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Faces of Peachtree Corners- Khadijah Akbar

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This year has presented unprecedented challenges, but it has also given citizens of Peachtree Corners time to reflect on past successes, moments of joy and the things that make this city great. The city has many wonderful features to offer, chiefly technological advancement, business development and scholastic excellence. Yet Peachtree Corners’ most valuable resource continues to be the people that live, work and thrive within its borders.

Studio photos by George Hunter

Khadijah Akbar

Khadijah Akbar is a senior at Norcross High School with ambitions to attend law school and become an intellectual property lawyer. “I want to be an intellectual property lawyer to protect the ideas of the individual,” she explained. “After undergrad, I want to go to law school and study intellectual property law. I am very interested in law and computer science, and patent law incorporates both.”

This intelligent young woman already has some educational experience in front of the bench as a veteran in the Mock Trial program. Akbar has competed as an attorney for four years, and as a lead attorney for two of those years. She has coached and assisted underclassmen in the “courtroom,” and this past year, NHS advanced to the state competition for the first time.

Akbar has also been involved in High School Democrats of Gwinnett as a Norcross Representative. She taught students how to register to vote, collected and reported a political census of her school and campaigned for State House District 52-elect Shea Roberts.

Akbar’s strong passion for justice presents itself in diligent service to the Peachtree Corners community. As a volunteer at the Peachtree Corners Library, she has assisted in shelving books, signing up library patrons for the summer reading program and answering questions about it, reading to children and organizing summer events.

“The Peachtree Corners Library has so many opportunities to help and be a part of your community; I think it is a part of the foundation that makes this city so great,” Akbar said. “I hope I can be a part of a system that supports its community in the same way when I am older.”

Other interests of Akbar’s include the art of henna, the Science Honor Society and learning languages — both linguistic and programming.

Kelsey Asher is a proud graduate of the University of West Georgia with a Bachelor’s in Communications. She has held a variety of marketing leadership roles for several small, startup companies in a variety of industries including publishing, construction and technology.

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Community

Gwinnett County Public Library Receives Innovation Award

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GCPL logo

The library system was honored with the Urban Libraries Council’s 2024 Innovation Award in Workforce and Economic Development

The Urban Libraries Council (ULC), North America’s leading nonprofit for urban libraries, has named Gwinnett County Public Library a Top Innovator for 2024. This recognition is in honor of the library’s New Start Entrepreneurial Incubator (NSEI), which offers business training and mentorship to formerly incarcerated community members.

Originally funded by Google through a grant from the American Library Association (ALA), the six-month program helps participants build the knowledge and skills necessary to start their own businesses.

“I’ve seen the life of each person who goes through this program change profoundly and significantly,” said Charles Pace, executive director of Gwinnett County Public Library. “We believe that people deserve a second chance. The New Start program gives them the tools, knowledge and support they need to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses.”

ULC’s Innovations Initiative is a yearly showcase of exemplary projects from its more than 180 member libraries across the U.S. and Canada. It seeks to highlight how the library’s role as an essential public institution is evolving to meet the changing needs of our urban communities. From initiatives that promote civic engagement and intellectual freedom to projects that enhance digital connectivity and economic mobility, libraries are at the forefront of addressing today’s challenges.

Top innovators and honorable mentions

A distinguished panel of judges selected Gwinnett County Public Library as a Top Innovator. The project won in the Workforce and Economic Development category for its originality, measurable outcome and the potential for other libraries to replicate and implement this successful initiative. More than 230 library projects in six categories were submitted by ULC members from across the U.S. and Canada to be considered for the top awards.

Six public libraries received the Top Innovator designation, and six libraries received an honorable mention in recognition of their work. There is one top innovator and one honorable mention for each award category.

AWARD CATEGORYTOP INNOVATORSHONORABLE MENTIONS
Advocacy and AwarenessSan Francisco Public Library (CA)Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (PA)
Education: Children and AdultsVirginia Beach Public Library (VA)New York Public Library (NY)
Equity and InclusionMiami-Dade Public Library System (FL)Broward County Library (FL)
Health and WellnessDenver Public Library (CO)San Mateo County Libraries (CA)
Library Operations and ManagementToronto Public Library (ON)Pioneer Library System (OK)
Workforce and Economic DevelopmentGwinnett County Public Library (GA)Memphis Public Libraries (TN)

“This year’s Innovations Initiative honorees exemplify the evolving role of libraries as dynamic public institutions that are integral to the fabric of our urban communities,” said ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater. “The innovative projects highlighted this year demonstrate the power of libraries to not only adapt but to actively shape the future of our cities, ensuring that all community members have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.”

Information about the winning project from Gwinnett County Public Library and that of other honorees is available on the ULC website at www.urbanlibraries.org/innovations.

About Gwinnett County Public Library

Gwinnett County Public Library is a free provider of education and information. Located in

metro Atlanta, the Library has 15 branches that offer free access to computers and Wi-Fi, classes, materials and programming for people of all ages.

For more information about Gwinnett County Public Library programs and services, visit www.gwinnettlibrary.org.

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Olympian Jasmine Jones Visits Her Local Alma Mater

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Olympic athlete standing with a school mascot

Olympian Jasmine Jones, a standout alumna of Greater Atlanta Christian School (Class of 2020), returned to her alma mater on September 12 to speak to and inspire the next generation of students there.

GAC staff interviewed Jones and also took questions from the students during a Q&A session that included every grade level.

Female Olympic athlete being interviewed onstage
photo courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

As a member of the U.S. Olympic team and a 12-time Georgia state individual champion during her time at GAC, Jasmine’s visit was a homecoming filled with motivation and reflection. She spoke passionately to the students about the importance of perseverance, goal-setting, and embracing challenges, drawing from her journey from GAC to the University of Southern California and the global stage of the Olympics.

Jones qualified for the Paris Olympics on June 30 and made the U.S. team in women’s 400m hurdles after placing third. She went on to place fourth in the women’s 400m hurdles final at the Paris games.

Female Olympian meeting members of the audience in a school auditorium
photo courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

Students and staff at GAC cheered Jones on during the Olympics. And they cheered her again as she took to the school’s stage to address the audience. Before and after the event, Jones posed for photos, gave high-fives and took time connect with some of GAC’s enthusiastic students and faculty.

Female Olympian meeting students at her alma mater
photo courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

Her words — and her accomplishments — left a powerful impression on the crowd, reminding everyone of the heights that can be achieved with dedication and faith.

For more about GACS, visit greateratlantachristian.org.

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Miyabiya Japan Brings Kabuki ‘Lion Dance’ to Life for Students at ICAGeorgia

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kabuki performers in front of an audience of K-6 students

The renowned performers wowed the audience with a thrilling presentation of dance, drama and fun.

Staff, students and board members of the International Charter Academy of Georgia were given a short-but-thrilling taste of Kabuki when dancers from Miyabiya Japan stopped by the school on September 16 for a special performance.

Offering a preview of the full show they’d prepared for center stage at JapanFest 2024, the troop presented a special short section of a dance titled “Renjishi: The Two Lions.”

Miyabiya Japan Kabuki performers
photo credit: Shawne Taylor

Considered one of the most famous pieces in Kabuki, Renjishi is known for its powerful choreography and dramatic expression. It tells the story of the relationship between a father lion and his young son. The powerful movements, dramatic expressions and percussive sound effects symbolize the passing of strength and legacy from one generation to the next.

How the show came about

Miyabiya Japan last appeared at JapanFest in 2016 to great acclaim. This year, with the excitement of their return, the performers made plans to offer a few shorter performances at other places around town in the week leading up to the festival.

School faculty and board members with performers from Miyabiya Japan Kabuki troop
from left: Takahiko Fujima, Miki Ito, Junko Jones, Aki Nozawa Felecia Tucker-Jones, Carol Freeman, Daniela Britton, Yuriko Evett, Annie Varghese, Robert Johnson and Yukimasa Futamura

Robert Johnson, an advisory board member of ICAGeorgia and a long-time friend of JapanFest and the Miyabiya troop, knew the dual-language, Japanese immersion school would be a great place for one of the shows. He helped organize the day’s demonstration and was on-hand to talk to the crowd and introduce the performers.

The performance

It was the first time having a Kabuki performance at ICAGeorgia. And, as students filed into the school’s gym, the excitement was palpable. The room was humming with happy voices before the show even began.

Johnson greeted the kids with a smile before introducing the award-winning Kabuki troop in both English and Japanese.

Kabuki dancers in motion during performance
photo credit: Shawne Taylor

“This special group from Japan will be performing at JapanFest, but today they’re performing here for you,” he told the excited crowd.

He went on to explain, “Kabuki is a special form of very dramatic and traditional Japanese dance. Two dancers today will do the Lion Dance.” The youngest children in the crowd shrieked with delight when they heard the name.

“The Lion Dance is like the story of the Lion King,” he continued, “with an otousan (father) lion with a long white mane and his son with a bright red mane.”

Kabuki performer with an audience of K-6 students
photo courtesy of ICAGeorgia

After the short explanation of what to expect, Johnson instructed the students (and the adults in the audience) to call for the performers to come out. To the sounds of “Miyabi-ya, miyabi-ya,” from the crowd, the dancers bounded out into the room, onto the space set up for their performance. They greeted Mr. Johnson and the students before getting into the story.

An interactive experience

The show started with a brief instruction of Kabuki movements that got the audience on its feet, following the red lion’s lead. It ended with a bang of confetti that thrilled (and surprised) everyone there.

Kabuki performer at a school
photo courtesy of ICAGeorgia

In between, the story of the two lions was beautifully expressed through the performers’ detailed costumes, traditional kumadori makeup, exaggerated expressions and dramatic movements. At times, the dancers even made their way into the audience. Students and adults alike were riveted from start to finish.

“I’m happy to have the performers come to our school,” said Junko Jones, a founding board member and CFO of ICAGeorgia. “Not all of the students will be able to go to JapanFest. So, it’s nice that they can experience Japan here.”

Kabuki performers in front of a K-6 audience
photo courtesy of ICAGeorgia

About ICAGeorgia

The International Charter School of Georgia is a K-6 Japanese immersion school located in Peachtree Corners. They currently have 250 students, with plans to expand the school to offer Grades 7–8 in the future.

Eighty-one of the students will sing onstage at JapanFest September 21 at 1pm. This will be school’s sixth time performing at the festival, having been there every year since the school opened. The students also performed at the state capital in January for Japan Day.

For more information about ICAGeorgia, visit internationalcharteracademy.org.

For more about JapanFest and Miyabiya Japan, visit japanfest.org

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