Author: On Common Ground News

ATLANTA—DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson joined metro county leaders and members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus on Tuesday, March 31, on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol to voice strong opposition to the Senate Substitute to House Bill 369 (HB 369), calling on Gov. Brian Kemp to veto the legislation. The joint press conference brought together leadership from DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties to raise concerns about what they described as a targeted and inequitable policy that undermines voter transparency and local governance. Speaking on behalf of DeKalb County and as part of a unified regional coalition, Cochran-Johnson emphasized the…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, in partnership with the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and WorkSource DeKalb, announces the return of the DeKalb Summer Youth Employment Program (DSYEP) for 2026. The program will run from June 1–July 10, 2026, providing 450 youth interns across DeKalb with work experience and professional development opportunities in industries such as healthcare, education, technology, retail, and government. DSYEP is designed to prepare young residents for the workforce by offering hands-on experience, skill development, and exposure to career pathways that support long-term success. Program Highlights: Program Dates: June 1–July 10 Participants: 450 interns Compensation: $15…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new upgrades of the playground, basketball court, landscaping, and new pavilion at Cedar Park, 3165 Cedar St., Scottdale, GA, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 14. A total of $2.3 million was allocated to complete the upgrades at the park.  Contributions were provided in part through the Park Pride’s Grantmaking Program, supported by the American Rescue Plan, DeKalb County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), Commissioners Ted Terry and Chakira Johnson, and the Parks Department to complete the project. The public is invited to join county…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA— Rockdale County is hosting a fun-filed Easter Extravaganza event on Saturday, April 4, from noon until 3 p.m. at Legion Fields, 1260 Main Street NE, Conyers.  There will be music, food and games. Children are encouraged to bring their own basket for the egg  hunt, which begins at1 p.m. Admission is free. 

STONECREST, GA– The city of Stonecrest has launched a new marketing campaign celebrating the people, progress, and spirit of DeKalb County’s most populated city, home to an estimated 60,000 residents, officials announced on Tuesday, March 31.  The “Stonecrest PROUD!” campaign features a new 2:59-minute rap song that hypes up Stonecrest’s assets—including the Browns Mill Aquatic Center, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, the Mall at Stonecrest and the mega New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.  City officials say the four-month civic pride initiative, which run April-August, will be driven by a series of social media videos spotlighting Stonecrest residents, businesses, city employees…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Nicole M. Golden has released her office’s 2025 annual report to taxpayers. The report details the important work done by the tax commissioner’s office in collecting and disbursing nearly $2 billion in revenue for county services. “I am proud to share the achievements and fiscal responsibility this office consistently shows in motor vehicle and property tax collections,” saidGolden. “It is important for the residents of DeKalb to understand the office’s commitment to delivering excellent customer service, responsibly collecting and distributing revenue, and serving our community by creating informed and satisfied taxpayers.” The report includes…

GWINETT COUNTY, GA–Two new inclusive playgrounds at Baggett Elementary School and Ferguson Elementary School are creating more opportunities for all students to play. At Baggett Elementary, the playground idea grew out of a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Project-Based Learning experience with some of its 4th-grade students. The students stepped into the role of project managers and used simple machines to design the playground they envisioned. The school also received donations from Regions Bank and two local families, the Hansens and the Dorfmans, for the playground. As a result, the money the students originally raised will now go toward creating a new playground for the…

STONECREST, GA— New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will welcome thousands of worshippers and community members for its highly anticipated Resurrection Weekend, a multi-day experience blending powerful worship, economic empowerment, and community outreach.  Throughout the holiday weekend, the church also will activate a series of surprise pop-up outreach moments across metro Atlanta, designed to randomly bless individuals and families in need and extend the spirit of Easter beyond the sanctuary walls. Anchored in both faith and culture, this year’s theme, Sinners: Three Days That Changed Everything, reflects the redemptive message at the heart of the Easter story while also offering a contemporary lens…

ATLANTA— Metro-Atlanta elected officials and members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus will hold a joint press conference on Tuesday, March 31, at 9:30 a.m., at the state Capitol to voice opposition to House Bill 369. The controversial bill, which mandates nonpartisan elections for district attorneys, solicitors general, county commissioners, tax commissioners, superior court clerks, and school board members, targets Georgia’s “big five” counties: Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton and Gwinnett. Under the bill, candidates seeking election for the said offices would run without party labels (Democrat or Republican).  Critics say that the legislation raises serious concerns about voter transparency and local…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– This year, five students from Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) have been selected as finalists and one student has been selected as an alternate to attend the 2026 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) hosted at Georgia Southern University this summer.  The students selected are: Laila Coleman (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology) – Science, Biology/Environmental Science. Macyn Frazier (Heritage High School) – Communicative Arts. Wyatt Howell (HHS) – Music, Voice: Tenor. Francisco Rodriguez (RMSST) – Mathematics. Gabrielle Thomson (Rockdale County High School) – Visual Arts. Alternate: Madison Reese (HHS) – Dance. RCPS Superintendent Shirley Chesser congratulated the…