Author: On Common Ground News

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church gave away 3,000 pairs of new shoes to local students during its annual back-to-school event, which was held on Saturday, Aug. 13. Members of the church’s congregation collected the shoes during the months of June and July. People from around the nation supporred the project with donations.  The church distributed the shoes to families who registered their children for the free giveaway and came in during the event to pick up the shoes at assigned times. Senior pastor, Dr. Jamal H. Bryant, thanked the congregation, community partners and sponsors who worked collaboratively on the initiative, praising…

ATLANTA– After extensive efforts to find an allowable approach, Georgia this week received federal approval to provide food benefits to its youngest Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients for the 2021-22 school year. For children to qualify for this benefit, they must have been under age 6 at the start of the 2021-22 school year and SNAP-enrolled during the months of August 2021 through May 2022. Families of eligible children will receive about $30 dollars for each month they were eligible.  The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) partnered with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning to utilize data…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—A  diverse group of established and emerging leaders has been selected to participate in Leadership DeKalb’s Class of 2023. The class members represent a variety of sectors including education, government, healthcare, legal, non-profit, public safety and private business. Since its founding in 1986, Leadership DeKalb convenes and connects leaders, informs them on matters vital to the County and enhances their leadership skills. This strengthened pipeline of talent, now numbering more than 1,000 community leaders, immerses in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, advancing the quality of life in DeKalb County and throughout the region. Class members learn about…

ATLANTA – MARTA has named Josh Rowan as its new Deputy General Manager, who will in his new role  oversee the transit authority’s expansive Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Rowan has 26 years of program and construction management experience, delivering more than $5 billion in facility and infrastructure projects, most recently serving as General Manager of Atlanta’s City Renew/TSPLOST Program and Commissioner of the inaugural Atlanta Department of Transportation. “Josh has a deep knowledge of the entire project delivery process in both the public and private sector, from foreman to engineer and every job in between. His global experience with capital…

STONECREST, GA – The City of Stonecrest announced several people hired for executive leadership positions. The City began rebuilding its senior leadership team last fall after deciding to serve residents through a largely in-house staffing model. As a result, City personnel now oversees all day-to-day operations, including code enforcement, human resources, leisure services, public relations and economic development. “We are pleased to announce that Stonecrest has recruited some of the best and brightest minds in the business,” said City Manager Janice Allen Jackson. “Our diverse leadership team brings a wealth of knowledge in their respective fields and a total commitment…

By Mark Brock   DEKALB COUNTY, GA—TheStephenson Lady Jaguars got its 2022 high school volleyball season off to a quick start with a sweep of McNair and Towers in action at McNair on Thursday night(Aug. 11). Stephenson opened the night with a 2-0 (25-3, 25-18) win over the host Lady Mustangs (0-3) to pick up its first win of the new season. The first set featured a fast 6-0 start by Stephenson (2-0) behind the serving of Morgan Shepard. McNair picked up three points and was trailing 13-3 when Stephenson went on an 12-0 run to close out the 15-3.…

DECATUR, GA– The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will conduct a board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 18, 6 p.m. The meeting will be held via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/88137432677. Join by phone at 602-333-0032 or 888-270-9936 and use conference code 171493.  Agenda Adoption of Agenda Approval of the Minutes of July 21, 2022 III.            Administrative Items Update on newly hired Ethics Officer Returning the Official Job Title to Chief Ethics Officer Update from the Chair A citizen’s advocate Hiring a communications consultant Public Comment Executive Session to Discuss Legal Matters Motion to Convene an Executive Session Motion to Adjourn an Executive…

ATLANTA—Georgia State University faculty earned $164.2 million in research funding in fiscal year 2022, the highest total in university history. This is the eighth consecutive year research awards have topped $100 million, officials said. This year’s record surpasses the previous high of $150 million set in fiscal year 2020 and is $22 million higher than the previous year’s total. In the past three years, externally funded research activity at the university has climbed 9.5 percent. “This level of research activity is certainly a testament to our outstanding researchers at Georgia State,” said President M. Brian Blake. “The transformative work going on here…

DECATUR, GA – The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners will hold a Committee of the Whole, Special Called Meeting and Executive Session,Tuesday, Aug. 16, 9 a.m., in the Maloof Auditorium located at 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia. The tentative agenda follows: Committee of the Whole Committee Reports Dr. Valenciano, Public Health Director – Monkey Pox Update The Mandela Washington Fellowship Program Review of the Proposed Executive Agenda for August 23, 2022 Review of Commissioners’ Preliminary Agenda for August 23, 2022 Special Called Meeting Executive Session Other Matters

ATLANTA – MARTA Police Department arrested a suspect wanted for shooting a rifle in the parking lot at Inman Park Station on the evening of Monday, Aug. 8. The MARTA Police Criminal Investigations Unit, Special Operations Response Team and Tactical Field Officers took 21-year-old Alim Bridges into custody on Thursday, Aug. 11, at H.E. Holmes Station. “I want to commend our Criminal Investigations Unit for their outstanding work in identifying and locating this suspect,” said MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher. “MARTA has an extensive network of cameras throughout the system and a near perfect record of apprehending suspects by our officers. We will always…