Newspaper Page Text
LOCAL
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 - 30, 2017 • Page 15
Willie Mae Hardy, 109, will be honored
at this year’s Hometown Country
Cookout as a local legend. Photo
submitted.
Louise Hall Robinson
Henry Austin
TRADITION
Continued From Page 12A
While Alleah and Ayana
did not name who will be
honored this year, the
pair have a list of lifelong
residents who have
bettered the Kirkwood
community through
business ownership, charity
work, anecdotes or church
activity.
“These are people
who have been in this
neighborhood for so long
who just give back,” Ayana
said. “They have so much
knowledge and we want to
appreciate them for being
there.”
The 2017 “legends”
include Willie Mae Hardy,
Cassie Nell Edwards,
Louise Hall Robinson,
Henry Thomas Austin,
Jesse Dixon, Rose
Mitchell, John B. Davis,
Velma Speakman, Sarah
Fitten, Rosa Holmes,
Jasper Brooks and
Thelma Virgil.
“They have so many
awesome stories,” Alleah
said. “We’re always
intrigued by those who
gave back to the community
without being asked,
whether it be through
serving our country or
serving people in the
neighborhood—people who
have made their mark here.”
Alleah and Ayana said
they hope the honorees
provide cookout attendees
with a perspective on
communal progress and
inspire neighborhood
residents to do more for
their community.
This also applies to
young entrepreneurs at
the Hometown Country
Cookout, who will receive
their own honor from Alleah
and Ayana. Business
Velma Speakman
majors themselves, the
sisters consider young
economic minds exceptional
among their peers. One
example, Courtney Gage,
is a high school girl with her
own dog-sitting business.
“What are kids doing in
the community, like what
we did when we were
younger?” asked Ayana.
“There are kids starting
their own businesses.
We’re celebrating kids while
they’re young, but they
didn’t get that drive and
that push [from nowhere].
That came from their
parents, which came from
their grandparents. That’s
legacy.”
“We’re always looking for
young people who have a
passion for something and
have created a business
for it, whether that’s making
popsicles, bracelets or
selling something else
they’ve made,” Alleah said.
“These are kids who go
beyond the usual activities
of students.”
Other young
entrepreneurs being
considered include Trinity
Moreland, 5, who operates
a cotton-candy business,
and Jaida Elise Jackson,
8, who has a bracelet
business.
Alleah and Ayana say
everyone is invited to the
2017 Hometown Country
Trinity Moreland, 5, will be honored at
the Hometown Country Cookout for
her business, Trinity’s Tasty Treats.
Photo submitted.
Cookout. The sisters have
been preparing since March
for the largest event since
its beginning in 2010,
planning the menu and
developing partnerships
with sponsors.
“This isn’t so much
a gathering, but a
celebration of people who
deserve it,” Alleah said.
“People are attracted to it,
understanding what it is
and coming out in force.
We hope people take away
a renewed sense of family
and community.”
For more information
on the 2017 Hometown
Country Cookout, visit www.
motherlegacy.org.
CONFEDERATE
the flags taken down after
nine African Americans
were gunned down by
White supremacist Dylann
Roof at Emanuel African
Methodist Episcopal Church
in Charleston, S.C.
Two months later, a
rally was held at the park
in support of the flag. The
Stone Mountain Memorial
Association said Stone
Mountain is preserved by
state law as a Confederate
memorial.
“In fact, the law that
DeK»ll> County School Dlitrtct
Region Map
3013 - 3016 School Vo*r
_ — Region 5
Region 4
The Peachtree Gateway Council on Schools (PGCS), a community
organization serving Chamblee, Cross Keys and Dunwoody high
school clusters, is seeking liaisons for elementary, middle and
high schools in DeKalb County School District (DCSD).
DeKalb County education
council seeks volunteers
The Peachtree Gateway
Council on Schools (PGCS),
a community organization
serving Chamblee, Cross
Keys and Dunwoody high
school clusters, is seeking
liaisons for elementary,
middle and high schools
in DeKalb County School
District (DCSD).
According to its website,
PGCS provides events for
parents and stakeholders
seeking knowledge about
education policy and
planning within the district.
The organization partners
with local schools, school
councils and parent-teacher
associations (PTAs) to
strive for better education
experiences.
According to a flier
distributed by PGCS,
liaisons will meet with DCSD
and school officials; share
information from PGCS
with principals, PTA boards
and school councils; attend
meetings with stakeholders;
and attend a PGCS-
sponsored event in spring to
share information with his or
her corresponding school.
Events are expected to
take place in September
or October, November,
February and March.
For more information,
contact pgcsdekalb@
gmail.com or visit
www.facebook.com/
peachtreegatewaycouncil.
Continued From Page 8A
changed the state flag
expressly prohibited any
changes at Stone Mountain
Park,” the association
said. “In recent weeks,
many on both sides of the
argument have said that
these Confederate symbols
belong in places where we
view historical artifacts, such
as museums. In Georgia,
Stone Mountain serves that
purpose.”
Abrams said the
monuments are not historical
and send the message of
re-segregation of African
Americans.
“We have an obligation
to say these should come
down; this is not history,”
she said. “I think the issue
is we have to understand
our history if we wish not to
repeat it. There’s a difference
between historical context
and celebration. [Stone
Mountain] is celebrating
bigotry and racism. That is
unacceptable.”