Morehouse School of Medicine associate dean elected to National Academy of Medicine
Dr. Priscilla Eyikojoka Pemu, associate dean for Clinical Research at Morehouse School of Medicine, is the newest National Academy of Medicine (NAM) member.
The organization addresses critical health, science, medicine and related policy issues and inspires positive actions across sectors.
Recognized by NAM for “pioneering work on clinical trial diversity,” Pemu is also the Director of MSM’s Clinical Research Center and a practicing physician in internal medicine.
NAM is regarded as a medical group that has made significant contributions to health, medicine, and science.”
— Allison Joyner
Talley Street Elementary School recognized as Literacy Leader School by Georgia Department of Education
Last week, City School of Decatur (CSD) announced that the Georgia Department of Education has recognized Talley Elementary School as a 2023-2024 Literacy Leader School for its high percentage of students reading at or above grade level.
The award highlights the importance of literacy and the impact of students’ reading ability on their entire educational career.
“Literacy is integral to student success and sets the stage for lifelong learning,” said Dr. Gyimah Whitaker, Superintendent of CSD.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods will visit the students later this school year to congratulate them on their major achievement.
— Allison Joyner
Spelman receives grant to establish center to train the next generation of leaders in intelligence and international strategic affairs
Earlier this month, Spelman College was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to establish the Spelman Strategic Security Studies Center. The center will serve as an advanced educational hub specializing in training women of color to be the next generation of international strategic affairs and intelligence community leaders.
The office serves as the head of the U.S. Intelligence Community, overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program, which enhances educational programming by merging in-depth theoretical studies with practical applications in international affairs. They also expand and advance linguistic and cultural competencies to equip students with essential skills that enhance their role and capabilities in global operations and develop a pipeline of highly qualified professionals whose diverse backgrounds, unique perspectives and mission-ready education will enhance their American intelligence community and prepare them for roles in international affairs.
“I will never stop working on behalf of Georgia’s HBCUs. I’m delivering these Federal funds to help establish a new Strategic and Security Studies Center at Spelman College and support the growth of America’s HBCUs in research, development, and innovation vital to American national security,” said Jon Ossof, U.S. Senator for Georgia.
The new center will be affiliated with Spelman’s Center of Excellence for Black Women in STEM.
— Allison Joyner
APS middle school students receive Georgia REACH Scholarships
On Tuesday, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) announced that five middle school students had been selected as the REACH Georgia Scholars for the high school graduating class of 2029.
The program is the state’s first needs-based mentoring and college program, aiming to effectively champion Georgia’s children in need and unlock their potential for the future workforce.
The students signed a contract with their parent or guardian to maintain a 2.5 GPA, remain crime, drug, and behavior-issue-free, and meet with a volunteer mentor and academic coach until they graduate from high school.
When they meet the requirements, each student who graduates will receive up to $2,500 per year for up to four years, up to $10,000, to be used towards the cost of attending a HOPE-eligible college in Georgia.
The students are:
- Serenity Dupree, Crawford W. Long Middle School
- Taylor Jordan-Jones, Charles R. Drew Academy
- Mackenzie Scarbrooks, Wesley International Academy
- Terri Scott, KIPP Woodson Park Academy
- Zion Swanson, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
— Allison Joyner
Dr. Herman Taylor receives American Heart Association Clinical Research Prize
Dr. Herman Taylor, professor and director of the Morehouse School of Medicine Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), is the latest recipient of the 2024 American Heart Association’s Clinical Research Prize.
Taylor said that heart health and disease result from the convergence of many factors, including the interplay between the broader social and physical environments that shape heart disease.
“I hope what we do moves the field forward towards true precision in prevention and care for the entire population,” Taylor said.
In 2020, Taylor was awarded the AHA’s Physician of the Year for his research on the advancement of health equity in his Jackson Heart Study.
Taylor will receive his award this weekend at the AHA’s Scientific Sessions conference.
— Allison Joyner
Former Falcon Mohamed Sanu joins Covenant House Georgia’s Sleep Out to support youth experiencing homelessness
On Nov. 21, Covenant House Georgia (CHG) will have former Atlanta Falcons player Mohamed Sanu join them for their 13th annual Sleep Out fundraiser.
With November being National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, CHG brings community members together for a one-night experience of what it is like for a young person who doesn’t have a home or bed and has to sleep outside.
Sanu will join over 150 Atlanta business, civic, and nonprofit organization leaders who are coming together to help CHG raise funds for its comprehensive programs, which provide support services like shelter, food, educational support, and counseling to youth who are facing homelessness and trafficking.
“With his compassion and commitment to our community, Sanu is helping us shine a light on the critical issue of youth homelessness,” said Dr. Alie Reed, CEO of CHG. “The support from all of our Sleep Out participants makes a profound difference, helping us provide shelter, safety, and a path forward for the youth who come through our doors.”
— Allison Joyner
Atlanta History Center announces new podcast on WABE
The Atlanta History Center, in collaboration with WABE, Atlanta’s choice for NPR and PBS, announces 1912: The Forsyth County Expulsion and Its Aftermath, a six-episode podcast uncovering the devastating story of more than 1,000 Black residents forced out of Forsyth County, Ga., and the enduring impact on their descendants. The podcast will be available on the WABE/NPR Podcast Network and all major podcast platforms, with the first two episodes launching on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, followed by new episodes released weekly.
Hosted by Rose Scott of WABE’s Closer Look and Sophia Dodd, digital storytelling research manager at the Atlanta History Center, 1912 aims to correct the historical record and confront widely held myths about Forsyth County and the “haunted” Lake Lanier. The podcast highlights the generational impact that has persisted for over a century in the county—a place The Oprah Winfrey Show visited in 1987 when the area was known as a hotbed of racism, having excluded Black residents for 75 years.
Listen to the trailer here.
— Derek Prall
Georgia State University’s College of Education and Human Development selects 2024 Partnership Award Recipients
Georgia State University’s College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) has selected the TLAB Mobile Technology Lab and the TOUR Championship as the 2024 recipients of the CEHD Partnership Award.
The TLAB Mobile Technology Lab is a family-owned business that provides underserved communities with access to STEAM-centered education through its self-contained, mobile units equipped with high-tech computers and gaming equipment.
The TOUR Championship is an annual PGA golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, where the 30 best PGA players in the world compete in front of thousands of spectators.
“The partnerships with TLAB and the TOUR Championship reflect the commitment to innovation and lifelong learning, which are hallmarks of our programs in the college,” said DaShaunda Patterson, CEHD associate dean for faculty affairs. “Through our partnerships with these organizations, our students are participating in authentic experiences that bridge research to practice through applied, hands-on experiences in tech, sport and their related fields. We are grateful for the partnerships that allow us to support successful outcomes for our students and our communities.”
— Derek Prall
South Fulton Arts Unveils 2025 Season
South Fulton Arts (SFA) recently announced its dynamic programming for the 2025 season, celebrating an array of artistry reflecting the diversity and vibrancy of the South Fulton community.
With programs spanning visual art, theater and concerts, spoken word, culinary arts, and workshops, the 2025 South Fulton Arts season promises to engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds. It features events showcasing local talent while also exploring themes of heritage, resilience, and creativity. The 2025 season will feature the Filmer, Connect, and Exchange series, while also welcoming a new Culinary Arts series and an SFA Benefit Concert.
“South Fulton Arts’ 2025 season truly reflects the heart and soul of the communities we serve,” said SFA Executive Director Jennifer Bauer-Lyons. “Our 2025 programming is all about creating spaces where people from all walks of life can come to gather, connect, and share their stories while experiencing the transformative power of the arts. From theater and spoken word, to culinary arts and concerts, we’re offering a season which celebrates the richness of our collective human experience.”
SFA’s 2025 season will also welcome 18 artists and organizational partners to SFA Create: A Partner Program, which exists to support artists and organizations with financial and functional resources to develop impactful programs in South Fulton. The purpose is to cultivate long-term relationships with these partners while facilitating vital connections between the artists, organizations, and schools. SFA also provides pro bono consulting and mentors to address the individual needs of each of its artists and partner organizations.
In addition to its programming, SFA produces the monthly “Spark” podcast and its biannual magazine Arts United.
For information visit SouthFultonArts.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
— Derek Prall
Serenity Mental Health Centers opens new treatment Clinic in Atlanta
Serenity Mental Health Centers, one of the fastest-growing mental health service providers nationwide, today announced the opening of its new treatment center located in Atlanta. This facility, opening on Nov. 18 and the first of several planned across the state, is designed to provide high-quality, personalized mental health services to the community.
The clinic will provide the convenience of same-day appointments and offer a range of services, including psychiatric evaluations, medication management and innovative treatments such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and ketamine infusion therapy. These treatments are designed to address a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, ADHD and PTSD.
“The new treatment center reflects our commitment to advancing and expanding mental health care access to communities where there are limited psychiatrists,” said Tricia Pease, COO and co-founder of Serenity Mental Health Centers. “Our goal is to employ more than 250 individuals and open more than 10 clinics in the Metro Atlanta region over the next three years.”
The 7,216-square-foot medical office building features seven rooms, including specialized treatment suites designed for convenient access to care for local patients. The office will be staffed by three medical providers: Dr. Kwaku Oppong, M.D., Tiffany Talton, N.P. and Amanda Stasiak, N.P. and is located at 990 Hammond Dr., Suite 600, Atlanta, GA. 30328.
Serenity Mental Health Centers will open an additional treatment center in Alpharetta in February 2025.
To learn more, click here.
— Derek Prall
Council for Quality Growth honors Dan Buyers and Joe Allen with 2024 CID Awards
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Council for Quality Growth held its 15th Annual Community Improvement District (CID) Recognition Event in honor of Dan Buyers, Board Member of the Town Center CID, and Joe Allen, Executive Director of Gwinnett Place CID.
Over 150 regional leaders and CID professionals gathered at the Jewel Box at Assembly Studios, in the heart of the Assembly CID, to recognize the leadership shown by Buyers and Allen over their long CID careers, and to celebrate the work of CIDs throughout the metro Atlanta region and state of Georgia. The 2024 CID Recognition Event was presented by Georgia Power and Pond & Company.
For 15 years, the Council’s CID Recognition Event has annually recognized the role our state’s 31 and counting CIDs play in the growth of metro Atlanta and Georgia. Since 2016, the Council for Quality Growth has also presented the CID Leadership Awards to carefully nominated and selected CID leaders that have greatly impacted the region.
— Derek Prall
Thanks for bringing attention to these important developments that make Atlanta the great city that it is.