Good afternoon, everyone:
On July 26 it was great to join my friends in English Manor Estates for their community meeting via Zoom. English Manor Estates is one of the great communities in District 4. We had a very open dialogue with the residents on a number of important issues and I greatly appreciate the warm reception that we received. I would like to thank HOA President Katherine Holmes for the invitation to attend.
On July 30 we graduated our most recent cohort from the R.I.S.E. UP Young Men’s Leadership Development Program. I have funded this program for the past several years out of my district discretionary funds. This year 45 young boys of color completed the program, and we are so proud of each of them. I was not able to attend the ceremony in-person this time, but my superb Chief of Staff Alesia Brooks did an excellent job on my behalf.
I want to thank Jashawn Williams and all the folks in our Human Services Department, Youth Services Division for their outstanding administration of this program. I also want to thank our mentors from Morehouse College for taking the time out of their busy schedules to serve the next generation. This program is obviously very close to my heart and I intend to continue to fund it for as long as I remain in this office.
On August 1 it was a great pleasure for me to deliver backpacks with school supplies to our sanitation workers at the start of their shift. At our recent Back-To-School event we set aside a certain number of backpacks for our sanitation workers who have school-aged children. These workers do a difficult and important job and for the most part do it well. We in my office just wanted to express our appreciation in some way for their service to DeKalb County. Thanks to Sanitation Director Tracy Hutchinson for making this happen.
National Night Out is a great celebration of community between our Police Department and our citizens. The most recent iteration was on August 2. That evening I was able to join my residents in both the Avonridge and Dial Heights communities. I greatly appreciate the fellowship and the engagement. I would like to thank my friends Sandra Taylor in Avonridge, and Wendy Collins and Fran Mohr in Dial heights for the respective invitations. I was unable to join my friends in Deer Creek for their celebration. We just can’t physically be everywhere that we want to be. However, Chief of Staff, Alesia Brooks wonderfully represented District 4 on my behalf.
On August 4 we visited the offices of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. This organization does outstanding work in the community and my office has been supportive of their efforts with discretionary CARES Act Funds. At this point I will make a pitch to anyone who might be interested in serving as a “BIG”. You could really make a huge, positive difference in a young person’s life. I would like to thank President and CEO Kwame Johnson and his entire team for the work that they do and for the invitation to meet.
On August 6 it was great to join my fellow brothers for the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County Annual Scholarship Gala. This is a wonderful event that supports our youth. Also, it affords us with the opportunity to dress up a bit for an excellent cause.
Additionally, there was some special recognition that evening for a few people. Among them were former Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker who was a 100 Shining Star Honoree, our own Commissioner Larry Johnson who was the Community Impact Award Honoree and our own CEO Michael Thurmond who was the Legends Award Honoree. Congratulations to all of them!
I would like to thank our President Andre Deas and our Scholarship Gala Chairman Gregory B. Levett, Jr., and all of the other folks who assisted in the planning and execution of another excellent event. I am very proud to be a part of this organization.
Finally, on August 7 it was truly an honor and privilege to attend a birthday celebration at Antioch AME Church for Ms. Relda Mackins who turned the ripe young age of 109. Yes! That is right. 109 years old. I was able to present a proclamation to Ms. Mackins on behalf of the citizens of District 4 and I was happy to do so.
During the celebration I found out that Ms. Mackins still rides her stationary bike for at least 20 minutes every day. And there was video evidence to prove it! Since I am only about 50 years younger than Ms. Mackins I guess that means I have no excuse for not getting on it myself. But, no promises.
Her life is truly an inspiration. And I hope that Ms. Mackins has many more birthdays ahead of her. I would like to thank Antioch Pastor Vandy Simmons for the invitation to attend. If you have any questions or concerns, you may call my office at 404-371-4749, or visit my website at commissionerbradshaw.com. 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.