Image courtesy of the Atlanta City Council.

This weekend, members of Atlanta’s City Council planted a tree in Vine City Park to honor the memory of the late Councilman Ivory Lee Young Jr., who passed away in November. On Monday his successor, Antonio Brown, was sworn in.

“This is a special moment for all of us. It’s not about me. It never has been about me. It’s always been about the people,” Brown said after taking the oath of office. “I am thankful and grateful to each and every one of you for believing in me and supporting me through this race.”

Brown will start service immediately, and has been assigned to three committees for 2019, according to council materials: Community Development/Human Services, Public Safety & Legal Administration, and Committee on Council.

However, the excitement does not come without a note of sadness. On Saturday, members of the council, along with representatives from Trees Atlanta and officials from the parks and recreation department planted a tree in honor of Young, who passed away while serving his community.

The tree was planted during the 2019 Vine City English Avenue Earth Day Festival, council materials indicate. The event’s goal was to educate, engage and empower community members to transform their neighborhoods in an environmentally sustainable way.

A proclamation made at the event noted the festival was only possible because of Young’s efforts, and the tree would stand as a “tribute to the life he lived in true and humble service to others,” according to council materials.