Delta joins leaders to celebrate Forever Young Aquaponics opening in Clayton County, bringing sustainability and community impact to life

Delta Air Lines President Peter Carter cuts the ribbon with Clayton County Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry and Gaurav Kumar, President of the Andrew J. Young Foundation 

On June 2, Delta leaders joined the Andrew J. Young Foundation, local officials and community partners to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new facility in Clayton County — a milestone project rooted in decades of partnership with the Andrew J. Young Foundation.

The facility serves as a hub for sustainable agriculture, education and workforce development. Using aquaponics — a system that combines fish farming and hydroponics — the site creates a closed-loop system that produces fresh food while teaching valuable skills to local residents and youth. Designed as a highly controlled growing environment, the facility can operate year-round, largely unaffected by weather and traditional farming challenges.

The opening program brought together leaders across sectors, including Delta, Google, Thrivent and nonprofit partners, and featured a tribute to Ambassador Young’s lasting impact on Atlanta and beyond. Leaders from across agriculture and sustainability sectors also highlighted the importance of innovative farming models in helping feed growing communities.

“This is more than a new facility — it’s a reflection of a legacy,” said Peter Carter, President of Delta Air Lines. “Ambassador Young’s vision has shaped Delta’s global perspective and continues to inspire how we invest in communities.”

Ambassador Young’s relationship with Delta spans decades, including his service on the company’s Board of Directors, where he helped champion international growth — particularly across Africa — and strengthened global connections. Today, Delta is the largest U.S.–Africa carrier, building on that foundation. The company has also honored its longstanding partnership with Ambassador Young by naming an aircraft — a Boeing 767-300 — after him in 2012 and dedicating a building on its campus in 2021.

Delta and The Delta Air Lines Foundation have also supported the Andrew J. Young Foundation through storytelling initiatives, including films such as Andrew Young Presents, a documentary television series hosted by Ambassador Young that blends personal storytelling with historical and cultural narratives, and The Games in Black and White, which highlights the story of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. The Delta Air Lines Foundation also supports Ambassador Young’s vision for the future, including a $5 million grant toward the Andrew Young International Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, planned for Atlanta near Cook Park.

The Forever Young Aquaponics facility represents the next chapter of that partnership, translating shared values into community impact. From the fish house to the greenhouse, the space will provide hands-on learning opportunities while supporting food security and economic development in Clayton County. At full capacity, the facility is expected to produce significant volumes of fresh vegetables and fish each week — helping to address local food access while demonstrating scalable, sustainable agriculture.

Following the ribbon cutting, guests toured the facility and experienced a culinary demonstration featuring ingredients grown onsite, highlighting the full cycle from production to plate.

For Delta’s more than 37,000 Georgia-based employees, the project highlights the company’s commitment to investing in the communities where employees live, work, and serve.

The Forever Young Aquaponics facility stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through collaboration, and a lasting investment in the next generation.