Author: On Common Ground News

Georgia Department of Education now says Black Studies allowed in schools   DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Superintendent Devon Q. Horton has vowed to continue supporting the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course, announcing on Wednesday that the course will be offered at four of the district’s high schools. DeKalb’s move comes  as State Superintendent Richard Woods said on Wednesday that the state would pay for districts to teach a new AP course in black studies, a day after he said districts could only teach the course using local funds. Meanwhile, supporters for the black history course…

DECATUR, GA—A memorial honoring the late Congressman John Lewis is scheduled to be unveiled during a ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 11 a.m., DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and Board of Commissioners’ Presiding Officer Mereda Davis Johnson announced on Wednesday, July 24. “Congressman John Lewis’ legacy of pursuing ‘good trouble’ will be memorialized and celebrated by this tribute to a great man who dedicated his life to the pursuit of freedom, justice and equality for all,” Thurmond said. Further details about the event will be provided closer to the date. The memorial, conceptualized by the John Lewis Commemorative Task Force…

DECATUR, GA—On Friday, July 26, New Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 2580 Snapfinger Road, will host a “Feeding The Community” event. The free drive-through distribution will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until food runs out. Food will be distributed on first-come, first-served” basis.

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Jonia Milburn released disturbing information during a press conference on Monday, July 22, concerning the death of her 27-year-old son, a U.S. Army veteran who suffered from PTSD and was confined at the DeKalb County Jail.    Milburn said that Christon DaVante Collins had been arrested after having a post-traumatic stress disorder breakdown. She had been trying to get him help since last year after several arrests for petty crimes. He died in a system that failed him, she said.     Milburn said that she obtained a surveillance video of her only son’s last hours alive at the jail through Georgia’s…

Harris amasses historic $100M  in campaign donations ATLANTA—Jamal H. Bryant, pastor of the mega New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, announced on social media today that 3,000 pastors and other black organizations have raised millions of dollars in just a few hours in support of Kamala Harris, potentially the first woman of color to be elected as President of the United States.   “We are mobilizing an army (in support of Kamala Harris),” Bryant told listeners this morning during a Facebook live post entitled “I’m with Her.”  According to media reports, Harris amassed an estimated $81M from donors around the nation, setting…

 UPDATE: Celebration of Life Service, Omega Psi Phi, Inc. Memorial Service, Public visitation announced DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Lawrence L. Nelson, Jr., founder of Lang Custom Homes, has passed away. He died on Saturday, July 20, at age 58. Mr. Nelson, an African-American who earned a distinguished reputation in metro-Atlanta as a top builder for luxurious, impeccably-designed homes, was the exclusive builder of the Greenridge community in DeKalb County. In addition to completing Greenridge in 2005, where several of DeKalb’s most prominent citizens built homes, Lang built luxury homes in Kanawha Lakes and Spencer’s Mountain subdivisions in Stone Mountain, GA.  He went on…

SNELLVILLE, GA– Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Denise R. Mitchell is reminding customers that the Snellville Tag Office, located at 2845 Lenora Church Rd., will be temporarily closed July 24 –29 for repairs to a water main break. Customers can continue to access services at the Lawrenceville, North Gwinnett, Norcross and Peachtree Corners locations. The tag offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Hours are extended to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Locations for the tag offices, kiosks and Department of Motor Vehicles(DMV) online services can be found at: www.GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com. For further assistance, customers can call Gwinnett’s DMV customer…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Six dependent children of active Gwinnett County  Police Department employees were presented scholarships at the Gwinnett County Police Foundation’s third quarter meeting on July 18.. The scholarships are designed to reward, encourage, and assist students pursuing academic excellence and leadership.  The 2024 Memorial Scholarships were as follows: Officer Jerry Everett Memorial Scholarship Officer Ralph Davis Memorial Scholarship Officer Jesse Gravitt Memorial Scholarship Officer Chris Magill Memorial Scholarship Officer Antwan Toney Memorial Scholarship Major Stewart Bozemen Educational Scholarship At the meeting, the foundation also received a generous donation from the First American Bank and Trust.  Their donation will be used…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA—Rockdale County and USDA officials this week held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate a new community wellness garden that will provide fresh herbs and produce, the opportunity for citizens to experience yoga, sound therapy, and other wellness activities, as well as serve as a demonstration garden for children to learn about agriculture. The community wellness garden will expand the University of Georgia’s Extension Service garden at Wheeler Park, 1350 Parker Road in Conyers. Post 1 Commissioner Sherri L. Washington worked to secure the $145,000 grant for the project through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Urban and Innovative…