Reporter’s Notebook: Rotary luncheon, Chamblee Park renovations, New WABE executive leadership

Chris Womack on brotherly love and admiration

The keynote speaker at the March 11 luncheon of the Rotary Club of Buckhead was Chris Womack, CEO of the Southern Co.

Womack, a native of the small town of Greenville, Alabama, opened his comments with a moment of personal privilege.

“If you had a chance to watch the Oscars last night, ‘The Last Repair Shop’ won an Oscar (best documentary, short subject),” Womack said. “My brother, Vince Womack, was part of that film. So, he won an Oscar last night.”

Vince Womack, music director at the Los Angeles Unified School District, helps lead a program featured in the documentary that provides musical instruments and free repairs to students.

During the main part of his talk, Womack said the growing economic activity in Georgia and the South is causing an increased need for power. One of the big culprits is the existence of large data centers, which consume a growing amount of energy.

“AI searches take 10 times more power than a simple Google search,” Womack said. “Your desire [for more energy] is not declining.”

Several years ago, Southern Co. set a goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2030 on its way to becoming a net zero company by 2050. “We are now at 49 percent,” said Womack, attributing much of that to the company’s shift from using coal to other energy sources, such as natural gas and renewables.

In other news, the Buckhead Rotary will award Bruce Deel, founder and CEO of the City of Refuge, with its highest honor – the Rev. Robert Ross Johnson Humanitarian of the Year Award. Deel will receive that award at the March 25 meeting of Buckhead Rotary.

— Maria Saporta

Renovations begin at Chamblee Park 

Last month, the City of Chamblee announced that a multi-million dollar renovation of Dresden Park started and will be closed for at least 14 months. 

The 24-acre park will enhance several amenities, including tennis courts, restrooms, a playground and a walking trail.

“We understand this isn’t ideal, but believe once the park reopens, citizens will be elated with the changes,” said Jodie Gilfillan, Parks, Recreation and Arts Director for the City of Chamblee. 

The projected total of roughly $13 million is funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds given last year. 

“It was important for us to see these funds spent in a way that would improve the quality of life in an underserved area for decades to come,” said Brian Mock, Mayor of Chamblee. 

— Allison Joyner

Nonprofit leader Zachary Brown joins WABE as executive vice president of development

WABE has announced the addition of Zachary Brown as Executive Vice President of Development. In this new role, Brown will help the public media company elevate its operation and grow major donor support, philanthropic grant support, and community collaborations. This critical leadership position will help WABE achieve its strategic plan of amplifying Atlanta to the world.

“At WABE, we are growing our operation to strengthen the local newsroom, ramp up original storytelling, and reach audiences on every vital digital platform,” said Jennifer Dorian, president and CEO of WABE. “In our 75th year, it’s time to elevate our operation and grow our major donor support, philanthropic grant support, and community collaborations.”

Brown comes to WABE with a breadth of experience in nonprofit fundraising and deep relationships across Atlanta from roles at organizations such as Communities in Schools, Hands on Atlanta, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, he served as Director of Individual Giving for Habitat for Humanity International, where he managed a team of fundraisers across the West Coast, raising crucial funds for Habitat’s global initiatives and increasing collaboration with local Habitat affiliates to cultivate shared prospects, among other duties.

“I am honored to be a part of the extraordinary WABE team,” said Brown. “I look forward to leading the development efforts of this public media powerhouse, fostering and expanding transformative contributions to support the nonprofit’s strategic goals and future growth.”

— Derek Prall

Spelman expands cosmetic science programs to support Black-owned beauty brands 

Last week, Spelman College announced the expansion of its STEM program to include a concentration in cosmetic chemistry for its students majoring in chemistry and a minor in cosmetic science for those majoring in other areas.

The program, expected to be offered in the fall semester, is the first offered to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

“The program will be far-reaching and will support our students and faculty in making a difference in a field that caters to Black women as consumers, fueled by the scientific expertise in this area,” said Dr. Pamela Scott-Johnson, Provost of Spelman College. 

Research shows that African American women spent almost $8 million on cosmetics and personal care products in 2022. Still, only two and a half percent of the brands marketed to them are Black-owned. 

Spelman’s goal for the program is to promote careers in the beauty industry, enhance the technical knowledge of students seeking to work in the beauty industry or pursue advanced studies in cosmetics, and ensure a gendered and racial perspective in product formulation and development. 

— Allison Joyner

OnBoard program to focus on the issue of ageism

OnBoard, the organization that promotes women serving on corporate boards and becoming executive officers will shine a spotlight on the issue of ageism at a lunch program on March 26 at the Gathering Spot.

The keynote speaker of the program titled “How to Capitalize on the Benefits of an Age-Diverse Workforce and Board,” will be Tracey Gendron, a university professor and an internationally recognized gerontologist. She is the author of the book “Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End it.”

Guests can register by clicking here.

— Maria Saporta

Kaiser Permanente invests $490,000 to bolster Georgia’s mental health workforce

Kaiser Permanente is investing $490,000 in support focused on increasing the number of diverse licensed clinicians to address Georgia’s mental health workforce shortage. 

The grant funding will be used to support the work of Resilient Georgia, a statewide coalition of 900 public-private partners and stakeholders tasked with creating an integrated mental health network, with a particular focus on better serving youth and families.

“Resilient Georgia strives to create a future where every child and young adult in Georgia will have access to high-quality, integrated behavioral health services and support, empowered by a statewide network of trauma-informed organizations working together to prevent and heal childhood adversity,” said Emily Anne Vall, executive director of Resilient Georgia. “This partnership with Kaiser Permanente is a critical step to developing the workforce of mental and behavioral health professionals that is desperately needed to make that future a reality.”

In Georgia, 152 out of 159 counties are in a federally designated mental health shortage area. Completing the required supervised work hours is one of the key barriers unlicensed mental health professionals face in securing licensure. Georgia ranks 49th in the nation for mental health care access.

— Derek Prall

IGNITE teachers honored for completing DeKalb County Schools residency program

On Friday, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) announced the first cohort of teachers who have completed their IGNITE teacher residency program. 

The school district hosted a signing ceremony to celebrate the teachers graduating from the Inspiring Greatness and Normalizing Innovation in Teacher Education (IGNITE) program. 

The program was created to provide an alternative route to certification programs designed to prepare high-quality, committed, and aspiring teachers who can effectively work with students in Horizon schools across the district. 

The program began at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year and will address the severe teacher shortage and promote talent throughout the district. 

Click here to learn more about the IGNITE program.

— Allison Joyner

CAU men’s basketball team wins conference championship

Last week, the Clark Atlanta University men’s basketball team won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship in Savannah against the reigning champions, Miles College. 

The team, who dominated in the regular season, defeated Miles College 65-55.

“I am super proud of these young men. They trained hard on the court and put their all into being a successful basketball team,” said Alfred Jordan, CAU head basketball coach and this year’s SIAC Coach of the Year. 

The win automatically enters them into the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament this weekend, where their first competitor will be against Florida Southern in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 

“This victory signifies the leadership of our program under Coach Jordan’s help, the championship spirit, and the character of our scholar-athletes. We are looking forward to the NCAA regional championships,” said Jerel Drew, athletic director for CAU.

— Allison Joyner

South on Main acknowledged as premier partner by nonprofit Woodstock Arts

The nonprofit cultural arts organization Woodstock Arts has awarded the JW Collection’s South on Main neighborhood a certificate of premier partnership, recognizing its $40,000 commitment to support the 2023-2024 season. 

South on Main has also been named the presenter of the Woodstock Arts Gala, a formal dinner to be held on April 13 on the Woodstock Arts Event Green to raise funds for the local arts. This is South on Main’s second year as a partner for the nonprofit. 

“Art has been a passion of mine since my wife and I acquired our first piece shortly after we were married,” said Wieland. “At South on Main, we channel this passion into creating beautiful architecture through the belief that art and homes have the power to bring comfort and belonging. Through our partnership with Woodstock Arts, we look forward to introducing new art-focused programs, events and experiences to the community.” 

The partnership will support Woodstock Arts’ various programming throughout the year, including performing arts productions, outdoor concerts, visual arts exhibits, cultural events, classes and camps. A full scholarship will also be offered to a student in need to attend Woodstock Arts’ summer camps. Additionally, South on Main is working with Woodstock Arts to bring special theater and musical performances to South on Main’s neighborhood stage at its open-air gathering pavilion, The Shed. 

— Derek Prall

CareSource collaborates with the American Heart Association to advance equitable health in Atlanta

CareSource, a nonprofit health plan serving more than 450,000 Georgians, recently announced a $300,000 contribution to the American Heart Association in support of education and outreach efforts dedicated to improving cardiovascular and maternal health.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Georgians, with stroke being the fifth leading cause. According to the Association, more women die from heart disease and stroke than any other condition, including all forms of cancer combined, and cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of new moms. Nationally, 43 percent of Hispanic women have cardiovascular disease, and, according to the Office of Minority Health, Black adults are 30 percent more likely to have high blood pressure, which can lead to complications such as heart attack or stroke. 

“These statistics are astounding and must be addressed,” said Dr. Seema Csukas, chief medical officer for CareSource Georgia. “Collaborating with the Association allows us to engage the majority of our Medicaid and Marketplace members with the science-based education and culturally competent resources they need to improve health outcomes, as well as individuals and families beyond our members as we work to improve the whole health of Georgia one community at a time.”

Through this collaboration, CareSource and the Association will work together to educate at-risk Georgians in the metro Atlanta area about ending tobacco use, controlling blood pressure and making healthy nutrition choices with the goal of improving total health and well-being. Additionally, they will educate women, families and communities about the importance of maternal and infant health.

— Derek Prall