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Comment by Dexter Bowman on September 23, 2009 at 7:15am

I hope everyone is doing well after a rough rain and flooding. Please be assure that you life is more important than material possessions, if any of your homes and vehicles were damaged.

Dexter

Comment by Dexter Bowman on August 20, 2009 at 8:16am

Turner Volunteer Day 2009

Join us to celebrate the 11th annual Turner Volunteer Day on Saturday, September 12. Volunteers will start the day at Centennial Olympic Park with a quick breakfast (7-7:45 AM) before loading buses to travel to 19 different volunteer project sites (7:45 AM - 1 PM). After volunteering in the morning, the volunteers will be transported back to Centennial Olympic Park for Turner Fest, an afternoon of food, games and entertainment. Family and friends are welcome to this event. All participants with Turner Volunteer Day are invited to attend Turner Fest with their guests (1-4 PM).

Turner Volunteer Day Atlanta 2009 Projects Sites

Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta Community ToolBank
Boys and Girls Club
Chastain Park Conservancy
Coralwood School
Grant Park Conservancy
KIPP Academy College Project
KIPP Academy Restoration Project
Mary Hall Freedom House
Oakhurst Community Garden
Parklane Elementary School
Park Pride - South Bend Park
PAWS Atlanta
Piedmont Park Conservancy
Samaritan House and Café 458
Senior Citizen Services
Trees Atlanta
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

Turner Volunteer Day Child Guidelines

Children up to five years old can receive complimentary child care at Turner Second Generation. To secure a spot for your child, please complete the form found here and return it to TSG no later than Friday, September 4. Child care will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 3:00 p.m.
Children who receive care at Turner Second Generation will also receive wristbands to participate with Turner Fest at Centennial Olympic Park. Parents are welcome to pick up their children from TSG after volunteering and bring them to Turner Fest.

Bringing Children to Volunteer Project Sites

Children of all ages are also welcome to volunteer on Turner Volunteer Day. Each site description specifically notes an adult-to-child ratio and a minimum age for participation. These guidelines are put in place to protect both our young volunteers and those volunteering around them. These age restrictions and ratios will be enforced on September 12, so please make a note when registering.
While every volunteer project is designed to have a meaningful component for younger volunteers, please remember to be vigilant about the safety and security of your children at all times. Many of these projects take place in public areas, as do the festivities for Turner Fest at Centennial Olympic Park. Please be sure your child is under the supervision of a responsible adult at all times.

Comment by Rene'e A. Johnson (Watson) on August 19, 2009 at 10:30am

Published: Friday, August 14, 2009
Clayton DFACS planning 'Father's Day' event

By Joel Hall

jhall@news-daily.com

Laurence Nelson, social services administrator for the Clayton County Department of Family and Children Services, was recently given the unique task of making $100 work toward the betterment of the entire community - and only 100 days to do it.

He plans to use the money to bring Clayton County foster children closer to their biological fathers.

Nelson is calling his idea "Everyday is Father's Day," and planning a festival around the theme on Oct. 25, featuring a full day of activities aimed at promoting male parental engagement.

Nelson said the event will include moonwalks, organized dodgeball and kickball games, popcorn, face painting, a talent show, and workshops to help foster children and their natural fathers develop a stronger bond.

But with only $100, Nelson said the department will be calling upon the entire community to make the idea a reality.

"It's a community effort that is needed to get fathers more involved" in the lives of their children, Nelson said. "It's not really about having enough money to do things. It's about everybody giving a little bit of what they have to make a change."

Nelson said his idea resulted from a gesture made by Mark Washington, the head of the Department of Family and Children Services for Georgia. On July 30, during the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Permanency Training Conference in Savannah - a statewide gathering of department officials - Washington took $400 of his own money and randomly gave $100 bills to four people as seed money for projects around the state.

Cathy Ratti, regional Department of Family and Children Services director for Clayton, Henry and Fayette counties, said the gesture has gotten department officials talking statewide about ways in which local agencies can make a difference in economically trying times.

"It's not a lot of money, but he [Washington] is counting on it being a much bigger return on that investment," Ratti said. "It has already sparked a lot of discussion and that is more valuable than the money. It is a good challenge because these are lean-budget times and it makes you think, 'What can I do that won't cost a lot of money, but will still have a positive impact on children, fathers, and families?'"

Ratti said traditionally, organizations such as the Department of Family and Children Services have not made a concerted effort to involve fathers in the lives of their children, or provided resources for them to do so. She said the idea behind Everyday is Father's Day is to give foster children a chance to know their real fathers - an opportunity, she said, that is rarely afforded to them.

"Typically, fathers have been ignored in this line of work," Ratti said. "As agencies, I don't believe we have always embraced fathers and given them that opportunity. We have to change that focus. Children have better outcomes when both parents are involved, even if they don't live together, and are not married."

In the coming weeks, Nelson said he will be calling on churches, schools, fraternity and sorority groups, businesses, and others, to donate money, time, and in-kind services to help make the idea a success.

Along with the activities, Nelson hopes to provide out-of-state fathers with free bus and plane tickets, and hotel vouchers, so they come and stay in Clayton County for the event. He also hopes to be able to arrange prison visits for case workers and foster children to visit fathers who are incarcerated.

"A lot of our children haven't even spent a day with their fathers at all," Nelson said. "We thought, what better way to use this money than to do an event where fathers could spend time with their children. I've never had time to plan something of this magnitude in this amount of time. I do think it's enough time if everybody comes to the table."

To learn how to participate in Everyday is Father's Day, e-mail everydayisfathersday@gmail.com or call (770) 603-4679.

Comment by Katrina Guinyard-Simon on June 17, 2009 at 7:21pm

Hello my fellow OW/Atliens..Anything going on this summer??

Comment by Harold Farrell Hilliard on June 12, 2009 at 10:29pm

I finally made back in the ATL. Lithonia to be exact. 1 week into it. I'm not new to this. I been here off and on since 1998. Who ever need a sound system or just a radio put in ya ride. I use to work on Candler Road at the Discount Market putting system in, I went back there to get my spot back until something else come through but it's tooken. But my man "M" do a good job. Tell him Black from SC told you to come. That's what he call me. when there is nothing else to do, you might find me there on Fridays or Saturday. Or maybe I'll hook you up on the side for cheaper LOL. Just for the mean time!

Comment by Andrea R. McNair on March 27, 2009 at 8:45pm

Hey there just wanted to tell about a new spot in Decatur I just discovered it's called the Starlight Sports Club and it is located at 4113 Flat Shoals Pkwy in Decatur. Shoot me a message and I can give you details. Come check it out and catch ya girl I will be behind the bar. See ya there.

Comment by Lolita Monique (Funchess) Thomas on December 30, 2008 at 10:04pm

Hey Guys....I live in Conyers and am working in Decatur! I hate I missed the holiday event but look forward to attending the next one!!

Comment by Chanell Davis of DREAMS Events on December 11, 2008 at 11:39pm

Hey Everybody! Im assisting a friend (Charles McCree from DTP Records) with a Shoe a Thon this Sunday @ Laced Up Boutique on Edgewood Ave, dwontown! This is a charity event called Walk a Mile in My Shoes! Tangie is hosting! We have celebrities coming out donating shoes for the homeless. Shoes will be delivered to Hosea Feed the Hungry, Boys & Girls Clubs & Its Cool to Be Smart.Food is Catered by Justins, Photographer & Filming will be present so come cute! Bring any old or new shoes...all sizes....all ages.....from 9am-9pm or you can purchase there &donate. Free entry! Come see the stars give back! Live remote w/V-103! See u there & @ Jays Place for my Fashion Show & Party @ 8pm!

Comment by TRAVIS WRIGHT on December 10, 2008 at 2:18pm

Peace what's up OW family ! I host an event every friday night @ Volt lounge in Clarkston. $5 at door, free buffet, free parking, show time 8:30PM. (4622 E. Ponce De Leon). Take 285 east or north to 78 east, ext. Brockett rd. turn right and the roads ends at E. Ponce. Make a left and Volt Lounge sits inside Super Giant food plaza. Upscale no sneakers or sports attire!! See ya there O'Burg!!!!

Comment by Chanell Davis of DREAMS Events on December 10, 2008 at 11:56am

Im a downtown ATL Girl! I will see yall Saturday @ Verve....hopefully. If not enjoy your holidays & be safe if you traveling. Rene, I hope this place fits what you were looking 2do! One day DREAMS will be able to host this event @ my facility w/o charging the $20 stacks DREAMZ was asking 4 lol!

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