The Centers of Hope project is really happening!  The city is working hard to open Atlanta's 15 recreation centers around the metro area by the end of 2010.  That's the first step in the Centers of Hope initiative.  Once the centers are renovated or staffed and re-opened, the city will begin partnering with others to establish a variety of youth programs.  This is fantastic and exciting news for our city.

Yesterday I attended a gathering of people who are very dedicated to helping the youth of metro Atlanta and wanted to hear about the status of the Centers of Hope initiative.  Atlanta's kids are the lifeblood of our city and their well being is vital to a healthy metropolitan region.  I was so impressed with the number of programs and the dedicated folks who are spending their time trying to make a difference in the lives of our city's youth.  We had Philip Bray from SafeHouse Outreach (www.safehouseoutreach.org), Chuck Johnson of Atlanta Youth Academies (www.atlantayouthacademy.com), Hilda Tatom with the Fulton County Juvenile Court's Incentive Program, Lt. Col. Rebecca Gray with the Georgia National Guard explaining their ability to offer training services for free, and many, many more.

One of the Mayor's promises during his campaign was to form partnerships to get things done within the political and business communities.  I saw evidence of this approach yesterday.  Paul Taylor, the Acting Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, spoke to the group and discussed plans to work with the community to bring new and innovative youth programs to the Centers.  He discussed how the funding streams will come in part from the city.  The expectation, however, is that on-going revenue streams will also come from the business community, such as the $1 donation per CNN Tour offered by Turner.  It is in the best interest of the business community for our youth to grow up as productive, educated and engaged citizens.

There is still a lot of work to do, but they were confident all centers will be open by the end of this year.  Charlene Brand, Recreation Director for the City of Atlanta, discussed the schedules for several facilities and also mentioned that 17 city pools will be open by June 1.  Centers of Hope Project Director, Dr. Jodi Merriday, kicked off the session talking about the significance of the project and the passion our Mayor holds for this initiative.  She said Atlanta's youth is a community responsibility.  She said "nobody dropped these kids from outer space.  They belong to the community."  Dr. Merriday envisioned the city parks & rec. facilities as "places and spaces that run like arteries" through the city.  She sees them as more than just places with pools and gyms.  They are centers for community building and community health.  They are places for old and young to be together.  They are places for fun and play.  They are places to learn and be productive.  They are Centers of Hope!

Atlanta has recently landed a new event that will stop traffic and allow people to enjoy being pedestrians and cyclists in our urban core.  A chance to relax and truly appreciate our city and our community.  Atlanta Streets Alive will close down major streets in Atlanta for street vendors, active classes, runners, arts & crafts, cycling, pedestrians, and some good ol' community.

This experience was first created in Bogota, Colombia.  It has occurred to varying degrees in other major metro areas.  The event will occur on May 23 from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m.  The route includes a major section of urban Atlanta.  To see the route, check out this link:

http://www.atlantastreetsalive.com/route/

This should be a groundbreaking event for Atlanta.  I hope to see everyone out enjoying the community and having fun outside of their car.

Yesterday morning at 7:00 a.m. I was speeding down the dark streets of downtown Atlanta on my bike and (legally) cruising through red lights because I was guiding a wheelchair racer (wheeler) in the ING marathon.  I was volunteering.  Our job was to point out the potholes and danger spots, to call out turns in the course, to show the wheelers a safe line on sharp turns, and to encourage them through the tough course.  And it is a very tough course!  I had an opportunity to speak with a retired racer during one of the practice rides.  He had lost the use of his legs because of a drunk driver accident when he was a very young man.  I was humbled by his positive attitude and outlook on life.  I was inspired by all of these amazing athletes and particularly motivated by the competitive spirit of the wheeler I rode with for most of the race.  I learned a great deal during the experience.  I developed a connection with a new community.  I remembered to remember all the positives in my life!  And all I did was spend a few hours of my time.  The reality is that I am honored and privileged to be allowed to do it. 

Check out video footage of the wheelers: http://vimeo.com/10324978

I was raised to believe that volunteering is everyone's responsibility to help build their community.  I am fortunate enough to have been raised in a loving family with a good education and given the gift of good health.  So, I was taught by my parents that I have a responsibility to give back ... to volunteer.  Anytime I hear the word "responsibility", I think of something I have to do - not necessarily something fun and inspiring.  My experience yesterday gave me reason to think about all of my volunteer activities.  They may not be as immediately exhilarating, but in the end volunteering gives me back so much more than the time invested.  Being a parent of three school aged children, the bulk of my volunteering these days has to do with school fundraisers, educational programs, and school work days.  When I see a teacher's enthusiasm over a program that was purchased as a result of fundraising efforts, or when I see the excitement of a student who gets a little extra art instruction in art club, or when I see the community working together to help improve our schools, I feel lucky to have been part of it.  Not burdened with a responsibility.

So whether you help at school or plant trees or serve in a soup kitchen or help at your church or anything else, I'll bet the growth that both you and your community experience as a result of your efforts far outweighs the investment!  I do agree it is our responsibility as concerned citizens to give back, but I think I will teach my kids that they are "privileged" instead.  They are privileged to live in a society where they have the opportunity to impact their community in positive ways and grow as an individual just by sharing a little of their time.

There has been only one constant to Atlanta since I moved here 17 years ago.... transportation and traffic issues. There is a never ending stream of projects to build out roads and highways, but no concentrated effort to truly tackle our metro wide transit issues. And now that we are in a desperate situation and losing ground to nearby markets, there REALLY is no money to get it done. I had a friend visit from Denver one time. He has lived and traveled all over the U.S. He observed that we have "the most beautiful highway system that he has ever seen". While I'm sure this is a source of pride for GDOT, it makes me wonder if our tax dollars might have been spent more effectively. What might we have saved and re-allocated to mass transit if we had only the 10th best highway system? OK, cynicism aside, there is one thing I think we can do without tremendous cost .... LEGISLATE TO SUPPORT BICYCLE COMMUTING. There are TWO things that each of us can do to show our support and make a difference:

1) Write to your U.S. congressman to support the proper legislation.

Recently, a group of very dedicated cycling advocates gathered at the US Capitol to work toward making the country more bike friendly. They spent a few days learning how to be stronger advocates and then went calling on their state congressmen and women. They are asking everyone to push their congressmen & women to support the following bills:

• H.R. 4722 - Active Community Transportation Act of 2010 Provide concentrated investment for communities to complete active transportation networks
• S. 584/H.R. 1443 - The Complete Streets Act of 2009 Complete Streets is a policy that ensures ALL potential road users - including bicyclists - are taken into account in the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of ALL highways.
• S. 1156 - The Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act & H.R. 4021 - The Safe Routes to High Schools Act Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a proven national program to create safe, convenient and fun ways for children to walk and bike to school.

For more information on the Summit and details on these bills (starting on page 15), click here:
http://www.bikeleague.org/conferences/summit10/bike_summit_program_2010_final.pdf

2) Participate in Ride to the Capitol Day.

Beginner or advanced riders welcome. Ride from Roswell or ride from Decatur. Next Tuesday, March 23, hundreds, if not thousands, of cyclists will congregate and ride to the state capital as a group to show support for bicycling legislation at the state level. The event is sponsored by Metro Atlanta Mayor's Association and others. For more info, click here:

http://www.georgiaridestothecapitol.org/

I'll close by sharing a story I heard on WABE this morning that I thought was "super cool"! Georgia Tech and Emory are partnering to make bicycle renting very accessible and extremely easy. Tech is creating a device to mount on a bike that can be managed via cell phone.  Using cell phone commands, a renter can request a new bike rental, unlock a bike, and lock the bike when done. A renter can pick up a bike anywhere it is parked, rent it for however long they want, and leave it wherever they are. All of this using cell phone text messages. Emory already has a bike rental program in place, so they will be the first to pilot this new program. Georgia Tech is next. Why not metro Atlanta neighborhoods after that? To hear a little more, listen to the story on WABE:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1622135/Atlanta/Georgia.Tech.to.Test.'Smart.Locks'.on.Emory.Bikes

The US Census Bureau needs help!  Why do it?

The US Census Bureau needs help in some neighborhoods and everyone should be encouraging friends and neighbors to complete their census form.  Why?  Because if we are not accurately represented we will not be accurately funded and our vote will not be accurately counted.  Federal dollars are directly linked to census numbers, and our federal government representation is directly linked to census numbers.

Now, in some neighborhoods, like Virginia Highlands / Morningside in Fulton County, they desperately need people who want to earn a little money.  Here's why you should consider working for the census:

1) Community Service - accurate census counts make sure we are represented properly in Congress and these numbers are used to distribute $400 billion/year in Federal funds.  It is a great way to meet neighbors and better know your community.  It is important.  Also, the census wants you to work near your home, but if they CAN'T hire local people they will bring in workers from other areas to count the zone.

2) Great extra money for Spring Break, Summer Break, or your grocery bill - $18.75/hour or more for a part-time temporary job. Hours are flexible, and you get paid for training.  Most jobs are for enumerators (counters), which require you to go door to door, mostly when people are home during evenings and weekends.  Most jobs last 4-8 weeks and start hiring in March.

3) It is easy to qualify if you are interested.  The test is 1/2 hour of basic skills, and there are a couple of forms to fill out.  It is not difficult, and there are test sites near you.

If you live in the Virginia Highlands area and want to reserve a test spot, want more information, or want test dates and times, please call the Atlanta North census office at 404 348 2160.

If you live in other neighborhoods and want to apply, please call the regional office on Marietta street: (404) 730-3832 

You can also find more information at the US Census web site for the Atlanta region:

http://www.census.gov/regions/atlanta/

Did you know that MARTA has to spend $60 million on an IT upgrade amidst all its other challenges?  Did you know the $300 million transportation bond proposed by the governor for the short term already has a list of defined projects dedicated to roads and freight with no real transit investment?  I learned these details and much more at the Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable breakfast, which occurs the first Friday of each month and is hosted by Southface at All Saints Episcopal Church.  I learned a great deal from the presenters, and I also learned a great deal from the networking before and after the event. 

The session was titled Georgia General Assumbly Update and was moderated by Will Wingate, the Land Conservation and Legislative Director of the Georgia Conservancy, and Jill Johnson, Program Director of the Georgia Conservation Voters.  The had a panel of Four:

• State Sen. Steve Henson (D-DeKalb)
• State Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry),
• State Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-Columbus)
• State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-DeKalb)

 

The conversation was focused around water issues and transit, and the good news is that the two republicans and two democrats were mostly on the same page!

Jill Johnson started off by describing how Georgia Conservation Voters is focusing on four areas for Water conservation this year: 

          1) New multi-family housing units installing meters for each unit.
          2) Reducing leaks in pipes. 16% of water is lost due to leaks in metro Atlanta.
          3) Scheduling daytime outdoor watering to minimize evaporation waste.
          4) Higher water efficiency standards for new development.

The others on the panel mostly agreed with Ms. Johnson, but they also stressed the dire need for the three state compact.  Conservation only works if you have water!

Representative Mike Jacobs first recapped the reasons for the transportation planning stalemate in the last legislative session - basically the house & senate disagreed on a regional approach versus a statewide approach.  He went on to describe parts of the governor's transportation plan and how it has a regional focus.  He indicated that the funding request will not be presented to voters until 2012, which means no funding generated until 2014. 

In addition to discussing the transportation planning challenges, Jacobs also explained that MARTA is in a world of hurt.  They are using the same train scheduling software that is used for the Metro in Washington D.C. ; the same software that failed and has led to fatalities in D.C.  The federal government has mandated the MARTA change this software at a cost of $60 million, according to Rep. Jacobs. 

There was a great deal more shared during the meeting.  The audio will be podcast on-line.  If you care about these issues, it's worth getting up at 7:00 a.m. until we get these events posted on-line.

Georgia's budgetary woes are in the news.  One solution to balancing the budget is to improve our education system because an educated population makes everything else easier!  Sadly not everyone agrees with this approach, so the vulnerability of Georgia's overburdened and underpaid teachers is on my mind.  I'm using this post to salute these individuals who have chosen to accept the responsibility of educating our next generation of citizens to be productive and contributing members of society.  They have entered into a challenging profession that requires tremendous dedication and patience all the while knowing their compensation will only be a fraction of the value they provide to our community! At a minimum, these heroes deserve continued support from the community and the government. 

The projected budgetary shortfall for Georgia for fiscal year 2011 is frightening.  Education makes up over half of the state's budget, so it becomes a big target for many.  They ask "why not make a few cuts in the billions allocated for education?"  Because those fractional cuts result in decreasing the already embarrassingly low teacher salaries; or it means reducing positions altogether and increasing the class size and burden of existing teachers; or it means further reducing the already bare bones administration for the schools.  Ultimately, more cuts to our education system result in a decrease in quality. 

Quality education and high school graduation rates have direct ties to a prosperous community.  An educated population is also a healthier community, and healthcare is the second largest line item in the Georgia budget.  The majority of repeat criminal offenders are those without a high school diploma, and managing criminal behavior from public safety to the courts to the prisons is our third largest budget item in Georgia.  High school graduation ties directly into employability and therefore reduces welfare costs and generates more tax revenue.  An educated population improves the attractiveness of our region to new businesses interested in re-locating to metro Atlanta, which leads to additional revenues.  Providing quality education drives a thriving economy and healthy community, which will ultimately reduce costs and increase revenues.  In other words, an educated Georgia is the ticket to a balanced budget.

The options for balancing the budget are: 1) generate more revenue (new taxes, plugging loopholes, enforcing taxes not currently collected), 2) cut expenses (eliminate programs and cut back on existing budget items), or 3) some combination of the two.

The prospect of cutting back on an education system that is ranked 45^th out of 50 when comparing SAT scores across the country simply is not an option if we ever want to be a prosperous and healthy state!  I am never an advocate of raising taxes, but if the alternative is cutting teachers then I'll gladly pay.  And as further food for thought, consider that the rate of taxation for our state has not remained steady over the years.  It has actually decreased per a study just released by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute that compares state total revenues as a percent of personal income.  This same study presents details about the current budget crisis, the governor's suggestions to balance the budget, and some suggested revenue opportunities.  Check it out:

http://www.gbpi.org/documents/20100125.pdf

To hear the opinions of State Senator Nan Orrock, click here:
http://www.lensonatlanta.org/video/gallery/Senator-Nan-Orrock-on-Public-Education-challenges

I know a neighborhood in Atlanta that is trying to become an urban success story.  This part of Atlanta has been struggling for years and was one of the hardest hit areas during the recession, but with the help of The Center for Working Families they are trying to turn things around.  The Center for Working Families, Inc. (TCWFI) serves Neighborhood Planning Unit V (NPU-V) in metro Atlanta, which includes neighborhoods situated next to Turner Field.  The neighborhoods include Pittsburgh, Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, Adair Park, and Summerhill.  NPU-V represents some of Atlanta's oldest neighborhoods.  The population of 15,000 houses includes many of Atlanta's most vulnerable residents with a poverty rate of 60%.

 "The mission of The Center for Working Families, Inc. is to help hard-working families and their children build economic success. This mission is accomplished by assisting our participants with obtaining jobs, building assets and starting businesses."

The Center for Working Families is not giving handouts, they are providing real services that help people find work and begin contributing to society, supporting their families, paying taxes, and planning for their future. Their "Moving to Work" participants receive a wide array of services, including individualized assessments, coaching, and job readiness training.  The truly unique aspect of the service is that the relationship with the coach continues well into employment to ensure the participants continue to be successful and transition to steady employment where they are looking toward the future.  In addition to helping people find employers, TCWFI also helps individuals learn how to start their own businesses within the community.  Successful in-town neighborhoods often include commercial activity. The most important benefit is the money local businesses circulate in the community. Neighborhoods lacking local businesses often lack local jobs, so helping citizens create small local businesses helps the community in multiple ways.

This is one organization in Atlanta that is posting successes.  They have numerous stories of individuals and families becoming self sufficient with their help.  There is a lot more work to do, but with the help of The Center for Working Families, NPU-V is headed in the right direction.

One of the reasons I have come to love Atlanta is that as a metro area we see no obstacles too big.  Why can’t we host the Olympics?  Why can’t we tackle the nation’s largest remediation of a brownfiled and turn it into a vital and shining example of green, urban living (Atlantic Station)?  And why can’t we take old railways and build a “one of a kind” rail and trail system around metro Atlanta’s core to forever change the aesthetics of this city?  Yes, the BeltLine has been one of my favorite projects since I first learned about it in 2003.  It may not be a charity, but this project will have an immense transformational impact on Atlanta!  I have always firmly believed that we need to continue to focus resources on the long term – even in times when we can hardly care for ourselves in the short term.  If we don’t continue to vision and plan, it won’t get any better.

Last night I attended the BeltLine Quarterly Briefing to hear their new CEO, Brian Leary, speak.  I expected a somewhat depressing report because that’s all I hear in the news these days.  The recession may be over, but it seems we’ll be hovering at this low point for some time.  Instead, I heard about fantastic progress; real parks and trail segments; nearing completion on environmental studies that open the door for federal funding; decisions on rail; public art installations; decisions on formalizing the path of the trail and rails.  This team is making the most of the downturn in the economy to move everything forward so we’re ready to go when the economy improves.  An audience member asked Mr. Leary about the threats posed by the economy.  His response was that there is no threat to the BeltLine.  It is happening.  The timeline may be impacted in the short term, but any 25 year project must anticipate bumps in the economy.  All very true!

Here are a few of the positive nuggets I noted:

·         D.L. Stanton Park is in design phase and will open in less than a year.  It’s 7 acres with a solar photovoltaic array that will render the park energy neutral!

·         Historic Fourth Ward Park is under construction – behind Old City Hall East –opening in 2010.

·         West End trail is partially open (.9 miles) with more under construction now (1.5 miles).

·         A Public Art installation was recently revealed on West End trail.  Mr. Leary referred to public art as “the stained glass window in the church”, which I interpret as meaning that public art is critical to him.

·         After a period of study, the modern street car has been selected over light rail.

I love these types of multi-variable, excruciatingly complex projects with a never ending series of human irrationality thrown in!  Cheers to those who choose to tackle them because it will make an enormous difference for Atlanta!  Welcome, Mr. Leary!

I thought I knew Atlanta until about 10 months ago when I became the Director of Lens on Atlanta.  I’ve lived here since 1993 in five different houses and jobs in four different locations.  But I realized this year just how little I knew.  In a time of mostly depressing news and tough times, I have been lucky enough to be inspired on a daily basis.  A large part of my job has been to meet with different Atlantans: citizens, civic institutions, elected officials, government agencies, businesses, non-profits, and a variety of community groups.  In short, I get to meet with people who dedicate a significant amount of their time to making the Atlanta Region a better place!  So I plan to dedicate my blog to sharing these inspirational individuals and organizations who dedicate their lives to the Atlanta community.

For this post I am honored to share the efforts of Vince Smith and The Gateway Center, a 24/7 Homeless Services Center.  It is located on Pryor Street near the capital and provides 325 beds.  It is the largest homeless services shelter in Georgia.  They focus on services such as food, beds, and clothing, but they also have a strong emphasis on programs to help get individuals out of homelessness.  They have a 90 day program where they boast a 60% total success rate and another 20% who continue working on it.  They accept walk-ins with open arms and have no criteria for acceptance.  They also have a strong outreach program with many productive partnerships.  They partner with APD’s Hope Team, with Central Atlanta Progress on the “real change” program, and with PATH focusing on homeless individual with mental health issues.

Gateway provides basic services, but their focus is on breaking the cycle.    I asked Vince what impact the recession has had on homelessness.  He was happy to report that despite the rising jobless rate, the rate of homelessness for the region has not grown.  As I’ve heard in the business community, “flat is the new up” in this economy!  The work of the Gateway Center and Vince Smith is challenging and difficult; it can be frustrating; it exposes a part of our community many want to ignore; but it is work that must be done to make our region and our nation a better place.  I asked Vince if his hours were during regular business hours.  He said it was sort of like that.  He works 12 hours a day most week days and is in and out a good bit every weekend.  I asked him “why do you do it?”  He replied with a story of a gentleman who had recently thanked him.  The gentleman said his life was back together with his family and a job and it was all thanks to Vince and the Center.  That was enough to keep Mr. Vince Smith dedicating himself to making Atlanta a better place.  Thank you!

There is plenty of debate about how best to have cyclists and motorists live in harmony.  Bike lanes, sidewalks, bike paths, vehicle laws, special cycling laws, pedestrian laws, and more all aiming for traffic harmony.  There are a growing number of cyclists who do not want any special privileges.  They want cyclists to be treated EXACTLY like motorized vehicles.  No special laws or lanes, but able to travel in the middle of the road and lane just like any other vehicle.  Too bad if we are slower. 

 

Is it too much to suggest that common sense should prevail?  Maybe.  But bikes are not exactly the same as cars.  They glo slower.  They don't take up as much space.  They do not require gas. And they do not protect their riders as much as cars. 

 

So what if most laws that make sense apply, but a few variations are in order?  Such as cyclists should always stay to the right so cars can pass unless there is a danger to the cyclist to do so.  What if cyclists can slow to ~5 mph at a stop sign such that they can look both ways before crossing, but not have to get out of their toe clips?  What if bike paths or lanes are established near major roads such that cyclists can get where they need to go, but not hamper every new project with the added expense... as long as there is a reasonable alternative. 

 

Am I a cynic for thinking common sense may not be achievable?

What does it mean to be a cycling advocate?  My thoughts are that you are interested in making your region a safer and more enjoyable place to ride.  Atlanta is very challenging with its car centric tendency, but I know there are thousands of us who want to make it better.  I recently found out about a non-profit trying to organize efforts.  Seems like a good place to start.  Check it out:

 Atlanta Bicycle Coalition

http://www.atlantabike.org/

ABC's mission is to make it safer and easier for people to ride bicycles. We believe this will help create a healthier, more sustainable Atlanta and allow people to enjoy a higher quality of life while improving public health, cleaning the air, reducing congestion, and building community.