 |
AUGUST 21, 2007
IN THIS ISSUE
“Atlanta Reads” Builds Community with ‘Mockingbird’ and ‘Brewster Place’
“Atlanta Reads Week” returns September 9-15, 2007 with two revered texts: Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and Gloria Naylor’s “The Women of Brewster Place.”
“Atlanta Reads” is a citywide literacy initiative conceptualized in 2006 by Mayor Shirley Franklin, Susan Booth (Alliance Theatre, Artistic Director), and Dr. Rudolph Byrd (Emory University). The program encourages residents to expand their social circles by engaging others in discussion over a shared text.
In particular, “Atlanta Reads” targets Atlanta Public School (APS) seniors and senior citizens from the Mayor’s Golden Age Clubs. Over 2,500 APS high school seniors and 500 senior citizens will receive free copies of one of the selected books. They will have special opportunities to engage in cross-generational dialogue over book themes.
This year’s “Atlanta Reads” theme is: Building Community. “As our city continues to grow, the discussions that will be sparked by the reading of these two novels will not only be relevant, but a reminder that we are all truly one community,” said Mayor Franklin.
Atlanta Reads Calendar Highlights:
- September 8 – Auburn Avenue Commemorative Mural Dedication with the Alliance Theatre.
- September 10 - Book Club Discussion at Borders Midtown.
- September 11 - Woodruff Park Reading Room Event with the Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta-Fulton Public Libraries.
- September 11 - Emory University Event- Discussion with Gloria Naylor.
- September 12 - APS 12th grade Cultural Experience event- "Building Community with Gloria Naylor" at the Atlanta Civic Center.
- September 12 - Alliance Theatre Opening Night- The Women of Brewster Place
- September 13 - Spelman College Event – Discussion with Gloria Naylor.
- September 14 - Open House for Golden Age Club senior residents at Theatrical Outfit.
- September 15 - Theatrical Outfit Opening Night- To Kill a Mockingbird.
For more information on calendar events, please visit www.ocaatlanta.com
Mayor Franklin joins Tom Key, Theatrical Outfit artistic director. Key will portray the protagonist Atticus Finch in the stage version of “Atlanta Reads” 2007 book selection “To Kill a Mockingbird." |
(top)
BeltLine Continues Community Input Agenda
Atlanta BeltLine, Inc (ABI) will continue its community engagement and education efforts with a series of neighborhood meetings, beginning this month through October.
ABI will host a series of study group meetings in communities affected by the development of the 22-mile BeltLine. All meetings, unless otherwise noted, will be held from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- WESTSIDE STUDY GROUP
Hands on Atlanta, Training Room A, 600 Means St., 30318
August 30 and October 25, 2007
- NORTHEAST STUDY GROUP
Inman Middle School, Auditorium, 774 Virginia Ave., 30354
August 22 and September 26, 2007
- NORTHSIDE GROUP
Peachtree Hills Recreation Center Gymnasium,
308 Peachtree Hills Rd., NE, 30305
August 28, September TBD, and October 30, 2007
- SOUTHEAST STUDY GROUP
Zoo Atlanta, ARC Building, 800 Cherokee Ave., SE, 30315
September 6 and September 20, 2007
- SOUTHEAST and SOUTHWEST STUDY GROUPS
Atlanta Metropolitan College, Academic Building, Room A-210, 1630 Metropolitan Parkway, 30310
September 11 and October 2, 2007
For more information, visit here. Click here to share your thoughts on the BeltLine draft budgetary work plan.
(top)
Two Years Later: Atlanta’s Fight to End Child Sexual Exploitation
Over 200 activists and concerned stakeholders gathered in the City Hall Council Chambers today for an update on “Hidden in Plain View,” a study that identified the trends of trafficking and sexual exploitation of children in Atlanta.
Atlanta is leading American cities with the message to child sex predators that it will not be tolerated. With Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Atlanta Women’s Agenda leading the way, the City has launched a Dear John public awareness campaign targeting child sex predators.
Stephanie Davis, AWA policy advisor, joined a diverse panel to put a human face on this travesty and provide updates and opportunities for public engagement. Nykita Hurt, founder of “Saving Our Daughters,” shared her shock when she realized her daughter was living on the streets as a prostitute at the age of 15. Hurt, a former juvenile justice probation officer, said “I thought ‘things like this don’t happen to people like me.”
Dear John Task force partners (Juvenile Justice Fund, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and the Atlanta Police Department) revealed progress since the original “Hidden in Plain View” report was released in 2005. These include $140,000 in new federal funding for shelters and treatment programming for girls who are prostituted; tougher trafficking laws; and an integrated electronic database that helps task force members connect the dots with better, faster communication.
The Internet is a common tool child sex predators use to engage children. Mayor Franklin announced her intention to submit a letter to website craigslist.com when it became apparent that the site was a conduit for predators. Today Mayor Franklin announced that a new APD fund, to be supported by private donations, will be used to raise funds for advanced electronics in the APD’s effort to find and prosecute predators.
For more information on how you can join the City in eliminating child sexual exploitation, please visit www.womensagenda.com.
The Dear John Task Force includes (l-r) Stephanie Davis, AWA policy advisor; Nykita Hurt, founder, Saving Our Daughters; State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver; Mayor Franklin; Fulton County D.A. Paul Howard; APD Investigator Kelleita Thurman; and Kaffie McCollough, Juvenile Justice Fund. |
(top)
Mayor’s Youth Program Grads Prepare for College, Workforce
As the last days of summer wane, excited 2007 Mayor’s Youth Program participants crowd the halls of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) to meet with Mayor Shirley Franklin one last time and make final preparations to enter college.
During their senior year, over 400 Atlanta Public Schools (APS) students met with Mayor Franklin to discuss their needs for a successful transition into the next phase of their lives. Unmet financial needs for tuition, books, and room and board; computers; musical instruments; and other supplies were made available to students thanks to donations by the city’s public-private partners.
Maintaining contact with AWDA and MYP staff is a critical tenet of involvement and success in the program. AWDA assists students with the oft-daunting processes of researching colleges, completing applications, preparing for entrance tests and essays, and scholarship and financial aid applications.
Mayor Franklin launched the Youth Program (formerly Next Step: The Atlanta Promise) in 2005 to address the needs of Atlanta’s future workforce. This summer, 1288 MYP students received invaluable work experience in paid internships at Atlanta businesses and non-profit organizations.
Last week, the APS Board of Education presented Mayor Franklin with a proclamation for her steadfast efforts to provide post-high school assistance to Atlanta youth through one-on-one contact. Click here to Read Newsbytes Rave Review.
Mayor Franklin offers scholastic and career advice to Atlanta Public Schools seniors involved in the Mayor’s Youth Program. |
(top)
The Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) recently announced the details of the 2007 Montreux Jazz Festival, which has become an Atlanta Labor Day tradition. One of the most popular global music festivals, Atlanta is the only North American city to host a fest in partnership with Montreux, Switzerland. Click here for more details on the 2007 Montreux Music Festival.
(top)
Rave Reviews!
- Georgia colleges ranked at the top of the class in U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek magazine’s America’s Best Colleges 2008 lists. Emory University, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Morehouse College, Agnes Scott College, LaGrange College and Mercer University ranked in top categories, which included best master’s programs, liberal arts colleges and a “hottest men’s college” distinction for Morehouse College. For complete lists, visit www.usnews.com or www.newsweek.com.
(top)
Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- On Saturday, August 25 from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Mayor Shirley Franklin will join City officials from the Bureau of Code Compliance and the BeltLine project for a Public Forum at the Georgia Power Corporate Headquarters Auditorium, 241 Ralph McGill Boulevard, Atlanta, 30308. Mayor Franklin; Steve Cover, Director of the Department of Planning and Community Development; Tim Hardy, Director of the Bureau of Code Compliance; and Tina Arbes, Chief Operation Officer for Atlanta BeltLine Inc. will discuss the BeltLine and the Bureau of Code Compliance. Please confirm you attendance at rsvp@atlantaga.gov by noon on Friday, August 24, 2007.
- Beginning Tuesday September 4, 2007, the Municipal Court of Atlanta will have new courtroom hours. Court will be held at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and 3p.m. For more information, visit here.
(top)
Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
(top)
Weekly Features
Email us at citynewsbytes@atlantaga.gov to provide your feedback about this newsletter or to nominate someone you know for Stakeholder Spotlight.
Click here to sign-up and receive City Newsbytes directly to your email box.
Important Numbers
Mayor's Office
404-330-6100
Mayor's Office of Constituent Services
404-330-6023
Mayor's Office of Communications
404-330-6004
Mayor's Office of Weed and Seed
404-330-6086
City Council
404-330-6030
(top)
For more information about the services and programs of the City of Atlanta, watch City Channel 26 or visit us online at www.atlantaga.gov.
|
|