SCAD’s Buzz Bus delivers joy and creativity to schools in Atlanta, Savannah
Last month, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) hosted art supply donation events for schools in Atlanta and Savannah.
In 2010, SCAD founder Jaula Wallace created the SCAD SERVE Buzz Bus to help make high-quality art education possible for thousands of students statewide.
SCAD SERVE staff and student volunteers work directly with the schools to identify a wish list of creative supplies and artistic tools that will benefit the young students – everything from paints and pencils to canvas and clay.
The Atlanta campus hosted an event at Conley Hills Elementary School in October and will host College Park Elementary later this month.
“SCAD has a long legacy of giving to our community and it’s wonderful to see our students interacting with these younger students to show them they too can turn their artful talents into creative careers,” said Scott Linzey, Vice President of SCAD SERVE.
Click here to learn more about the SCAD Buzz Bus.
— Allison Joyner
Georgia voters decide on personal property exemption increases law
Georgia voters made their decisions during this year’s election on Tuesday.
Over three million voters (64.5 percent) agreed to House Bill 808. The bill increases an exemption from property tax for all tangible personal property from $7,500 to $20,000..
The bill will also increase the statewide ad valorem tax exemption for tangible personal property but exclude motor vehicles, trailers and mobile homes.
Click here to read more about the bill.
— Allison Joyner
Alliance Theatre hires two BOLD leadership officials
The Alliance Theatre hired two new team members to contribute to its BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle.
Theater and film producer Marie Cisco has been appointed as BOLD Association Artistic Director, and Abrianna Belvedere will be the theater’s new BOLD Producing Associate. Both bring a background in devising and producing new works to their roles.
“The BOLD Women’s Leadership Circle has reimagined the pipeline to leadership for female+ artists by fostering active collaborations and amplifying diverse voices of emerging change-makers,” said Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, Artistic Director for the Jennings Hertz theater.
Kajese-Bolden added that Cisco and Belvedere lead with artistic vitality, a penchant for adventurous work by emerging writers and the imagination to leverage the theater’s transformative power to produce art in service of a larger vision of social change and evolution.
— Allison Joyner
City Schools of Decatur ranks first in state ACT Scores for 2024
Out of all the 172 participating public schools in Georgia, City Schools of Decatur (CSD) earned the highest average ACT scores, outpacing metro and national averages.
According to the latest data from the Georgia Department of Education, Decatur High School students scored 24.6 on their ACT scores, an increase of almost a percent compared to last year.
“Our entire school district celebrates the accomplishments of our 2024 graduates, whose achievements reflect the tireless efforts of students, teachers, administrators and parents and the district’s commitment to academic excellence and college readiness,” said Dr. Gyimah Whitaker, Superintendent of CSD.
The school system announced that the high school’s previous graduating class scored the second highest among all Georgia high schools and had a graduation rate of 94.05 percent.
— Allison Joyner
Sanofi gave three HBCU medical schools $18 million to help increase diversity in clinical studies
Historically Black medical school Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) announced that it is among three schools to receive $18 million from healthcare company Sanofi to help the institution increase diversity in clinical studies.
MSM, Howard University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and Meharry Medical College in Nashville will receive this investment over ten years, which aims to strengthen the Centers of Excellence in clinical study diversity.
“We look forward to a robust partnership as we work to increase diversity in clinical studies and develop advanced opportunities for researchers, leading to greater health equity,” said Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and CEO of MSM.
Rice says Sanofi’s funding will be used to hire clinical researchers, establish infrastructure such as online chat services and pharmacy upgrades, and create customized training programs.
“At Sanofi, our mission is to chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives, and this means all people’s lives, regardless of their race or ethnicity,” said Lionel Bascles, Senior Vice
President of Global Head of Clinical Trials and Operations at Sanofi. “By partnering with these three esteemed Historically Black Medical Schools, we hope to facilitate new inroads to communities that have been underrepresented in healthcare for far too long. Increasing diversity and inclusion is essential to the research and development of medicines and vaccines for people of all backgrounds.”
— Allison Joyner
Agnes Scott receives HEED award for excellence in diversity
Decatur liberal arts school Agnes Scott College announced that they received the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from Insight Into Diversity magazine.
The award recognizes U.S. colleges and universities demonstrating an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion and will be featured in the magazine’s November/December issue.
This is the fourth time the school has received this honor.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire community, especially our students, who inspire us every day to create a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment,” said Yves-Rose Porcena, Vice President of People & Culture at Agnes Scott College. “At the heart of our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts is the belief that belonging is essential for everyone to thrive. This award reminds us that embracing and empowering all voices can foster meaningful change and build a future where everyone feels they truly belong. We remain committed to pushing boundaries, building bridges through courageous conversations, and creating opportunities for meaningful change in all systems.”
The award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions related to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — leadership support for diversity, campus culture and climate supplier diversity and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion.
— Allison Joyner
Park Pride receives $1 million donation from The Home Depot Foundation
Park Pride, a local nonprofit that engages communities to activate the power of parks, is thrilled to announce a $1 million donation from The Home Depot Foundation to the Parks for All Comprehensive Campaign.
Park Pride recognized the Foundation’s generous contribution during its Party for All Parks event, a celebration of supporters and community members. The donation helped Park Pride reach the funding goal for its Parks for All campaign and supports the nonprofit’s efforts to ensure all Atlantans have easy access to a quality park.
“Great parks are essential for happy, healthy communities,” said Heather Prill, senior philanthropist, strategic partnerships and programs for The Home Depot Foundation. “We are proud to support Park Pride’s community-led efforts to ensure every resident has access to a quality park in their neighborhood. Their work helps Atlanta, our hometown, thrive.”
— Derek Prall
Georgia-Pacific announces change in leadership
Georgia-Pacific recently announced a change in its operations leadership. Jeff Koeppel, senior vice president of operations, will retire in the first quarter of 2025. A role he has held since 2016, Koeppel’s been a critical part of the transformation of Georgia-Pacific’s manufacturing operations.
Hudson Pope, currently senior vice president for manufacturing at Georgia-Pacific, will assume the senior vice president of operations position with responsibility for all manufacturing segments.
Pope brings nearly 30 years of experience in the pulp and paper industry. He began his career with Georgia-Pacific as a co-op process engineer for the company’s Crossett, Arkansas, facility. He has grown his career with Georgia-Pacific and several other organizations, assuming consecutive leadership roles in manufacturing, logistics, and operations. In December 2018, Pope was promoted to Georgia-Pacific’s senior vice president, building products operations. In 2023, his role changed to assume responsibility for the company’s packaging and cellulose operations.
— Derek Prall
Decatur Downtown Development Authority renews funding for three grant programs
The Decatur Downtown Development Authority (DDA) announced renewed funding for three grant programs providing specified financial support to local businesses: the Commercial Facade Improvement Grant (CFIG), Commercial Buildout Improvement Grant (CBIG) and Marketing and Digital Connectivity Grant (MDCG).
The bulk of the funding is for the CFIG program, which was replenished with $100,000 to support projects focused on enhancing and beautifying storefronts and awnings. Additionally, $50,000 has been allocated to the CBIG, which aims to reinforce the interior aspects of commercial buildings in Downtown Decatur – especially retail shops, restaurants, bakeries and breweries – by repairing walls, constructing new internal spaces or making HVAC repairs and upgrades. Finally, $25,000 was earmarked for the MDCG, which aims to help restaurant and small business owners upgrade their online presence through the design and production of marketing materials and content for digital platforms.
“As we carefully built these grant programs over the last 18 months, we saw an enthusiastic response from our small businesses that made it clear we were making a difference,” said Conor McNally, DDA chair. “These targeted grants are helping our small businesses make critical improvements, and since they are the beating heart of Downtown Decatur, we are proud to do our part to keep them strong.”
— Derek Prall
The Southface Institute names new CFO
Southface Institute, an Atlanta-based sustainable building nonprofit, welcomes Marcel Henry as the organization’s new chief financial officer. Henry will focus on Southface’s financial management and strategic planning.
Henry brings to Southface his more than 25 years of executive leadership experience at major corporations including JPMorgan Chase, WorldCom, MCI, and Pacific Bell.
“Marcel Henry brings a wealth of expertise in financial management, strategic planning and operational excellence to our organization,” says James Marlow, President, Southface Institute. “In his new role, Marcel will leverage his extensive expertise and leadership skills to our mission of promoting sustainable development and environmental solutions.”
Henry holds an MBA in Innovation Leadership and Consulting from York St John University and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development. His strong commitment to community service is evident through his board memberships with organizations including the Atlanta Film Festival, 100 Black Men of America, the American Cancer Society, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
— Derek Prall
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