Clairmont Heights Civic Association

From Emory University-Clifton Community Partnership

The "Dream in Green" celebration takes place on Sunday, Feb. 28, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Fernbank Natural History Museum (767 Clifton Road, Atlanta) and promises a delightful evening of music and fabulous food.

On this night, a swinging jazz band will be featured and live and silent auctions will offer chances at vacation getaways, art, photography, fine wines, airline tickets and much more. While supporters of the park enjoy themselves at this catered event, they can also tour the fabulous "Nature Unleashed" exhibit at Fernbank.  Read the complete article

Rushdie Archive to Open

The archive of celebrated author and Emory University Distinguished Writer in Residence Salman Rushdie will open to the public for the first time on Friday, Feb. 26, in Emory's Robert W. Woodruff Library. A multi-media exhibition, "A World Mapped by Stories: The Salman Rushdie Archive," will be on display in the Library's Schatten Gallery from Feb. 26 until Sept. 26.

As part of the opening celebration, Emory will host a symposium with Rushdie, author Christopher Hitchens and filmmaker Deepa Mehta titled, "The Only Subject is Love: Imagining Better Worlds," from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 in Emory's Schwartz Center. Rushdie, Hitchens and Mehta will discuss how the imagination helps to address the global challenges of our times. More information on the symposium and other events are available at www.emory.edu/rushdie.

Paideia Looks to Rebuild Mother Goose

When the Mother Goose, a high school building at Paideia School, was destroyed by fire last October, the school was heartened by the outpouring of support from the community. Much loved by students past and present, two-thirds of all high school students had at least one class in the building every day. Students from all levels passed it daily on their way to class, the gym, the theater or music and art. Four teachers taught in the red brick converted house, originally built as a home for Asa Candler's only daughter, Lucy, and her family.

"Classrooms at Paideia are teachers' homes away from home, and they are imbued with their passion for the subjects they teach and for the relationships they build," said Paul Bianchi, Paideia headmaster. The school has begun the process of rebuilding and replacing the Goose. Final plans call for a structure reflective of the original building.

Emory's Goizueta Strikes Gold

The Goizueta Foundation Center (GFC) at Emory University has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its sustainable design and construction. The 101,920-square-foot building is the fifth structure on Emory's campus to receive LEED Gold certification from USGBC.

 

The GFC was built in 2005 to complement the existing Goizueta Business School, which holds the distinction of being the first academic building in the country to achieve LEED Gold certification of an existing building. The GFC is the classroom and administration building for the business school and houses the Ph.D. program, research centers, executive MBA and modular MBA programs, and faculty and staff.  Read the complete article

1. How did you get involved with the Olmsted Linear Park Alliance (OLPA), and what does 2010 hold for OLPA?

My involvement with OLPA started in 2007 when I volunteered with some of the park maintenance events. I'm an avid gardener and my enthusiasm apparently caught the eye of several others with OLPA. They asked me to join the board shortly thereafter and in Jan. 2009, I became president. OLPA is restoring the Olmsted parks to the original vision of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. Our fundraising for this restoration is ongoing, and OLPA's annual gala will be held at the Fernbank Natural History Museum on Feb. 28. For more information on the gala and OLPA, visit www.atlantaolmstedpark.org.

2. Aside from your volunteer work with OLPA, what is the federal research work that you are conducting?

In my professional life, I am a research professor at the Rollins School of Public Health. With my colleagues at Emory, I'm currently involved in an HIV study in Atlanta that examines the role of community and the individual in changing risky behavior and another project that focuses on drug use and crime. These five-year studies are supported by the National Institutes of Health and the aim is to gain a greater understanding of the physical, structural and social environmental factors that impact health. The findings will contribute to improved prevention and intervention programs as well as revisions that will contribute to a reduction in health disparities.  Read the complete article 

Something to Crow About

Behind the Door: Congregation Shaarei Shamayim

Driving down Briarcliff Road, it's easy to pass Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, a traditional synagogue located at 1810 Briarcliff Road next to QT. Large satellite dishes camouflage this distinctive structure as it was once the old office for CBS Atlanta. A chain link fence and a white sign with calligraphy font also help to hide the two-story brick building sitting back from the road. But when you step inside this place of worship, an immediate sense of unity and togetherness is palpable.