Author: On Common Ground News

Photos by Kelly Jordan  Today (May 13), DeKalb County Schools Board Chair Vickie B. Turner and City Schools of Decatur Board Chair Tasha White hosted a joint press conference with DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and leaders of the DeKalb County House and Senate Delegation to celebrate the passing of Senate Bill 293. The annexation legislation was recently signed by Gov. Brian Kemp after several years of negotiations. The bill new law preserves funds for the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) and the City Schools of Decatur(CSD). “Thanks to the collaboration and communication between our two school systems, our students will…

DECATUR, GA –Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is urging families in Georgia’s Fourth District to file their taxes before the upcoming May 17 tax deadline to ensure they receive the accurate amount in new advance monthly Child Tax Credit payments they are entitled to as soon as possible. Johnson said the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit could help the families of more than 14,000 children in Georgia’s Fourth District. As part of the American Rescue Plan, Rep. Johnson helped pass, families could get monthly payments of up to $300 per child beginning as soon as July. Johnson said the best…

DECATUR, GA—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) DeKalb County Branch announces the names of its newly-elected officers for the 2021-2022 Youth Council. The new youth officers are: Deymon Fleming, Jr., president; Khaliyah Reynolds, 1st vice president; Mekeala Watkins, 2nd vice president; Chastity Singleton, 3rd vice president; Trinyty Turner, secretary; Evelyn Raphael, assistant secretary; Kya Clanton, treasurer; and Jada Smith, assistant treasurer. The Youth Council meets on the third Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. via Zoom. The primary function of the unit is to focus on issues facing youths throughout the nation on local, state,…

Front, L-R: Amy McCoy, Teresa Hardy(center) and Dar’shun Kendrick; Back L-R: Stacey Thibodeaux and Edwina Clanton ATLANTA— “It’s time for us to start investing in our communities again—even during a pandemic,” says Attorney Dar’shun Kendrick.   “There are those that don’t have high prospects for black wealth in the coming years but the Dollar Empowered Community or the D.E.C. will provide an opportunity for Georgia residents to change that trajectory…” The opener is one that Kendrick is pitching in a video for the Dollar Empowered Community, LLC, a new company that she and four other black women have formed to…

DECATUR—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) DeKalb County Branch will host its Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT- SO) Awards Ceremony on Sunday, May 23, 5 p.m. via Zoom. ACT-SO is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among black high school students. The NAACP DeKalb ACT-SO Committee develops mechanisms to encourage and inspire black youth toward excellence in academics, cultural pursuits, and opportunities through community support in local annual high school competitions. “At the ceremony, we will acknowledge 25 out of 35 students who participated in…

ATLANTA – Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King today urged Georgians to not stockpile gasoline and to practice safe gasoline filling and storing measures. “In response to the recent cyberattack against the Colonial Pipeline, there have been numerous reports of Georgians stockpiling gasoline and using unsafe storage methods,” said Commissioner King. “However, the current situation with the pipeline is only temporary, and these types of actions actually contribute to additional gasoline shortages and put Georgians at unnecessary risk.” Commissioner King offered the following safety guidelines for the use and storage of gasoline: It is not safe to stockpile…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is hosting a Virtual Teacher Job Fair on Wednesday, May 19, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Interested candidates may pre-register at www.rockdaleschools.org/jobfair or with Career Fair Plus at https://cfplus.page.link/qFng. The district is seeking outstanding candidates for teaching positions for the 2021-2022 school year. Most RCPS schools will be represented and interviews will be held during the Virtual Job Fair. RCPS has 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, three traditional high schools, a virtual campus and four non-traditional schools (Rockdale Career Academy, Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, Open Campus, Alpha Academy). In addition, we offer specialty and…

The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a virtual Parks Citizen Advisory Board Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 25, at 6 p.m. The meeting to discuss current park improvements and recreation projects will be conducted via Zoom at https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/85946976280. To join the meeting by phone, dial 888-270-9936, and use conference code 720766.

CONYERS, GA – The Conyers-Rockdale Nancy Guinn Memoria) Library will reopen to the public without appointments starting May 17. Masks are required. The library is under renovation and access to computers remains limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Services requiring research, notary, proctoring, photocopying and printing also are available with social distancing measures. Curbside “Hold Pickup” services will be scaled back, but remain available on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Curbside patrons should contact the Circulation Department to utilize those services: 770-388-5041. The lower level and study rooms are still closed at this time. For more…

ATLANTA – Better Business Bureau Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens & NE Georgia (BBB) announced this week the five winners of the 2021 Students of Integrity scholarship, where recipients received between $3,000 to $5,000 for future academic needs. The scholarship, which brought video submissions from the students, prompted discussions about what it means to exemplify ethics and integrity. Students recorded a short video describing how they build character in themselves and others and how they will build character in the future. “The submissions from all the student applicants were moving and genuine,” said Brian Catania, CEO of BBB. “All of us at BBB…