Author: On Common Ground News

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is accepting applications for new and returning licensed childcare providers of Georgia’s Pre-K program for the 2020-2021 school year. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 24, 5 p.m. Georgia’s Pre-K Program is an educational program for age-eligible children in Georgia funded by the Georgia Lottery for education. To be eligible to apply for the Pre-K grant, an applicant must be a licensed childcare program, local school system or a Head Start program. Programs are offered in a variety of settings: public schools; for profit and nonprofit child care learning centers; military…

By Candice Guthrie Nastasha Johnson, a Rockdale County middle school teacher, hopes to help parents, mentors, teachers and others better understand the issues and challenges that teen girls face as they approach puberty and young adulthood. Johnson has published a book entitled “Who am I? The Teenage Girl,” which is centered on the lives of three fictitious teen girls. “Although the characters are fictitious, they are dealing with real-life issues,” said Johnson, a minister, mentor and mother of three. “The book sheds light so that people who deal with children may be more aware, more compassionate.” Johnson said the…

It is with great honor and excitement that Anthony J. Royal, Sr. and Leslie E. Royal announce the impending nuptials of their daughter Antasha Jenise Royal to Julius Ibiyi Wilson, son of Mrs. Mary Iyam Wilson and the late Mr. Ubi Ogban Wilson. The wedding will take place in early spring at beautiful Georgia Palms & Gardens in Powder Springs, Georgia. How they met: First comes car trouble, then comes marriage… They met when Julius worked on Antasha’s car. Anyone who knows her knows that she does not take care of cars. (lol) He asked for her number. He was cute and…

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary will be the guest speaker on Sunday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m., at First St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 2687 Klondike Road, Lithonia, where Dr. Marvin Crawford is pastor. Lary, an ordained deacon, said the title of his sermon will be “David and Goliath: Faith Can Take Giants. “ Lary said that it was his faith that helped him to battle health challenges, including cancer, while serving as mayor and going on to win re-election in November. He was sworn into a second term in office on Jan. 7.  

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is reopening Samson Health & Fitness Center with a special ribbon cutting on Jan. 12 following the worship service, expected to end around noon. “This investment represents our ongoing commitment to the community and serves as a critical community asset for all to enjoy. Our ribbon cutting serves as an important step forward in solidifying New Birth as a local leader in health and wellness efforts,” said Dr. Jamal Bryant, New Birth’s senior pastor. The state-of-the-art fitness facility features 80,000 feet of workspaces featuring four full basketball courts, speed and agility areas, weight room, cardio…

 Left to right: Rockdale County Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten and Conyers City Council members Connie Alsobrook and Valyncia Smith Photos and video by Glenn L. Morgan  Video      https://youtu.be/HliEEIKSHwE CONYERS, GA–The swearing-in ceremony for the firstAfrican-American women to join the Conyers City Council drew a packed crowd tonight (Jan. 8) at the Cherokee Run Golf Club in Conyers. Connie Alsobrook and Valyncia Smith were sworn in by Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten, the first African American to hold the Rockdale County’s  Magistrate judge’s seat. Alsobrook and Smith are the first African-American women  in the city’s 165-year history to take seats…

Police Chief Gene Wilson  Conyers Police Department is again offering active shooter/threats preparedness training to citizens interested in learning how to best react to such an incident. The goal of the training is to educate the public on where to go and what to do in the event of an active shooter or other threat. “In today’s climate we realize the importance of training not only our officers, but educating our citizens as well,”  said Police Chief Gene Wilson. “We have had great participation in similar programs last three years and are pleased to offer it once again.” The…

District 4 Congressman will honor students and teachers who participated in the 2019 Congressional App Challenge on Friday, Jan. 24, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Black Box Theater, 910 Center St., NE, Conyers. The challenge was open to students and faculty from Congressional District 4, which includes DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, and Newton counties. Judges for the contest included representatives from Pandora Music and the Culture Base Mobile Application. Established in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide contest hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives in effort to promote computer science education. A total of 123 districts in…

Dr. Claire Sterk and Dr. Eugene Walker will be honored during DeKalb’s King Celebration. Emory University President Claire Sterk and Dr. Eugene Walker, a former state senator and former DeKalb school board chairman, will be honored during DeKalb County’s 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Sterk and Walker will receive the Nathaniel Mosby Humanitarian Award, which celebrates the recipients’ commitment to tireless community service and outstanding dedication to being an agent for positive change. Appointed to head Emory University in 2016, Sterk is the first woman to serve as Emory University’s president. Additionally, she is the Charles…

The public is invited to attend a free film screening of “Suppressed: The Fight toVote”on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m., at St. Paul AME Church, 1704 S. Stone Mountain -Lithonia Road, Lithonia. The film, created by Robert Greenwald, weaves together personal stories from voters across the state of Georgia to paint a picture of voter suppression in the 2018 midterm election in which Stacey Abrams ran to become the first black female governor in the US. Featuring experts, poll watchers and everyday Georgians, the film speaks about the impact of voter suppression and the threat it poses in 2020. For…