Gwinnett Magazine February 2022 by Story Road

GWINNETT MAGAZINE

Here’s to Health, Wealth and Success!

Don’t let these crazy times get you down… keep things in perspective!

ough times can still be pretty good. You’ve just got to put it in perspective. Whatever happens next in this crazy world, just think of it like this: one day we’ll look back and say “Why, back in ’20 and ‘21 you wouldn’t believe the way things were!” Bad as it may seem to us right now, what we call tough times might very well pale in comparison to what I’ve heard of the challenging times of old. Telling my kids, “I missed my Starbucks while I had to work from home,” or explaining how supply chain problems caused my new iPhone to arrive late hardly measure up to stories I heard growing up: Putting cardboard in the soles of your shoes. Chasing ice trucks down the street to scoop up fallen, refreshing pieces. Working the paper route in the mornings before school to make ends meet. And, of course, walking uphill in the snow with no shoes. Now those are tough times (And, best I can figure, it used to snow in Georgia a lot more than it does now – as the stories sometimes go). I remember, growing up, we all thought a dream house was a small three-bedroom home with two baths on a good lot. The homes were modest and well-built. I can still drive by the one my family

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purchased over in Norcross back in 1965 and, you know, it looks about as good as it did way back then. We were happy before we got the dream house and still very content long afterward. It seems like for many of us those standards for satisfaction have changed over the years. We’ve changed our expectations of what we “should” have. Saving up 20 percent for a down payment and plunking it down on a house that would outlast a mortgage gave way to this notion that we need bigger houses, hi-tech cars and big ole TV’s. And we need them right now. Sunrooms, Jacuzzis and two-car garages with central air come with starter homes now. Remember when air conditioning was a luxury? If you had A/C, it was likely a window unit from Sears and Roebuck rattling the glass pane. At some point in this social mediafueled world, we may have lost sight of what real tough times are. I’m thankful to be blessed with good fortune, and my heart goes out to folks who, every day, face far greater challenges than I do. There are so many circumstances in day-to-day life that are just plain hard. At some point, everybody is climbing and facing adversity. It’s something we need to always remember.

Some days it seems like we’ve lost sight of what it means to help a neighbor and simply choose kindness over conflict. I’d like to see us refresh our collective efforts on those fronts. Maybe all this recent strife in the world signals a chance to realign our values, focus and appreciation. This year, as we continue to face what might be the most daunting time in recent history, let’s take some time to be thankful – and put things in perspective. We’re pretty fortunate to live in a great country, in a great community and, believe it or not, in a place where opportunity still exists on most every corner. Thank God for America and all her people. And while it may be tough, let’s all rally to the cause for success, show our strength and be proud we’re living in the greatest time on Earth. Health, wealth and success can still reign. Our Best,

David Greer CEO | Publisher Gwinnett Magazine

CONTENTS

GWINNETT MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2022

Gwinnett’s Leaders, Legends & Influencers! In 2022, we’re kicking off something HUGE. Don’t miss the stories of those who made Gwinnett the amazing place it is today.

Can you name the state capitals? Know all the Star-Spangled Banner lyrics? Who was the 16th U.S. president?

Put in those earbuds & Get ready to tune in (or out)! Check out our top 10 podcasts — both local and beyond — that will keep you in the know and entertained.

Made in America!

42 Black History in Gwinnett 54

Read about the historic figures – some living and some we remember today – who made all the difference!

04 Takin’ Care of Business!

East Gwinnett ‘megasite,’ billion-dollar deals, Relay and People on the Move!

62 Reset in the New Year Pastor Andy Stanley asks of us all: What story do you want to tell in 2022?

54 Some Like it Hot! 62

Their chili that is… and this recipe for spicy chicken chili will warm you up on the most frigid of winter days.

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GOT A COOL IDEA FOR A BUSINESS STORY? SEND IT TO NEWSROOM@GWINNETTMAGAZINE.COM

GWINNETT BUSINESS PAGES

AN EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO THRIVE IN A LOW-COST, CENTRAL LOCATION.

GWINNETT COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRWOMAN NICOLE LOVE HENDRICKSON

ENTREPRENEUR CENTER

OPEN FOR (SMALL) BUSINESS!

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A first-of-its-kind joint venture between Gwinnett County and Georgia Gwinnett College is open for business… literally! The Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center aims to incubate small business startups and support entrepreneurs through idea exchanges, collaboration and mentorships. Gwinnett County Commission Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said it’s “an equitable opportunity for small business owners to thrive in a low-cost, central location.” District 4 Commissioner Marlene Fosque said the center’s inaugural class of entrepreneurs are “blazing a trail that others will follow for years to come.” GGC President Dr. Jann L. Joseph called the center “one of the most viable assets we have in Gwinnett County… This center allows us to have endless possibilities to help entrepreneurs achieve their goals.” According to Gwinnett County’s website, workspace at the center will be available for fledgling entrepreneurs Scan to who go through an application and interview process. learn more!

BUSINESAGSP ES

WHAT’S NEW FOR EAST

GWINNETT ‘MEGASITE’ IN 2022? Folks from Gwinnett and beyond have big dreams for 2,000 acres of untamed forest near Dacula. And not just pipe dreams – although pipes are exactly what the county is putting in the ground later this year to pave the way for the Rowen Development. Sewer pipes. Breaking ground on the development’s infrastructure in 2022 will be a big first step in what’s projected to be a decades-long, ongoing project. Rowen Foundation President Mason Ailstock says the groundbreaking will “bring Rowen to life physically.” “The next steps for Rowen are taking the words and the mission and vision of the non-profit Rowen Foundation and the great input we’ve received from the community and our partners and putting that to work,” Ailstock says. One such ent it y work ing w it h Rowen is Partnership Gwinnett – a public-private initiative dedicated

to br inging new jobs and capita l investment to the county. A nd rew Car nes, Par t nersh ip G w i n net t ’s V P of E conom ic Development, says there’s been much interest from companies regarding the site. “Whenever you have the largest and only ‘megasite’ within metro Atlanta, and you are building something of this magnitude, it’s getting on the national radar. Yes, we’re seeing companies extremely interested in locating here,” Carnes says. Accord ing to Rowen’s website, the development is “Georgia’s hub for the intersection of business and innovation with an active focus on the environment, agriculture and medicine. We are building a visionary knowledge community to include a combinat ion of off ices, research facilities, public spaces, residences, and preserved greenspace.” To learn more, visit www.rowenlife.com.

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ROADS? WHERE WE’RE GOING WE DON’T NEED ROADS The theme for this year’s big Relay for Life event is “Back to the Future” – and no, there won’t be any plutonium-fueled Deloreans. Sorry! There will however be a ton of folks trying to get Gwinnett County’s biggest fundraising event for the American Cancer Society back on its feet again after two years of tough going. “Covid stopped a lot of things but it didn’t stop cancer. That’s why we’re more driven than ever,” says John Harris, senior community manager for American Cancer Society. He is overseeing the event, which is scheduled for May 6, at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. Harris says the past two years of fundraising have been problematic because of COVID-19.

“We call it ‘Back to the Future,’ because the last two years have been devastating to nonprofits,” Harris says. “Our goal is to get back to the way we were in 2019 and previous.” Just as in previous years, there are many supporting events leading up to May for survivors, caregivers and those who want to pitch in. Scan to learn how to get involved, & search for Gwinnett.

MINGLE, MAKE CONNECTIONS AT 74TH CHAMBER DINNER Tickets for the Gwinnett Chamber’s 74th Annual Dinner are on sale now – offering owners of all sizes of businesses the opportunity to come out and meet some of the county’s top executives, community leaders and elected officials. Scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, April 22, at Gas South Convention Center, the Annual Dinner is the premier celebration of Gwinnett’s community servants, corporate citizens and compassionate organizations sure to leave a legacy. Sponsorship opportunities are available on the Gwinnett Chamber’s website as well as the opportunity to nominate locals for the following awards: Citizen of the Year, Public Service, James J. Maran International, D. Scott Hudgens Humanitarian and R. Wayne Shackelford Legacy. Scan to buy tickets, sponsor the event or nominate someone.

PEOPLE ON THE

MOVE! LISA SHERMAN

BILLY MILAM was

named Chief Executive Officer of EmployBridge after the company acquired Hire Dynamics.

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JAMES “JD” MCCLURE

was named the new Gwinnett County Police Chief.

is the new Vice President of Marketing and Communications with the Gwinnett Chamber.

THOMAS J. GRAVINA is the new Chairman of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (PCOM) Board of Trustees.

BUSINESAGSP ES

DULUTH AUTO RETAILER ADDS $5.7B WITH ACQUISITION Duluth-based Asbury Automotive Group recently inked a deal that expanded its reach westward in the United States – and added about $5.7 billion in annual revenue. Asbury Automotive Group, which is one of the largest auto retail service companies in the United States, made official the acquisition of a Utah-based dealership group. The deal adds 54 new vehicle dealerships, seven used vehicle dealerships, 11 collision centers and more to the company. “We are excited to complete the transformative acquisition of Larry H. Miller Dealerships. With its strong culture and stewardship mentality, coupled with the ability to rapidly expand Asbury’s presence into these desirable, high-growth Western markets, it is a rare opportunity,” says David Hult, Asbury’s President and Chief Executive Officer. A Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth and founded in 1995, Asbury Automotive Group is one of the largest auto retailers in the United States.

GWINNETT THIRD BEST FOR SMALL BUSINESS PRESENCE A study that examined the state’s strongest counties for small business presence recently ranked Gwinnett third in Georgia! According to New York City-based SmartAsset, a financial technology company, Gwinnett’s business presence was second only to Oglethorpe and Gilmer counties.

The report ranked counties by the percentage of total tax returns and small business incomes. According to its website, SmartAsset is an online destination for consumer-focused financial information and advice that powers SmartAdvisor, a national marketplace connecting consumers to financial advisors.

JOE SORENSON

was named Communications Department Director with Gwinnett County Government.

ADRIENNE MCALLISTER

DR. CALVIN J. WATTS

is the new Gwinnett County Public Schools Superintendent.

was named Interim Director of Gwinnett County Government’s Human Resources Department.

J. ALVIN WILBANKS

was appointed to the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission.

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GWINNETT MAGAZINE

SPLOST-funded Amenities Keep Gwinnett a

Preferred Community NICOLE L. HENDRICKSON CHAIRWOMAN GWINNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Gwinnett County has nationally recognized parks and library systems. Fire and Emergency Services personnel help keep residents safe, supported by well-located stations and excellent equipment. The Police Department consistently earns certification for professionalism of its staff, trained at a state-of-the-art facility. Our transportation network is constantly adding new critical features, such as sidewalks, extra lanes, roundabouts, and intersection improvements. But these amenities don’t come without a cost. Thanks to the voterapproved one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, Gwinnett County has the funds to meet the needs of our residents and businesses on a pay-as-you-go basis. SPLOST programs have raised an estimated $3.8 billion since first approved by Gwinnett County voters in 1985. The funds — which are collected

from anyone who makes a purchase in Gwinnett, not just residents — are used for capital improvement projects. SPLOST has allowed the County to make critical public safety improvements, such as communications centers, police precincts, fire stations, and training centers. It has covered the purchase of thousands of acres of land for parks and the cost to build and at times renovate pools, playgrounds, community centers, and library buildings. It has paid for trails, environmental and historic site restorations, a civic center expansion, and new facilities for senior services. And SPLOST-funded transportation upgrades help keep our traffic flowing. Because of SPLOST, the County can pay for projects without going into debt, saving taxpayer dollars in interest payments. Largely because of the County’s lack of debt, the three bond ratings have given Gwinnett the top AAA rating, a rare and coveted mark of approval. The County also shares SPLOST revenues with the cities, enabling them to provide many quality-of-life improvements within city limits. Voters have approved nine separate SPLOST referenda since the mid-1980s, a ringing endorsement by the public on the use of their tax dollars. With our community expected to grow from 957,000 people now to 1.5 million in 2040, the pressure on infrastructure will be greater than ever. So thank you, voters, for your repeated support of our SPLOST programs. As a result, we will be able to continue to build on our past success to make Gwinnett County a preferred community where everyone thrives.

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COUNTVERYGO NMENT

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c i r e m A Val 12FEBRARU Y20/

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n a clues THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Oh, say! can you see by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Our Presidents

1 George Washington 17 Andrew Johnson 33 Harry S. Truman 2 John Adams 18 Ulysses S. Grant 34 Dwight D. Eisenhower 3 Thomas Jefferson 19 Rutherford B. Hayes 35 John F. Kennedy 4 James Madison 20 James Garfield 36 Lyndon B. Johnson 5 James Monroe 21 Chester A. Arthur 37 Richard M. Nixon 6 John Quincy Adams 22 Grover Cleveland 38 Gerald R. Ford 7 Andrew Jackson 23 Benjamin Harrison 39 James Carter 8 Martin Van Buren 24 Grover Cleveland 40 Ronald Reagan 9 William Henry Harrison 25 William McKinley 41 George H. W. Bush 10 John Tyler 26 Theodore Roosevelt 42 William J. Clinton 11 James K. Polk 27 William Howard Taft 43 George W. Bush 12 Zachary Taylor 28 Woodrow Wilson 44 Barack Obama 13 Millard Fillmore 29 Warren G. Harding 45 Donald J. Trump 14 Franklin Pierce 30 Calvin Coolidge 46 Joe Biden 15 James Buchanan 31 Herbert Hoover 16 Abraham Lincoln 32 Franklin D. Roosevelt 14FEBRARU Y20/

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S E T s l A a t i p ST and ca Alabama - MONTGOMERY

Nebraska - LINCOLN

Alaska - JUNEAU

Nevada - CARSON CITY

Arizona - PHOENIX

New Hampshire - CONCORD

Arkansas - LITTLE ROCK

New Jersey - TRENTON

California - SACRAMENTO

New Mexico - SANTA FE

Colorado - DENVER

New York -ALBANY

Connecticut - HARTFORD

North Carolina - RALEIGH

Delaware - DOVER

North Dakota - BISMARCK

Florida - TALLAHASSEE

Ohio - COLUMBUS

Georgia -ATLANTA

Oklahoma - OKLAHOMA CITY

Hawaii - HONOLULU

Oregon - SALEM

Idaho - BOISE

Pennsylvania - HARRISBURG

Illinois - SPRINGFIELD

Rhode Island - PROVIDENCE

Indiana - INDIANAPOLIS

South Carolina - COLUMBIA

Iowa - DES MOINES

South Dakota - PIERRE

Kansas - TOPEKA

Tennessee - NASHVILLE

Kentucky - FRANKFORT

Texas -AUSTIN

Louisiana - BATON ROUGE

Utah - SALT LAKE CITY

Maine - AUGUSTA

Vermont - MONTPELIER

Maryland - ANNAPOLIS

Virginia - RICHMOND

Massachusetts - BOSTON

Washington - OLYMPIA

Michigan - LANSING

West Virginia - CHARLESTON

Minnesota - ST. PAUL

Wisconsin - MADISON

Mississippi - JACKSON

Wyoming - CHEYENNE

Missouri - JEFFERSON CITY Montana - HELENA

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the

DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE by John Trumbull

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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance

of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby

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the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

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For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

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He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of

consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

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GWINNETT MAGAZINE

What makes a great Leader? What sets apart the Legends from the rest? What common sense values do these Influencers share?

The Leaders & Legends series from Gwinnett Magazine will set your soul on fire with answers to these questions and more! But first, why is it so important to learn about the successes and failures of those who have come before us?

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We want to illuminate their stories – not only to pay tribute and respect, but to show people, ‘This is how it’s done. Be like this.’ — David Greer, Publisher

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Gwinnett Magazine Publisher David Greer says that, for starters, our country is in a season of unprecedented challenge. “The social media, soundbite, poll-pleasing criteria that drives communication and politics these days is not doing a lot to illuminate the true spirit of America,” Greer says. “The woke-culture ways and politics of communication often overshadow the good. The true stories of courage, common sense and optimism are glossed over by short-term gaslighting rhetoric.” Adds Greer: “We, us, our country, our people… are better than that. We deserve more.” Greer says Leaders & Legends will serve as a platform to capture the commonsense core values of successful people who have served with meaningful purpose. “We’re losing sight of the core values that built this country,” says Greer, who founded Gwinnett Magazine more than 25 years ago. “We’ve got to capture the spirit of these Leaders & Legends while we still have the opportunity – it’s something the youth of America and our culture is in desperate need of.” It’s the kind of spirit this country was built on: imagination, initiative and the desire to improve the community. Consider the eternal optimism of our forefathers, many of whom were farmers who knew when to chalk up a loss as a bad crop year, move on and try again. That’s the spirit of a Leader and Legend. By telling these stories, the Leaders & Legends series provides valuable lessons like these that can be applied in all facets of everyday life. Beyond that, it’s imperative to capture and protect the rich history of these key influencers while we can, so generations for years to come can benefit from their wisdom.

“We’ve got to capture the stories of these people and their mindsets, philosophies and methodologies so the future of the country doesn’t get lost in a superficial, soundbitedriven world,” Greer says. “There are people right here who are doing real, substantial things that make life better for everyone. We want to illuminate their stories – not only to pay tribute and respect, but to show people, ‘This is how it’s done. Be like this.’” America was built on the backs of incredible people like these. Their stories can help inspire us to do everything we can to build upon their legacies. Chronicling these oral histories is essential. To lose this wealth of wisdom would be nothing short of tragic. “All of us have but a short time on this earth to make an impact, but the legacy of effort, influence and accomplishments of inspiring leaders can live on.” For all the moms, dads, students, businesspeople and anyone aspiring to make a difference, the Leaders & Legends series will serve as a treasure trove of inspiration – a body of work rich with history that will serve our community for years to come. Join us as we honor those who demonstrate legendary leadership while modeling the true spirit of America. We hope you enjoy and embrace these stories, as well as the lessons learned by those who share them. In 2022, Gwinnett Magazine will tell these stories month to month across all mediums – print and digital – because there’s nothing more important than learning from these Leaders & Legends. They illuminate and exemplify the American spirit. The lessons they learned over a lifetime are our gain if we listen closely enough to what they have to say. If there’s someone who’s impacted your life – whether it’s a schoolteacher, a pastor, a boss, a coworker, a friend – please let us know. Everybody has at one time or another met someone like this. Leaders and legends are everywhere, with shared traits like common sense, good judgement and possessing the heart of a servant. Send your thoughts and suggestions to David@GwinnettMagazine.com.

LEADERS&LEGENDS

AND NOW… Gwinnett Magazine’s historic kickoff of the Leaders & Legends series begins. Sit back and strap in for a great read. You’re about to witness fascinating stories of success from those who faced unfavorable odds – and came out on top. You’ll read page-turning perspectives from those who met tough circumstances head on… and triumphed: INSPIRATION COMING SOON!

Charlotte Nash

Dr. William Sheals

These great Leaders & Legends stories are almost complete. Keep your eye out for them in our 2022 series. Inspiration is headed your way!

Phillip Beard

Nick Masino

Clyde & Sandra Strickland

Dr. Calvin Watts

Wayne Mason

Louise Radloff

Zell Miller

J.W. Benefield

R. Wayne Shackelford

Lillian Webb

D. Scott Hudgens

E.M. Brand

H. Rhodes Jordan

… and more.

Virgil Williams

Wayne Hill

Wayne Sikes

David McCleskey

Judy Waters

David Snell

Bill Russell

Richard Tucker

Dr. Jann Joseph

Dr. Manfred Sandler

Judy Jordan Johnson

… and many more!

LIVES WELL LIVED We’ve lost some great leaders over time, but we’re going to make sure their stories and wisdom live on. No doubt their impact will continue to inspire future generations.

NEXT ON OUR JOURNEY For over 25 years, we’ve had the honor to meet many Leaders & Legends and now it’s time to tell more of their stories. Here’s our short list of who we’re looking to meet soon.

Know someone who should be on our list? Scan the QR code and recommend them at GwinnettMagazine.com/Leaders-Legends

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BEAUTY BALDWIN It’s the mid-50s in middle Georgia. The sun beats down on Beauty Poole as she drags a cotton sack from one end of a sharecropping field to the other. Beauty wipes the sweat from her forehead and looks around. She isn’t alone; her brother and sisters work side by side with Beauty, harvesting. As with every day she does this, there’s a singular thought that keeps her going: her math studies. In the evenings, before bedtime, her mother holds a lantern while Beauty solves equations. Her mom knows there’s a spark about this girl. She’s built for something special. It’s the mid-80s in Buford, Georgia. Beauty Poole – now, Beauty Baldwin – is preparing to board a plane bound for Washington, D.C., where the Congressional Black Caucus is honoring all the Black female superintendents in the United States. Beauty has just become the first Black female superintendent in history for the state of Georgia. It seems her mother was right about Beauty all along. Over a lifetime of achievements, the city of Buford, county of Gwinnett and state of Georgia would come to know the name Beauty Baldwin – stamping it on the fronts of buildings, honoring her with ongoing accolades. This is the story of how the little girl on the cotton field rose to become one of the most recognizable, historic names in her county.

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY While her life path would one day follow a trajectory she never could have predicted, the young woman’s daily life in 1950s middle Georgia was all too predictable. “All I remember is saying to the good Lord, if he could just get me out of that cotton field, dragging around that cotton sack, I would do whatever he wanted me to do,” Baldwin says. “There was never no money… because your family used all the money from the time you planted the crop until you harvested the crop.” What Baldwin describes was the common but unfortunate practice of sharecropping. It was a system in which the owner of a field allowed tenants to use their land in exchange for a share of the crop or the profits from it.

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All I remember is saying to the good Lord, if he could just get me out of that cotton field, dragging around that cotton sack, I would do whatever he wanted me to do...

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Tenant families rented and lived on small, nearby plots. Baldwin’s family lived and worked on several properties like this in middle Georgia – their living quarters on the land always miniscule compared with the family residence of those who owned it. The owners’ home was often referred to as “the big house.” Baldwin’s mother would sometimes serve as maid in the big house while Baldwin, her father and her siblings toiled in the nearby field. Baldwin was one of six children. They lived outside of anything resembling a town, but on Saturdays the family would travel to towns like Milledgeville. It was during these trips she often saw the signs of segregation that were commonplace at the time. “We would go to this little café,” Baldwin recalls. “You had one side for Black people… the white people could sit inside, but there was no place for us to sit. So, we would get a hot dog and take it outside.” She experienced another form of segregation while walking to and from school with siblings. “The white kids did not have to walk [to school],” Baldwin says. “I can remember those very cold days my hands would be just freezing, and that little yellow bus would pass us by… we didn’t have the privilege of having buses. But it was the way it was, and we never thought about it… you know, this is what it is. So, when I look back on that, boy, we’ve come a long way, haven’t we?” Baldwin continued to walk to school in the mornings, excelling in her studies. She became a top-ranked student at T.J. Elder High School and graduated in 1959. That same

year, she enrolled and was accepted at Savannah State College. The sights of Savannah were breathtaking for the young woman. “The [Spanish] moss… and those huge trees on the most beautiful campus. It was like something out of a picture book,” Baldwin says. “And I thought to myself, ‘gosh, this is something else.’” She graduated from Savannah State in 1963, the same year she met husband-to-be, Lucious Baldwin. She was 21 years old. Baldwin’s first professional job was in Ellaville, Georgia, as a teacher at a segregated high school. It was an experience she’ll never forget. “I was the entire math department,” she says. “Most of the kids were as old as I was… a lot of the kids had to stay out of school and work in the fields, so they were older… and these big, rough looking guys would be in my class, and I would help them. And they would bring me stuff like ham and collard greens to say, ‘thank you.’”

INTEGRATION AND THE ROAD TO GWINNETT COUNTY She taught in Ellaville for two years before taking a position in her husband’s hometown, Columbus. She would remain in the area teaching for about 10 years. During that time, the process of integrating classrooms had begun. After giving birth to her daughter, Geri, Baldwin took a job at Hardaway High School in 1969. “I taught at Hardaway High School, and [it] was the new-rich high school in Columbus. Columbus High School is the old money. Hardaway High School was the new money,” she says. Hardaway High School had two Black teachers and five Black students

who integrated there – making them an extreme minority. Baldwin recalls she was assigned to teach a class in which the previous teacher had trouble controlling the students. “And I used a technique that I thought of,” Baldwin says. “I thought, ‘these are rich kids. They have maids in the house, okay?’ And the maids really raise them. So, when that maid told them to do something, they knew they had to do it. So, I went in [that class] with that attitude, like, ‘You’re going to do what I want you to do,’ to get them all straightened out. It worked. It worked like a charm.” Adds Baldwin: “So, I had no problem. No problem, whatsoever, in the integration process. None. And I was at Hardaway High School for four years before we decided to move to Atlanta.” In 1973, Baldwin began searching for a new post. She settled on a teaching position at Central Gwinnett High School, where she would be the only Black educator at the school. Over the next several years there, she would establish a vocational education program at the school that garnered national attention. While employed there, Baldwin doubled down on her career ambitions – earning a master’s degree and specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Georgia. In 1978, she was selected to be assistant principal at Central Gwinnett High School. She served in this capacity until 1980, when she was recruited by Buford City Schools.

CREAM ALWAYS RISES TO THE TOP Just as Baldwin’s mother had, Jim Puckett recognized this woman was built for something special. Puckett met Baldwin in 1980 at a leadership class the two were taking at University of Georgia. At the time, Puckett held the post of superintendent of Buford City Schools. Around the time he met Baldwin there was a vacancy at the middle school in Buford. “We talked about the job, and I was able to convince her to come to Buford to become the middle school principal,” Puckett recalls. Baldwin took the job and would remain principal of the middle school four years. In 1984, when Puckett took a job with the state in Atlanta, the Buford City Schools Board of Education voted to appoint Baldwin as his successor.

Baldwin recalls that when the news media learned “everything just exploded, because evidently they did some research and found out that there had not ever been a Black female school superintendent in the state before.” Shortly after being appointed superintendent, she was invited to Washington D.C. to attend a special luncheon hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus, honoring Baldwin and 12 fellow Black female school superintendents from around the country. After returning to Buford from Washington D.C., Baldwin says she “just jumped in with both feet and did what I was accustomed to doing – leading… everything I did, I did it for the students.” Puckett says Baldwin was the perfect pick for the role of superintendent – a post she held till June 1994. “The board of education very wisely chose Beauty when I left the position,” Puckett says. “It was obvious from the beginning she was a woman of character, a woman of integrity, and she had a super personality which I think set her apart.” Adds Puckett: “Cream always rises to the top, and she certainly made a way for herself, not only in Buford but in the many other roles she’s played… she gets a major gold star for all the hours she’s spent on a variety of boards, committees, commissions both in and outside education.”

OPENING HOPEWELL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY She spent 10 years as superintendent with Buford City Schools – totaling 31 years as an educator at the time. Shortly after retiring from her superintendent post at the age of 52, Baldwin got a surprise one morning during a sermon at her church, Hopewell Baptist. “I remember vividly,” Baldwin says. “When I retired from Buford City Schools, my pastor got up at the pulpit, and he was talking about my retirement, and then he said, ‘we’re going to start a school, and Sister Beauty Baldwin is going to head it.’” She laughs: “And I just looked at him and said, ‘yes, sir.’” Thus, was planted the seed for Hopewell Christian Academy. Baldwin says she’d always wanted to run a Christian school because she “could make things the way I wanted them done” along with the help of likeminded friends and colleagues.

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… I still get up every morning at 5 o’clock and pray. That’s how I operate. And prayer has been all through my life’s journey. And I thank Him every single day.

Hopewell Christian Academy opened its doors in 1997. “With every one of those [graduates from Hopewell], I cannot find one that has not been successful,” she says. “We had a Yale graduate, a lawyer at one of the biggest firms in New York City, a few athletes… and you ask them why they’ve done so well, and they say, ‘it was our foundation at Hopewell Christian Academy.’” Baldwin served as Hopewell’s administrator for 16 years. The school would later become North Metro Academy of Performing Arts, a Gwinnett County Charter School. She still serves on the board of North Metro Academy, as well as the board of health, Baldwin Elementary School Council, volunteer time with the alumni association of her alma mater, Savannah State, and she still attends Hopewell Baptist Church. Her fellow citizens have been so inspired by Beauty Baldwin that they decided to name a couple buildings after her. In 2016, the Gwinnett County Board of Education officially dedicated a school in Norcross to her: Baldwin Elementary School. Again, in 2020, a ceremony was held to dedicate Gwinnett County’s newlyrenovated elections office in her name: The Gwinnett Voter Registrations & Elections Beauty P. Baldwin Building. Not bad for a sharecroppers’ daughter who used to tote sacks of cotton, praying for God to help her escape the fields.

I THANK HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY It’s the early-70s in middle Georgia. The sun beats down on Beauty Baldwin as she enters the threshold of a home her mother

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recently purchased. The property is in an area of Washington County called Deepstep. It’s on former sharecropping land where Baldwin, her brother, sisters and father once worked. The home she enters was one of the “big houses,” where her mother worked as a maid. It’s funny, Baldwin thinks, but the house doesn’t look as big as it did when she was a little girl – around the time her mother would hold a lantern in their own tiny abode to help Beauty study. Unlike the cramped house on the sharecropping field where the Poole family once lived, this residence has electricity. Unlike the two-bedroom dwelling the family once rented, this home has four bedrooms. It has a large dining room. It has a big kitchen – a kitchen Beauty’s mother will never again work in as the maid for someone else’s rich family. It’s 2021, and Beauty Baldwin is sitting in a chair in an office in Buford. Beauty’s telling this story to a magazine writer – talking about how that home, that “big house,” is still in the family to this day. As she sits in the chair in an office in the town where she once served as school superintendent, she is asked a question about a prayer she once said as a little girl in a sharecropping field. “I still pray,” Beauty says with a smile. “From the time I was praying in that cotton field to the time that I was praying that I could do well enough in college to one day pay my way… I still get up every morning at 5 o’clock and pray. That’s how I operate. And prayer has been all through my life’s journey. And I thank Him every single day.

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J. ALVIN WILBANKS It’s winter 1986. Snow – that rarest of southern delights and freeway frustration – falls in central Gwinnett County. The young, founding president of Gwinnett Technical College navigates the rapidly freezing roads. Wipers flick away the snow, squeaking against the windshield as the man squints toward the white piles building fast on the highway. It’s a whole lot more than he realizes. As J. Alvin Wilbanks crosses an intersection near the technical college, the car hits a deep pocket of snow. It skids to a complete stop, all but swallowed in a low place in the road where the snow has been collecting. It’s going to get cold fast out here – and his car won’t budge. Most folks would throw in the towel at this point – never dreaming of still going to work. Most folks would call a tow truck, get a ride home and bask in the warmth of the family living room, awaiting thawing roads and a more convenient day to re-open classes at Gwinnett Tech. Most folks would give up the moment their cars hit a mountain of snow in the middle of a freezing Gwinnett County thoroughfare.

Wilbanks is not most folks. “I went out and got a tractor from the horticulture department and cleaned out the snow. We spent a good day cleaning off the parking lot and the sidewalks,” Wilbanks says, laughing, as he recalls that morning’s struggle nearly 40 years later. Gwinnett Tech was open for business on that snowy winter day in 1986.

WE HAVE A JOB TO EDUCATE More than three decades later as superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools, Wilbanks kept that determination to stay open whether the obstacle was snow, natural disasters or even a global pandemic.

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I came home every day and on my father’s desk was a list of things for my brothers and me to do.

“I’m a firm believer that kids need to be in school…We have a job to educate kids,” he says. For nearly 60 years, education and its impact on the community has been Wilbanks’ passion. Nothing could slow him down. A vote by the Gwinnett County Board of Education terminating his contract in March 2021, however, did change things. No reason was given for releasing Wilbanks before his contract expired, though the vote to do so ran along party lines, with three Democrats voting to remove him. Wilbanks had already announced he’d be leaving when his contract expired in 2022. “Don’t feel sorry for me,” Wilbanks told those in attendance at the school board meeting following his dismissal. “I’ve had a great career. I’ve worked with some of the finest people that exist, most of them here in this district ... but there is a time for all things and sometimes it comes [to an end] maybe in a different way than you would like it to be, but I’m going to be OK.” A career overseeing what has become the 13th largest school district in the country seemed to be the furthest thing from young Wilbanks’ mind as a growing boy in Jackson County.

A FAMILY THAT WORKED HARD “If I had breakfast at home and I didn’t have ham or something else, I thought the world was going to end,” he recalls with a laugh, remembering food aplenty along with his mother’s homemade biscuits. His dad held down two jobs at the time: textile mill worker and farmer. “We were a family that worked hard,” Wilbanks recalls. “I came home every day and on my father’s desk was

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a list of things for my brothers and me to do.” With hogs, chickens and cows on the premises, there was plenty of work to go around: mending fences, tending to chickens, feeding cows. Such was life in peaceful Nicholson, Georgia where, Wilbanks says, “I would have had to go five or six miles to get in trouble.” He was accepted to North Georgia College after high school but instead ended up at the University of Georgia. Wilbanks got his degree and went to work as an industrial arts teacher. “I was nervous, to say the least. I wasn’t sure, totally, what to expect because from the time I was a student in high school to the time I started was four years and things had changed a little bit,” he says. So, he honed his skills and made every effort to be as relevant as he could be.

THERE’S GOT TO BE TRUST He made his way up the administrative education hierarchy. When the GCPS superintendent at the time, Dr. Sidney Faucette, was about to depart in 1996, the call went out to Wilbanks, who was assistant superintendent, Human Resources and Continuous Improvement, at the time. “I was going into the kitchen where we had a wall phone and as I passed it, it rang. It was Mrs. Radloff, [Louise Radloff, chairwoman of the Gwinnett County Board of Education]. And, she told me to ‘Get down here – now!’” So, he did. Wilbanks was appointed interim superintendent that night, and two weeks later he was in charge. It’s a position he held till summer 2021. To head any organization for a quarter of a century requires staying power.

That, and Wilbanks’ key to good leadership: “Number one, I think there’s got to be trust.” Trust is a word that exemplified Wilbanks’ leadership style, according to people who worked alongside him. “He was really hands-off, and he was a leader, not a manager,” says Roy Rucks, a former principal of then Parkview Technical High School and Maxwell High School of Technology in Gwinnett County. He tells of meetings in which Wilbanks addressed school leaders, saying, “It’s like driving a car. If you keep your car on the road, we’re fine. But if you drive it into a ditch, we’re going to have a meeting.” Wilbanks’ leadership style served him in shepherding Gwinnett Tech through its first few years. His active involvement with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce gave him the contacts and credibility he needed to help Gwinnett County Public Schools as well. Talk to anyone looking to relocate and one of the first qualifications for where to buy a home is the local school system. How are the schools? Under Wilbanks’ leadership, Gwinnett County Public Schools – through its academic excellence – has been one of the biggest draws to people looking to relocate. “Gwinnett County students, faculty, teachers and parents have benefited from the leadership of [Wilbanks] for 25 years,” says Gov. Brian Kemp. “During Mr. Wilbanks’ tenure, Gwinnett County Public Schools won state and national awards for excellence, including the prestigious Broad Prize for Urban Education. [My wife], the girls and I join Gwinnett families in thanking Mr. Wilbanks for his service and dedication to education in the Peach State.” Another Georgia governor, Nathan Deal, worked with Wilbanks quite a lot and says he too appreciated his style of leadership. “When we were having to make large decisions about funding for example, and making innovative changes in education, [Wilbanks] was always one of those you could count on,” Deal says. “He would give you his opinion, and he wouldn’t try to force his opinion on anybody – it’s just that he had a great deal of experience and he drew on that experience.” Adds Deal: “He had leadership qualities that were respected by many who knew him and observed what

he was able to accomplish in the largest school system in the state.” Wilbanks says that when at the helm of the largest school system in the state “…You want people to appreciate it and feel good about it, and I think that’s the challenge we have, to continue making sure that people know we’ve got a good school district and we’re educating their kids.” Twice, in 2010 and 2014, GCPS has won The Broad Prize for Urban Education, recognizing the district as one of the nation’s best. Wilbanks himself, among his many accolades, was named Georgia Superintendent of the Year in 2005 and has been a finalist for the national title four times.

I SAW ALVIN WORK DAY AND NIGHT A lot changed during Wilbanks’ tenure as superintendent. One of the biggest changes was triggered by a national tragedy in the spring of 1999, just three years into his first term. The first widely publicized school shooting made headlines. School systems nationwide felt the ripple effects. “Columbine really established new procedures, how we deal with threats, anything suspicious,” he says. It wasn’t always that way. When, as assistant principal at Tucker High School in the late ’60s, he’d receive a bomb threat, he had only to look out the office window to the pay phone down the hall. “I’d look out and there the kid would be on the phone, calling in a bomb threat,” he says. “You’d be dumb to do that today. You just wouldn’t do it today. Any threat of that nature, you check it out and you prepare for it because of what has happened.” Back in those days, school counselors not only helped students prepare for college but walked them through the minefield of adolescence, guiding them through everything from boyfriend and girlfriend troubles to problems at home. Nowadays, the load has increased and, with that, Wilbanks sees an opportunity and a challenge. “We refer to it now as SEL: Social Emotional Learning. [Counselors] have to do a lot of things just to make sure that kids know that somebody loves them, that somebody’s looking at their progress,” he says. That takes listening, something Wilbanks has made a top priority in dealing with critics and supporters. It also takes cooperation, a spirit of inclusiveness and

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Sometimes, just speaking to a kid makes a huge difference. Or asking them, ‘What did you do this weekend?’

an ear for diverse input – the kind of collaboration fostered through Cross-Functional Action Teams, representatives from all areas of the school system and the community. Listening is only a small part of Wilbanks’ leadership style. In his run-up to superintendent, he proved himself a tireless worker. In 1981, he helped organize the International Skills Olympics, an event at the World Congress Center that attracted students from more than 100 countries for a competition in career skills like auto mechanics, carpentry, cosmetology and electronics. “I saw Alvin work day and night. I’ve seen him stay up all night working… he’d show up fresh the next morning for work,” Rucks says.

SOMEBODY WHO CARED ABOUT PEOPLE At the end of July 2021, the school board voted unanimously to hire former GCPS school- and districtlevel administrator Dr. Calvin Watts to fill Wilbanks’ post. Watts, who previously spent more than 10 years with the district, left GCPS in 2015 to be superintendent of the Kent School District in Washington. New leadership is here, and, on the very near horizon, a new high school – Seckinger High in Buford – that will emphasize an area of study unheard of when Wilbanks assumed the mantle of leadership at GCPS: artificial intelligence. Already, feeder schools in the new Seckinger cluster are laying the foundations of AI, so that interested students will be ready to tackle those classes in high school and beyond. “The experts say that artificial intelligence – and it’s not going to happen, it’s already happening now –

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it’s going to do away with fifty million jobs. But the good part of that is it’s going to create fifty million jobs,” Wilbanks says. The job occupying Wilbanks’ time in this new chapter of his life is at the state level, where he serves on the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission. Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Wilbanks to the post in October 2021. Missing from his routine will be the Friday night dinner dates with Celeste, his wife of 57 years. That was a tradition they instituted during his tenure as superintendent. Celeste passed away in May 2021. In his spare time, Wilbanks enjoys woodworking projects. When he was president at Gwinnett Tech, he built his own bookshelves, such is his way with hammer and saw. “I’ve got a pattern for outdoor swings and I’ve built three and I’ve got another one cut out. I’m going to finish it. I don’t want to sit down and not do anything.” Wilbanks keeps his mind fresh reading three or four journals a week and recently read a book about one of his favorite presidents, Dwight Eisenhower. There’s a famous picture of Ike as general, taken the day before the D-Day invasion in 1944. In it, he is talking with the troops who would, in a matter of hours, stage the largest amphibious invasion in history, the event that turned the tide of World War II. “Most people would think they’re talking about the battle,” says Wilbanks, “but they’re talking about fly fishing. He was just trying to get their mind off the war.” Wilbanks isn’t saving the world for democracy or bringing down

tyrants, but in an everyday way, he and those who have worked for him the last quarter of a century have been preparing Gwinnett County Public Schools students for their oftenuncertain futures. Sometimes that means just getting their young minds off their own personal battles. And he returns to a familiar theme. “Sometimes, just speaking to a kid makes a huge difference. Or asking them, ‘What did you do this weekend?’ Something that’ll make a connection and get them talking. That’s what teachers need to do.” There are 179,000 students in Gwinnett County Public Schools – and 179,000 opportunities to do just that. Gwinnett County Public Schools is not a transportation company, but it shuttles thousands of students on 1,900 buses. GCPS is not a restaurant, but in a typical year it serves up 31 million meals in their cafeterias. Nor is it a construction company, but it’s built 49 new school campuses, seven replacement schools and a charter school in the last 25 years, with another high school on the way. With 24,900 staff members, GCPS is Gwinnett County’s largest employer and one of the top employers in Georgia. And at the helm of GCPS for 25 years was J. Alvin Wilbanks, grateful to be working in education all his professional life and enthusiastic every time he walks through the doors of the building bearing his name. “I want to be remembered as a good person who treated people fairly, who did my part in what I was supposed to do. I also want to be a person that people can remember that made a contribution to society beyond me and my household. But more important,

you just want to be remembered as somebody who cared about people – all people.”

YOU JUST DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO Ten years before he’d take the superintendent post, Wilbanks found himself in the middle of a snowy road at an intersection near Gwinnett Tech. When it was time to decide how to get out of the predicament and keep open the learning institution despite treacherous weather, Wilbanks never flinched. He’d been the president of the brand-new technical college for two years at that point – and character traits like these were one of the reasons he’d been selected to helm the institution. Prior to Gwinnett Tech, there’d been no post-secondary technical options in the county. So, when the Gwinnett County School Board saw the need, they approached a young man who’d been working his way up the ranks in education. A young man from Nicholson, Georgia, who at one time knew only quiet farm life with his family. But fate and an attitude that stuck with Wilbanks through his six decades in education made it clear to education leaders in Gwinnett they’d found the right man for the job. “You just do what you need to do,” Wilbanks says, recalling the cold and treacherous day more than three decades later. It’s an idea that’s carried him through tougher roads than snowsloped highways. And it will carry him on into the next endeavor.

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MELVIN EVERSON There’s an old, sepia-toned photo hanging behind the desk of Melvin Everson. In it, a couple stand outdoors, shoulder to shoulder. The man sports a suit, tie and slightly tipped fedora. He wears a pragmatic, no-nonsense expression. The woman is clothed in a floral-patterned dress, resplendent grin lighting her face. The photo of Melvin Everson’s parents was taken after church in the front yard of their 168-acre South Georgia farm home sometime between 1979 and 1982. An inscription above the picture reads: Northern Everson Sr. & Willa Blanch Hunt Everson Thanks for leaving a faithful foundation for your children. The photo means a lot to Melvin Everson for reasons any picture of one’s parents bears importance: it brings nostalgia, recalls one’s origins and floods the mind with feelings of love for the people who took the time to guide a young mind. But there’s more to it than that. The inscription talks of faith and family – and an implied, interlocking quality the two possess. Faith and family are longstanding, invaluable themes in the life of the

accomplished politician, minister, higher education leader and Snellville resident. “That’s them right there,” Everson says on a recent afternoon, leaning back in his office chair at Gwinnett Technical College to tap the photo. “I sent this same photo [and inscription] to all my siblings, so [my parents] could watch over us everywhere.” Adds Everson, gesturing again toward the picture: “It’s what drives me. Every morning I get up, and I pray to God that I make [them] proud.” His father was a fount of knowledge for the Everson children growing up, and it seems his words made a mark on each of the eight surviving sons and daughters. Without prompting, Everson launches into the paths several siblings took: an electrical engineer; a wounded Vietnam War vet who came home to earn a degree; a sister who earned a master’s degree and worked for the Florida Department of Revenue; a professor

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Son, your reputation will go places you’ll never visit. Protect it with everything you have. Integrity is everything. — Northern Everson Sr.

at Macon State College; a manager with General Motors; an auto repair shop owner; and so on. It’s easy to see he’s proud of them all – in total, ten siblings with two deceased. And, there’s Everson: a minister, U.S. Army veteran, Snellville city councilman, probation officer, member of the Georgia House of Representatives, executive director of Georgia Workforce Development and Vice President of Economic Development at Gwinnett Technical College. Seems Everson’s late father would be proud. Everson recounts a memory of high school graduation day in which the elder Everson and wife gave he and his siblings the same gift: “It was a two-piece set of Samsonite luggage, because, my father said, ‘you’ll be leaving. You’re on your way to postsecondary education.’”

YOUR REPUTATION WILL GO PLACES YOU’LL NEVER VISIT Born in Abbeville, Georgia – 70 miles south of Macon – Everson grew up on a family farm. His father, the farmer, was a World War II veteran with a fifth grade education. His mother was a school teacher. Everson grew up during the Civil Rights era. The family had no indoor plumbing. “I remember the first years of my life, we had an outhouse,” Everson says. “And, when we finally did get indoor plumbing, my brothers and I would turn on the faucet just to watch the water run… that was foreign to us. So yeah, humble beginnings, but we had a wonderful life. My father and mom provided for us and made sure we had everything we needed. And, my father was a stickler for hard work.”

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There’s a wealth of Everson’s father’s sayings that stuck with him. Here’s one: “Son, your reputation will go places you’ll never visit. Protect it with everything you have. Integrity is everything.” And, another: “If you make a mistake, which you will do in life, own up to it. Admit it and learn from it. Then, move on.” Keeping his father’s wisdom in his heart, Everson enrolled at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in fall 1975, left to join the Army in June 1976 and later enrolled in then-Albany State College in 1980. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology. During his time in college, while serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, he enrolled in various military schools as well as holding down jobs. He would go on to work as a welder, a security officer and a probation officer over the next couple of decades. And, in the middle of all this, he started a family of his own – marrying wife, Geraldine, and becoming a father: his first and only son, Ricardo. They landed in the Atlanta area in 1986 – specifically, what would become Peachtree Corners – and moved into a house in Snellville two years later. It was around 1994, when he first had the desire to run for office. “I remember I would walk through the city and I would see little issues,” Everson says. “I would make mental notes about how they could be corrected.” He ran for Snellville City Council in 1995. Election day rolled around “and I learned the meaning of landslide. I was walloped,” Everson says, laughing. But, his interest in the process led to his being appointed to the city’s

planning and zoning board, where he served five years helping chart the course for growth in Snellville. Later on, an encounter with a Snellville councilman who’d worked with Everson in his planning and zoning role gave Everson the impetus to run again for city council. “I met with him and some of the other [councilmen],” Everson says. “I was the only Black guy in the group. I looked at them and said, ‘Okay, have you guys prayed about this?’ They said, ‘yeah, Melvin, we prayed.’ I said, ‘no, have you really prayed about this?’ According to Everson, Brett Harrell, who would soon run a successful bid for Snellville mayor, said: “Melvin, you’re Black. We’re white. That’s OK. Let’s get on with it.” Adds Everson, smiling: “I’ll never forget that.” He’d go on to lose that particular run for city council but in a subsequent special election, Everson secured a council seat and would later become mayor pro-tem. He served from 2001-2004. From there, Everson ascended to win a seat on the Georgia House of Representatives, serving District 106 from 2005-2010. In 2010, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Everson Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development and appointed him again in 2011 the Executive Director and Administrator of Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity. In a phone interview with Gwinnett Magazine, Deal explains what he saw in Everson during those times was someone “willing to take a position and exert his influence.” “Melvin has demonstrated his abilities… and I always really appreciated him, and he was always willing to help when I asked him.” Deals adds that faith and family “always seem to be two ingredients that make a difference in his life, and when he talks in settings, publicly and privately, both of those are qualities that are important to him.”

MELVIN IS ALWAYS RIGHT THERE TO PRAY WITH YOU Others who have worked with Everson talk, among other positive traits, of his character and genuineness. Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender, who has worked with him in the local political sphere around 15 years,

says “Melvin is true to his principles, and he’s true to his word. He’s been like that no matter what role he’s fulfilled.” Everson’s faith, she says, is “rock solid, and when anyone is going through any kind of trial, Melvin is always right there to pray with you. He’s there to support you. He’ll give you advice if you need it… he’s just one of those rock solid people you don’t meet very many of.” She adds that “once you make friends with Melvin, you’ve got a friend for life. He stays in contact with you, and you know you can just pick up the phone and call him, and he’ll answer.” Gov. Brian Kemp praises Everson’s “dedication to our state and country.” “Whether in his service to the Army, to his congregation, in the Georgia House of Representatives, or to the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity, Melvin has used his gifts to honor God and make Georgia a better place. Even with his impressive resume, perhaps his greatest accomplishment has been his marriage to his wife Geraldine and raising their son Ricardo, a UGA graduate. Our state is lucky to have leaders like Melvin who make the Peach State the best place to live, work, and raise a family.” The importance of putting family first remains a priority for Everson, even in the workplace, where he shares that very same idea with staff at Gwinnett Technical College. “My number one thing I share with my staff, whoever’s working with me, and under me… Family comes first. Take care of your family. These jobs will be here long after you’re gone. But when you have a situation with your family, take care of it, because you never know what’s going to happen the next day. That’s part of my ministry… I just love sharing, and I treat people the way I want to be treated.” Licensed and ordained in 1998, Everson is currently a minister at Cross Pointe Church in Duluth. Being a minister isn’t limited to just Sundays for Everson. He reads from a devotional every morning. He prays. And, he goes out into the world ready to share the word of God and the wisdom and peace he’s found through being a believer. “Even those who don’t share my religious beliefs, they respect me for who I am,” Everson says, adding that his ambition is to unite people – both those

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I want to be a positive force… I carry myself in such a way I could respectfully disagree with your position, shake hands and move on.

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separated by religious affiliations as well as political ideas. “I want to be a positive force,” he says. “I’m a conservative, but I carry myself in such a way I could respectfully disagree with your position, shake hands and move on. That’s what we need to get back to in this country, because right now it’s so polarized. It’s so divided… I may not agree with you, but I’m going to respect you as a human being, and I’m going to love you as a human being, period.” He says the same attitude extends to what he sees and shares on social media.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON HIM Anyone who is friends with him on facebook has seen his signature phrase, “Boom!” Every post and status update begins with the word. “It’s an attention getter,” he says, laughing. “A catchphrase.” Everson aims to use social media “in a positive way” as much as he can, sharing encounters with old friends, inspirational words and photos of him passing out unique, signature Georgia football plaques made by a local artist, Nelson Cross. “One day, I was attending the Snellville farmer’s market, which I like to do, and this gentleman had some there. He’d made them. I thought they were great.” Everson bought one and put a photo of it on Facebook, with description: Boom! One lucky Georgia fan is going to get this! He said the post got more than 800 likes. Everson has since bought and given away more than 300 similar plaques from the same local artist. Other recipients of the plaque include

former Gov. Deal, Gov. Kemp, former Congressman Rob Woodall and more. And, Everson’s son, Ricardo, a UGA graduate, ended up getting that first one. Everson’s relationship with his son, Ricardo; daughter-in-law, Meghan; as well as his two grandchildren, Rilynn, 9, and Reid, 4, is very close. “I call my son up or text him every day. I say, ‘I love you, son,’” Everson says. “And, I share with him as my dad shared with us according to the faithful foundation. I say, ‘Keep God in the center of everything you do. The road is going to be rough at times but keep your eyes on Him and everything’s going to be all right.’” Everson has met and talked with President Bush, he’s greeted Vice President Dick Cheney on Air Force Two, he’s dined with senators… he’s met more distinguished individuals than most people ever would – but, none of it would have meant a thing, he says, without his foundation in faith and family. He thanks his parents for that every morning he walks into work at Gwinnett Tech. He reflects on the dated, sepia-toned photo and the inscription beneath it. Everson sees God’s love in his children, and in his grandchildren, when they visit him. Look closely enough at their expressions, and you can see reflections of the same smile that graced his mother’s face in the photo that hangs behinds Everson’s desk.

g n i Com oon… S

t! n Gwinnet i e r e h t gh from ri s e i r o st ional t a r i p e ins r o M

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT LEADER, LEGEND OR INFLUENCER? Gwinnett Magazine’s newest series will set your soul on fire with answers to these questions and more! Join us as we honor those who demonstrate legendary leadership and model the true spirit of America. We hope you enjoy and embrace these stories, rich with history and inspiration that will serve our community for years to come. Leaders and Legends have a way of making a lasting impact. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service and contributions to our lives. If there is someone you think deserves a tribute in our Leaders and Legends series, please let us know! Scan the QR code recommend someone at GwinnettMagazine.com/ Leaders-Legends

! t i s s i m t ’ on D

GWINNETTMAGAZINE

GWINNETT HISTORY:

BLACK HISTORY SNAPSHOTS From emancipation to desegregation to the Civil Rights Movement – giving rise to leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. – it’s impossible to talk American Black history without understanding its significance in the Peach State. While many widely known figures, events and landmarks originated in Atlanta, Gwinnett has its share of rich history too: enslaved people built historic churches here; Black entrepreneurs built thriving business hubs for their communities; Gwinnett’s first African American school was built at the turn of the century; societies were born to better the lives of those living here; and talented Black men and women rose to the top of their fields. But history doesn’t stop in the pages of books. It’s still being written. Today, influential people like the Bishop William Sheals of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Norcross preach at a historic church built by slaves post-Civil War. Beauty Baldwin, who became the first Black female superintendent in the state in 1984, remains active to this day in organizations all over the community. Nicole Love Hendrickson was elected chairwoman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners in 2020, making her the first-ever African American to hold the position. In 2021, Dr. Calvin J. Watts took the helm as the first Black superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools. The list goes on and on – and history is still being made. In the following pages are just a few of the pivotal moments and courageous figures over the past two centuries who have played a major role in shaping Black history in Gwinnett County – helping make it the thriving, successful place it is today.

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HOOPER-RENWICK SCHOOL

riginally named Rocky Knob School, Hooper-Renwick was founded in 1895 as the first school for African American students in Lawrenceville. Throughout the 1950s and up until it closed in 1964 after Gwinnett County Public Schools integrated, almost all Black students in the county attended school there. In 2017, the Hooper-Renwick building was scheduled to be demolished, but the community rallied to save it. It’s currently being converted it into a memorial museum and library.

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MAGUIRE-LIVSEY HOUSE "THE PROMISED LAND"

n the early 1920s, entrepreneur Robert Livsey purchased the Maguire-Livsey House, a former plantation in South Gwinnett dubbed “The Promised Land”—something rather unusual for a man of color to do at that time. In the following decades, the property became a thriving farm and Black business hub which brought a sense of empowerment and community to the local Black population. Today, Robert’s son Thomas carries on his family’s legacy, and Gwinnett is currently restoring the historic house to reopen it as a museum.

UNITED EBONY SOCIETY

he late Eron Moore, Jr. and Robbie Susan Moore were passionate community leaders, lifelong advocates and a loving couple married for over 50 years who founded the United Ebony Society in 1984. For decades, the dynamic organization has driven positive social change in all areas of the community, achieved countless milestones and hosted major celebrations. Today, the Moores’ legacies live on as the United Ebony Society continues to thrive. Plus, Moore Middle School in Lawrenceville was named after Robbie Susan Moore in 2011.

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HISY OR T

EZZARD CHARLES

he legendary boxer and World Heavyweight Champion who dominated the sport throughout the 1940s and 50s may have been nicknamed the “Cincinnati Cobra,” but he was born right here in Lawrenceville. Known for his slick defense and extraordinary precision, Charles is often considered the greatest light heavyweight boxer of all time.

LOVING AID SOCIETY

he Loving Aid Society was founded by Bob Craig and Laura Freeman Gholston in Gwinnett during the 19th century to honor the deceased and help their loved ones. The organization provided dignified burials for former slaves and people of color in the days before burial insurance was widely available.

SALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

alem Missionary Baptist Church was founded in Lilburn around 1834 when slave owner Thomas Carroll allowed his slaves to build their own church. The church served as a pillar in the community during and after slavery, bringing people together, providing support and operating a school from the late 1800s until 1951. Salem Missionary Baptist Church is the oldest African American church in Gwinnett and is still a major community hub today. GWINNETMAG T AZINE.COM

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HEALTHWIRE Healthcare is the second-largest industry in Gwinnett and has touched all of our lives many times throughout the years. So, Healthwire keeps you up to date on healthcare evolutions in our community and tips on staying healthy!

MOTOR MOUTH THERAPY is a

pediatric clinic providing speech therapy, occupational therapy, reading intervention, help for picky eaters and more! We have served Sugar Hill, Buford, Gainesville, Cumming, Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Suwanee and surrounding areas since 2007.

Scan for more information!

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CHECK YOUR HEART HEALTH WITH EASTSIDE MEDICAL It’s estimated that 47% of the U.S. population has one of these high risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and smoking. Our free online assessment can help you gauge your own personal risk level for heart disease. Scan for online assessment.

GWINNETT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HEALTH DEPARTMENT CO-HOSTING COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINICS AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS Gwinnett County Public Schools and the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Boards of Health, along with other health partners, are hosting several opportunities for people to get COVID vaccinations at local high schools through mid-February. People interested in getting vaccinated do not need to make an appointment before showing up to one of the clinic sites, although a parent or guardian must accompany any child between the ages of 5 and 17. The clinics will administer the Pfizer vaccine, which comes in two doses.

HEALTHWIRE

GOOD SAMARITAN HEALTH CENTERS OF GWINNETT ANNOUNCES FIVE GOOD NEIGHBOR 2021 AWARD WINNERS

HEALTHY AND EASY LIVING HABITS THAT ACTUALLY WORK

Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett announced the winners of its 3rd annual awards honoring outstanding individuals and their community impact. The winners of the 2021 Good Neighbor Awards are Jill Edwards, Anne Patrick, Kati Tait, Sherwin Levinson and volunteers with Medical Reserve Corps Georgia East Metro.

When it comes to advice about healthy living, there are opinions nearly every place you turn. Adopting a broad set of healthier habits can deliver results over time and foster a new way of living that promotes your overall health and wellbeing. Aim for balance. A diet that combines healthy levels of protein and carbohydrates from all the food groups is the surest way to deliver your body the vitamins and nutrients you need for optimal health. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans call for an eating plan that is centered on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and reduced-fat dairy foods, rounded out by lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts for protein. When planning your meals, be sure to limit saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugar.

Scan to read more about each winner!

Know when to say when. Building a healthy lifestyle is about more than eating the right foods. It also means keeping your calorie count in check. That means keeping the amount you eat and the portion size in mind. Work with your doctor or a dietitian to determine your body’s true caloric needs. Initially, you may want to weigh out portions but soon you’ll be able to recognize and adjust your portions on sight. Set your body in motion. Increasing your activity level not only helps burn calories and boosts your metabolism, it also helps tone your muscles and improve overall body condition by promoting healthy blood flow. The exact amount of exercise you need will vary depending on your goals, age and physical ability.You may need to work up to the optimal level, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week for most adults. more on p50

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WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING—OR EXPECTING TO BE EXPECTING There are so many little things to research about, plan for and cross off your checklist before the baby arrives. Whether it’s sticking to a diet that will nourish you and your bundle of joy, narrowing down the right OB-GYN and medical professionals to guide you each step of the way or designing and setting up the perfect nursery, there are plenty of critical (but exciting!) aspects of the pregnancy journey. Listen to this episode of the Gwinnett Podcast as we break down five important steps and help prepare you for a wonderful pregnancy until your bundle of joy is here!

Sca n to list en!

APPOINTMENTS TO RESCHEDULE ASAP

If you haven’t been to the doctor in more than a year because of Covid-19, now is the time to reschedule. Here are the healthcare visits you should schedule ASAP: • Primary care checkup • Dental visit and teeth cleaning • Annual well-woman exam • Mammogram for breast cancer screening

4 WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY @ WORK When it’s too easy to slip into sedentary routines, try some of these tips to help you get back on track to a healthy lifestyle at the office.

MOVE IT! The more you can get up and walk, the better – if you take public transportation, get off one stop early or take the stairs instead of the elevator.

SNACK RIGHT Prepare healthy snacks so that you don’t reach for the chips or cookies.

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3 DESK-ERCISES

Try some desk-ercises like stretches or small hand weights.

WATCH YOUR POSTURE Sit close to your workstation, keep monitors at eye level, and sit with legs flexed at a 90-degree angle.

HEALING, HEART AND OVERALL HEALTH WITH LAVIDA MASSAGE OF GRAYSON! An amazing massage… It’s a welcome opportunity to set your daily stresses aside and drift into deep relaxation. It’s when all those aches and pains that have bothered you for weeks are released. It brings a sense of true rejuvenation that leaves you feeling uplifted for the rest of your week. LaVida Massage of Grayson offers a wide variety of services from sports massage to deep tissue to hot stone, and specializes in custom massages – working with every client to give a wonderful massage that best fits their needs.

HEALTHWIRE

APPS TO BOOST YOUR HEALTH JOURNEY Whether you’re trying to improve your sleep, get your heart rate up or take a breather to destress, there are hundreds of innovative health apps right in the palm of your hand! Of course, these are no replacement for professional medical advice—just handy tools to help you keep your health routine on track.

FABULOUS

ELEVATE

The all-in-one daily routine planner that keeps your personalized goals & obstacles in mind.

To stay sharp and focused, sometimes your brain needs a workout—just like the rest of your body.

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Just scan it!

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STEP 2: Hang it somewhere, like your refrigerator

laugh?

STEP 1: Cut out this page

Need a

STEP 3: Scan the QR Code

STEP 4:

Laugh.

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FOOD&DRINK

GET A KICK OUT OF WINTER Your gloves are dripping dry and your children are warming up by the fire, or possibly the other way around. Time to stoke your inner fires with this most molten of spicy comfort foods.

S P I C Y CHICKEN CHILI INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1-2 Pound(s) boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped 1 Large onion, chopped 2 Tablespoon olive oil 3 Garlic cloves, minced 2 Cans (14 ounces each) chicken broth 2 Can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies 3 Teaspoons ground cumin 3 Teaspoons dried oregano 2 Teaspoons cayenne pepper 3 Cans (14-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, drained, divided 1 Cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook chicken and onion in oil until lightly browned (4 - 6 minutes). Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, chilies, cumin, oregano and cayenne; bring to a boil.

Chopped jalapeno pepper (to taste)

Reduce heat to low. With a potato masher or food processer, mash one can of beans until smooth. Add to saucepan. Add remaining beans to saucepan. Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and onion is tender.

Top each serving with cheese and jalapeno pepper if desired.

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I l u m i n a t e F s t i v a l o f Li g h t s , L a w r e n c v i l e p h o t by B r u c e J o h n s o

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Children see magic because they look for it. — Christopher Moore

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Gwinnett Magazine

MARKE TPLACE FLAIR When you spend much of your time stuck in an “office space,” it’s common to miss out on the latest and greatest destinations that help make life complete. From knowing where to eat, to finding a favorite beauty shop, from finding new things to do with your kids to finding fun for the family pet, this directory of Gwinnett hotspots can help make you seem like the expert in the family!

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D O O G

S T A E

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LIVE, LEARN

& ENJOY!

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GREAT

RESOURCES!

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GWINNETT MAGAZINE

Reset your life with this one simple question: RESET YOUR LIFE WITH THIS ONE SIMPLE QUESTION:

WHAT STORY DO YOU WANT TO TELL?

A brand-new year is the next best thing to a reset button. Have you given any thought to how you’ll use yours? Maybe you’ve jotted down a few resolutions for this fresh, unmarred year or mapped out specific goals for the months to come. Good for you. Or you may be thinking, “Why bother? After all, 2022 may not be any better and is out of my control anyway.” Before you go down either of these trails, may I make a suggestion? Take time to ask yourself a simple question: What story do I want to tell? Though we’ve probably never met, here’s something I know about you: You would like to be able to tell your entire story without skipping any chapters or tweaking the truth about the details. We all want that. And going forward you can have that. But that will require you to stop mid-decision and ask: What story do I want to tell? The decisions you’re in the middle of making right now, today, are going to be reduced to a story you tell. Once a decision is behind you, like 2021, it’s a story. But the rest of your life is a story waiting to be written, and you will create that story one decision at a time. Here’s an example. If you lost your job during 2021, surviving this season without a job is going to be a story you tell someday. What story do you want to tell? You could decide to make this the story: I lost my job. I was embarrassed. I told friends I was doing consulting

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work. But I wasn’t consulting. I was consoling myself every afternoon with a bottle. I racked up a ton of debt. I lost the respect of my wife and kids. Maybe worse, I lost respect for myself. Or you could decide a better story: I lost my job. I was embarrassed. I let my friends and family know, and they not only offered encouragement, they offered job leads and even brought over a few meals. Our family worked together to cut expenses, and I worked two part-time jobs for a while. My faith grew as I trusted God for daily bread. Our family grew closer, and our compassion for others deepened. The decisions you make in the valleys will eventually become stories you tell on the other side. Which options do you want as part of your story? We don’t think in terms of story when making decisions. Decisions are now. Story is later. We think about later… well, later. As in, later when it’s too late to do anything about it. We don’t think in terms of story because we’re distracted by the pressure and emotions we feel in the moment. Isn’t it true that your worst decisions were fueled by something with strong emotional appeal? Not rational, just emotional. That weekend. That first marriage. That purchase. That lease. It was so appealing you bought it. She was so appealing you dated her and moved in with her. It was so appealing you took it, smoked it, ate it. Then we look back and wonder, “What was I thinking?” The main reason we have regrets is we were presented with something that had strong emotional appeal and we jumped at the opportunity. When confronted with something that has strong emotional appeal, it’s a good idea to press pause, not play. Not because he’s not the one. He may be. Not

INSPIRATIONFROM

Andy Stanley

because it’s not a good investment. It may be. Not because it’s not the perfect job. It may be. We should step back because anything with strong emotional appeal – even the right thing – clouds our judgement. So pause. Get your bearings. Go home and think about it. Call a friend. Consider your story. Considering your story draws you out of the immediate and focuses on the eventual. It empowers you to put the decision-making process within the broader context of the story of your life. Our story is future tense. And every decision can be improved by keeping this question

in mind: What story do I want to tell? One day down the road, you’ll either tell your own story or have your story told by others. You can decide today who you want to be, and your future decisions can flow out of that vision. Make your story a good one — one worth retelling. Andy Stanley is a communicator, author, pastor and founder of Atlanta-based North Point Ministries, which includes Gwinnett Church in Sugar Hill and Hamilton Mill Church in Buford, as well as six other churches in metro Atlanta and a global network of nearly 100 partner churches.

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CIT Y EVENTS & HAPPENINGS! You’ve been cooped up at home for way too long (it’s ok, we all have)! Local family fun is back in full swing, so get back out there! Just scan your city’s QR code and hit the road for the next celebration!

BUFORD

BERKELEY LAKE

SUGAR HILL

DACULA

DULUTH

GRAYSON

LAWRENCEVILLE

LOGANVILLE

LILBURN

NORCROSS

SNELLVILLE

SUWANEE

AUBURN

PEACHTREE CORNERS

BRASELTON

Scan the QR codes and go have some fun!

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