I moved here with my family for what I thought would only be a two-year stay that has now lasted 23 years and is going strong. The relationships built with so many of you over these years have provided us with countless happy memories and connections. For us the CHCA neighborhood is a unique bubble in an often-complicated world of which we’re grateful to be a part.

I believe that an effective neighborhood association is built upon communication, collaboration, and active participation. I encourage each of you to get involved and contribute your unique perspective and talents. As I’ve learned you get out of it what you put in. Whether you have lived here for decades or are new to our community, your voice matters, and I am eager to hear it.

I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to serve as your President, and I look forward to getting to know more of you personally in the coming days and months.

Warm regards,

Susan Finn, CHCA President

finnsj@bellsouth.net

Know any local streets that need repairs or resurfacing? Are you happy when kids get new play equipment at our local parks? Would you like to see improvements at the intersection at North Decatur?

All of these projects are (or will be) funded using SPLOST dollars (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes), and we have a chance to weigh in on priorities for SPLOST II during August.

Michelle Long Spears, our County Commissioner for District 2, wants to hear your voice, especially when it comes to significant decisions impacting our neighborhood. She will host meetings for SPLOST II in August specifically for District 2.

Your participation will help ensure that SPLOST funds are used in a way that best serves our community's needs.

District 2 SPLOST II meetings in August:

Commissioner Spears is offering a survey ahead of time to be better prepared to address you wishes. Take the survey here:

Your voice matters, and your participation in these meetings is vital to specifying things that the Clairmont Heights community needs.

Additional SPLOST II Materials can be found on Commissioner Spear's new website:

Scroll down to her Quick Resources to find information about SPLOST I projects completed for our area and related information.

As July comes to a close, students in DeKalb County prepare for the start of a new school year. If your child is enrolled in our public schools, the district will hold Open House sessions for parents this week!

Parents and guardians play an important role in helping schools succeed with their time and attention. Are you interested in making a greater impact by dedicating your expertise and dedication? Consider nomination for the Principal's Advisory Council (PAC) at your child's school. PAC members include teachers, community business partners, parents, and the principal, all working together to improve your child's educational experience.

The Clairmont Heights neighborhood has historically provided strong support for our neighborhood schools in many ways: Classroom Parents, PTA officers, and PAC participation. Help our neighborhood maintain its tradition of positive school leadership.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, August 25, 2023. Ask for details at the school or on its website.

DeKalb School Board member Whitney McGinniss represents Region 2, where the Clairmont Heights neighborhood lies. Ms. McGinniss provides excellent summaries of School Board meetings and other matters, shows up to participate in all manner of school and community activities, and produces insightful summaries and analysis of issues that affect student achievement in DeKalb County.

You can find two good examples of her recent efforts linked below. Click the image to see each document.

You may have heard that President Joe Biden signed a proclamation Tuesday, July 25, 2023, establishing a national monument honoring Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. The event took place on what would have been Emmett’s 82nd birthday and fulfilled a promise Till’s relatives made after his death 68 years ago.

Till’s cousin, the Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., says that Emmett's death in 1955 helped propel the Civil Rights Movement - an American story, not just a civil rights story.

The Atlanta History Center invites all Metro residents to examine the context and consequences of this American story in an exhibition that opens at the end of this week on August 5. It will remain on view until September 17, 2023.

"Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See" is a touring exhibition created in collaboration with the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, the Till Family, and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. It tells the story of Emmett and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, and challenges visitors to make a ripple for justice in their own communities.

History Center staff recommend the exhibit for ages 10 and up. For more information, including hours and directions, please visit the link below.