Students Provided Free Entry to MLK Jr. Exhibit at Atlanta History Center
Through a $1 million grant provided by AT&T, the Atlanta History Center is now expanding the number of free visits to the I Have a Dream: the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection for metro Atlanta school groups.
This premiere exhibition was acquired by the City of Atlanta for Morehouse College, King’s alma mater, and will remain on display at the Atlanta History Center until May 13, 2007. Highlights among the 660-plus artifacts included in the exhibition are King’s I Have A Dream speech, Nobel Peace Prize speech, and Letters from the Birmingham Jail.
Since opening in January 2007, more than 27,000 visitors have seen the exhibit. More than 3,100 have been metro Atlanta students of all ages. “The City of Atlanta’s goal is to share this amazing experience with no less than 10,000 students,” said Mayor Shirley Franklin. “We need the help of principals, school administrators and teachers to make that goal a reality.”
Group tours can be arranges for weekday mornings at 9:30 am and 11:00 am; in the afternoons; or on weekends. To schedule a school group tour, call 404.814.4110. For more information on the Atlanta History Center, visit www.atlantahistorycenter.com.
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First Americas Competitiveness Forum to be held in Atlanta
Today, Mayor Shirley Franklin and Walter Bastian, U.S. Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Western Hemisphere, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Atlanta to host the inaugural Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) June 11-12, 2007.
Atlanta was chosen because of its proven success leveraging public-private partnerships to foster innovation and business development. In November 2005, President Bush recommended that a first-ever, high-level meeting be convened to focus on improving regional competitiveness. Economies in the Western Hemisphere are not collectively advancing as fast as other regions of the world. In particular, Latin American countries are advancing slowly in terms of implementing business-friendly reforms compared to the rest of the world.
The forum is expected to gather 500-600 minister-level government officials, as well as representatives from the private, academic and civil sector, from the 34 countries within the Western Hemisphere. Attendees will explore cutting-edge ways that local governments, businesses and universities can work together to foster innovation, technological readiness, supply chain management and workforce development within a region.
Mayor Franklin signed the MOU in her capacity as chair of the Board of Trustees of CIFAL-Atlanta, the North American-affiliate of the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR). CIFAL-Atlanta will be the primary planners and host for the Forum.
“Atlanta understands the economic and business development potential of establishing public-private partnerships for a region. This conference will serve as a launch pad for continuous discussion on increasing competitiveness, through strategic partnering, within our hemisphere,” said Mayor Franklin.
For more information about the inaugural Americas Competitiveness Forum, visit www.trade.gov/competitiveness/acf. For information on CIFAL-Atlanta, visit www.cifalatlanta.org.
Mayor Shirley Franklin signs a memorandum of understanding with Walter Bastian, the U.S. Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Western Hemisphere for Atlanta to host the Americas Competitiveness Forum while Alexander A. Mejia, CIFAL-Atlanta executive director, looks on. |
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Women Moving Government Forward: A City of Atlanta Tribute
In a special video tribute celebrating Women’s History Month, the City of Atlanta honors three diverse women whose work has left an indelible imprint on Atlanta government.
Click here to view the Women’s History Month Video. The City’s annual Women’s History Month celebration and health seminar recognized “Generations of Women Moving Government Forward.” During the ceremony, women from each of the City’s 13 departments were honored for their tireless work to make Atlanta a best-in-class city. Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the first female bishop of the A.M.E. Church, was the event keynote speaker.
Women from each of the City’s 13 departments were honored for their work to make Atlanta a best-in-class city at annual Women’s History Month celebration. |
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25th Annual Dream Jamboree College and Career Fair Returns
From Tuesday, March 27 – Thursday, March 29, the City of Atlanta will host the 25th Annual Dream Jamboree College and Career Fair for metro and Atlanta Public Schools (APS) parents and students.
Dream Jamboree is one of the largest college fairs in the Southeast. More than 150 colleges and organizations from across the United States will send representatives and set up booths filled with information for students.
A Dream Jamboree highlight is the Public/Parent Night on Wednesday, March 28 from 7 – 9 p.m. Parents are invited to bring their children, or come alone, with questions for college and career recruiters.
This year’s event will be held at the Atlanta Braves/Turner Field – Lexus Level. Parking is free and MARTA will have extra buses on the routes to and from Turner Field. For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services at 404.330.6023 or e-mail saspencer@atlantaga.gov.
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Business License Renewal Now Available On-Line
The City of Atlanta continues to provide efficient and effective services for its residents and stakeholders by expanding its online payment options.
The Department of Finance, Office of Revenue, now provides Atlanta business license customers the ability to renew their general licenses on the City’s secure website. There are over 22,000 Atlanta business licenses holders registered with the City.
Businesses can have funds electronically transferred via Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments. In May, this service will be expanded to also accept online credit card payments. Per City legislation, online credit card payments will be assessed a 2.5 percent convenience fee.
Other online payment options include excise taxes payments (hotel/motel, car rental tax, and alcohol tax payments). “The Department of Finance continues to be committed to improving customer service and increasing the efficiency of our business practices,” said Janice Davis, City CFO.
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Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women. Indeed, women in city government have been challenging stereotypes and moving government forward for decades. Click here to go to Video On Demand (VOD) webpage to watch a profile of three ordinary women who've made extraordinary contributions at City Hall.
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Rave Reviews!
- The Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Center will provide free tax preparations as part of AWDA’s “Super Saturday” on March 24. IRS-certified tax preparers will assist filers with 100 percent confidentiality. To qualify, individual incomes must be less than $39,000 annually. Filers should bring a photo ID; birth dates for everyone on the return; a W-2 form for all jobs held during the 2006 tax year; 1099 forms for other types of income; childcare provider’s name, address, ID or social security number and the amount paid; and bank account information. If filing jointly, spouses must be present. Super Saturday will be held at AWDA headquarters, 818 Pollard Street, Atlanta. For more information, visit www.atlantaworkforce.org.
Mayor Shirley Franklin (center) watches as an IRS-certified tax specialist prepares taxes for a customer at AWDA’s new VITA Center. Mayor Franklin is joined by Deborah Lum, AWDA executive director (left) and Karen Rogers, director, Mayor’s Office of Weed and Seed (right). |
- Atlanta’s Department of Public Works (DPW) responded to last weekend’s early Daylight Savings Time (DST) by hand-adjusting more than 300 traffic signals and 100 school flashers throughout the city. An additional 600-plus Atlanta street signals were either programmed in advance or automatically adjusted as the downloaded time-change information was received. Street signals are timed to accommodate traffic volume depending on the time of day. “Proper signal timing is critical in minimizing congestion and sustaining mobility,” said David Scott, DPW commissioner.
DPW employee Abdul Malik adjusts traffic signals in preparation for last Sunday’s early Daylight Savings Time (DST). |
- Congratulations to the Pittman Park Recreation Center 12-and-under girls’ team for their recent championship win in the GRPA State Basketball Tournament! On Saturday, March 3, the Office of Recreation had five teams competing in the GRPA State Basketball Tournament. The Georgia Recreation and Park Association was formed in 1945 as a private, non-profit institution to support and promote the recreation and park industries within the state of Georgia. For more information about Office of Recreation programming, visit here.
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opprotunities
- The Lenwood A. Jackson Justice Center (formerly the Municipal Court of Atlanta) will be closed from Wednesday, March 14 - Friday, March 16, 2007 to prepare for an improved, online case management system. If a citation payment must be made, it should be mailed to Municipal Court of Atlanta, 150 Garnett Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303.
- On Saturday, March 24, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) will host “Super Saturday” at its headquarters from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Activities will include free tax preparations, free health screenings, on-site job fair, homeownership information and financial literacy programs. For more information, visit www.atlantaworkforce.org.
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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.
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Weekly Features
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