A Trip Down Memory Lane... How Did I End Up in Norcross?

I grew up in Barbados and immigrated to New York as a teenager, leaving my parents to make a better life for myself and my siblings.  I worked and put myself through college and I have a knack for leaving a mark, either starting a community group, an HOA, or just doing what needs to be done not just for myself but for the good of whatever community I was living in.  I’ve worked as an Afterschool Teacher, Cashier, Funeral Home Assistant, and Secretary.  I was discovered by a manager and offered an IT role some twenty-years ago that has led me to my current role with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (CNN), and I have been with them since relocating.

I took a risk most people would not dream of, I sent my then 18-month old daughter home to my parents in Barbados (I was lucky to have a wonderful caregiver Mrs. Tarbis Small whom I trusted to take my precious cargo back home).  Armed with three sheets of travel directions, I packed my car, said goodbye to New York and made the two-day trip to Jimmy Carter and Holcomb Bridge Road and moved into the Homestead Suites where I lived for three months.  Within that time I secured a job with TBS, Inc., and found more permanent affordable housing.  Later that year I surprised my daughter at Christmas and brought both her and my Mother back to Norcross, and as they say
the rest is “Our-story!”

Listing every project, event, committee or group that I have been involved with since moving here will take some time, but I am not here for the notoriety, and it’s not about me, I just love working with people!  You can visit my website http://arlenebeckles.com to see some of those things; I will list a few additional noteworthy projects that I was part of:

• Assisted with Beaver Creek HOA, and Creekside Park HOA (both newer affordable subdivisions off Beaver Ruin Road)
• Part of the Imagination Task Force that worked to get the Norcross Welcome Center established
• Chairs for Charity – three years in a row (schools involved are our cluster schools, a private school, a homeschool located on Beaver Ruin and new this year we are collaborating with Meadowcreek High School on Steve Reynolds)
• Worked on several art projects with the schools in our cluster (2011 Norcross Elementary PTA Reflections, the winning artwork was the word Diversity spelled out in sign language in the form of a garden with a watering can and it made it all the way to the State level representing Gwinnett County Public Schools)
• Collaborated with Summerour Middle School on projects such as Success Saturdays, PTA Strategic Re-Alignment
• Part of the Norcross High School Technical Education Advisory Board, where one of the main goals is to identify needed employability skills for students and offer them opportunities to practice interviewing skills
• Worked with a group of citizens to establish the Norcross Police Foundation a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

I have a personal commitment to the people of Norcross and I am engaged with the community, the young and of course the more seasoned generation, and I want to see Norcross embrace all the differences that its citizens have to offer.  More than ever, we need new voices, new ideas, and new people at the table. 
Norcross needs people willing to take the risks of moving forward not
staying with the status quo – I am that person – I will focus on collaborating
with all the citizens of Norcross, for the advancement of our city – together
we can be part of the solution – not sit on the sidelines being a quiet voice.

Like my Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ElectArlene

Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/Arlene4Norcross

As always, if you see me out and about and you have a question – I am all ears – let’s get it done!