By Jay Phillips
DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s office announced that Dancing with the DeKalb Stars will return for its fourth year in 2023—following a three year hiatus due to COVID—featuring 10 teams of local leaders and dancers connected to DeKalb set to compete on April 29 at 5:30 p.m. at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in Decatur.
Dancing with the DeKalb Stars is a fundraiser hosted by DeKalb County Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling to benefit local domestic violence non-profit organizations.
The event includes a dance competition featuring members of DeKalb County’s legal, public safety, business, and civic communities paired with a local dance professional.
Teams will compete for the Dancing with the DeKalb Stars championship title beginning at 6 p.m. on April 29. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a pre-event resource expo. Mable’s Barbeque and Smoked Meats will provide refreshments during the resource expo, according to a news release.
The event also incorporates fundraising goals set by the teams. The team to raise the most money will win the Peoples’ Choice Award. Contestants are selling tickets, using social media channels, and using personal contacts and business to raise money for the contest.
According to a news release, all proceeds generated through ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit the International Women’s House and the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence. For more information about these non-profit organizations, visit: www.internationalwomenshouse.org and www.wrcdv.org.
A spokesperson for the event said that since the event’s inception, more than $30,000 has been raised for the two non-profits.
“The DeKalb County community has repeatedly shown up in great numbers to support the fight to end domestic violence,” said Coleman-Stribling. “Every year our goal is to exceed what we accomplished in previous years, and we look forward to seeing DeKalb help us do that again.”
The teams consist of Peace Baptist Church Pastor Tyrone Barnette and Jasmine Brown; Women’s Resource Center CEO Jean Douglas and Curtis Taylor; DeKalb County Probation Chief Willie Hopkins and Erin Mills; podcast personalities Amanda Goldstein Marks and Braven Sloan; National Council of Negro Women President Derrica Williams and a dance partner yet to be determined; CeWyon Chandler-Ward and Samuel Hills; DeKalb County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Tremayne McMurray and Kelly McMurray; Chamika Allen and Tameka Ruger; DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts Principal Bianca Hamilton and Patrick Smith; and Latin American Association CEO Santiago Marquez and Patti Marquez.
Judges for the event will be Emmy nominated performer and writer Stepp Stewart; owner and director of the Conservatory of Fine Arts Michelle Douglas; and DeKalb Juvenile Court Chief Judge Fatima Elamin.
Additional information on teams, judges, and the event are featured throughout this issue of The Champion.
For tickets, visit: eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-dancing-with-the-dekalb-stars-tickets-547786122037.
Read the original story on TheChampionNewspaper.com.
