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.
We encourage you to:
- Join the Resilient DeKalb Steering Committee
- Attend our upcoming events
- Fill out the Resilient DeKalb Interest form to stay updated and attend our important upcoming events
April 28 — Earth Day Proclamation at the Board of Commissioners Meeting
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.
May 12 — Board of Commissioners Meeting (Data Center Vote)
This vote will shape how data centers are regulated in DeKalb County, with major implications for land use and environmental impact. Resident’s input is critical to ensure community concerns are reflected in the decision. Commissioner Terry is advocating for:
- Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) Requirement: Mandating a SLUP for all data center applications to provide rigorous public oversight and site-specific impact review
- Scale Limitations: Striking the “data center campus” definition to effectively cap every development at 500,000 square feet to prevent unchecked industrial sprawl
- Clean Energy: Incentivizing all new data center operations to utilize 100% renewable energy to mitigate the massive power demand on the local grid and align with DeKalb’s sustainability goals.
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.