Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): Commission District 6
To Appropriate $10,000 From the District 6 Youth Allocation Fund to the Fruitful Communities Foundation to Support the Green Libraries Tours Program Providing DeKalb Youth with Educational and Engaging Opportunities to Learn about Climate Action, Sustainable Practices, and Their Respective Role in a Greener DeKalb County.
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward C. “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
Funding was from the District 6 2023 Reserve for Appropriations was designated for DeKalb County District 6 Youth Programs. This appropriation of $10,000 will support the Fruitful Community Foundation and its partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots& Shoots’ Green Libraries Tours providing DeKalb Youth with educational and engaging opportunities to learn about climate action, sustainable practices, and their role in a greener DeKalb County.
The Green Libraries Tours will be conducted at all 23 DeKalb Libraries- including the 7 with an existing Productive Urban Landscape providing all DeKalb Youth the opportunity to have a hands-on experience learning about land stewardship, ways to combat climate change, problem solving, and building communication skills through meaningful dialogue.
NEED/IMPACT:
Covid shined additional light on the mental health of school aged students during the pandemic, including a disproportionate level of “trauma” that young people experienced. Innovative activities are crucial to supporting the health and wellbeing of students. In addition to edification, they provide additional layers of support to academic, social, mental health, and physical health services that can help enhance transitioning into a constant changing normal, as well as to mitigate negative behaviors.
The Green Libraries Tours expands the “invisible classroom” for youth experiences to outside the library, activating and making the outdoors accessible to youth in DeKalb County and the Atlanta metro area. This allows opportunities for youth to be engaged on earth stewardship, the natural world, sustainability, and combatting climate change when they otherwise may not have hands on access. Programs that allow youth to be outside and engage with the natural world have been proven to benefit their health both physically and mentally.
Further, in multiples surveys it shows over 50% of youth are anxious about climate change. Accessible programs that discuss and provide hands on experience with earth stewardship, sustainability, combating climate change, and problem solving allow for youth to feel empowered and in control of their futures.
FISCAL IMPACT:
An amount not to exceed $10,000.00 from the District 6 2023 Reserve for Appropriations
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the appropriation of $10,000.00 from the District 6 2023 Budget Reserve for Appropriations for Youth Programs to support the Green Libraries Tours and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute all the necessary documents/contracts appropriate for this award