- dekalbdistrict4
Closing Comments from the September 12, 2023 BOC Meeting
Good afternoon, everyone:
On August 24 it was great to attend the We Love Buford Highway Feast event celebrating our Asian and Latino communities and all the great happenings in the Buford Highway corridor. The music was excellent. The food was delicious. And the entire atmosphere was great fun. I would like to commend Executive Director Lily Pabian and her entire team for executing a wonderful event, and I would like to thank her for the invitation to attend. I am already looking forward to next year’s event.
On August 30 it was an honor to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) Regional Transportation Training Center (RTTC). The transportation and logistics industries are booming, and to help meet the workforce demand GPTC is expanding its education and training capabilities. Upon completion, the RTTC will be the largest facility of its kind in the southeast, right here in DeKalb County. I would like to commend GPTC President Dr. Tavarez Holston for his outstanding leadership of this great institution.
On August 31 it was a privilege to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the DeKalb History Center of HOME: The United Methodist Children’s Home. I was also honored to be a sponsor for this event. Founded in 1871 in Norcross, Georgia, the Children’s Home was created to give children abandoned in the aftermath of the Civil War a place to be cared for. In 1873, the home moved to Decatur and remained there until 2017 when the property was purchased by the City of Decatur. The exhibit highlights this rich history and it was indeed an honor to attend. I would like to commend Executive Director Melissa Carlson for her outstanding leadership of the DeKalb History Center and for bringing this exhibit to fruition.
On September 3 it was an honor to attend the Labor Day Service at Antioch AME Church. The featured speaker that morning was our own CEO Michael Thurmond. And I had the great privilege of introducing him at that service. As usual our CEO delivered inspiring remarks and the congregation was very appreciative. I would like thank my friend and brother Pastor Vandy Simmons for the invitation to participate in the program.
September 4 was Labor Day. As such it was appropriate for me to attend the Communications Workers of America (CWA) fundraiser at the United Auto Workers (UAW) facility in Atlanta. The labor movement has a rich history in this country and I have always been supportive of the movement’s goals. The event was a great celebration and it was good to see many old friends in attendance as well, to include our esteemed US Senator John Ossoff.
That afternoon, I attended the American Legion Post 66 Labor Day BBQ. It was great to enjoy some excellent ribs in the company of my fellow veterans. I commend all the volunteers who helped to make it happen. And I commend Post Commander Bernando Brown for his outstanding leadership.
On September 8 it was great to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new headquarters for the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. It is indeed a beautiful facility. And after a few years of instability, it is good to see our chamber regain its footing under the outstanding leadership of President and CEO Frankie Atwater. I look forward to great things from this important business development entity in the future.
On September 9 I had a blast at Pride Lake in Pine Lake, which is one of the great municipalities in District 4. It is imperative that we as a community are inclusive, and Pine Lake personifies this ethos. I was blown away by the performances that I saw and by the feeling of well-being and love that was evident in the room, and I was very honored to be there. I commend the event organizers for having the wherewithal to make it happen. And I commend and thank my good friend, Pine Lake Mayor Melanie Hammet for her leadership on this and many fronts.
On September 11, we hosted our Annual Veterans Resources Expo & Fellowship Lunch at the Central DeKalb Senior Center in Mason Mill Park. This event is very close to my heart and it is always a great privilege for me to fellowship with others who have answered the call of service to this country. As it was September 11, the event took on even more special meaning. Those of us of a certain age can remember exactly where we were when we received the news of planes crashing into the World Trade Center Towers. This was the predicate for the Global War on Terrorism in which so many of our fellow Americans have fought and died. If you have a veteran in your life or even know a veteran, I would simply ask that you thank them for their service and sacrifice.
Click here for 11Alive's Joe Ripley's coverage of the event
In turn I would like to thank all the individuals and agencies who helped to make the event a great success:
Senator Jon Ossoff
U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Atlanta VA Healthcare System
AMVETS Post 44
Georgia Grace
Tunnels To Towers Foundation
Pegues Financial Group
The Warrior Alliance
Behavioral Health Connections
Mr. Randy McFadden
JenCare Senior Medical Center
Kaiser Permanente
DeKalb Community Service Board
DeKalb Human Services Department
DeKalb Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs
DeKalb Department of Facilities Management
DeKalb County Tax Commissioner
WorkSource DeKalb
Central DeKalb Senior Center
If you have any questions or concerns, you may call my office at 404-371-4749, or visit my website at commissionerbradshaw.com. Follow me on all the major social media platforms for updates between the meetings, too.
As always, I will conclude my remarks by thanking the citizens of District 4 and DeKalb County for affording me this opportunity to serve. It is indeed an honor.