FREE VOLUME 24 NUMBER 46
New feature: Design Logic PAGE 6
JANUARY 11, 2019
MLK
Celebrations, events and more.
Published Since April 1995
Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
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Fallen DeKalb officer receives Officer of the Year award
During the ceremony, night-watch Captain Bell shows a portrait of Flores that was done in his honor.
Major K.D. Johnson holds the Officer of the Year award for slain DeKalb County Police Officer Edgar Flores during the Jan. 9 DeKalb County Police Department South Precinct Officer and Community Appreciation Awards ceremony. The program at the south precinct headquarters in Decatur.
Congressman Hank Johnson was unable to attend the ceremony, but presented Flores with a U.S. Citizen of Distinction honor. Members of Flores’ family were present to accept the honor.
At the end of the ceremony, members of the Flores family (brother, Alexis Flores, mother, Laura Saucedo Flores and fiancé, Lizandra Mora) police officers and community members held a symbolic balloon and dove release. Photos by Travis Hudgons See more photos at ocgnews.com
Cobb County couple sentenced in Dunwoody prostitution enterprise— biggest in DeKalb history
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Cobb County couple is now serving prison time after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy in connection with a commercial sex enterprise operating out of Dunwoody. Samuel Leon Crenshaw, 51, and his wife, Darliene L. Crenshaw, 47, surrendered to authorities on Jan. 6 to begin serving their sentences. Samuel Crenshaw entered a guilty plea to a single count of Violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) during court proceedings on Dec. 28. He was sentenced to 20 years to serve seven years in custody, with the balance on probation. Darliene Crenshaw pleaded guilty to the same charge 10 days earlier. She was sentenced to 20 years to serve three years in custody, with the balance on probation. In total, 62 individuals, including the Crenshaws, were charged in a sweeping indictment—the largest of its type in DeKalb history, the District Attorney’s Office said. The charges range from RICO, to pandering and prostitution. The investigation revealed that between February 2015 and August 2016, the Crenshaws operated a commercial sex enterprise under the business names “Gold Club” and later “Lipstick and Shoes.” With the help of their indicted co-conspirators, the Crenshaws used false information to lease units at three Dunwoody apartment complexes for the purpose of pairing “models” with clients to engage in paid sexual activities. They also conspired to recruit employees, advertise, secure locations, and manage appointments and payment systems in furtherance of the criminal enterprise. The defendants were arrested in December 2016 following months of investigation by the Dunwoody Police Department. “This is an important first step
in attacking a serious problem in our community,” said District Attorney Sherry Boston regarding the historic prosecution. “I am thankful for the hard work and investigative leadership of the Dunwoody Police Department in this case. It is my hope that these convictions will send a strong message that these crimes will not be tolerated in DeKalb County.” Along with Crenshaws, George Moore, 40, Tara Lee Gilleo, 47, and Giovene Burkhalter, 32, pleaded guilty to RICO charges for their high-level administrative roles within the organization. Moore was sentenced to 20 years to serve four years in custody. Burkhalter and Gilleo were sentenced to five years probation. Defendants charged with pandering were sentenced to jail time and probation. They were also ordered to pay fines, serve community service, and submit to drug and STD testing, among other terms. Defendants charged with prostitution were referred to counseling and programs for survivors of sex trafficking. They must also submit to drug and STD testing. “It’s important that we do not normalize this behavior on the part of any participant,” said Boston. “This is not a victimless crime. I want to do everything in my power to make certain women and men are not exploited in the sex trade.” DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gail Flake presided over the court proceedings. The case was prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Sexual Exploitation and Crimes Against Children Unit (SECAC). Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jeanne Canavan and former Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Dalia Racine led the prosecution team with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Jep Bendinger and Deputy Chief Investigator Michelle Flinn. Detective Caleb Gilbert of the Dunwoody Police Department led the initial investigation.
DeKalb SPLOST to fund 50 additional police vehicles
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he DeKalb County Board of Commissioners has approved $1.86 million to purchase an additional 50 new patrol vehicles for the DeKalb County Police Department. The funding was generated from the one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) approved by voters in November CEO Michael Thurmond 2017. “This investment of SPLOST funding supports DeKalb’s commitment to enhancing public safety throughout the county by providing our first responders with well-equipped vehicles to help them safely and efficiently perform their jobs,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “Thanks to the approval of the Board of Commissioners, our police department will have 100 new cars on the road.” “Providing our dedicated men and women in uniform with the best equipment, such as these police patrol vehicles, will improve the morale, satisfaction and performance of our officers as we continuously enhance effective police services to DeKalb citizens,” said Jack Lumpkin, director of Public Safety. In September 2018, $8 million in SPLOST funding was approved to purchase an initial 50 patrol vehicles, 10 Fire Rescue rapid response vehicles and 313 improved radios for public safety personnel. Each 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe will be used as officer take-home vehicles to increase community visibility
SEE SPLOST page 6
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DeKalb Police seek public’s help in murders of three unrelated women The DeKalb County Police Department is investigating three unrelated homicides and is seeking the public’s help in each of the cases. Detectives say they believe the three women were known to their assailants and are asking for the public’s help in tracking down the persons of interest. On Dec. 12, 2018, the body of 24-year-old Shantrelle Monroe was discovered behind a recreation area near the 900 block of Lake Drive Court. On Dec. 23, 2018, the body of 59-year-old Laura Ann Cooley was found near a private residence on Eastwood Drive. On Dec. 31, 2018, the body of 24-year-old Maya Mitchell was discovered in Glen Emerald Park. Mitchell’s 2010 green Ford Fusion hybrid, with Georgia license plate number RNF8368, is still missing. The public is urged to contact the police department at 770-724-7850 if this vehicle is located. Each case is being investigated as a homicide. There are strong leads and a different person of interest in each case. The Police Department is urging anyone with information on either of the cases to call Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-8477. All calls will be kept confidential and the caller may be eligible for an award if information leads to an indictment.
Theft from coin laundry in Conyers On Jan. 5, at approximately 1434 hours, the two female subjects pictured above, possibly mother and daughter, entered 1279 Iris Drive, Coin Laundry, and stole clothing items from a washing machine. If you recognize these suspects contact Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta 404 577-TIPS.
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JANUARY 11, 2019 • PAGE 3
PUBLISHER Glenn L. Morgan
gmorgan1@ocgnews.com
EDITOR Valerie J. Morgan
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ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill
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STAFF WRITER Mackenzie Morgan
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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 P.O. Box 904 Lithonia, GA 30058 (678) 526-1910 www.ocgnews.com
Photos by Glenn L. Morgan
Super Turnout
Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is sworn in as DeKalb’s Super District 7 Commissioner
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n Jan. 4, Lorraine CochranJohnson took the oath of office in a public ceremony, becoming DeKalb County’s Super District 7 Commissioner. As the Super District 7 commissioner, Cochran-Johnson will represent 350,000 residents in the Eastern half of DeKalb. A packed crowd attended the swearingin ceremony, which drew dignitaries and supporters from across metro Atlanta and beyond to the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in Decatur. Cochran-Johnson was sworn in by Judge Bedelia C. Hargrove, who in February 2017 became the first AfricanAmerican chief judge of the DeKalb Probate Court. Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, another trailblazer, served as the keynote speaker for the event. Judge Reynolds earned a distinction in Georgia history
as the first African American to hold the position of executive counse for the governor. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond and Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. brought greetings. Dr. Sherry Gaither of Stronghold Christian Church conducted the prayer for the ceremony. Pastor Lee May, DeKalb’s former CEO and founder of Transforming Faith Church and Dr. Jamal Bryant, the new pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, gave the benediction. During her inaugural address, Cochran-Johnson recognized several key community leaders who will be active with her administration: Joe Arrington, Lance Hammonds, Jerome Edmondson and former State Rep. Randal Mangham. G. Leah Davis, Ph.D., will serve as Cochran-Johnson’s chief of staff. Davis has more than 20 years of work
DeKalb Commissioners re-elect Jeff Rader as Presiding Officer, Steve Bradshaw as Deputy Presiding Officer DeKalb County District 2 Commissioner Jeff Rader was elected for a second term as presiding officer of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. Additionally, District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw was elected to a second term as deputy presiding officer. The Board of Commissioners is Jeff Rader Steve Bradshaw required to elect a presiding officer and deputy presiding officer at its first meeting of each new year. Rader and Bradshaw, who served as officers of the commission in 2018, were unanimously re-elected on Jan. 8. “I am honored and humbled by the vote of confidence in us that has been expressed by our colleagues,” Commissioner Bradshaw stated. Rader noted the board’s landmark accomplishments for 2018, in cooperation with CEO Michael Thurmond, which included: • Preservation and improvement of infrastructure for water, wastewater and roads. • Strengthening public safety with aggressive recruitment and competitive pay. • Improving service delivery to youth, seniors and DeKalb’s animals. • Strengthening DeKalb’s financial position by improving transparency and the county’s bottom line. • Implementing collaborative decision-making on central budget expenditures and staff leadership with regular operations reports by county staff to the commission. • Oversight by a citizens’ committee of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) revenue for public safety and infrastructure. • Substantial reduction of homeowners’ tax bills using 100 percent of the proceeds of a Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST). “I am proud of the renewal of our capabilities to serve the public interest,” said Commissioner Rader. “Much has been improved, but much remains to be addressed.” Specifically, Rader outlined the work ahead for the commission in 2019: • Continue upgrade of public works infrastructure (water, sewer, roads and drainage). • Disburse SPLOST funds through countywide projects list. • Improve economic development. • Expand the Board of Commissioners’ capacity for policy analysis and implementation.
and management experience in the public and nonprofit sectors. A former senior management analyst for the City of Atlanta, Department of Watershed Management’s Office of Performance and Accountability, she led performance review projects to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. Her hard work earned her the Department of Watershed Management Commissioner’s Award in 2018. Johnathan “J.P.” Phillips will serve as Johnson’s constituent liaison. Phillips has resided in the Super 7 District for more than 22 years. He was born in Griffin, Georgia where he was a member of the Griffin High school Class of 1980. Along with completing his marketing degree in 1984 from Morehouse College, he completed MBA courses at Keller Graduate School of Management and Health Care Science courses at Atlanta Technical College.
CITY OF STONECREST MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: MONDAY, JANUARY 28TH 2019 AT 7:00 P.M. CITY OF STONECREST, 3120 STONECREST BLVD STONECREST, GA 30038 The following text amendment within the City of Stonecrest is scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above. LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
RZ-18-007 / SLUP-18-007 Beverly J Searles Foundation 6807 Covington Hwy C-1 (Local Commercial) Request to change the zoning to MR-2 and Special Land Use permit for the development of Senior Housing.
LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER:
TMOD 18-0007 Community Development Department City Wide Minor modifications to Chapter 27 Article IV Supplemental Uses; Minor modification to Chapter 7 Building Code.
LOCATION: PROPOSED AMENDMENT:
LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: PROPOSED AMENDMENT:
TMOD 18-0008 Arabia Mountain Overlay Committee City Wide Review of the proposed Arabia Mountain Overlay district and map.
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Celebrating the MLK Holiday 2019 DeKalb MLK celebration to feature business owners Juanita Baranco, Shelley Anthony, Charles Greene DeKalb County will present its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration program, “King’s Vision: Humanity Tied in a Single Garment of Destiny,” on Friday, Jan. 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. The King Day charge will Shelley “Butch” Anthony III Juanita Baranco be delivered by Juanita Baranco, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Baranco Automotive Group. The 2019 tribute marks the 51st anniversary of King’s death and the 35th consecutive year DeKalb will host the employee-planned event honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King. Special musical guests will be jazz trumpeter extraordinaire Milkshake Mayfield and his wife, vocalist Tine. Shelley “Butch” Anthony III, owner of This Is It BBQ & Seafood, and Charles Greene, owner of Matthews Cafeteria, will be honored with the Nathaniel Mosby Humanitarian Award which celebrates the recipients’ commitment to tireless community service and outstanding dedication to being an agent for positive change. The celebration is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov.
DeKalb NAACP’s MLK parade to honor sanitation workers, Vietnam vets, Sara Copelin-Wood The DeKalb NAACP branch will host its 17th annual parade honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the late civil rights champion, on Jan. 21. This year’s celebration also will honor Vietnam veterans and highlight DeKalb County’s sanitation workers. King was in Memphis, Tennessee advocating for black sanitation workers’ rights when he was shot and killed there in 1968. Sara Copelin-Wood Several bands from the DeKalb County School District will participate in the parade. Opening ceremonies will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Green Pastures Christian Church, 5455 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. The parade will follow at noon. Daughters of the late Sara Copelin-Wood, who served as a DeKalb School Board member and county NAACP executive board member, will serve as grand marshals.
Decatur sets MLK service project In celebration of the King Holiday, volunteers will come together to restore the homes of Decatur seniors. Since 2003, the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project has provided free home maintenance and yard work. In 2017, the project helped 33 senior households with 1,200 volunteers.
This year’s project will take place Jan. 19 and Jan. 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Jan. 20, 1 to 5 p.m. Anyone interested in volunteering may sign up at www. mlkserviceproject.com.
Rockdale County Think Tank presents third annual MLK Parade The Rockdale County Think Tank MLK community parade will be held on Monday, Jan. 21, at noon. The parade will travel down Main Street in Olde Town Conyers and end at the steps of the Rockdale County Courthouse. There will be a program and awards ceremony in the Rockdale County Auditorium following the parade. Individuals and groups interested in being in the parade or the program may contact Josie Dean by email at rockdalecountythinktank@gmail.com or via telephone at 770-369-1507.
Rockdale NAACP, Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce set 2019 MLK breakfast at new venue The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce and the Rockdale Branch of the NAACP will co-host their breakfast in honor of the King Holiday on Monday, Jan. 21, 7:45 a.m., at Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Drive S.W., Conyers. For years, the breakfast was held at Longhorn steahouse. The breakfast, now in its 16th year, celebrates the birth and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and has become a community tradition for residents and business owners seeking to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The cost to attend the breakfast program is $12 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Tickets are first-come, first-served. There are no advanced tickets and seating is limited. For more information, visit conyersrockdale.com or call 770-483-7049.
Rockdale County government to host inaugural MLK celebration The Rockdale County government invites the public to its first Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration event on Monday, Jan. 21, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rockdale Career Academy Auditorium, 1064 Culpepper Drive S.W., Conyers., .Dancers from Jenae’s Dance Experience and Showtime Pros, as well as local talent from Rockdale County Public Schools will perform in a show highlighting Dr. King’s legacy and his impact on civil rights, past and present, with the theme being “This is America”. Congressman Hank Johnson will be the special guest at the event. Admission is free and the public is encouraged to attend. For more information, email jorge.diez@rockdalecountyga.gov or call 770-278-7056.
Coming Up 100 Black Women-Decatur-DeKalb to present money management, home buying workshop The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Decatur- DeKalb Chapter, Inc. will host its “2019 Let's Talk - Money Management & Real Estate Workshop & Networking” community event, on Saturday, Jan. 19, 10 a.m. to noon, at Exchange Park Intergenerational Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur. There will be speakers presenting on Budgeting, Debt Management, Home buying, Selling , New Mortgage Programs and more. The event is free and open to the public.
Three Lithonia churches unite to provide free food pantry The Lithonia First UMC, Exousia Lighthouse International Christian Ministries and First St. Paul AME are sponsoring a food pantry on Saturday, Jan. 19, at Lithonia City Hall parking lot, 6920 Main Street, Lithonia. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the food will be given away 10 a.m. to noon Free food will be provided on a first-come first-served basis. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The community event is in partnership with First African CDC, Atlanta Community Food Bank and the City of Lithonia. For more information, call 770-482-8136
DeKalb parks and rec advisory committee to meet The Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Advisory Committee’s meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 16, 6 p.m., at the DeKalb County Fire Rescue Headquarters, 1950 West Exchange Place, Tucker. The meeting will take place on the first floor in room 111. For more information, contact Carol Underwood, administrator coordinator, at 404-371-2927 or cjunderw@dekalbcountyga.gov.
“Bark in the Park” at Arabia Mountain Join Ranger Meredith at the Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve for an afternoon hike with your dog on Sunday, Jan. 13, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Bring water for you and your dog and dress appropriately for the weather. Guests will meet at the Nature Center, 3787 Klondike Road, Stonecrest. To register, visit http://arabiaalliance.org/events/ or call 770484-3060. The event is free.
Learn about bats at Bat Habitat Workshop Join Habitats for Bats to build your very own bat habitat house on Saturday, Jan. 19, at Panola Mountain State Park, 2620 Highway 155 SW, Stockbridge. Bats are an important part of the ecosystem, and you can help them out by putting a bat house in your backyard. Join the rangers at Panola Mountain State Park to make and take home your own bat habitat house. Workshop costs $10. Call 770-389-7801 to register. Registration required.
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Honorable Dee Dawkins-Haigler receives Georgia Outstanding Citizenship Award The Rev. Dee DawkinsHaigler was recognized for her commitment to diversity and inclusion in the state of Georgia by interim Secretary of State Robyn Crittenden on Jan. 10. Dawkins-Haigler said she was very honored to receive the Georgia Outstanding Citizenship Award presented by Crittenden, a history maker in her own right. Crittenden became the first African-American woman to serve as a statewide constitutional officer in Georgia history when by Gov. Deal appointed her to the position in November 2018 after Brian Kemp resigned as secretary of state to begin his transition as Georgia’s newly-elected governor. As an attorney, Crittenden, for three years led the state government’s largest agency, the Department of Human Services. Dawkins-Haigler, a former state representative, has been a proponent of eradicating sex trafficking. She co-produced the docu-drama, “Black Girls Die Too: The Backpage Murders,” which chronicled the murders of 14 black girls using the social media website, “Back Pages,” which allowed sex for sale advertisement. Dawkins-Haigler, also a strong proponent of inclusion for minorities in the cannabis industry, has championed licensing for Black people around the country. Dawkins-Haigler is the founder of the Organization of World Leaders which brings elected officials, business tycoons, physicians, attorneys, educators and philanthropists together from around the world to build relationships between Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East and the United States. In partnership with other organizations, she takes leaders to the continent of Africa and this year will be adding a component for Youth Global Ambassadors.
JANUARY 11, 2019 • PAGE 5
Viola Davis among DeKalb’s new lawmakers ready to work State Representative-Elect Viola Davis will be sworn into office as District 87 state representative on Monday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m. at the Georgia State Capitol, 206 Washington Street SW, Atlanta. Davis, who will be accompanied by returning and newly elected officials, will replace State Rep. Earnest “Coach” Williams, who has held the position since 2003. Known for her work with the Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter government watchdog group, Davis is a staunch supporter for government transparency to ensure elected officials Viola Davis and government agencies are held accountable for how tax dollars are spent. The legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 14 following the swearing in. Davis told On Common Ground News her first order of business will be to address ongoing issues with transportation and education in DeKalb.
Meet and greet set for Rockdale’s new water resources director The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners is inviting elected officials, county employees and the public to a meet the new director of Rockdale Water Resources (RWR) to the Rockdale County team on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at Johnson Park, 1781 Ebenezer Road SW, Conyers. Members of the community are encouraged to bring business cards as they meet and network with Director Angie Luna during the drop-in event. Luna has more than 12 years of combined experience working in government and Angie Luna management. In her previous role as Director of Operations, she managed five utilities departments including Electric, Water, Wastewater, Natural Gas and Telecom as well as Economic Development spanning a service area of three counties. Luna graduated with a Business Management/Administration degree from Georgia Southwestern State University. Luna spends her free time engaging in community events and volunteering for various local and national charities.
PAGE 6 • JANUARY 11, 2019 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM Editor’s Note: Meet Ariel J. Allen. Beginning with this issue of On Common Ground News, Allen will share her work as an interior designer in a new feature, “Decor Logic,” which will be published on the second and fourth Friday each month. Allen offers a fresh and creative approach to design that we hope will inspire you as you re-create your living spaces for the New Year or new season in our life. What we love about her work is her ability to use one's own objects to create beautiful living spaces. Let's look at one of her clients and the story, inspirations and visuals that help bring her designs to life.
Decor Logic
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Space: Living Room Key Words: Neutral, Textural, Elegant yet Approachable AJA Design Color Palette: Fog
Ariel J Allen
Your living space should reflect your personal style
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n Atlanta couple, soon to be emptynesters, wanted a sleek, textural and more adult-friendly living space influenced by their many travels and love for neutral colors. I sought to give them a space that would showcase collectives from their travels, provide an entertainment space for their friends and family as well as represent this new season in their lives.
We used many pieces that the couple already had in their home such as the leather chair and the black and white photography to draw the eye in. We used a soft palate as a contrast to the black and white picture. One thing that was stressed from the clients was their love of texture, ethnic art, incorporated pieces as well as symmetry. I love what we came up with–a collaborative experience all the way through.
Ariel J Allen, founder of Ariel J Allen Design, is an Atlanta-based Interior, Graphic and Kitchen Designer. Starting out as a fine artist , she spent her earlier years creating and cultivating unique experiences through the arts, volunteerism, music and travel. Driven by the belief that a well appointed, designed and organized space is one of the greatest gifts she can give, she strives to curate spaces that fit the needs of her clients and keep their happiness, lifestyle and budget in mind at all times. Allen's passion and wellrounded outlook on design is one of her driving forces and is what makes working with her so special.
To learn more about Ariel J Allen Design, contact her at ajallen@arieljallendesign.com or 404-226-8272. www.arieljallendesign.com Instagram: @arieljallendesign
Rep. Kendrick to host Georgia Blacks in Tech Day of Action
Rockdale sets 2019 Entrepreneurship Summit
State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia) will host Georgia Blacks in Tech Day of Action to educate citizens about the upcoming 2019 legislative session on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 8 – 9:45 a.m., in room 230 of the Georgia State Capitol, and from 9:45 a.m. – noon in the House Chamber Gallery, 206 Washington Street S.W., Atlanta. Kendrick will be joined by co-chair Rodney Sampson, CEO of The Opportunity Hub. Speakers will include event coordinator State Rep. Errika Moore of the National Million Women Mentors Initiative Dar’shun Kendrick and Khurram Hassan, Advantage Consulting, LLC. Participants also will have an opportunity to meet their legislator, learn about the legislative process and observe a 2019 legislative day in the House Chamber Gallery "I look forward to putting crucial policy into action after the recent second annual Georgia Blacks in Tech Policy Conference,” said Kendrick. Sampson said he is looking forward to the technology summit "Together and collectively, we will ensure that people of color in Georgia are equitably represented in the innovation economy and the future of work and economic opportunity for all,” said Sampson. For more information and to RSVP for the event, call 404-656-0116.
Rockdale County government plans to help those looking to go in to business and small businesses seeking to grow through a summit it plans to host early next year. Rockdale County, in partnership with Georgia Power, will present the “Small Business Entrepreneurship Summit” in 2019. The summit will be held at Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Dr. SW, Conyers. Entrepreneurs have the option of choosing from three consecutive Saturdays to attend: Feb. 16, Feb. 23 and March 2, 2019, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The summit will provide attendees with the tools needed to start or grow their business. Patrons can follow three color-coded tracks (red, blue and green) to their entrepreneurial goals. Each track will have workshop speakers and the day will end with lunch and a keynote speaker. The keynote speakers are: Feb. 16: Irvin T. Clark, vice president Economic Development and Dean, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Newton County campus Feb. 23: Michael R. Washburn EVP, Chief Credit Office March 2: Ashley Rivera, managing director, Atlanta Regional Commission CATLYST Tickets for the event are available at Eventbrite.com/small-businessentrepreneurship-summit.
Lithonia Art Center seeks interns, volunteers The Lithonia Art Center is seeking interns and volunteers with various experience and expertise. The center needs those with experience in curation, collecting, instruction, therapy, comic books, illustration, murals, fashion design, music production, architecture, carpentry, masonry, interior design, philanthropy, fundraising, web design, online retail management and event planning and any other experience that might be helpful. Please email your resume and/or portfolio to: LithoniaArtCenter@gmail.com. Steve Paul of the Lithonia Art Center is currently teaching Comic Art & Anime Drawing classes to students at Mosaic Minds Art Academy. To sign up for classes, e-mail LithoniaArtCenter@gmail.com. Sun."
SPOLST continued from page 1 and reduce crime. Patrol vehicles will be equipped with advanced safety features and technologies that allow full integration with the county’s emergency dispatch center and officer body-worn cameras. Additionally, the vehicles feature push bumpers, which allows officers to remove disabled vehicles from roadways to expedite traffic flow. DeKalb County will receive an estimated $388 million in SPLOST revenue over the next six years to improve county roads, infrastructure, and public safety. Additional planned public safety improvements include upgrading the fire radio system, repairing police precincts and fire stations and designing a new public safety training facility.
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JANUARY 11, 2019 • PAGE 7
New directional signs installed in Phase 1 of Conyers’ project Colorful signs denoting the Conyers historic district, landmarks and attractions in the Olde Town Conyers area have been installed, as the first phase of the city’s directional signage program gets underway. The first phase includes two monument-style primary signs at major gateways where the city limits begin, two smaller monument-style signs on secondary roads within the city limits, 14 vehicular directional signs, seven downtown identification signs, eight parking signs, as well as 19 street identification signs in Olde Town Conyers. The Conyers City Council and staff reviewed and approved renderings of a variety of wayfinding signs at the city’s annual planning retreat last January. Renderings were designed by representatives at Atlanta-based Sky Design based on the city’s rebranding and new logo created by Rhyme and Reason (R&R) Design in 2017. The first phase of the signage program was submitted for bid and the contract was awarded to Charlotte, North Carolina-based ACSM, Inc. in July 2018. The program has been under way since with completion expected by early spring, officials said. “The wayfinding signage program was a goal in the city’s strategic plan and also a recommendation of the Georgia Department of Economic Development Tourism Product Development Resource Team following their visit to Conyers in late 2016,” said Mayor Vince Evans. “We really felt this was something needed to help newcomers and visitors, whether in vehicles, on bicycles or on foot, identify key locations in and around Conyers and hope to expand the sign program throughout the city limits in the future as the budget allows.”
Conyers-Rockdale Chamber 2019 Entrepreneurial Academy registration now open The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce is ready to help you get your new year’s business resolutions off the ground at this year’s 2019 Entrepreneurial Academy. Starting on Monday, Feb. 11, the seven-week program offers individuals a deep dive into the essentials on starting and running a successful business. “The entrepreneurial program is a course designed with the small business owner in mind. If you have dreams of starting your own business or are already an established business owner seeking to expand, the academy has something for you,” said Fred Boscarino, President/CEO of the Chamber. “Experienced business people who have been there, tried that, share their voices of experiences to help you avoid common pitfalls and be better prepared to establish your business for growth and prosperity.” Taught by business leaders in the community, the curriculum includes sessions on legal entities, accounting, loan options, marketing, social media, insurance and human resources. Workshops vary from panel discussions to lectures and hands-on training. “Of more than 700 academy graduates who have come through the program since it started in 2004, more than 50 percent are now in business for themselves,” said Boscarino. “In addition to
gaining valuable information, you also have the opportunity to network with other like-minded individuals who hope to establish or expand a small business.” The academy, which graduated 54 participants in 2018, draws participants from the surrounding metro Atlanta area including Conyers, College Park, Decatur, Lithonia, Stone Mountain, Covington, Forest Park, Stockbridge and McDonough. Recent graduate Esther Williams said while it took her two years to earn a master’s degree in business online, it took her just seven short weeks to learn everything she needed to know to start her business at the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneurial Academy. “Everything—from insurance to opening
policies—was covered. It’s really what I needed to get things up and running,” said Williams, a retired Rutgers University professor. After graduating from the academy, Williams launched the Green Hygiene Company, LLC, a mail-order business in Decatur offering environmentally-safe cleaning products for homes and corporate dwellings. The cost for the program is $175. Attendees who register by Feb. 1 will receive a $50 discount. The fee includes snacks for every session and a graduation dinner and certificate at the conclusion of the program. Graduates of the Entrepreneurial Academy will receive Continuing Education credits (CEUs) and a certificate of completion from Georgia Piedmont Technical College after starting their small business. Classes will be held each Monday from 6 – 9 p.m. until the final class on March 25. Students are encouraged to arrive no later than 6 p.m. to network and to make sure they are fully prepared for each session, which starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. The course is open to the public and entrepreneurial experience is not necessary to apply. For more information or to register, visit www.conyers-rockdale.com or call 770-4837049.
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We cater to the entire family. Gum Treatments Tooth Colored Fillings Oral Surgery Cosmetic Bonding & Veneers Crowns, Bridges & Dentures Root Canals Implants We Accept Most Insurance Plans Peachcare & Medicaid Emergency Walk-In Time Available
900 N. Hairston Rd. Suite B Stone Mountain, GA 30083 404-294-8500 Spalding Gentle Dentistry 6460 Spalding Drive Norcross, GA 30092 770-849-0006