Author: On Common Ground News

             Compiled by Mackenzie N. Morgan   Alice Walker set to appear at 75thbirthday celebration The Georgia Writers Museumwill host a one-day celebration of Alice Walker’s 75thbirthday on Saturday, July 13. Walker, who wrote The Color Purple, was born in Eatonton, Ga. in 1944, and will travel to her hometown for a day of festivities. Activities include a viewing of the American Masters documentary, music, readings, tributes, historic tours, and a cocktail reception followed by Alice Walker in conversation with Valerie Boyd, editor of Walker’s forthcoming journals and author of the award-winning biography, Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of…

 Corporate Environmental Risk Management (CERM) will host its summer job shadow program on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2. Three times each year, high school and college students are invited to visit the company’s headquarters in Tucker for hands-on activities and a close-up look into the industry and operations of one the largest minority-owned engineering firms in Georgia. Participants embark on a site visit before closing out the day with a small group discussion with CERM’s managing director. Founded in 1995, CERM provides professional engineering, environmental, and program management services to transportation, environmental, water resources, facilities, energy, and federal…

Susan G. Komen®Greater Atlanta plans to continue to help area residents dealing with breast cancer diagnosis. The Komen Atlanta Treatment Assistance Program (ATAP) will provide financial assistance for local patients dealing with the crippling costs associated with breast cancer treatment, program officials announced. “The ATAP program is a vitally important resource for our neighbors undergoing breast cancer treatments and supports our Bold Goal to reduce breast cancer deaths by 50 percent by 2026,” said Cati Diamond Stone, CEO, Komen Atlanta. “Thanks to the generosity of our partners, Georgia CORE and the Billi Marcus Foundation, the program will provide support…

  Honoring the work of long-time volunteers Tom and Killian Smith, the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance has announced it will offer a two-week paid internship to undergraduate and graduate students starting this winter. The internship at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve will provide students with experience in a variety of park stewardship responsibilities to inspire them to seek careers in parks, land management, conservation and education. Successful candidates will work on projects such as expanding the Nature Preserve pollinator garden, building trails and managing the geocaching program. The Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve and the Arabia Alliance will begin the internship…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan   When the last bell rings on the final day of school, that, for many students is the signal for long summer days filled with fun, friends and freedom to explore and unwind. But for children whose only guaranteed meal comes during school mealtimes, it means finding ways to stave off hunger. Fortunately, a slew of summer feeding programs have been cropping up around the country in an effort to ensure children from low-income families have access to nutritious food year round. The Summer Feeding Initiative is one such program and recently provided more than 500…

Darlene Caffey   It’s called Caffey Crush. It’s not a new fangled candy or drink, however. Darlene Caffey, a DeKalb County teacher and author, says Caffey Crush is a writing program that she created to help students dramatically improve academic performance. “As a teacher, I am continually seeking ways to improve my students’ academic performances.  My Caffey Crush writing program has done exactly that,” said Caffey. Caffey said that students learn writing skills through a game in which they advance from one level to the next. There are a total of 5 levels.  At the end, students write their final drafts. …

                           When 8-year-old Jaymeon Render paraded across the stage as Zero Tax Boy at Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary’s State of the City Address, many probably thought he was just a boy dressed as a superhero.  Few knew they were looking at a baseball champion. Render, a Stonecrest resident, is a right fielder and pitcher with the Bullpen Braves, an 8U, AAA, USSSA tournament baseball team in McDonough.  During the week of June 17 -21, the team played in a Southeastern 8 and under, USSSA, World Series.  The Bullpen…

State Rep. Karen Bennett         Democratic Party of Georgia Chairwoman Nikema Williams By OCG Staff Georgia’s black lawmakers are blasting the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision to remove itself from adjudicating partisan gerrymandering cases, saying that politicians now have a “green light” to continue taking advantage of manipulating the boundaries in the redistricting process. The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) issued a statement calling the  June 27 decision another step toward disempowering voters: “Today’s U.S. Supreme Court (5-4) decision not to adjudicate gerrymandering cases sends a clear and present warning that politicians will select their voters,…

DeKalb County has installed more than 3,500 water meters as part of its New Day Water Meter Exchange and Upgrade Initiative. The county has reached 10 percent of its goal to replace 30,000 water meters during the first year of the initiative. DeKalb is on track to replace 30,000 water meters during the first year of the New Day Water Meter Exchange and Upgrade Initiative. “The initiative has reached an important milestone in improving the accuracy of water billing service in DeKalb,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “The new meters are durable, efficient and include smart technology to accurately track…

A DeKalb County Grand Jury has indicted the driver accused in the hit-and-run crash that injured two girls who were playing in front yard of the 9-year-old’s home. Gabriel Jabri Fordham, 29, was charged with serious injury by vehicle, hit and run resulting in serious injury or death, reckless driving, failure to stop at a stop sign, and failure to maintain lane. The incident happened on March 29, 2019. According to the investigation, Fordham was allegedly driving recklessly at a high rate of speed as he traveled along Cherokee Valley Drive in Lithonia. The car went airborne as the driver…