Bruce Street School Alum Allene Harper still remembers the quarry working men who built the old stone schoolhouse. “They were very strong Black men, geniuses,” she said. “The women baked cakes and pies to raise money to help buy the rocks. Little by little. To me, that was amazing.” When the Bruce Street School (first known as The Lithonia Negro School) opened in 1938, it was the first public school established for Black students in DeKalb County, offering what had long been denied: a rightful place in public education. In an era when segregation dictated not only where children could learn but how much their education was valued, this school stood as a deliberate investment in Black futures, one built by a community that refused to accept temporary solutions. Click here to read more about Bruce Street's fight for education and equality.
So-called “Artificial intelligence” (AI) and data centers seem to be everywhere these days. Now, the data center industry is eyeing DeKalb County as its next building ground, including in the Southeast Atlanta community of Ellenwood, about fifteen miles outside Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. But what are the odds of this data facility actually being built, and how will it impact South River runoff and Heritage Area residents? Click here to read our first investigation into the AI Data Center boom.
On Saturday, February 21, the staff from the Arabia Alliance and the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve gathered for the popular annual Super Bowl Hike. This year's hike was preceded by the unveiling of a new sign at Wilburn Farm honoring the late Ranger Tyrone Burkette, an Arabia trailblazer that created and lead the annual Super Bowl Hike (in addition to creating miles of soft trails throughout the Heritage Area). Ranger Tyrone is gone but not forgotten. Click here to learn more about this trailblazer's fascinating life and to donate to the Ranger Tyrone Burkette Memorial Fund.
Our first-ever Field Note Writing Contest officially opened for submissions on February 15! The Arabia Alliance publishes its own articles and personal essays called Field Notes. Now's your chance to write one! Winners will receive $250 each, publication on the Arabia Alliance website, and a free copy of Images of America: Arabia Mountain NHA. Runners-up will receive $100 each, publication on our website, and branded Arabia Alliance gear. Click here to read the contest rules.
Main Events
Other Upcoming Events
- Every SATURDAY & SUNDAY - AWARE gives free Animal Tours every weekend from 1-2pm (weather permitting). Meet "animal ambassadors" and Georgia wildlife up close!
- Every WEDNESDAY - Join Ranger Doffice from 4-6pm at the Arabia Mountain Nature Center for a relaxing Walk It Out Wednesday hike.
- AND Every FRIDAY & SUNDAY - Head out to Arabia Mountain Nature Center for a free Guided Nature Hike With Arabia Mountain Naturalists from 8-10:30am.
- March 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31 - Get your walk on with a Guided Hike with a Ranger every Tuesday at E.M.B.A.R.C. from 10am-12pm.
- March 4, 11, 18, & 25 - Have fun getting dirty during Volunteer Wednesdays in the Garden at E.M.B.A.R.C. every Wednesday from 1-3pm.
- March 10 - Come enjoy a Lunar Eclipse Sunrise Hike with Ranger Jonah & Ranger Robby just before sunrise from 5-7am
- March 14 - Don't miss the first Monastery of the Holy Spirit Highlights and Insights Tour of 2026 from 9:30am to 12pm.
- March 14 - Join Arabia Mountain’s Ranger Robby for a Family Birding at the Stonecrest Library from 10-11:30am.
- March 14 - E.M.B.A.R.C. has two garden events on this day, a Saturday Garden Volunteer Workday from 10am-12pm, and a Walk-In Garden Tour from 11:30am-1pm.
- March 20 - Celebrate the bloom of our signature plant, Diamorpha smallii with Diamorpha Days at Arabia Mountain from 8-10am.
- March 21 - Arabia Mountain isn't the only place to catch the beautiful diamorpha bloom—take part in Panola Mountain's Diamorpha Days: Guided Mountain Hike from 9am-12pm.
- March 21 - For Women's History Month, don't miss this Lyon Farm Women's History Tour with Arabia Alliance staff from 1-3pm.
- March 22 - For the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area's 20th Anniversary, don't miss this reprise of the Monadnock Madness Triple Hike at Stone, Arabia and Panola Mountains from 9:30am to 5pm.
- March 28 - This might be our most exciting Arabia Reads event yet; catch the launch of our book “Images Of America – Arabia Mountain NHA" from 1-3pm at Vaughters Conference Center.
- March 28 - Don't miss another day with the diamorpha with Panola Mountain's Diamorpha Days: Guided Mountain Hike from 9am-12pm.
