Author: On Common Ground News

STONECREST, GA—The City of Stonecrest and community partners are teaming up to provide needy families with Thanksgiving turkeys and food boxes on Saturday, Nov. 16, ahead of the holiday. The giveaway begins at noon, but cars can begin lining up as early as 8 a.m., at the Browns Mill Recreation Center, 5101 Browns Mill Road, Stonecrest, city officials said.  The free turkeys and food boxes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until they are all gone.   This year marks the fourth year the City of Stonecrest has hosted the event. Community partners include Publix, First African Community Food…

LITHONIA, GA–Young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their agriculture businesses during a “Shark Tank”-style event sponsored by the EMBARC Youth Farm. The event will be held on Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m., at the Bruce Street East DeKalb Senior Center, 2449 Bruce St., Lithonia. EMBARC is the acronym for the Education, Market, Botanicals, Agriculture, and Recreation Center, located at the former 50-acre Bransby Outdoor YMCA in unincorporated Lithonia.  DeKalb CEO-elect Lorraine Cochran Johnson championed the initiative as a former member of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. The upcoming event will spotlight the entrepreneurial skills and sustainable agriculture expertise of…

ATLANTA – State Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) will host Female Entrepreneurship Day on Friday, Nov. 15, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the South Wing steps of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. Female Entrepreneurship Day in Georgia is an annual event that recognizes the contributions of women entrepreneurs and fosters collaboration, inspiration and support. The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions and networking opportunities designed to connect women across industries. It will have an emphasis on financial literacy, business strategy and personal growth, providing resources for women to thrive as leaders and innovators. Additionally, the event aims to…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – The Georgia Department of Education recently named Shoal Creek Elementary School, Edwards Middle School, and Gen. Ray Davis Middle School as Math Leader Schools for achievement and growth in mathematics. Shoal Creek was recognized for 5th Grade Gateway Growth for its growth in the percentage of 5th-grade students scoring at the Proficient or Above level in mathematics on the Georgia Milestones Assessment. Shoal Creekmore than doubled in growth from 11.4% in 2022-23 to 28% in 2023-24. Both Edwards Middle and Davis Middle were recognized for High School Achievement, exceeding the criteria of 90% or more of their 8th-grade…

ATLANTA – The House Republican Caucus met today, Nov. 12, to elect its leadership team for the 2025-2026 legislative term. During the meeting, House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) was nominated by the caucus to serve a second term as the 75th Speaker of the House of Representatives, while House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones (R-Milton) was also nominated to serve another term in her role. “It has been an immense honor and privilege to serve as Georgia’s 75th Speaker of the House, and I am deeply grateful for the unwavering trust and support of my colleagues and friends,” said Speaker…

Join the Atlanta Black Chambers to discuss the challenges and successes of women farmers in our community online on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 6:00 PM . This event aims to shed light on the current situation, share stories, and provide resources for women farmers. Limited seats available, register for the free workshop here.

CONYERS, GA–Springfield Baptist Church will host its 1,000 Turkey Thanksgiving Giveaway, an annual tradition that brings holiday cheer and support to local families. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the church,1877 Iris Drive SE, Conyers.   As part of its commitment to community service and outreach, Springfield Baptist Church will be distributing 1,000 free turkeys, along with all the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, to families in need.  The event is open to everyone, and no advance registration is required. To streamline the experience, onsite mobile registration will be available, allowing families…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–BioLab has reopened its operations in Conyers, after being shut down since Sept. 29 following a chemical explosion. The company said in a statement that its distribution center reopened on Nov. 4 and has resumed fulfilling orders for finished products used to clean pools and spas. The facility, however, has not resumed manufacturing cleaning chemicals at the site, the company stated.  “BioLab’s Distribution Center at Conyers was cleared by relevant authorities and regulators to reopen on November 4 and resume fulfilling customer orders for finished products, which are used to clean pools and spas. We are grateful that…