By: Senators Levetan of the 40th, Henson of the 41st and Butler of the 55th

 

WHEREAS, Mrs. Greene and her family moved to DeKalb County where she immediately got involved in the community and the segregated Victoria Simmons Elementary School where she was instrumental in supporting and bringing to the school Mr. Jesse Dixon, the youngest principal in DeKalb County; and

 

WHEREAS, Mrs. Greene and Mr. Dixon formed a partnership to address the growing needs of poor people in DeKalb County and sought to mirror Atlanta which in 1963 established an Economic Opportunity Agency (EOA) but were told by DeKalb officials that the county, with a mean household income of $15,000.00 per year, had no need for anti-poverty programs; and

 

WHEREAS, in 1969, DeKalb County schools were integrated and, together, Mrs. Greene and Mr. Dixon wrote the first Head Start grant request for the DeKalb County School System; and

 

WHEREAS, because of Mrs. Greene´s extensive community and public official contacts, she was able to garner considerable support for Head Start despite significant political obstacles; and

 

WHEREAS, Mrs. Greene was not expected to succeed, but she persevered and brought together coalitions of poor people, both black and white, by emphasizing the point that Head Start and EOA were for everybody regardless of color; and

 

WHEREAS, due to her astounding achievements, she was being sought out by local public officials to share her advice on community issues and became an inspiration to rising leaders who saw Mrs. Greene as a mother figure they could rely upon to tell them the truth with kindness and compassion; and

 

WHEREAS, “Mother Greene,” as she is affectionately known, has been recognized ever since as the Mother of Community Action in DeKalb County.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that this body recognizes and honors the contributions of Mrs. Eva Jewell “Mother Greene” Greene to the citizens and County of DeKalb.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Mrs. Eva Jewell “Mother Greene” Greene.