Athens for Everyone held their 3rd Annual Membership Meeting Monday night, February 27, at the Morton Theater in downtown Athens. Around 200 members elected the new board of fifteen directors and selected platform planks from dozens of proposals submitted by the membership over the past months. Awards were also given for Elected Official of the Year, A4E Member of the Year, and the Laura Conroy Community Spirit Award.
Check out our recap video here: https://athensforeveryone.com/2017-annual-meeting-video/
The 2017 Athens for Everyone Platform is as follows:
- Continue the Athens Sexual Assault Prevention (ASAP) Campaign
- Expand Athens Transit Bus Routes
- $15 Minimum Wage and Living Wages for ACC Workers
- Athens Civil Rights Committee and Non-Discrimination Legislation
- Guaranteed Affordable Child Care and Universal Pre-K
- Repeal the Single-Family Ordinance and Start an Affordable Housing Campaign
- Independent Redistricting Committee
- Fare-Free Bus Service Every Day
- Establish a Network of Complete Streets and Support the T-SPLOST Referendum
- Decriminalize Marijuana in Athens
- Fee on Single-Use Plastic Bags
The Athens Elected Official of the Year Award went to ACC District 3 Commissioner Melissa Link for her consistent work on behalf of transparency and progressive policy. The Athens for Everyone Member of the Year Award went to Operations Coordinator Chris Dowd, who performs myriad indispensable tasks. The Laura Conroy Community Spirit Award, in honor of the late A4E member and Canopy Studio Instructor, went to Immigrant Rights Activist and 2015-16 A4E Board Member Beto Mendoza, who shares Laura’s commitment to ending all deportations.
A4E Board Member Adam Lassila gave an overview of ACC’s ten Commission Districts and their Commissioners, looking forward at the May 2018 local elections. The crowd cheered loudly for Melissa Link and Kelly Girtz, while booing Sharyn Dickerson, Diane Bell, Andy Herod, and Mike Hamby. Lassila also pointed out Regina Quick’s State House seat as the best chance for progressives to gain a Republican seat in the November 2018 election. State Senator and Atlanta mayoral candidate Vincent Fort was unable to attend due to last-minute changes to the legislative calendar, but sent in a video of support praising A4E’s efforts and committing to fighting for an Atlanta that works for everyone, as well.
Thank you so much to Wade Sheldon and Maureen Sheeran for their photography expertise! You can see their work at Wade Sheldon Photography.
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