Board of Directors, term of 2018-2020

Eleanor Davis, Meera Naqvi, Nnenne Onyioha-Clayton, Eric Rose, Imani Scott-Blackwell and Jimena Vargas Pacora were elected to serve two-year terms on the board. They bring a wealth of activist experience to the organization on issues including health inequalities, immigrant rights, union organizing and racial and economic justice.

Awards

Five awards were presented during the meeting. Eleanor Davis (who also presented on A4E’s accomplishments in 2017) received Member of the Year; Tim Denson was honored with a Lifetime Member Award; Eric Rose received the Laura Conroy Community Spirit Award for his indispensable contributions to many local causes; Deborah Gonzalez received the Elected Official of the Year Award for championing progressive and transformative policies during the current state legislative session; and Broderick Flanigan received the first ever Anthony “Versatyle tha Wildchyld” Little All Love Solidarity Award for the impact of his art and activism on the Athens community.

Musical Performances!

District 2 commission candidate Mariah Parker performed as Linqua Franca, as did Clarke Central senior Kxng Blanco, who was disciplined for his role in a Black History Month performance at the school in February, an action that sparked a peaceful protest by students.

2018 Local Platform

The 2018 local platform consists of 10 planks, the first seven of which were carried over from 2017 (although some were expanded or revised). Planks 8 and 9 were submitted by A4E member Broderick Flanagan and A4E’s Policy and Elections Committee and adopted by a voice vote. Members voted on the 10th plank from four proposals submitted by A4E members.

• Invest in public transit
• End discrimination
• Support early learning
• Complete our streets
• Protect and build affordable housing
• Ban the bag
• Decriminalize marijuana
• Support an equity package to combat poverty (submitted by Broderick Flanigan)
• Oppose deportations
• Improve EMS response times (40 votes, submitted by Sam Rafal and Bob Gadd)

2018 State Platform

Due to a tie in the voting, our 2018 state platform consists of 11 planks. The first five of which were carried over from the 2017 platform and members voted on the remaining six.

• Fight for $15
• Establish an independent redistricting commission
• Expand Medicaid and work toward Medicare-for-All
• Reform state laws and legal code regarding rape and sexual assault
• Legalize marijuana
• End money bail and abolish mandatory minimum sentencing (70 votes)
  
• Repeal Campus Carry (60 votes)
• Allow driver’s licenses for undocumented Georgians (58 votes)
• Support a Massive Public Jobs Plan (52 votes)
• Commit to 100 percent renewable energy (34 votes)
• Sign on to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (34 votes, submitted by A4E member Caroline Aiken)

Thank you to Wade Sheldon for providing photography!

Also thanks to new Board member Meera Naqvi for taking photos!

Athens for Everyone
March 4, 2018

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.