As morning broke, we gathered with a shared purpose to honor the lives that once walked in the very roles and shoes we do today. Soft light stretched across Anderson Cemetery, awakening a space that has always held more than silence. It holds legacy.
Anderson Cemetery is an historically African American burial ground, shaped by our nation’s history of segregation and discrimination. When Black families were denied dignity in life and in death, they created sacred spaces of their own. This land carries that truth. It carries resilience.
In partnership with DeVine GA, Washington Memorial Gardens, and the DeKalb History Center, over fifteen volunteers showed up ready to work. We picked, pruned, and pulled back years of overgrowth. Wisteria and ivy had nearly swallowed entire sections. By the end of our time, we had only cleared about ten percent, but what we uncovered mattered.
Because beneath the surface, stories are waiting.
The most powerful moment came when the Bussey family arrived, hoping to find their relatives. For two hours, we worked together clearing vines, dirt, and debris. Then it appeared. Marble headstones, grandparents born in 1885, unseen for over 30 years. Watching that family reconnect with their history was unforgettable. Joy, gratitude, and restoration all in one moment.
This work is bigger than a cleanup. It is restoration. It is remembrance. It is justice.
Our commitment is clear. We will continue uncovering graves, documenting them with the DeKalb History Center, and reconnecting families with their loved ones.
Because when we honor those who came before us, we reclaim our story.
And at Anderson Cemetery, we are just getting started.
On Saturday, March 14, DeKalb County residents joined the Super District 6 team at the Gresham Park Recreation Center for the introduction of Resilient DeKalb, a renewed effort by Commissioner Ted Terry to strengthen environmental justice and civic engagement across DeKalb County. Resilient DeKalb builds on the foundation of the DeKalb Green New Deal while reshaping the focus to emphasize community resilience, transparency, and stronger collaboration between residents and county leadership.
Why Resilient DeKalb?
Candidly, some of DeKalb’s greatest issues stem from environmental injustices, including failing water and sewer infrastructure, repeated sewage overflows into creeks and neighborhoods, rising utility costs, and the loss of safe green space, problems that disproportionately affect lower-income and historically marginalized communities.
Environmental justice means every resident, regardless of race, income, or background, deserves affordable energy, clean water, safe neighborhoods, and a voice in environmental decisions. It acknowledges that some communities have faced greater pollution burdens, higher utility bills, and fewer resources for decades, resulting in inequitable health outcomes. Building a Resilient DeKalb means creating healthier, resilient neighborhoods for all residents
What is Resilient DeKalb?
Resilient DeKalb is a people-powered initiative that aims to correct these imbalances to reduce environmental injustices by
advancing sustainable land-use practices including protecting green spaces, improving zoning and development practices, and promoting land use that supports healthy neighborhoods and long term environmental resilience.
advocating for clean, affordable, and reliable utilities and services to reduce energy burdens caused by environmental injustices
building community power for environmental justice by expanding access to county programs and resources that make it easier for residents to participate in critical decision making processes
How Can We Work Together to Achieve a More Resilient DeKalb?
The County Commissioner’s office plays a central role in addressing environmental justice challenges by setting local policies, allocating resources, and advocating for programs that protect residents’ health and the environment. By engaging with the office through attending town halls, submitting public comments, or joining community coalitions, residents can help guide decisions that reduce pollution, improve water and energy systems, and keep neighborhoods safe and resilient.To find out who represents you, visit the county’s website and enter your address in the Find My Commissioner tool. Your commissioner is your direct line to local policy that affects your home, your health, and your community.
Highlights From Our First Resilient DeKalb Meeting
Led by Commissioner Ted Terry, participants learned about how local government decisions affect environmental outcomes and why county policy plays such a critical role in shaping community resilience. To make the discussion interactive, attendees played a trivia game and created a world cloud describing what “Resilient DeKalb” meant to them. The responses highlighted themes like community, sustainability, equity, and long-term planning.
Participants raised several local concerns and ideas during the discussion portion of the event, including:
The need for clearer communication about BOC agendas and decisions, along with more accessible information to help residents stay informed and participate in county government.
Requests for information about composting programs, environmental plans, and local sustainability resources
What Happens Next?
We hope to address the concerns of residents collaboratively and with transparency. This begins with forming a Resilient DeKalb Steering Committee to help guide the progression of our initiative, followed by educational workshops and discussions.
Celebrate Earth Day at the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 28! This year, we’re presenting a proclamation to the people of DeKalb for their tireless commitment to the Earth and environmental advocacy. We hope you can attend to be recognized and show DeKalb County residents want climate action now.
Environmental films can turn complex issues into real stories that spark curiosity, build community, and invite us all to take action. We hope you will join us for this timely and thought-provoking film that explores local climate action and asks us to brainstorm next steps for DeKalb County.
The City of Atlanta has the largest urban tree canopy of any major city in North America. The Tree Economy follows the forces of development, economics, and politics threatening to erase the defining characteristic of one of America’s great cities.
Through the voices of tree activists, arborists, urban designers, elected officials, and developers, filmmaker James Schroeder documents a city at a crossroads.
The Resilient DeKalb Launch event marks the beginning of a broader engagement effort for Resilient DeKalb.With continued collaboration between residents and local government, Resilient DeKalb aims to build a stronger and more sustainable future for all communities across the county.
The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office recently began mailing over 19,700 homeowners who may be eligible for a new senior exemption or a basic homestead exemption for the current tax year.
Whether you’re a new homeowner, a senior, disabled resident, disabled veteran, homeowners should check their exemption status and apply before the April 1 deadline. Filing early minimizes confusion and avoids delays and when tax bills are mailed later in the year.”
Homestead exemption applications can be filed online until the April 1 deadline. Applications are also accepted in person year-round at all office locations during business hours. Special exemptions are available for eligible seniors, disabled residents, disabled veterans or surviving spouse, surviving spouse of a U.S. service member, and surviving spouse of a peace officer or firefighter. Age and income requirements must be met to qualify for senior exemptions.
Once an exemption is granted, it automatically renews as long as the owner resides at the property, or until a different exemption is filed and granted. DeKalb County homeowners who do not have a homestead exemption, or who may qualify for a senior, disabled veteran or disabled resident exemption, are encouraged to apply online before the April 1 deadline.
Look for the “Exemption Codes” field. If there is no code, look for the green button in the “Owner Information” area on the page and click “Apply for homestead exemption”.
If you’re a senior ages 62+ by January 1, and have an H1 exemption, you may apply online for a special exemption.
If your exemption status indicates an H3, H4, H9, H10 or A6, no further action is required.
For more information on how to check your homestead exemption status online or to apply, visit DeKalbTax.org or call 404-298-4000 for assistance. Follow @dekalbtaxga on Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Bluesky for updates from the DeKalb County tax commissioner’s office.
DeKalb is shining a spotlight on local entrepreneurship with the launch of the DeKalb Women-Owned Business Guide, an initiative led by Decide DeKalb to celebrate and support our very own women business leaders. This effort is fitting as we bring in International Women’s History Month for 2026.
With more than 3,900 women-owned businesses operating in DeKalb County, this guide will connect residents with local businesses across industries including food, beauty, arts, professional services, education, and real estate.
Women-owned businesses based in DeKalb County are encouraged to apply. To qualify, businesses must have a valid business license, a website, and at least one active social media account.
Applications will be accepted throughout March, and the guide will be released May 4 to kick off Economic Development Week.
Scan the flyer’s QR code below to learn more and apply.
Our office was honored to attend the Masjid Al Momineen Iftar Ramadan Reception Dinner, an evening centered on prayer, fellowship, compassion, and community. During this sacred time of reflection and fasting, the gathering served as a meaningful reminder that unity across cultures and faith traditions strengthens the fabric of our community.
Guests were welcomed with warmth and hospitality by members of the Masjid Al Momineen congregation. Young members of the community helped guide attendees and demonstrated the spirit of respect, service, and leadership that defines this faith community.
The evening brought together local leaders, community advocates, and residents from Clarkston and across DeKalb County. Representatives from municipal leadership, faith institutions, and community organizations gathered to share a meal, strengthen relationships, and reaffirm a shared commitment to collaboration and service.
As the community broke fast together, faith leaders reflected on the deeper meaning of Ramadan: gratitude, compassion, reflection, and collective prayer. The evening highlighted the power of coming together in fellowship, especially at a time when peace and unity remain essential around the world.
We at the Super District 6 Office are grateful to the Masjid Al Momineen congregation and community partners for hosting such a meaningful event. We remain committed to supporting opportunities that bring neighbors together across cultures and faiths as we continue building a stronger, more connected DeKalb County.
The first County Line / Ellenwood community meeting of 2026 was energizing, forward-looking, and a strong example of partnership in action. The meeting brought together residents, County leadership, educators, environmental experts, and community organizers to align priorities and set the tone for the year ahead.
The conversation centered on youth opportunity, long-term investment, and community vigilance, with clear momentum across multiple fronts.
Highlights and key outcomes
Youth engagement and awareness: Commissioner Bolton and Laveeza (Super District 7) emphasized improving outreach so youth are aware of existing programs, jobs, and activities. Commissioner Bolton also shared the District 7 calendar, including upcoming Q1 2026 town halls. Look for more information to come directly from District 7’s office.
Cross-district collaboration: Dr. Reggie Johnson publicly recognized and thanked both Commissioner Bolton and Commissioner Ted Terry for their continued support of Ellenwood’s County Line community.
Education and workforce access: Roger Young, DeKalb County Landfill Superintendent, reminded attendees that GED programs are available to residents of all ages across DeKalb County.
Parks and public space investment: Paige Singer, Director of DeKalb Parks and Recreation, provided updates on the Dr. Alice White Bussey Intergenerational Center and the seven-year effort to connect two parks by acquiring four properties.
Environmental awareness: Dr. Michael Paulus briefed the group on Interstate 14, a 1,000-mile congressionally designated corridor from Texas to Georgia, and the potential impacts of data centers and fiber infrastructure. Tommy Travis noted the data center moratorium has been extended through June.
Libraries and literacy: The Ellenwood / County Line Library Friends Group, ranked Top 5 in DeKalb County for patronage, shared ongoing collaborations and invited new members to join.
Community literacy call to action: A strong discussion emerged around embedding books and reading access into youth programs to protect opportunity, history, and cultural legacy.
Community celebration: Margaret Jackson announced planning is underway for the 29th Annual County Line / Ellenwood Community Roundup and Parade on April 25, 2026, with expectations for the largest turnout yet.
Food access and support: Nadine (Team Ted Terry Fellow) shared updates on the mobile markets and available food boxes. Donations were also collected to support 2026 community activities.
The meeting closed with a group prayer and a shared sense of optimism. Overall, it was a clear reminder that Ellenwood’s County Line community is entering 2026 informed, engaged, and ready to build together.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that “everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” This past MLK Weekend, that truth came alive along the Michelle Obama Trail in Gresham Park, where residents, volunteers, youth, and County partners transformed service into tangible impact.
What began as a morning of planned litter pickup and invasive plant removal quickly became a powerful reminder of both the challenges our communities face and the extraordinary capacity, we have to address them together.
35 Volunteers arrived ready to work, representing a cross-section of DeKalb County’s civic fabric:
• Girl Scouts
• Gresham Park residents
• Members of the Neighbors of Gresham Park Executive Board
• The DeKalb Lawyers Group
• A local church group
• Two DeKalb County Parks & Rec employees
• Broader community members who learned of the opportunity through word of mouth
Organized by Southwest DeKalb Naturalist Tasha alongside a dedicated Gresham Park resident, Camryn, the effort reflected the very essence of Dr. King’s vision people stepping forward not because they were asked, but because they cared.
The Reality Beneath the Surface
As volunteers moved deeper along the trail overlooking South River, the scope of the problem became clear. What appeared at first to be scattered litter revealed itself as intentional dumping, hidden in embankments, hillsides, and even the creek itself.
What we found large piles of consumer goods, school-served food items, plastic bottles and packaging, and waste that had been accumulating for years, not weeks.
This was not random. The volume, placement, and condition of the debris told a different story: one that raised serious questions about accountability, access, and enforcement.
Collective Action in Motion
Rather than turning away, volunteers leaned in. Five individuals carefully navigated down steep embankments and into the creek, using rakes, shovels, gloved hands, and determination to begin restoration work. We cleaned 4 distinct areas, in just over one hour, resulting in 12 large bags of trash.
This was service in action: uncomfortable, hands-on, and deeply meaningful.
What We Found Tells a Bigger Story
Among the most striking discoveries:
• A pillow that had begun growing roots
• A partially decomposed tire, estimated to have been there 7+ years
• Full cans of soup, empty gallon chili cans, and bulletin board paper
• Uneaten fruit
These findings underscored a difficult truth: environmental neglect and social neglect often intersect. Later that day, volunteers discovered an overturned couch nearby and learned that someone had been living beneath it.
With compassion and care, volunteers connected the individual with resources, contact information, and DeKalb WorkSource, reinforcing that service must extend beyond cleanup to human dignity and opportunity.
Carrying Dr. King’s Dream Forward
Dr. King’s dream was rooted in action, community responsibility, and shared humanity.
Gresham Park was one powerful story, of many, that came out of this year’s MLK Day service weekend. Each bag of trash removed, each conversation held, and each resource shared pushed Dr. King’s vision forward moved beyond words and showed up in our work.
Moving From Service to Sustained Change
The progress made at Gresham Park proves what is possible when residents and government work side by side. It also reinforces the need for:
This weekend’s MLK Jr. Day of Service was a powerful reminder that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for the United States was never abstract. It is practical, collective, and rooted in action. He called for a nation where justice is lived out through service, where dignity is protected, and where communities take responsibility for one another. This weekend, that vision moves closer to an obtainable reality.
In Super District 6, 900 volunteers came together to “pull up their sleeves” and make a difference to 27 homes of elderly neighbors residing in the City of Decatur, delivering repairs that will immediately improve comfort, safety, and long-term affordability for those who want to “age in place”. This was not symbolic service. It was direct, measurable, and transformative.
At one home, a disabled elderly resident living on a fixed Social Security income faced a $600 power bill last month. Volunteer teams stepped in and completed critical weatherization work, including:
Caulking leaky ducts and air returns
Replacing 18 incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting
Repairing a large hole in the wall that allowed cold air in and warm air out
As a result, we estimate the resident’s monthly power bill will be cut nearly in half, creating important financial relief for someone living on a fixed income.
This is the America Dr. King spoke of. One where collective action dismantles everyday inequities, where neighbors use their skills to reduce hardship, and where justice shows up in the form of improved quality of life, reflected through safer homes, lower bills, and greater stability. Each repair completed over the weekend represents more than a fix. It represents progress toward an America that works for everyone.
The work completed on this weekend will continue to pay dividends long after MLK Day 2026. It reduced energy burden, strengthened housing stability, and demonstrates what is possible when communities act together with purpose.
Thank you to every volunteer, organizer, and partner who helped turn service into lasting impact.
Greystone Park Neighborhood Meeting Recap | Jan 14, 2026 | NH Scott Rec Center
The community of Greystone Park is showing what’s possible when neighbors act together. At just its second neighborhood meeting, nearly 75 residents turned out to hear updates from Commissioner Terry, the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD), and neighborhood leaders.
The progress since October has been striking. After experiencing 46 break-ins in six weeks, the community organized, received crime-prevention guidance from DKPD, and strengthened neighbor-to-neighbor communication. The result: only one car break-in reported from late October through January 1, 2026.
Ahead of the meeting, Team Terry knocked 200 doors to spread the word and connect with neighbors. Residents shared that they’re feeling safer and encouraged by the neighborhood’s collective response. That connection was on full display last night when neighbors Karen and Thelma, who met after knocking door-to-door, announced that they are planning a spring yard sale for the Greystone community.
Residents voted to meet quarterly, with the next meeting scheduled for April 2026.
Stay Engaged
• South River or Gresham Park Rec Center Clean Up: Jan 19, Register here. This event is led by our new Parks Naturalist Tasha Messer.
• DKPD Town Hall: January 26, 6–8 PM, South Precinct (2067 Columbia Dr.)
Greystone Park’s momentum is clear. Organized neighbors, informed action, and consistent engagement are making the community safer and stronger—together.
DeKalb County has officially launched its own food insecurity solution which brings fresh, affordable, Georgia-grown produce directly to our communities. Through a partnership with Retaaza, residents can hop onto the market van, pick out fruits, veggies, and local organic products, and enjoy a $10 shopping voucher at every visit through December.
Mobile Market Schedule
Mondays:
• 12–1 PM — South DeKalb Senior Center
• 2–3:30 PM — Gresham Park Rec Center
• 4:30–5:30 PM — Cedar Grove Elementary
Fridays:
• 12–1 PM — Exchange Park Rec Center
• 2–3:30 PM — Lou Walker Senior Center
• 4:30–5:30 PM — East Central DeKalb Community & Senior Center
Cash, card, and EBT accepted.
This program is made possible by CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson and your DeKalb County Commissioners.
