|
About Commissioner Emma I. Darnell...
The Honorable Emma I. Darnell,
J.D.
Commissioner Darnell represents District
Five which consists of Northwest
Atlanta, Southwest Atlanta and portions
of unincorporated South Fulton County.
Her major areas of interest include
Human Health and the Environment Library
Services Senior Adult Services and
Transportation.
Born in Atlanta and a graduate of the
public schools of Tyler, Texas,
Commissioner Darnell was elected to the
Board of Commissioners in a special
election, May 1992. She was re-elected
in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006. She was
elected Vice-Chair of the Board in 2000,
2001, 2005 and 2006.
In December 1998, she led the Board of
Commissioners in opening a $5.5 million
senior multi-purpose facility in
northwest Atlanta. Named by the Board
of Commissioners and the Northwest
Community Senior Advisory Committee to
honor the life and work of her mother, a
community activist for seniors, the
Harriett G. Darnell Senior Multi-Purpose
Facility provides a variety of social,
educational, fitness, and nutritional
activities designed for persons age 55
years and older. The facility also
houses the first government-operated
adult day care program in Fulton County.
Previously, Commissioner Darnell was
employed by the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, Atlanta Regional
Office, Investigations and Conciliations
Division. She also served in the
government of the City of Atlanta as
Special Assistant to Mayor for
Intergovernmental Affairs and Chair of
the Grant Review Board. She also served
as Director, Economic Opportunity
Atlanta, Inc.
In her capacity as Commissioner of
Administrative Services for the City of
Atlanta, she was responsible for the
personnel, purchasing, general services,
labor relations, EBO and EEO
departments. She was an architect of
Atlanta’s “Minority Participation Plan
for the Expansion of Hartsfield
International Airport” featured in Henry
Hampton’s documentary, “Eyes on the
Prize.”
A former college professor, Commissioner
Darnell graduated from Fisk University
where she was a member of Alpha Beta
Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. She
earned the Master’s degree from Columbia
University, Teachers College where she
was a member of Pi Lambda Theta Honor
Society. She earned the Juris Doctor
degree from the Howard University School
of Law.
Citing her work in government as a
“public moralist”, in June 2000, she was
awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree,
honoris causa by the Board of
Trustees of the Interdenominational
Theological Center (ITC), Atlanta,
Georgia.
The recipient of over 300 awards from
civic and business organizations for
outstanding achievement in the area of
government and human rights,
Commissioner Darnell is serving a fifth
term as a member of the Judicial Council
of the CME Church.
She is the daughter of (the late) Dr.
Milner L. Darnell, President/Dean,
Phillips School of Theology, Atlanta,
Georgia and (the late) Mrs. Harriett G.
Darnell, Volunteer Director, Ours Senior
Center, 73 Georgia Avenue.
Commissioner Darnell is President of
E.I. Darnell and Associates, P.C.
|
