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.
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.
Recognizing the importance of equitable protection for the environment and residential health while giving community members a seat at the table to further environmental justice in DeKalb County.
*media interviews available*
DEKALB COUNTY – On December 16, 2025, The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution establishing an Environmental Justice and Sustainability Resident Review Group. The stated mission of the advisory group is to provide professional and resident advice to the Board of Commissioners for their use in policy decisions involving issues of sustainability, green jobs, energy initiatives and environmental justice as well as monitor the progress and make recommendations towards current environmental efforts such as the County’s 100% Clean Energy and Transportation Transition Plan. The resolution, introduced by Super District 6 Commissioner, Ted Terry, comes amid growing concerns by residents about the proliferation of data centers and their impact on the environment and public health.
“Today, environmental justice topics manifest in the form of data centers, energy burden, and pollution,” said Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry. “If we are to prioritize environmental justice and a clean energy transition, we must do so with the input of those who are directly affected and relevant professionals who can provide vital data to inform policy decisions. We cannot advocate for the community that we serve without centering community voice.”
The resolution charges the Review Group with an annual report, which would include a review of statutes, rules and policies related to DeKalb County’s siting and land use decisions, with a focus on sites which would pose a threat to human health. The report would also include a review and recommendation of potential policies and operating procedures that would highlight considerations of environmental equality, environmental justice, and protection of high-risk areas.
More details about the resolution can be found here.
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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. He successfully was reelected and began his second term in January 2025.
Commissioner Terry’s policy priorities include the DeKalb Green New Deal and former President Biden’s Justice 40 initiatives, affordable housing, transit equity, protecting voting rights for DeKalb residents, and criminal justice reform. Commissioner Terry serves as the Chair of Finance and Budget (FAB) and is a member of the Planning, Economic Development and Community Service (PECS) committee. He previously served as the Chair of the Employee Relations and Public Safety committee (ERPS) and Chair of the Operations Committee (OPS) and as a member of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWI).
The Commissioner also serves as a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) as a member of the Healthy Counties Advisory Board, International Economic Development Task Force, Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Member, Resilient Counties Advisory Board Member, and Environment, Energy, and Land Use (EELU) Policy Steering Committee. Locally serves on theGeorgia Council for International Visitors Board of Trustees.
Prior to his election, Commissioner Terry served as the Mayor of the most ethnically diverse square mile in America: Clarkston, Georgia from January 2014 – March 2020, where he was the youngest Mayor in Clarkston’s 135-year history.
He resides in DeKalb County with his wife Andrea and 4-legged fur-babies.
To learn more about Commissioner Terry, his platforms and how to stay up to date on the latest from his office, visitwww.commissionertedterry.com.
The motion fails by a 3-4 vote. The final vote on the item extended themoratorium for six months, to June 23, 2026.
*media interviews available*
DEKALB COUNTY – On December 16, 2025, Agenda Item 2025-1694: “Application of the Director of Planning and Sustainability to extend a moratorium on the permitting or other authorization of any new data centers, or the expansion of any existing data centers, in Unincorporated DeKalb County” was discussed to extend the data center moratorium to March 26, 2026.
Commissioner Ted Terry advocated instead the moratorium be extended for 12 months, to the last meeting in December 2026, to allow for additional time for DeKalb County to conduct an independent Environmental and Public Health Study.
“Residents are worried about noise near homes, parks, and trails. They are worried about air quality and the health impacts of diesel generators and increased fossil-fuel generation. They are worried about water use, stormwater runoff, and potential impacts on local streams and drinking water systems. They are worried about grid reliability and whether massive energy users will strain neighborhood power systems. And they are worried about equity — about whether communities that have historically hosted landfills and heavy industrial uses are once again being asked to absorb the impacts of yet another speculative development with adverse outcomes.” Said Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry.
In a statement by Commissioner Terry, he indicated the study should examine but not be limited to noise, air quality, diesel emissions, water use, stormwater impacts, heat, grid strain, and climate implications. He also indicated it should evaluate how these impacts intersect with existing environmental burdens and health disparities across the county.
This motion failed by a 3-4 vote. The final vote on the item extended the moratorium for six months, to June 23, 2026, but did not include mention of the independent Environmental and Public Health Study.
Additionally, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted on Agenda Item 2025-0972 “Application of the Director of Planning and Sustainability to amend Chapter 27 to Establish a Definition, Regulatory Guidelines, and Development Standards for Data Centers in M (Industrial), M-2 (Heavy Industrial), O-I (Office-Institutional), and O-D (Office-Distribution) zoning districts. This text amendment is County-wide.” To better align with the moratorium and allow the regulations to include details from a possible independent Environmental and Public Health Study, Commissioner Terry advocated to defer to June. The final vote deferred the item to January 27, 2026.
A data center moratorium was originally introduced as Agenda Item 2025-0996 by Commissioner Ted Terry and approved on July 8, 2025. Agenda Item 2025-1694, voted on today, is the fourth data center moratorium introduced this year.
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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. He successfully was reelected and began his second term in January 2025.
Commissioner Terry’s policy priorities include the DeKalb Green New Deal and former President Biden’s Justice 40 initiatives, affordable housing, transit equity, protecting voting rights for DeKalb residents, and criminal justice reform. Commissioner Terry serves as the Chair of Finance and Budget (FAB) and is a member of the Planning, Economic Development and Community Service (PECS) committee. He previously served as the Chair of the Employee Relations and Public Safety committee (ERPS) and Chair of the Operations Committee (OPS) and as a member of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWI).
The Commissioner also serves as a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) as a member of the Healthy Counties Advisory Board, International Economic Development Task Force, Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Member, Resilient Counties Advisory Board Member, and Environment, Energy, and Land Use (EELU) Policy Steering Committee. Locally serves on theGeorgia Council for International Visitors Board of Trustees.
Prior to his election, Commissioner Terry served as the Mayor of the most ethnically diverse square mile in America: Clarkston, Georgia from January 2014 – March 2020, where he was the youngest Mayor in Clarkston’s 135-year history.
He resides in DeKalb County with his wife Andrea and 4-legged fur-babies.
To learn more about Commissioner Terry, his platforms and how to stay up to date on the latest from his office, visitwww.commissionertedterry.com.
Concerned additional electricity needs to power data centers across Georgia will be reliant on fossil fuels, despite municipalities’ 100% clean energy goals.
*media interviews available*
DEKALB COUNTY – On November 18, 2025, The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution urging the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to delay its vote on Dockets 56298 and 56310, Georgia Power Company’s Application for the Certification of the 2029-2031 All-Source Capacity RFP and for the Certification of Supplemental Resources for 2028-2031 Capacity, respectively. The resolution, which comes on the heels of the Public Hearing concerning the aforementioned dockets, was introduced by Super District 6 Commissioner, Ted Terry, and unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners.
In addition to affirming DeKalb County’s commitment to its adopted clean-energy, sustainability, and resilience goals, the resolution recognizes the need for collaboration from the Public Service Commission in realizing those goals. In passing the resolution, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners implores the PSC to ensure that all energy resource decisions are fully evaluated for potential long-term impacts on local governments. These impacts include grid reliability, customer costs, public health and environmental quality.
“It has been stated by Georgia Power Company that 60% of the energy sourced in this RFP would come from fossil fuels – either coal or natural gas-fired power, for the purpose of meeting Data Center power demands,” said Commissioner Terry. “That means that any Data Center applying to be built in DeKalb County in the next 2-3 years would be powered by those 10,000 megawatts of fossil fuel energy. This is harmful for our environment, our health, and the power bills of DeKalb residents. This is important because this decision will impact future decisions that we make here, at the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. It deserves careful and informed deliberation.”
The DeKalb County resolution also emphasizes the fact that two new Commissioners have been elected to the PSC; and that the vote takes place just before they are seated, which precludes their participation in the deliberation.
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in April 2025 adopting a Clean Energy Transition Plan, with the goal of 100% Clean Energy by 2050.
DeKalb County has intervened before in 2023 and 2025 alongside the city of Decatur, Atlanta, Savannah, and Athens Clarke-County to form the Local Government Coalition. This intervening took place during the Georgia Power Integrated Resource Plan process advocating, again, for polices that support the municipalities’ clean energy goals on behalf of residents.
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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. He successfully was reelected and began his second term in January 2025.
Commissioner Terry’s policy priorities include the DeKalb Green New Deal and former President Biden’s Justice 40 initiatives, affordable housing, transit equity, protecting voting rights for DeKalb residents, and criminal justice reform. Commissioner Terry serves as the Chair of Finance and Budget (FAB) and is a member of the Planning, Economic Development and Community Service (PECS) committee. He previously served as the Chair of the Employee Relations and Public Safety committee (ERPS) and Chair of the Operations Committee (OPS) and as a member of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWI).
The Commissioner also serves as a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) as a member of the Healthy Counties Advisory Board, International Economic Development Task Force, Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Member, Resilient Counties Advisory Board Member, and Environment, Energy, and Land Use (EELU) Policy Steering Committee. Locally serves on theGeorgia Council for International Visitors Board of Trustees.
Prior to his election, Commissioner Terry served as the Mayor of the most ethnically diverse square mile in America: Clarkston, Georgia from January 2014 – March 2020, where he was the youngest Mayor in Clarkston’s 135-year history.
He resides in DeKalb County with his wife Andrea and 4-legged fur-babies.
To learn more about Commissioner Terry, his platforms and how to stay up to date on the latest from his office, visitwww.commissionertedterry.com.
Concerned additional electricity needs to power data centers across Georgia will be reliant on fossil fuels, despite municipalities’ 100% clean energy goals
DEKALB COUNTY – On October 21, 2025, DeKalb County Super District 6 Commission Office attended a Public Hearing by the Georgia Public Service Commission on Dockets 56298 and 56310, Georgia Power Company’s Application for the Certification of the 2029-2031 All-Source Capacity RFP and for the Certification of Supplemental Resources for 2028-2031 Capacity, respectively. The Super District 6 Commission office was present to advocate for clean energy use that aligns with the county’s clean energy goals established in 2021.
“Georgia Power is preparing to meet the energy needs of a growing Georgia. It is no secret that data centers are booming in Georgia, which will require significant amounts of energy,” said Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry. “In this moment, DeKalb County is balancing decreasing our carbon emissions to reach our 100% clean energy goals community wide by 2050 and developing our own data center regulations to protect community members. DeKalb County can’t require data centers to use clean energy, but the Public Service Commission can require Georgia Power use a specific energy mix. For DeKalb County to reach our goals, we all must work together and prioritize reducing Georgia’s reliance on fossil fuels.”
In 2021, Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry introduced the DeKalb County resolution committing the county to reaching 100% clean energy by 2050, which the Board passed that same year. This resolution launched a plan development process by the Southface Institute. The final plan was adopted by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on Earth Day 2025.
“I ask that you consider the environmental effects of expanded use of methane gas and nuclear energy, in deciding whether or not you will approve these applications. Methane gas is a potent greenhouse gas that has 80 times more warming power than carbon dioxide during its first twenty years in the atmosphere. Burning methane gas also releases deadly fine particulate matter and smog-forming nitrogen oxides, as well as volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde that can cause cancer and respiratory problems,” stated the statement prepared by the Super District 6 office. “We serve many in communities that are already overly burdened with poor air quality and the addition of these toxins into the atmosphere would only serve to exacerbate already adverse health conditions. In addition, the Dekalb County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution adopting a Clean Energy Transition Plan, with the goal of 100% Clean Energy by 2050. In order for us to achieve that goal, we are counting on your partnership in prioritizing renewable energy use and acquisition.”
DeKalb County has intervened before in 2023 and 2025 alongside the city of Decatur, Atlanta, Savannah, and Athens Clarke-County to form the Local Government Coalition. This intervening took place during the Georgia Power Integrated Resource Plan process advocating, again, for polices that support the municipalities’ clean energy goals on behalf of residents.
n partnership with Roots Down and GreenHive, neighbors gathered for “Garden Sips” at the Chamblee Library to enjoy herbal mocktails, explore the gardens, and continue to celebrate a major milestone: the passing of the DeKalb County Library Transition Plan!
This initiative will transform all 23 DeKalb libraries into vibrant, climate resilient, landscapes that are both beautiful and beneficial to the community. At the Chamblee Library, visitors learned how plants like lavender, mint, and rosemary can be used to make refreshing drinks while also supporting pollinators and healthy soil.
Our goal is to transform every library into a hub for climate resilience, community engagement, and environmental education. Events like this show how libraries can connect people with nature and with each other. Learn more about the Library Transition Plan here.
Curious about the results of the Avondale Estates Community Composting Program? Join us for an informative webinar to learn about the program’s key results, insights to date, and how Avondale Estates residents can re-enroll. This webinar is open to all and offers a great opportunity to explore the future of composting in DeKalb County and how you can be part of it. This webinar took place on 7/21/2025. Click here for more details about the program.
This pilot program is made possible through a USDA Grant and the partnerships of City of Avondale Estates, Roots Down, DeKalb County Super District 6, Food Well Alliance, and CompostNow.
