Decatur Focus September 2020

Focus City of Decatur

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SEPTEMBER 2020 Volume 31 • Number 2

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, GEORGIA

New Artwork Around Downtown Local artists have worked to capture the essence of this unusual moment in history, defined by pandemic, protest, resilience, and strength. Some of their recent work is on display around Downtown Decatur, as part of the Decatur Arts Alliance’s #lookupdecatur project and the traffic-signal box project, both spearheaded by Decatur artist Larry Holland.

Focus City of Decatur

A Message from Mayor Garrett Friends and Neighbors,

T

he City of Decatur’s stay-at-home emergency order was signed on March 24 and became effective on March 25. I don’t think any of us predicted at that time where we would be four months later.

We talked for weeks and weeks about flattening the curve but that has not happened.

John Haupert, CEO of Grady Health Systems, recently stated that what we are experiencing now is anything but a flattening of the curve – the numbers are frightening and COVID-19 continues to spread at an alarming rate. It is important to acknowledge that we are continuing to experience an unprecedented public health emergency. But I want to reassure you that Decatur is continuing to provide important, high-quality services to our community.

Trash collection, recycling and yard waste pickups continue as scheduled, and our Decatur Fire and Police departments continue to serve the needs of the community, responding to calls and emergencies, checking on vulnerable residents and providing information to the public.

Communication continues to play an important role in Decatur. Updates on social media, regular issues of the Focus newsletter, and website updates keep us informed on what is happening in our city.

Street re-paving projects, sidewalk repairs and traffic-calming installations are taking place to provide safer streets for all.

Active Living has re-opened tennis courts and swimming pools, using careful procedures and monitoring of these areas to ensure that the facilities can be used in a safe manner. Active Living continues to provide ideas on how to maintain health and well-being during the pandemic, challenging us to walk more, eat healthfully, and take time for ourselves during these stressful times.

Although city buildings are closed to the public, work continues in the Finance department, Human Resources, Children and Youth Services, Planning and Zoning and in Community and Economic Development. The Design, Environment and Construction department continues to accept and review plans and provide building inspections. And of course, the city’s senior staff leadership team has worked tirelessly to support the staff, communicate and work with the City Commission on its priorities, and make decisions using science and public health-based recommendations.

Regular check-ins with retail and restaurant owners, a safely distanced and masked Storefront Saturday sale, and an interactive map of businesses are some of the strategies used to help our small businesses. Also, the City Commission allocated $400,000 to a small-business relief fund. Those dollars – plus $100,000 from the Decatur Development Authority and almost $60,000 in matching funds from the community through the Decatur United Legacy Project challenge – have been distributed to 27 small businesses in Decatur.

In addition, the city recently announced that the Emory Nursing Learning Center is locating to the 250 Ponce building and will occupy four floors. The center will be the largest simulation center in Metro Atlanta.

The city – in partnership with the Decatur Arts Alliance and MARTA Artbound – is supporting Black artists with public art installations at all three MARTA stations in the city. In addition, we have worked with community members on a Black Lives Matter art installation on N. McDonough Street.

The City Commission continues to meet virtually for our regularly scheduled meetings – and continued on page 4

Information for the FOCUS should be submitted by mail to Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, or by email to decaturfocus@decaturga.com.

2 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

The Decatur Focus is a joint publication of the City of Decatur, the Decatur Downtown Development Authority and the Decatur Business Association. It is a newsletter intended to provide announcements and information related to events, activities, and businesses in the city of Decatur. The purpose of the newsletter is to promote the city and encourage the exchange of information among residents, business owners and the school system. Letters to the editor, editorials or other opinion pieces are not published. All press releases, announcements and other information received for publication are subject to editing. Information found in the Focus is also posted on Decatur’s official website at decaturga.com. The deadline for submitting articles, announcements or advertising is the first day of the month preceding publication. Contact: Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, 404-371-8386; fax 404-371-1593; email: decaturfocus@decaturga.com.

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DECATUR CITY COMMISSION Patti Garrett........................................ Mayor Tony Powers................... Mayor Pro Tem George Dusenbury........Commissioner Lesa Mayer.........................Commissioner Kelly Walsh.........................Commissioner

BOARD Chris Sciarrone, Chair Darren Comer • Linda Curry Tony Leung • Conor McNally Noah Peeters • Lisa Turner

Decatur Business Association

DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Susan Sparks................................President Daryl Funn........................President-Elect Jill Joplin.......................................Treasurer Emily Holden...............................Secretary Kyle Williams...................... Past President Design and layout: Lampe-Farley.com

CITY News Commission Meeting Update The regular City Commission meetings in September will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and Monday, Sept. 28. Meetings are currently conducted online via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meetings are also streamed live on the website at decaturga.com/streamingvideo. Visit decaturga.com/citycommission for meeting details and to register for alerts.

Solid Waste and Recycling Services Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7 Monday services will be on Tuesday, Sept. 8 Tuesday services will be on Wednesday, Sept. 9

Fire Prevention Week Oct. 4-10 This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen,” works to educate everyone about important actions they can take to keep themselves, and those around them, safe in the kitchen.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NPF), cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half (44 percent) of reported home fires start in the kitchen. Two-thirds (66 percent) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.

While cooking continues to be a major contributor to the home fire problem, the vast majority of these fires are highly preventable. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign works to better educate the public about where potential cooking hazards exist and basic but critical ways to prevent them.

Decatur Fire/Rescue offers these safety tips to keep you from having a cooking fire.

Decatur Walk & Roll Superstars Sarah and Steve Yurman are this month’s Walk and Roll Stars. They have been Decatur residents for more than 40 years and are avid bicyclists. You may have seen them on any of their eight bicycles, including a “Transportable Tandem.” They ride for groceries and other errands whenever they can, frequently using Sarah’s cargo bike.

During their working years they ran businesses in or close enough to the Decatur area so riding to work made sense. When they are not riding in Decatur, they ride all over the world, or even across the country. Last year they rode all the way to California!

• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.

• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.

• You have to be alert when cooking. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.

• Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking.

If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner, and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.

• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen,” along with resources to help prevent cooking fires, visit fpw.org.

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 3

CITY News A Message from the Mayor continued from page 2

we have been busy! We supported the city attorney and DeKalb County in accomplishing the removal of the Confederate monument adjacent to the city square. We passed a budget the staff brought forward that maintains core city services within fiscal constraints, reflects the impact of the pandemic and prioritizes health and safety. We allocated $50,000 for anti-racist training for the city.

In addition to an impressive list of speakers that will participate in our efforts, the Better Together Advisory Board is seeking input to better determine what is needed to improve racial equity in the city. We recently passed the city’s first Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.

What hasn’t changed are the important health and safety measures we can all take. I recently read an article that called these the 3 W’s: 1. WASH your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds – use whatever song you need to get you there.

2. WATCH your distance – 6 feet, please.

3. WEAR a mask.

We need to do all three. I hope you have seen the signs that masks are required in Decatur indoors in businesses and outdoors if you cannot social distance.

I want to thank the city staff for their continued hard work and ability to be flexible and nimble in providing services we all depend on.

On behalf of the City Commission, I thank each of you for doing your part. We can do even better because we are a resilient and caring community. Please follow the 3 W’s, make sure you complete the census and are counted, and know that we are here for you.

And finally, I want to recognize the contributions of Reverend C.T. Vivian and Congressman John Lewis, who represented those of us in District 5 in Decatur a number of years and served as the conscience of our nation. We mourn the loss of those whose very lives were in service and recognition that although change has come, it is not nearly enough. We must do better.

– Mayor Patti Garrett 4 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

Volunteer Service Opening: Zoning Board of Appeals The Decatur City Commission is accepting statements of interest from residents for volunteer service on the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The ZBA, established by local ordinance, conducts public hearings on requests for variances from zoning requirements and considers appeals from decisions of the zoning administrator and of the UDO administrator.

Additional information on board responsibilities and access to the Statement of Interest form can be found at decaturga.com/resident-boards-commissions. You can return the form via email to City Manager Andrea Arnold, andrea.arnold@decaturga.com or mail it to her attention at City of Decatur, PO Box 220, Decatur GA 30031.

Anti-Racism Speaker Series The Better Together Advisory Board and the City of Decatur announce an Anti-Racism Speaker Series designed to generate awareness of equity concerns in the city and to hold the city and community accountable for meeting established goals and implementing policies to achieve the aspiration of being an inclusive, equitable and just city.

While the Better Together Advisory Board and the City of Decatur are committed to interrogating and addressing the myriad injustices and inequities that creep into our practices and norms, we know that cannot be done without ongoing conversations with community members and experts focused on studying and resolving how racism influences governmental policies. With that in mind, the Anti-Racism Speaker Series will engage nationally renowned scholars, educators, and activists as they help us formulate a better approach for meeting the established goal of being an inclusive, equitable, and just city.

The speaker series seeks to mine the knowledge and wisdom of numerous thought leaders to challenge and inspire our community to take actionable steps to instill anti-racism throughout our norms and practices. Each series will consist of a set of presentations over five months and conclude with a citywide event dedicated to exploring community-informed policy changes.

Goals: • Demonstrate a sustained commitment to incorporate anti-racism into City of Decatur planning and governance.

• Leverage national and regional expertise to aid community members, organizations, and city officials in formulating strategies for combatting racism in policies, practices, and norms.

• Create an easily accessible repository of anti-racism lectures and other educational materials.

• Create a model for using national and regional experts to guide local decision-making for responding to other complex governance issues.

Speaker: Dr. Catherine Meeks Thursday, Sept. 17 • 6-7:30 p.m.

Catherine Meeks, Ph.D., is executive director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. A sought-after teacher and workshop leader, Catherine brings four decades of experience to her work with people who have been marginalized because of economic status, race, gender or physical ability as they pursue liberation, justice and access to resources that can help lead them to health, wellness and a more abundant life.

Dr. Meeks characterizes herself as a “midwife to the soul” of her students and workshop participants. She is frequently asked to present commentaries on Georgia Public Radio and other radio and television programs. She is the author of six books and one inspirational CD and is the editor of the bestselling Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America and co-author of Passionate for Justice: Ida B. Wells as Prophet for our Times.

Register at decaturga.com/speakerseries.

CITY News Labor Day and Economic Justice

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n the 1880s, numerous states created official public holidays honoring working-class people’s tremendous efforts to forge our nation into a more economically just union. Labor Day honors those who banded together to fight for child labor protection, minimum wage, the 40-hour workweek, the notion of a “weekend,” and many other measures that allow many people to appropriately balance their work obligations with a pursuit of other meaningful endeavors.

The labor movements’ previous efforts serve as the foundation for current struggles to ensure that those we identify as “essential workers,” laborers providing critical services to stave off a total collapse of the U.S. economy and health care system, can afford the essential products needed to keep their families healthy and fed.

COVID-19 has profoundly transformed all of our lives. Many are working from home.

Others are unable to work, since physical distancing makes a lot of the work in the service sector an impossibility. However, the history of the labor movement’s success in addressing previous challenges to working-class people’s livelihood and dignity can provide a guiding light for negotiating this difficult economic moment. Labor Day honors the wisdom of groups of workers who choose to individually sacrifice for their communities’ collective betterment.

As Labor Day approaches, the Better Together Advisory Board (BTAB) hopes that you will take some time to demonstrate your support for the essential workers who sacrifice daily for families they are not a part of and communities they do not live in. While they are not the first to sacrifice in this manner, nor will they be the last, their efforts are definitely essential as we struggle to maintain connections and a functioning city during a pandemic.

The lack of affordable housing is a rising crisis across the country, and unfortunately, many of those we identify as essential workers are struggling to pay rent because of increased child care demands during the pandemic.

BTAB invites you to join them this Labor Day in learning about the significance of the United States’ labor movement. In partnership with the Little Shop of Stories, BTAB offers these suggested readings as a potential starting point for discussion about economic justice. You can find these books and many others at Little Shop of Stories, 133 E. Court Square, or online at littleshopofstories.com/ shop-online.

Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type

by Doreen Cronin Barnyard animals unite to improve their conditions in this picture book. Farmer Brown is dumbfounded when his cows find a typewriter and begin airing their grievances

and making demands (i.e., the barn is cold at night. We’d like some electric blankets).

When their demands are not met, they go on strike, much to the dismay of poor Farmer Brown.

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse

by Marcy Campbell A story of finding empathy and recognizing that, just because someone else doesn’t have as much as you, doesn’t mean they don’t have special things or big imaginations. Picture book (ages 3-7).

100 Dresses

by Eleanor Estes A classic since it was first published in the 1940s, this slim novel is about Wanda Petronski, a Polish girl in a Connecticut school who is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing the same faded blue dress every day. Wanda claims she has one hundred dresses at home, but everyone knows she doesn’t and bullies her mercilessly. This book is a source of great empathy, and is a terrific source for family discussion. Chapter book (ages 8-10).

Esperanza Rising

by Pam Munoz Ryan A new classic, Esperanza Rising is a beautiful tale by a fantastic writer. Esperanza Ortega lives in a beautiful home filled with servants and the promise of one day presiding over all of Rancho de las Rosas. But tragedy shatters that dream, forcing Esperanza and Mama to flee from Mexico to California and settle in a farm labor camp. Midgrade book (ages 9-12). continued on page 6

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 5

CITY News Monday’s Not Coming

by Tiffany D. Jackson Framed as a mystery, this tale of a missing girl that no one seems to care about but her best friend is gut wrenching. As noted by the Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books, “Jackson effortlessly weaves elements of suspense with issues of race, class, and gender, casting a harsh light on a world that often refuses to notice the disappearances of black and brown girls. The twist at the end is both gasp worthy and heartbreaking.” Young adult (ages 13-up).

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

by Matthew Desmond Desmond illuminates the connection between the stress of finding consistent hous-

ing, the long-term effects of discriminatory housing laws and lending practices, and the ways in which both of these trap families in cycles of poverty. Award winning and quite

Stormwater Diverted: Master Plan Wrapping Up Online Sept. 16 virtual meeting to anchor month-long review process Earlier this year, Decatur’s stormwater planning process was nearing its end.

With 18 months of community discussion and input completed, we were just shy of debuting the final recommendations and policy proposals that would constitute the Stormwater Master Plan.

All of that was delayed with the emergence of COVID-19. But we have navigated new ways of getting things done online and now we’ll be doing the same to complete the stormwater process in the coming weeks.

The month of September will be our public review period. Whether you’ve been engaged since the beginning or are just now plugging in, everyone will have an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed draft, including a virtual public meeting planned for Sept. 16 at 6 p.m.

Many of you helped shape the draft and your comments on the closing proposals are an important step in the process. Over nearly two years we’ve heard from hundreds of community members about their stormwater concerns.

We’ve held six community meetings and talked to many of you on the phone, by email, and in-person. Together, we’ve identified 101 areas of concern and brainstormed about how to make things better.

We now have 64 proposed stormwater projects to decrease flooding, protect water quality, provide flexibility in implementation, and increase the capacity and stability of stormwater management in the city.

Everything you need can be found at decaturnext.com/stormwater. Review and comment on the draft plan or register to attend the virtual public meeting on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. where you’ll have additional opportunities to clarify information and chime in.

If you’d like to talk about the plan but cannot participate in the meeting due to a schedule conflict or a technological challenge, let us know by visiting decaturnext.com/stormwater. We’ll find a way to make sure your input is linked into the process.

6 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

relevant to the pursuit of economic justice for those living in poverty and the working poor, especially during the COVID-19 epidemic.

A thorough, community-driven approach to

Stormwater

c SEPT. 2018

Kick-Off

OCT. 2018

Walking Tour

Touring real-world issues throughout Oakhurst.

MAY 2019

Open House

Approaches and parameters.

Meeting and mapping of community concerns.

JAN. 2019

Community Meeting

Regulations and possibilities.

JULY 2019

Community Meeting OCT. 2019

Open House

Model results, project prioritization.

Initial review of proposals.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC DELAY SEPT. 16, 2020

Online Community Review

Review the draft plan virtually and provide your final comments.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE AT WWW.DECATURNEXT.COM/STORMWATER

LATER THIS YEAR

Project Completion

Consideration and adoption by the City Commission.

CITY News

MLK Service Project Canceled for 2021

T

he Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project, originally scheduled for Jan. 16-18, 2021, has been canceled due to lingering and ongoing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first priority is the health and safety of Decatur’s older residents and the volunteers who go into the homes. Because of the hands-on nature of the annual event, including the extensive planning and preparation, the COVID-19 health emergency does not allow us to hold the Service Project safely in 2021.

The Service Project began in 2003 when 100 volunteers helped do home repairs and yard work for Decatur’s older residents during one day of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The event grew to approximately 1,000 volunteers participating during what became a three-day Service Project event.

The Service Project has been held annually

since 2003 in spite of rain, snow, ice, wind, and the Falcons making the play-offs.

Looking Forward . . .

The goal is to hold the Service Project in 2022 if it is safe to do so. Current and new volunteers will be critical in helping the committee prepare for the future. If you are interested in helping in a leadership role or behind the scenes, there are a number of volunteer positions and opportunities available, including grant writing, fund-raising, assessing needed repairs, recruiting House Captains, and more, as the committee prepares for the next chapter.

Restaurants for Repairs, the signature fund-raising event for the MLK project, was also canceled this year. We are grateful to

the restaurants that have participated and donated a portion of their proceeds from meals to the project.

Participating restaurants have also had many hardships due to COVID-19. Look at the list of restaurants from 2019 on the Service Project website and consider dining in or getting a togo order from one or more of them and help the restaurants that have done so much to help the MLK Service Project.

You can donate to the MLK Service Project online at mlkserviceproject.com or send a check payable to the MLK Service Project, 321 W. Hill St., Suite 1-A, Decatur, GA 30030.

For more information about how you can help, email sponsor@mlkserviceproject.com or contact Lee Ann Harvey, leeann.harvey@ decaturga.com, 770-652-8593.

Paul Mitchell Steps Down as MLK Service Project Chair after 10 Years Paul Mitchell, who has been the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project chairman since 2010, is stepping down as chair. Paul has been volunteering with the Service Project since its inception in 2003.

Since the Service Project will not take place as originally planned in 2021, Paul felt this was an opportune time for the transition. According to Paul, “I have loved working on this project and working with the leadership team and all the other great folks to help Decatur’s seniors. It has been a labor of love for me and has brought me a tremendous amount of satisfaction and enjoyment.”

If you are interested in joining the board or helping with other volunteer leadership roles, such as project planning and implementation, logistics, grant writing and tracking, or would like information about other leadership roles, contact Interim Chair Mark Sanders, mark@mlkserviceproject.com or 678-992-9194, or Lee Ann Harvey, leeann.harvey@decaturga.com or 770-652-8593.

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 7

CITY News This Is Who We Are. This Is What We Do.

Decatur Police Community Response

T

he national events we have all been watching the last few months are disheartening to all of us here at the Decatur Police Department. Many years ago we began the journey to be a department that did not wait for a tragic incident before reviewing, researching, amending or implementing policies and new technology that would keep community members and officers safer and more transparent, to make community policing a philosophy that permeates the culture of our department, not just a slogan or a program, and to use the strategic planning process in an unheard-of way for police departments.

8 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

We strive to be transparent, fair and responsible in how we serve our community and how we enforce the law. It is very difficult for police officers across the country to be painted with the same broad brush as the officers who commit criminal acts and abuse the power entrusted to them. While we know we are not those officers, it is still our responsibility to show the community we serve that we are transparent, fair and accountable.

Throughout June, we received numerous inquiries about the policies and practices of our department regarding a variety of topics, such as recruitment and hiring, officer training, use-of-force policy, body cameras and more. In addition to answering those who reached out directly and asked specific questions, we also want to share the information with the community that we serve.

Military Equipment There are government programs in which police departments can purchase surplus military equipment at discounted costs. Our department does not participate in these programs.

Recruitment and Hiring We strive to recruit and hire the very best candidates to serve as police officers in our community. We are not simply looking for a person who can pass the academy with basic skills. We spend a great deal of time vetting applicants to make certain we are hiring the right people for our department. They must be socially engaged, emotionally healthy, empathetic, approachable officers with a motivation to serve for the right reasons.

CITY News

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We are seeking “community relations officers who enforce the Law,” officers who are invested in the community they are serving.

The officers must embody our core values of approachability, integrity, adaptability, collaboration and empathy. We also seek to recruit and hire officers from diverse demographics and backgrounds to represent the community we serve.

Many smaller police departments rely on hiring from the pool of applicants or they participate in free law enforcement job fairs. In 2008, in partnership with the city, we created our first recruitment campaign with printed materials, ads and a video.

Our first recruiting campaign was very different from other police departments, with a video highlighting empathy, working with the community and higher standards. Our printed material included rack cards with “A Decatur police officer’s preferred weapon” over a graphic of a brain and “Required: honesty, integrity, and one of these” over a graphic of a spine.

Our subsequent updated recruitment video, created in 2018, further highlighted accountability, body cameras and the importance of service over self. No actors were used. Our officers and communications officers, of various demographics, participated to show that we wanted to recruit all types of people to serve our department.

We have also instituted higher pay for applicants with college degrees and prior law enforcement service. And we began participating in more job fairs on college campuses as well as one at Decatur High School, in partnership with Georgia Piedmont Technical College. We now participate in job fairs in our community and job fairs that are not exclusively dedicated to careers in law enforcement.

Rather than relying on our training officer to attend all recruiting events, we send officers who represent varying races, ages, and genders. We invite potential applicants to participate in ride-alongs with our department. We also went from hosting the occasional college intern to hosting interns nearly every semester and recruiting those who are interested in a law enforcement career to apply and join our department.

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qualified applicants, we invested, put in the work and filled our open positions without having to sacrifice standards.

Joining our department is not a quick and easy process. We take the time to thoroughly vet applicants and conduct extensive background checks. After completing an application, candidates must proceed through written testing and a panel interview with questions designed to gauge judgment, honesty, integrity, interpersonal skills, communications skills, how they handle pressure and disagreements, and their experience working with diverse people/backgrounds.

A thorough background investigation is then conducted that is based on the applicant’s education, job history, residential history, personal references they provide as well as references we identify through the course of the background investigation; records checks independent of criminal arrest histories to identify prior incidents where an arrest was not made; prior civil filings such as protection orders; social media audits; a home interview; a computer voice stress analyzer exam to verify information provided during a background investigation; examination of Georgia P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standards and Training Council) records and personnel files for officers with prior service; psychological testing and medical examinations. Upon completion of the background investigation, the applicant must then complete an interview with the chief of police.

All newly hired recruits/officers complete an orientation at which time they meet one on one with the departmental training officer, who instructs them on our code of ethics, code of conduct, our vision and mission statements and core values. This information is not merely handed over in printed materials and assumed to be read. They must also sign our integrity statement.

Training We place a high value on training and put real support behind this value. It is easy to overlook training needs when faced with making decisions about funding and staffing.

Our city and department hold training for our officers as a critical need and make the adjustments rather than saying, “we do not have the funds or staffing.”

We strive not to simply meet the minimum standards set forth by P.O.S.T., which governs the certification requirements of police officers in our state. We work to exceed the standards. For example, many agencies our size do not typically hire non-certified officers and send them to the police academy to be certified, due to budget constraints. We have continued to recruit and hire officers from various backgrounds and send them to the academy. This is how we recruit and hire college graduates as well as applicants changing careers who bring a variety of life and professional experiences to the police profession.

We also choose to pay costs associated with sending our police recruits to the 17week Georgia Piedmont Technical College Law Enforcement Academy, when we could send them instead to the free 12-week state academy. We believe the additional training and collegiate setting produce a better-trained officer.

All certified officers are required by Georgia P.O.S.T. to attend 20 hours of in-service training each year to keep their certifications.

The 20 annual in-service training hours required by P.O.S.T. must include: • Community policing • Police legitimacy, procedural justice and community relations • Cultural awareness • Fostering positive community relations • De-escalation options for gaining compliance • Firearms qualification • Use of force Our department also requires annual inservice training on the following: • Biased-based profiling • Code of conduct • Code of ethics • Complaints and internal investigations • Dealing with the mentally ill and persons of diminished capacity more

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 9

CITY News • Evidence and property control • Firearms qualification (DPD requires a second annual qualification with use of force review) • Organizational structure • Prisoner restraint and transport • Search and seizure • Selection and hiring • Sexual harassment • Vehicle pursuits While P.O.S.T. requires officers to attend 20 hours of in-service training each year, our officers average 80-90 hours of in-service training each year.

We have received specific questions about de-escalation training. Scenario-based deescalation training is a large part of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training that our officers complete. CIT is a training course for law enforcement in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

While NAMI recommends that 20 percent of officers at a department complete CIT, we send all of our officers to the course.

“De-escalation Options for Gaining Compliance” is also now a course required to be completed annually by P.O.S.T. We also budgeted for and purchased a firearms training simulator for judgmental scenario-based training. This system allows us to place officers in realistic scenarios and respond to actions taken or not taken by the officer to include their dialogue to de-escalate the situation.

This helps to train officers that not every situation needs force and also reinforces the power of de-escalation. We have also incorporated de-escalation into our firearms and use-of-force training to not only train for a deadly use-of-force encounter but to train for de-escalating force when a person complies.

Space limitations in the FOCUS make it impossible to list all of the in-service training programs that Decatur officers complete, but it ranges from CPR/first aid to social media to proactive leadership to special events safety.

Officer Demographics We have been asked if the diversity of our department reflects the diversity of the community we serve. A tab for “Demographic Analysis” was added to our web page in 2018. While our staff is more diverse than the residential population of the city, we consider residents, 10 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

business owners and those who work and visit our city to be included in the community that we serve.

Comparable national statistics are only readily available regarding race and gender.

We include positions of leadership such as supervisors and field training officers (FTOs).

FTOs train and evaluate all new officers oneon-one, whether they have just graduated from the academy or have prior law enforcement experience at another agency. Our FTOs are critical to the development of new officers and as leaders in our department.

We also find great value in attracting and hiring candidates with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. We currently have officers with backgrounds in social work, customer service, hotel hospitality, ministry, retail, mental health, education, massage therapy and parks and recreation in addition to military service, prior law enforcement and those who joined our department directly after college.

Use-of-Force Policy/8 Can’t Wait Campaign We have been asked about our use-of-force policy specifically related to the “8 Can’t Wait” campaign.

come resistance. Officers should make every effort to minimize the risk for misunderstanding during encounters with citizens. Verbal control may be in the form of advice, persuasion, admonitions, or orders. When properly used, the volume and tone of the officer’s voice can be an effective tool for assuming control of a situation without need to progress to a higher level of force.

3. Require warning before shooting.

Officers shall give some warning of the imminent use of deadly force if the circumstances permit such a warning.

4. Exhaust all alternatives before shooting. Officers should use only that level of force necessary to overcome resistance.

Where deadly force is not authorized, officers

DPD Use-of-Force Incidents YEAR

INCIDENTS

2010 36 2011 38 2012 31 2013 22 2014 28 2015 23

1. Ban chokeholds and strangleholds.

Chokeholds are prohibited.

2016 19

2. Require de-escalation. Officers should use only that level of force necessary to over-

2017 18 2018 18

DPD Officer Demographics Decatur Police 2020 Gender

Male: 75%

Female: 25%

Race

White: 54%

POC: 46%

Leadership Positions*

White: 58%

POC: 42%

*Leadership positions include supervisors and field training officers.

Decatur Police 2018 Gender

Male: 78%

Female: 22%

Race

White: 64%

POC: 36%

Leadership Positions*

White: 71%

POC: 29%

*Leadership positions include supervisors and field training officers

Police Nationwide 2018 (from Data USA) Gender

Male: 85%

Female: 15%

Race

White: 77%

POC: 23%

CITY News shall use only that level of force reasonably necessary to bring an incident under control.

Our policy restricts the use of deadly force by an officer in the performance of duty to the following: • To apprehend a suspected felon only when the officer reasonably believes that the suspect possesses a deadly weapon or any object, device, or instrument which, when used offensively against a person, is likely to or actually does result in serious bodily injury.

• When the officer reasonably believes that the suspect poses an immediate threat of physical violence to the officer or others.

• When there is probable cause to believe that the suspect has committed a crime involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical harm.

The following examples are provided to show when an officer may use deadly force: • To protect the officer or others from what is reasonably believed to be a threat of death or serious bodily harm and all available means of defense have failed or would be inadequate or dangerous under the circumstances

moving vehicle except if the suspect attempts to use deadly force against the officer.

7. Require use-of-force continuum.

Our policy contains a use-of-force continuum of resistance levels and control levels.

Resistance Levels: Compliant Psychological Verbal non-compliance Passive resistance Defensive resistance Active resistance Aggravated aggression Control Levels: Officer presence Verbal commands Soft/empty hand control Chemical agents Taser (implemented in 2018) Hard/empty hand striking techniques Intermediate weapons Lethal/deadly force 8: Require comprehensive reporting.

Our policy requires a written report from an officer when:

• To prevent the escape of a fleeing felon whom the officer has probable cause to believe will pose a significant threat to human life should escape occur

• An officer’s firearm is discharged, to include accidental discharges, outside of training or recreational purposes; or

• When necessary to prevent forcible felonies

• Force is applied through the use of lethal or less-than-lethal weapons; or

• To destroy an animal that represents a physical threat to public safety and animal control personnel are unavailable.

5. Duty to intervene. Our use-of-force policy was recently amended to require officers to intervene to prevent the use of excessive force.

Any officer present and observing another officer, from the Decatur Police Department or an outside agency, using force that is clearly beyond that which is objectively reasonable under the circumstances shall, when in a position to do so safely, intervene either verbally or physically to prevent or stop the use of excessive force. Officers must promptly report any excessive or unreasonable force to a supervisor as soon as possible. Supervisors must respond and document the incident.

6. Ban shooting at or from moving vehicles. Shots shall not be fired at or from a

• Use of force results in injury or death; or

• A person complains that an injury has been inflicted; or,

• A misconduct is alleged; or • The use of force results in property damage.

• When any level of force higher than level three in the use-of-force continuum is used.

The supervisor is also required to: • Initiate a preliminary investigation into the incident, take photographs of the involved officer(s) and person(s) depicting any potential injuries or documenting the lack of any injuries to the parties involved, document any property damage, secure any evidence, interview witnesses, interview officers and review their written reports.

• Complete a Use of Force Report (separate report from an incident report that is prepared by supervisors).

• Immediately notify the chief of police, or if unavailable, the next highest ranking officer, if circumstances dictate.

• Address a memorandum to the chief of police advising any facts revealed in the investigation and any discrepancies.

• Submit all reports and memoranda via the appropriate division commander.

Our use-of-force policy also requires: • That if during a use-of-force incident any person(s) is injured or complains of an injury, the officers on scene shall summon emergency medical personnel to render aid.

Officers present shall render any first-aid within their capabilities, until the arrival of such emergency medical personnel. more

DPD Arrest/Use of Force Statistics Total arrests

736

percent

Arrests involving no use of force

713

96.9

Arrests involving mere presentation of a weapon Arrests involving mere presentation of taser

11

1.5

2

0.3

Arrests involving soft empty hand techniques

4

0.5

Arrests involving use of oc spray

0

0.0

Arrests involving use of taser

3

0.4

Arrests involving use of taser and asp baton

1

0.1

Arrests involving taser and hard empty hand techniques

1

0.1

Arrests involving taser and presentation of a service weapon

1

0.1

Arrests involving use of asp baton

0

0.0%

Arrests involving deadly force

0

0.0%

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 11

CITY News

• That if an officer is involved in an off-duty incident in which the use of force results in injury or death, they shall immediately notify the chief of police or, if unavailable, the next highest ranking officer.

• Receiving complaints of officer or other misconduct

• An annual analysis of use-of-force incidents is conducted to ascertain policy and/or training needs.

Any time an officer is faced with a situation that does not necessarily fit into any of the above listed categories but wants to record the incident with the body-worn camera, he/she may do so.

The camera is automatically activated by a sensor when the officer opens the door to their patrol car. The camera is also automatically activated when the officer’s firearm is removed from their holster. An officer recording a required incident/activity can only turn the BWC off upon completion of the incident/ activity. The recordings are transferred and archived to a cloud-based system that prevents video from being edited or deleted. This transfer happens without any action the officer has to physically take.

Supervisors are required to randomly select body camera and in-car camera videos for each of their officers and review them monthly to verify officers are in compliance with departmental policy.

Unlike most law enforcement agencies, we count pointing a Taser or a service weapon at a person as a use of force. We want to investigate the threat of these types of force in addition to the use of a Taser or weapon. We also want to track instances of officers de-escalating the level of force being used.

Body-Worn Cameras Body-worn cameras (BWC) were implemented for all of our uniformed patrol officers in 2015. Prior to 2015 we utilized BWC for our School resource officers and business district officers since they were primarily on foot or bicycles and our in-car camera systems would not capture most of their interactions.

Departmental policy requires officers who work in uniform to wear a BWC. Officers are required to use BWCs for the following incidents/activities: • All traffic stops • Officer-initiated contact for investigative purposes, to include criminal and noncriminal incidents • All calls for service 12 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

• During prisoner transport and/or courtesy rides

Early Intervention System for Number of Complaints Our policy requires section commanders to identify officers or employees who receive an inordinately large number of complaints. As a general guideline, an officer or employee re-

ceiving a minimum of five complaints within a two-year period would be subject to review.

The circumstances involved in each complaint shall be evaluated before an officer or employee is classified as having received an excessive number of complaints.

It is also our practice for supervisors to review the personnel files of staff newly assigned to them so they can review any complaints, commendations and performance evaluations received while under the command of other supervisors.

Patrol supervisors also complete bi-monthly evaluations on officers rather than just the standard annual evaluation to more closely monitor any potential issues or additional training needs.

In addition, investigations for internal and external complaints, use-of-force incidents, vehicle pursuits, foot pursuits and motor vehicle accidents are entered into an internal affairs software program for tracking. All of these investigations are prepared by assigned supervisors, then reviewed by a division commander, the deputy chief and the chief of police.

Use-of-force incidents, pursuits and citizen complaints are reviewed again annually as part of our state certification requirement.

We voluntarily participate in the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program, which is a comprehensive set of model management, operational and service level standards for Georgia law enforcement agencies. We are currently one of 136 law enforcement agencies who have state certification out of the more than 600 law enforcement agencies in Georgia.

We complete a re-certification process to retain our state certification every three years.

Use-of-Force and Officer Misconduct Records Available to Public An annual review of use-of-force incidents is completed by the deputy chief. The information is shared at our Citizen’s Police Academy and is available upon request. Internal investigations are subject to open records requests in the state of Georgia.

Collecting and Reporting Data on InCustody Deaths There is currently no state or federal system to report in-custody deaths. If there were such a reporting system, we would participate if

CITY News voluntary and comply if required. Currently, if we were to have someone in our custody die, we would contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Transport of Prisoners Our policy on restraint and transport states that no person shall be “hog-tied” and/ or placed in a prone position while being transported. In addition, handcuffs must be double-locked to prevent them from further tightening on a person’s wrists and they must be seat-belted unless there is a reason the seat belt cannot be secured.

Officers receive training on positional asphyxia and excited delirium to prevent injury and death.

Strategic Planning Process In 2015, Chief Booker decided to change how our departmental strategic plan was developed and implemented. Traditionally, police department strategic plans are formulated and completed by command staff. Chief Booker questioned the practice of deciding what the community needed from its police department rather than asking the community what they wanted.

A consultant helped with the process of reaching out to a cross section of various stakeholders, resulting in 24 individual focus groups meeting to provide input as to the desired vision and direction of the Decatur Police Department. The focus groups consisted of diverse stakeholders, including those who had filed complaints of racial profiling, seniors, educators, teens, staff from other city departments, police employees, businesses, restaurant and shop owners, graduates of the Citizens Police Academy and other training programs, Decaur Housing Authority residents, members of the Better Together Leadership Circle, elected officials and more.

This new external process showed our department that the community wanted more community policing, to see us on social media, more training for the officers, more training programs for the community and to know what we were doing. Our former internal strategic planning process would have focused on ways of dealing with crime and quality-oflife issues.

The manner in which the new strategic plan was implemented also changed. Every officer,

communications officer and civilian staff member of our department participated in the strategic plan implementation groups working on tasks from the plan. The groups researched, prepared and presented project plans.

This new process put all of our staff in a position to contribute and own the results of the plan, rather than being ordered to do something different or new with no real understanding as to why.

Community Education, Programs and Volunteers Our department offers numerous educational programs and hosts various seminars, classes and workshops for community members.

The Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA) is a 10-week course of weekly evening classes to help community members understand how our officers are trained, how we work to balance problem solving with enforcing laws, the legal parameters we must operate within and how critical community partnerships are to our department. Our CPA was created in the early 1990s in partnership with community members who wanted an opportunity to learn and ask questions about their department. To date, we’ve conducted the program 27 times.

The Citizens Assisting Public Safety (C.A.P.S.) Volunteer Program, established in 2008, is made up of Citizen’s Police Academy graduates who serve the community by assisting the police department with the many special events hosted in the city. We do not have enough officers to staff all of the events. There are currently 30 C.A.P.S. Volunteers who assist with: • Road race/parade traffic control • Festival and event patrol • Barricade control • Community walks/programs • Bicycle registrations • Crossing guard assistance • Traffic calming • Welfare calls • Emergency callouts (examples: missing person search, weather-related emergencies) • Monitors for promotional testing The Junior Police Academy (JPA) is a weeklong camp for youths 11-14 years old.

The JPA is designed to educate and enlighten

youth about the functions and duties of their police department and to build relationships with the officers who serve their community. We began hosting the JPA one week each summer in 2010.

Due to the popularity and demand, we added a second JPA session each year during the City Schools of Decatur fall break.

The JPA includes sessions on 911/communications, recruitment and training, weapons and equipment, use of force, traffic safety and enforcement, drug trends and dangers, criminal investigations, personal safety and crime prevention and physical fitness. Participants also complete the Family and Friends CPR course, complete 911 emergency call and crime scene/fingerprinting practical exercises as well as tour the Decatur Police Department and the DeKalb County Jail.

The R.A.D. (Rape. Aggression. Defense.)

Women’s Self-Defense Course is a 12-hour program in which participants learn how to be more aware; recognize potentially dangerous situations; and defend themselves from physical aggression, attack or abduction. The class is physical but not difficult. The moves are simple and not reliant upon fitness level or brute strength. The course provides a safe, supportive and controlled environment for participants to learn simple techniques, retained through repetition, that can be used regardless of age, size or strength.

The goal is to give women options to defend themselves and get out of danger, not engage an attacker. We have had 418 women attend the course and there are currently 271 women on the waitlist. We offer the course three to six times per year depending on the availability of t he space and instructors. While many R.A.D. programs across the country charge a fee for participants to take the course, we opted to NOT put up any additional obstacles for women wanting and needing to take the course.

Alumnae of our R.A.D. program include survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and violent crimes, women trying to escape abusive relationships, stalking victims, trans women, high school and college students, seniors, women with physical disabilities and women with developmental/cognitive challenges.

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 13

CITY News Generosity Furthers Small Business Emergency Loans

F

acing the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Decatur and its development authorities pledged $500,000 toward a program of emergency small business loans. Local nonprofit Legacy Decatur then launched Decatur United, a companion fundraising drive offering residents and others a chance to show their support for local businesses with a tax deductible donation. And show support they did, to the tune of $60,000.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donated. Your generosity illustrates the spirit of our community and contributes to the legacy we’re all working to cultivate.

DONORS: Marian Adair Michelle Adams Shirley Adams William Adams Emily Adkins Karen Adkins-Hastings Jamie Ambabo Greg and Lynn Amoroso Anonymous Annie Archbold Andrea Arnold Doug Arnold Jill Ashmore Denise Bailey Hope Baker Avery Bell Charles and Gail Bell Glenn Bellamy Sarah Benson Susan Bentley Dennis and Pat Bentson Diana Berman Justin Bluth Matt Bolch James and Patricia Bonner Susan Boudreau Hannah Bower Fred Boykin Matt Breidenthal Ron and Lisa Brill Charitable Trust Herb Chereck Sarah Chisholm Sarah Collier Darren Comer Adam Dahlquist Barbara Dale Carolyn Datry Liz de Goursac Marion Dearing and Fleming James

Decatur Tourism Bureau Frank DeStefano Jen and Andy Dickinson Kristin Diver Bryan Downs Scott and Robin Doyon Scott Drake Walt Drake Kip and Genia Duchon George and Courtenay Dusenbury Mary Egnor Gerald Eickhoff Mark Ethun Todd Evans Stephanie Ezust Eugene Farber James Ferguson Shelly Fine Frances Finegan The Fiores Cynthia Fordyce Larry Fossett Molly Freeman Evin Galang Adriana Galvan Patti Garrett Thomas Gehl Frank Goldman Natalie Gregory Holly Grimes Maya Hahn Gwin Hall Anna Hamilton Kendall Hamilton Douglas Hance Michael Harbin and Weny Worrall Linda Harris and John Randall Joanne Hauserman Janet Hawkins Thomas Helland

14 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

Linda Herbers Alice Hickcox Richard Higgins Howard Holden Gué P. Hudson Pam Hughes Christina Hume Rodney and Ann Hunter Michael Iverson Jeanne Johnson Jeffrey Johnson Thomas Jorgensen John and Marceil Joyner Rhoda Joyner Ashley Kane Alicia and Peter Karpick Kevin Kelly Elizabeth Kirk and Fred Land Jack Kittle and Annie Godfrey Beverly Korfin Melissa Kotun Teresa Kruzan Marcia Lampe Michael and Jennifer Leavey Lew Lefton Michael Lehman Nancy and Robert Leitch Antonio Leung Denyse Levesque William Lloyd Brooks Mackintosh Pamela Marcus Bill and Emilie Markert Marlay House Molly Marrah Jeremy Martinez Allen Mast

Viraj and Margaret Master Kathryn Masters Michelle Mattingly Kristin Maxson Elizabeth McAlister Pearl McHaney Conor McNally James McNeil Greg and Billie Mears Tommy Meers Doug and Lyn Menne Thomas Merrihew Peggy Merriss Kristian Mihalek Kristin Miller Janet Montgomery Elizabeth Moore Anne Morris Monica Moukalif Catherine Mullins James Neal Claire Newbury Polly Nodine Oakhurst Realty Partners Suzanne Occhialini Helen O’Leary Naomi Orkin Joe Owen Brian Page Robyn Painter Diane and Henry Parkman John and Sydney Parks Rebecca Payne Joe Perz Guy Pfeiffer Stephen Pitts Joy Pope Tony and Leisa Powers Debra Pyron Christie Ramseur John Rauh Annemarie Reagan Barbara and Bruce Ribner Charles Richardson Maureen Richmond Meredith Roark Robyn Roberts and Kevin Greiner Lori Ronca Lorenzo Salacata Beate Sass Hugh Saxon David Scharer Patricia Schneider Georgia Schrager Suzanne Schultz Carl Seville

Nathan Shaffer and Lauri Markowitz Ann Smith Don Smith Elizabeth Smith Nancy Snell George and Judith Stanton Richard Stevens Meredith Struby Katherine Stuckey Catherine Such and Douglas Walker Eric and Cinnamon Sullivan Louise Sussin Seegar Swanson Sycamore Square Condominium Association Carol and Rick Tangum Ben Taratoot Wynn and Lynne Teale Emilee Terry Scott Tewell Barrett Tibbetts Eric Toole Shirley Trussell Bill and Elizabeth Tucker Judy Turner Bethany TurnerLivermore Sharon Urban Mary Valente Jeffrey Vaughan Jena Vickery Cathy and Steve Vogel Peter Wakefield Sherry Wallace Kelly Walsh Karen Walson Jill Wandstrat Jeremy Ware Jill Warner David and Marcia Wasserman Teresa Weaver David Weissman Nancy Wilkinson David Williams Kyle Williams Patricia Wilson Spencer Wilson Stephanie Wise Pam Wuichet John Yntema Jill Young Michael Zakel

CITY News Diet for a Small City

Scientists have shown with the best available data that we need to dramatically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in the next 10 years. One quick and low-cost way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions is to eat better.

Eat less or no meat, avoid processed foods, grow or buy local, and reduce your food waste by buying only what you need.

In this graph you can see the greenhouse

gas emissions due to different foods, to get a sense for which foods cause more greenhouse gases (those with the longest bars).

Eating beef has a much bigger greenhouse gas effect than eating pecans.

Unwilling to go meatless? Eliminating meat just one day a week, such as a meatless Monday, you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions substantially. On other days, if you eat

chicken, pork, or fish instead of beef, you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions from the meat you consume by up to 10 times.

Can’t get away from eating a burger? There are now burgers made from plants that have the texture and taste of beef.

What we do here in Decatur affects us and the world. The faster we change, the healthier we will be, and the better our planet will be.

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 15

CITY News

Get Active with Decatur Active Living!

Century Challenge

Cycle September

Decatur Active Living challenges you to ride 100 miles in September.

Ride as few or as many times as you like; just accumulate 100 miles between Sept. 1 and 30, take a screen shot of your activity tracker showing your mileage, and send it to cheryl. burnette@decaturga.com. Riders will receive a cooling bandanna with the I Bike Decatur logo. See if you can make a route using the city’s new cycle track. All ages are welcome to participate.

Visit the Virtual Recreation Center The Active Living team has gathered a variety of indoor and outdoor activities to keep you active. There are also links to educational activities. Visit decaturga.com/virtualrec.

Take a Virtual Class Decatur Active Living offers a variety of virtual classes and workshops for all ages. Find an updated list at decaturga.com/virtualrec.

Sign up for the National Bike Challenge “Cycle September” at lovetoride.net/usa.

This is also a good way to track your miles for the month.

Play Some Tennis

Take a ‘Story Walk’

Call 404-377-7231 to reserve your court today. Courts are available: • Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

• Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Visit decaturga.com/tennis to learn more.

Decatur Active Living has partnered with the DeKalb Library to install a StoryWalk at Glenlake Park. Take a stroll on the wooded path on the west side of the park, and read a book as you walk. There is even an activity at the end that you can do at home.

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16 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

CITY News A Q&A for Enjoying Decatur Cemetery As the pandemic shutdown continues, more folks have been discovering Decatur’s hidden treasure: the Decatur Cemetery.

What makes it special?

Established in the 1820s, the Decatur Cemetery is the oldest municipal cemetery in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Here lie the remains of those who helped to create Decatur, DeKalb, and even the State of Georgia. It is a designated wildlife sanctuary and many of the plants and trees enhance this designation.

Are there guidelines?

Definitely. Take time to read cemetery rules and guidelines posted at all entrances to the cemetery. While some may be considered suggestions, many are rules mandated by city ordinance and some carry monetary fines.

Why visit a cemetery?

We visit a cemetery to reflect, to remember those we love, and to pay our respects to the departed, who were loved by someone at some time. Please be considerate. Each stone represents a life worth remembering – always.

Reconnecting with our past enriches our present and our future.

Reflecting in the solitude and beauty provides a sanctuary for peaceful contemplation in a troubled world.

What can we do to make the experience enjoyable for all?

Many of the stones are nearly 200 years old.

Sitting on or leaning against them can be dangerous to you or to the stone. They can be destroyed by improper treatment and cannot be replaced. Gravestone rubbings are not permitted.

Pets are permitted but the leash law is in effect at all times. Pet waste is unsightly and unsanitary. Please use receptacles provided for pet waste. A Decatur-sponsored dog park is located at Glenlake Park adjacent to the cemetery.

Walking and jogging are encouraged. Bikes

Face Masks Available to Decatur Residents Age 60+ Contact Lee Ann Harvey, Lifelong Community Manager, at leeann. harvey@decaturga.com or 770-652-8593 to arrange delivery. Please pass this information along to your neighbors, especially those who do not have Internet access.

MASK REQUIRED

Per city ordinance, all persons must wear a mask or face covering while on the premises. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $100.

should remain on roads or paths.

Picnic tables have been provided by Friends of Decatur Cemetery. Please enjoy responsibly and discard any trash in receptacles provided.

Any suspicious activity or damage should be promptly reported to the cemetery office or Decatur Police Department.

The City of Decatur is responsible for the maintenance of the cemetery, while each plot is cared for by the families who own them.

The Friends of Decatur Cemetery is a group of volunteers who work with the city to preserve, maintain and improve the cemetery as a historic and cultural resource.

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SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 17

5/14/14 4:47 PM

BUSINESS & NONPROFIT News North Decatur Presbyterian Offers Confirmation Class Decatur residents Beth Waltemath and David Lewicki invite students entering 8th and 9th grades to attend cconfirmation class this fall at North Decatur Presbyterian Church, 611 Medlock Rd. The class will include a combination of virtual and in-person meetings on Sundays and Wednesdays from September through December.

The class will cover progressive theology and principles of Presbyterian thought and help participants shape their own guiding faith statements. North Decatur Presbyterian is a congregation that affirms LGBTQ+ people, is passionate about social justice, works for affordable housing, welcomes all people, seeks to end systemic racism, protects our planet, and partners with our community to make meaning in God’s world.

For more information or to enroll in the 2020 Confirmation class, contact Rev. Erin Reed Cooper at erin@ ndpc.org, or call 404-636-1429.

L’Arche Atlanta’s 8th Birthday Benefit and Auction Join L’Arche Atlanta, a Decaturbased nonprofit that serves adults with developmental disabilities, for its virtual benefit auction of 30-plus items from local businesses, including Kavarna, Scout, FitWit, Pine Street Market, Atlanta Braves, Café Lily, and Brave and Kind Books. The silent auction starts Tuesday, Sept. 8. The week will culminate with a virtual storytelling event and live auction featuring vacation rentals and once-in-a-lifetime experiences on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 5 p.m. It’s free to register.

Register by Sept. 3 and join the live event to be entered in a drawing for a $300 auction credit. All purchases and donations support L’Arche Atlanta, as we transform lives by building community among people with and without disabilities.

Register at larche8.givesmart.com or text larche8 to 76278. Questions? Email Megan Denton at megan@ larcheatlanta.org.

Home has never been more important.

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Keep on swimming!

Dynamo Swim School offers year-round swimming lessons in Decatur at Agnes Scott and the Oakhurst Pool

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$15 OFF!

Bring in this ad for $15 off one session of swimming lessons.

This offer may not be combined with any other offer or coupon.

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Register online at dynamoswimschool.com 18 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

Decatur events

BUSINESS & NONPROFIT News

it’s a Date to Stay up late!

Soapbox Derby Teams Up with DEF for Virtual Learning ll Decatur residents, and everybody else, too, are invited

A

emergency food assistance and DEF grants nally Organizersto ofwalk the annual MadisonLantern AvenueParade on in the Decatur thescheduled evening offor early October, has been that fund creative solutions to COVID-19 postponed due to the ongoing pandemic.

Soapbox Derby have partnered Friday, May 15. This with is onethe of those “the-more-the-merrier” learning challenges that will ensure equity The event, Decatur Education (DEF) to events, soFoundation plan now to participate and be a part of started helpingby a group of neighbors across the district and help reduce the in 2011, has become a Decatur tradition and help students and families the chalto make this lantern parademeet memorable. widening of educational deficits during through local business sponsorships, particilenges of your virtual learning.

Make own lantern at home or virtual learning. To make a donation, visit pation by racers and community giving, has come a lantern-making workshop ThetoCity Schools of Decatur’s decision to madisonavesoapboxderby.org/donate. raised a combined $180,000 for local nonwherethe supplies and guidance providbegin year online protectsare community Oakhurst Market has signed on as a preprofits serving youths. ed. Find wheresome and complications when by visiting health butout creates as senting sponsor for the initiative, offering Sponsorships from businesses, families decaturlanternparade.com. well, from gaps in technology and supplies to families who donate to “Ramp to Success” and individuals will go directly to support To participate, up at Color Wheel access to food andline supervision. benefits ranging from free kids’ meals to a tutoring, mentoring, scholarships to satellite Studio at 508 E. Ave. after–8 named p.m.

The Ramp to Howard Success initiative $75 gift certificate. learning centers for low-income families, Thethe parade off at 9that p.m. led by The for rampsteps structure helps soapbox Black Sheep Marching Ensemble paracers achieve a faster start on theand race rade guru Chantelle Rytter. course – will raise funds forThe theparade DEF Family will wend itsfocused way to the Partnership, oncommunity five areas of need: bandstandand in front of learning the Old Courtchildcare virtual supports, tuhouse on the square. toring, mentoring, student behavioral health, Get away from home while maintaining social distance this fall at the Hobbit Houses at paradesupports. is sponsored bymore Colorat decaandThe parental Learn Hawk Hollow, 435 Oakview Road. Hawk Hollow is one of the greenspaces run by the Wheel Studio, Decatur Arts Alliance, tureducationfoundation.org/covidlearning.

Wylde Center, half a mile from FAVE. Visit wyldecenter.org/hawk-hollow-garden to Decatur Education Foundation, andorigiThe 10th annual Soapbox Derby, reserve your spot. the Decatur Development Authority.

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Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

20 | Decatur Focus • MaY 2015

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 19

BUSINESS & NONPROFIT News Show Your Spirit with Decatur Together Pennants In the early months of the pandemic Decatur resident and creative Tommy Nagle wanted to exercise his design muscles while doing something positive and giving back. To do this, he designed a retro pennant, inspired by the colors on the City of Decatur logo, embodying the ideas of love and neighborhood solidarity. Ten percent of the purchase price goes to the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human

Rights and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

The pennant is 100 percent wool felt, designed and manufactured in the United States, and can be purchased at several stores in downtown Decatur, including Sq/Ft and Homegrown. There are also bumper stickers and regular stickers available so you can show your love for Decatur on your car, laptop, water bottle and more.

It takes two to make a baby.

It only takes one to have it. [ with a little help ]

Atlanta Gynecology & Obstetrics includes you in the healthcare decisions surrounding your birth experience. Women have been having babies for centuries — our physicians and nurse midwives have worked as a team for years, guiding women along that birth journey. We meet you at the crossroads of collaboration, choice, and safety. Our goal is for you to have the birth experience you’ve dreamed of — planning WITH you, not AT you, guiding you to the best birth possible.

Learn more at AtlantaGynOB.com

20 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020 20-AGOB-0423 Decatur_Focus - Take_Two 3.625x4 Aug.indd 1

7/30/20 4:40 PM

BUSINESS & NONPROFIT News Glennwood Estates Begins Tradition Honoring Juneteenth

Solarium Closes for 2020 to Focus on Community Support

On the evening of June 19, dozens of neighbors in the Glennwood Estates neighborhood commemorated Juneteenth. Nine neighbors, ages 9 to 60-plus, read portions of the Emancipation Proclamation taken from the National Archives. Social distancing was observed and mask wearing was mandated.

Children provided signage, including one of the Juneteenth flag.

Donations of more than $220 were collected for Black Lives MatterAtlanta and the NAACP Legal and Education Fund.

Neighbors enjoyed the reading and saw it as an opportunity to unify the community and to recognize Juneteenth as an essential American holiday.

Based on current public health guidelines and to ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and the community, The Solarium has decided to remain closed to events and rentals for the rest of the 2020 calendar year.

We miss our community and events greatly and hope to see you in the future. Check out our new 360 tour and event photos of Solarium space on our website as you plan for your 2021 events. We also plan to hold another socially distant blood drive this fall. Look for details in the near future. Email contact@thesolarium.com if you have any questions or concerns.

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An independent, fee-only fiduciary based in Decatur, GA SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 21

SCHOOL News DEF Partners with CSD to Support Families During Virtual Learning City Schools of Decatur (CSD) is transitioning from traditional to virtual teaching and learning, to keep students and teachers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a huge undertaking, and there are no easy solutions.

Since 2002, the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) has been a key partner of CSD, with a mission of connecting people, resources and ideas to solve the challenges facing our students.

DEF is committed and well-positioned to work with CSD, local organizations, and volunteers across our community to meet the ancillary needs of students and families, so that they can take full advantage of the virtual learning environment.

Five areas of focus have been identified.

1. Childcare/Virtual Learning Support: DEF and CSD will work to identify families that need a safe place for their children to go while schools remain closed; the results of the CSD survey sent to fami-

lies in July will help assess the need. DEF will then work on a coalition of providers who can provide small group/safe spaces for families who need them. They are also looking at ways to provide financial support for those who cannot cover the cost.

2. Tutoring Support: DEF has a program that matches Decatur High School students with students who need tutors. This year, DEF anticipates a greater need for tutors to support virtual learning.

3. Mentoring Support: DEF facilitates two mentoring programs currently and supports CSD’s idea of expanding mentoring to students who might need additional adult support during virtual learning.

4. Student Behavioral Health: DEF and CSD have already established a partnership to support behavioral health and will continue to provide support to students in the coming weeks and months.

This will look different within the online learning model, and DEF will continue to financially support CSD’s efforts to meet student needs.

5. Parent Support: DEF is partnering with Decatur Parent Network (decaturparents. net) to provide support for Decatur’s parents during these hard times, both with the practical challenges of turning their homes into learning spaces as well as the mental health challenges of continuing to parent children who are displaced from regular life, often while managing the stress of exacerbated financial challenges.

For up-to-date information on the available support for Decatur students and their families, visit decatureducationfoundation. org/covidlearning. If you would like to make a contribution to DEF to help families in need, visit decatureducationfoundation.org/ donate.

ASC Announces Board of Trustee Additions The Agnes Scott College Board of Trustees announces the election of two new members.

Anne Hydrick Kaiser is vice president of Community and Economic Development for Georgia Power, leading that company’s efforts to recruit new industry to Georgia and helping existing industries grow.

Kaiser’s department has been internationally recognized as one of the top economic development organizations in the world, bringing 279,000 jobs and $53 billion in capital investment to Georgia over the past two decades.

Kaiser joined Georgia Power in 1998 in the retail sales organization.

She has held a variety of positions within the company, including vice president of Corporate Services, assistant to the president and CEO, and vice president of sales, with responsibilities for revenue generation and customer satisfaction for 2.3 million retail customers. Kaiser previously served as vice 22 | Decatur Focus • SEPTEMBER 2020

president of Georgia Power’s Northwest Region, with responsibility for 15 counties and more than 170,000 customers.

Kaiser holds a bachelor’s degree in public health from The University of Georgia.

She is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of Harvard Business School and the National Association of Corporate Directors’ College. She is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership.

David A. Ross is president and CEO of the Task Force for Global Health. As a recognized leader in global health, Ross has led collaborative programs to strengthen information capacity of public health systems in the United States and other countries for more than three decades. He provides strategic direction to the Task Force and oversees 13 programs focused on disease elimination, prevention and protection.

Prior to his current role, Ross served as director of the Task Force’s internationally recognized Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII) and its predecessor, All Kids Count.

Today, PHII has a $7.4-million annual budget with a diverse portfolio of domestic and international programs supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and top-tier national foundations.

A thought leader and one of the pioneers of public health informatics, Ross was founding director of CDC’s first national initiative to improve the information infrastructure of public health in the United States.

Ross holds a doctor of science degree in operations research from the Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado.

Also joining the board as the Agnes Scott Alumnae Association president is Whitney Ott ’03, a partner at Jackson Spalding, a communications and marketing firm.

Kala’s 2030 Vision

Around Town

#decaturga

Show off your Decatur on social media and share it with your neighbors.

Email your news and photos to renae.madison@decaturga.com.

We Have A Winner Congratulations to Gael Doyle, winner of the Parks and Recreation Month Park Photo Contest. It was a difficult choice, with so many photos of our parks to choose from.

Gael will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

In response to an activity in the Kids Activity book, FAVE fourth grader Kala shared her 2030 vision of Decatur in this drawing #kidsactivitybook

#picturedecatur #pollinatorpix

#2030vision

decaturga

downtowndecatur

cityofdecaturga

Estate Planning Wills & Trusts Probate

Coming this spring at Woodlands Garden – easier access, more parking and enhanced natural beauty.

Visitfamily woodlandsgarden.org As your grows, or you prepare for for details, and make plans to visit retirement, it’s are important when improvements complete. to have a plan. #woodlandsgarden #decaturgreenspace #keepdecaturgreen

246 Sycamore Street, Suite 150, Decatur, GA 30030

(404) 793-2510 Brooks@Mackintosh.law www.mackintosh.law

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Decatur Focus | 23

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