history
Follow Us Through History
The Beginning of Envision Athens
In May 2018, a 23-member Implementation and oversight Committee (IOC) was formed. The IOC was charged with guiding and supporting the implementation process for the Envision Athens Action Agenda.
Athens-Clarke County Comprehensive Plan
In June 2018, Envision Athens partnered with Athens-Clarke County Unified Government to complete their Comprehensive Plan for the city. The plan began with 14 different projects within the structure of Envision Athens, including topics spanning across People, Place, and Prosperity.
Transportation Goal Achieved
Envision Athens was able to pursue a comprehensive transportation safety program through the support of bike and pedestrian infrastructure by way of respective master plans with Vision Zero.
Arts and Culture Goal Achieved
Envision Athens developed an inclusive approach to the arts by identifying and addressing the barriers to equitable access and engagement through measuring economic impact of arts, culture, and heritage tourism.
Safety Goal Achieved
Envision Athens developed a comprehensive community supervision plan to provide optimum opportunity and effective accountability for citizens involved with the criminal justice system by developing and implementing strategic plans to enhance coordinated delivery of public safety services.
Health Goal Achieved
Envision Athens was able to support optimum health by providing substance use disorder prevention and awareness and increasing coordination of and access to supportive services for people affected by substance use disorders and those searching for and living in recovery. We developed an effective behavioral health crisis response team that continues to meet monthly as Healthy Athens to address the substance related behavioral aspects of the behavioral health crisis.
Neighborhoods Goal Achieved
Envision Athens created incentives to encourage revitalization in neighborhoods and commercial developments through utilizing neighborhood schools as hubs for diverse school and neighborhood engagement.
Envision Athens Becomes a Non-Profit
In the fall of 2021, the IOC decided to incorporate Envision Athens as a 501c3, non-profit organization to continue the work.
Executive Director and Board of Directors Acquired
In April of 2022, Envision Athens hired an Executive Director, Sally Kimel-Sheppard, to lead the agency. The Envision Athens IOC has now evolved into a Board of Directors for the agency.
Partnership with Athens Wellbeing Project
In August 2022, Envision Athens Executive Director Sally Sheppard and board leadership voted to partner with the Athens Wellbeing Project to engage in a strategic planning process. The five areas of focus include: House Athens (housing), Healthy Athens (specifically behavioral health), Abundance Athens (food security), Create Athens (arts and culture), and Educate Athens (workforce development).
2022 Envision Athens Wellbeing Event
On October 20, 2022 Envision Athens hosted the Envision Athens Wellbeing Event at the Classic Center’s Oconee River Room in the Foundry Street Building. We recognized winners of the 2022 Good Neighbor Awards: Drew Bowen for Health, Bob & Melody Croft for Create, Lauren Towe for Abundance, and Susan Fontaine for Educate.
What's Next for Envision Athens?
Envision Athens is carrying out a new strategic plan that focuses on a healthy, educated, creative, abundant, housed Athens.