Center for Puppetry Arts partners with Chattahoochee Nature Center and The Breman in world premiere of ‘Owl at Home’
The Center for Puppetry Arts is excited to showcase the world premiere of the newest Theatre for the Very Young production “Owl at Home” alongside its two new community partners, the Chattahoochee Nature Center and The Breman. The production will run from Aug. 13 to Sept. 8.
“Owl at Home” is based on the beloved 1975 book by Arnold Lobel, author and illustrator of the renowned “Frog and Toad” children’s book series. This whimsical production invites audiences into the cozy world of Owl, showcasing the simple pleasures and humorous moments of his domestic life. The story follows him throughout his everyday adventures as he meets new friends and encounters charming and witty characters inside his comfortable nest.The script was adapted by Center for Puppetry Arts Resident Artist, Dolph Amick, who also composed an original score for the production.
“Adapting Arnold Lobel’s beloved book into a stage production has been an exciting journey. Our challenge was to capture the book’s warmth and whimsy while adding a new dimension through puppetry,” Jason Hines, Co-Artistic Director at The Center of Puppetry for the Arts said.
The Center’s partnership with the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) will feature an onsite appearance of an Eastern Screech Owl and animal ambassador at the Center for Puppetry Arts on Friday, Aug.16, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The visit from the CNC will showcase its animal rehabilitation efforts and will be accompanied by interactive displays about the Screech Owl. This program is for all ages.
The Center is also partnering with its Midtown neighbor, The Breman to contribute to their full schedule of family events for Grandparents Day, which will be held onsite at The Breman on the final day of “Owl at Home,” Sept. 8, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. This event will feature programming from PJ Library and a storytelling session of Arnold Lobel’s tales facilitated by the Center for Puppetry Arts puppeteers. This event will also have various activity stations, including crafting, collaborating on family stories, and playing classic games and puzzles.
Click here to learn more about Owl at Home and purchase tickets.
— Megan Anderson
DeKalb County launches new coalition to address mental health for residents
The DeKalb County Planning, Economic Development and Community Services (PECS) Committee kicked-off the DeKalb County Behavioral Health Coalition (DCBHC) at their bimonthly committee meeting on July 23. The purpose of the DCBHC is to assess needs and improve mental health care for DeKalb County residents.
“I am incredibly proud that Claratel approached myself and PECS to facilitate such an important project,” said Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, chairman of the DeKalb County PECS Committee. “In my years as a commissioner there has not been a collaborative effort like this before. This new approach is a way to convene key providers and stakeholders to tackle this problem together to create community change around behavioral health and substance abuse.”
The coalition will facilitate dialogue, improve partnerships, develop a community needs assessment to guide county resources and align actions across providers to serve the behavioral health needs of the residents of DeKalb County.
DCBHC includes members from:
- Claratel Behavioral Health
- Clarkston Hub/Refugee Women’s Network
- Clarkston Mental Health Collaborative
- Clarkston Resource and Wellness Hub
- DeKalb County Police Department
- DeKalb County School District
- DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
- DeKalb Public Health
- Department of Human Services
- EasterSeals
- Emory Healthcare
- Front Line Response
- Grady Behavioral Health
- Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church
- The Center for Victims of Torture
- Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
“Dekalb County provides significant funding for behavioral health services so that initiatives like the DCBHC can be implemented,” said Fabio van der Merwe, chief executive officer at Claratel Behavioral Health. “We are thrilled to be a part of a coalition that is moving towards the development of a comprehensive and cohesive continuum of behavioral health services that meet the identified needs of individuals in the community.”
— Derek Prall
DeKalb County Superintendent appointed to Homeland Security Safety Board
Last week, DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced that its Superintendent, Dr. Devon Horton, has been appointed to serve on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board.
First of its kind, the board consists of school safety experts and education leaders who will provide guidance and recommendations to enhance the safety and security of K-12 schools.
“In a world with ever-shifting and elevated threats, I believe our collective experiences will be constructive in helping develop practical solutions that improve protection for our students, staff and communities,” Horton said.
The board was formed as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which expanded the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse. It represents diverse perspectives from various fields, including education, public safety, cybersecurity and civil rights.
— Allison Joyner
Atlanta Pride seeking volunteers for Pride Festival
Atlanta Pride, the largest free Pride festival in the United States and the Southeast, announces that Volunteer Applications for the 2024 Atlanta Pride Festival and Parade are officially open. This year’s festival will take place from Oct. 12 to 13, 2024, in Piedmont Park.
Interested volunteers can sign up now through Oct. 1, 2024. Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to overwhelming interest annually, Atlanta Pride recommends people submit their applications as soon as possible to ensure they can participate in a volunteer capacity during this year’s festival.
Areas of interest for volunteers include:
- Accessibility & Inclusion: Address accessibility issues to make the Festival more enjoyable for all community members.
- Backstage Security: Provide security for the backstage areas of entertainment venues.
- Entertainment: Provide input on the entertainment lineup and maintain the stage schedule during the Festival.
- Family Fun Zone: Design and coordinate activities for children and young adults in the Festival’s family-friendly area.
- Festival Donations: Coordinate the collection of donations during the Festival.
- Festival Information: Provide information to festival-goers, including maps and event schedules.
- History & Legacy: Organize and maintain historical exhibits during the Festival, including the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
- Marketplace: Provide load-in and load-out support to Marketplace vendors during the Festival.
- Operations: Maintain Operations Center and coordinate deliveries, manage inventory, and triage logistical needs throughout the Festival week.
- Parade: Manage logistics of Parade assembly and breakdown; support judges and coordinate gifts for winners of Parade competitions; work in coordination with Festival Donations to collect donations during the Parade.
- Photography: Coordinate volunteer photographers throughout the Festival and Parade.
- VIP Hospitality: Serve as hosts for donors and sponsors in the VIP Area during the Festival; maintain VIP Area refreshments with food and beverages.
- General Volunteering: Responsible for recruitment, scheduling, and retention of volunteers; handle all volunteer requests during the Festival, placing volunteers where most needed; work in coordination with all other Committee Co-Chairs.
“Volunteers are the heart and soul of Atlanta Pride, and their dedication is what helps us Keep Pride Free for everyone to enjoy,” said Executive Director Chris McCain. “By giving their time and energy, volunteers ensure that the entire celebration remains vibrant and accessible for all. Their contributions make a profound difference, and I am excited to welcome another group of passionate individuals to join us in creating another unforgettable Atlanta Pride experience.”
— Derek Prall
SCAD appoints general counsel for Atlanta campus
Earlier this week, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) announced the appointment of Hannah Flower as the Vice President for SCAD Atlanta and General Counsel.
Flower was General Counsel and Vice President for SCAD’s International Student Services, holding executive and leadership positions across departments, including SCAD academic services, legal affairs, and international student services.
SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace said Flower’s new position is built upon 13 years of unwavering devotion to their students and the university’s mission to launch their rewarding, lifelong careers.
“I am so profoundly energized to lead SCAD Atlanta into its 20th year and committed to continuing my services to SCAD students and expert faculty while strengthening SCAD Atlanta’s profound impact on this international city,” Flower said.
Prior to joining SCAD, Flower was a mergers and acquisitions attorney at international law firm Bryan Cave (now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner) and began her career in education at Gwinnett County Public Schools.
— Allison Joyner
Georgia Research Alliance names leader for Sickle Cell Initiative
Solomon Fiifi Ofori-Acquah, a native of Ghana and an international researcher in the fields of genetics and sickle cell disease, is returning to Georgia to lead a collaborative to find new treatments and cures for the disease.
Ofori-Acquah currently directs two research enterprises, both of which he founded: the West African Genetic Medicine Center at the University of Ghana and the Center for Translational and International Hematology at the University of Pittsburgh.
Starting in September, Ofori-Acquah will serve as the leader of the Georgia Solve Sickle Cell Initiative, which was launched in 2021. Ofori-Acquah will serve as the Calvin Smyre GRA Eminent Scholar chair, and he will have a joint faculty appointment at Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine. Both institutions that are part of the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA).
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta also is a partner of the initiative, and it will carry out clinical trials and improve access to new therapies and treatments.
“Dr. Ofori-Acquah is the ideal candidate to forge new collaborative approaches to fight a disease that brings great suffering to children and adults,” said Tim Denning, GRA’s president and CEO, in a release. “He deeply understands sickle cell disease and has worked to translate findings to benefit patients and improve access to essential medicines for the disease in Africa. And he has made a major impact in educating young scientists and clinicians to advance the field.”
The appointment marks a return to Georgia for Ofori-Acquah. From 2007 to 2013, he served as assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory, during which time he founded and led the university’s Center for Endothelial Biology, a research effort that explored cells in the inside lining of blood vessels, lymph vessels and heart.
“I’m glad that Dr. Ofori-Acquah is returning to Georgia to help lead the fight against sickle cell disease,” said Emory President Gregory L. Fenves. “This would not have been possible without the partnership between Emory, the Morehouse School of Medicine, the Georgia Research Alliance and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.”
Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO of the Morehouse School of Medicine, said it was a moment of pride for the institution, which has been advocating for Georgia to lead in the field of sickle cell research.
“His exceptional expertise, combined with our global genomics focus, will transform sickle cell disease research in Georgia, marking a significant shift in the landscape of healthcare innovation,” Rice said.
Donna Hyland, CEO of Children’s, called Ofori-Acquah the right researcher to lead the initiative.
“As the nation’s largest center in the country for children with sickle cell disease, Children’s has been working to forever remove the pain and suffering of this disease from our patients, and Dr. Ofori-Acquah is going to help us achieve this goal,” Hyland said.
— Maria Saporta
Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick tells Atlanta about the upside of ‘yes’
Stephanie Urchick was a folk music artist who majored in international studies thinking she wanted to be a spy.
But after her divorce, she fell into the network of Rotary in McMurray, PA. First she wrote the club’s newsletter, and soon she became the president of the club.
“I kept saying yes,” Urchick told members of the Rotary Club of Atlanta during its July 29 meeting. “Life is always more interesting on the other side of yes — as long as it’s legal and moral.
Urchick recently became the 2024/2025 president of Rotary International. Her message to Atlanta Rotary was simple. The strength of the international organization comes from the local clubs.
“Every club has to look from that local perspective,” said Urchick, who admitted that in some parts of the world, the club has not adapted to attracting younger and diverse members. “The average age of Rotarians in Great Britain is 85.”
A challenge is to change the “ROMEO” perception: “Rich Old Men Eating Out.”
That’s not really an issue with Atlanta Rotary, which has worked hard to diversify its membership to include women, minorities and those who are younger.
“You have almost 500 members here,” she said. “The work of Rotary happens here. The magic happens here.”
During opening remarks, Rotary District Gov. Gordon Owens mentioned one project Atlanta Rotary was championing under the leadership of Bob Hope – to bring the Nobel Peace Prize laureates to Atlanta, which could have “lasting change across the globe.”
The project has been dormant, but Owens said he hoped the initiative could be revived.
— Maria Saporta
MARTA seeking community input on I-285 bus rapid transit project
Marcus Alford, Director of Federal Corridors and Hubs at MARTA, shared updates from the transit planning study of the I-285 corridor north of I-20 from H.E. Holmes station on the west side to Indian Creek station on the east side during the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) board meeting on Thursday.
Beginning last summer, MARTA and its agency partners have been working to “identify a vision for transit improvements along the corridor” and maximize use of express lanes that the Georgia Department of Transportation plans to build on I-285, including bus rapid transit (BRT) service, Alford said.
The team at MARTA has primarily been conducting an existing conditions analysis, collecting data on planned projects and travel demand for this portion of I-285. Building on previous studies, MARTA has pinpointed 12 potential BRT station locations along the corridor that align with current and planned transit services.
“We’ve started to identify potential rider groups and service plan scenarios,” Alford said. Options MARTA is studying include perimeter express service along the entire stretch of I-285, shorter routes connecting to job centers like Perimeter Center, Cumberland Blvd., and Doraville for commuters, and transit options for special events, like rides to The Battery for baseball games.
The next steps are to test feasibility and ridership potential for different service options, come up with a draft service plan and develop concepts for station designs, Alford said.
MARTA is currently engaging with community members to gather feedback, hosting open houses and pop-ups. The team expects to hold the first public meeting before the end of 2024 and to conclude the study by summer 2025.
Visit the I-285 Express Lanes Transit website to share comments, take the survey, and stay up-to-date on community meetings.
— Grace Donnelly
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta expands Workforce Housing Program, allocating total of $20 million for down payment assistance
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLBank Atlanta) announced that it will make an additional $10 million in Workforce Housing Plus+ Program funding available on Wednesday, July 31. The program, which opened in June 2024 with an initial allocation of $10 million, was developed to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance to homebuyers between 80.01 percent and 120 percent of area median income (AMI).
FHLBank Atlanta members can apply for up to $500,000 on a first-come, first-served basis and use funding awarded to grant eligible homeowners up to $15,000 for downpayment and closing cost assistance.
“Delivering down payment assistance programs is a core part of our mission at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta,” said FHLBank Atlanta President and Chief Executive Officer Kirk Malmberg. “Adding Workforce Housing Plus+, now with an increased contribution for a total of $20 million, helps homebuyers above the 80 percent AMI threshold at a time when rising rates, home prices, and construction costs all create a challenging housing market.”
Learn more about the Workforce Housing Plus+ Program on the FHLBank Atlanta website.
— Derek Prall
APS, DeKalb County, Clayton County Schools show growth in state testing results
Two of metro Atlanta’s school systems, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) and Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS), announced the results from the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) during the 2023/24 school year.
APS announced that students in grades three through eight produced gains in English language arts (ELA), science, and social studies compared to the 2022/23 GMA results.
Approximately 36 percent of students in these grades scored proficient or above in ELA compared to 33 percent for the previous school year. Students also scored 28 percent proficient in science and 26 percent in Social Studies.
“I am extremely proud of the work of each of our staff members to continue moving APS forward. While the 2023/24 results are a testament to the hard work of our staff and students, they also indicate that we still have work to do to improve student achievement,” said Danielle Battle, Interim Superintendent for APS.
— Allison Joyner
President and Mrs. George W. Bush, others to be honored at the 2024 Bill Foege Global Health Awards
The eighth annual Bill Foege Global Health Awards presented by MAP International, will take place on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the Delta Flight Museum. The award, named to pay tribute to Dr. Bill Foege, best known for eradicating smallpox, honors individuals and organizations for their commitment to making advancements in global health.
This year’s awards recognize President and Mrs. George W. Bush (accepting via pre-recorded video),. Jim Kim M.D., Ph.D., Merck, Wellstar Health System and the Atlanta Hawks for their humanitarian achievements and incredible impact in global health in the U.S. and worldwide. Ambassador Andrew Young will serve as the honorary chair of the event.
— Derek Prall
Sweetwater Brewing Company to host Hunger Relief 5K Run/Walk on Aug. 3
Sweetwater Brewing Company will host the first-ever Hunger Relief 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. The event supports Feeding America through its local member-led organization named the Southeast Regional Cooperative.
Presented by HRA Foundation, a Smyrna-based charitable foundation in the convenience store community, this exciting event aims to combat food insecurity. The event is sponsored by United Distributors and Coca-Cola.
All events start at 9 a.m., and will be held at Sweetwater Brewing Company, 195 Ottley Dr. Click here for more information or to register for the run.
— Derek Prall
Decide DeKalb Publishes Black Business Guide
Decide DeKalb, the leading economic development organization in DeKalb County, recently announced the inaugural DeKalb County Black Business Guide. The launch, which will be held on Thursday, Aug. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Granite House Lofts in Stone Mountain, is timed to honor the start of Black Business Month.
“We’re thrilled to present the DeKalb Black Business Guide, a platform dedicated to amplifying Black creativity, excellence and entrepreneurship in our community,” said Decide DeKalb’s Terra Washington, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “By increasing the visibility of these businesses, we aim to recognize their invaluable contributions to our local economy as well as amplify their reach to bring them more potential customers and partners.”
Granite House Lofts, a historic venue in downtown Stone Mountain owned by husband-wife duo Shani and Jelani Linder, is a boutique-style short-term rental property with modern art deco décor and housed in a meticulously restored granite building on Main Street.
“There is a business renaissance taking place in downtown Stone Mountain, particularly among Black entrepreneurs, and it’s exhilarating,” said Mrs. Linder. “The fact that over half of the businesses on Main Street are Black or minority-owned is a testament to a new narrative being written — not just here but across DeKalb — that you can start a business and be successful.”
— Derek Prall
