Features
- Created on 18 June 2013
New Art Gallery May Soon Be Coming to Downtown Atlanta
A new art gallery may soon be built in downtown Atlanta. The gallery would occupy the old AJC building’s ground floor located at 72 Marietta St. The Atlanta City Council approved allocating $750,000 to go toward the new project in an 8-5 vote.
Camille Russell Love, Office of Cultural Affairs director, says the new gallery is part of an effort to breathe new life into the downtown area and encourage economic growth.
“We anticipate it will be transformational for that corridor that will lead into Atlanta’s entertainment district so to speak,” Love said. “This will be one of the arteries that leads into it. We think it will help spur some development in downtown Atlanta.”
Love plans on opening the space in October as part of Elevate, a project focused on revitalizing the city using public art. The new gallery will replace an older version, City Gallery East, which is now located in Ponce City Market. When the old AJC space was given to the city in 2010, Mayor Kasim Reed insisted it be used to house a new art gallery.
Stanley, Beaman & Sears, an architecture company, was awarded a $100,000 budget by the city, which will be used towards the design of the art gallery. Space ideas include a natural light gallery with visual exhibits and a light-controlled gallery that will feature digital and multimedia art.
“[We’re] working with the cultural community to develop plans so the space is put to its best use,” Love said.
According to Love, the exterior will be a “signature architectural piece in downtown Atlanta.” However, she says that official arrangements have not yet been made as far as interior design, and the OCA is “taking this a step at a time.” On the other hand, it is her intention to present the first exhibit during Elevate.
- Created on 18 June 2013
Women of Excellence: Erica Qualls
Erica Qualls serves as General Manager for the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Marriott International's third largest hotel – a $100 million- a- year operation. She is responsible for ensuring guest and associate satisfaction, managing the hotel's finances and assets, owner relations and fostering business alliances that promote Marriott International. The Atlanta Marriott Marquis is Georgia's largest hotel with 1,663 guestrooms and suites, and over 160,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.
In April 1993, Qualls started her career with Marriott International. She has held key positions in various disciplines. Prior to her current appointment, Qualls was Hotel Manager and Director of Human Resources at the Marriott Marquis, and General Manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott in Sunnyvale, California.
An active member in her community, Qualls is involved in national and local community organizations including Children's Miracle Network, Hands on Atlanta, United Negro College Fund, United Way, the Azalea City Chapter of the Links, Incorporated and the International Women's Forum of Georgia. She serves on the Board of Trustees Atlanta Police Foundation and Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Executive Board of Directors Metro Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Hotel Council, Atlanta Business League and Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. She is a member of the boards of Central Atlanta Progress, Atlanta Technical College, YWCA and Marriott Pride. Through Qualls leadership, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis was awarded the A+ Award Summa Cum Laude for Partnership with Atlanta Public Schools.
Qualls has received numerous awards including the Atlanta Business League's prestigious Leadership Award for outstanding volunteerism and listed her as one of Atlanta's Top 100 Black Women of Influence. In 2011, Qualls was named Business to Business Magazine's Women of Excellence Honoree. In 2010 Qualls was honored as YWCA Woman of Achievement and joined Leadership Atlanta Alumni Class of 2010. She has distinguished herself among the very best in hospitality, named 2009 Host Hotels and Resort General Manager of the Year, 2008 Marriott International General Manager of the Year, and 2007 General Manager of the Year by the Georgia Hotel Lodging Association.
She is the proud mother of four children, David Bascoe II, Tawfiqah Bascoe, Shukriyyah Bascoe and Wali Bascoe.
Accomplished and fascinating women like Qualls are among 50 who will be honored by The Atlanta Daily World as "Women of Excellence" at an awards ceremony on Thursday, June 20 at 200 Peachtree from 3pm- 6pm. The public is invited to come to the event and meet them.
To purchase tickets to the event, call Michelle Gipson at 404-761-1114 ext. 11 or visit http://www.atlantadailyworld.com/upcoming-events and click on the "Women of Excellence" icon.
- Created on 17 June 2013
Women of Excellence: Jackie Parker
Jackie Parker is the Vice President of Corporate Philanthropy at Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and is President of the Newell Rubbermaid Foundation.
Parker is the founding pioneer for three of Newell Rubbermaid's corporate social responsibility initiatives, which have transformed the company's approach to investment and involvement in social causes and diversity and inclusion.
Parker has received many awards and honors, including the Atlanta Technical College Bridge Builder Award; Atlanta's Business-to-Business Magazine IMPACT Leader Awards; Savoy Magazine Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America; Atlanta's Business -to- Business Magazine Women of Excellence; Hampton University Alumnus at Large Award; Georgia Assoc. Black Women Attorneys Professional Leadership Award; and the Trumpet Awards - High Heels in High Places Award.
She serves on many boards and has chaired many organizations and events, including the Advisory Board of Councilors, Carter Center; Board Chair, YWCA, Metro Atlanta Chapter Chair; President-Elect, OnBoardnow.org.
Parker earned her Master of Business Administration in marketing from Johns Hopkins University and holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Hampton University.
Accomplished and fascinating women like Parker are among 50 who will be honored by The Atlanta Daily World as "Women of Excellence" at an awards ceremony on Thursday, June 20 at 200 Peachtree from 3pm- 6pm. The public is invited to come to the event and meet them.
To purchase tickets to the event, call Michelle Gipson at 404-761-1114 ext. 11 or visit http://www.atlantadailyworld.com/upcoming-events and click on the "Women of Excellence" icon.
- Created on 18 June 2013
Dave Chappelle to Hit Atlanta Before 13-Date U.S. Tour
Comedian Dave Chappelle, best known for his popular Comedy Central TV program "Chappelle's Show," announced a 13-city U.S. comedy tour to kick off in August. But before he hits those dates, he'll be in Atlanta doing four shows at the Tabernacle.
Beginning Thursday June 27 and continuing with two shows June 28 and another June 29, Chappelle will be entertaining Atlanta audiences with his signature brand of comedy.
Chappelle, who's generally kept a low profile since the end of "Chappelle's Show" eight years ago, will headline Funny or Die's "Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival," which kicks off August 23 in Austin, Texas. The tour, which also includes Flight of the Conchords, Demetri Martin and Kristen Schaal, will run through 13 cities in five weeks, concluding in Mountain View, California.
The tour is Chappelle's biggest headlining gig in recent years after keeping most of his appearances to occasional drop-ins at comedy clubs and spots on "Inside the Actors Studio."
Chappelle remains most famous for "Chappelle's Show," a sketch-comedy hit that ran for two full seasons on the comedy channel. Chappelle was scheduled to do a third season, but left midway through its production, telling Oprah Winfrey not long after that he was burned out.
Since leaving Comedy Central after two brilliant seasons, walking away in 2005 from a reported $50 million contract, he has rarely given interviews or made television appearances. It's been many years since he released a movie or taped a comedy special.
The tour is Chappelle's most high-profile return to comedy and Atlantans will get to see a sneak preview starting on June 27. Tickets are now available.
- Created on 17 June 2013
Youngest Woman Sentenced to Death Row to Be Released After 27 Years
(CNN) -- Paula Cooper was just 16 years old when she became the youngest person on death row in the United States.
That was in 1986.
On Monday, after 27 years behind bars, Cooper will walk out of the Indiana's Rockville Correctional Facility a free woman.
And when she does, she will find an unlikely ally: Bill Pelke, the grandson of the woman she killed.
The events that ensnared both families started when Cooper was 15 and devised a plan to steal money with her friends.
After smoking marijuana and drinking wine, they went to the home of 78-year-old Bible teacher Ruth Pelke, armed with a knife. Cooper struck Pelke with a vase, cut her arms and legs, then stabbed her in the chest and stomach 33 times, according to Indiana court records.
Their loot? Just $10.
An Indiana judge sentenced Cooper to death on July 11, 1986, at the age of 16.
More than 2 million people signed a petition asking the Indiana Supreme Court to overturn Cooper's death sentence.
Pope John Paul II personally appealed to Indiana Gov. Robert Orr on behalf of the teen.
But perhaps the most surprising advocate for Cooper's life was the victim's grandson.
Bill Pelke said he forgave Cooper for the murder three months after she was sentenced to death row at Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis.
"For a year and a half I thought about how my grandmother died, and it was horrible," Pelke said. "I started thinking about my grandmother's life and all the wonderful things about her. I realized I no longer wanted Paula to die. I wanted to help her. I realized forgiveness had already taken place, and it brought a tremendous healing to me."
The Indiana Supreme Court reversed the death sentence in 1989 to 60 years in prison.
Pelke tried to visit Cooper in 1986, but they didn't come face to face until eight years later. The two struck up an unlikely friendship over the years. Now they send messages through the prison e-mail system every week.
"I am happy she is getting out tomorrow and I wish her the very best," Pelke said Sunday. "She is supposed to call me when she gets out, and we're supposed to meet and go shopping. I told her whenever she got out, I'd treat her. I have a friend who would like to buy her an outfit, and I want to buy her a computer."
