South Fulton Today

Sen. Sally Harrell, of District 40, recently won a Telly Award for a video that details her efforts to ban single-use plastics and plastic grocery bags in Georgia. 

In February of 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, Harrell filed SB 434, forbidding the usage of single-use plastics, including styrofoam containers and plastic grocery bags, she said on Facebook. A short video, "Ban the Styrofoam and Single Use Plastic Bags," was created and submitted for a Telly Award.

"What is significant about this is not the honor itself, but the story behind the video. It was produced with a zero dollar budget, by my friend and neighbor Mria Dangerfield, along with the sound expertise of her husband, Michael Dangerfield, and the musical talent of her son, Evan Dangerfield," Harrell said on Facebook.

Mria has been filming video for Harrell's state senate campaign since its inception in 2017

"We won a Gold Telly Award!" Harrell said on Facebook. 

The Telly Awards honors distinction in video and television across all types of video categories, the Telly Awards website said. 

Harrell said on Facebook that they started a good dialogue but did not get the bill passed. But she says that the Telly Award gives them hope that their message is getting out into the community.

She said that she hopes the video encourages those who watch it to make changes to save the environment. 

"What drives Mria is a passion to use her talents to make a difference for her community and country, and it’s amazing to watch how she brings her family into that effort," Harrell said on Facebook.