MEDIA CONTACT:

Carrie L. Williams

404.397.7667
PROCTOR CREEK Community Engagement 3-Step Plan
POINT OF CONTACT:
Al Bartell, Facilitator
470.222.5855

Urban Residents' Future Flows Through Community Work Plan

Proctor Creek Faith Leaders And

Stakeholders
Speak Up For Resident Community
At
The Interdenominational Theological Center
ATLANTA -From the beginning to the end of a two-hour window of engagement,
Atlanta faith leaders and stakeholders of the Proctor Creek watershed
basin wasted no time: they were clear they had none to waste.
Seasoned and well-suited for the tough terrain traversed in conversations
during the roundtable discussion and development session held on the
campus of The Interdenominational Theological Center this
past Mondayevening, the 20-plus participants left no stone unturned getting
swiftly to the heart of the matter.
The heart of the Proctor Creek matter they laid open through piercing
dialogue, is this: the Emerald Corridor is on the way -- and the Proctor
Creek resident community is in the way.
The Community Engagement Team -- led by in-place residents
representing at least 3 neighborhoods of the Proctor Creek watershed -introduced basic information and fielded questions about Proctor Creek and
the Proctor Creek Community Engagement 3-Step Plan, more simply
known as "The Work Plan". Community engagement and project
management support from the Environmental Protection Agency's Region 4
Water Protection Division also participated in the roundtable and
development session by providing more background context for "The Work
Plan".
The Proctor Creek Faith Leaders Community Roundtable and Development
Session looked to be an opportunity to have faith leaders and other
stakeholders -- including Proctor Creek residents -- consider a work plan in
collaboration with the EPA-led Urban Waters Federal Partnership.
Proctor Creek is now one of 19 urban waterways -- all located in major U.S.
cities -- designated to be a part of The Urban Waters Federal Partnership.
The Environmental Protection Agency is the lead federal agency of this
White House economic development initiative for urban America.
According to the EPA website, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership "aims
to stimulate regional and local economies, create local jobs, improve quality
of life, and protect Americans' health by revitalizing urban waterways in
under-served communities across the country."
Atlanta faith leaders at the community roundtable and development session
represented ministries in several under-served communities that included
Proctor Creek residents. Faith leader participation included members of the

Concerned Black Clergy as well as from Civil Rights leader Rev. Joseph E.
Lowery's organization, "The People's Agenda". Other members of nonprofit
organizations and county/state government departments, including the
Proctor Creek Stewardship Council and Proctor Creek Steering Committee
-- versed in a myriad of specifics regarding Proctor Creek -- contributed
detailed information during their participation. Participants' remarks were
captured on flip charts and displayed during the development session to aid
the engagement process.
Some comments were made in reference to the lack of representation from
the City of Atlanta government at the roundtable discussion/development
session, although it was noted that the Mayor's Office of Sustainability had
been present at the Proctor Creek Information Summit held on Aug. 8th.
"Where is the Department of Watershed?" queried a noted community
leader.
There were many questions and comments about the compact,
"aggressive" community engagement timeline of "The Work Plan". A short
promotional video produced by the Emerald Corridor Foundation was then
shown to participants, followed by commentary by participants familiar with
real estate transactions and Brownfields re-developments in the Proctor
Creek watershed basin that gave evidence to actions already being taken
to secure land/property at market low prices. The re-development plans
promoted by the Emerald Corridor Foundation would give rise to prime
waterfront residential properties that would sell for a projected half million
dollars and more upon completion.
[http://clatl.com/atlanta/proctor-creeks-secondchance/Content?oid=8279805]
The roundtable discussion turned to expressing the obvious: that existing
Proctor Creek watershed basin residents would not be able to afford these
properties, given that the majority of current residents are renters.

[ https://vimeo.com/132708626 ]
The dialogue among participants in the follow-on development session
turned to scrutinizing the challenges they saw in the community
engagement work lying ahead. Confronting the "divide-and-conquer"
possibilities in a scenario where "money is driving the train" was discussed
at length.
"If we assist the powers that be to screw us," one prominent faith leader
commented, "we're going to have to answer to God for it....we sell our
people out.... we will have to answer to a higher power sooner or later."
Concentrating on specific "call to action" items -- ones already defined -- to
"build a frame" was another area explored collectively by participants
during the development session. The following bullet points from earlier
Proctor Creek work sessions were provided by a participant:
Collaboration and Community
Economic Development
Historic Preservation

Engagement

 Housing
Employment and Business Development
Clean/Restore Creek and Community
Green Infrastructure/Storm Water Control
Greenspace
Environmental Stewardship/Education

A small business leader and resident who has been a part of the team
doing community outreach about Proctor Creek made a plea to fellow
participants: "If we were all working together .... I don't know how to repair
relationships, but if we could, people...no one....would mistreat us."
As the development session was wrapping up, a stark reminder was voiced
by a resident of the Proctor Creek watershed basin: "We lived through the
first flood. But the next flood?"
The voice of a veteran Civil Rights leader boomed back in response:
"We've been misused in this city -- and in Fulton County. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. spoke out about creating the Beloved Community -- and they
murdered him. But there's a way we can do this!"
Community roundtable discussions and development sessions are planned
for each of the additional Proctor Creek resident and stakeholder groups:
neighborhood leaders, community leaders, and small business leaders. A
fifth community roundtable discussion and development session is planned
for government leaders and stakeholders. The next roundtable discussion
and development session is already slated for Aug. 31, 2015 at the AtlantaFulton Public Library, Northwest Branch at Scotts Crossing, near Proctor
Creek.
Proctor Creek Community Engagement 3-Step Plan Facilitator Al Bartell -known as a Certified Mediator in the area of Public Policy Management -points to the potential he sees available out of the Proctor Creek
community engagement-focused "Work Plan":
"Atlanta is now poised, perhaps more than any other metropolitan area in
the country, to create an economic future of environmental sustainability
driven by its residents in the Proctor Creek watershed basin. Another step
toward creating that future was taken at the Faith Leaders Roundtable and
Development Session on Aug. 17th."
For more information about "The Work Plan" and the next community
roundtable discussion and development session:

Monday, August 31, 2015

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library
Northwest Branch @ Scotts Crossing
Conference Room A
2489 Perry Boulevard
Atlanta, GA 30318

5:30pm - 7:30pm