ATLANTA -- You have seen them on NBC television network reality series “America’s Got Talent” and if you are a reality-show junkie, you remember them sharing  their high-energy dance experience with singer/songwriter Kandi Burruss and Attorney Phaedra Parks in connection with their travels to South Africa on BRAVO cable network top-rated reality series “Real Housewives of Atlanta”.

Now, the 19-year Atlanta-based ensemble GIWAYEN MATA, is going  to bring their ‘contagious’ high energy drum and dance to the Southwest Arts Center for Father's Day. Between educating audiences about African traditions and breaking barriers as an all-sistah ensemble in a male dominated percussion industry, its no wonder Creative Loafing Magazine named them "Best Local World Music Act" three times!

ATLANTA -- Fulton County Seniors can take advantage of a workshop on how to protect themselves against scams.  The next session of “Be Aware of the Tricks of the Trade: Guarding against Senior Scams” will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2012.  The one-hour program will be held at the Dogwood Neighborhood Senior Center from 10:00 am until 11:00 am. 

The Dogwood Neighborhood Senior Center is located at 1953 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW in Atlanta, GA 30318. The session is sponsored by the Fulton County Housing and Human Services Department, Office of Housing and Community Development.

All Fulton County meeting facilities meet ADA accessibility requirements.  Citizens in need of reasonable accommodations and communication in an alternative format, please contact the Department of Housing and Human Services at (404) 613-7944.  For relay-type services, dial 711.

For more information, call 404-613-7944.

ATLANTA - Three years ago State Senator Kasim Reed and Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood practically stumbled over each other courting the city's sizeable gay and lesbian vote in the mayor's race.

Reed ended up winning a squeaker by just over 700 votes.

Most observers believe he and Norwood split the LGBT vote.

But now some in that vocal and politically active community are threatening to vote against Mayor Reed next year if he doesn't follow President Obama's recent example and personally endorse same sex marriage.

"His refusal to come out and endorse same sex marriage in line with President Obama's endorsement of same sex marriage equality overshadows a lot of the great things that the mayor has done," LGBT activist Charlie Stadtlander told 11 Alive News on Monday.

Stadtlander has started a Facebook page to put pressure on the mayor.