Better Together Advisory Board

Members

Claire Anderson (co-chair)
Jenn Ballentine
Bernadette Davis
Karen DeGrammont
Raghu Kakarala
Amy Lewis
Amy Palder
Brady Radford
Yves-Rose Porcena (co-chair)
Marla Tepper
MJ Brown

Liaison
Renae Jackson

Monthly Meeting Schedule

The Better Together Advisory Board meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the City Commission Conference Room, Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St.

About the Better Together Advisory Board

In 2015 approximately 800 citizens contributed a combined total of more than 1,300 hours to create the Better Together Community Action Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Engagement. The plan contains specific action items for individuals, organizations and local government to undertake in order to cultivate a just, welcoming, inclusive, equitable and compassionate city. The Decatur City Commission established the Better Together Advisory Board in 2016 to guide and advise the Commission and the community around issues of equity, inclusion and engagement.

The board's responsibilities include:

• Assist city staff with public education and outreach activities that promote equity, inclusion and engagement.
• Connect established programs and organizations in the community working to promote a more just, welcoming, inclusive, equitable and compassionate city.
• Provide recommendations regarding the implementation of the Better Together Community Action Plan and the City’s Strategic Plan.
• Assist with identifying and providing DEI training and resources to educate community members about respectful, meaningful conversations across differences.
• Assist city staff with annually updating the community resource list (asset map).
• Assist in the development of a strategic, integrated outreach plan in order to involve a broad spectrum of community members in city life.
• Provide recommendations in all subject areas of equity, inclusion, and engagement..
• Provide recommendations for internal program evaluation and reporting and assist city staff in periodically reporting to the City Commission on program effectiveness.
• Respond to requests from the office of the Equity & Engagement Director.

The Better Together Advisory Board functions much like the Parks & Recreation and Lifelong Community boards, providing an opportunity for residents with an interest and expertise in the areas of equity, inclusion, and engagement to assist the city in moving the Community Action Plan forward.

The City Commission appoints nine members to serve three-year terms on the board. They should reflect the city’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and engagement and should have expertise in professional fields and interests such as:

If you'd like to serve on the Better Together Advisory Board, fill out the Statement of Interest Form.

For more information on the Better Together Advisory Board and the Better Together Community Action Plan for Equity, Inclusion and Engagement, contact Renae Jackson at 678-553-6561 or renae.jackson [at] decaturga.com (renae[dot]jackson[at]decaturga[dot]com).

Welcoming and Compassionate City Resolutions 

The City Commission has issued proclamations for becoming a Welcoming City as well as a Compassionate City, which shows support for all residents.