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Greetings!
February is an exciting month of holidays and celebrations! We are celebrating Black History Month, Valentine's Day, and Presidents Day, but it's also the start of the Lunar New Year, Ramadan, and Mardi Gras! These observances are like a snapshot of our county's diversity.
I'm especially looking forward to this year's Black History Month event as we commemorate a century of celebrations. That’s 100 years of honoring the contributions of African Americans that have shaped our history and culture – and the roots are especially deep here in our county. It is a great privilege to be part of and serve Gwinnett's vibrant Black community.
Keep reading below for Black History Month events and more for February in Gwinnett.
| | Happening Around Gwinnett | | |
Celebrate Black History Month with us
Join us as we honor Black History Month and the 2026 national theme, "A Century of Black History Commemorations," on Wednesday, February 11 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center.
Enjoy an evening honoring the impact, culture, and history of Black people through music, dance, food, and art. Visit GwinnettCounty.com/BlackHistoryMonth to register.
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Get rid of your hazardous waste
Have some hard-to-dispose-of items? Bring them to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day event on Saturday, February 7 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds located at 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville.
From 9:00am to 1:00pm, residents can bring up to five disposable containers of items like motor oil, batteries, cleaning chemicals, and more. For a complete list of acceptable items, visit GwinnettCB.org.
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Important changes to County website
When you visit GwinnettCounty.com, you’ll find a new look, intuitive organization, and updated features to improve your online experience.
The new website now includes a single sign-on login. Residents will use the email address affiliated with their account to log in instead of a username. Existing account passwords associated with a user’s email address may need to be changed to meet updated security standards. The water bill feature will also remain the same for now.
While the web address GwinnettCounty.com remains unchanged, page URLs have changed because we’ve improved our site structure. Please remember to update your bookmarks.
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More festivities at the Black Heritage Festival
On Saturday, February 28, come celebrate African American culture, history, and community at Shorty Howell Park. This is a free, family-friendly event for everyone! Enjoy cultural education, explore vendor booths featuring African American historical and cultural merchandise, and experience live music, delicious food, and more.
This event runs from 1:00 to 4:00pm and will take place rain or shine at the Shorty Howell Park Activity Building. Register online.
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Help adult learners improve their English
The Gwinnett County Public Library is seeking volunteer instructors for their Carnegie Corporation Grant Initiative. This volunteer opportunity is ideal for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages or Speakers of English as a Foreign Language students, graduates, teachers, or retirees.
Volunteers will receive free training and supplies and will work directly with adult learners in a supportive, inclusive environment. Experience is welcome but not required. Sign up to volunteer or learn more at GwinnettPL.org/Volunteer.
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Get a grant toward your first home
If you're a first-time homebuyer, you might be eligible for Gwinnett’s Homestretch Down Payment Assistance Program! New or existing Gwinnett residents aspiring to own a home can receive down payment assistance of up to $10,000 as a five-year deferred payment loan with 0% interest.
To qualify, the home must be located within Gwinnett County and should not exceed $349,000 for an existing home or $410,000 for new construction. Visit GwinnettCounty.com/HomestretchDPA for a list of eligibility requirements and to apply.
| | Special Events and Happenings Around District 1 | | |
Winter Family Camp Out
Saturday, February 21 at 4:30pm to Sunday, February 22 at 9:00am
This is the perfect opportunity for families to experience the joys of camping in a relaxed, easy-to-manage setting, without venturing far from home. No extensive gear or rugged wilderness skills required — just a desire for fun and family memories! S'mores, dinner, and light breakfast will be provided. Open to all ages. Register online. Simpsonwood Park, 4511 Jones Bridge Circle, Peachtree Corners. Event cost: $15.00 for Gwinnett residents, $29.00 Non-Gwinnett residents
Cardboard Boat Competition
Saturday, February 21 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Bring a team to build a cardboard boat and sail across the pool. You will be provided supplies at the event, but the design and implementation are your own. Open to ages 6 and up. Register each team member online. West Gwinnett Aquatic Center, 4488 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross. Event cost: $10.00 for Gwinnett residents, $20.00 for non-Gwinnett residents
Glow Skate Party
Friday, March 6 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Bring your skates, wear neon outfits, and join us for loads of glow-in-the-dark fun! There will be a DJ, neon art, food concessions, and more! Open to ages 3 and up. Register online. Pinckneyville Park, 4758 South Old Peachtree Road, Peachtree Corners. Event cost: Free!
| | Special Events and Happenings Around District 1 Libraries | | |
YouTube Intros Made Easy
Saturday, February 7 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
In this beginner-friendly program, we will cover the easiest way to create your own YouTube intro and add it to your video footage using just Canva and iMovie. Afterwards, we will add the segment to recorded footage using iMovie to create a professional finished product ready to be uploaded. Open to ages 12 and up. Register online. Gwinnett County Public Library Duluth Branch, 3180 Main Street, Duluth. Event cost: Free!
Norcross Connect: Celebrating Black History
Wednesday, February 11 from 11:00am to noon
In honor of Black History Month, participants will work with clay pots, symbolic of the soil used in African pottery and African ethnic wax print patterns, to create clay planters for faux succulents. Books on African pottery and Black History will be displayed on tables to offer participants more information on various other African crafts and the celebration of a century of Black History Commemorations. Ages 19 and up. Gwinnett County Public Library Norcross Branch, 5735 Buford Highway, Norcross. Event cost: Free!
Meet Paddington the Bear!
Thursday, February 12 from 10:30am to 11:00am
Paddington will be visiting Gwinnett County and he wants to meet YOU! Head to the library to hear a Paddington story, sing some songs and then get your camera ready for a fun photo op with Paddington Bear himself!
Open to ages 0-11. Gwinnett County Public Library Peachtree Corners Branch, 5570 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners. Event cost: Free!
| | Commissioner Carden in the Community | | Last month I had the privilege of visiting my friend and mentee, State Representative Akbar Ali, at the state capitol. I am incredibly proud to watch him transition into this new role! His dedication and passion for our Gwinnett community is truly inspiring. Congratulations, Representative Ali! | | |
I also had the honor of joining the Duluth Rotary Club at their January meeting. Speaking on workforce development in Gwinnett County, I shared insights on county employment statistics, how Gwinnett is ensuring that our workforce aligns with the needs of local industries, and the other ways we attract and retain top talent.
Workforce development is economic development, and when we invest in our people, we invest in prosperity! (Photo: Duluth Rotary Club)
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