Checkpoint 3 Reporting: Atlanta

How have you made progress on your pathway?

In earlier Checkpoints, the Atlanta Regional Alliance reported potential alliance partners. The Atlanta RA has made some gains in identifying individuals associated with some of the alliance partners and convening them to discuss the development of a common local agenda. The leadership team had several teleconferences to discuss strategy and plans.

The Atlanta RA identified and engaged community organizer Yvonne Jones as a liaison to various organizations engaged in local issues. She is from the Neighborhood Planning Unit L and English Avenue (local) resident already working in this space of community water+ issues.

The leadership held a meeting on March 29 with participants from five local community groups. The participants were briefed on the EarthConnections project and the intent of the Atlanta Regional Alliance. The group discussion focused on commonalities, what their organizations could bring to the RA and what a successful RA looks like.

A second meeting is scheduled for May 12.

Describe why the steps you took were important in meeting your pathway goals

The Atlanta RA stalled a bit earlier this winter after initial plans to do a larger kickoff meeting. After several teleconferences and email discussion, the team decided to do a "reset" and start with a smaller meeting with the intent of getting a few key partners engaged and on board. The meeting was very successful and everyone agreed to meet again to both continue the conversation and engage additional partners.

Pathway Development

Embedding in the local community

The alliance is aiming to integrate geoscience resources and pathways into the local west Atlanta area. We are still building the alliance and will likely invite additional people/organizations once we have a more solid common agenda developed with the initial participants.

Process to get community input

We held a kick off meeting with individuals and asked them to all talk about how they thing their organizations could work together within the alliance. The meeting was community-driven with the goal to define common goals. We confirmed that making sure the organizations helped to define the goals (common agenda) was a positive starting point.

Use geoscience to address a local need or problem

We have not fully defined the pathway activities yet.

Learning opportunities diagram

Mentoring and signposting to support students

This is still to be determined.