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Volume 18 Number 3
www.ocgnews.com
www.ocgnews.com MAY 1, 2012
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Metro-Atlanta Democratic delegates ready to take NC By Joshua Smith
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
AtlantaCollard kings picked By Joshua Smith
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ork-braised collards. Collards with salsa. Chicken curry collards. What about spicy-cheesy collards? These were just some of the dishes at the East Lake Farmers Market’s 3rd Annual Collard Greens Cook-off in Atlanta. “With so many great variations on a Southern classic, you really can’t lose at this competition DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson takes a bite as judge. if you’re looking for some great greens,” said dedicated East Lake Farmers Market customer Christina Humphries. “I love the collards cook-off, that’s how I found out about the market last year and have been shopping here since.” So what makes the best greens? For Atlanta resident John Beglar, the secret is in tradition. Beglar, who said he entered the contest after reading about it in On Common Ground News, prepared his collards the “Liberian way.” “I used a chicken-curry base for these greens. I think people enjoy eating a little chicken and rice with their greens. I mean everybody loves chicken,” said Beglar, who moved from Liberia, West Africa to Atlanta in 1979. “This is the way my family likes to prepare collard greens. It’s our tradition in Liberia.” Beglar was among the hundreds who attended the April 14 cook-off, which raised nearly $1,400 to benefit the market’s Double Your Dollars food assistance program. The program provides fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to all people, regardless of income. Doug Williams, who serves as president of the market, said the cook-off celebrates what he founded the market on—building a community around food. “Here you have more than 400 people from all around, no matter their race, religion or political beliefs together for the purpose to fellowship, enjoy some great greens and have some fun with food,” Williams said. “The more the market grows through events like this one, the more healthy food we can put on the tables of needy families.” DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, who served as one of the judges in the competition, said the experience is one that he shall not soon forget. “I tasted every kind of collard greens there is at See East Lake, page 7
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The results are in across the state and 72 delegates have been elected to represent Georgia at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. An elated mother and son from DeKalb County are among those who were declared victors. As winners, Barbara Campbell and son, Tobias Campbell, will be going to support President Obama at the Sept. 4 – 6 convention, which will be held at the Time Warner Cable Arena in North Carolina. They will be among seven delegates from DeKalb going. Barbara Campbell said watching her son grow up in the
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
Democratic Party and join her as a delegate has been a full-cycle circle that has made her proud.
“The bible says train up a child in the way he should go and I See Delagate, page 6
Ready to lead
Call him a fisher of men: Matthew Ware is seeking a few good men— and businesses— to help mentor DeKalb County youths. By Valerie J. Morgan
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is name is Matthew Ware and like the biblical apostle, Matthew, he is a businessman, missionary and leader, though he would simply tell you he just wants to help kids. By day, Ware crunches numbers at Padgett Business Services, the company he owns in Lithonia. During his leisure time, he coaches youth basketball, football and baseball. And now that the tax season is over, he has turned his attention to building the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, the youth mentoring organization that he has been committed to for 18 years. “I want to bring men into the organization who want to be involved with our youths—our young men and young women,” says Ware. “I want to bring back some of those who used to be members, retirees, and new people who will commit to mentoring youths at least two hours a month.” Ware took the helm as president of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb on April 1 from Lamont Houston, a retired Georgia Power executive who had headed the non-profit for the past two years. He said the organization is facing more challenges than ever before to generate revenues to fund educational programs that serve middle and high school students in DeKalb. The organization relies on sponsorships and paid memberships to run its programs. “The economy has definitely taken its toll. People have lost jobs, businesses and corporations have made cutbacks and we, like many other nonprofits, have felt the impact. But I believe that there are still many out there who can help,” said Ware. “We all must make sacrifices and help.” Ware says that help is critical: Blacks youths are four times more likely than whites to be detained by the juvenile justice system, according to federal government statistics. More blacks—34
Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
WARE SNAPSHOT
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Matthew Ware is the youngest of 15 children, the son of a Baptist preacher. Ware made a career in accounting and got involved in politics. He served as senior accountant and controller for Kendall, a subsidiary of ColgatePalmolive for 10 years. He also served as chairman/vice chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Lottery
percent—live in poverty, compared to 15 percent of whites. And blacks have a higher dropout rate—11 percent—compared to 9 percent for the nation. The DeKalb 100 is preparing for the national conference of the 100 Black Men of America, which will be held this year in Atlanta June 13-17. The annual conference is expected to draw chapters from around the world. Mentees compete in various educational contests at the event and community projects are highlighted during the five-day conference. The DeKalb chapter has won several awards at past conventions. This month, the DeKalb 100
from 2000 – 2005. Ware served on the Athens City Council and also worked as campaign manager for Georgia’s former Commissioner of Labor Michael Thurmond. Ware is married to Attorney and Special Assistant Administrative Law Judge E. Noreen Banks-Ware. They have two children, Erin and Joshua.
will honor senior students who are graduating from the organization’s Leadership Academy program. The DeKalb chapter also is partnering with the 100 Black Men of South Metro to host a motorcycle benefit ride on May 20 to raise money for educational programs. “We want cyclists to come out and support the ride. They will be riding from South DeKalb Mall to the Crowe’s Nest in College Park,” said Mae Jones, the organization’s executive director. “We will have a celebrity host. There will be a car and bike show and giveaways.” For more information about participating in the ride or becoming a member of the 100 Black Men, call 404-288-2772.