by Bunnie Jackson-Ransom

On October 26, 2007 African American owned Capitol City Bank & Trust Company [CCBT] opened the doors of its newest branch office at 94 Peachtree Street, SW, south of five points in downtown Atlanta (GA).

The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought out dignitaries including Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin; Georgia Commissioner of Labor Michael L. Thurman; Central Atlanta Progress President A. J. Robinson; Nancy Boxill, Fulton County Commissioner; Dr. C. T. Vivian, CCBT Board Member, State Senator Nan Orrock, who joined the bank's president, George Andrews and the chairman of its board, Leon Goodrum; and a crowd of civic leaders and CCBT customers.

This downtown Atlanta business district was once the center of trade for Atlanta residents. Kesslers and Richs were the hub of the businesses located in this inner city community along with major banks and small businesses. Over the years, this area has experienced a loss of banking service; however, with the revitalization effort supported by Central Atlanta Progress and the Chamber of Commerce, this area is poised for redevelopment which will include luxury apartments and many supportive services.

The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, a priority program of Central Atlanta Progress, caught the attention of Capitol City's President George Andrews, who said, "Capitol City recognized the huge population of underserved citizens who work in this community. It is, and has always been, our goal to provide reliable banking services that are convenient to the people; and when the larger banks didn't step up to the plate to meet these needs, we felt that Capitol City should be on target."

CCBT is on the cutting edge of restoring this inner-city business district and is dedicated to meeting the banking needs of the thousands of employees who work at Atlanta City Hall, Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Government and the State of Georgia, as well as the small business and minority communities who work in this area every day."

"We are very excited to have the Capitol City Bank invest in the downtown community. Their new location is a signal that our market shows great potential for the future. Their branch will provide needed services; and now as a neighbor, their presence will contribute to the continued development of one of the downtown's next growth areas," said A. J. Robinson, President of Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District.

About Capitol City Bank & Trust
Organized in 1994, Capitol City Bank & Trust Company operates offices in Atlanta, Albany, Augusta, Savannah (Georgia), and Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. The bank has assets of over $260 million. CCBT is also listed as one of the top 100 Black Banks by Black Enterprise Magazine. The bank thrives on its motto, "Building a legacy to bank on."

by Bunnie Jackson-Ransom

Sellers Brothers Funeral Home will be closing its doors at 889 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW Atlanta; and Ms. Juanita Sellers Stone will be open for business, and meeting with the families she serves, at the Lincoln Funeral Home Chapel, 2321 Candler Road, Decatur, GA (30031) on October 31, 2007.

Sellers Brothers, Inc. opened for business in 1920, under the leadership of James Horace Sellers, in Newnan, GA. Samuel Garrett Sellers, who studied embalming and funeral directing, joined his brother in establishing additional funeral homes in Fairburn and Carrollton Georgia; and in 1927, the brothers expanded their business into Atlanta with facilities on then Hunter Street and a second location on McDaniel Street. John William Sellers and Walter A. Sellers joined their brothers in the business.

In 1939, Sellers Brothers opened the landmark funeral home on 889 Hunter Street where they served the Atlanta community as morticians and funeral directors. James Horace Sellers realized his dream of opening and operating a prominent funeral home in Atlanta, and Juanita Sellers Stone has been the keeper of the dream. As Langston Hughes implies, "This dream has not been deferred."

Sellers Brothers was one of the first African American funeral homes to provide service across the spectrum of pre-needs, at-needs, and post-needs; and certainly one of the first to incorporate emerging technologies and philosophies for service provision and regulatory requirements through continuing education and training.

The building, in which Sellers Brothers was located, was purchased by Russell New Urban and Trammell Crow and will be razed to make way for new residential and retail development which is a part of the Historic Westside Project on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. This development project is also spear-headed by the team of Russell-Crow, headed by H. Jerome Russell, President of Russell New Urban, who says, "We recognize the history and respect the legacy of Sellers Brothers and Ms. Juanita Sellers Stone. We are excited to be a part of the revitalization of this neighborhood; and with the support and input from the surrounding neighborhood leaders, we hope to build a community to be proud of."

The Lincoln Funeral Home Chapel will be a temporary home for Juanita Sellers Stone and Sellers Brothers until the McDaniel Street property can be renovated to accommodate a new Sellers Brothers.

"I appreciate the continued support from our friends and from the families we have provided services for over the many years," says Ms. Sellers Stone. "We will maintain our level of professionalism and dignity will continue to be our watchword."

Atlanta, widely known as Black America's "Mecca" will honor Atty. H.J.A. Alexander of the Atlanta Black Agenda Business Resource Center, along with several other outstanding individuals and institutions for their community service at the 4th Annual MECCA Awards luncheon on Friday November 16.

MECCA is an acronym for Masters of Excellence for Commitment to the Community in Atlanta, and the MECCA Award is being handed out by Welcome Magazine, the nation's first ethnically diverse relocation magazine, which will soon debut here in Atlanta.

The other individuals and institutions being honored include,

• Hon. C.T. Martin-City Councilman,
• James L.A. Gilchrist- Georgia Aquarium,
• Kevin Johnson- The Leadership Council for the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta,
• Tammy L. Bolton of Susan G. Komen for the Cure,
• Sean Brazier of Morehouse College,
• Sheryl Bennett, from Moving in the Spirit,
• Karen Byko from PAWS Atlanta,
• Sister Vanessa Muhammad of ROOTS Adoption Agency and
• Jean Douglas- The Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence.

The clock is ticking down to the debut of the BRC's new web site. BRC's new site will contain a wealth of information, connections and opportunities available nowhere else for member businesses, churches and community alliances.

On the new web site, BRC church affiliates can show videos of their special events, pastoral greetings, sermons, lectures and more at no charge. Current BRC business members are invited to call for 404-346-0808 for appointments to film their own video web commercials, anywhere from 30 seconds to two full minutes. The BRC will even assist you in writing the script for your promotional video. Alternatively, BRC businesses may film and edit their own promotional spots or special events, and send them into the BRC office. Edited videos should be in .AVI or .FLV format. Call 404-346-0808 for details.

The train is coming. Get ready to get on board.

On a bright fall Saturday morning more than two dozen business leaders and members of Cascade United Methodist Church hosted an exclusive preview of the BRC's new web site, led by BRC's President H.J.A. Alexander and its Chairman Aaron Turpeau. Attendees had the chance to see for themselves how the site's web 2.0 technology makes it easy and convenient to find African American businesses by name, category or even by church affiliation, and how it effectively delivered audio and video promotional segments for BRC members and churches.

"If I can get up to two minutes of video to promote my business before audiences of church and other people in Atlanta for the price of a BRC membership", said one, "I don't know why I wouldn't do it."

"At Cascade we are relentless promoters of the idea that we've got to do business with each other. We firmly believe that as many of us as possible should strive not just to get good jobs, but to create opportunities and open doors for one another. " said Cascade's David Walters.

"With this web site, this tool, the BRC has opened up a brand new door, created a serious opportunity, a chance for a major breakthrough. Our churches will be using it to promote their ministries. Our community organizations will be using it to advance their agendas and most importantly of all our businesses will use it to increase their visibility in front of an audience of ready customers and consumers. This fits right in with our mission, with our ministries and with our business plans. We at Cascade are going to be all over this web site, and we expect there will be many other churches and businesses joining us. We're happy to be on board the Overground RR!!© "

On Saturday, November 17, Hillside Chapel and Truth Center's Sunday School Department will present its annual fall workshop from 10AM till 3PM in Hillside's hospitality suite. The workshop is designed to welcome new Sunday School teachers into the fold, and to sharpen the saws of those already engaged. For more information, call Hillside at 404-758-6811.

You are invited to spend an afternoon of music, joy, and celebration with artists such as Diana Solomon-Glover, Deborah Numark, Morehouse College Glee Club and Ken Ford at the Celebrating Life Concert Series- Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. at Ebeneezer Baptist Church, 407 Auburn Avenue in Atlanta. The Celebrating Life Concert Series, is an initiative of the Project People Foundation. Proceeds will benefit women and youth in South Africa. Tickets are $30.00 and must be purchased in advance. Online ticketing is available at www.projectpeoplefoundation.org.

World Covenant Christian Center at 1738 Fairview in Stockbridge GA 30281, celebrates its first anniversary under the leadership of Pastors Reginald and Wanta Ezell this Sunday, November 18 at 9AM. For more information call 678-565-0378.

Join Aretha Franklin, live at the fabulous Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree Street at 7 PM on November 20, 2007 as she celebrates the 86th birthday of Rev. Dr. Joseph L. Lowery. . This event is a benefit for the Joseph L. Lowery Institute for Justice & Human rights at Clark Atlanta University.

Also on November 20, Butler Street Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, along with Atlanta Area CME Churches, is teaming up with The Atlanta Hawks to offer Christians everywhere a very exciting night of NBA Basketball and fellowship at Phillips Arena! The Voices of Butler Street, together with Atlanta Area CME Churches will perform the National Anthem. CME Youth will participate in warm-ups and introductions before this nationally televised game (NBATV). Bring your family, friends, co-workers, social groups, and everyone you know out to enjoy this exhilarating event. Wear your church t-shirt and cheer for our Atlanta Hawks as they take on the defending National Champion San Antonio Spurs.

Email Butler Street CME's Minister of Music Kneeland Roberts at wkroberts@apoios.com or call the church at 404-659-8745 for more information.

Hosea Feed The Hungry is looking for volunteers to help with meal preparation on Wed. Nov. 21st at the Dekalb County Jail as well as, volunteers to help serve on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 22nd. For more information call 404-755-3353 ext. 308. Visit HFTH on the web at www.hoseafeedthehungry.com to find out how you can help out this holiday season and beyond, either as an in-person volunteer, or to make an online donation. HFTH reminds you that when you give, they can buy wholesale. A meeting to prepare volunteers will be held at 7p.m. on Nov. 19th at the HFTH Care Center.

At 5PM on Sunday, November 25, 2007 St. Mark AME Church presents Augusta GA's Swanee Quintet in concert in the church sanctuary, 3605 Campbellton Rd., Atlanta GA 30331. And on December 3, St. Marks will host a free concert by the Morris Brown Alumni Choir at 6PM.

On December 8, 2007 at 6:30pm the Virtue Dance Ministry of International Christian Fellowship will pour out a performance of spiritual healing, of chain-breaking freedom and of purpose. The 14 member dance troupe, founded by ICF's former choir director include people from many walks of life all of whom are deeply passionate about the ministry of dance. Tickets are $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Contact Ciatta-Mae Stubblefield, 678-612-7651, or 404-363-3300 for more information, or visit www.icfministriesatl.org and www.africanexperience.org.