Author: On Common Ground News

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs announces that select county pools and facilities will be open on a modified schedule beginning Aug. 10 through Labor Day, Sept. 2. Operation Hours Splash pad – Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pools – Saturdays and Sundays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.   Exchange Splash Pad 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur, Ga. 30034 Gresham Pool 3113 Gresham Road, Atlanta, Ga. 30316 Lithonia Pool 2501 Park Drive, Lithonia, Ga. 30058 Medlock Pool 874 Gaylemont Circle, Decatur, Ga. 30033 Midway Pool 3181 Midway Road, Decatur, Ga. 30032 Tobie Grant…

STONECREST, GA–The 2024 Arabia Mountain High School Rams wrapped up its football camp with a trip to Voices of Faith Church.  The church, under the leadership of Bishop Gary Hawkins, Sr., provided the players with free haircuts for Picture Day and backpacks filled with school supplies in preparation for the first day of school on Aug. 5.  The team and coaches also attended worship service on July 28 at Voices of Faith , receiving a warm welcome from Bishop Hawkins and congregation members. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9-3y6bSl9M/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA—Chris Moten’s revolutionary new sound, Trap Jazz, is coming to Stone Mountain. Trap Jazz will take center stage on Friday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m., at Voices of Faith Church’s 30th Anniversary Celebration featuring an evening of dinner and jazz. Led by Moten, Trap Jazz recently performed at the Atlanta High Museum to a packed-out crowd. The performance follows a growing number of major events for the up-and-coming Atlanta artists since a Hulu documentary premiered on Aug. 23, 2023 celebrating Trap Jazz as the new sound for this generation—a fusion of jazz, classical, and hip hop. Moten, who turned 38…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct its Special Called meeting on Thursday, Aug.  8, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/88137432677. Join by phone at 602-333-0032 or888-270-9936 and use conference code 171493.  Agenda Callto Order Adoptionof Agenda III.            Administrative Items Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of July 18, 2024 Nomination and Election of Officer(s) Evidentiary Hearing Procedures Public Comments Comments from the Board of Ethics Executive Session to Discuss Pending Litigation and Personnel Issues Motion to Convene an Executive Session Motion to Adjourn an Executive Session Motion to Approve the Executive Session Affidavit VII.         Announcement of Next Regular Meeting Date of Thursday, August 15, 2024…

LITHONIA, GA–First Saint Paul AME Church will host its Annual Back to School Bash on Aug. 10, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The church, which is under the leadership of the Rev. Marvin L. Crawford, is located at 2624 Klondike Road, Lithonia.   The free event will feature the following: School supplies Back packs Clothing with Emonie’s Closet Child ID packets  There will be food, games, and music. The DeKalb County Board of Health’s Mobile Clinic will provide immunizations and health screenings.  The community is invited.

DECATUR, GA— DeKalb County Government is partnering with the DeKalb County School District and local faith leaders to distribute 3,000 bookbags filled with school supplies, along with 5,000 boxes of fresh produce, chicken, and lunch box snacks on Saturday, Aug. 3. DeKalb students return to classes for the 2024-2025 school year on Monday, Aug. 5. DeKalb County and its partners will distribute: 3,000 clear bookbags filled with a pack of 12 pencils, a pack of 12 pens, a pack of 24 crayons, pack of three erasers, ruler, composition notebook, a three-subject notebook, notebook filler paper, a flash drive and a calculator…

ATLANTA – The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) will hold its 51st annual legislative conference this weekend, Aug. 2-4, at Atlanta Metropolitan College, 1630 Metropolitan Parkway S.W. Legislators, elected officials, community leaders and strategic partners will gather to discuss key issues under the GLBC’s 2024 theme,“Redeeming the Soul of America, Testing1, 2, 3.” The conference kicks off with a reception on Friday, Aug. 2, 8:30—11:30 p.m., at Bar Ti Amo, 3199 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta. Dr. Jamal H. Bryant, pastor of the mega New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and headline newsmaker, will be the keynote speaker at the GLBC Unity Breakfast…

ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) recently hosted a tour for a group of African college students who are aspiring engineers. The students, currently attending Georgia State University, are participants in the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellows Program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department. The program was originally proposed by Ambassador Andrew Young, who also took the time to meet with the students. The visiting students hail from Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and South Africa, and they are all keen on pursuing careers in transit. Among the group are two future mechanical engineers, an aspiring urban planner, and a future…

DECATUR, GA– In response to National Weather Service forecasts of heat indices exceeding 100 degrees, DeKalb County is opening cooling centers on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday(July 31-Aug. 2). DeKalb County recreation centers and libraries will be available as cooling centers during the locations’ normal business hours. Water fountains will be accessible at county recreation centers , parks and libraries. During cooling center activations, recreation center pools will be free to the public from 2 to 6 p.m. For a list of available cooling centers, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/weather. The DeKalb County Department of Human Services, located at 30 Warren Street, Atlanta, will be open…