Author: On Common Ground News

The NAACP DeKalb County branch and Salem Bible Church Political/Social Action Ministry will host the “2020 Vision: Education for a Better Tomorrow” forum on Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The forum will be held at Salem Bible Church, 5460 Hillandale Drive, Lithonia and feature subject matter experts on legislative bills, voter education, the 2020 U.S. Census and redistricting and gerrymandering. Political strategist Fred Hicks will serve as moderator. The panelists include
Taifa Smith Butler, executive director of Georgia Policy and Budget Institute; Tharon Johnson, political consultant;
Attorney Jerry Wilson; Sam Tillman, DeKalb Board of Voter Registration; Aklima…

State Rep. Karen L. Bennett, chairwoman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, will honor breast cancer survivors and pay tribute to her grandmother and the families of loved ones who died from the disease during the Emma B. Allen Pink Sash Parade on Sunday, Oct. 27. The tribute will be held at Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church, 2125 Rock Chapel Road, Lithonia,     during the 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services. The Emma B. Allen Pink Sash Parade was named in memory of  Bennett’s grandmother, who died from breast cancer at an early age in 1962, just…

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond announces sewer repairs at “Ground Zero.” DeKalb County has begun Phase 2 work on its worst sewer spill site. Officials held a press conference on Oct. 23 to announce that another round of repairs are underway  near Melanie Court, where 22 sewer spills have been reported since 2014. Construction crews demolished a house near the site as they began work at what DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond called “Ground Zero.” “This is Ground Zero for the challenges my administration has faced with the long-delayed repairs and maintenance to DeKalb’s sanitary sewer system,” said Thurmond.…

State Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) announced that he will introduce legislation during the 2020 legislative session to allow college athletes in Georgia to be compensated for the use of their name, likeness and image. The proposed legislation will be modeled after California’s “Fair Pay to Play Act,” which was recently signed into law and will protect college athletes from eligibility sanctions by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beginning Jan. 1, 2023. With Mitchell’s proposed legislation, Georgia is poised to join a rapidly growing number of states that are introducing bills similar to California. The bills are…

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING 10/23/2019 4:00 p.m. 3120 Stonecrest Blvd. Suite 190 Stonecrest, Georgia CALL TO ORDER EXECUTIVE SESSION REAL ESTATE MATTERS ADJOURNMENT

Jermel Campbell, 26, turned himself into DeKalb County Police Department last night. Campbell was one of three men wanted for the Sept. 29, 2019 murder of Kevin Downer outside the Round 1 bowling  arcade at the Mall At Stonecrest. A third suspect, Trayvon Williams, has yet to be arrested. #DKPD

The Securities and Exchange Commission and Morehouse College will co-host a panel discussion on strategies to attract investment capital to minority businesses from 4 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 during Homecoming Week. The special event, which will be held on the campus of Morehouse College, will feature conversations with minority entrepreneurs and investors who will explore solutions for overcoming barriers and share business successes. The panel discussion will be held at the Shirley Massey Executive Conference Center. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Advance registration is recommended. Seating is limited. The full agenda and list of speakers and panelists will be available…

Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) has commissioned more than 30 local officials and representatives to serve on his  Complete Count Committee to help spread the word about the importance of the 2020 U.S. Census. “It’s all about two critical parts that can impact our government and society as a whole: funding and representation,” said Congressman Johnson who represents several miscounted and undercounted communities in Georgia’s Fourth District. “The 2020 Census is quickly approaching. The United States’ founders thought this data was so important they mandated it as part of the Constitution, and my office will do everything in its power to make sure…

DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson attended the DeKalb County Homeless Symposium on Oct. 11. The event brought together the community and professionals who work with the homeless population from across the region to share information on strategic planning, policy initiatives, programs and best practices concerning the homeless population. The symposium was sponsored by DeKalb County Community Development and Our House, Inc., United Way of Greater Atlanta and DeKalb County Continuum of Care. Cochran-Johnson participated in the 15th Annual TEA Walk on Oct. 12. More than 3,000 residents came together for a 2-mile empowerment walk on Buford Highway to promote…

Dr. Barbara Hall is hosting a “Stop the Violence” panel discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Road. The moderator-led panel will have an open dialogue about the rash of violence in South DeKalb County.  Panelists include law enforcement officials, community leaders and Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary. Residents are encouraged to attend to ask questions and offer solutions.