Author: On Common Ground News

DeKalb County Government continues to help out families who need food On Saturday, June 6, the county will host three drive-thru food distribution events during which 2,400 DeKalb residents will receive one 20-pound box of Georgia Grown fruit and vegetables and a 2-pound bag of pork sausage. Beginning at 10 a.m., COVID-19 Care Baskets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one box per vehicle, at three locations: Buck Godfrey Stadium,2817 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur, GA James R. Hallford Stadium, 3789 Memorial College Ave., Clarkston, GA New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Rd., Stonecrest, GA The food…

Cheryl Watson-Harris serves as First Deputy Chancellor for the New York City Department of Education (DOE), the largest school district in the country with more than 1 million enrolled students. The DeKalb County Board of Education today, June 4,  announced Cheryl Watson-Harris as the sole finalist in its search for a new superintendent. A veteran leader with 26 years of experience in large urban school districts, Watson-Harris has a long history in education as a teacher, principal, network superintendent and senior executive director of field support. Currently,  Watson-Harris serves as First Deputy Chancellor for the New York City Department…

Photo provided via PR Newswire The following is an open letter from Shawn Stockman, Founding Member, recording artists Boyz II Men: Across the country, police officers are kneeling in solidarity with protesters against police brutality. I have an idea. Take off those uniforms. Before you were a cop, you were a human. The human being decided to become a cop. Right now, we need to meet that human being. See him. Sit down with him. Talk to him. Walk with him. Kneel, pray, protest, cry, laugh and march with him. I have friends who are police officers. They are…

ATLANTA – The Georgia House Democratic Caucus (GHDC) will hold a Zoom press conference today, June 4, 1 p.m. to provide updates regarding COVID-19, voting in Georgia and criminal justice reform initiatives as it relates to hate crimes and police brutality in the U.S. To watch the briefing on Facebook live, click here.

The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief is distributing fresh produce and fruits every week through July 3. The nonprofit, which is receiving the produce from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Program, has scheduled distributions from 3 to 6 p.m. at  Masjid Al-Momineen, 837 N. Indian Creek, Clarkston, and  every Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. at Moores Mill Village Apartment, 2453 Coronet Way NW, Atlanta. The food program, which began on May 28, will be provided while supplies last each week through July 3. The Muslim nonprofit said it has served over 27,000…

As a part of addressing health disparities and high numbers of COVID-19 cases in identified DeKalb County ZIP Codes, the DeKalb County Board is deploying an additional community testing team. Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church,
1879 Glenwood Ave. SE, Atlanta, became a COVID-10 testing site on June 3. The team will be stationed at the location from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Two other teams, deployed on May 20, are stationed at the following locations from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday: Beulah Missionary Baptist Church
2340 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur Rehoboth Baptist Church
2997 Lawrenceville Hwy., Tucker…

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson will reopen the county’s three tax offices on June 8 with new procedures and protocols in place amid the global coronavirus pandemic. For the safety of customers and employees, all individuals entering tax office locations are required to have on a face covering, adhere to social distancing and utilize the newly implemented text alert system. “On June 8, we will reopen our doors to customers with a number of new measures in place to promote a safe work environment and more efficient customer service,” said Johnson. “We anticipate a flurry of activity and…

Several memorial services set for Floyd Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on June 3 that all four former Minneapolis police officers have been charged in the death of 46-year-old George Floyd. Floyd’s death sparked protests across the nation after a video of the killing went viral. Multiple news sources reported that former officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane have been chargef with aiding and abetting second-degree murder while committing a felony, and with aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter with culpable negligence. Charges against Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on the back of Floyd’s neck for nearly…

DeKalb County elections officials announced that 24polling precincts will be moved for the June 9 election due to COVID-19. Registered voters who plan to cast ballots on June 9 must go to their assigned precinct. Below is a list of the current locations that will be moved to other sites. Voters should alsonot that Friday, June 5, is the last day to submit and absentee ballot application. Absentee ballot applications can be obtained by visiting www.DeKalbvotes.com, emailing Absenteeballot@dekalbcountyga.gov, or for more information about the elections, call the DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Office at 404-298-4020. The following precincts have…

STONECERST–RoweDocs and MAJL Laboratories will host a free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing site on the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church campus on Saturday, June 6. Testing begins at 11 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. Individuals who do not have insurance, or receive Medicaid or Medicare coverage are encouraged to participate. “It is evident based on initial outcome data minority individuals are not being tested early enough to prevent premature death related to COVID-19. Due to the lengthy history of discrimination in the healthcare industry, minorities are reasonably wary of unconscious bias and outright racism that may impact the quality care…