Atlanta, GA — Mayor Franklin and the city council will declare Atlanta a “City of ONE” at today’s city council meeting. The council will present volunteers of the grassroots organization, ONE, with a proclamation signed by Mayor Franklin.  ONE members will shortly address the meeting to explain how Atlantans can join in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease as Georgia’ first-ever ONE City.

A reception to celebrate ONE Atlanta will take place from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. in the Large Council Room on the 2nd floor of Atlanta City Hall.  The City Council meeting will begin at 1 pm in City Hall.

As a ONE City, Atlanta is committed to educating its residents about what Atlantans can do to help fight extreme poverty around the world and raise awareness of the millions of people who die needlessly from preventable diseases.

Atlanta’s representatives in Congress today acknowledged that they are listening.

About today’s announcement, Rep. John Lewis (D-5) said, “In his last Sunday sermon in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘There is nothing new about poverty.  What is new is that we now have the techniques and the resources to get rid of poverty.  The real question is whether we have the will.’  Solving the issue of poverty is central to the building of the Beloved Community, a community of nations at peace with itself.  I am glad that ONE and the city of Atlanta are working together to try to find an answer to the crisis of poverty and preventable disease around the world.”

“Atlanta has long opened its hearts and homes to those in need throughout the world, hosting some of the largest numbers of refugees and immigrants in the nation.  I am pleased that Mayor Franklin is taking an additional step by declaring Atlanta a ‘City of One.’  By working with ONE members and volunteers to educate the public about global poverty issues, Atlantans will have an even greater capacity to help their brothers and sisters throughout the world.  As a Member of Congress serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee, I look forward to working with my constituents and with ONE to raise the standard of living of the world’s most vulnerable populations,” said Rep. David Scott (D- 13).

Mayor Shirley Franklin signed the proclamation after the persistent efforts of ONE volunteers, Kristi Wootin and Nancy Bauer and with the support of ONE members throughout Atlanta.

“We are making inroads against terrible poverty and treatable disease by letting Georgians know that there are many ways to take action.  We have been working for a long time to educate our neighbors and let them know that that by calling our representatives and our senators, we can make a difference.  We have already seen many successes and, now, I am proud to have my city officially by my side in this endeavor,” said Atlanta ONE co-leader Kristi Wooten.

Nancy Bauer, Atlanta ONE co-leader, added, “Today, Atlanta joins more than 130 cities across the nation joined together by our dedication to do what we can to help. We are working to build the movement here in Atlanta as well as gather with others from across the state. We are joined together with those who believe that every child deserves to go to school and that women suffering from HIV/AIDS have a right to lifesaving medicine.  We believe that human beings are all afforded the same rights no matter their birthplace.”

ONE volunteers from throughout Atlanta are joining with Cathy Woolard, executive vice president of global advocacy and external relations for CARE, and special student guests from Kennesaw State University for the celebration reception at 12 pm today.

“As an Atlantan, I am proud to see my city standing in solidarity with the world’s poorest people,” said Cathy Woolard, executive vice president of global advocacy and external relations for Atlanta-based CARE USA and former president of the Atlanta City Council.  “We have the ability to bring about the end of poverty. It’s a matter of declaring our commitment to the cause and taking action to make a difference. Today’s proclamation is an important step in that direction.”

ONE is a grassroots organization whose millions of members across America work in their local communities to raise awareness of global poverty and treatable, preventable diseases in order to build the political will to address the crisis.  Momentum is gathering across the country as volunteers from all fifty states are voicing their concern for people living on less than one dollar per day.

BACKGROUND

Through efforts on the ground in local communities across the United States and online at ONE.org, ONE members are reaching across political aisles to ask elected officials and candidates to increase efforts to fight preventable disease and extreme poverty.

Via millions of emails and letters and hundreds of thousands of phone calls to the President and Congress and at various campaign stops around the country, ONE members have asked that America do even more to lead the world in bringing hope and opportunity to the world’s poorest people.

Disease, famine and poverty are rampant problems that take the lives of thousands everyday while depriving millions of the chance to lead productive, healthy lives. Solving these problems is a common interest in our community, our state, our nation and our world. Increasing our efforts at home will not only save the lives of millions of people – we will also transform how those people see us. It will increase our national security, protect our economy and build a better, safer world for us all.