Warrant Amnesty period runs through May 12

The city of Atlanta Municipal Court has launched a warrant amnesty period for 2017. This program offers an opportunity for individuals facing arrest and other penalties due to delinquent traffic tickets, city ordinance or misdemeanor violations to resolve their outstanding case with reduced fines and fees. The program runs through May 12.

“Our goal is to ensure that we have licensed and lawful drivers on city streets,” said Ryan Shepard, Municipal Court Administrator. “After receiving a citation, many individuals fail to appear in court, resulting in additional fines and fees, and in some cases, a warrant being issued. The Municipal Court’s warrant amnesty program offers an opportunity to resolve outstanding issues once and for all.”

Only individuals with charges currently in Failure-To-Appear status are eligible for this program. Court sessions will be held at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays on a first-come basis. Individuals can sign-up each day for these sessions beginning at 7 a.m. for same day service.

The court will also hold two special sessions during non-traditional hours: 10 a.m. April 15 and 6 p.m. April 19.

Sign-up for the special session on April 15 begins at 8 a.m. Individuals who wish to clear penalties and warrants under this program are encouraged to arrive early. When the amnesty period ends, remaining outstanding warrants will be rigorously enforced, according to officials.

Information: court.atlantaga. gov or 404-954-7914.

Upcoming

Buckhead Business Association Breakfast. 7:30-9 a.m. Thursday. $10 to $20. The City Club of Buckhead, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1850. Creative Director David Stella for Office Images will discuss “The Office of the Future.” Cost includes continental breakfast and validated self-parking. Register: bba.memberclicks.net.

Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker with the Georgia State University Jazz Band. 8 p.m. Thursday. $15.61 to $38.88. Rialto Center for the Arts/Georgia State University, 80 Forsyth St. NW. Come early to see the Rialto Jazz for Kids All-Stars at 7 p.m. in the Rialto lobby. 404-413-9849, rialto. gsu.edu/event/randy-brecker.

Five years ago, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta launched an early learning program specifically aimed at Hispanic families. The rationale grew out of the work staffers had done as part of the Welcoming Hispanic Families initiative that was put in place 10 years ago.

“That original program was created as result of work we did around welcoming Hispanic families into early childhood education,” explained Julie Koriakin, the Y’s director of strategic initiatives. “We wanted to test some assumptions we had about why this community is often under-represented in early learning programs.”

Issues keeping young Hispanic children out of key early-learning classes were centered largely around accessibility, financial aid and transportation. In addition, Koriakin said the staff uncovered an important cultural concern.

“One of the primary reasons this group was under-represented had to do with the cultural choice and value of raising children in the home environment with a family member or neighbor as caregiver,” she said. “As an organization, we had For more information about the YMCA’s Hispanic early learning program, go to: ymcaatlanta.org to a decision to make: Should we change cultural norms? No, that wouldn’t be successful, and we respect that value and tradition. But we could change our approach.”

Instead of expecting the community to get to the Y, the early learning program was designed to meet children and their caregivers close to home. The Y partnered with local churches and community centers that eliminated the issue of transportation and accessibility. And by offering the program free of charge, it quickly generated interest.

“The pilot began with five sites in communities in Gwinnett, DeKalb and Fulton,” said Koriakin. “Everything including the staff comes in a van, and they set up the team learning centers with all the materials, toys and books to recreate an early-learning environment. The idea is to duplicate and simulate what these families would get in a traditional pre-k classroom, but it’s set up at the partner locations so they can access it.”

Two other key components that differ from a traditional pre-k is that the caregivers are required to participate alongside the child, and all work is presented in both English and Spanish.

“The children receive the benefits, but it’s also about empowering the caregivers,” said Koriakin. “We’re giving them what they need to help the child learn the skills necessary to have the best Each week we look at programs, projects and other successful endeavors at area schools – from pre-k to grad school. To suggest a story, contact H.M. Cauley at hm_cauley@yahoo.com or 770744-3042. start possible when entering kindergarten. We have take-home activities they can do at home then bring back and show to the class. And some caregivers have little knowledge of English, so it’s cool that the child and adult are learning together.”

Studies have shown that children who miss out on pre-k are often behind their peers by the time kindergarten rolls round. “We also know that many low-income, firstgeneration immigrants would never set foot in a formal early learning experience,” said Koriakin.

Since its inception, the program has shown that 80 percent of the participants improve their readiness for kindergarten, said Koriakin. “We evaluate on ages and stages to assess where they are in terms of academic knowledge and socio-emotional abilities from when they start and at the end of the year. Consistently, we’ve seen gains of 30 points or more, and that’s just with twohour sessions two days a week.”

The program currently works with 270 children from birth to age 5 and has waiting lists. But a recent $250,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will allow the program to expand significantly, adding more sites and as many as 100 more children.

“With demand we have right now, we could easily double the size of the program,” said Koriakin. “This grant will get us started.” Go to AJC.com/s/neighborhoods for more coverage devoted to where you live, seven days a week. Contact us: Send your newstips and ideas to communitynews@ajc.com.

New marshal appointed to DeKalb State Court

DeKalb County State Court appointed Richard I. Berkowitz to marshal of the DeKalb County State Court, effective April 1, following the retirement of Marshal R. S. Mann, who served DeKalb County law enforcement for 34 years.

As marshal, Berkowitz will be responsible for leading the Marshal’s Office as it carries out its State and Magistrate Court law enforcement duties.

Berkowitz has dedicated more than 24 years to serving and protecting the citizens of Georgia and DeKalb County through his work in law enforcement.

Berkowitz began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the DeKalb County Sheriff ’s Office. His last 12 years at the Sheriff ’s Office were spent assigned to the Sheriff ’s Office Fugitive Squad where he tracked and apprehended fugitives.

Berkowitz joined the DeKalb Marshal’s Office in 2009 as chief deputy and assisted Mann in transforming the DeKalb Marshal’s Office into a highly respected law enforcement agency through technological advancements and progressive operating initiatives.

Berkowitz earned an associate degree in criminal justice from the Community College of the Air Force, a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Georgia State University and a masters of public administration degree from Columbus State University. He is a graduate of the 240th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy and the Georgia Command College, Class 44.

Upcoming

Art in the Afternoon for ages 5 to 12. 2-4 p.m. Thursday. Free. Doraville Library, 3748 Central Ave., Doraville. Design a “tape painting”; then get creative with healthy, tasty snacks. 770-936-3852, DeKalb Library.org.