Author: On Common Ground News

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is seeking eligible child and adult care facilities to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The CACFP is a federally-funded U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition program available to child care centers, adult day care centers, Head Start programs, emergency shelters, and before- and after-school programs. The program reimburses approved facilities for nutritious meals and snacks served to children and adults in care. Approved or exempt institutions that offer a structured after-school program with educational or enrichment activities may be eligible to participate…

  Pastors from DeKalb County churches came together to pray for community, state and national leaders on Jan. 12 at Greater Travelers Rest Church (House of Hope) in Decatur.  Stonecrest Councilman Rob Turner and his wife, DeKalb School Board member Vickie B. Turner, invited the pastors to the prayer breakfast , the first meeting of the year for  the DeKalb Cultural Exchange, which the couple founded last year.   The prayers were led by Bishop William Murphy, III, of the Dream Center Church; Dr. Sherry Gaither of Stronghold Christian Church; the Rev. Demetrius McCoy, pastor of The Life Center; the…

Every month, Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers opens its food pantry to those who need a helping hand. This month, however, the church is especially reaching out to furloughed federal workers in the community and inviting those impacted by the government’s shut down to come to the church and get food to feed their families. “We want our federal workers to know that we’re there for them—to supplement some of the things that they need,” said Pastor Eric W. Lee, Sr., who serves as senior pastor Springfield. “As a church, we are intentional about giving back to the community,” said…

Helping Hands Outreach Community Health Clinic, 2442 Lake Rockaway Road, Conyers, is offering free primary care to furloughed federal workers and military veterans in the metro-Atlanta area who need health care. Federal workers and vets must show identification. Scheduled appointments as well as walk-ins are welcomed. Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Second and fourth Saturdays, 9 to noon. For more information, visit helpinghandsga.org or call 678-607-0759 or 404-276-7674.

Demonstrators plan to protest the federal government shutdown and economic inequities on Jan. 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., outside the MLK Federal Building, 77 Forsyth Street S.W. in downtown Atlanta. Dr. Tarece Johnson, Ed.D., who is organizing the event, is partnering with Alliance for Black Lives, Multicultural Jewish Alliance and the Georgia Alliance for Social Justice to host the rally. Johnson is founder of The Global Purpose Approach and Global Purpose Academy, and a leader in Gwinnett Branch of the NAACP and the Alliance for Black Lives among other organization groups. Johnson said the rally will be a peaceful…

In partnership with Fit for a Queen, the Bello Mo Group and Lynette Clove, an Independent sales director for Mary Kay, DeKalb County Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling is inviting DeKalb County high school juniors and seniors to enter the 2019 Stop Teen Dating Violence Public Service Announcement(PSA) Contest. With February being recognized as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Coleman-Stribling and her team are encouraging DeKalb teens to promote healthy teen dating practices that prevent violence by producing a one-minute PSA. The student who creates the most impactful PSA will win a prom prize package, which includes: • Dinner for two •…

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) fifth graders tackled tough questions about our society, economy, history, and more in the annual RCPS Fifth Grade Social Studies Fair, held January 12, 2019 at Memorial Middle School. Students wrote research papers, created visual presentations, and were interviewed by judges on their research, data, analysis, and conclusions. The top 16 projects (Best In Fair, First Place, Second Place) advance to the East Metro Regional Social Studies Fair on March 2, 2019 at MMS. For more information, visit www.rockdaleschools.org/academiccompetitions.  (Pictured: Some of the Best In Fair, First Place, Second Place winners at the 2019…

                                   Smith’s gift will fund scholarships, new park and outdoor study area Morehouse College has received a $1.5 million donation from Robert F. Smith, a philanthropist and the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. College officials say the donation will fund endowed scholarships and the design and creation of a park that will give students a new outdoor study area. The gift to the Atlanta college will launch the creation of the Robert Frederick Smith Scholars Program, which will be…

Gwinnett County residents will go to the polls on March 19 to vote on a referendum to expand transit services. If the referendum passes, Gwinnett’s transit system and services will expand based on Gwinnett’s plan and its contract with MARTA. The expansion will be funded through a one-cent sales tax for transit. In preparation for the Transit Referendum, the county will host a series of open house education sessions. The sessions will be held on the following dates: Tuesday, Jan. 22 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Bogan Park Community Recreation Center Community Room, 2723 North Bogan Road, Buford Wednesday,…

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Decatur- DeKalb Chapter, Inc. will host its ” Healthy Eating and Fitness Day” event on Thursday, Jan. 31, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Samson Fitness Center, 6400 Woodrow Road, Stonecrest, Join the organization for exercises, healthy snacks and nutrition education to help prevent adult and child hood obesity. Wear workout gear. The event is free and open to the public.