ecoBenefete 2021

Celebrating the Honorable Shirley Clarke Franklin
as our Distinguished Conservationist

On Thursday, November 4th, Georgia Conservancy held its 27th annual ecoBenefête gala, honoring former City of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Clarke Franklin with the organization’s prestigious Distinguished Conservationist Award. The evening brought together supporters of the Georgia Conservancy’s work to celebrate and reflect on Mayor Franklin’s legacy as a strong, practical, and tenacious advocate for clean water, natural resource preservation, and community-centered development.  

The theme of the evening -- “Courage in Conservation” -- rang true through Mayor Franklin’s words, as well as through those of Yeou-Rong Jih of the Kresge Foundation, who was presented with the Longleaf Award by Georgia Conservancy’s young professionals’ board, Generation Green, in recognition of her tireless work to forward and enhance sustainability and conservation in the City of Atlanta. The Longleaf Award annually celebrates an emerging environmental leader in metro Atlanta.

”It’s time to move beyond traditional conservation work, as important as that is,” said Yeou-Rong Jih. “In all that we do, we must ensure the environmental movement and climate change movement are built on racial and economic equity.”

In her acceptance remarks, Mayor Franklin reflected on the importance of empowering local leaders to embrace the challenges of working towards economic and environmental sustainability and resilience. She took the opportunity to laud several colleagues that helped her set a long-term vision for cities’ infrastructural future, crediting the team around her for working together to champion marquee green projects like Westside Park and the Atlanta BeltLine. 

She issued a call to her fellow mayors and elected leaders in Georgia to “have the vision for what comes 25 years after you, and to have the courage to build the foundation for a place you will not see in your lifetimes.” 

Mayor Franklin’s remarks come at an incredibly opportune time. In recognition of her passionate and tireless leadership, Dr. Mark Berry, Chair of Georgia Conservancy’s Board of Trustees, announced that the UPS Foundation, Georgia Power, Colonial Pipeline, and Troutman Pepper have generously provided funding for Georgia Conservancy to design and carry out a series of Mayors’ Clinics for Community Design in 2022.  

Modeled after the National Endowment for the Arts’s Mayors’ Institute for City Design curriculum, Georgia Conservancy’s in-depth training program for mayors offers tailored problem-solving, education, and hands-on technical services for visionary elected officials responsible for the betterment of their communities.  

For the 2022 cohort, Georgia Conservancy will focus specifically on engaging female and minority mayors in Georgia.  

Learn more about the Mayors’ Clinics here:  www.georgiaconservancy.org/mayors-clinics

Mayors’ Clinics in Georgia

The Georgia Conservancy believes that thoughtful planning decisions for developed and conserved lands help all Georgians. Please consider a generous donation in honor of Mayor Shirley Franklin in support of the Georgia Conservancy’s Mayors’ Clinics for Community Design.

The Georgia Conservancy’s Mayors’ Clinics have been generously supported by
The UPS Foundation, Georgia Power, Colonial Pipeline, Troutman Pepper, and individuals like you!

2021 ECOBENEFETE PHOTOS

ecoBenefete 2021 photos by William Brawley

THANK YOU ECOBENEFETE SPONSORS

Leapfrog Services
Troutman Pepper LLP

Thank You Ecobenefete Supporters

Community Champions

Claire & Ross Arnold
Dr. & Mrs. Mark Berry
The Honorable Hardie Davis
Ed & Elly Dobbs
Rick & Holly Downey
Lacey Lewis
Tim & Alison McKinley
Joe & Rebekah Montgomery
Amanda Brown Olmstead & George Olmstead
Laura Turner Seydel
Michael & Jenny Stubbs
Chet Tisdale