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Greetings! I hope you have been enjoying this beautiful fall weather!
In this Issue:
- Oct 24 Legislator Line Up at Decatur Presbyterian Church
- Oct 28 Environmental Justice Take Action Forum and Listening Session
- Oct 13 Virtual Gun Violence Prevention Advocacy
- Oct 14 Green New Deal Summit
- Oct 21 Open Streets Emory Village
I will cover Voting Information for the November 7 Election in my next newsletter, before early voting begins October 16th, as well as Literacy, Education and In the Community updates. I have a lot to catch you up on!
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You are invited to attend a Legislator Line Up on Tuesday, October 24. This event will be different from a town hall since there are 8 legislators from DeKalb County participating. We are excited to have noted local journalist Thomas Wheatley from Axios serving as moderator to guide the discussion.
Come to hear me, Senators Parent and Jackson and Representatives Barnes, Crawford, Draper, Drenner, and Oliver on from 6:30-8PM at Decatur Presbyterian Church discuss key issues facing our state. We will be addressing topics of Democracy, Healthcare, Public Safety, and Education.
Send us your questions at bit.ly/Askyourlegislators
Register for livestream access: bit.ly/Leglineup1024
Join us in person or by Zoom. We look forward to seeing you!
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Environmental Justice Take Action Forum and Listening Session
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You are invited to join me, New Life Community Alliance, and Science for Georgia in an “Environmental Justice Take Action Forum and Listening Session” on Saturday, October 28, 2023.
How can the transition to a Clean Energy Economy benefit South DeKalb communities? What are the top environmental health concerns in our community, and what needs to be addressed over the next decade to create a healthier, thriving community? What resources can help over the next 10 years? What community and consumer resources are available for help now? Do you need assistance on paying your power bills? How can we use renewable energy?
Learn about the Climate and Economic Justice Screening tool, Federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, the Justice40 Initiative, Renewable Energy options, Income Qualified Energy Assistance and Efficiency programs, Radon detection and more! Share your environmental health concerns and participate in prioritizing top community concerns. Both Georgia Power and Snapping Shoals EMC will be present for Energy assistance and efficiency enrollment.
Registration is encouraged so we can have enough food (!) - Please Register HERE
Virtual option is also available in the registration.
We hope to see you on October 28th!
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Advocacy for Gun Violence Prevention
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On September 22nd, based on requests from advocates, I initiated a virtual Gun Violence Prevention Advocacy organizational meeting. Athens-Clarke Mayor Kelly Girtz was our lead speaker, Rep Au updated us on her legislative toolkit for the Pediatric Health Safe Storage Act, Claudia Fruin from Gun Owners for Safety spoke, and we had excellent attendance from physicians, mothers, faith based groups, and legislators as well.
Reducing gun violence is a priority for people across Georgia, and the advocates are organizing a Gun Violence Prevention coalition to work across the state. The coalition of advocates are now taking the lead, and they have scheduled a meeting for October 13th at 8:30am. Register for the zoom call using this link.
If you would like to invite others, like your church or PTA or neighborhood play group to join the coalition, here is sample language provided by advocate Heather Hallett:
[I am reaching out to you because of your leadership in advocating for sensible gun laws in Georgia. Thank you so much for your work in gun violence prevention; your work is crucial in the fight to make Georgia a safer place for all of us, especially our children!
We are organizing a coalition of gun safety advocates to work together during the upcoming 2024 legislative session and would very much appreciate your participation and leadership. The goal is to build a large, diverse group of gun violence prevention advocates from across Georgia. We hope that we can work together to help promote Rep. Au's Pediatric Safe Storage Bill (HB 161) specifically and sensible gun policies generally.
While the short-term goal is to get a hearing and a vote on HB 161, the long-term goal is to strengthen ties between the various groups working on gun violence prevention, forming a formidable alliance of people from Georgia's diverse regions, occupations, faiths, advocacy groups, races, ethnicities and political backgrounds. Through working together this upcoming fall and winter, we can build momentum and create a groundswell to show the legislature that the gun-sense majority is united and serious about demanding change here in Georgia. We need you to make this movement as powerful as it can be!
Please join us via zoom on Friday, October 13th at 8:30 am to discuss how we can work together this year. Register for the zoom call using this link.
Thank you so much for all that you do and for joining me in this important next step for a safer and more sane Georgia]
Firearm Injury Prevention Symposium
The Georgia American Academy of Pediatrics held their first Firearm Injury Prevention Symposium on Saturday, August 26. HERE is the link - please watch if you can - the doctors are clear in defining our terrible problem and need for action. There is a history of gun regulation and legislation, a panel discussion with gun owners, as well as how gun trauma affects kids.
I just found out about the House Committee on Urban Affairs is holding a hearing on violence reduction initiatives. Learn more HERE.
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DeKalb Green New Deal Summit on October 14
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11th Annual Open Streets Emory Village Coming October 21
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Open Streets Emory Village returns this year with a smaller footprint on Saturday, October 21. Only South Oxford Road (the stretch by Domino’s) will be closed, making for a more intimate experience. Events will run from 1 to 8 p.m.
There will still be plenty of family fun, primarily from 1 to 5 p.m., including the parade and costume contests, Glenn Church Trunk and Treat, the Bubble Man, a caricaturist, face painter and balloon artist, the Artists’ Market, and the Blessing of the Animals. The South Fork Conservancy Duck Race will be back, only held at Burbanck Park.
Three tours will be offered: a bike tour of Druid Hills, a tour of the Peavine Creek watershed, and Walk with an Architect for a short tour of Frederick Olmsted’s Druid Hills.
There will be five bands throughout the day: the Gathering from Glenn Church, Collective Undecided, the Hand Me Downs, Gus’ Spaghetti Junction, and John Willingham. The bar will be open serving adult beverages.
Two Boys BBQ and Kona Ice will be there, along will merchants from Emory Village.
Parking is available at Emory’s Oxford Road Barnes & Noble deck or Fishburne Deck.
Major sponsors for the event are The Coca-Cola Company, Hammersmith, The Stoddard Law Firm, Engel & Volker, Savi Provisions, Glenn Memorial UMC Church, Druid Hills Civic Association, Olmsted Linear Park Association, and South Fork Conservancy.
Open Streets Emory Village is a pedestrian-friendly event presented in collaboration with DeKalb County by the all-volunteer Emory Village Alliance—a partnership of businesses, neighbors, and Emory University, whose mission is to continue to improve the vitality and accessibility of Emory Village as a work, play, and dine destination.
I hope to see you in Emory Village on October 21st!
Visit emoryvillage.org for more information.
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That's all for now. I'll write again next week about Voting and Elections, Literacy and Education, In the Community, and more. It is my honor and privilege to serve as our State Rep. Please let me know if I can be of service.
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Representative Becky Evans
Georgia's 89th House District, DeKalb County
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