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DeKalb launches expanded Community Academy 101; staff report ambassador pilot and new tools for pedestrian and playground planning
Summary
Planning & Sustainability updated the committee on Community Academy 101, an engagement and civic-education program; staff reported completed districts (McNair, Redan, Colombia), pilot ambassadors, new guidebook and tools (pedestrian analysis, playground programming, complete-streets test) and plans to expand through 14 more community districts.
Planning & Sustainability staff presented an update on Community Academy 101, the county's civic-education and neighborhood-engagement program designed to help residents understand planning, participate in long-range planning and shape neighborhood priorities.
Planner Eva Shio and program lead Lasagna Marshall detailed recent and upcoming activity: the program has completed three community districts (McNair, Redan, Colombia), launched an ambassador pilot (three ambassadors selected), produced a Community 101 guidebook and an ambassador handbook, and will add technical tools including pedestrian infrastructure analysis, playground programming targeted to four community groups, and a complete-streets test and scoring rubric. Staff reported strong public engagement (attendance in some meetings rose from 24 to 55 participants) and said the program will continue to expand through the remainder of the county in the coming quarters.
Commissioners praised the outreach and asked for municipal partnerships, school-cluster information to support housing and school-seat planning, and distribution of ambassador and guidebook materials at district events. Mr. Washington and the planning team said they would provide the ambassador materials and summarized the program timeline for the committee.
Ending: Staff will continue the district-by-district roll-out (next district: Stevenson) and will provide outreach materials and data to commissioners for local distribution.
Attribution: Program details and participation figures are from staff presentations (Eva Shio, Lasagna Marshall) and Mr. Washington as recorded in the transcript.
