Experts address Atlanta's most pressing issues
The most consistent trend in Atlanta is change, and in recent years the pace of that transformation has increased drastically. Atlanta's population is booming and its demographic makeup is reshaping the city's identity. Dense, urban developments are altering the fabric of the city, which in turn shifts community and cultural epicenters that have stood firm for decades. Is the city finally fulfilling its potential by becoming the vibrant, pulsing heart of the South? Or, is the current optimistic mood the wishful thinking of those who ignore the poverty that continues to grip many residents? These difficult issues will be tackled during "The City of Atlanta: Recent Trends and Future Prospects," an Andrew Young School of Policy Studies conference sponsored by the Dan E. Sweat Chair in Education and Community Policy. The conference from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 23 in the 7th floor conference room of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, 14 Marietta Street, will feature more than a dozen experts on issues such as air quality, gentrification, racial and class migration, transportation, the creative class, wealth, retail and civil rights heritage.To attend, please RSVP by noon Feb. 19 by contacting Dorie Taylor at 404-651-4342 or dtaylor4@gsu.edu. To learn more about the conference, visit http://aysps.gsu.edu/events/2007/dansweatconference.htm. Members of the media may contact Michael Wall at 404-651-3572 or mtwall@gsu.edu.

Speed matters: Blood flow velocity linked to ability to concentrate
When an airport screener or Army field soldier is losing his ability to concentrate, Georgia State University psychologist David Washburn wants to understand why. Working with volunteers at Georgia State's Individual Differences in Executive Attention laboratory, Washburn has been able to measure blood flow in the brain and correlate it with a person's ability to respond accurately to certain situations. In the lab, Washburn's subjects play a video game with laser-equipped handguns while researchers measure the subjects' cranial blood flow. Washburn's project is funded by the Army and may be useful in developing new protocols for security personnel. For more information, contact Aaron Baca at 404-651-1444 or abaca@gsu.edu.

Art in education
Integrating the arts at the earliest levels of education could significantly improve the development of a child's language and understanding of emotional expressions. That is the basis of a three-year study of kindergartners attending five low-income Atlanta schools which looks at how children develop empathy for story characters and how well they create and retell stories. Georgia State University College of Education researchers are assessing annual changes in children's language development, emotional understanding, academic performance and achievement in drama, in an effort to help close the gap in language that separates children by social class. The research is a collaboration between the Alliance Theatre, Fulton County Schools and The Georgia Wolftrap Institute, which provides arts education for children ages 3 to 5. For more information, contact Leah Harris at 404-651-3575 or lvh@gsu.edu.

The author's studio
Writers in the New South's Writing Workshop, Georgia State's creative writing program, have been finding success at a steady clip. Novels by three students will be published in early 2007, as will a poetry collection by doctoral student Mike Dockins, whose poem "Dead Critics Society" has been selected to appear in The Best American Poetry 2007. The workshop's faculty are also well-published: Sheri Joseph's novel Stray just won the first annual Grub Street Book Prize in fiction, Josh Russell has recently published several short stories and was awarded a 2006 Literature Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts, and John Holman's work has been featured in The New Yorker, the Mississippi Review, the Oxford American and many others. To learn more about the New South's Writing Workshop and its authors, contact William Inman at 404-651-3578 or winman@gsu.edu. To find out more about The Best American Poetry 2007, visit http://bestamericanpoetry.com/index.php.

HAPPENINGS

True Blue: Homecoming festivities promote panther pride
Panther Pride will fill Georgia State University as students, faculty, staff and alumni unite to celebrate Homecoming 2007, which began Sunday and will end on Sunday (Feb. 18). "True Blue: 94 Years of Pride and Tradition" is the theme of Homecoming Week, was kicked off on Sunday when the Lady Panthers took on Towson University in the Sports Arena. The homecoming king and queen will be crowned at the Homecoming Court Coronation & Ball at 9 p.m., Wednesday (Feb. 14) in the Student Center Ballroom. Other homecoming events include the Intramural Basketball Championship at 7 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 15) in the Student Recreation Center and the Georgia State men's basketball Homecoming game against Elon University in the ESPN BracketBuster at 2 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 17) followed by a Greek Showcase at 9 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 17). Both Saturday events will be held in the Sports Arena. For more information, contact Leah Harris at 404-651-3575 or lvh@gsu.edu

Jazz and Chocolate
Come enjoy a night of smooth jazz and sweet chocolate at 7 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 14) in the Capitol Suite at the Student Center. Featured performing artists are Georgia State students. The room will be set up banquet-style with loads of decadent chocolate at each table. It's the perfect Valentine's Day experience, and admission is free! For more information, call 404-651-3434.

Georgia State Leads is a publication from the Department of University Relations. For more information about the publication or to sign up to receive Georgia State Leads, contact Andria Simmons at 404/651-3579 or asimmons2@gsu.edu.

©2005 Georgia State University