Eighty three years ago, on May 25, 1940, a Crypt of Civilization was placed in the Phoebe Hearst Hall at Atlanta’s Oglethorpe University. Considered one of the largest time capsules in the world, the crypt was created by University President Thornwell Jacobs to be opened six millennia after its doors closed — 8113.
It holds a wide variety of “modern” items, like an original script of Gone with the Wind, a Budweiser bottle, a Donald Duck plastic toy and a machine that teaches English in case the language is long gone. Visitors can go up to the stainless steel door, but no one is allowed inside.
On to other recent news:
Annual Virginia-Highland Summerfest, fundraiser for John Howell Park
This summer marks the 38th annual Virginia-Highland Summerfest, hosted on Virginia Avenue on Saturday, June 10. The festival will kick off with the 5K Run, followed by an Artist Market, a Makers’ Market, a Kidsfest area and refreshments from vendors and local restaurants.
The outdoor event will also feature live music from Jive Talk, Flannel Nation, David Ryan Harris and Perpetual Groove. The festival is free and open to the public.
The night before is the Friday Night Kick-off Party, with dinner and family-friendly activities, that serves as a fundraiser for the John Howell Park renovation. The community is seeking improvements for the park, including new playgrounds, maintenance of the Great Lawn, repairing broken infrastructure and more. Tickets are $35 for adults and $10 for kids.
For additional information about the weekend’s line-up, click here.
— Hannah E. Jones
Sierra Club Georgia welcomes new Chapter Director
After serving as interim Chapter Director since last June, the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter announced that Gina Webber was officially named Chapter Director. Webber joined the team in 2019 as Development Associate and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2021.
Jessica Morehead was the most recent Chapter Director, serving in the role for around three years. Morehead is now the Outreach Coordinator for Georgia ForestWatch.
Webber is the Chapter’s youngest director and the first openly queer person to head the Chapter. Before joining the Sierra Club team, Webber specialized in fundraising for local and statewide political campaigns.
“Our state is deeply affected by climate change, with communities across Georgia feeling its devastating effects every day,” Webber wrote in a press release. “Sierra Club is uniquely suited to organize Georgians to address these issues and create a more sustainable Georgia. I’m so excited to lead our Chapter to create a better Georgia.”
The Georgia Chapter will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year with a network of over 75,000 members and supporters. The team specializes in forest and coastal protection, transit expansion and clean energy.
— Hannah E. Jones
Atlanta’s Design Awards ceremony is scheduled for June 23
The winners of the City of Atlanta’s 2023 Design Awards will be named at a June 23 ceremony.
The awards honor people and projects that improve the built environment and community life.
There are two categories of awards whose nominees are voted on by different groups: the Awards of Excellence, chosen by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, and the Community Design Awards, voted on by Neighborhood Planning Units.
The ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Old Council Chambers at City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. Admission is free, but reservations are required through Eventbrite.
— John Ruch
Georgia Research Alliance’s new board members
Five new corporate leaders have joined the prestigious board of trustees of the Georgia Research Alliance.
The new members are:
- Janine Brown, partner-in-charge at Alston & Bird
- Dallas Clement, president and CFO of Cox Enterprises
- Kimberly Greene, president and CEO of Georgia Power
- Cade Joiner, founder and chairman of Shred-X Corp.
- T. Dallas Smith, founder and CEO of T. Dallas Smith & Co.
The five board members were presented at GRA’s quarterly board meeting on May 23 at the Georgia Power Co. headquarters.
Chancellor Sonny Perdue attended the meeting along with Chris Clark, president of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
Interestingly enough, with the addition of the new trustees, three of GRA’s board members serve on the Georgia Board of Regents: Joiner, Smith and Sam Holmes – possibly giving the public-private board a closer relationship with the university system leadership.
— Maria Saporta
Moot Chords: A variety show by and for Atlanta’s legal community
In two weeks, eyedrum — an art gallery and performance venue — is hosting an art party and music improv show crafted by and for Atlanta’s legal community. Backed by the Atlanta Monthly Session Players, the Legal Summer Showcase will be an informal variety show with jokes, beats, songs and more.
The June 7 event is open to the public. A ticket is required to perform, but attendees can choose whether to take the stage or just enjoy the show. The event is hosted in partnership with Georgia Lawyers for the Arts, a nonprofit that provides legal assistance and programming to artists and arts organizations.
Established in 1998, eyedrum is an exhibition and performance space that focuses on experimental art. This program is modeled after Kirkwood Ballers Club, an open mic performance night that eyedrum hosts monthly.
Click here for more information about Moot Chords — Legal Summer Showcase.
— Hannah E. Jones
