Author: On Common Ground News

WASHINGTON, D.C. —As the 60th anniversary of the first Freedom Rides was observed on Tuesday (May 6), Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, reminded his colleagues that he has a resolution calling on Congress to award the Freedom Riders the Congressional Gold Medal. More than 60 members of Congress – including more than a dozen members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) – joined Johnson as original cosponsors of the bill introduced in February 2021. The Freedom Rides, which lasted from May to November 1961, included more than 400 black…

DEKALB—DeKalb County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 10. This meeting will be conducted via teleconference (Zoom). A Finance Committee Meeting will be held at 4 p.m. To listen in on the meeting, please request the call-in number and PIN from weissingera@dekalblibrary.org no later than noon on the date of the meeting. For more details on the agenda and about listening in, click here.

DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced its 2020-2021 Employees of The Year. These top teachers, principals, and support professionals were selected by their peers. Each school winner will compete for the top teacher honor in their region. “Congratulations to all of the employees of the year! Each day, the employees of this district share their talent, dedication and passion to make sure every scholar has an opportunity to excel in and outside of the classroom,” said Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris. “Thank you for all that you do for our scholars and the district.” This year’s winners, by region, are as follows: 2020-2021 Regional Principals…

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) DeKalb County Branch Remembrance Project will install its third lynching marker on Thursday, May 6, at noon in the Druid Hills community. The location of the marker will be at the Oak Grove Park in the Olmsted Linear Park, which is located at the southeast corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue. For those who plan to attend, parking is available on South Ponce de Leon in the unreserved spaces at St. John’s Lutheran Church. “This project has become a personal project for educating our community on some major historical facts…

By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist The DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) Towers Titans track teams brought home seven gold medals while qualifying 10 (5 boys, 5 girls) for the Class 2A State Track Sectional B at Gordon Central High in Calhoun on Saturday, May 1. Towers Jamelia Simmons was on top of her game at the Region 6-2A Track and Field Championships bringing home four gold medals. Simmons won the 200-meter dash (25.97), 400-meter dash (58.49), long jump (17-03.50) and triple jump (36-06.00) to lead the way for the Lady Titans. Catherine Forbes captured three medals…

Two more Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) eighth grade students embarked on a life-changing journey as the district’s newest cohort of REACH Georgia Scholars – Stephens Boubert of Edwards Middle School and Alyssa Morrison of Memorial Middle School. Each student will receive a $10,000 scholarship upon completion of the REACH Georgia program and high school graduation. Each REACH Georgia Scholar, their parents, and administrators signed letters of commitment to the five-year program during a virtual ceremony held online March 26, 2021. RCPS Superintendent Dr. Terry Oatts, RCPS Foundation board members, school leaders, counselors and academic coaches along with family…

ATLANTA – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (BBBSMA) has sold its building located at 1382 Peachtree Street NE in Midtown Atlanta. The building, which was purchased in 2011, has grown considerably in value due to its location at the corner of 17th and Peachtree Streets, officials stated in a news release today (May 4). The building has been sold to Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC, a global leader in the investment, development and management of high-quality rental housing properties headquartered in Charleston, SC. BBBSMA will immediately begin buildout on a new headquarters office at The MET Atlanta, an industrial…

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb County Human Services Department will mark Older Americans Month this May with a variety of virtual programs, classes and entertainment. ” src=”cid:clip_image001.jpg” alt=”clip_image001.jpg” align=”left” hspace=”12″ v:shapes=”_x0000_s1026″ apple-inline=”yes” class=”Apple-web-attachment Apple-edge-to-edge-visual-media Singleton” style=”opacity: 1;”>Older Americans’ Month, a national celebration sponsored by the U. S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration on Community Living, commemorates the achievements and contributions of individuals 55 years and older within their communities. This year’s theme, “Communities of Strength,” recognizes how many seniors have become resilient and strengthen through the successes, failures, joys and difficulties of living.  This month is a celebration of…

CONYERS—The 2021 Walk of Heroes/Veterans War Memorial ceremony will be held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 11 a.m., at Black Shoals Park Memorial, 3001 Black Shoals Road. Organizers want people to mark their calendars and plan to attend. Last year’s program was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but those who are planning this year’s event are inviting the public to attend in person. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order on April 30 lifting most remaining COVID-19 restrictions on businesses while gatherings while “strongly encouraging” the public to continue wearing face masks and practicing social distancing.…

DECATUR – DeKalb County Cooperative Extension will host “May Gardening” virtual classes for free. The “Herb Gardening” class will be held May 11, 6 to 7 p.m. The “Invasive Species” class will be held May 19, 6 to 7 p.m. The “Things that Bug Me Inside and Outside the home” class will be held May 25, 6 to 7 p.m. Registration is required. Register at https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7OC9zuiTSvWTt4 or email yanyu.chen@uga.edu to register.  For more information, contact the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Office at 404-298-4080, or visit our website at https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/dekalb.html.