For Immediate Release
AADM End Of The Year Recap2017 -Stroll Down Memory Lane
Athens, Ga – With 2018 rapidly approaching, the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement is near the end of a historic second year of action and activism in the fight for a truly diverse and inclusive Athens.
In the course of less than 365 days, AADM has expanded as an organization while also maintaining a focus on community outreach, education, and policy change that will hopefully create inroads for Black Athenians and other minorities to occupy more public spaces and assume positions of power. Launched by the husband-and-wife team of Knowa and Mokah Johnson, AADM ends 2017 with much work to do, but a genuine sense of pride in how far we’ve Come.
2017 accomplishments:
● In association with United Group of Artists, AADM held the first annual MLK Jr. Parade in Downtown Athens with more than three dozen sponsors and the local organizations that committed to march. According to the Athens Banner-Herald, attendance was estimated at a few thousand.
● AADM provided counsel to the first person to file a formal complaint against a downtown bar after the passage of November 2016 bar admittance ordinance and has now backed a second complainant that alleged discrimination at Jerzees Sportsbar
● The Internal Revenue Service granted us 501(c)(3) status, which means that all donations are tax-deductible.
● In alliance with Fred Smith, co-founder of Athens Area Black History Bowl, AADM brought community awareness to Baldwin Hall Slave remains and Athens original Day of Jubilee, May 4th, 1965.
● Our first community cook-off event, held in September, raised more than $500 for local programs committed to ending the school-to-prison pipeline.
● More than 100 local businesses owners agreed to participate in the “United Against Discrimination” sticker campaign
● In response to Charlottesville Riot- AADM hosted the largest community forum at Athens Clarke County Library and launched a campaign to move Athens Confederate Monument
● University of Georgia approved the creation of a student chapter of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement that began in the fall of 2017.
● AADM was featured as the subject in more than two dozen stories produced by local news media coverage including articles run at the Athens Banner-Herald, Flagpole Magazine and The Red and Black.
● Mayor Nancy Denson selected AADM President Mokah Johnson to a task force to prepare a diversity and inclusion plan for the city of Athens that might include a permanent citizens committee.
● AADM also launched the “End School to Prison Pipeline” program and organized the first annual ESTPP conference
Jumping into 2018, AADM will host a Teen Social Justice meetup as part of the End School to Prison Pipeline program, in addition, to begin the planning stages for the “Future of Athens Black and Minority Community” Mayoral Forum scheduled for February 2018 and much more. In the meantime, don’t forget to attend the Athens MLK Day Jr. Parade and Fest, Monday, January 15, 2018. Volunteers needed!
The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement will continue the fight for racial and social justice in 2018 and would also like to welcome aboard their new board members and welcome back a dynamic team. For more information contact jasminejohnsonedu@gmail.com.
Amazing year!