Author: On Common Ground News

Stonecrest City Councilman Jimmy Clanton, District 1, will host his monthly community meeting on Saturday, July 14, 10 a.m.  The meeting will be held in Room 222 at Fairfield Baptist Church, 6133 Redan Road, Lithonia.

  DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate new improvements at Hairston Park, 911 South Hairston Road, Stone Mountain. The public is invited to join park staff and county officials for the ceremony on Saturday, July 21, at 10 a.m.   Upgrades include a new playground and fitness equipment including a leg lift station, cross trainer station and sit-up bench. The Friends of Hairston Park received a $10,000 grant from Park Pride, a $15,000 grant from the UPS Foundation and DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw allocated another $242,000 toward the project…

By Mackenzie N. Morgan Conyers fitness trainer Cherisse Atwater is back from the annual Essence Festival where she taught Zumba to dozens of women at the annual summer festival held July 5-8 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  After watching Atwater on social media, a travel agent sought out the high-energy instructor to lead a fitness class at the 2018 Essence Festival where thousands of attendees convene every year for one of the largest events celebrating African-American culture and music in the United States.  “I’ve always wanted to attend Essence Festival because of its emphasis on girl power which is what I…

The Back-to-School events were compiled by Staff writer Mackenzie N. Morgan Online registration for new DeKalb County students now underway  Families who are new to the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) can now access the district’s online registration system.  The online registration, launched July 9, is for new students only.  Parents of returning students should contact their student’s school for information. They will have the school supply lists. The first day of school for DeKalb students is Aug. 6.     Parents or guardians can visit www.dekalbschoolsga.org/registration and navigate through a series of prompts to enter the vital information needed…

The Library Board of Trustees of the Conyers-Rockdale Library System has appointed Brenda Poku as the system’s new Library Director. Poku began serving on July 9.  A veteran with more than 25 years in the library industry, Poku formerly managed nine of 16 libraries in Chatham and Liberty counties. Poku’s experience and leadership includes the following:  • 2018 Migration of Integrated Library Systems (ILS) from SIRSI to PINES  • 2017 University of Georgia, PINNACLE graduate. Certificate of Leadership Development (Carl Vinson Institute of Government).  • 2016 Top 10 Georgia Libraries (Carnegie Library) Recognition. Honorable mention (Bull Street) Library.  • 2015…

The DeKalb County Sanitation Division picked up 2,348 tons of items during the free bulky item collection in June.  As part of the Operation Spring Clean Sweep 2018 initiative, the Sanitation Division serviced 5,785 homes during the five-week residential collection project.  DeKalb residents disposed of large items including furniture, mattresses and appliances, which were placed curbside for collection. Last year, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond launched the Operation Clean Sweep multi-departmental initiative focused on litter collection, illegal dumping, and removing debris, trash and debris from streets, neighborhoods, sidewalks, roadway drains and county rights of way. In two years, the free…

The Decatur-DeKalb Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. is hosting a Membership Information Session on Friday, Aug. 18, 7 to 9 p.m., at the DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale, 2801 DeKalb Medical Parkway, Lithonia.   During the Information Session, interested candidates will have an opportunity to learn more about the Decatur-DeKalb chapter.  The National Coalition of 100 Black Women is a non-profit volunteer organization whose members address common issues in their communities, families and personal lives, promoting gender and racial equity.  Please send any questions to: membershipinfo-ncbw@gmail.com.  RSVP via the following link:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ncbw-100-decatur-dekalb-open-house-membership-tickets-36791913604

Stonecrest Councilwoman Diane Adoma, District 5, will host a Town Hal meeting on July 17, 6 p.m., at Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road. Sara Toering, who serves as general counsel to the Center for Community Progress, will present “Land Banks 101” and Sheri Bortiz, director of Property Tax for the DeKalb Tax Commissioner’s Office, will present “Property Tax 101.”  Alejandro Ferrell, manager of Code Enforcement in the city of Stonecrest, will present “Code Enforcement 101.”  

Stonecrest City Councilman Rob and his wife, DeKalb School Board member Vicki Turner will host the DeKalb Cultural Exchange community breakfast on Saturday, July 14, 9 a.m., at The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church (House of Hope), 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur.  The Cultural Exchange is partnering with the DeKalb County School District to host a mini career fair at the breakfast. The district is still in need of over 350 teachers.   “We are excited to partner with the District and to utilize our platform to inform stakeholders about employment opportunities.  The Districts/Regions that are being targeted are: 4;…

Health TRUST Rockdale, the grant-making division of the Hospital Authority of Rockdale County (HARC), will accept applications Aug. 1-7 for its final grant cycle of 2018. Nonprofit or government agencies working to improve the physical and mental health of Rockdale residents are encouraged to consider applying. Applications must be submitted prior to July 31. Agencies interested in applying should contact HARC Executive Director Julie Mills at 770-922-1441 or jmills@healthtrustrockdale.org.  For the grant program guidelines and deadlines, visit www.healthtrustrockdale.org. Participation in a pre-proposal conference/orientation session is mandatory for all new applicants. Previous grantees also should register for a…