The Lucky Shoals Community Association (LSCA) – with partners Gwinnett Housing Corporation (GHC), Georgia Hispanic Construction Association (GHCA), and Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) – have acquired a $19.95 million Community Change Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
LSCA and partners will utilize the funding in unincorporated Norcross for greenspace preservation, development of a community resilience hub, and expansion of its existing programs around energy efficient buildings, indoor air quality, water, and the clean energy construction workforce. Unincorporated Norcross is both the most diverse and most under-resourced part of Gwinnett County, itself the second largest populated county in Georgia.
LSCA and its three partners have previously worked on a variety of initiatives, particularly through its Drawdown Georgia gran. This established their programs around healthy, energy efficient buildings and construction workforce training, and to engage all nearly 22,000 households in this area on their needs around housing, energy, and jobs.
Marvin Lim, LSCA, CEO and founder: “Together these agencies have been centered around promoting our community’s strengths to address the very energy, environmental, and economic challenges we live and work in, every day. In this county, we’ve got the highest housing and energy cost burdens, dilapidated properties and unhealthiest conditions, and an underappreciated economy. But we also have stunning cultural and linguistic richness, a robust construction workforce, and greenspace we should preserve. I’m grateful to the EPA for believing in our strengths, our potential, and the idea of community ownership over our own assets.”
Lejla Prljaca, GHC, Executive Director: “Over the past decade, the housing market has become increasingly corporatized, with Gwinnett County leading the state in the number of institutionally-owned homes. This grant will empower our community to reclaim control over its land, fostering sustainable resource management, promoting economic development, addressing housing affordability, and preserving cultural heritage. By curbing land speculation and ensuring long-term access to vital land assets, this initiative will ensure equitable opportunities and a resilient future.”
DAR lays wreaths at two cemeteries in Gwinnett
Participating in the ceremony was the Grayson High School U.S. Army JROTC Cadets, led by Senior Army Instructor and Colonel U.S. Army (retired) Al Fracker at Gwinnett Memorial Park. From left are Gustavo Martinez, Isabella Stewart, Ure Njoku-Obi, Colonel Al Fracker, Lena Lu, Gavin Martinez, Roman Frazier, and Benjamin Walkes. (Photo by Angela Fracker Photography.)
On Dec. 14, 2024, the Philadelphia Winn Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, held their sixth annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at East Shadowlawn Memorial Gardens and their first ceremony at Gwinnett Memorial Park. Both cemeteries are located in Lawrenceville. This is a nationwide ceremony at over 4,900 locations nationwide. There were 624 wreaths laid on veterans’ grave sites in Lawrenceville during the two ceremonies.
Participants included City of Lawrenceville Mayor David Still, compatriots from the Georgia State Society, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Color Guard and Militia, the Button Gwinnett Chapter SAR, children from the Elisha Winn Society, children of the American Revolution, Discovery High School JROTC Army cadets, and Grayson High School JROTC Army cadets.
Mayor David Still and the Lawrenceville City Council and staff were recognized by Philadelphia Winn Regent, Randi Minor for their tremendous support of Philadelphia Winn Chapter’s America 250 Patriot Grave Marker at Lawrenceville Lawn to bring attention to the 250th anniversary of our Nation’s independence on July 4, 2026.
Follow Us