Empower Atlanta Magazine 2021 Winter Digital Edition

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 8

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S EXECUTIVE ORDERS

12 TOWANNA HOGUE 14 BEVERLY SMITH 15 DR. BERNICE KING 16 STACEY ABRAMS 17 SENATOR NIKEMA WILLIAMS 18 GEORGIA COVID-19 EMOTIONAL SUPPORT LINE

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GEORGIA ON MY MIND

22 MARY SCHMIDT CAMPBELL 23 DENNETTE BATTLE 24 ANGELA BROWN 25 MARION MCDANIEL 26 CAN YOU INFLUENCE YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARD? 28 THE KING CENTER 30 LAKISHA PLATENBURG 31 JAI FERRELL 32 TARA KIMBROUGH

33 34 36 37 38

ISADORA LANIER GREENWOOD IS OUR INSPIRATION TIA MCWILLIAMS YUNICE EMIR MONICA HOOKS

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BARBIE® INSPIRING WOMEN™ SERIES HONORS DR. MAYA ANGELOU

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SPELMAN COLLEGE

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ALLEN UNIVERSITY

42

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101

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WHAT THE PANDEMIC CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR FINANCES

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UNDERSTANDING THYROID DISEASE

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SCAD SUPPORTS CARRIE MAE WEEMS RESIST COVID/TAKE 6!

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOST EMPLOYERSUBSIDIZED DENTAL INSURANCE

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WHY YOUR MEDICARE PART D DRUGS COULD COST LESS IN 2021

EMPOWER ATLANTA M A G A Z I N E

FROM THE PUBLISHER PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Towanna Hogue MANAGING EDITOR Alexis Harder DESIGN EDITOR Seatiel ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Scott Tyler ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Jada Hogue CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Natalie Richards Ralph Taylor Anita Young Credello iQuanti, Inc. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jacob Anthony Lance Bowman Mattel, Inc. Rick Mims Empower Atlanta Magazine (ISSN 2693-339X) is published quarterly, four issues per year by T.H. Publishing. Principal office address: 1775 Parker Road, C-210, Conyers, GA 30094.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 362, Conyers, GA 30012. Main number: 1 (833) LOVEATL. Copyright Š 2020 by Towanna Hogue. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The one-year domestic subscription rate is $39.95 for print and digital access.

GREETINGS EVERYONE! I am extremely excited to share with you all our 2021 Winter Edition of Empower Atlanta Magazine! In this issue, we are featuring some of the most phenomenal and influential women in Atlanta and surrounding areas, such as National President & CEO of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Beverly Smith, Dr. Bernice King, Stacey Abrams, President Mary Schmidt Campbell of Spelman College, and more. We celebrate African American women being first in key positions all throughout the state of Georgia.

As we celebrate Georgia flipping the state and turning it blue, we congratulate Madam Vice President Kamala Harris to be the first African American and Asian woman ever elected to this position! We made history as the world looked and cheered us on! We elected Jon Ossoff, the first Jewish man and the youngest as a member of the Senate. Raphael Warnock is the first African American man in Georgia and in the south to be elected as a Senator. They are the first Democrats elected to the U.S. Senate since 2000. We are also featuring Greenwood, the first digital banking platform for Black and Latinx people and business owners.

Many families are suffering the loss of a loved one during this pandemic. I dedicate this issue to my late grandmother, Robbie W. Cardine. She survived the coronavirus, but the aftereffects were too much for her body to bear. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities is offering the Georgia Covid-19 Emotional Support Line, a service that provides free and confidential assistance to callers needing support or resource information as a result of the pandemic. Many people are suffering from grief, anxiety, and depression during these challenging times. Continue to call and check on family members and friends. We can help each get through this together.

As always, we continue to inform, inspire, and to make a difference in every edition of Empower Atlanta Magazine. We thank our readers and advertisers for believing in our mission.

Yours truly,

On it.

Ending racial injustice requires all of us to work together and take real action.

What can you do to help?

Educate yourself about the history of American racism, privilege and what it means to be anti-racist. Educate yourself

about the history of American racism, privilege and what it means to be anti-racist.

Commit to actions that challenge injustice and make everyone feel like they belong, such as challenging biased or racist language when you hear it.

Vote in national and local elections to ensure your elected officials share your vision of public safety.

Donate to organizations, campaigns and initiatives who are committed to racial justice.

Let’s come together to take action against racism and fight for racial justice for the Black community.

Visit lovehasnolabels.com/fightforfreedom

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President Biden’s New Executive Actions Deliver Economic Relief for

American Families and Businesses Amid the COVID-19 Crises The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the United States economy into an economic crisis. Across the country, more than 10 million Americans are unemployed, 14 million renters are behind on payments, and 29 million adults – and at least 8 million children – are struggling with food insecurity. Because of pervasive systemic racism and inequality in our economy, the burdens of this economic crisis are hitting communities of color and other underserved families hardest. One in ten Black workers and one in eleven Latino workers are unemployed. Navigating through the current crisis and emerging stronger requires immediate action to provide equitable economic relief to working families everywhere.

Last week, President Biden unveiled a historic legislative package designed to change the course of the pandemic, get students back to school, give families and businesses a bridge to an economic recovery, and invest in advancing racial equity. His plan came on the heels of December’s bipartisan deal to provide a down payment on long-term economic relief for working families. Congress should finish the job by expeditiously passing the American Rescue Plan into law.

But the American people cannot afford to 8 | E M P O W E R AT L A N TA M A G A Z I N E

by asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to consider expanding and extending federal nutrition assistance programs.

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Ensure equitable and effective delivery of direct payments -- by asking the Treasury Department to consider changing its delivery structure and focus on getting relief to the 8 million Americans who still have not received the financial assistance to which they are entitled.

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Help approximately 2 million veterans maintain their financial footing by asking the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to consider pausing federal collections on overpayments and debts.

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Help ensure that unemployed Americans no longer have to choose between paying their bills and keeping themselves and their families safe from COVID-19 by asking the U.S. Department of Labor to consider clarifying that workers who refuse unsafe working conditions can still receive unemployment insurance.

•

Enable effective and equitable distribution of government assistance by establishing an interagency benefit coordination structure.

wait for Congress to act – they need help, and they need it now.

Today, the President is issuing an Executive Order that will launch an all-of-government effort to provide equitable emergency economic relief to working families, communities, and small businesses across the nation. The actions taken as part of this effort will provide relief to millions of American workers who have lost their jobs and had their hours or wages slashed through no fault of their own. They will help working families feed their children and keep a roof over their head. They will help ensure that unemployed Americans no longer have to choose between paying their bills and keeping themselves and their families safe from COVID-19 by clarifying that workers who refuse unsafe working conditions can still receive unemployment insurance. And, they will help more unemployed workers pay for training and college so they can find better jobs and succeed in an increasingly competitive job market.

That all-of-government effort will: • Address the growing hunger crisis facing 29 million Americans -- and as many as 12 million children –

While additional congressional action is urgently needed to help working families through the remainder of the crisis, these emergency measures are important steps to give millions of Americans real relief during the pandemic. This executive order, combined with the President’s historic relief package and forthcoming jobs package, will help Americans persevere through the pandemic and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery. The President is also recommending immediate action to improve the wages, benefits, and bargaining rights of federal workers and contractors.

COVID ECONOMIC RELIEF EXECUTIVE ORDER • Address the Growing Hunger Crisis Facing 29 Million Adults -- And As Many As 12 Million Children.

Across the country, 1 in 7 households, and more than 1 in 5 Black and Latino households, report that their household

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is struggling to secure the food they need. In December, Congress bolstered food assistance programs and provided new funding for food banks and school and child care meals.

But these measures alone will not solve the growing hunger crisis in America.

As part of his American Rescue Plan proposal, President Biden is calling on Congress to provide additional support to ensure that all Americans, regardless of background, have access to healthy, affordable groceries by extending the 15% Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit increase, investing $3 billion to help women, infants, and children get the food they need and other key steps.

The President is also asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to consider taking the following steps to provide nutrition assistance to working families, including to: •

Increase access to nutritious food for millions of children missing meals due to school closures. Established under Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) connects low-income families with kids with food dollars equivalent to the value of the school meals missed due to COVID-related school closures.

To date, the program has only allowed P-EBT benefit amounts up to $5.70 per child per school day, and many

households have had trouble claiming benefits. To address these concerns and expand needed relief, the President is asking USDA to consider issuing new guidance increasing P-EBT benefits by approximately 15% to accurately reflect the costs of missing meals and make it easier for households to claim benefits. For instance, this action could provide a family with three children more than $100 of additional support every two months.

•

Allow larger emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allotments for the lowestincome households.

Congress authorized emergency increases to SNAP benefits to help address food insecurity during the pandemic. So far, those benefit increases have not been made available to all of the lowest income households. USDA will consider issuing new guidance that would allow states to increase SNAP emergency allotments for those who need it most. This would be the first step to ensuring that an additional 12 million people get enhanced SNAP benefits to keep nutritious food on the table.

•

Update food assistance benefits to reflect the true cost of a basic healthy diet. More than 40 million Americans count on SNAP to help put food on the table. Currently, however, USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, the basis

for determining SNAP benefits, is out of date with the economic realities most struggling households face when trying to buy and prepare healthy food. As a result, the benefits fall short of what a healthy, adequate diet costs for many households. Therefore, as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill, the President will ask USDA to consider beginning the process of revising the Thrifty Food Plan to better reflect the modern cost of a healthy basic diet.

•

Ensure Equitable and Effective Delivery of Direct Payments. As the President fights to get Americans the full $2,000 in direct payments they deserve, his administration is also working to ensure that all those who are eligible receive their full payments. Many Americans faced challenges receiving the first round of direct payments, and as many as eight million eligible households did not receive the payments issued in March. In December, Congress passed legislation that would provide Americans with $600 in stimulus.

The President’s American Rescue Plan proposes an additional $1,400 per-person payments to ensure that households get the support they need to help pay bills, put food on the table, and support small businesses and their communities. The President is asking the Department of Treasury to consider taking a series of actions to E M P O W E R AT L A N TA M A G A Z I N E | 9

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expand and improve the delivery of Economic Impact Payments including establishing online tools for claiming their payments, working to make sure that those who have not yet accessed their funds get the relief they deserve, and analyzing unserved households to inform additional outreach efforts.

•

Guarantee that No American Has to Choose Between Paying Their Bills and Keeping Themselves and Their Families Safe from COVID-19. In 2019, 43% of American households reported having at least one member with pre-existing conditions, many of whom may have a heightened risk of

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serious illness or death if they contract COVID. President Biden believes that workers should have the right to safe work environments and that no one should have to choose between their livelihoods and their own or their families’ health. As one of many measures to help keep workers and their families’ safe throughout the pandemic, the President is asking the Department of Labor to consider clarifying that workers have a federally guaranteed right to refuse employment that will jeopardize their health and if they do so, they will still qualify for unemployment insurance.

•

Help Families, Workers, and Small Businesses Access Relief Resources Quickly, Easily, and Equitably through Coordinated Benefit Delivery Teams. During the pandemic, government programs have provided much-needed support to help tens of millions of Americans pay rent, mortgages and other bills, get the food they need, and access healthcare. However, critical support does not always reach the people who need it: families struggle to navigate complicated eligibility rules while over 20% of Earned Income Tax Credits go unclaimed; many

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These steps will help ensure the federal government is a model employer and restore protections to career civil servants who are so essential to this country. is establishing a network of benefit delivery teams and a coordination structure across federal and stateadministered programs to reduce the time and burden to access urgent support that provides greater stability and builds towards an equitable recovery.

small businesses in communities of color cannot easily access loans; and according to one survey less than 40% of service workers who were laid off or furloughed at the height of pandemic closures actually received timely unemployment benefits due to system failures as applications surged.

At the same time, an estimated 47% of children live in households that have trouble covering usual expenses such as food, housing, and medical care.

The stakes are too high, and too many families are in need for people not to get the relief that they are entitled to. The Biden-Harris Administration

PROTECTING AND EMPOWERING FEDERAL WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS The federal government should only award contracts to employers who give their workers the pay and benefits they have earned; President Biden is today directing his administration to start the work that would allow him to issue an Executive Order within the first 100 days that requires federal contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage and provide emergency paid leave to workers.

He is also taking critical steps to protect and empower federal employees, who dedicate their careers to serving the American people. The President will sign an executive order taking steps to protect and empower federal employees who are so essential to this country. It:

•

Restores collective bargaining power and worker protections by revoking Trump Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839. It goes further to direct agencies to bargain over permissible, non-mandatory subjects of bargaining when contracts are up for negotiation so that workers have a greater voice in their working conditions.

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Eliminates Schedule F, which undermines the foundations of the civil service. Its existence threatens the critical protections of career employees and provides a pathway to burrow political appointees into the civil service.

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Promotes a $15 minimum wage. The Executive Order directs the Office of Personnel Management to develop recommendations to pay more federal employees at least $15 per hour.

These steps will help ensure the federal government is a model employer and restore protections to career civil servants who are so essential to this country.

The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave N.W. · Washington, DC 20500 · USA · 202-456-1111

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TOWANNA HOGUE Author, Writer & Publisher

Towanna Hogue has over 20 years of experience in marketing, sales, and consumer relations. Her job responsibilities were to manage, measure, evaluate, communicate, and improve internal and external development projects.

Implementation of marketing plans, including product positioning, campaign strategies, and market strategy insights. She was responsible for branding, advertising, trade shows, attend red carpet and company events, and to create promotional collateral.

She was also responsible for revenue generation and meeting sales targets.

She established, maintained, and grew relationships with clients and agencies nationwide.

She has over ten years of experience in writing, editing, and publishing. Towanna has developed story and content ideas while being mindful of her tone and style.

She has read content and made corrections for errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. She evaluated submissions from writers to decide whom to increase allocation volume to. She also planned all the digital media and print publications content according to each publication’s style and editorial policy.

As a lifelong writer, she first began writing poems and short stories in college. She has also written several magazine articles on societal issues such as human trafficking and adult vaccines that included an interview with the former 18th U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, Pfizer’s former Chief Medical Officer Freda Lewis-Hall, and Dr. 12 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

Jorge Rodriquez. She also wrote about the Pulse nightclub’s massacre in Orlando, FL, against gay and lesbian patrons and so much more. She has interviewed celebrities and athletes such as the former Housewife of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks, Premier Leading NFL Linebacker with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lavonte David, and the Legendary Songstress Lalah Hathaway just to name a few. She also wrote a tribute to The Goat, The Greatest of All Time champion boxer, activist, entertainer, and philanthropist Muhammad Ali. Towanna launched and is the Publisher of Empower Atlanta Magazine. The magazine is compelled to inform, inspire, and to make a difference. “Knowledge is key, and our goal is to empower each of our readers with phenomenal content and unprecedented financial tools and resources. Our goal is to break generational curses and to create more generational wealth.”

Towanna decided that she wanted to do even more. She wrote and self-published “Through It All I’m Still Standing.”

The subtitle is “Bringing Awareness to Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Emotional Abuse.” “It’s a book about love, mental illness, trials, tribulations, abuse, strength, triumph, and deliverance.

It’s about having faith, being patient, and finding inner peace. It’s about taking your power back and knowing your worth.”

Towanna is also a cancer survivor and decided to write a children’s book titled, “There’s Something I Have to Tell You …

Mommy Has Cancer.” “When I was first

diagnosed with cancer, I could not find a book that my children could relate to or a book that could fully explain what I was going through. I hope that this book is an inspiration to other mothers suffering from cancer. They can use it as a tool to explain to their young children why Mommy is experiencing changes both mentally and physically.” The book is scheduled to be released in Spring 2021.

Towanna attended Western Kentucky University and the University of Maryland and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Marketing. She is currently enrolled at Clayton State University, working to achieve an MBA specializing in Digital Marketing.

She is a volunteer and advocate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society. She is a member of the Rockdale-Conyers Chamber of Commerce, Rockdale County Branch NAACP, the Atlanta Press Club, the American Marketing Association, The National Association of Black Journalists, and the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Towanna and her family reside in the suburbs of Atlanta. She is the proud mother of 3 children Jerome and Jada, who are business majors in college, and Justin, a high school freshman.

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BEVERLY E. SMITH National President & CEO of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

Beverly Evans Smith is the 2017-2021 National President & CEO for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., one of the nation’s largest minority female-owned and operated public service non-profits. In this role, she has restructured the corporate board and headquarters operation, initiated the documentation of all business operations, added new revenue streams, and increased membership. She also served as the organization’s elected National First Vice President, National Secretary and was previously employed as Delta Sigma Theta’s Executive Director leading their headquarters business function.

Smith retired from the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) as the Assistant Commissioner and Georgia State Director for Adult Education and GED Testing in 2018. In this role, she provided adult education training programs for an average of 69,000 Georgia citizens annually with a staff of over 1200 educators and support staff at 450 sites across the state. She was also responsible for the administration of all Georgia GED testing and supported local literacy action groups throughout Georgia. In addition, Smith served as the 2015-17 Chair of the National Association of State Directors’ of Adult Education and has testified before the U.S. Senate HELP Committee representing the issues faced by adults with literacy challenges.

As an entrepreneur, Smith is also senior vice-president of The HR Group Inc., a management consulting firm she has coowned with her husband, Stephen, for 30 years.

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As a corporate manager, Smith spent 18 years in leadership positions with AT&T (Southern Bell), implementing innovative business processes during her tenure. Her skillsets include demonstrated expertise in organizational effectiveness, business operations redesign, and restructure and strategic planning. During that time, she also served as a member of the 1994 AT&T Malcolm Baldrige Award-winning team in the area of human resources. Prior to her corporate work, Smith spent several years as a university administrator in varied capacities. She is a prolific motivational speaker in the areas of leadership and change management.

Smith is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and the Delta Research and Education Foundation (DREF). She also serves on the Bowling Green State University (Ohio) Student Affairs Leadership Council. A long-term community volunteer, Smith served eight years as the Chair of the Cobb County Board of Elections & Registration and on varied community boards, including the Atlanta Area Council-Boy Scouts of America, the Cobb County United Way, and Girls, Incorporated. She has been a Co-Chair for Leadership Cobb, as well as served on the Board of Directors for Chattahoochee Technical College and the Alumni Board of Directors for Bowling Green State University (Ohio), where she chaired its Strategic Planning Committee.

A recipient of numerous honors and awards, Smith was named 2020 Georgia Outstanding Individual by Georgia General Assembly and the LEAD360 business organization’s Executive of the Year for 2020-21. She also is a recipient of the UNCF Maya Angelou Women Who Lead award. Her alma mater, Bowling Green State University named her to the 2018 Class of the Academy of Distinguished Alumni, and she was honored by the St. Louis Urban League/Urban League Guild with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Smith was also recognized in 2017 as an Outstanding Georgia Citizen by the Office of the Secretary of State and is the recipient of a U.S. Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition.

Recognized by the NW Georgia YWCA as a Woman of Achievement, she has been listed in both Who’s Who Among African Americans and Who’s Who in the Southeast. In 2006, she was named a “History Maker” by The HistoryMakers (thehistorymakers.com), a national African American historical registry which is housed in the United States Library of Congress. Smith is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board, and Golden Torch Honor Societies. She has also received numerous keys and proclamations from cities/states across the country.

Beverly and her husband, Stephen, have been married for forty-nine years. The Smiths have two married children: son Brian (Rashan Ali) Smith, daughter Stacy (Dr. Jason) Frazier, and five grandchildren.

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DR. BERNICE A. KING C.E.O. of the King Center

Dr. Bernice A. King is a global thought leader, orator, peace advocate, and C.E.O. of the King Center, which was founded by her mother, Coretta Scott King. From this position, the same one held by her mother, Dr. King continues to advance her parents’ legacy of Kingian Nonviolence, which she re-branded Nonviolence365™️.

Through her work at the Center, she educates youth and adults around the world about the nonviolent principles modeled by her parents. Under her leadership, the Center has implemented numerous initiatives, such as the annual Camp N.O.W. Leadership Academy, Nonviolence365 Trainings, and The Beloved Community Talks, just to name a few.

She graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in Psychology and from Emory University, with a Masters of Divinity

and Doctorate of Law. She also received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Wesley College. She’s a member of the State Bar of Georgia, a trained Mediator, a member of the International Women’s Forum, and the National Council of Negro Women.

Dr. King is an innovative leader dedicated to taking her parents’ legacy and teachings, The King Center, and the work of creating a more peaceful, just, humane world with Nonviolence365 into a new era.

Her most recent accomplishments include being an Alumna of the 2020 Leadership Atlanta Class as well as being honored with The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.’s Phoenix Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society.

Dr. King is an innovative leader dedicated to taking her parents’ legacy

and teachings, The King Center, and the work of creating a more peaceful, just, humane world with

Nonviolence365 into a new era.

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STACEY ABRAMS Founder Of Fair Fight Stacey Abrams is a New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, nonprofit CEO, and political leader.

After serving for eleven years in the Georgia House of Representatives, seven as Democratic Leader, in 2018, Abrams became the Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia, winning more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history. Abrams was the first black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the United States, and she was the first black woman and first Georgian to deliver a Response to the State of the Union.

She is a recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award and a

current member of the

Board of Directors for the Center for American Progress.

After witnessing the gross mismanagement of the 2018 election by the Secretary of State’s office, Abrams launched Fair Fight to ensure every American has a voice in our election system through programs such as Fair Fight 2020, an initiative to fund and train voter protection teams in 20 battleground states. Over the course of her career, Abrams has founded multiple organizations devoted to voting rights, training and hiring young people of color, and tackling social issues at both the state and national levels. In 2019, she launched Fair Count to ensure accuracy in the 2020 Census and greater participation in civic engagement, and the Southern Economic Advancement Project, a public policy initiative to broaden economic power and build equity in the South.

Abrams is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, where she serves on the Subcommittee on Diversity. As a Next Generation Fellow of the American Assembly on U.S. Global Policy and the Future of International Institutions, she also served as a discussion leader, editor, and essay contributor.

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She was also selected as a Salzburg Seminar Fellow on East Asian Studies, an American Marshall Memorial Fellow, an American Council of Young Political Leaders Fellow, a Council on Italy Fellow, a British-American Project Fellow, and a U.S.-Russia Young Leaders Fellow. As the top-ranking Democrat in Georgia, she traveled to and met with leaders in South Korea, Israel, and Taiwan, and she worked closely with several members of the consular corps. Her international policy travel includes Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Abrams is a member of former Secretary of State John Kerry’s World War Zero bipartisan coalition on climate change. She has been a featured speaker at the Aspen Ministers Forum, the Kerry Initiative-Yale Jackson Institute of Global Affairs, the National Security Action Forum, and the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as a contributor to Foreign Affairs Magazine.

She is a recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award and a current member of the Board of Directors for the Center for American Progress. Abrams has also written eight romantic suspense novels under the pen name Selena Montgomery, in addition to Lead from the Outside, formerly Minority Leader, a guidebook on making real change, and Our Time is Now. Abrams received degrees from Spelman College, the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and Yale Law School. Born in Madison, Wisconsin, she and her five siblings grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi, and were raised in Georgia.

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SENATOR NIKEMA WILLIAMS Georgia State Senator of the 39th District Senator Nikema Williams has been a fearless advocate for women and families throughout her life. Since her election to represent Georgia’s 39th Senate District, which includes the cities of Atlanta, East Point, College Park, Union City, and South Fulton, Senator Nikema Williams has led the charge to improve her community and fight for the values of her constituents.

She has spent her time at the State Legislature fighting for working families, voting rights, fair representation, and much more. These values are reflected in her work as a serving member of the influential Economic Development and Tourism, Retirement, MARTOC, State and Local Government Operations, Urban Affairs, and Special Judiciary committees.

Yet for Senator Williams, the fight for a more prosperous Georgia does not end at the State Legislature. As the first Black woman Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, she leads the fight statewide to expand access to opportunity for Georgians.

Senator Williams plays a key role in the National Democratic Party as a member of the Executive and Resolution Committees of the Democratic National Committee.

Senator Williams’ commitment to Georgians is also reflected in her arduous fight for free and fair elections. From speaking out against voter suppression to ensuring that every individual’s vote is counted, Senator Williams will not stop until everyone’s voices are heard. In November of 2018, Senator Williams was arrested at the State Capitol as she stood by her constituents to elevate their demands that every vote be counted following the midterm elections.

Her passion for protecting women’s rights and access to healthcare led Senator Williams to her former position as Vice President of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood Southeast, Inc. Her desire for improving the wellbeing of working families led her to serve in her current position as Deputy Political Director at National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and Deputy Director at Care in Action, the advocacy and political arm of NDWA. Senator Williams has been recognized as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Forty under Forty, Power 30 Under 30, Outstanding Atlanta, and Who’s Who in Black Atlanta. Additionally, she was named one of James Magazine’s Most Influential Georgians and received the Freshman Legislator of the Year award from the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. Senator Williams is a graduate of Lead Atlanta, New Leaders Council, and the Women’s Campaign School at Yale.

She was born in Columbus and raised by her grandparents across the Chattahoochee River in Smiths Station, Alabama. She attended Talladega College-a liberal arts Historically Black College in Talladega, Alabama-where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. Senator Nikema Williams and her husband, Leslie Small, reside in Atlanta with their son, Carter, and two rescue Yorkshire Terriers, Ginger, and Belle. They are members of Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta.

Senator Williams has been recognized as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Forty under Forty, Power 30 Under 30, Outstanding Atlanta, and Who’s Who in Black Atlanta.

Additionally, she was named one of James Magazine’s Most Influential Georgians and received the Freshman Legislator of the Year award from the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.

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Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line

1-866-399-8938

BY TOWANNA HOGUE

Reports show an increase in the number of people testing positive in Georgia and across the United States, including deaths. The Georgia Department of Public Health recently reported over 707,750 confirmed cases of Georgia residents testing position for COVID-19 with 11,670 confirmed deaths and 47,950 confirmed hospitalizations. The 18-29 age group has the highest number of reported cases to date.

The infectious disease has become a source of stress for many people. Fear, anxiety, and the feeling of isolation are on the rise for both adults and children. People are struggling mentally, emotionally, and financially during this pandemic.

What should we do? How do we survive this? Who can we talk to? Jeanette David, Disaster Mental Health Coordinator of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, discussed the Georgia Recovery Project and the Emotional Support Line, a service that provides a listening ear for those of us who may need help during this pandemic. She wants everyone to know that we are not alone and help and support are available.

What is the Georgia Recovery Project and why was it formed?

The Georgia Recovery Project supports Georgians with mental health challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of the program is to provide nonclinical practical, and emotional support for people who have been adversely affected by COVID-19. It’s not therapy.

We provide a listening ear to people who have been struggling with the effects of COVID-19. People can call the Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line at 1-866-399-8938.

The call could be about something as serious as losing a loved one or affected by being sick from the virus themselves, or from people who have lost their jobs, people who are separated from loved ones in a nursing home, or people who could not be beside a loved one while they were sick. The program is for anyone who has been impacted by the virus. We provide psychoeducation on stress management and referrals for basic needs, as well as a referral to a higher level of mental or behavioral healthcare to include mental health and substance abuse if that is warranted. But we do not provide therapy.

Are the services provided by the Georgia Recovery Project income-based or free to all who are in need?

It is free for everyone.

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We help to ease their anxiety or other types of emotions that the caller may be experiencing.

How is the Georgia Recovery Project funded?

The State of Georgia received a Presidential Disaster Declaration and was issued the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Crisis Counseling Program grant that provides supplemental mental health funding in the wake of a disaster.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is also a partner in the grant with us.

What role does the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have with the Georgia Recovery Project?

SAMHSA provides the administrative direction of the program. SAMHSA ensures that we do not provide case management and therapy and abide very closely by the model they wrote.

Does the Georgia Recovery Project provide services statewide, or is it only available in certain areas?

It is statewide. We are available in all 159 counties. We are there for people no matter where they are in the state, no matter their income.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, are you seeing an increase in people suffering from anxiety and depression?

The program provides crisis counselors and a liaison in each DBHDD region. We talk to educators, healthcare workers, or any adult who might need help coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. We provide a listening ear. We receive phone calls from people with a wide range of concerns, from losing their job, feeling isolated, people who need referrals related to getting food, or people who just want to talk about what they are going through. We don’t diagnose the callers with depression or personality disorders. Through the emotional support line, the counselors listen to what the callers have to say and try to provide them with a form of psychoeducation.

One of the things we keep hearing about is just generalized anxiety. We provide information about stress management to the callers. We help to ease their anxiety or other types of emotions that the caller may be experiencing. If we receive a call from someone experiencing what we call an individual crisis where they might benefit from a higher level of behavioral health care, they may be transferred to the Georgia Crisis and Access Line.

WINTER 2021

So, the Georgia Crisis and Access Line provide more in-depth services?

The Georgia Crisis and Access Line is a service through the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities.

The services are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service at 800-715-4225, and staffed by licensed behavioral health professionals that provide crisis support to callers when needed.

What are the signs of stress, anxiety, and depression that parents, teachers, caregivers, and healthcare workers should look for?

Signs of stress could include a hard time sleeping, loss of appetite, and loss of interest in things they are normally interested in doing. Lack of concentration.

Children might fall into old habits. A young child may become more clingy to mom and dad. Children may not want to attend school outside of the home, maybe falling behind in their school work as well as numerous other behavioral changes.

How do we help our children?

It is important to have a routine as much as possible. One of the things that have happened is that their routine has definitely been disrupted. Some children may have returned to school, but some may still be at home attending school virtually. Make sure the household is sitting together at meals. The children should follow the same routine even if they are still in the house.

Get up and brush their teeth, get dressed and grab backpacks before signing on for school.

Provide reassurance. Caregivers can go to the Georgia Department of Public Health and the CDC website to receive facts about the virus. Both of their websites can help with reassurance, assist with anxiety, and teach everyone the proper way of wearing masks. Every parent can model change in a healthy way.

Are you all working with each school district to implement assistance or provide services and resources to counselors or other school administrators?

If so, can you provide some examples? If not, is this a plan in the near future?

We have six regional field offices that serve Georgia. I have been working directly with the Clayton County School District. We had a session with some of the parents about the Georgia Recovery Project and talked about self-care and stress management.

We talked to some teachers about how to engage students using Zoom. We also provided them with links from YouTube and some videos to assist them after our session.

What services are offered to healthcare workers who are constantly pouring into others but may need some additional help or support themselves?

We have 14 healthcare coalitions around the state. Our regional staff has been in touch with the leadership of those healthcare coalitions. The healthcare coalition in Albany, Georgia, has one of the highest case and infection rates in the country. They needed help and invited our counselors of the crisis counseling program to speak to them. That is one example of how we think we are getting the word out to the healthcare community. We also partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health and shared information with them statewide since the beginning about the COVID-19 emotional support.

For those who may feel all hope is lost. Are there suicide prevention resources available?

If anyone feels like all hope is lost, I would suggest they call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Line. That’s what it’s there for. Again, the number is 866-3998938. Our crisis counselors will listen to a person’s concerns to determine what is causing them the most distress. Then focus on helping them to work through that problem. Hopefully, we can help the caller to find a bright spot. It is a form of stress management by helping them to prioritize what is going on in their lives. Sometimes people might have several different things going on in their head all at one time. We find ways to empower the caller to find a solution. Of course, callers are welcome to call back anytime. They don’t have to call just once. They can call as often as needed.

Are you in need of volunteers or need additional help in supporting our communities?

We have funding available through June 15th. Now that doesn’t mean that the problem will be gone by June 15th. Surely we know better than to think that. One of the focuses of the end of the program is that we have a team of counselors to provide crisis counseling to transition that program to the community and the local resources.

There will be a formal process that takes place in April.

How does someone in need of help contact you?

The Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line is available every day between 8 am-11 pm at 1-866-399-8938. The Georgia Crisis & Access Line is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week at 1-800-715-4225 or visit mygcal.com.

E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 19

FEELING STRESSED AND ANXIOUS DUE TO COVID-19?

USE THESE TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR STRESS AND ANXIETY

Focus on POSITIVE THINGS you can control Keep stress under control: STAY HYDRATED, EXERCISE, & EAT HEALTHY TAKE BREAKS from upsetting content

TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE & FEELINGS with loved ones and friends, if that’s helpful

TAKE TIME TO RENEW YOUR SPIRIT through meditation, prayer, or helping others in need

CONNECT WITH OTHERS who may be feeling stressed about the many challenges and concerns that are associated with the pandemic

The Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line provides free, confidential and anonymous assistance to callers needing emotional support or resource information because of the COVID-19 pandemic. dbhdd.georgia.gov | www.georgiadisaster.info

PAUSE, BREATHE, & TRY RELAXATION TECHNIQUES like yoga or taking a walk

For access to services and immediate crisis help, call the Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225, available 24/7.

WINTER 2021

GEORGIA ON My Mind NATALIE RICHARDS

We did it Georgia! We flipped the state from republican to democrat. What an amazing feat! We came, we conquered, and we soared! Our voice, our power, and our vote made a difference. The voter turnout was inspired by Stacey Abrams and her dedication to informing Georgians on our voting rights. Her contributions helped President Joe Biden become the first Democratic president to win the state of Georgia in over 28 years. Fair Fight and the New Georgia Project are credited with registering approximately 800,000 new voters within our great state.

We had election victories for Democratic Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock that solidified Georgia’s political evolution of wanting leadership changes. Jon Ossoff will be the first Jewish Senator from Georgia and the youngest member of the

Chamber. Raphael Warnock is the Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the former church of Martin Luther King Jr. He is also the first African American to represent Georgia in the Senate and the first African American Democrat to represent a southern state. Their win has ensured President Joe Biden will have a chance to enact his agenda. Democrats will control the White House and both chambers, the first time since 2011.

Their victories contributed to both the Republican and Democratic parties to be tied by having 50 seats each. VicePresident Kamala Harris will give the tie-breaking vote, which will give the Democrats the power to take control. The Democratic party will now be able to set the legislative agenda with no interference from Senator Mitch McConnell because he has now lost the majority leader role to the minority leader.

Georgia, you had people talking about us and received support from people all across this country. History, as well as so many first, were created because we utilized our rights and voted! Every vote counted and contributed to the success of this election.

Even though more work needs to be done, it feels good to know that we are headed in the right direction. We have people elected into office who are not privileged and understands the struggles of everyday people.

It is unfortunate that we had to experience a domestic terroristic threat upon our capital, and lives were lost. Hopefully, we will continue to have a peaceful transition.

However, with these uncertain times, I cannot say with certainty that it will happen. Stay safe and woke!

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WINTER 2021

MARY SCHMIDT CAMPBELL B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Honorary Degrees: DFA., DHL., Ph.D. 10th President, Spelman College

Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell is the 10th president of Spelman College, a leading liberal arts college for women of African descent located in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to arriving in Atlanta, Dr. Campbell was a major force in the cultural life of New York City. Her career in New York began at the Studio Museum in Harlem where she served for 10 years. Her role there began at a time when the city was on the verge of bankruptcy and Harlem was in steep decline. However, under her leadership, the museum was transformed from a rented loft to the country’s first accredited Black Fine Arts Museum.

Among the new academic programs she developed the NYU Game Center, The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, The Moving Image Archiving and Preservation Program, and a joint MBA/ MFA Graduate Film and Business program.

New York’s late Mayor Edward I. Koch invited Dr. Campbell to serve as the city’s cultural affairs commissioner in 1987. In this role, she led the Department of Cultural Affairs which oversees the operations and capital development of the city’s major cultural institutions. As a commissioner, she gained a reputation as an indefatigable advocate for large and small arts organizations throughout all five boroughs.

In September 2009, former President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Campbell as the vice chair of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, a non-partisan advisory committee to the President of the United States on cultural matters.

Dr. Campbell returned to the private sector to become dean of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in the fall of 1991.

As dean, Dr. Campbell diversified both the student body and the faculty fourfold, and she incubated several new arts and technology divisions within the school and the university.

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Additionally, she doubled the size of the school’s Interactive Telecommunication Program and founded and chaired Tisch's Department of Art and Public Policy, which examined the intersection of art, politics and public policy as it impacts individual artists and the institutions that support them in a democratic culture.

She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and currently sits on the boards of The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the High Museum of Art, and the J. Paul Getty Trust as well as on the Advisory Boards of the Bonner Foundation and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. She also holds numerous honorary degrees, including one from her alma mater, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Campbell is a contributor to several publications including Artistic Citizenship: Artistry, Social Responsibility, and Ethical Praxis; New York Reimagined: Artists, Art Organizations, and the Rebirth of a City (Oxford University Press, 2016); Four Generations: The Joyner/Giuffrida Collection of Abstract Art, Foreword (Gregory R. Miller & Co., 2016); co-editor of Artistic Citizenship: A Public Voice for the Arts, (Routledge, 2006); co-author of Harlem Renaissance: Art of Black America (Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1987); and Memory and Metaphor: The Art of Romare Bearden, 1940-1987 (Oxford University Press & The Studio Museum in Harlem, 1991).

Dr. Campbell received her B.A. in English literature from Swarthmore College. She earned her master’s in art history as well as her Ph.D. in humanities from Syracuse University. She holds honorary degrees from several colleges including her alma mater, Swarthmore. Having recently completed a book, "An American Odyssey: The Life and Work of Romare Bearden," she is the recipient of the 2018 Hooks National Book Award and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Campbell served as a member of the Alfred P. Sloan Board from 2008-2020, and was elected to the Unity Technologies Board in September 2020. She also serves on the boards of the J. Paul Getty Trust, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.

WINTER 2021

DENNETTE BATTLE President Of The Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumane Chapter Of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Dennette Battle currently serves as the eighth President of the award-winning Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, located in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area.

Her professional portfolio includes over 30+ years in the government and private sectors, serving as Corporate Controller, Accounting Officer, Tax Auditor, and Budget Specialist. Presently, as a Senior Financial Consultant, Ms. Battle develops financial investment plans for multimillion-dollar real estate acquisitions. She is a results-oriented adviser experienced in strategic transitions and business operations development.

Ms. Battle was born in Washington, D.C., where she was raised in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. She attended Southeastern University, earning her degree in Business Administration-Accounting.

During her tenure as a collegiate, she was initiated into the Xi Zeta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She raised two beautiful daughters who reside in the Washington metropolitan area. In 2004 she relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, for a career opportunity and quickly embraced the southern charm and lifestyle of her new home.

As a staunch supporter of civic engagement, Ms. Battle aligns her interest in community activism through local associations such as the National Council of Negro Women, the League of Women Voters, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,

Inc. From a young age, Ms. Battle’s parents encouraged her to be actively involved in grassroots organizations and participate in peaceful rallies which openly challenged discriminatory social, political, and cultural practices generally experienced by people of color. She humbly reflects on her earliest civic involvement with the 1968 Poor Peoples Campaign held in Washington, D.C., in which she, under the guidance of her parents, distributed food to many impoverished families.

Ms. Battle continues to be at the forefront of social activism. During elections, she monitors polling stations, canvasses neighborhoods to advocate for voter participation, and waves signs in support of candidates running for office. She remains committed to her “lean in” and “hands-on” approach to actively address the challenges of many Georgians who are often impacted by social injustices such as gender/race bias, systemic voter suppression, and inequitable economic access.

At present, Ms. Battle serves on the Board of Directors for R.O.S.E.P.A.C. (Raising our Sisters Electability Political Action Committee), a non-partisan organization to create avenues for electability and meaningful involvement for women of color in the political process. In this role of a Board Member, Ms. Battle has participated with the support of candidates who have been elected to various national, state, and local elections.

As President of the Stone MountainLithonia Alumnae Chapter, Ms. Battle leads a membership of over 750 collegeeducated, professional women by establishing a chapter agenda that aligns with the overall mission of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Since joining the chapter in 2005, she has worn many hats and has been elected by the membership to serve in various leadership roles to include her current position as President.

Other elected positions she has held are chapter First Vice President, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary. Under Ms. Battle’s dedicated leadership, the chapter actively engages local community residents in various public service initiatives. During Covid-19, the chapter efforts were focused on securing over $90,000 in academic scholarships to students throughout the chapter’s service area of DeKalb and Rockdale Counties, one of the largest scholarship awards distribution in the chapter’s history.

Ms. Battle is an avid reader of global politics and financial literacy journals, as well as Afro-centric non-fiction novels. In her pastime, she enjoys sewing and craft designing while taking great pride in her “small-scale” indoor gardening.

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WINTER 2021

HONORABLE ANGELA Z. BROWN Cobb County Superior Court Judge PHOTO BY RICK MIMS

She has conducted

on all sides of the bench and has taught others how to be an effective,

hundreds of trials

knowledgeable attorney of integrity.

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Judge Angela Brown, a native of Philadelphia, is the proud daughter of a public school teacher and a Tuskegee Airman. She graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1985 and from Brown University in 1989. After being awarded the Dean's Outstanding Scholar Full Academic Scholarship, Attorney Brown attended the University of San Diego Law School, where she received her J.D. in 1993. At graduation, she was honored with the Thurgood Marshall Graduation Service Award.

Judge Brown began her professional career as a litigation associate in the prestigious law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine in Seattle, Washington. She has also prosecuted criminals as an Assistant District Attorney in several Prosecutor's Offices located in Washington, New Jersey, and Georgia. Judge Brown was the first female African American District Attorney to serve in Cobb County, Georgia. She has also served as In House Counsel for ASARCO, Inc. and was responsible for the environmental legal management from Mississippi to the West Coast.

She was the first African American lawyer in that company since 1812. Before her appointment to the bench, Attorney Brown successfully ran her own litigation firm, specializing in criminal, family, personal injury, and guardian ad litem law. She has conducted hundreds of trials on all sides of the bench and has taught others how to be an effective, knowledgeable attorney of integrity. Her Mentees can be found in the government sector, the private sector, and even on the bench.

Judge Brown has been honored to serve as a Judge by Designation for several county State and Superior Courts in both DeKalb and Cobb County. Judge Brown is actively involved in legal and community organizations, including the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, the Georgia Association of Black Women Lawyers, the Cobb County Bar Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She is married to M. Felipe Brown, a law enforcement officer, with whom she shares three children, Malaysia, Ciara, and Christopher, as well as two dogs, Thor and Loki.

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MARIAN MCDANIEL, MS, NREMT-P Fire Chief Rockdale County A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Marian McDaniel began her professional fire service career with the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (1998) where during her tenure, she held the following positions: Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire Lieutenant Office of Professional Standards, Captain – Public Information Officer, Captain – Emergency Medical Service, Section Chief – Office of Professional Standards, and Assistant Chief - Emergency Medical Services. After her retirement from the Atlanta Fire Rescue (September 2017), Marian joined Rockdale County Fire Rescue as the Deputy Fire Chief of Administration (October 2017). As Deputy Fire Chief, Marian was instrumental in the recruitment of more African American men and women into the Fire Service.

She accomplished this by hosting one of Rockdale County’s largest job fairs (2018).

Rockdale County Fire rescue has 136 Field Operations personnel. Prior to the job fair, only five of Rockdale County Fire Rescue field operations personnel were African American. To date, there are over 20 African American men and women serving the citizens and communities of Rockdale County. Marian was also instrumental in the management of the department’s 11-million-dollar budget in addition to the

development and implementation of the department’s budget reduction strategies.

On December 8, 2020, she was appointed Fire Chief, making her the 12th African American Female Fire Chief in the United States and not only the First African American but also the First Woman Fire Chief in the history of Rockdale County Fire Rescue.

Examples of her most highly regarded responsibilities relates to achieving some of RCFR’s primary Administrative Initiatives.

These initiatives will be instrumental in the success of the department, both internally and externally. Positioned under three Organizational Priorities (Emergency Preparedness and Response, Customer Service, and PIER - Public Information, Education, and Relations) are the following internal measures: Insurance Service Office Class Rating and Target Hazard Identification/Preplanning.

Likewise, external measures include: Implementation of the Rockdale County Emergency Preparedness Institute, Citizens Fire Academy, Youth Explorers Program Website Enhancements, and Public Service Announcements.

Her educational experiences consist of a Bachelor’s of Science in Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University (2010) and a Master’s of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology also from Grand Canyon University (2012). She is also a National and State certified Paramedic. Marian is seeking her designation as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) via the National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD. The Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFO) is an initiative of the United States Fire Administration/National Fire Academy designed to provide senior officers and others in key leadership roles with enhanced executive-level knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to lead, conduct research, and engage in lifelong learning.

Marian is excited to serve as the Fire Chief of Rockdale County Fire Rescue. She is looking forward to engaging the citizens and communities of Rockdale County by attending community events, town hall meetings, and any other opportunities that may arise.

Marian is also a member of the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., since April 2019.

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WINTER 2021

FINANCIAL FOCUS

Can You Influence Your Financial Aid Award?

Right now, the pandemic is causing chaos and uncertainty for colleges and students. But it won’t always be that way. And if you have children who will be heading off to school in the next few years, you’re probably thinking about more typical concerns – such as expenses. How will you pay for the high costs of higher education?

•

Most colleges do offer financial aid packages that can greatly help with these expenses. But it pays to know, well in advance, how financial aid works. And the key platform for determining much of your child’s financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In fact, if you have children starting college next year, now is the time to get going on the FAFSA, which became available Oct. 1 for the 2021-22 award year.

Filling out your FAFSA will provide you with what’s known as your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC calculation takes into account four separate areas: parent income, parent assets (excluding retirement funds, such as 401(k) plans and IRAs, home equity and small family businesses), student income and student assets. The EFC does not calculate the exact amount you must pay for college – rather, it’s an estimate, and the amount you pay can be below or above this number.

Nonetheless, the EFC is important in determining your financial aid package, and your actions can influence the results.

Here are a few suggestions for future years: •

Save money in your name – not your child’s. FAFSA will just consider up to 5.64 percent of a parent’s assets, compared to 20 percent of a student’s assets.

•

Be aware of how retirement plan contributions can affect aid. Many of your current assets, such as your retirement accounts, may be excluded from the EFC calculation. However, any voluntary contributions you make to your 401(k) or traditional IRA during the “base” year (the prior tax year) generally must be reported on the FAFSA and are counted as untaxed income; consequently, these contributions may have a similar effect on aid eligibility as taxable income.

Mandatory contributions, such as those made by teachers to a state retirement system, are generally not reported on the FAFSA. Avoid withdrawals from your 401(k) or traditional IRA. The money you take out from these accounts in the years you fill out the FAFSA, and the prior tax year, may count as taxable income in the financial aid calculations.

If you really need the money, you may want to consult with your financial professional for alternatives.

•

Consider having children put earnings into a Roth IRA. Money from after-school or summer jobs your children put in a Roth IRA may not be included in EFC – plus, your kids will get a head start on a tax-advantaged retirement account. Keep in mind, though, that Roth IRA withdrawals could be considered as taxable income on the FAFSA if the account owner is younger than 59 ½, which will be the case for your children, or the account is less than five years old.

Not all these suggestions will be appropriate for everyone, but they’re worth thinking about. You might also want to consult with a college’s financial aid officer before you complete the FAFSA, as aid calculations can be complex. An investment of your time and effort early in the process may pay off when the aid packages are finally delivered.

RALPH E. TAYLOR, II, CRPC® | Edward Jones Investments | Financial Advisor 2970 Peachtree Rd. | Suite 650 | Atlanta, GA 30305 Office: 404-254-3178 Fax: 888-844-2346 Ralph.Taylor@EdwardJones.com E D WARD JON E S , M E M BE R S IPC

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. This content should not be depended upon for other than broadly informational purposes. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation. Make sure to discuss the potential financial aid impacts for your specific situation with a financial aid professional.

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Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

NOW ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Apply Online Through February 28, 2021 WWW.SMLACDST.ORG

HIG H S C HO O L S EN I OR S W H O R E S I D E I N O R ATT END HIG H S C HO O L I N T H E S E A R E A S A R E E L I GI B L E T O AP P LY:

•

DEKALB COUNTY } Lithonia (30038, 30058)

ROCKDALE COUNTY } Conyers (30012, 30013, 30094)

} Pine Lake (30072)

} McDonough (30252)

} Stone Mountain (30083, 30086, 30087, 30088)

} Stockbridge (30281)

} Stonecrest (30038, 30058) •

•

•

WALTON COUNTY } Loganville (30052)

GWINNETT COUNTY } Centerville (30078) } Lilburn (30047, 30048) } Loganville (30052) } Snellville (30039, 30078) } Stone Mountain (30087)

Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Fol l ow us @ SMLAC DST

WINTER 2021

KING

THE CENTER

NONVIOLENCE365® EDUCATION & TRAINING (NV365)

The King Center is training individuals to influence equitable change in our national and global infrastructure. Throughout the year, we offer several different variations of our training, which include 2 HR Intro Sessions, 2 Day Sessions, and specialized sessions for corporations, social justicefocused organizations, law enforcement, and schools. The goals of the trainings:

social, and faith-based organizations, on Dr. King’s critical thinking and practical methods of nonviolent social change as a means and strategy to accelerate progress in social justice initiatives

To engage participants, including emerging and next-generation leaders, in trainings, discussions and activities that enhance communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, including interrupting unconscious biases as well as addressing and managing implicit biases

The Camp NOW Leadership Academy is a multi-year experience. Each year begins with a one-week virtual camp or a oneweek in-person camp. Due to COVID-19, the King Center is encouraging students to sign up for the virtual experience but should things change, we will welcome students back onto our campus. Each student has the ability to participate in the Leadership Academy for up to four years, but they can opt-out after the completion of any year if they choose to do so. Each year of the

To educate individuals and leaders across all sectors, including corporate, government, sports, media, law enforcement, entertainment, healthcare, education, civic,

To decrease in family, corporate and community conflict, violence, tension, and community unrest.

Leadership Academy further helps students to utilize a nonviolent leadership academy and provides them with more opportunities to display their knowledge and skills.

The Camp NOW Leadership Academy is a highly intensive program that utilizes technology, financial literacy, public speaking, multi-level communication, and Kingian leadership practices to sharpen our students over time. Our students will also travel to different sites around the world to expand their knowledge of a global society.

The goal of the Leadership Academy is to help 13-19-year-old students to become complete global citizens who will inspire nonviolent change across the world.

STUDENTS WITH KING

Students with King, provides Elementary, Middle, and High School students with an opportunity to learn first-hand from family and friends of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King.

Students engage in an interactive learning experience about the Civil Rights Movement as well as hear personal and humorous stories about the life of Dr. King and Mrs. King, including the choices, decisions, and experiences that shaped their development as young people and led to them becoming global leaders. Students are introduced to NV365®, and teachers are provided with learning tools to assist with further educating youth on how to incorporate the principles and methodology as a new way of approaching and reconciling conflict as well as problem-solving. The overarching goal is to encourage students to embrace NV365® as a lifestyle and modeled by Dr. King.

Students from public, private, charter, and home schools are invited to participate.

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WINTER 2021

The Beloved Talks (BCT)

Community houses a vast collection of records and

Bringing people out of their comfort zone and together for the common good of the community.

The Beloved Community Talks (BCT) mission is to create an environment conducive to open, honest, and unapologetic conversations that are civil; bringing people out of their comfort zone to promote understanding and to influence equitable change to the national infrastructure. The BCT platform brings together business and community leaders, police officers, politicians, students, businesses, and cultural influencers for open dialogue and practical solutions for local cities and communities. We envision that individuals and communities will find commonalities that bring them together in order to work on initiatives in their respective communities.

The BCT provides an environment within communities where people can get to know each other, seeking first to understand and then to be understood.

The King Archives

Library

artifacts documenting the life and work of MLK, CSK, the 20th Century Civil Rights Movement (CRM) spanning the years 1956-1970, and the King Center itself. This historic collection serves as a vital primary resource on a crucial period in American history.

The King Library and Archives in Atlanta is the largest repository of primary source materials on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the American Civil Rights Movement in the world. The collection consists of the papers of Dr. King and those of the organization he co-founded, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as well as the records of 8 major civil rights organizations and of several individuals active in the Movement. The archives also include more than 200 oral history interviews with Dr. King’s teachers, friends, family, and civil rights associates.

The King Center is located at 449 Auburn Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, GA, just east of downtown Atlanta. To plan your next visit, please visit https://thekingcenter.org. If you need further assistance, please call (404) 526-8968 or send an email to contact@ thekingcenter.org.

and

KING LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES was established with a mission to “promote the appropriate application of archival principles in the preservation, processing, arrangement, and description of materials relevant to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the modern civil rights movement.� 1 The KLA serves to promote research and study; acquire and preserve collections, and disseminate information on MLK and the CRM. KLA E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 29

WINTER 2021

LAKISHA N. PLATENBURG, M.S., PMP, CSM Technology Expert & IT Leader

Lakisha Platenburg is an award-winning technology expert and IT leader at Northrop Grumman Corporation. Northrop Grumman Corporation is an industry leader in global security. From integrated battle command systems, advanced weapons, software development and IT modernization, Lakisha is on the cutting edge of technology and international security.

For more than a decade, Lakisha has provided IT support for security programs in the Health Protection Solutions Unit of the Defense Systems sector, in Program Project Management and as an Agile Coach. Lakisha leads a diverse and talented team to develop and expand applications for center-wide use in collecting and visualizing data for multiple program tasks at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Using her expertise and experience, she facilitates Agile training courses for executives and colleagues across various sectors of the company in support of its Agile transformation. Diversity and Inclusion in the area of STEM is crucial to Lakisha so she proudly represents women and minorities within Northrop Grumman’s employee resource group – African American Task Group (Atlanta).

Before her current role at Northrop Grumman, Lakisha was a Java developer 30 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

and leading web designer in the telecommunications industry supporting small and minority owned businesses and consulting on CDC projects. She also spent several years instructing information system management and database design/ management as an adjunct professor at the University of Phoenix (online) and Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA).

Lakisha obtained both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in the field of Computer Science while matriculating through an accelerated 5-year B.S./M.S. program at Clark Atlanta University. Even though she entered college with clear direction, the structure of the Program Research Integration for the Matriculation to the Doctorate (PRISM-D) program assisted her further interest in the field of Computer Science. This interest led to opportunities of research for the Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering (CBMSE) at the Naval Research Laboratory and the Advanced Systems Laboratories at GTE Laboratories.

As both a technical and thought leader, Lakisha has served on several panels including the 2016 Robot Expo at Georgia Tech, Women of Color STEM panel and the Northrop Grumman “Young, Gifted, and Black” Panel, highlighting technical talent within the company.

In 2019 Lakisha was bestowed the high honor of receiving the ModernDay Technology Leader Outstanding Achievement Award during the Black Engineer BEYA STEM Conference (Black Engineer of the Year, Becoming Everything You Are).

In her spare time, Lakisha volunteers as a web designer to enhance the vision and goals for various community organizations.

She serves as the Technology Coordinator for the Southern Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, providing recommendations on best practices for technology usage and builds applications, provides training, and provides technology support for local chapters across a 5-state region (and The Bahamas). She mentors collegiate members and facilitates training workshops at the state, regional and national levels.

Lakisha’s devotion to community service is also demonstrated by her time and leadership with the Viola Hart-Felton Chapter of Order of the Eastern Star, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) SEEK Camp, and Black Girls CODE. Lakisha is married to the love of her life, Edward, and is the proud mom of two children, Taylor & Jason.

WINTER 2021

JAI FERRELL Assistant General Manager Commercial Development

Jai Ferrell is the assistant general manager and head of marketing for the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Ms. Ferrell’s professional responsibilities include oversight of the Airport’s commercial development division. The division is responsible for properties and airline affairs, concessions, parking, advertising, external real estate development, air service development, and innovation.

As head of marketing, she leads global marketing strategy and oversees marketing outreach, brand strategy efforts, social media engagement, creative services and advertising programming and partnerships for all public-facing passenger engagement and non-aeronautical revenuegenerating programs at Hartsfield-Jackson.

Additionally, she is responsible for promotional efforts for ATL Skypointe, the Airport’s award-winning food, beverage, and retail program, and parking services in total generate over $1 billion in revenue annually. She finds creative thrill in syncing her experience in entertainment with opportunities in ATL, recently launching the “This is My Airport” and ATL Experience ambassador program with Hank Aaron, Sara Blakely, Dikembe Mutombo, Killer Mike, Ludacris, and a host of Atlanta-tethered influencers.

While her professional impact is global in reach, her passion is granular, impressing the communities she frequents. She lends her marketing expertise as a board member and marketing chair to the Andrew & Walter Young YMCA and board service to the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce.

Her love for youth is vividly illustrated as she is a multi-year principal partner with M.D. Roberts Fine Arts & Magnet Middle School and Langston Hughes High School.

Networks. Her team won the 2019 Webby Award in the Social-Travel category for “Wakanda Forever,” a social media stunt that depicted a faux flight departing from ATL to the fictitious country from the 2018 blockbuster, “Black Panther.”

Core revenue-generating initiatives aside, Ferrell serves as the marketing lead for ATL’s human trafficking initiative, bringing awareness to the 100 million passengers that travel to and through ATL annually. Her professional board service includes roles on the global marketing and communications committee for Airports Council International-North America (ACINA) and Sustainability Council, providing feedback on the aviation community’s role on centralized marketing programs and asset management efforts.

In 2019, Ms. Ferrell was named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 under 40” class as well as recognition as a Woman of Excellence from the Atlanta Tribune Magazine. This Spelman alumna is an active Castleberry Hill resident and has a master’s degree in communication from Georgia State University. She is an esteemed 2017 Lead Atlanta alumni; graduate of the KPMG Executive Women in Leadership program; member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and a life member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

The viral post prompted headlines on CNN, Headline News, and BBC and was acknowledged by Marvel Studios as well as the film’s cast members.

The Airport Business Magazine’s “40 under 40” recipient was appointed as the lead for Atlanta’s Super Bowl 53 NFL team arrivals and passenger engagement, including all aviation operations, welcome activations, and marketing programming.

Ferrell’s award-winning career spans 15 years, including work in entertainment television, consumer products, and sports contributions to Turner, CNN, Major League Baseball, Viacom, and BET E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 31

WINTER 2021

TARA KIMBROUGH Head of Recruiting at Greenwood Bank

Causes close to her heart include mentoring other women entrepreneurs and STEM girls and

ministry community outreach. Being a

star is about shining bright, being your best self. What’s your

superpower?

32 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

Tara Kimbrough has over 20 years of experience as a subject matter expert in talent acquisition and human capital operations and is a PI Certified Talent Optimization Partner, and is Head of Recruiting at Greenwood Bank. Expertise includes creating talent acquisition strategies, implementing internal processes and policies for personnel development, career mapping, succession planning, and operational management. Industry verticals include engineering, management consulting, information technology, manufacturing, and media industries.

She has over 13 years of experience building start-up teams from proof of concept, including digital transformation units within CNN/Turner Broadcasting Systems recruiting talent for CNNgo, CNN Digital, Turner Data Cloud, and Great Big Story, Luma Home, and Honeywell Connected Enterprise.

She has worked closely with some of the industry’s toughest leaders in engineering and information technology. She served as Chief of Staff for Luma Home, Inc., a tech start-up by serial entrepreneur and investor Paul Judge which was successfully acquired by Newell Rubbermaid in 2018.

Tara is a member of WIT (Women In Technology), Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), and Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals (ATAP).

Causes close to her heart include mentoring other women entrepreneurs and STEM girls and ministry community outreach. She resides in Atlanta and has two daughters who live in midtown; Lauren, who attends George Tech studying for her Masters in Mechanical Engineering; and Ashely, who is a senior graduating in the summer and attends Georgia State University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Computer Science.

WINTER 2021

ISADORA V. LANIER President/CEO Metrics Marketing

Isadora V. Lanier is the President/CEO of Metrics Marketing, an award-winning, multicultural marketing firm. Isadora has more than 15 years of experience in the strategic development and execution of consumer and B-to-B marketing initiatives. Isadora has a proven track record of success in industries such as travel and tourism, beauty, utilities, nonprofits, healthcare, e-commerce products, and government working with brands such as Georgia Power, Visit Orlando, African Pride, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, Humana and more. A forward-thinking brand strategist, Isadora’s foundation in research, data, and analytics make her an insightful and solutionoriented marketer with a laser-sharp focus on KPIs, ROI, and demonstrating value.

Known in some circles as the “Influencer Marketing Plug,” Isadora has successfully utilized influencer marketing strategies, both expected and unexpected, for clients across industries like beauty, e-commerce, and even joining a bone marrow registry.

Follow Isadora on Instagram

Isadora is currently expanding the Influencer Marketing practice at Metrics, including launching a program to assist digitally-connected HBCU students with becoming viable content partners for brands. Isadora recently presented two informative webinars, “Considering Influencer Marketing? Eight Steps to an Influencer Marketing Program that Gets Results” and “Sleigh This Holiday Season with Influencer Marketing: 5 Predictions and How to Jump In Now!” With a consultant mindset, Isadora takes a 360° view when identifying effective marketing strategies and opportunities. She understands the importance of dissecting internal and external environments to ensure that marketing strategies will be effective while also assessing where a brand and its positioning fits in its industry and amongst its competition. Vigilant of the “Bottom Line,” Isadora ensures that any marketing initiatives are on strategy, on-brand, and result in a positive ROI.

@yourfavbrandstrategist and Twitter/Clubhouse

Straight to-the-point, with Isadora, you gain a forthright partner for your business.

Yes, she may sometimes say things that you might not want to hear. But as far as she’s concerned, that’s the point of a partner, right?

Always a student of business, Isadora is either reading the latest book on marketing trends or digital platforms, an article about some merger or acquisition (of which she is fascinated), or the latest issue of the Harvard Business Review. When Isadora’s not working, you can find her on a softball field cheering on her eldest daughter, at a dance class with her youngest, or discussing current events with her son.

A native New Yorker, Isadora is an honors graduate of Spelman College and earned an Executive MBA from the University of Georgia. She is the proud mother of Summer, Brad, and Courtney. Isadora is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

@isadoralanier.Visit Metrics Marketing at www.metricsmktg.com.

E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 33

WINTER 2021

Is Our Inspiration.

The

In 1906, a wealthy African American, O.W. Gurley, moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and purchased 40 acres of land that he wanted to ensure would be sold only to other African Americans. Gurley provided a path to security and prosperity for Blacks struggling in the segregated Jim Crow South. His experiment created the Greenwood District. The main thoroughfare was known as America’s Black Wall Street.

The Greenwood District flourished in the early 1900s and emerged as an African American entrepreneur center. Craftsmen, merchants, architects, cobblers, attorneys, entertainers, artists, accountants, bankers and manufacturers all found a home (and a market) there. Historians estimate that a dollar circulated 36 times in the community and may remain in Greenwood for as long as a year. At a time when the entire state of Oklahoma only had two airports, six Black families in the Greenwood District owned their own private planes.

As the standard of living for Greenwood’s Black families grew, so did resentment in the surrounding white communities.

Rise and Fall of

“Black Wall Street”

“The Greenwood experience tells us that African Americans have the talent, the marketable skills, and the entrepreneurial energy to compete

anywhere in the world.”

On May 31, 1921, the Greenwood District was attacked, looted and burned by white rioters. Approximately 300 people died, 35 blocks of the city were ruined, and more than 800 people were treated for injuries.

To this day, Greenwood remains a symbol of the economic potential of community solidarity. “Greenwood was one of the most powerful centers of brains and money in the America of that time,” said Andrew J. Young, Civil Rights leader and former U.N. Ambassador. “The Greenwood experience tells us that African Americans have the talent, the marketable skills, and the entrepreneurial energy to compete anywhere in the world.”

Greenwood offers modern banking for the culture. We are a digital mobile banking experience made for Black and Latinx customers. When you open a digital bank account with Greenwood, you save money, help the community, and get paid early. Recirculating wealth. That’s the Greenwood way. We offer full-service banking in your hand.

To sign up for a Greenwood account, visit www.bankgreenwood.com.

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WINTER 2021

TIA M. MCWILLIAMS Sheriff of Taliaferro County, Georgia

Her goal as Sheriff is to fulfill the duties of the Office of Sheriff in a fair, just, efficient, and cost-effective manner. Sheriff

McWilliams believes in the importance

of communityoriented policing and is passionate about building positive

community relations.

36 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

Sheriff Tia M. McWilliams is rural Georgia’s first African American female elected to the Office of Sheriff in Taliaferro County, Georgia. She was elected November 3, 2020, and made history as Taliaferro County’s first female sheriff.

She began her career at Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office in July 2001, first serving as a 911 dispatcher, then as both Executive Assistant to the Sheriff and Manager of 911 Operations. Sheriff McWilliams later became a certified law enforcement officer and was appointed Chief Deputy in April 2018.

Sheriff McWilliams took office on January 1, 2021, with a mission to serve the citizens of Taliaferro County with honor, integrity, love, compassion, and respect.

She loves the community she serves and dedicates herself to ensuring Taliaferro County is a welcoming, safe, and secure place to live, work, worship, and sojourn.

Sheriff McWilliams envisions Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office as one of the most honorable law enforcement agencies in the State of Georgia.

She seeks to grow and develop it through innovative thinking, technology, training, knowledge, and understanding of the community it serves while promoting and projecting a professional image and demeanor from within its ranks.

Sheriff McWilliams believes that throughout her tenure at Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office, God has prepared, qualified, and aligned her to be Sheriff of Taliaferro County. Her goal as Sheriff is to fulfill the duties of the Office of Sheriff in a fair, just, efficient, and cost-effective manner. Sheriff McWilliams believes in the importance of community-oriented policing and is passionate about building positive community relations.

Sheriff McWilliams was born in Fort Gordon, Georgia, and raised in Clayton, Jefferson, and Wilkes County, Georgia. She is a 1998 graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and a 2017 graduate of Athens Technical College in Athens, Georgia.

Sheriff McWilliams is a single mom of two daughters, Aleah and Amya, and credits her success to the merciful love and grace of God.

WINTER 2021

YUNICE J. EMIR Senior Manager of Community and Stakeholder Relations for The Coca-Cola Company

Yunice Emir is an optimistically positive, strategic, and disruptive thinking communications and corporate social impact visionary with more than 15 years of well-rounded experience in marketing, brand and leadership communications; PR; agency, sponsorship and event management; community and stakeholder engagement; corporate philanthropy and disaster relief.

Currently, she is the Senior Manager of Community and Stakeholder Relations for The Coca-Cola Company, where she manages the company’s disaster relief, board placement and youth empowerment giving strategies for its North America Operating Unit. While in the role, she successfully executed the company’s annual United Way employee giving campaign; launched the company’s volunteer time off policy and

first online volunteer portal; developed and implemented the company’s North America disaster relief strategy, including the company’s inaugural participation in the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program and Missing Types Campaign; conceptualized and established the Disaster Action Alliance—a coalition of organizations from the public, private and nonprofit sectors in the U.S. with the goal of making a greater impact during natural disasters; and led efforts to coordinate more than $20.8 million and more than 6 million beverages to support disaster relief efforts.

She possesses an innate ability to intuitively make rewarding connections that result in enduring relationships and impactful outcomes. Her areas of expertise include strategy development and implementation, communications, and creating masterful connections.

Yunice is passionate about promoting self-love and inspiring others. She is the founder and Chief Love Ambassador of Love Always YJE (www.lovealwaysyje. com) — a movement and brand focused on encouraging people to love themselves, seek love in all things, and love others.

Yunice received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fashion Marketing from American InterContinental University and Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Hospitality Management from DeVry University.

Yunice is an Atlanta native and serves on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta board and Atlanta Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and Ebenezer Baptist Church.

E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 37

WINTER 2021

MONICA DELORES HOOKS Executive Director of Atlanta’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative

The Marketing Oracle’s mission is to connect business, media, technology, and culture.

38 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

Monica Delores Hooks built her career at Sony Music Entertainment with front line P&L experience in Product Management, International Marketing, and Business Affairs roles; then in entrepreneurship with business development roles in new media, entertainment, and technology startups.

She has over 20 years of expertise in content marketing and brand management and focusing on projects and brands driven by youth culture and social influencers.

As Executive Director of Atlanta’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, Ms. Hooks is responsible for innovation policy, entrepreneur workforce programs, financial capacity building, as well as entrepreneur retention and development as it pertains to women’s entrepreneurship throughout the City of Atlanta. Ms. Hooks is also the Founder and CEO of m-oracle LLC d/b/a The Marketing Oracle, a marketing innovation agency offering strategy and market research.

m-oracle LLC is a graduate of the City of Atlanta’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) inaugural class and winner of the 2017 Microsoft Innovation Bots and Cognitive Services Award. The Marketing Oracle’s mission is to connect business, media, technology, and culture.

Ms. Hooks is a graduate of Georgia Public Schools and received her Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in Government, where she earned the Dean’s Award. She has an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. She is currently colead for the Atlanta Chapter of Black Women Talk Tech, a member of the public service organization Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Radcliffe Presbyterian Church located in Atlanta, GA.

WINTER 2021

BARBIE ®

INSPIRING

WOMEN ™ SERIES HONORS

Dr. Maya Angelou!

By Anita Young

Barbie® has created phenomenal heroines with their Inspiring Women™ doll series. The Inspiring Women™ Series pays tribute to incredible heroines of their time, courageous women who took risks, changed rules, and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before. The latest honoree is none other than civil rights activist, teacher, poet, and award-winning author Dr. Maya Angelou.

Dr. Angelou is now the tenth role model to join this collection. The Maya Angelou Barbie® doll is being presented to honor the history and impact of Dr. Maya Angelou's activism, work, and achievements. Sculpted to her likeness and dressed in a head wrap and dress with floral print, Maya Angelou Barbie® doll features a curvy body and articulation for endless posing possibilities.

The Maya Angelou Barbie® doll is part of our Black Label® series of dolls. The designer of the Maya Angelou Barbie® doll is Carlyle Nuera. The release date was 1/14/2021. Items included with the doll are earrings, a dress, bracelets, a watch, ring, book, shoes, and a doll stand.

The Maya Angelou Barbie® doll retails for $29.99. There is a limit of 2 dolls per purchase. The limit is subject to change at a later date. Please visit https://barbie.mattel. com for additional information on this doll and other dolls in the Inspiring Women™ doll collection.

E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 39

WINTER 2021

Spelman College

Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, we became Spelman College in 1924. Now a global leader in the education of women of African descent, Spelman is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and we are proud members of the Atlanta University Center Consortium.

Today our student body comprises more than 2,100 students from 43 states and 10 foreign countries. Spelman empowers women to engage the many cultures of the world and inspires a commitment to positive social change through service.

We are dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and the intellectual, creative, ethical, and leadership development of our students.

Spelman is proud of its 76 percent graduation rate (average over six years), one of the best in the nation, but our support doesn’t stop once you step on stage to take your diploma. Our global alumnae network is strong, providing connections and helping hands to graduates as they begin on their path of global engagement.

Rankings and Awards

Recognition from numerous entities shows that Spelman continues to be on the ascent as an academic institution focused on the success of its students. As the highest-ranked institution from which Black women science and engineering doctorate recipients earn bachelor’s degrees, according to the National Science Foundation, Spelman is a strong training ground for women who go on to careers in which they lead and excel. Spelman College 40 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

Remains No. 1 HBCU, Ranked in Top 10 for Social Mobility and Innovation by U.S. News & World Report.

Admissions

A Spelman student will come to campus with diverse aspirations, goals, and interests. Throughout her time here, she will follow an academic, social, and cultural path uniquely hers – rooted in a tradition of excellence where she is mentored and supported by an extraordinary team of faculty, staff, alumnae, and her Spelman sisters.

She will travel abroad – whether it’s to participate in a service project for two weeks in Ghana or spend an entire semester in Japan. She will have an opportunity to experience the professional world she aspires to join through research or an internship opportunity. She will develop a leadership style that will distinguish her in graduate or professional school, corporate board rooms, or community service. Admission to Spelman College is highly competitive. In addition to academic credentials, we consider leadership experiences, extracurricular involvement, community service, employment, personal interests, and abilities.

We are Here to Help

Selecting a college is one of the most important decisions a student and her family will make. The admissions team at Spelman wants to make this process as easy and anxiety-free as possible. There are various online resources available to help you at different stages of the process, but sometimes you may prefer to speak with someone directly. Contact Spelman College Admissions by calling 404-2705193 or 800-982-2411 or send an email to admiss@spelman.edu.

WINTER 2021

Allen University, nestled in the historic Waverly district of downtown Columbia, South Carolina, is a long-standing pillar of the community. As the #2 HCBU in South Carolina and #22 of HBCUs across the United States by the 2020 College Census ranking of Best HBCUs, Allen University is the gateway to "All That Can Be Imagined."

The University launched two fully online programs in the fall of 2020. The Allen University Online academic tracks include a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services.

The two online degree programs add to the University's catalog of nine traditional undergraduate degree programs and one traditional master's programs. The online program is ideal for adult learners but open to all students looking to pursue a degree in the offered areas. While the new programs are exciting, students continue to excel in existing programs, including the Dickerson Green Seminary Master of Divinity program that equips graduates to engage in Christian congregational life and other settings in which the expectation is to think theologically and minister to the spiritual, social, and physical development of all people within a Christian spiritual context.

Extending education beyond the classroom walls, Allen University, has partnered with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC (SRNS) to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) seeking to establish a collaborative endeavor to provide

employment and educational opportunities and bridge the gap between academic study and its application in professional practice. The MOU establishes internship opportunities across various disciplines, campus visits from experienced talent recruiters from SRNS to conduct resumebuilding opportunities, and mock interview sessions. Other corporate partnerships include The Boeing Company and Dominion Energy as Allen University works to restore and repurpose the Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital] which will hold The Boeing Institute on Civility, which will feature a permanent monument to the Emanuel Nine, The Waverly Wall Museum, and The Dominion Energy Palmetto African American Hall of Fame.

Student-Athletes Allen University joined the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) as the newest provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II in 2020. Still the only HBCU in the country to offer a competitive wrestling program, AU Athletics sponsors 13 competitive sports. Alongside our student-athletes, our band program is growing continues to be highlighted in the community. Most recently, it was named "The Golden Jackettes" and "Golden Silk" dance and flag lines were ranked #1

by ESPN as "the undefeated" in HBCU Division II Conferences.

When looking for your launching pad to success, a place where you are more than a number, a place where you are challenged to grow inside, and outside of the classroom, Allen University is the place for you. To learn more about All That Can Be Imagined at Allen University, contact 803-376-5700 or email admissions@allenuniversity.edu.

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WINTER 2021

The entrepreneurship bug has bitten many over the years, and more people are considering leaving their 9-5 to take the startup plunge.

Add a global pandemic to the mix, and the desire to control our own destinies is sure to grow. However, if business ownership is new to you, it can be a very intimidating journey to begin. Knowing where to start can be hindered by our own analysis paralysis as the search for entrepreneurship resources begins. There is no shortage of experts, business owners, schools, and more, all vying to assist in launching your first venture. But before taking the deep dive, here are five steps to help get started.

Entrepreneurship

101

BASIC TIPS TO GET STARTED

By Stephanie Howard, MBA

1. Write down your idea and complete a Business Model Canvas •

Grab some paper, a pen, and start writing! Writing down your idea is step one to making it a reality.

This is the time to let your mind explore all the possibilities of this solution. Your business should be solving a problem in the market, so you should take your time and thoroughly developing the idea.

This is a brainstorming session, so try not to edit or limit yourself in this phase. Just get it on paper!

Make this a manual exercise since the pen and paper process will take more time than typing.

This will force you to think more critically before and as you write.

Once the mind-dump is finished, try to complete a Business Model Canvas with this brainstorm.

42 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

•

What is a Business Model Canvas? It is a one-page tool that is used to vet your idea and make adjustments before writing a full business plan. This will help you evaluate the viability of this future venture and tease out the areas that need more development. This exercise will help determine if this business idea is sustainable, scalable, and worth the time to pursue. A simple internet search will provide several options for downloadable business model canvas templates. It is also very useful when speaking to future customers and utilizing their feedback to hone your business concept. Essentially this business model canvas is a working rough draft of your idea, which will eventually be developed into a full business plan.

These are practical and tangible steps toward

financial stability both

personally and during the business

launch.

WINTER 2021

constructive criticism. Feedback allows refinement of the business and leads to creating value, which customers will pay for. Don’t let your confidence disconnect you from your customer.

2. Check your capacity •

Launching a company is hard work, and you may find yourself working harder than ever before.

Be sure that your desire to start a business is not just a reaction to a current life phase. With that in mind, take inventory of your capacity and investigate your motives for choosing this path.

Knowing your ‘why’ is critical since it will serve as an anchor during challenging times. Ask these simple questions: Do I have time to nurture and grow this idea? Am I emotionally prepared for this level of investment? Do I really want to own a business, or would I be happier in a different work environment? These are important questions to consider because entrepreneurship is not always a glamourous journey.

It is years of sweat-equity and sacrifice, with the hopes of bringing an idea to market.

Society highlights the success stories and financial rewards of entrepreneurship but very seldom tells the gut truth about the road to those successes.

4. Audit your personal finances and develop a Personal Financial Statement •

3. Customer Discovery aka Talk to People about your idea •

Is your business baby ugly?

Meaning, have you really scrutinized this idea? It is very easy to be so invested in the ideation phase that it convinces aspiring entrepreneurs that their business idea is flawless. Just because time, research, and extreme effort are exerted, it doesn’t mean that additional feedback and adjustments are not needed. This is why customer discovery, also known as talking to people, is critical during the development phase. The more time spent with something, the less objective we become. So, it is critical to speak to as many potential customers as possible and be open to receiving feedback.

No idea is perfect, so expect

if you are still in the aspirational phase, it is never too early to make connections. Investigate the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the local community and join them.

Being surrounded by like-minded groups can give you the push needed to pursue your business idea. From local government agencies to private angel investors, most communities offer various support services for entrepreneurs. If the community offerings are limited, do not hesitate to reach out to the nearest area with small business support opportunities.

Personal finance conversations are often very sensitive, especially when we have them with ourselves. Couple that with the reality that many people decide to start companies to improve their current financial state, and that is a recipe for avoidance. Do not ignore your current financial situation. Personal cash flow, credit score, debt to income ratio, assets, and more are important, especially starting out. Banks, financial intermediaries, and private investors will all look at personal finances before making a financial investment. Whether good or bad, knowing your current financial position is of great assistance while navigating your business development. Create a Personal Financial Statement (PFS), which is a snapshot of your current financial position.

Ever wonder how net worth is determined? It is calculated when developing a personal financial statement. Similar to a business model canvas, there are numerous free Personal Financial Statement templates available online.

Producing a PFS is an eye-opening practice that can reveal relevant financial next steps. There may be several financial goals that arise as a result. These are practical and tangible steps toward financial stability both personally and during the business launch.

5. Connect to the local entrepreneurship community •

The path of an entrepreneur can be a lonely one, so it is helpful to develop a community early. Even

•

These five tips are the beginning of a long and rewarding journey.

There are definitely more challenging steps as a business scales, but remember that there is help available. Check out the US Small Business Administration www.SBA.gov and the Georgia Secretary of State sos.ga.gov websites for additional support and legal requirement for business formation.

About Stephanie Howard

Stephanie Howard is Director of the Mercer Innovation Center and Lecturer of Marketing in the StetsonHatcher School of Business at Mercer University. She is an experienced marketing professional and advocate for small business development.

E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 43

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ROCKDALE NAACP WHY JOIN? The NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2 million activists. The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race. The objective is to:

Founded in 1988, the Rockdale NAACP is a chartered branch of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and wellbeing of all persons.

•

Remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes

•

Seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights

•

Inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination

•

Educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure the exercise thereof, and to take any other lawful action in furtherance of these objectives, consistent with the NAACP’s Articles of Incorporation and this Constitution.

APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP TODAY! The Rockdale NAACP Branch meets every first Monday at 7:30 p.m. Currently, the meetings are being held via Zoom. For additional information or to request a membership application, you may email the branch at rcbnaacp@gmail. com. Like us on Facebook at Rockdale County Branch NAACP. Rockdale County Branch NAACP, P.O. Box 775, Conyers, GA 30012

WINTER 2021

WHAT THE

Pandemic

CAN

ABOUT YOUR Finances

TEACH YOU

The COVID-19 pandemic upended the world and the financial markets were no exception. It made many of us reevaluate our spending habits and take stock of our savings. The experience has offered some lessons that can improve your money management long after life goes back to normal. Here are four financial takeaways from the pandemic.

Four financial lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

1. KEEP AN EMERGENCY FUND

The pandemic caused a surge in unemployment, from 6.2 million in February 2020 to 20.5 million by May. If there is one thing we can learn from this, is that you truly cannot predict the unexpected, and you should always have emergency savings. An emergency fund is a pot of money you set aside for unforeseen events that can act as a safety net in case you lose your job or face a big medical expense. Most experts say it should cover approximately three to six months of your expenses, although a year is ideal.

2. STAY DIVERSIFIED

You should never put all of your money into one investment. Staying diversified can help you hedge against risk. For example, if you had put all of your money into airline stocks, you would have been in big trouble once the pandemic grounded almost all flights. By investing your money into different types of stocks, you’ll avoid big losses if a certain segment of the market tanks.

3. DON’T WAIT TO PAY OFF DEBT

High-interest debt, such as credit card debt, can curtail your ability to save. And if you lose your job while mired in debt, your finances can quickly spiral out of control.

Focus on finding the best debt consolidation loan for your financial situation and pay off your debt while your economic situation is stable. That way, you won’t be stressed about paying for necessities like groceries if money gets tight. Plus, the quicker you can pay off your debt, the sooner you’ll be able to save for important things like an emergency fund (see above) or a retirement account.

4. SPEND MINDFULLY

Quarantine taught many of us that we don’t need to spend nearly as much as we thought. Splurges like vacations and fancy dinners are nice but not necessary. Cutting back on discretionary spending and just paying for the essentials can allow you to save more and stay out of debt.

Tips for responsible spending

Here are a few suggestions for how to spend responsibly: 1. Create a budget: Make a monthly budget for yourself that will allow you to pay for the necessities without breaking the bank.

2. Stop impulsive purchases: It can be easy to impulsively shop online. Try to stop and think, “Is this purchase necessary?” before you click buy.

3. Look for savings: Always take the extra time to look for promo codes or purchase items off-season (i.e., parkas are usually on sale in July). However, never buy an item just because it’s on sale.

For additional information on how to make financial decisions simple, please visit www.credello.com.

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UNDERSTANDING THYROID DISEASE THYROID DISEASE Your thyroid produces thyroid hormone, which controls many activities in your body, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. Diseases of the thyroid cause it to make either too much or too little of the hormone. Depending on how much or how little hormone your thyroid makes, you may often feel restless or tired, or you may lose or gain weight. Women are more likely than men to have thyroid diseases, especially right after pregnancy and after menopause.

likely to develop after menopause.

WHAT IS THE THYROID? Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland found at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. This gland makes thyroid hormone that travels in your blood to all parts of your body. The thyroid hormone controls your body's metabolism in many ways, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats.

WHAT KINDS OF THYROID DISEASE AFFECT WOMEN? These thyroid diseases affect more women than men: • Disorders that cause hypothyroidism • Disorders that cause hyperthyroidism • Thyroiditis, especially postpartum thyroiditis • Goiter • Thyroid nodules • Thyroid cancer

HOW DO THYROID PROBLEMS AFFECT WOMEN? Women are more likely than men to have thyroid disease. One in eight women could develop thyroid problems during her lifetime.

In women, thyroid diseases can cause: Problems with your menstrual period. Your thyroid helps control your menstrual cycle. Too much or too little thyroid hormone can make your periods very light, heavy, or irregular.

Thyroid disease also can cause your periods to stop for several months or longer, a condition called amenorrhea. If your body's immune system causes thyroid disease, other glands, including your ovaries, may be involved. This can lead to early menopause (before age 40).

Problems getting pregnant. When thyroid disease affects the menstrual cycle, it also affects ovulation. This can make it harder for you to get pregnant.

Problems during pregnancy. Thyroid problems during pregnancy can cause health problems for the mother and the baby.

Sometimes, symptoms of thyroid problems are mistaken for menopause symptoms. Thyroid disease, especially hypothyroidism, is more 46 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

ARE SOME WOMEN MORE AT RISK FOR THYROID DISEASE? Yes. You may want to talk to your doctor about getting tested if you: • Had a thyroid problem in the past • Had surgery or radiotherapy affecting the thyroid gland • Have a condition such as goiter, anemia, or type 1 diabetes Screening for thyroid disease is not recommended for most women.

WHAT IS HYPOTHYROIDISM? Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormones. It is also called underactive thyroid. This slows down many of your body's functions, like your metabolism.

The most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is Hashimoto's disease. In people with Hashimoto's disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid. This attack damages the thyroid so that it does not make enough hormones.

Hypothyroidism also can be caused by: • Hyperthyroidism treatment (radioiodine) • Radiation treatment of certain cancers • Thyroid removal WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM? Symptoms of hypothyroidism develop slowly, often over several years. At first, you may feel tired and sluggish. Later, you may develop other signs and symptoms of a slowed-down metabolism, including: • Feeling cold when other people do not

• • •

Constipation Muscle weakness Weight gain, even though you are not eating more food • Joint or muscle pain • Feeling sad or depressed • Feeling very tired • Pale, dry skin • Dry, thinning hair • Slow heart rate • Less sweating than usual • A puffy face • A hoarse voice • More than usual menstrual bleeding You also may have high LDL or "bad" cholesterol, which can raise your risk for heart disease.

HOW IS HYPOTHYROIDISM TREATED? Hypothyroidism is treated with medicine that gives your body the thyroid hormone it needs to work normally. The most common medicines are man-made forms of the hormone that your thyroid makes. You will likely need to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of your life.

When you take the pills as your doctor tells you to, the pills are very safe.

WHAT IS HYPERTHYROIDISM? Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, causes your thyroid to make more thyroid hormone than your body needs. This speeds up many of your body's functions, like your metabolism and heart rate.

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. Graves' disease is a problem with the immune system.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM? At first, you might not notice the signs or symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Symptoms usually begin slowly. But, over time, a faster metabolism can cause symptoms such as: • Weight loss, even if you eat the same or more food (most but not all people lose weight)

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• •

Eating more than usual Rapid or irregular heartbeat or pounding of your heart • Feeling nervous or anxious • Feeling irritable • Trouble sleeping • Trembling in your hands and fingers • Increased sweating • Feeling hot when other people do not • Muscle weakness • Diarrhea or more bowel movements than normal • Fewer and lighter menstrual periods than normal • Changes in your eyes that can include bulging of the eyes, redness, or irritation Hyperthyroidism raises your risk for osteoporosis, a condition that causes weak bones that break easily. In fact, hyperthyroidism might affect your bones before you have any of the other symptoms of the condition. This is especially true of women who have gone through menopause or who are already at high risk of osteoporosis.

HOW IS HYPERTHYROIDISM TREATED? Your doctor's choice of treatment will depend on your symptoms and the cause of your hyperthyroidism. Treatments include: • Medicine. } Antithyroid medicines block your thyroid from making new thyroid hormone. These drugs do not cause lasting damage to the thyroid.

• Beta-blockers block the effects of thyroid hormone on your body. These medicines can be helpful in slowing your heart rate and treating other symptoms until one of the other forms of treatment can take effect.

Beta-blockers do not reduce the amount of thyroid hormones that are made.

• Radioiodine.

This treatment kills the thyroid cells that make thyroid hormones. Often, this causes permanent hypothyroidism.

• Surgery. Thyroid surgery removes most or all of the thyroid. This may cause permanent hypothyroidism.

WHAT IS THYROIDITIS? Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid. It happens when the body's immune system makes antibodies that attack the thyroid.

Causes of thyroiditis include: • Autoimmune diseases, like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis • Genetics • Viral or bacterial infection • Certain types of medicines • Two common types of thyroiditis are

Hashimoto's thyroiditis

disease

and

postpartum

WHAT IS POSTPARTUM THYROIDITIS? Postpartum thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid after giving birth, affects 10% of women.

It often goes undiagnosed because symptoms are much like the "baby blues" that may follow after delivery. Women with postpartum thyroiditis may feel very tired and moody.

Postpartum thyroiditis typically happens in two phases, though not everyone with the condition goes through both phases: • The first phase starts 1 to 4 months after giving birth and typically last 1 to 2 months. In this phase, you may have signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism because the damaged thyroid leaks thyroid hormones out into the bloodstream.

• The second phase starts about 4 to 8 months after delivery and lasts 6 to 12 months. In this phase, you may have signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism because the thyroid has lost most of its hormones or because the immune attack is over, and the thyroid may recover later.

WHAT IS A GOITER? A goiter is an unusually enlarged thyroid gland.

It may happen only for a short time and may go away on its own without treatment. Or it could be a symptom of another thyroid disease that requires treatment. Goiter is more common in women than in men and especially in women before menopause.

Some common causes of goiter include: • Hashimoto's disease • Graves' disease • Thyroid nodules • Thyroiditis • Thyroid cancer Usually, the only symptom of a goiter is a swelling in your neck. It may be large enough that you can see it or feel the lump with your hand. A very large goiter can also cause a tight feeling in your throat, coughing, or problems swallowing or breathing.

Your doctor will do tests to see if it is caused by another thyroid disease.

WHAT ARE THYROID NODULES? A thyroid nodule is a swelling in one section of the thyroid gland. The nodule may be solid or filled with fluid or blood. You may have just one thyroid nodule or many.

Thyroid nodules are common and affect four times as many women as men. Researchers do not know why nodules form in otherwise normal thyroids.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THYROID NODULES? Most thyroid nodules do not cause symptoms and are not cancerous. Some thyroid nodules make too much thyroid hormone, causing hyperthyroidism. Sometimes, nodules grow so big that they cause problems with swallowing or breathing. About one-third of nodules are found by the patient, another third by the doctor, and the other third through an imaging test of the neck.

You can sometimes see or feel a thyroid nodule yourself. Stand in front of a mirror and raise your chin slightly. Look for a bump on either side of your windpipe below your Adam's apple.

If the bump moves up and down when you swallow, it may be a thyroid nodule. Ask your doctor to look at it.

WHAT IS THYROID CANCER? Thyroid cancer happens when cancer cells form from the tissues of the thyroid gland.

Most people with thyroid cancer have a thyroid nodule that does not cause any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may have swelling or a lump in your neck. The lump may cause problems swallowing. Some people get a hoarse voice. To tell if the lump or nodule is cancerous, your doctor will order certain tests. Most thyroid nodules are not cancerous.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR THYROID CANCER? About three times as many women get thyroid cancer as men. The number of women with thyroid cancer is also going up. By 2020, the number of women with thyroid cancer is expected to double, from 34,000 women to more than 70,000 women.

Thyroid cancer is more common in women who: • Are between the ages of 25 and 65 • Had radiation therapy to the head or neck, especially in childhood, to treat cancer • Have a history of goiter • Have a family history of thyroid cancer HOW ARE THYROID DISEASES DIAGNOSED? It can be hard to tell if you have a thyroid disease. The symptoms are the same as many other health problems. Your doctor may start by asking about your health history and if any of your family members has had thyroid disease.

Your doctor may also give you a physical exam and check your neck for thyroid nodules.

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also do other tests, such as: • Blood tests. Testing the level of thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood can help your doctor figure out if your thyroid is overactive or underactive.

E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 47

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•

TSH tells your thyroid to make thyroid hormones. Depending on the results, your doctor might do another blood test to check levels of one or both thyroid hormones in your blood.

• Radioactive iodine uptake test. For this test, you swallow a liquid or capsule that holds a small dose of radioactive iodine (radioiodine). The radioiodine collects in your thyroid because your thyroid uses iodine to make thyroid hormone.

• High levels of radioiodine mean that your thyroid makes too much of the thyroid hormone. Low levels mean that your thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormone.

• Thyroid scan. A thyroid scan uses the same radioiodine dose that was given by mouth for your uptake test. You lie on a table while a special camera makes an image of your thyroid on a computer screen. This test shows the pattern of iodine uptake in the thyroid.

Three types of nodules show up in this test: } "Hot" nodules. These thyroid nodules show up on the scan more brightly than normal thyroid nodules. They take up more radioiodine than the surrounding thyroid. They also make more hormones than normal thyroids. } "Warm" nodules. These nodules take up the same amount of radioiodine as normal thyroid and make a normal amount of hormones.

•

} "Cold" nodules. These nodules show up as dark areas on the scan. They do not take up much radioiodine and do not make thyroid hormones. Many nodules are cold.

Thyroid ultrasound. The thyroid ultrasound uses sound waves to take a picture of the thyroid on a computer screen. This test can

help your doctor tell what type of nodule you have and how large it is. You may need more thyroid ultrasounds over time to see if your nodule is growing or shrinking.

Ultrasound may also be helpful in finding thyroid cancer, although by itself, it cannot be used to diagnose thyroid cancer.

• Thyroid fine needle biopsy. This test tells whether thyroid nodules have normal cells in them. Your doctor may numb an area on your neck. Your doctor will then stick a very thin needle into the thyroid to take out some cells and fluid. A doctor will then look at the cells under a microscope to see if they are normal. Cells that are not normal could mean thyroid cancer.

CAN THYROID DISEASE CAUSE PROBLEMS GETTING PREGNANT? Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can make it harder for you to get pregnant. This is because problems with the thyroid hormone can upset the balance of the hormones that cause ovulation. Hypothyroidism can also cause your body to make more prolactin, the hormone that tells your body to make breastmilk. Too much prolactin can prevent ovulation.

Thyroid problems can also affect the menstrual cycle. Your periods may be heavier or irregular, or you may not have any periods at all for several months or longer (called amenorrhea).

pregnancy. Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause problems for both mother and baby.

Hyperthyroidism that is not treated with medicine during pregnancy can cause: • Premature birth (birth of the baby before 39 to 40 weeks, or full-term) • Preeclampsia, a serious condition starting after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Preeclampsia causes high blood pressure and problems with the kidneys and other organs. The only cure for preeclampsia is childbirth.

• Thyroid storm (sudden, severe worsening of symptoms) • Fast heart rate in the newborn, which can lead to heart failure, poor weight gain, or an enlarged thyroid that can make it hard to breathe • Low birth weight (smaller than 5 pounds) • Miscarriage • Hypothyroidism that is not treated with medicine during pregnancy can cause: • Anemia (lower than normal number of healthy red blood cells) • Preeclampsia • Low birth weight (smaller than 5 pounds) • Miscarriage • Stillbirth • Problems with the baby's growth and brain development

HOW DOES THYROID DISEASE AFFECT PREGNANCY? Pregnancy-related hormones raise the level of thyroid hormones in the blood. Thyroid hormones are necessary for the baby's brain development while in the womb.

It can be harder to diagnose thyroid problems during pregnancy because of the change in hormone levels that normally happen during pregnancy. But it is especially important to check for problems before getting pregnant and during

DID WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THYROID DISEASES? For more information about thyroid diseases, contact a medical professional, or call the OWH Helpline at 1-800994-9662. You can also contact the following organizations:

National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH

Hormone Health Network

National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service, NIDDK, NIH

Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc.

Phone Number: 800-422-6237

Phone Number: 800-860-8747

48 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

Phone Number: 800-467-6663

Phone Number: 877-588-7904

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WINTER 2021

SCAD SUPPORTS CARRIE MAE WEEMS RESIST COVID/TAKE 6! IN GEORGIA University Launches Project in Atlanta and Savannah Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Black, Latino and Native Communities

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has partnered with renowned artist Carrie Mae Weems to launch a public art initiative raising critical health awareness about COVID-19 and the ways racial inequities have manifested in the pandemic, with people of color inordinately at risk. The artist-driven project, RESIST COVID/TAKE 6!, cites the precaution for people to maintain a six-foot distance from one another and speaks to the urgency of Weems’ call to action.

Weems and her close friend Pierre Loving, lamenting what they saw unfolding.

Weems began working on this new project this spring while artist-in-residence at Syracuse University, as the extent of the COVID-19 crisis became apparent.

The idea came from a conversation of

In addition to a presentation at the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah, RESIST COVID/TAKE 6! will also be on view at SCAD Atlanta. A sequence of commanding billboards and bus shelters bring its

50 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

“The arts allow us to get closest to our humanity,” says Carrie Mae Weems. “One of the important things is to understand the circumstances under which we live.

This means unmasking inequity, because then you begin to see the power structures that are under it to keep you fighting one another as opposed to really looking at really the source of the problems.”

message to the attention of residents in one of the country’s highly impacted cities.

Flyers, “church-style” fans, and bags will be distributed through Meals on Wheels Atlanta and various local organizations in Savannah. The printed pieces will be directing audiences to local resources, including COVID-19 testing sites.

The works showcase the realities of the international health crisis while providing notes of gratitude to workers within the health and service industries and making direct appeals for people to take preventive safety measures.

SCAD has over a decade-long friendship with Weems. The artist has collaborated

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with the university on numerous exhibitions and initiatives to showcase her dynamic work. Weems has been a distinguished visiting professor at SCAD Atlanta and worked with students on a thoughtprovoking film, “Constructing History: A Requiem to Mark the Moment”, for the National Black Arts Festival in 2008. In 2016, Weems was the SCAD deFINE ART honoree and keynote speaker. That same year she had an accompanying exhibition titled “Carrie Mae Weems: Considered” at the SCAD Museum of Art in the Walter O. Evans Center for African American Studies.

Most recently, Weems spoke with SCAD

president and founder Paula Wallace for her ‘On Creativity’ podcast where the artist discussed recent and upcoming creative work, the importance of the RESIST COVID/TAKE 6! initiative, and her legacy in the industry. “As a new public-facing art initiative, not only does RESIST COVID/ TAKE 6! raise critical health awareness, but it shines a light on how this pandemic has disproportionately affected Black, Latino, and Native communities”, says SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. “We are delighted to be partnering with Carrie Mae Weems, a longtime friend of SCAD, to bring this important work to Atlanta and Savannah.”

Weems hopes RESIST COVID/TAKE 6! will be impactful in both its immediate messaging and in prompting larger dialogue about the pandemic and the long-term state of those most severely affected. This initiative is also being activated in multiple cities nationwide, including New York, Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia in support by producing collaborators, THE OFFICE performing arts + film.

For more information on the campaign, please visit socialstudiesproject.org.

ABOUT CARRIE MAE WEEMS

Carrie Mae Weems is an internationally renowned artist who has used multiple mediums (photography, video, digital imagery, text, fabric, and more) to explore themes of cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems, family relationships, and the consequences of power.

Weems has created a complex body of work that centers on her overarching commitment to helping us better understand our present moment by examining our collective past. Determined as ever to enter the picture — both literally and metaphorically — Weems has sustained an ongoing dialogue within contemporary discourse for more than 35 years.

Weems has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions at major national and international museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Frist Center for Visual Art, Nashville; The Cleveland Museum of Art; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; The Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; and the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo in Seville, Spain.

She is represented in public and private collections around the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate Modern, London; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; National Gallery of Canada; and Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. She lives and works in Syracuse, New York.

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering more than 100 academic degree programs in more than 40 majors across its locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCAD eLearning.

SCAD enrolls more than 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum is enhanced by advanced professional-level technology, equipment, and learning resources, as well as opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and collaborative projects with corporate partners. In 2019, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD as the No. 1 university in the U.S. and in the top two universities in the Americas and Europe for the third consecutive year. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate.

E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 51

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WHAT TO DO

IF YOU Lost Employer-Subsidized DENTAL INSURANCE With millions of Americans out of work due to the ongoing pandemic, many people have lost the medical and dental insurance that they had through their employer. While uninsured, medical and dental bills can quickly grow out of control — or worse yet, lack of insurance can cause people to avoid the doctor and let serious health concerns go untreated.

If you think dental care is out of reach without employer-subsidized insurance, think again. Here, we're going to help you evaluate the top three strategies towards making sure your teeth remain healthy without hurting your wallet too much in the process.

Paying for dental insurance yourself

The most straightforward answer might be to simply buy dental insurance. There are two ways to go about this: You can use COBRA to keep your dental insurance from your employer for up to 18 months. Otherwise, you can buy dental insurance in the marketplace — but only when you're buying medical insurance at the same time.

The only problem is that without employer subsidies and group pricing, dental insurance can get expensive fast. If your dental insurance has maximum coverage limits or doesn't cover procedures more complicated than routine cleanings and care, it may not be worth the annual premiums to buy insurance yourself.

If you're buying a new dental insurance plan, it's also important to watch out for waiting periods. Many dental insurance plans will have a waiting period that can range from several months to a year before they cover more expensive procedures. That means if you're hoping to buy insurance for an appointment next week, you have to be very selective to avoid lengthy waiting periods. If you keep your plan through COBRA, you won't be starting from day one on your waiting period.

Does Medicaid, Medicare, or CHIP cover dental care?

If you're unemployed or underemployed, you may qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid is designed to help low-income, disabled, or pregnant people access healthcare, but it's run on a state level, so that exact requirements will depend on your state. Medicaid is required to provide dental coverage, so if you qualify for Medicaid, this is by far the most affordable way to get dental care.

Families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid may 52 | E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E

fall within the boundaries of CHIP, which is designed to provide health care coverage to children and pregnant women, depending on the state. Although the details of CHIP coverage vary by state, it is required to cover dental care for children who qualify.

Medicare, which provides healthcare coverage for people above the age of 65 as well as disabled people, does not necessarily include dental coverage. However, while all Medicare recipients receive what's known as Original Medicare, or Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare beneficiaries can opt to switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. Medicare Advantage Plans are run by private insurers but provide all of the coverage of Original Medicare as well as different enhancements, and they can include dental and vision care.

Alternative ways to pay for dental emergencies

Don't buy insurance at the last minute hoping to have your urgent care covered — many dental plans have waiting periods of months to a year, and even those that don't often won't cover pre-existing conditions. It's not impossible to find dental coverage that will assist with an immediate procedure, but be sure to read the fine print.

Instead, options you may want to consider are a dental savings plan, which is an option that gives a flat discount to dental services in exchange for an annual fee. You may also want to discuss with your dentist whether they'll work with you on an installment plan to pay for your procedure over time, or alternatively if there might be an opportunity for a discount if you offer cash upfront.

Another solution? Shop around between dentists. If you have a local dental school, that's another alternative for more affordable dental care, and all procedures are closely supervised by licensed dentists.

Source: iQuanti, Inc.

WINTER 2021

MEDICARE PART D DRUGS COULD COST LESS IN 2021

WHY YOUR

Prescription drug costs are a huge burden for many Americans and a huge portion of how much Medicare costs for many seniors. What's more, it's common knowledge that pharmaceuticals can be much more expensive in the US than the same medication is in Canada or Europe.

In an effort to lower these prescription drug costs, the Trump Administration has pushed out two rules in the last weeks of its administration to change the way drug prices are regulated. These are the Most Favored Nation ("MFN") Model, which will impact prices for Medicare Part B drugs, and a Rebate Safe Harbor Rule that will impact prescription drug plans in Medicare Part D. How these new rules will change drug pricing, and whether or not they'll stand up to legal scrutiny, is complicated by the quick rollout of the new rules so close to the end of Trump's administration.

The Most-Favored-Nations The Rebate Safe Harbor Rule, and what it means Rule, and what it means The Most-Favored-Nations Rule ties Medicare Part B drug prices to benchmark prices set by a select group of OECD countries. The goal would be to set drug prices in the US on par with other nations and to limit the incentives behind high drug prices.

This rule would only impact Medicare Part B, which means medications and drugs administered directly in a doctor's office, rather than prescriptions filled out at your local pharmacy.

The Rebate Safe Harbor Rule would affect Medicare Part D prescription drugs.

Medicare Part D is an optional component of Medicare, unlike Medicare Parts A and B, so it would only impact those who have elected for prescription drug coverage.

The RSH Rule would modify guidelines intended to restrict kickbacks to pharmacists and instead pass those rebates on to patients. In addition, it has the potential to incentivize drug manufacturers to lower the list prices of medications.

Will the new rules stand?

The MFN and RSH Rules both face similar issues in the coming months, based on procedural, political, and industry critics.

The pharmaceutical industry is likely to challenge the MFN Rule in court, and the administration's skipping of an interim procedural step — a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking — could be problematic.

Some complications that may arise due to the MFN Rule are the question of how to set these benchmark prices based on the new rule, as well as the potential to alter prices globally in response.

Additionally, while making pharmaceutical pricing fairer for Americans is an issue with wide bipartisan support, the newly elected Biden administration has made specific campaign promises about how they would address the issue. Biden has proposed instead tying drug price increases to inflation and allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers. Issues of fine-tuning the implementation of the MFN and RSH Rule would fall to the Biden administration, so there is a possibility that these ideas could be replaced wholesale.

Source: iQuanti, Inc. E M P O W E R A T L A N T A M A G A Z I N E | 53

1 in 7 children faces hunger.

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LET’S TALK ABOUT IT The Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line provides free and confidential assistance to callers needing emotional support or resource information as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During these hard times, many have been left to manage their emotions alone. Our mental health pr professionals are here to help.

A partnership between The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Beacon Health Options and Behavioral Health Link.

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