Super District Commissioners, Roots Down Celebrate Earth Day

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 19, 2022

Super District Commissioners, Roots Down Celebrate Earth Day

DECATUR, Ga.—On Earth Day, Friday, April 22, DeKalb County Super District Commissioners Ted Terry and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will join Roots Down for a special, commemorative celebration to encourage a greener, more environmentally friendly DeKalb. Roots Down works with local governments, universities, and organizers to shift the paradigm of landscapes, create greener jobs, fight climate change and feed others.

Starting at 10 a.m. at the Toco Hills Library, the commissioners and Roots Down will announce several green initiatives each has enacted and advocated for to further DeKalb’s status as an eco-friendly county.

Commissioner Terry plans to discuss details about:

• County plastics ordinance to phase out single-use plastics in Government buildings
• Funds to plant more trees across DeKalb
• Introduction of new electric vehicles and solar technology 
• Event will close with a ceremonial tree planting that is dedicated to growing a “Greener DeKalb”  

“We get One Earth, One County,” said Commissioner Terry. “It is our job to do work, both big and small, to protect and conserve our greenspaces, invest in opportunities to combat climate change, and introduce and adopt a policy to positively impact our environment both in DeKalb and the world at large.” 

Commissioner Cochran-Johnson will provide updates on the development E.M.B.A.R.C. Community Youth Farm. Plans for E.M.B.A.R.C., or the Education, Market, Botanicals, Agriculture, and Recreational Center were announced in April 2021, when the Commissioner unveiled a comprehensive plan to develop the $1.4 million facility.

“It is my intent (with EMBARC Youth Farm) to create a safe space for children that promotes healthy living, urban farming, education, leadership, and entrepreneurship,” Commissioner Cochran-Johnson said. 

Commissioner Cochran-Johnson will also discuss the comprehensive trails master plan, which will further enhance DeKalb’s greenspaces by connecting existing trails and allowing for additional land acquisition to preserve greenspaces. 

Roots Down will announce the introduction of the Fruitful Libraries Resolution, which aims to provide a pathway for the county to expand ecological landscaping throughout the entire library system. Launched in DeKalb in 2021, the Fruitful Communities initiative is a comprehensive roadmap to converting traditional landscapes into Productive Urban Landscapes, pollinator gardens and food forests that provide food, jobs and outdoor classrooms to communities throughout the County. There are currently 8 pilot landscapes sprinkled throughout DeKalb.

“DeKalb County libraries have been the perfect partner for the Fruitful Communities initiative,” said Jamie Rosenthal, founder of Roots Down. “After all, the library system’s motto is ‘a place to grow.’ The library gardens are a great way to make that motto real.”

The event will be streamed online, here: www.dekalbcountyga.gov/dctv/dctv-home-page 

Below, find details about the Earth Day celebration:

Date:
Friday, April 22
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Press Event + Planting at the Library
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Roots Down’s Spring Planting Spectacular at the Central DeKalb Senior Center

Location:
Toco Hills Library
1282 McConnell Dr
Decatur, GA 30033

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ABOUT DeKalb County Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry:
In 2020, Commissioner “Ted” Terry was elected to serve as the Super District 6 Commissioner of DeKalb County. His district includes half of the County with portions of South, Central and North DeKalb, totaling approximately 350,000 residents.  

Committed to his platform, Commissioner Terry’s motto of “Together, We Can Move DeKalb Forward,” focuses on affordable housing, transit equity, DeKalb Green New Deal, DeKalb voting rights, and criminal justice reform.  

In his freshman year, Commissioner Terry served as Chair of the Operations (OPS) Committee. This year he was appointed as the Chair of the Employee Relations-Public Safety (ERPS) committee and continues as a member of the Public Works and Infrastructure (PWI) Committee. Commissioner Terry also sponsored the creation of the Green Policy Committee and the DeKalb Community Election Committee.  

In addition to his other service, he also serves on the DeKalb Community Service Board and as the First Vice-Chair for the Democratic Party of Georgia, on the advisory board for the Global Village Project and as a member of the DeKalb Community Service Board (CSB), DeKalb County’s community-based behavioral health and developmental disabilities services organization, Board of Directors. Commissioner Terry also serves as a member of the Resilience Advisory Board and Large Urban County Caucus with the National Association of County Officials (NACo). 

To learn more about Commissioner Terry, his platforms and how to stay up to date on the latest from his office, visit www.commissionertedterry.com.

Follow the Commissioner on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commissionertedterry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commissionertedterry/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@commissionerted
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedterry/