“He was able to kind of pinpoint that moment in his life where
Continued on page 12
Andrew Young.” The book is a fullcolor, visual biography of former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young, known for his role in the Civil Rights movement and the fight for human rights.“The Many Lives of Andrew Young” was released in March, when Young celebrated his 90th birthday. Each chapter is dedicated
By Logan Ritchie
Andrew Young has lived quite a story, as he and co-writer Ernie Suggs tell it
Suggs, a 25-year journalist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution who covers race and culture, is the author of “The Many Lives of
FROM REPORTER NEWSPAPERS OCTOBER 2022 • SPECIAL SECTION
Whether Ernie Suggs is writing the news or writing a book, he says at the end of the day, it’s all about telling good stories.
to a different story from Young’s life; from his encounters with the Nazi party growing up in New Orleans and the Ku Klux Klan in south Georgia to two transformational terms as mayor of Atlanta. Each chapter is full of vibrant memories.
everything changed. With all the things that Andy Young has done, everyone forgets that he pastored a
church in Thomasville, Ga., before he met Martin Luther King, Jr., before he was a U.N. ambassador or the mayor of Atlanta,” recalled Suggs.
Writer Ernie Suggs helps explore 'The Many Lives of Andrew Young'
“Andy Young had a really good story to tell. And if you are a halfway
Book Festival Information
Young understands the importance of his legacy, Suggs said. On the tour, Suggs learns something from him every day.
Andrew Young and Ernie Suggs are scheduled to appear for an author talk and booksigning on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, starting at 8 p.m. The event is scheduled for MJCCA Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets cost $20 for MJCCA members and $27 for non-members. Books will be available for purchase. Masks are optional but encouraged. For more information: atlantajcc.org/ bookfestival or 678-812-4005.
“It's amazing to see the reaction that he gets when he's on tour, whether it's from Black people, white people, young, old. Everyone seems to know him. Everyone seems to respect him,” Suggs said.
The book took about a year from conception to publication. Because Young lived such a public life, materials for the book were easily obtained. And it helped that Suggs had written about Young extensively.
Ernie Suggs is scheduled to appear at the Decatur Book Festival on Oct. 1 as part of a panel discussion of Georgia politics past and present. Atlanta JournalConstitution cartoonist Mike Luckovich and political reporter Greg Bluestein are also to take part in the 9:30 a.m. discussion. The festival is being held at First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Avenue. Sessions are free and open to the public. Masks are required for indoor events. For more America,”atregionsignificantinAfricanreaders.incolleaguecalledcontentandHBCUsmovement.andSuggsDuringHarvardaward-winninghalfwayandyoudecentdecaturbookfestival.cominformation:writer,whichIthinkIam,figureoutwhatthestoriesaretellthestories,”Suggssaid.Spoileralert:Suggsisnot“adecentwriter;”he’sanwriter.He’saUniversityNiemanfellow.hiscareerwiththeAJC,hasbecomealocalresourcehistorianontheCivilRightsHewroteaserieson(historicallyBlackcollegesuniversities)andcuratedBlackintoaweeklynewsletterUnapologeticallyATLwithNedraRhone.UnapologeticallyATLlaunched2021asaprojecttoattractBlack“WestillneedtomakesurethatAmericans’voicesareheardthepaperbecausetheyplayaroleinhowthecityandaretakingshape.AtlantaisthevanguardofBlackcultureinsaidSuggs.
Continued
from page 11
ATLANTA SENIOR LIFE | OCTOBER 202212 AtlantaSeniorLife.com
If yes, you may be eligible to participate and will be compensated for your time!
By Donna Williams Lewis
doing some quick math Paxton tried to hide it. But his almostthatsweet,thinking,fromtwobelieveShesaid,grandmother,”Paxtonhadmademother,learnedingrabbedgrandmotheritand,thatmoment,thatherwhoherwait,marriedat14,said.“Myhe“wasfurious.said,‘Ican'tshetookyearsawayme.’AndIwas‘Thisissothatawomanwasmarriedfor70yearswas
Focusing on why you want to downsize can help you start and maintain the journey, Paxton said.
His father passed away first. Over the next 18 months, he lost his stepfather and both of his grandfathers.“Itwassooverwhelming. It was like a wave, like you’re in the ocean and just trying to catch your breath,” Paxton said. “I didn’t really know I was in it until two years later and I just started cleaning everybody’s attics and cleaning up the houses. … I was missing all the men in my family, and I was still having to go through this house, and I didn’t know where to start. And I remember thinking, ‘Man, this really sucks.’”
Research Investigators: Kaundinya Gopinath, PhD
Matt Paxton was just 23 years old when he began to lose the family men in his life.
He encourages people to ferret out the things that really are precious to them, showcase them and share the stories of them, which is the basis of his “Legacy List” show.
“What I’ve found is that [some people] are avoiding their decluttering to avoid deciding where they’re going to go next,” he said.
Are youhealthy?physically
“Twenty-two years later, I’m still doing it, and I love it. It’s just fascinating to me.”
Produced in collaboration with AARP, the book addresses downsizing and decluttering from a psychological perspective
“My somethingsaidgrandfather[maternal]alwaystome,ifsucks,do it
Book Festival Information
The wedding certificate was not theirs. It was his grandmother’s mother’s wedding certificate. After
Version 05/20/2022 STUDY00002287
He’s told countless clients, “People really do want some of your stuff. They just don’t want what you want them to have.” For example, your kids probably don’t want your heirloom china, but they may be very
Matt Paxton is scheduled to appear at this year’s Book Festival of the MJCCA for an author talk on Nov. 17, starting at 11 a.m. The event takes place at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, GA, 30338. For more 678.812.4005.atlantajcc.org/bookfestivalinformation:or
interested in your vintage clothing or something that has a great backstory, he says.That family shocker Paxton found in the tackle box was a wedding certificate with a backstory he’ll never forget. He found it while helping his dad’s mother clean out her house.
OCTOBER 2022 | ATLANTA SENIOR LIFE 13
If you would like more information about this study, Exploring Mechanisms Underlying Dysregulation of Central Nervous in GWVI-HAP
mad that she lost two of them with him.’ And I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is what I want in life.’”
Are you between 50 and 65 years old?
You may be able to help
She wanted to marry grandfatherhis when she was 14 years old, but her mother made her wait until she turned 16. They had been married nearly 70 years when his grandfather passed away.
Please contact: Gabi Champion, Research Coordinator (470) 303-5263
System
and draws from Paxton’s experiences in working with thousands of people and families over the past two decades.
FromAtlantaSeniorLife.comcleaning
This study includes screening and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) It consists of one visit lasting 90 minutes
as a job because other people will pay you to do it,” Paxton said.
out his family’s attic to facing ‘Hoarders,’ Matt Paxton loves decluttering
His book outlines a manageable, realistic plan for combatting clutter, said Paxton, a Suwanee resident and father of seven in a blended family with his wife, popular minimalist life-style advocate Zoë Kim.“Everyone knows about Marie Kondo and sparking joy and all that. For my clients, that doesn't necessarily work. I mean, the reason they have a lot of stuff is because everything sparks joy. With hoarders and seniors, it’s really hard,” he said.
But the more he uncovered of their lives, the more he began to enjoy the process. And, after finding a family shocker in his paternal grandfather’s tackle box, Paxton was hooked.Downsizing and decluttering became his passion and his life’s work.Afeatured cleaner on A&E’s “Hoarders” and star of the two-time Emmy-nominated PBS series “Legacy List with Matt Paxton,” Paxton shares his downsizing and decluttering expertise in a new book, “Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff.”
Thursday, November 3
Sunday, November 6 7:00 pm
Bernie Marcus with Catherine Lewis
Melissa Rivers
Wednesday, October 12
Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Wednesday, October 26 7:30 pm
Lisa Barr
Tuesday, November 1 7:30 pm
Woman on Fire: A Novel
And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle
Kick Up Some Dust: Lessons from the Co-Founder of the Home Depot on Thinking Big, Giving Back, and Doing it Yourself
AtlantaSeniorLife.com Buy Your Tickets Today! NOV 3–21, 2022
Ira Rosen
7:30 pm
Monday, November 7 7:30 pm
Jon Meacham
Lies My Mother Told Me: Tall Tales from a Short Woman
Mad Honey: A Novel
2 Authors — 1 Program
Held at The Davis Academy
Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
Opening Night
7:30 pm
Wednesday, November 9 12:00 pm
Dr. Becky Kennedy
BF22_Ad-SeniorLife_4Page v3.indd 2 9/16/22 5:10 PM
Saturday, November 5 8:00 pm
Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes
Meg Waite Clayton
Prologue Events
Michael Oren
Swann’s War: A Novel
The Postmistress of Paris: A Novel
Saturday, November 12 8:00 pm
If You Want Something Done: Leadership Lessons from Bold Women
Nikki R. Haley
Kristallnacht Commemoration Tova Friedman
Julia Haart
and More! d BF22_Ad-SeniorLife_4Page v3.indd 3 9/16/22 5:10 PM
AtlantaSeniorLife.com
Thursday, November 17 11:00 am
Thursday, November 10 7:30 pm
Wendy Brant and Julie Anne Cooper
Tuesday, November 15 7:30 pm
Nyle DiMarco
Andrew Young and Ernie Suggs
The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir by Paul Newman
Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life
Michael F. Roizen, M.D.
Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman
The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow
November Book Festival Events
Wednesday, November 16 12:00 pm
Matt Paxton
Saturday, November 19 8:00 pm
New authors and events being added. Check our website for a current list of events: atlantajcc.org/bookfestival
The Thread Collectors: A Novel Wednesday, November 16 7:30 pm
Hands of Gold: One Man’s Quest to Find the Silver Lining in Misfortune
Wednesday, November 9 7:30 pm
Daughter of Paul Newman Clea Newman Soderlun
Sunday, November 13 7:30 pm
Hanukkah Veronica, The Mitzvah Fairy
The Daughter of Auschwitz: My Story of Resilience, Survival, and Hope
Deaf Utopia: A Memoir — and a Love Letter to a Way of Life
The Many Lives of Andrew Young Sunday, November 13 12:00 pm
Brazen: My Unorthodox Journey from Long Sleeves to Lingerie
Thursday, November 10 11:00 am
Roni Robbins
“It was such a kind gesture, a mitzvah,” Wendy said. “Our friendship grew stronger.”
instead of an elf, she would find her a special Hanukkah companion.
The story of “Hanukkah Veronica, the Mitzvah Fairy” centers around Lucy, who wishes for a holiday companion. When Hanukkah Veronica arrives, not only does Lucy make a friend, she also learns the power of kindness.
ATLANTA SENIOR LIFE | OCTOBER 202216 AtlantaSeniorLife.com A Hanukkah fairy’s tale Founding Partners: NEED HELP WITH NEXT STEPS? Call 1.866.243.9355 or visit jfcsatl.org/gcm A geriatric care manager offers expert and compassionate care for aging adults and their families, and can help with: Older adult residential options and transitions Medical care AgingComprehensiveadvocacycareplansservicescoordination
Wendy said that Italian illustrator Giovanni Lombardi helped bring their vision to life in the book. She also credits Rabbi Levi Mentz at the Chabad at Forsyth for his assistance with Hanukkah
Julie Anne Cooper worked with Wendy Brant in the real estate industry. The two live in the Atlanta area, and one holiday season, Julie Anne painted a watercolor based on a photograph Wendy took in Europe and presented it to her.
Veronica.“Welaunched a successful Kickstarter in 2021 and we
Wendy Brant and Julie Anne Cooper, co-authors of “Hanukkah Veronica, the Mitzvah Fairy,” are scheduled to appear at noon on Sunday, Nov. 13, as part of the MJCCA Book Festival. They’ll appear at the Camp Isidore Alterman Main Stage at MJCCA Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Their appearance is open to the public without charge. Books will be available for purchase at the event. For more information: atlantajcc.org/ bookfestival or 678-812-4005.
Julie Anne and her husband’s three children. There might be freshly baked cookies for an afterschool treat or a special gift for them to share. The Mitzvah Fairy became a family holiday tradition.
By Kathy Dean
Hanukkah Veronica was born just the way you’d think a fairy should be — from a sincere wish and an act of love. Years later, a simple act of kindness helped her to grow so she could spread her happy message to others.
Once upon a time, more than a dozen years ago, a 5-year-old girl named Lucy wanted an elf, the kind that sits on a shelf. Her mother, Julie Anne Cooper, told her that,
While Lucy was at school, Julie Anne went into her art room. She knew that Lucy loved fairies, so, “I pulled together a bunch of fabrics and created a soft doll and named her Hanukkah Veronica,” Julie Anne said. “Hanukkah Veronica performed mitzvahs.” Mitzvahs are acts of kindness.
All season long, Hanukkah Veronica would perform good deeds, surprising and delighting
Family tradition inspires a book
While discussing art and other interests, Julie Anne told Wendy about her family’s holiday Hanukkah Veronica tradition. “I remember growing up as a young Jewish girl and how much I would have loved to have a character like this in our lives, and how much fun it would have been,” Wendy said.
L to R: Wendy Brant and Julie Anne Cooper
Book Festival Information
Inspired by the story, Wendy told Julie Ann, “I think every family might love a Hanukkah Veronica.” Julie Anne agreed, and they decided to partner and bring Hanukkah Veronica to life. They developed a plush doll and a book to tell her story.
“The characters are from around
have been truly humbled by the response,” Wendy said. “The message of kindness and love seems to be much needed, especially now. The fact that the stories inspire an appreciation for the many cultures and traditions of the world seems to resonate with many people.”
Unable to attend this event? Please call to schedule a personalized tour.
Julie Anne and Wendy hope Hanukkah Veronica is the first of the series of characters that will appear in future books. Christmas Chloe, Diwali Deepa, Kwanzaa Keisha, and Halloween Hannah are currently in the works, their website says.
A whole bunch.
Lunch & Learn
OCTOBER 2022 | ATLANTA SENIOR LIFE 17AtlantaSeniorLife.com
It’s casual, easy and you’re invited.
the world. They are friends and interact, as will be seen in the second book,” Wendy said. She said these stories offer a message of peace, love and kindness, with a focus on mitzvahs as a reminder that lasting joy comes from giving to others.“Thelast few years have been a challenge and many people have struggled in a variety of ways, physically and mentally. As adults, in our personal lives, and even in our governments, many people seem to approach our issues with anger and fear. We have been focusing not on what we have in common but much more on our differences,” Wendy said.
CARF-ACCREDITED INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES IN BUCKHEAD AN SRG SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
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What can you learn atsenioraboutlivingournextevent?
Thursday, October 6th • 11:30am
More friends on the way
The Eva and George Stern Family
Lisa and Ron Brill Charitable Trust
As of September 16, 2022
The Zaban Foundation
— Special Thanks to Naomi Firestone-Teeter, Suzanne Swift, and Arielle Landau —
SILVER SPONSORS
The Fagin/ Danz Family
The FoundationHyman
This project is supported by Georgia Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities and by appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly.
Barbara and Ed Mendel
BRONZE SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
PRESENTING SPONSORS
THE BOOK FESTIVAL OF THE MJCCA 2022–2023 SPONSORS
IN-KIND SPONSORS
Official Bookseller of the Book Festival of the MJCCA
Marcy Louza and Mike Kenig
Sheryl S. Blechner
Jewish Book Council Proud Member of the Jewish Book Council
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