VOLUME 21 NUMBER 7
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MAY 16, 2015
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
In The News
DeKalb’s new schools superintendent to take reigns July 1 By Joshua Smith and Valerie J. Morgan
D
Atlanta Jazz Festival brings tons of talent for free Page 4
Cappuccino? Latte? Clarkston coffee truck draws a crowd Page 7
r. R. Stephen Green, 61, has been named the new superintendent for DeKalb County Schools. Green, who turned around the troubled Kansas City Public Schools in Missouri and was named Missouri’s 2015 “Best Superintendent of the Year,” is expected to take the reigns on July 1. Green replaces Michael Thurmond, who said he plans to return to the law firm of Butler, Wooten, Wooten & Peak LLP, where he was an attorney. Thurmond has served since 2013. “After a comprehensive nearly sixmonth search, the board has selected an experienced, well-suited educational leader to move the district forward under his successful innovative approaches to teaching and learning,” said DeKalb School Board Chair Melvin Johnson. “Dr. Green brings an impressive record to DeKalb not only from Kansas City, but also from New York, New Jersey and Indiana. He was a stabilizing force in Kansas City and will do the same here in DeKalb County.” Green, who led the Kansas City school district of about 15,000 students and will be taking on DeKalb County’s 100,000 students, says he’s ready for the challenge.
Dr. R.Stephen Green
His new job will put him closer to two of his four children who live in the DeKalb region, along with three of his four grandchildren. “I am looking forward to helping lead DeKalb schools to new elevations and to being able to spend a lot of quality time with my children and grandchildren,” Green said in a statement. “These opportunities don’t come around very often and I simply could not pass it up.” Johnson said by state law, the district can offer Green a contract for 14 days. During that time, officials will be ironing out the salary and other benefits. Green was
earning at least $342,500 a year in Kansas City, according to the Kansas City Star. Green is credited with leading Kansas City back to provisional accreditation within two years of being named that school system’s superintendent in 2012. He had previously served as KCPS interim superintendent for several months. Under Green’s leadership, KCPS earned 92.5 points towards the state of Missouri’s school achievement standards in 2014. That was 8.5 points more than the school district earned in 2013, and a 54.5-point increase from the 2012 results. In August 2014, Missouri’s Board of Education recognized the district’s gains by granting KCPS provisional accreditation. Earlier this year, Green was recognized for his achievements by being named Missouri’s 2015 Pearce Award winner – “Best Superintendent of the Year” – by his peers, the Missouri Association of School Administrators. DeKalb officials were impressed by Green’s work. With recommendations from an appointed 16-member community liaison group, the school board selected eight semifinalist candidates before making the final See DeKalb Schools page 5
DeKalb’s District 5 Commission seat prompts early announcements By Valerie J. Morgan
DeKalb School of the Arts ranked one of Georgia’s top schools Page 8
McDonald’s launches custom burgers at select locations Page 10
The qualifying period for DeKalb County’s District 5 Commission seat is May 18-20, but some have already announced they plan to run for the seat. Developer Vaughn Irons mailed out campaign postcards over the Mother’s Day weekend, sparking rumblings that he had inside Harmel D. Codi Mereda Davis Johnson Gina Mangham knowledge the seat was available before it was officially announced (for more on that story, see page 5). Irons’ bio information ran in On Common Ground News on May 8. Three others who have gotten The Special Election to fill the District 5 Commission seat will be June 16. out of the gate early with their Candidate qualifying will begin Monday, May 18 at 9 a.m. and will continue through announcements to the newspaper Wednesday, May 20, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Registration & Elections office, 4380 Memorial include: Education Consultant Drive, Suite 300, Decatur. Harmel D. Codi; Attorney Mereda The last day for new voters to register or existing voters to make name or address changes is Davis Johnson; and Attorney Gina Monday, May 18. Mangham. Requests for absentee ballots by mail are being accepted now. Elderly and disabled voters must Each candidate must pay a submit an application to receive a mailed ballot since the automatic request for ballot does not apply qualifying fee of $1,151.24 before to special elections. they are officially in the race. In-person Early Voting begins on Tuesday, May 26, and continues weekdays through Friday, Here are snapshots of those June 12. Early Voting will be held at the Registration & Elections office at 4380 Memorial Drive, who contacted On Common Ground Suite 300, Decatur between 8:30 a.m.to 4:00 p.m. There will be no weekend voting or satellite News early: locations. Harmel D. Codi is a 15-year If needed, the runoff will be held on Tuesday, July 14, with early voting beginning on June 29 at resident of District 5 and the mother the Registration & Elections office with the same hours. The early voting poll will be closed July 3 of two children. A former employee for holiday. of DeKalb County government, she is an entrepreneur who has youth advocacy group aimed at strategies to helping them to grow. of finance, accounting, housing run several businesses including mentoring disadvantaged youths in Codi holds a Juris Doctorate and economic development and a real estate and mortgage firm order to stop the schools to prison (JD) and a Masters in Business for nearly 10 years before the pipeline. Codi also is a consultant Administration (MBA) and several See District 5 page 6 mortgage crisis. A child advocate, to small businesses, developing certifications in various areas she is executive director of a
About the District 5 Special Election
PAGE 2 •MAY 16, 2015
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EDITOR/PUBLISHER Valerie J. Morgan editor@ocgnews.com GENERAL MANAGER Glenn L. Morgan gmorgan1@ocgnews.com STAFF WRITER Joshua Smith joshsmith@ocgnews.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill richardhill@ocgnews.com On Common Ground News is published weekly by On Common Ground, Inc. The newspaper serves DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale and Henry counties. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or the newspaper’s advertisers. No portion of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. We reserve the right to reject material and advertisements we deem inappropriate. On Common Ground News
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MAY 16, 2015 • PAGE 3
Scottdale resident says God kept his promise to give him long life
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ore than 100 family members and friends celebrated the Rev. Waddell Britton, Sr.’s 100th birthday with him. The Scottdale resident’s birthday dinner was held at Lithonia First Baptist Church and included family tributes, a video of pictures that spanned his life, and people sharing their favorite stories about Britton, who has three living children, three grand-children; and two great-grandchildren. “He enjoyed birthday cake. He’s not on a restricted diet so he eats anything he chooses to have, for the most part,” said granddaughter Grethcen Johnson. Living in his own home, Britton receives daily care from his children and grandchildren. Although he stopped driving at age 90, he still dresses himself, uses a walker to get around, and sometimes cooks his own
Rev. Waddell Britton, Sr. food. Britton says he believes the keys to living a long life are believing in God, honoring God’s calling on his life, and eating food that is “cooked well.” “He told us that God promised him that he would see 100, if he continued to do the work of the Lord for his people,” Johnson said.
New splash pad brings summer fun for all of Rockdale
Power Company, where he retired after 35 years of service. Britton was married to the former Emma Lois Foster for over 60 years until her death. Together, they served as community mentors to many children and adults in their neighborhood, family members say.
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Just in time to beat the summer heat, Rockdale County has opened up a $35,000 splash pad for the community. There is no charge to cool off at the county facility. “We are very excited to give the Milstead community something else they can be proud of. I know the little kids will love it and mom and dad can have a good time there, too,” said Jackie Lunsford, director of Recreation and Maintenance in Rockdale County. “Where once sat slabs of concrete now is beautiful grass to play Frisbee and other fun things. We are really excited about this one.” Lunsford said the splash pad is set on a timer and will run from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. It shoots out water three minutes at a time. The SPLOST-funded project has been under way for about a year and a half, and includes an open lawn, small walking trail, a pavilion, picnic area, swings and exercise equipment. The 20-foot-by-30-foot splash pad, which now stands where the old Milstead pool used to be, is an above-ground play area with various water fountains and spray jets and combines different water movements to entertain users.
Britton is pastor emeritus of Calvary Grove Baptist Church in Scottdale. He’s also a chaplain for Gregory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Home. The Blackshear, Georgia native has been a DeKalb County resident for more than 70 years. After serving in the United States Army, he began working at Georgia
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A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Monday, May 18, 5 p.m., at Milstead Park, located at 1665 Main St., where the new splash pad will be open to the public officially. Children are encouraged to wear their swimsuits to the ribbon-cutting ceremony so they can splash it up afterward. The park also has a small workout area with equipment donated by the Hospital Authority of Rockdale County. Lunsford said the park is about three quarters of an acre in size. The splash pad replaces the Milstead pool. Rockdale opted to close the pool in 2009 when it became clear that federally mandated upgrades to the pool’s drainage system would be too costly to justify continuing pool operations. The Milstead pool was built in 1934 Splash Pad continued on page 5
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Coming Up
Organizers say the event will be a day of changing the way the community looks at mental health care in DeKalb. Several behavioral health care providers will make presentations. Attendees can attend information sessions, as well as learn how to access new methods that are innovative in caring for and the therapy of a mental health patient. Some informational vendors include the DeKalb CSB, Behavioral Health Link, NAMI DeKalb, the DeKalb County Jail, Veterans Affairs, as well as other behavioral health agencies and providers. Clerk of the DeKalb County Superior Court, Debra DeBerry is hosting the event. Admission is free. Parking is free. MARTA is accessible. 404-371-2836.
Free pet adoptions this month The LifeLine Animal Project and DeKalb County are partnering to sponsor a “Spring Into Adoption” free pet adoptions in May. Any pet weighing 25 pounds or more may be adopted from DeKalb County Animal Services, located at 845 Camp Road, Decatur. Every pet will be spayed or neutered and receive all vaccines and a microchip – a $200 value – at no cost to the new pet parent. Adoption counselors will be on hand to answer questions and ensure animals are placed in good homes. “With up to 30 animals entering the shelter daily, we urgently need public support to help us save lives,” said Susan Feingold, shelter director. “By providing fee-waived adoptions on pets 25 pounds and larger, we hope to see a record number of people coming into the shelter and giving our wonderful animals a new life.” To see pictures of the animals, visit www.dekalbanimalservices.com.
Atlanta Jazz Festival brings tons of talent for free The 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival will kick off the Memorial Day weekend May 22 – 24 at Piedmont Park, 1342 Worchester Drive, N.E., Atlanta. The event, billed as one the nation’s largest free jazz festivals, will feature local, national and international jazz performances, kid zones, food and merchandise vendors. The Atlanta Jazz Festival has been the backdrop to musical legends such as Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie and Nina Simone. More than 30 acts are scheduled to perform this year. The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs presents the festival. “This year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival promises to be one of our best,” says Camille Russell Love, director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We are presenting a diverse lineup of artists from around the world, and because we are blessed with a wealth of talent here in Atlanta, we’ve added a third stage in Piedmont Park for local artists.” The festival will run from Friday through Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The park will reopen for normal public use on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. You may pack a picnic, but no grilling, glass containers, bikes, skates or pets will be allowed in the park during the festival. Vendors will be available. For more information, visit www.atlantafestivals.com.
ATLANTA
Job readiness workshops, job fair coming soon Fulton County District 4 Commissioner Joan P. Garner and the Fulton County Office of Workforce Development will co-host the 2015 Job Fair on Tuesday, June 9, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., in the Adamsville Regional Health Center, 3700 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta. In preparation of the fair, job readiness workshops will be provided to job seekers on Thursday, May 14, 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Tuesday, May 26, 1:30 p.m.; and Thursday, May 28, 10 a.m. The workshops will cover subjects such as career advisement, assistance with resume preparation, “dress for success” tips, advice on how to complete in-person applications successfully and preparation skills to make the best of your attendance at the job fair and how to do well at interviews. The Office of Workforce Development is located at 141 Pryor Street, Atlanta. For more information or to register for the classes or the job fair, call 404-6136381.
D0E invites students to check out digital books this summer The Georgia Department of Education invites all Georgia students to check out digital books available this summer at no charge. The department says these digital books really bring stories to life and provide audio support that creates a magical experience for youths and teens. Check out http://thefutureinreading.myon.com/GetGAREADING for more than 8,000 enhanced digital books with access anytime. You will need this information to login and access book titles: School Name: Get Georgia Reading and you may also need the Username and Password: read. Titles offered for reading until Aug. 30. These enhanced digital books, are embedded tools and metrics to support and track student reading and growth. During this trial, all readers will share a single account that provides them with unlimited 24-7 access to the digital books. For more information, contact Saralee Parker at 678-910-6661 or sparker@myon.com.
DEKALB
Mental health, wellness fair set The DeKalb Mental Health Action Coalition will host a mental health and wellness fair on Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Manuel J. Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur.
GWINNETT
CERT courses available to volunteers The Gwinnett County Office of Emergency Management is offering free Community Emergency Response Team or CERT training to Gwinnett County residents, on Tuesdays beginning May 26, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Residents are trained in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Courses are open to all Gwinnett residents ages 18 years and older who pass a background check by the Gwinnett County Police Department. A course review and disaster simulation will take place on Saturday, July 11, 8 a.m. to noon. Classroom location will be given to participants after registering. For more information or to sign up for the course, email ema@gwinnettcounty.com.
Memorial Day ceremony set for county heroes Gwinnett County will host a Memorial Day ceremony to honor Gwinnett military heroes on Monday, May 25, 1 p.m., at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. This annual event honors the county’s military heroes and public service personnel. Members of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners and honor guard units from Gwinnett County Corrections, Fire and Emergency Services, Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, and the Lawrenceville Police Department will take part in this event. Gwinnett’s Fallen Heroes Memorial pays tribute to all Gwinnett residents who died in the line of duty in military or public safety service. From Native Americans, “who were the first to love this land,” to more recent casualties, the memorial honors about 700 individuals, organized by categories of service. Their names, in random order and without rank, are carved on 13 black granite markers, which are nine feet tall and weigh almost four tons each. A central pedestal features a Gwinnett firefighter’s bronze sculpture of an eagle carrying a rose. 770-822-8000.
ROCKDALE
Rockdale Legislative Town Hall is set The Rockdale Delegation will host a legislative wrap-up on Monday, May 18, 6 to 7 p.m., at the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library, 864 Green St., Conyers. Invited speakers include: State Senators Ronald Ramsey (District 43) and Rick Jaffares (District 17); State Representatives Dee Dawkins-Haigler (District 91), Pam Stephenson (District 90), Tonya Anderson (92), Tom Kirby (114), Dale Rutledge (District 108) and Pam Dickerson (113) for a review of this year’s Legislative Session.
Free dog show at horse park The Circle of Friends Dog Agility, LLC and the Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers will host a three-day dog show on May 22 – 24, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Dog agility is an exciting team sport where dogs and their handlers navigate a challenging course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and other obstacles at speed. Spectators are welcome, and admission is free. Unlike purebred dog shows, agility competitions allow any kind of dog, mixed breed or purebred to participate. During dog agility trials, dogs run a course of ramps, tunnels, hurdles, weave poles and other obstacles. The dog owner sends hand, verbal and body language signals to guide the dog, and the dog relies solely on the handler to get through the course. For more information, contact Circle of Friends Dog Agility, LLC at dcdriscoll@att.net.
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MAY 16, 2015 • PAGE 5
DeKalb ICEO Lee May denies tipping developer about District 5 seat resignation By Valerie J. Morgan DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May says he did not give advance notice to developer Vaughn Irons that he was planning to resign from his District 5 Commission seat, and he said he does not plan to endorse Irons’ candidacy for the special election that will be held on June 16 for the position. On Common Ground News broke the story that Irons was planning to run for the District 5 seat, after receiving a tip, which Irons confirmed on May 7. Although Irons has been the subject of investigations concerning contracts and business deals with DeKalb County, he has denied any wrongdoing. Scrutiny of Irons intensified after people
began questioning if May told Irons ahead of time about his plans to resign. Irons’ candidacy postcard was already designed and in the mail to residents in District 5 on May 9, the day after May held a news conference to announce his resignation. May sent out a statement to the media to make it known he is not supporting Irons. “I have not and will not endorse the candidacy of Mr. Vaughn Irons to be the next District 5 Commissioner,” May said in the statement. Irons said May didn’t know about his plans to run because he hasn’t spoken to May in at least two months. “I learned when everyone else did that Lee was resigning,” Irons said. “The
DeKalb Schools continued from page 1
nearly two years because May was picked by the governor to serve as interim CEO while Burrell Ellis fights corruption charges. Here is May’s statement in its entirety concerning Special Election: “Qualifying for the District 5 Commissioner seat begins on May 18. I look forward to talking with some of the announced candidates about their priorities and vision for DeKalb County. A decision on whether to endorse a candidate will be made after these discussions. However, let me be clear: I have not and will not endorse the candidacy of Mr. Vaughn Irons to be the next District 5 Commissioner.”
Splash Pad, continued from page 3
Board Chairman Melvin Johnson announces DeKalb’s new schools’ chief.
decision to hire Green. DeKalb resident Hank Stewart, who is active with Columbia High School, Towers and Cedar Grove High School cluster, says he was disappointed with the way the selection process worked. He said he expected that a new search firm would be hired to replace PROACT, which was abruptly fired by the school board during the selection process. PROACT was fired early this month amidst a federal investigation and allegations of misconduct concerning the CEO’s owner Gary Solomon. “The board had all these meetings and forums to get opinions on selecting the new superintendent to lead our children, then the committee overseeing the process is removed and then boom: We get Dr. Green,” said Stewart. “I have nothing against Dr. Green. He may work excellent in DeKalb, but there is a large difference between 15,000 students up there (Kansas City) and 100,000 students here, but I’m mainly upset with how the selection process played out.” Verdalia Turner, president of the Georgia Federation of Teachers, said she is pleased with Green’s selection. “We’ve heard good things about him. He has received high marks from the American Federation of Teachers’ national office,” said Turner. “If he is who I’ve heard he is, we should be able to work with him in building on what we have accomplished as a district so far.” The Organization of DeKalb Educators President Deborah Jones says its teachers are ready to welcome Green. “We are now relieved. There was a lot of time spent looking for someone with the right background. Dr. Green has the right background. I don’t have any concerns with Mr. Green at this time,” said Jones. “The teachers wanted someone who understands us and what we do everyday and treats us like the professionals we are. Dr. Green has been there and done that.”
AJC (Atlanta-Journal Constitution) leaked the information before the official announcement and that’s how I found out. I was looking at running in 2016 and planning to do something anyway for this Mother’s Day to get out front, to get my message out. It just so happened that Lee stepped down and we were already in place and had the piece ready to go.” Gina Mangham, who said she is throwing her name in the hat to run for the seat, doesn’t buy Irons’ explanation for getting the mailer out so quickly. “I don’t know how anyone could get something created and in the mail that fast to so many people,” said Mangham. “I just don’t think it’s a coincidence.” The District 5 seat has been vacant
Before his tenure with the Kansas City Public Schools, R. Stephen Green served as the president and CEO of Kauffman Scholars, Inc., an access and graduation program aimed at increasing the number of college graduates from Kansas City’s urban schools. Before joining Kauffman Scholars, he was superintendent of Community School District #28 and a local instructional superintendent in Region 3 for the New York City Board of Education. Green also served as president and executive director of the New Jersey Teaching and Learning Collaborative, a not-for-profit organization founded to provide ongoing technical assistance, high quality curriculum-driven professional development, and advocacy for local and state policy reform. Green has worked as a national executive director of the CollegeEd Program for the College Board. He was also an assistant superintendent, high school assistant principal, and middle school assistant principal for the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence (Ind.) Township. He taught high school and college-level English literature and composition for 13 years at Pike High School, Indiana University, and Butler (Ind.) University. He has served as director of Minority Student Affairs at Butler University and as an instructional superintendent for the New York City Board of Education. Green received a Bachelor of Science in English Literature and Composition and a Master of Arts in English Literature from Ball (Ind.) State University and his principal’s certification from Butler. He received a doctorate from Indiana University in 1995 with two majors: curriculum and instruction and education administration.
by the Milstead Division of Callaway Mills. The pool was in operation for 75 years and once served the families of those who worked at the textile mill. After the mill closed in 1960, the county took over operations of the pool.
Lunsford said next up on her agenda is improving Johnson Park. She says her department in the next few months should begin working on new pavilions and improving the locker room area at the park.
PAGE 6 •MAY 16, 2015
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Gwinnett historic sites receive state preservation rewards
The Georgia Trust for Excellence recently honored two of Gwinnett County’s historic sites for preservation. “I am so proud that the Georgia Trust has recognized two of Gwinnett County’s most important historical sites,” said Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash. “Our county has a proud history, and as we approach our bicentennial, I am
pleased to see that leaders in the preservation community recognize that Gwinnett is hard at work preserving its history and telling our story.” The Chesser-Williams House, a vernacular I-house dating to the mid-19th century, has been the focus of an extensive preservation effort undertaken by Gwinnett County and the Environmental
and Heritage Center Foundation (EHC). Donated to Gwinnett County by the Williams family in 2008, the house was relocated to the EHC campus, six miles from its original site. The exterior paintings, which are attributed to a German itinerant artist, were removed for future display in a controlled museum environment and then painstakingly recreated on the restored structure. For this meticulous and scholarly work, the EHC was awarded an Excellence in Preservation Award by the Georgia Trust. “One of the goals of the Chesser-Williams House project is to use the home as a resource for teaching students – and the public at large – about the importance of historic preservation,” said Dr. Debbie Daniell, a trustee of the EHC Foundation and director of social studies for Gwinnett County Public Schools. “The EHC and its foundation are honored to be recognized by the Georgia Trust and look forward to seeing the Chesser-Williams House provide thousands of area students with firsthand knowledge of historic preservation, archaeology, conservation sciences, cultural history and curation techniques.”
Fort Daniel was built in 1813 as a critical supply station and defensive battlement during the War of 1812. It was later abandoned, and its log structure faded in obscurity. The site of the fort was rediscovered in 2007. Five years later, Gwinnett purchased the site, which is currently managed by the Fort Daniel Foundation. The Fort Daniel Foundation sponsors an annual Frontier Faire and is developing educational resources for critical handson experiences that foster an understanding of local history, archaeology and the importance of preservation. These efforts led the Georgia Trust to recognize the Fort Daniel Foundation with an Excellence in Preservation Services award. “The Fort Daniel Foundation is pleased and honored to receive this distinguished award from the Georgia Trust,” said Dr. Jim D’Angelo, president of the Fort Daniel Foundation Board. “The core of our mission is to educate the public about the site and the processes involved in preserving it.” For more information about the Georgia Trust, visit www.georgiatrust.org.
from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston, where she met her law and life partner, Congressman Hank Johnson. She is a cofounder and past president of the DeKalb Lawyers Association, which she continues as a volunteer. She also serves on the Board of Directors of DeKalb Hospital Authority and the Georgia Democratic Committee, serving as a member at large. She is a former board member of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc., Georgia Legal Services, Inc. and numerous other boards and has served as a volunteer lawyer for Decatur Cooperative Ministry. Johnson is a member of the Congressional Spouses Club and the immediate past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses, where she served for four years. Johnson and her husband have two children and she is a member of Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church.
Gina Mangham has lived in DeKalb County since 1990. She has earned a BBA in Finance and a Doctorate in Law. Mangham has experience in finance, management, and community economic development. She is a certified mediator and a practicing attorney specializing in business disputes, wills and estates, and other family matters. Mangham has been a community advocate in South DeKalb for 25 years, successfully fighting development that would be detrimental to the community such as increased multifamily housing, the Greenco Composting facility, and the proposed bio-mass plant in Lithonia. Working with several community groups, she is now advocating to eliminate corruption in government and Home Appraisal Redlining in South DeKalb. Mangham led the effort to fill the temporarily vacant District 5 seat on the DeKalb County Commission. She ran
for the seat in 2012, receiving more than 2,500 votes. Mangham currently serves as Vice President of the Friends of Stonecrest Library, Treasurer of the South DeKalb Improvement Association, and is a member of the NAACP. The following District 5 candidates’ forums are scheduled:
District 5 continued from page 1
project management. She speaks fluently four languages in addition to English. She is a member of the First Saint Paul AME Church in Lithonia, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the National Coalition of the 100 Black Women of Stone-Mountain-Lithonia Chapter, the University of Georgia Alumni Association and the Black MBA. Mereda Davis Johnson has practiced law for more than 30 years, concentrating in the area of family law. She became the first black female judge in DeKalb County when she was appointed in l985. At the time of her historic appointment, she had practiced law for less than three years. Johnson is a partner with Johnson Hopewell Coleman, LLC. A fierce advocate, she has obtained numerous substantial verdicts and favorable settlements on behalf of her clients. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree from Tennessee State University. She obtained her Juris Doctorate
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MAY 16, 2015 • PAGE 7
Cappuccino? Latte? Clarkston coffee truck draws a crowd
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uy a cup of coffee and help provide job training and mentoring to some of Atlanta’s recently resettled refugees. That’s the mission of the new Refuge Coffee Co. in Clarkston. The nonprofit expresso bar on wheels hosted a happy hour on May 11 that drew a crowd, where it was parked at East Ponce de Leon and Market Street. The truck will be a permanent fixture every Wednesday at that same location, founder Kitti Murray says. The truck is an espresso bar on wheels, but it’s so much more. You can order cappuccinos and lattes at the window, all made with locally roasted and sustainably sourced beans. The barista trainee who crafts your drink will be a resettled refugee from Atlanta’s own backyard. The cost of your drink makes his or her training possible. Murray founded Refuge last year with the goal of helping unite refugees in the community, while providing on-the-job training. Clarkston is home to citizens from 145 countries and 761 ethnic groups. More
than 60 languages are spoken in Clarkston, which is an official U.N. resettlement area. “Eighty-five percent of immigrants to this country have never been inside an American home,” Murray said. “We see this as an abysmal hospitality gap. The urban coffee shop is an extension of the American living room, so we’re just opening up the living room so our friends who live beyond Clarkston can get to know our friends who live in Clarkston.” Murray says Refuge hopes to one day build a coffee shop in Clarkston. The coffee truck is the first start. The non-profit organization raised more than $85,000 to buy the truck, coffee and supplies to launch. Murray says she hopes to build on its success. “More than half of Clarkston’s citizens fled here from war or genocide in their home countries. Clarkston is a community of survivors,” said Murray, who lives in Clarkston with her husband, a pastor. “Refuge Coffee Co. offers one creative way for refugees to move from survival to livelihood. We provide a living wage, a holistic job-training program, and mentoring to refugees.”
Community forum: Why African Americans are haunted by heart-brain disease By Natalie DiSantis It’s well known that heart disease and diabetes have haunted generations of African Americans. The prevalence of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, in African-Americans is the highest in the world. Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. What many people do not know is the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on African American families. African-Americans are twice as often to get dementia and Alzheimer’s than whites. Twenty-three percent of African-Americans age 71 and older have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. That compares to 11.2 percent of whites in the same age bracket. Additionally, African Americans are frequently diagnosed at later stages of Alzheimer’s, leaving families little time to prepare emotionally and financially for the difficult road ahead. The reason for the higher rate of dementia and Alzheimer’s in African Americans is that African-Americans have a higher rate of heart diseases and diabetes, said Dr. Monica Parker, an Emory geriatric primary care physician and researcher. “That means if you have been treated for hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol, you’re at greater risk for stroke, which leads to memory dysfunction,” Parker said. Although the disease affects AfricanAmericans the same as whites and other ethnic groups, Parker said how it manifests in blacks isn’t as clear cut, which makes the disease more difficult to diagnose and treat. “There are differences. We just don’t know what they are, because they haven’t been studied,” Parker said. That’s why the need for African-Americans to participate in studies in significant numbers is so great,” Parker said. Parker says blacks’ fear of research harks back to the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, a four-decade clinical study begun in 1932 in which African-American men were used as “laboratory animals.” The vast majority of African-American Alzheimer’s research, however, is by surveillance, which includes brain imaging, surveys and taking samples of blood and cerebral spinal fluids to search for precursors of the disease, she said. Parker
Dr. Monica Parker said people age 60 and over with and without memory problems are needed to participate in these observational research studies. In order to raise awareness of the links between Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease and diabetes, Emory, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Georgia and Antioch Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church are hosting a free Community Brain Health Forum on May 30. The free Brain Health forum, which includes breakfast and lunch, will explain the connections between heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and Alzheimer’s. The community Brain Health forum will teach participants to become proactive about brain health by participating in memory screenings, scheduling a health care visit, engaging in preventative behaviors and disease interventions through diet and exercise, or participating in research studies. The forum will also provide resources for caregivers dealing with loved ones diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The doors open at 8 a.m., memory screenings begin at 8:30 a.m. and the program starts at 9 a.m. Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2152 Rock Chapel Road, Lithonia. While the event is free, registration is required. To register, visit www.antiochcaregiving. eventbrite.com or call 404-727-3251. Natalie DiSantis is project director for the Outreach Cognitive and Movement Disorders Program at Emory School of Medicine.
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DeKalb School of the Arts ranked one of Georgia’s top schools
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udos to the DeKalb County School System. DeKalb School of the Arts (DSA) in Avondale Estates is named one of the top high schools in Georgia in the U.S. News & World Report’s most recent ranking of public high schools. DSA is ranked No. 4 in Georgia (No. 108 nationally) out of nearly 30,000 American high schools. U.S. News & World Report said these rankings are a “useful tool for families trying to discern how well schools are serving their students in preparation for college and careers.”
DSA’s ranking follows that of the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology in Lawrenceville, which earned the No. 1 spot among public schools in Georgia and the No. 3 spot in America. The report reviewed data in the 2012-2013 school year including reading and math test results for all students
on state proficiency tests, the academic performance of African-American, Hispanic and low-income students and the percentage of students taking rigorous courses such as Advanced Placement classes. “Our primary goal at DSA is preparing students for college, the workforce or a career in the arts,” said Principal Susan McCauley. “We are very
proud of our students, faculty, and staff who strive every day for excellence in the classroom.” DSA has 364 students with 27 percent participating in the free and reduced lunch program. Demographically, 63 percent of the student body are African-American, 30 percent Caucasian, and 7 percent Hispanic and other. The U.S. News & Word Report can be found at: http://www.usnews.com/ education/best-high-schools
Miller Grove assistant Rasul Chester named new boys basketball coach at Stephenson
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By Joshua Smith
iller Grove assistant basketball coach Rasul Chester says he is ready to bring his championship mentality to Stephenson High School. “I stay about five minutes from the school. This gym will really be my first home and my house will be my second home. I’m going to be hard on the guys and it’s going to be tough. Let everybody sleep on us, if they want. We are behind other schools so we really have to work, we have to be hungry for greatness,” said Chester, who began his coaching career in 2003 as the Head JV Girls’ Basketball Coach and Assistant Varsity Girls’ basketball Coach at Cross Keys High School. “Invited tournaments in California, Hawaii, Florida, NIKE sponsorships where they just send the whole team shoes, those are the things we had at Miller Grove and I want to bring those types of things here.” From 2004-2006, Chester was the Head JV Boys’ and Assistant Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach at Cross Keys High School, helping to lead the team to the Sweet Sixteen of the State Playoffs. In 2006, he moved to Stone Mountain High School where he served as the Head JV Boys’ and Assistant Varsity Boys’ Coach until 2008. While at Stone Mountain, Chester helped lead the team to the Elite Eight of the State Playoffs. In 2008, he began his tenure at Miller Grove High School. Beginning in 2011, he was the Head JV coach where he lead the JV squad to back-to-back County championships in 2014 and 2015. During his time at Miller Grove,
Conyers Middle School to host community wellness fair Conyers Middle School, 400 Sigman Road, Conyers will host a community wellness fair on Saturday, May 16, 8 a.m. – noon, for Rockdale county residents. The goal of the fair is to raise awareness of wellness health and expose d and connect residents of the Rockdale community to medical resources within the community. The health fair will offer various screenings, free haircuts for schoolaged children, jeans for teens, financial wellness and a host of other vendors to support the health and well-being of Rockdale residents.
Rasul Chester
Chester also assisted Head Coach Sharman White to lead the team to winning the 5AAAAA state title six times, dating from 2009-2014. “He most definitely deserves this. He’s had offers before but the timing was right now. Our whole staff is elated that Raul has been given this opportunity. He will carry over to Stephenson our rich tradition of winning and I believe he can take Stephenson to the next level,” said Coach White. Chester says it might be a little strange going against White on the battlefield when they have been in the trenches for years together, especially since game one on the Stephenson schedule is at Miller Grove. Stephenson Principal Michael Jones said
he is more than comfortable with Chester leading the team. “We are welcoming coach into the Jaguar family with open arms and we know that with him the future of the Boys Basketball team is bright,” said Jones. “He has an extreme amount of experience winning, has great leadership skills and he really knows the game. This is a day that we can all stand proud. We look forward to many great games with Coach Chester. Chester has been with the DeKalb County School District since 2003, teaching Math at Cross Keys High School, DeKalb Alternative School, and Miller Grove High School respectively. As an educator, Coach Chester was voted Teacher of the Year in 2010 at DeKalb Alterna-
tive School. On May 13, Chester held his first Stephenson parent meeting, stressing the importance of practice and grades, and parents there said they love the fact that Coach Chester is a stickler when it comes to academics. “I love his emphasis on grades. I love that he tells the parents and students upfront that with no grades, comes no play, it wasn’t like that before,” said parent Theresa Gatlin. “We want him to stay on top of our boys. We are behind Coach 100 percent and we will continue to reiterate to the boys what he tells us, to hang in there and balance the class and the court, to be a true student athlete.” Chester says the team, who last season went 14-15 under Coach Curtis Gilleylan, has a lot of work to do, especially since last year the team graduated 10 seniors. “We are starting off young, some would say that’s a problem but I love it. Everybody is starting on a fresh slate and I can really mold the younger guys into leaders in the school, leaders in the community and leaders on the court, that’s the equation to winning, to greatness,” said Chester. “Right now it’s about work and more work; getting the defense superb because if we can’t stop anybody we don’t stand a chance with the elite teams and getting sponsors. The other side of this thing is fundraising. We will always need donations and sponsorships to keep the program running at a premium level.” For more information on the program or to become a sponsor, call 678-676-4202.
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MAY 16, 2015 • PAGE 9
Grammy Award-winning Teddy Riley First black governor of Massachusetts to keynote at Morehouse to keynote GPTC graduation
Edward Theodore “Teddy” Riley
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ulti-Platinum record producer and performer Edward Theodore “Teddy” Riley will deliver the keynote speech for the Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) commencement on Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m., at the Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Boulevard, N.W., Atlanta. Riley is an internationally-known, multi-platinum Grammy
Award winning producer, singer, songwriter and musician. He will deliver the speech in the Thomas Murphy Ballroom, Building B. Riley’s impressive client list includes artists such as Bobby Brown, Usher, Lady Gaga, Boyz II Men, Robin Thicke, Snoop Dogg and the late Michael Jackson. Riley is no stranger to GPTC. In July, he helped open the college’s new Design Media Production Technology Studio. Riley also participated in promotional videos for the technology studio. The state-of-the-art production studio and Mac lab will train students in the growing field of 3-D animation, Graphic Design, Web Interface, Motion Graphics, TV Production and Digital Music Production. “We are very pleased Teddy Riley has graciously agreed to serve as our 2015 Commencement Keynote Speaker,” stated GPTC President Jabari Simama. “With over 25 years’ experience in the music industry, he will deliver an address that is sure to be both anecdotal and inspirational for our graduates, as well as their families and friends.”
Deval Patrick
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eval Patrick, the first black elected governor of Massachusetts, will be the commencement speaker for Morehouse College on Sunday, May 17, 8 a.m., at Century Campus, 830 Westview Drive, S.W., Atlanta. Patrick grew up an academically gifted student in the impoverished and violent streets of Chicago’s south side but rose to excel in toptier schools in the path to leadership.
Patrick has worked as a lawyer for several organizations and firms such as Texaco and CocaCola. President Bill Clinton in 1994 appointed Patrick Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. In 2006, he became governor of Massachusetts. He won by a landslide, breaking a four-term Republican streak of power and becoming the state’s first African American governor—and only the second black governor in the nation. Patrick served two terms. He steered the state out of recession to a 25-year high in employment. He led a landmark 10-year, $1-billion program to promote the state’s life sciences industry positioned Massachusetts as a global leader in biotech, biopharmaceuticals and digital technology, and as a national leader in clean and alternative energy. In June 2007, Patrick became the first sitting governor to march in Boston’s Pride Parade—just days before an expected vote on a ballot question that could ban gay marriage. A year later, he signed a measure repealing a 1913 law that barred Massachusetts from marrying couples whose unions would not be legal in their home states.
Spelman College welcomes Donna Brazile for commencement
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Donna Brazile
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uthor, syndicated columnist, television political commentator and political strategist Donna Brazile will be the commencement speaker for Spelman College’s Spring graduation on Sunday, May 17, 3 p.m., at the Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park. Brazile is vice chair of Voter Registration and Participation at the Democratic National Committee, and former interim National Chair of the Democratic National Committee as well as the former chair of the DNC’s Voting Rights Institute. “Donna Brazile has been a trailblazer in the political arena and a
staunch advocate for human and civil rights,” said Spelman College President Beverly Daniel Tatum. “We are pleased she will have an opportunity to impart words of wisdom to Spelman graduates as they begin the next phase of life’s journey, and join the ranks of Spelman alumnae who have made a choice to change the world.” Brazile has worked on every presidential campaign from 1976 through 2000, when she became the first African American to manage a presidential campaign. Author of the best-selling memoir Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics, Brazile is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, a syndicated newspaper
columnist for Universal Uclick, a columnist for Ms. Magazine and O, The Oprah Magazine, and an on-air contributor to CNN, and ABC, where she regularly appears on This Week. Brazile was named among the 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian magazine, Top 50 Women in America by Essence magazine, and she received the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s highest award for political achievement. Last fall, President Obama appointed Brazile to the Fulbright Board where she helps select candidates in the Caribbean and Latin America who will participate in the Fulbright Program.
President of National Urban league to keynote at CAU
resident and CEO of the National Urban League Marc H. Morial will be the keynote speaker at Clark Atlanta University’s commencement ceremony on Monday, May 18, 8 a.m., at the university’s Panther Stadium, 735 Beckwith Street, S.W., Atlanta. Morial has served in a number of capacities in the public sector including that of lawyer, mayor and state senator. As a lawyer, Morial won the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award for his legal service to the poor and disadvantaged. He was also one of
the youngest lawyers, renaissance. He at age 26, to argue was a guiding force and win a major case of the city’s most before the Louisiana dramatic growth in Supreme Court. over 20 years: the As a Louisiana Convention Center State Senator, was expanded, Morial was named thousands of “Legislative Rookie of new hotel rooms the Year,” “Education were built, the Senator of the Year,” Downtown Casino and “Environmental and Sports Arena Senator of the Year,” opened and New while authoring laws Orleans hosted on a wide range of Super Bowls, important subjects. Marc H. Morial music festivals and As mayor of New International and Orleans, Morial led the city’s 1990s’ Hemispheric Summits during his
tenure. The NBA also returned to New Orleans with the relocation of the Hornets from Charlotte; New Orleans won the All-American City Award in 1996 for the first time in 50 years and the prestigious City Livability Award. Morial has served as the president of the National Urban League since 2003. He created the National Urban League Empowerment Fund, which has pumped almost $200 million into urban impact businesses including minority business through both debt and equity investments.
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Business News
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McDonald’s launches custom burgers at select locations
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cDonald’s is testing a new concept at select restaurants in the metro Atlanta area. The restaurant’s new “Create Your Taste” experience allows customers to customize their freshly grilled burger by choosing from a variety of quality toppings that are on the menu. Create Your Test is available at nine McDonald’s restaurants. Customers choose their toppings on a kiosk. Individual burgers are prepared and delivered to tables by McDonald’s crew members. The sandwiches are presented open-faced in metal baskets designed to showcase each topping. “Create Your Taste” is part of McDonald’s effort to offer customers a personalized, customizable experience and provide a greater variety of quality ingredients and menu items. The “Create Your Taste” experience is available only by placing your inside the store.
Rep. Johnson hosts DBE forum during National Small Business Week Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth District, held a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) forum on May 8 to help local small businesses learn how to do business with the federal government. More than 100 small business owners attended the forum at Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Clarkston. “It was important for me to a hold a forum helping our local small businesses during National Small Business Week,” said Johnson.
“We know small businesses are the engines that drive our economy and create jobs. I want to do all I can to ensure small businesses get a fair shot at federal government contracts.” The event was for eligible socially and economically disadvantaged businesses that have been in business for at least two and have the capacity to perform on government and nongovernment contracts.
The following locations in metro Atlanta:
965 Dawsonville Hwy Gainesville GA 2501 Thompson Bridge Rd Gainesville GA 4111 Austell Road Austell GA 3396 Chamblee Tucker Chamblee GA 3183 Frontage Rd Gainesville GA 1125 Merchants Drive Dallas GA 2049 Cobb Parkway Kennesaw GA 1105 Northside Dr Atlanta GA 5350 McGinnis Ferry Road Alpharetta GA
Urban League, Wells Fargo to host free small business workshop The Urban League of Greater Atlanta will offer small business owners a chance to expand their contracts, capital and capacity through a seminar led by Wells Fargo on Tuesday, May 19. The free daylong seminar begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce office at 235 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW. The event includes meals and a reception for networking with various business professionals throughout the metro area. Space is limited. Immediate registration is recommended. “We know this workshop will provide extremely valuable information to strengthen small businesses and open doors of opportunity,” said Nancy F. Johnson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. “On behalf of the people whose ef-
forts to build contracts and capacity will be advanced by this event, I thank Wells Fargo for its commitment to building a strong business community in the Atlanta area.” “Wells Fargo is excited to host this summit with our partners at the Urban League of Greater Atlanta’s Entrepreneurship Center,” said Pam Cross, vice president and senior community development officer at Wells Fargo Bank. “Although, these workshops are a small part of our efforts to support Business owners we hope events like these have a huge impact for our customers and communities.” The following link allows registration through Eventbrite: <http://contracts-capital-capacity-summit.eventbrite.com/> http://contracts-capital-capacity-summit. eventbrite.com
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