Author: On Common Ground News

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Are you dreaming of vine-ripe tomatoes and fresh green veggies? Now is the time to stake your claim at any of Gwinnett’s 10 community gardens. Gardeners of all skill levels are invited to apply for the 2023 to 2024 growing year. The cost is $35 per year for a 4-foot by 8-foot raised platform garden plot. Once payment is received, plots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Gwinnett County provides water, tools, soil, mulch and educational resources at each site, while gardeners are responsible for maintaining and harvesting their plots. Gardeners must also participate in 12…

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it will open a Business Recovery Center at noon Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Spalding Senior Center in Spalding County. The center will provide help to Georgians applying for SBA disaster loan assistance for losses due to severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that occurred Jan. 12.   “Our Business Recovery Centers are one of the most powerful resources at SBA’s disposal to support business owners in the midst of a disaster,” said Francisco Sanchez, Jr., Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Assistance. “Business owners can meet in-person with our specialists to apply for SBA disaster…

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Presiding Officer Robert Patrick has named the board’s committee chairs and members who will serve for 2023.   Both, Patrick and Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, were elected by their peers to serve as presiding officer and deputy presiding officer respectively for the consecutive year on Jan. 13 at the board’s first meeting for 2023. Committee assignments were prioritized based on seniority of elected service with the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and individual commissioners’ preferences. The committees were announced as follows: County Operations (OPS) Committee Mereda Davis Johnson, chair Larry Johnson, member Michelle…

DEKALB COUNTY—Dozens of supporters turned out for the DeKalb NAACP MLK parade today(Jan. 16), traveling from Green Pastures Church to Martin Luther King, Jr. High School.  Rob Hardy, executive producerof the pilot episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan, which is currently filming its third season, served as grand marshal of the event.  The theme of this year’s parade was “Sound The Alarm” because there is still work to be done in our community, the DeKalb NAACP stated.  https://youtu.be/fhaG24mVjDQ

ATLANTA—DeKalb County community activist Teresa Hardy was ordained as deacon at Salem Bible Church on Sunday, Jan 15, 2023. Several supporters, including family and friends, attended the ordination where Hardy and several others were promoted in ministry at Salem Bible Church under the leadership of the Rev. Jasper W. Williams, Jr., pastor emeritus, and his son, Pastor Joseph L. Williams.  Hardy has been a member of Salem Bible Church since 2002. She has actively served at Salem in the Christian Education, Political/Social Justice and Small Group Growth Leader ministries. Hardy  gave thanks to God for her new role as deacon…

ATLANTA – State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia) will host the fourth annual “Tech for All” Policy Conference and Day of Action on Thursday, Feb. 16, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.     The event schedule is as follows: Networking event and panel discussion – Thursday, Feb. 16, 8 a.m., Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Atlanta, Room 307 Legislative Session Day 20 – Thursday, Feb. 16, 10 a.m., House Chamber Gallery Award ceremony and lunch – Thursday, Feb. 16, 12 – 3 p.m., Atlanta City Hall Atrium The conference is free to attend but advance registration is required. Please click here.  This year’s event will…

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA– DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-installed Serenity Garden at Hairston Park on Wednesday, Jan.18, 10 a.m., 911 S. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain. A total of $53,286 was allocated to complete the park improvements. Contributions were provided in part through Parks Pride’s Community Building Grant, supported by The Home Depot Foundation, DeKalb County Commissioners Steve Bradshaw and Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, Friends of Hairston Park, and the Parks Department to complete the Serenity Garden. The public is invited to join county officials, parks staff, Park Pride representatives and Friends…

Voices of Faith Church has kicked off 2023 with a resurgence. The church is a no judgement zone. It’s not a building, it’s for people who seek God for real change in their lives. https://youtu.be/IFJRy9he_kg

DECATUR, GA–The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners kicked off the first meeting of the 2023 year by voting on the positions of the presiding officer and deputy presiding officer. For the 2nd consecutive year, both Commissioner Robert Patrick and Commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson were elected to serve as the presiding officer and deputy presiding officer, respectively, for 2023. Also, on Friday, Jan. 13, Patrick named committee chairs and members. Committee assignments were prioritized based on seniority of elected service with the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and individual commissioners’ preferences. The committees are announced as follows:       County Operations…