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“Heart of South DeKalb” Festival set ....page 4
DeKalb Medical sets free “Doc Talks” series ....page 8
SERVING DEKALB, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY AND ROCKDALE COUNTIES
VOLUME 20 NUMBER 23
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SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
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City of Stone Mountain honored for downtown arts incubator program
Morehouse School of Medicine to install sixth president, first female ATLANTA— Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice will be installed as the sixth president of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) Dr. Valerie on Thursday, Montgomery Rice Sept. 11, kicking off a three-day celebration. The inauguration, which is open to the public, will take place at 11 a.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College. Rice will become the first female to lead the school of medicine since it was founded in 1975. “I am excited about this new chapter not only for me but for this great institution of Morehouse School of Medicine,” said Rice. “The community has joined me in support of our students with investments to the Presidential Scholarship Fund. Our talented students are working to become the next generation of health care leaders, and these scholarships help them reach those goals.” MSM’s Presidential Scholarship Fund drive, projected to provide $1.5 million in scholarships, received a boost on Aug. 16 during a pre-inaugural gala luncheon attended by more than 850 women luminaries in metro Atlanta. The “Phenomenal Women” luncheon, led by Billye Aaron, the wife of famed baseball slugger and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, raised $500,000 for MSM students. Dignitaries and delegates from more than 50 colleges and universities around the country are expected to attend Rice’s inauguration. Dr. Robert Franklin, former president of Morehouse College, will preside over the ceremony. Special guests will include Founding President of Morehouse School of Medicine Dr. Louis Sullivan; Ambassador Andrew Young; Gov. Nathan Deal; the First African-American Labor Secretary Alexis Herman; Georgia Tech President Bud Peterson and Former U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, who is an MSM alumna. The Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs will perform special music for the occasion, including selections during the processional and recessional. The ceremony will be followed by a lunch reception hosted by the school, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Links, Inc. “A presidential inauguration is a major occasion in the life of an institution of higher learning,” said Anthony Welters, chair of the MSM Board of Trustees. “It is an especially significant time for us as we proudly recognize Dr. Montgomery Rice for
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Lou Walker Senior Center kicks off National Senior Center Month ...page 9
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By Valerie J. Morgan
he city of Stone Mountain was among 13 Georgia cities honored for outstanding achievement in urban design, economic development, organizational projects and downtown promotions at the Georgia Downtown Conference Awards of Excellence ceremony. Stone Mountain received a silver award for its innovative downtown arts incubator program, which provided business training to artists and transformed at-risk properties in the city’s downtown for the artists to use. The awards ceremony, held in Decatur, culminated a week-long conference, which was co-sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Office of Downtown Development and the Georgia Downtown Association. The annual awards and conference provide recognition for downtown and community development professionals and an opportunity to showcase the best of Georgia’s unique downtowns. “Our downtowns are the heart of our communities, and these awardwinning cities set the standard for downtowns across the state and nation,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “A vibrant, economically robust downtown is a sign of an actively engaged community committed to enhancing its economic competitiveness and its quality of life.” The City of Stone Mountain Downtown Development Authority and ART Station Contemporary Arts Center were recognized for partnering to create, promote and develop an arts incubator program with a mission
Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
Mechel McKinley, executive director of the Stone Mountain Downtown Development Authority, says the city has five successful art businesses thanks to its incubator program.
of refurbishing vacant and at-risk properties in the city’s downtown area, said Mechel McKinley, executive director of the city of Stone Mountain’s Downtown Development Authority. The program, launched in 2011, not only refurbished the properties, but provided an arts studio and gallery in each space, she said. The economic development program selected artists to participate from a highly competitive process. Those selected were required to attend 24 workshops designed for new business See Arts Incubator, page 6
Hillside International welcomes Oprah to Founder’s Day By Joshua Smith
ATLANTA—Social media has been buzzing with the news that one of Atlanta’s churches, Hillside International Truth Center, Inc., will welcome Oprah Winfrey for its Founder’s Day Celebration on Sept. 7. The church, under the leadership of Dr. Barbara King, is celebrating 43 years in ministry and is planning to honor Winfrey for the milestone. Winfrey, who is already scheduled to be in town for the “Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend” at Phillips Arena, will be one of the special guests honored at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday worship service, where she will be presented the “Dr. Barbara L. King Founder’s Award. Dr. Na’im Akbar, an author and psychologist, will deliver a message entitled “Lessons in Living.” King and other members of Hillside have taken to social media to get the word out on the special program. This post was made on the church’s Facebook page: “We are really excited to help spread the word about
Oprah Winfrey
Founder’s Day at Hillside International Truth Center. This coming Sunday, Oprah Winfrey will be in our building. Join us and tell a friend.” The church will continue its anniversary celebration throughout September. On Saturday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m., the church will welcome artists for “Jazz on the Hill.” Performers
such as Katherine Thornton, Warren Lankford, Delores Major and several other acts will grace the stage. On Sunday, Sept. 14, 9:30 a.m., Hillside will welcome the Rev. Jamie Sanders, a minister with Unity Pensacola (Florida) will discuss “That Was Then—This Is Now! So What— Now What?” On Sunday, Sept. 21, the Rev. Rocco A. Errico, an author and traveling minister, will discuss “Discovering Your True Self.” The church’s youth ministry and children’s choir will make a presentation following Errico’s message. On Sunday, Sept. 28, 9:30 a.m., Dr. King will share a word of encouragement: “I’m At Home.” She says the message will serve as a tribute to the late Maya Angelou who had spoken at Hillside in the past. The church will also host “The Seat of the Soul” classes on Sept. 14, 21, and 28 at 1 p.m. Find out how you can develop a great spiritual partnership for life. Hillside International is located at 2450 Cascade Road, S.W., Atlanta.