four months. During this time, they continue their training alongside AFR personnel in preparation for the official AFR firefighter recruit process.
For more information about the Atlanta Fire Cadet Program, visit www.nextstepatlanta.org. Students can also contact their school counselor or Firefighter Moss at 404.853.7042 or MEMoss@AtlantaGA.gov.
Mayor Shirley Franklin joins the Mayor’s Youth Program Atlanta Fire Cadets at the 2007 Youth Summer Employment Program launch at the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA). |
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After-School Program “P.A.Y.S.” it Forward for Atlanta Student Success
Students in the new City of Atlanta after school program, P.A.Y.S. (Preparing Atlanta Youth for Success), will visit Washington, D.C. this week as participants in the 6th Annual “After–School for All Challenge.”
Taneshia Barber and Ryan Cruter will serve as youth advocates for after-school funding. While in Washington, they will meet with members of Congress to share the benefits of after-school programs in their lives.
P.A.Y.S. is a collaborative effort between the City Offices of Cultural Affairs and Recreation. The program, launched in 2006, works to strengthen the math skills of six-grade students by using creative techniques to help them understand concepts being taught in the classrooms and on the CRCT (Criterion-Referenced Competency Test). P.A.Y.S. is offered at the Rosel Fann and Adamsville Recreation Centers from 4 – 7 p.m., Monday – Friday.
For more information about P.A.Y.S. and other City of Atlanta after-school and recreation programs call Stacey Lum at 404.817.6867.
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Volunteers Plan Nuptials after Meeting at World’s Busiest Airport
In the midst of the millions of passengers who travel through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) daily, somehow airport volunteers Erin Klank and Neal Bowen managed to find each other and make a first-class connection.
Erin and Neal met two years ago while serving as volunteers at the airport’s main information desk. At the time, Erin was a recent college grad with a degree in Spanish who used her training to assist Spanish-speaking travelers. Neal was an Army officer, who was newly stationed in Atlanta and a former volunteer at the Denver International Airport.
The two typically worked different hours, but a serendipitous change in shift would bring Neal and Erin together. After one night working together, Erin and Neal discovered a joint passion for travel. With Hartsfield-Jackson as their backdrop, the two began to travel the world together. After a year and half, Neal proposed to Erin aboard a Caribbean cruise ship. The pair plan to marry this year.
Said Erin and Neal: “We never dreamed our public service work would lead us down the path of romance!” Even with their nuptials pending, both continue their volunteer work and log several hours per week at the airport.
Erin Klank and Neal Bowen plan to marry this year after meeting as volunteers at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport main information desk. |
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Mayor Shirley Franklin recently joined Watershed Management officials to celebrate the completion of the Greenway Acquisition Project, a major Consent Decree milestone under the Clean Water Atlanta program. Under the $25 million program, Atlanta has acquired nearly 2,000 acres of greenways - defined as natural land bordering waterways - inside the city limits and in jurisdictions throughout the metro area. Click here to go to Video On Demand (VOD) webpage to watch the news conference.
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Rave Reviews!
- Last weekend, the Atlanta Fire Rescue (AFR) Department honored its fallen comrades by participating in the Whistle Stop Tour, a national initiative to decrease fire-related deaths with life-saving information. Each year, more than 100 firefighters die in the line of duty. The goal of the Whistle Stop tour is to reduce that amount by 50 percent over 10 years. In 2006, AFR tragedies included the passing of four firefighters, Captain Jerry Prince, Firefighter Scott Duncan, Fire Apparatus Operator Russell Schwatez and Firefighter Steven Solomon.
Atlanta Fire Rescue (AFR) Chief Harold Miller (far right) stands in solidarity as members of the AFR Honor Guard honor their fallen comrades. |
- Department of Public Works (DPW) employees Joseph Dukes and Gabriel Long received a letter of commendation from the Perkerson Civic Association for going above the call of duty for Perkerson community residents. The letter commended the employees for their assistance to an 80-year-old woman with her trash pick-up and collection; the time they spent educating a woman with disabilities about the City’s trash collection policy; and their consistently courteous manner with residents in the neighborhood. Said David E. Scott, DPW commissioner, “The City has implemented a Customer Service Points Award Program. The exemplary customer service demonstrated by these Solid Waste employees is what this program is all about.” The customer service awards program is an initiative of Mayor Shirley Franklin to recognize City employees who go above and beyond the call of duty.
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunties
- There are just a few weeks left to see the Atlanta History Center exhibit “I Have A Dream: The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection,” before it closes permanently on May 13, 2007. Admission is free the first full weekend of May and every Monday thru May 13, 2007. For more information, please visit the Atlanta History Center online at Atlanta History Center or call 404.814.4000.
- The Atlanta Commission on Women (ACOW) will host its fourth Annual "Women Doing Business in the City of Atlanta" conference on Thursday, May 3 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., at the Loudermilk Center, 40 Courtland Street, Atlanta. The conference will bring Atlanta's top women business leaders together, City of Atlanta decision makers, and companies currently doing business with the City for an in-depth discussion. Workshops include financing your business, branding, marketing, law, procurement 101 and certification. Registration is $55 in advance; $65 at the door. Atlanta City Council President Lisa Borders and Cynthia Good, publisher of Pink Magazine, will serve as the luncheon keynote speakers. For more information, visit www.atlwomen.com.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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