Meet Our Staff
Sami, originally from Iraq, has been in the US since 2011, contributing significantly to the Clarkston Community Center. He began at the Minister of Culture in Baghdad, representing Iraq globally. Now serving as the Executive Director, Sami is pivotal in fostering inclusivity and vibrancy within the center. As a principal advisor to the Board, he shapes organizational goals. Leading the executive team, Sami builds bridges between diverse communities through interactive programs.
Amber McCorkle is a Mississippi native with a background in political science focusing on foreign policy, municipal government and community organizing. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University and acquired a degree in Political Science. She has a passion for community & civic engagement as well as youth services and her work experience in the non-profit and government sector reflects it.
Before joining the CCC family, Regina worked as a staff accountant at City Club of Buckhead. She has over 20 years of experience in finance, accounting, software support and customer support. She served as administrative assistant for 100 Black Men of DeKalb County helping today's youth in school and the community. Regina received her Associate Degree from Lincoln College of Technology.
A native of Afghan, Musa worked with ATC (Afghan Technical Consultant) clearing landmines in Afghanistan provinces to protect civilians. He worked with UNWFP (United Nation World Food Program) to distribute food to hungry families in Afghanistan and as an Admin Assistant for the transportation department, responsible for more than 1000 armored vehicles and 80 chauffeurs. Musa speaks Dari, Pushto, Hindi, Persian, and Urdu.
Fauzia, a former intern at Clarkston Community Center, has a passion for youth engagement and leadership.
A graduate of our Adult Leadership program, she has been instrumental in finding ways for our community to develop their leadership skills and creating solutions for community problems.
A student of Georgia State University, Fauzia looks to continue helping her community, no matter where she is.
Krista Durant, a Massachusetts native, has proudly called Clarkston home for the past four years. As a graduate of the Parent Advocacy Training program, Krista is deeply committed to serving her community. She has a proven track record of community engagement, having served as a two-term PTA president at Idlewood Elementary. Additionally, Krista is a dedicated notary public and a passionate advocate for justice in the Silver Oak Community.
Krista brings her strong dedication to community empowerment and social justice to her role as the Advocacy Coordinator at the Clarkston Community Center. She is excited to continue making a positive impact in Clarkston and beyond.
Kathy fell in love with teaching English as a Foreign Language as a peace corps volunteer in Morocco in the 1980s. Upon her return, she obtained her Masters Degree in Education from the University of Florida and much later received a Certificate in TESL from the University of South Florida. Early in her career, she taught elementary school students with learning disabilities and emotional handicaps. In the 1990s, Kathy taught English as a Second Language to refugees at Florida Community College in Jacksonville. After taking time off to raise a family, Kathy began her career at Clarkston Community Center as a volunteer. Now on staff, she is thrilled to be teaching the beginning English class to adult refugees, many of whom are senior citizens.
Donnie Roseberry
Maintenance Coordinator
A long-time Georgian born in Scottdale, Georgia and also one of our long-time staff. Donnie graduated high school in 1969, trained as a plumber in the late 70s and among other occupations owned a record store, and spent most of his 80s working construction jobs and at an appliance business in Buckhead. He is very hardworking, creative and always up to the task of fixing anything that needs repair.
Heavyn Johnson
Youth OST Coordinator
Youth@clarkstoncommunitycenter.
Heavyn Johnson is a Buffalo, New York native dedicated to community service and youth development. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Kennesaw State University and an Associate's degree from Georgia Perimeter College. With over five years of tutoring experience, including roles at Kumon and Atlanta Glow, Heavyn is committed to the academic and personal growth of young people.
As the Youth OST Coordinator at Clarkston Community Center, she manages the After-School QuietZone 2.0 program, fostering an inclusive environment. Heavyn is passionate about helping students build confidence and feel valued while continuing to serve the Clarkston community.
Deon Hauser
ESL Teacher
ESL@clarkstoncommunitycenter.
Deon Hauser is a committed ESL educator at the Clarkston Community Center, specializing in Level 1 English and civics for immigrant and refugee communities. After earning her Master’s degree, she obtained her TESOL certification in Thailand and has taught in Thailand, South Korea, and South America. Drawing from her extensive global teaching experience, Deon focuses on practical language application within an inclusive and supportive classroom. Beyond her teaching role, she is deeply involved in community outreach and volunteer coordination, consistently working to support underserved populations
Meet our partners, sponsors and friends
The Board of Directors meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at the CCC.
Meeting minutes available upon request.
Chair: Lesley Dixon - Ph.D. Education candidate / University of Georgia.
Vice-Chair: Dr. Henry (Chip) Carey - Department of Political Science, Georgia State University
Treasurer: Chris Rollins - Cornerstone Team Realty
Secretary: Dr. Ashli Owen-Smith - School of Public Health, Georgia State University
Member: Kaeden Tun Healthcare Research Analyst, Epidemiologist, Public Health Analyst, Health Consultant
Member: Dandhara "Dani" Da Silva - Director at Capoeira Maculele Decatur
Member: Ammar Al Badran - CNN
Member: Shirley Zambrano - Zambrano & Ruiz
Member: Alma Nieto - CDC
Member: Yilkal Ademe - Amazon
AEC Trust Foundation
Agnes Scott College
AID Atlanta
AmeriCorps
Art Forward
Arthur M. Blank Foundation
ArtReach Foundation
Atlanta Braves Foundation
Atlanta Falcon Youth Foundation
Atlanta Food Bank
Atlanta Hawks Foundation
Bank of America Foundation
BB&T Bank
Brain Foundation (Frances Hollis)
Branan Foundation – Wells Fargo Admin Fdns.
Brockett Pub
CDF: A Collective Action Initiative
Center for Pan-Asian Community Service
Center for Victims of Torture
Cigna
City of Clarkston
Clarkston United Methodist Church
Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA)
Community Foundation - Get Out the Vote
Core Dance
Decatur Rotary Club
Dekalb County Human and Community Development Department
Dekalb County Human Services Department
DeKalb County Juvenile Court
Dekalb County Youth Services Department
Diabetes Association of Atlanta
Dollar General Foundation
Drew Fincher State Farm Agency
Electro Bike Georgia
Emory University Department Office of Community and University Partnership
Emory University Medical School
E-Z Agape Foundation
Fincher Services
FoodWell Alliance
Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, Inc
Friends of Refugees
Georgia 2020
Georgia Council for the Arts
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
Georgia Department of Human Services – Office of Refugee Resettlement
Georgia Piedmont College
Georgia Power
Georgia State University
Great Day Family Connections
Hands On Atlanta
Headstart
Healthcare Georgia-Health Promoters Program
Home Depot Foundation
Ida Alice Ryan Charitable Trust
Imlay Foundation
Injury2Wellness
Insure Georgia
International Night Market
International Rescue Coalition
John and Mary Franklin Foundation
John H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland Charitable Foundation
Kaiser Permanente Foundation
Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners
Literacy for All
Lubo Foundation
Lutheran Services of Georgia
Mary Ryan and Henry G. Kuhrt Foundation
Mason Fine Arts
Musulyn Home Cooking Catering Service
National Association of Asian American Professionals
National Endowment for the Arts
New American Pathways
Northlake Veterinary Surgery
Partitions Construction
Pipeline Foundation
Price Gilbert Jr. Charitable Fund
Prima
R. Howard Dobbs Foundation
Refugee Family Services
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
Ryan Foundation
Sabrosa Catering
Sam’s Club Foundation
Scott Hudgens Family Foundation
Soccer In The Streets
Something New
Southern New Hampshire University
Stop & Save Group LLC
TechBridge
Thanks Mom and Dad Foundation
The David, Helen, and Miriam Woodward Foundation
The Katherine John Murphy Foundation
The Tull Foundation
The Turner Foundation
The Coca Cola Foundation
Théâtre du Rêve
Three Taverns Craft Beer
Thriftown
UNICEF
United Way- Opportunity Zone
US State Department
Vision Factory
VSA
Wachovia Foundation
Welcoming Georgia
Wells Fargo Foundation
Woodys Nursery
Workmans Circle
CDF: A Collective Action Initiative
Center for Pan-Asian Community Service
Core Dance
Electro Bike Georgia
Emory University Department Office of Community and University Partnership
Friends of Refugees
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
Georgia State University
Hands On Atlanta
Lutheran Services of Georgia
Mason Fine Arts
New American Pathways
Refugee Family Services
Soccer In The Streets
Something New
Théâtre du Rêve
UNICEF
VSA
Vision Factory