More resources for mental health, prints from 'El Movimiento,' and a new hot pot restaurant.
More resources for mental health, prints from 'El Movimiento,' and a new hot pot restaurant.
Your 285 South News Roundup.
Expansion of mental health program for refugees: The Georgia Department of Public Health and Department of Human Services awarded The International Rescue Committee, in partnership with Georgia State University’s Prevention Research Center, a $640,000 contract to support the expansion of a mental health program that was piloted over a year ago. The program - which focuses on supporting people who have newly arrived here - provides newcomers access to counselors, training for service providers, and community support group meetings. Read more from the AJC’s Lautaro Grinspan.
Johns Creek native Ashwin Ramaswami running for GA State Senate: Ramaswami, whose parents immigrated from Tamil Nadu, India, is running in GA’s 48th district, which includes parts of Johns Creek, Duluth, Suwanee, Alpharetta, Lawrenceville, and Peachtree Corners.
He said part of what motivated him to run was not being happy with his state senator. “What really culminated my decision to run...was learning that Shawn Still, the current state senator for my district, is an election denier who was criminally indicted for trying to overturn the 2020 elections.” If elected, he would be the first ever Indian-American and Hindu American state senator in Georgia, reports NRI Pulse. Check NRI Pulse’s full interview with him here .
Flying kites at Centennial Park in solidarity with Palestinian children: Volunteers with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund’s Atlanta chapter brought metro area residents together to fly kites on Sunday outside the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. In 2011, Palestinian children in Gaza simultaneously flew 15,000 kites, breaking the world record. More than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed, among them over 10,000 Palestinian children, since Israel began its bombardment of Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The story behind a killing in Gwinnett County: 33-year old Seehee Cho was found dead in the trunk of a car in a parking lot of a Korean spa in September. Members of Soldiers of Christ, a cult group, had held her captive, torturing and starving her for weeks, according to police. Associated Press reporter Sudhin Thanawala looks at the impact her death has had on the local Korean community. Read the story here.
Residents celebrate ‘Dia de Reyes’ in Brookhaven, bringing traditions from home: Marciela Guzman, originally from Oaxaca, Mexico was among the over 200 people who celebrated Three Kings Day at a DeKalb County charter school in Brookhaven last week. "It's important for us to keep the tradition going…this allows our kids to experience it like we did."
Check out 285 South’s story from writer Daniela Cintron in both English, and Spanish here. Also from 285 South, and also in Brookhaven - read about GA’s first Asian American mayor and first Latino Councilmember.
Fine prints from the Chicano Movement: “Estampas de la Raza,” at the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, is an exhibit that features large-scaled screenprints and lithographs made by Mexican American and Latino artists. The prints were made during and after the Chicano Movement or “El Movimiento,” of the 1960s and 1970s. Exhibit runs through January 31. More information here.
A new Hot Pot restaurant in Duluth: Georgia Asian Times’ Andrian Putra reviews HQ BBQ & Hot Pot, “an all you can eat buffet version of hot pot.” You can choose your broth, veggies, protein, and sauces/condiments. The verdict? “I find the menu prices are reasonable. The selections are fresh and tasty.” Read his full write-up here.