Author: On Common Ground News

The forum kicked off today (Oct. 19) and concludes on Thursday, Oct. 21. The online  forum is expected to attract 2 million people digitally and in person and will consist of over 4,800 delegates representing 60 countries. The HOPE Global Forums are a community designed to galvanize thought and action around building an economy that works for everyone. Held annually, the HOPE Global Forum brings together some of the most dynamic minds and forward thinkers in the world on one stage. This event serves as the largest gathering in the world dedicated to empowering poor and underserved communities with…

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) will hold Virtual Open House nights during October and November 2021 for the 2022-2023 School Specialty and Choice programs. Students and families interested in applying to a program are strongly encouraged to attend the program’s Virtual Open House. Families may apply for the programs is Nov. 12 through Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. The application will be online at www.rockdaleschools.org/specialtyandchoice. Students may apply for specialty programs outside of their assigned neighborhood school zone. Please note: Non-traditional programs such as Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, Rockdale Career Academy, Rockdale Open Campus…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA – On Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is hosting a free Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination event with the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners and the Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale Health Department. The event will be held at, 1733 Lake Rockaway Road, Conyers  (GPS to 2442 Lake Rockaway Road). The Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale County Board of Health will administer 100 Pfizer vaccine. Rockdale County will give $50 gift cards to the first 100 vaccine recipients. Officials said s the push is under way to urge residents to get their vaccinations ahead of the…

Gwinnett County is offering $100 Visa gift cards to people ages 12 and up who receive a COVID-19 vaccine at its vaccine incentive event this weekend. The “Vaccines Aren’t Scary” event, in partnership with the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments, will be held Friday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 23, at the vaccine site inside the former Sears at Gwinnett Place Mall. Gift cards will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the two-day event. The site will offer Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Participants should make an appointment at GCGA.us/VaccineIncentive to secure their slot during the…

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners is hosting the Rockdale County Vaccine Gift Card Giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Rockdale County Health Department, 985 Taylor St. SW, Conyers, GA. The event is to encourage Rockdale County residents to be vaccinated and protected against the COVID-19 virus.The event is open to those who are ages 12 and over, but only residents 18 and up who and receive a first dose shot will receive a $50 gift card. Gift cards are for Rockdale County residents only. Proof of I.D. must be shown at check in. “Forty-four percent of…

WASHINGTON – Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has died of complications from COVID-19, his family said in a statement today (Oct. 18). Powell, the first African American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and secretary of state, was receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Maryland. He was 84. Powell had multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells that suppresses the body’s immune response, as well as Parkinson’s Disease, Peggy Cifrino, Powell’s longtime chief of staff, confirmed to CNN. People who are immunocompromised are at greater risk from COVID-19 even if they are…

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County residents who reside within the boundaries of the City of Atlanta are urged to cast their ballots on Election Day, Nov. 2, by 7 p.m. to avoid having to vote by a provisional ballot. The polling precincts in DeKalb will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. While precincts within Atlanta-DeKalb officially close at 8 p.m., these 13 polling locations would require voters who arrive to the polling locations after 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 to cast a provisional ballot, as opposed to voting on a touchscreen ballot machine. “We are reminding voters that…

By Andrew Chamblin III, Financial Advisor The tight labor market is enticing many people to evaluate options to start a new career. If you’re among those who plan to quit your current role in search of a better opportunity, it’s important to consider how doing so could affect your finances. Here are some things to think about before you hand in your two-week notice: Compare the complete package. Many factors contribute to work satisfaction. Weigh these factors when evaluating whether to stay in your current job or take the leap into a new opportunity. Pay – Better pay…

Pictured: the ruins of the historic Bruce Street School in Lithonia, ,GA.  Photo provided by Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance.   LITHONIA, GA–Community engagement sessions will begin in November to gather public input on how the remnants of DeKalb County’s first black public school should be preserved, organizers announced today (Oct. 18). Martin Rickles Studio, an Atlanta-based interdisciplinary design studio, will lead the sessions to envision what is possible for the future of the historic site of the Bruce Street School, located in the city of Lithonia. Two on-site meetings have been scheduled at 2449…