Gwinnett Magazine Spring 2021 by Story Road

WINTER 2021

GWINNETT MAGAZINE

DAVI D GREER, PUBLI SHER

Courage, determination and spirit. What a wild journey the last couple of years have been. Has there been any other time in history where our health and well-being were the focal point of everything? I’m hard-pressed to think of a time when. While health concerns have risen to all-new levels for all, I’m reminded how, for many, it’s not a new thing. Many have been facing the challenge of health and life issues long before COVID-19 entered the scene. Those challenges of late make this year’s Heroes Project even more poignant. Of all the stories and events, we cover at Gwinnett Magazine, I must say the Heroes Project, our annual tribute to cancer survivors, is one of my favorites. As we usher in this year’s class of cancer-surviving heroes, it feels even more special. About 10 years ago, The Heroes Project started with our team thinking about all the family and friends we knew who’d been touched by cancer. We wanted to do something special to honor and pay tribute to their courage, determination and spirit. The best thing we could think to do

was to give our time and talents to tell their stories. We thought sharing their insights and wisdom would encourage fellow survivors and others who someday might walk in their shoes. The thing we didn’t realize at the time was how much these survivors would teach us about life in general. The truth is, some of the 10- or 12-year-olds know more about life than many of us in our later years. We set out to help the cause, but as most things like this go, before it was all said and done, we are the ones who ended up receiving a great gift. Meeting these people and hearing their life lessons is invaluable. It’s also rewarding and inspiring to still be in touch with some we met over 10 years ago. I’m proud to present the 2021 Heroes Project survivors in this issue. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know these remarkable folks, and I hope their words will inspire and motivate you the same way they do us each and every year. We thank them for sharing their stories. Each one a hero for sure.

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ALL CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE © 2021, GWINNETT MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PORTION OF THIS ISSUE MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER WITHOUT OUR PRIOR PERMISSION. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS PUBLICATION IS ACCURATE AND UPLIFTING. SO HERE’S THE DEAL—NO ONE’S PERFECT. THE INFORMATION IS NOT WARRANTED, AND WE DON’T ASSUME ANY LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTUAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM FALSE OR ERRONEOUS INFORMATION. UNDER ABSOLUTELY ZERO CIRCUMSTANCES--UNDER ANY GUISE--SHOULD YOU SPOIL THE ENDING OF LOST. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE IT AIRED BUT WE'VE BEEN REALLY BUSY, OK?

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this issue In

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08 Our Future is Bright! Economic development is back in full swing – check out these transformative projects just over the horizon

Finding Its Place

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Take a stroll down memory lane at Gwinnett Place Mall, then get a sneak peek at its upcoming transformation

The Rowen Project

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Look ahead to the upcoming Rowen research park, a 2,000-acre development destined to mark a new chapter for our county

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The Art of Following Your Dreams

Sweet as Honey

Kick'n Chicken (& Waffles)

Healthy & Happy!

New beginnings

An unexpected hobby. A lifelong calling.

From its health benefits to endless uses, you’ll bee amazed!

Kick your classic fried chicken ’n waffles to the next level with a dash of sriracha heat

This spring, your wellbeing comes first, so we’re covering all things health

Get to know all about Good Landing Recovery

Hear the stories of the cancer-fighting heroes right here in our community. Share their stories and be a force for good

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CITY SIDEWALKS SCAN FOR MORE! STOP AND SMELL THE PROGRESS

WOW. 200 Years of Lawrenceville! Scan the QR code to hear Lawrenceville's City Manager Chuck Warbington on the Lawrenceville's Bicentennial Podcast!

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OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT! 2020 may have felt like it hit the pause button on economic progress, but that just means the comeback is even sweeter. Now that we’re (almost) in the clear, there are so many groundbreaking economic development projects to look forward to! Take a peek at some of the standouts!

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DULUTH

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GWINNETT PLACE MALL OUT WITH THE OLD, & IN WITH THE NEW!

If you need any proof that Gwinnett County’s retail showplace of the ’80s and ’90s, Gwinnett Place Mall, is on life support, you need only take a self-guided tour through its eerily silent corridors, find a usable escalator, count on two hands the names of the remaining occupants, and––oh, wait. You can’t do any of that anymore. That sign on the door? “Closed to the Public.”

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That’s the same public that flocked to this 88-acre lot when it opened around Valentine’s Day, 1984. And shopping Gwinnettians of a certain age will remember––there was so much to love about the place, even more so in retrospect. It was where couples like John and Michelle met and fell in love, where today’s mall walkers were yesterday’s mall rats, and where singles like Lori mixed and mingled after work. And it was where young dads brought their pre-teen daughters: dinner at Ruby Tuesday, a stop at the Hello Kitty store, and a snickerdoodle from Great American Cookies. And might have made a run to Hallmark to see if the latest Beanie Babies had arrived. Davidson’s, Rich’s, Waldenbooks, Limited Too––they might as well be names torn from the Dead Sea Scrolls. But there they were on the directory in the middle of the mall. There were two, yes, two Chick-fil-A’s in the same mall: upstairs and in the food court. Back when people shopped in person and Amazon was a river in Brazil, the local Rotary Club held an annual raffle in which winners

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PR OP O SED R ENDER I NG F OR GW I NNE T T P L A CE MALL

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were awarded a $1,000 shopping spree at Gwinnett Place Mall. Images of Christmas presents that that amount of cash could buy at the Radio Shack or KB Toys bounced about in their brains. But that jackpot was only slightly more valuable than the bonus: a free, front row parking spot, good from Black Friday to New Year’s Day. Gone are the days of zigzagging one’s way through a crowd of shoppers like a tailback looking for running room off tackle. But if it’s any consolation to sentimental shoppers and mall cops, we’re not alone. “Malls are dead. They’re dying everywhere.” So says Joe Allen, Executive Director of the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID). And to further drive home the point, he adds, “This is not unique to Gwinnett County, this is not unique to Gwinnett Place. What’s happening with malls is happening across this nation. Too many were built.” You could say that. Since Victor Gruen, an Austrian-born immigrant from Nazi Germany built the first enclosed American mall in 1956, some 1,500 have sprung to life––and they’re dying an ugly, dilapidated death. With three other enormous regional malls within a half hour’s drive of Gwinnett Place, can their demise be far behind? Allen grew up in Lilburn and has been witness to the mall’s failing health the last few years. All that’s left now is for someone to administer Last Rites then pull the plug. It probably wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that outside of the three anchor stores still attracting customers in the last few years, there were more employees on the floor of Gwinnett Place Mall than

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“I T WAS PERF ECT . THE P RO DUCERS

shoppers at any one time on any shopping day. The most exciting thing to happen at Gwinnett Place Mall recently didn’t really even happen there. Part of the mall was converted into the Hawkins, Indiana Starcourt Mall for the hit Netflix show, Stranger Things. The mall still had customers during seasons one and two and back then, on more than one occasion, Joe Allen would receive a phone call from a long-lost acquaintance who would say, “Guess where I am?” Joe already knew. “Hmmm. Gwinnett Place Mall with your teenage kid?” It was perfect. The producers needed a mall with an ’80s vibe and Gwinnett Place fit the bill. Vintage signs were added for realism, but the structure and layout were perfect as is. Then a gigantic six-legged drooler of an alien crashed through the roof of the atrium in the season three finale, destroying everything in its wake, leaving Steve “The Hair” Harrington and the gang to move on to season four. If only it were that easy. Until the doors of Gwinnett Place were locked and the figurative white sheet was draped over its face, its shiny, relatively clean-from-so-little-use floors were great for fitness walking and window shopping––if you were actually shopping for windows. There was virtually no merchandise behind them, and sales signs were replaced by “Space Available” signs. All that’s left now is Macy’s, Mega-Mart, Beauty Master, and, where once you bought washers and tires and

NEEDED A MA L L WITH A N ’ 80S V IBE–THAT’S WHEN THE S TO RY TA K ES P LACE–– A N D G WI N N E T T PL ACE F IT THE BIL L .

clothes at Sears, you can now get a COVID shot. “It is a shell of its former glory,” says Allen. Now, this is not to say that the future of shopping at Pleasant Hill and I-85 is a thing of the past. Far from it. As Allen points out, stores on the 2,000 acres––including and surrounding the mall––ring up a billion and a half dollars in retail sales annually. And that’s with a comatose mall. In the 1980s, the new mall was the spark that lit that economic explosion. Now, says Allen,

WELL, THAT'S PRETTY STRANGE! Scan the QR code and rewind to 1985! Experience Gwinnett Place Mall's 15 minutes of fame in all of its nostalgic glory... Even if it was just for a TV. Show. 14

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“It’s time for our generation to do the same thing with that mall. I believe we need to scrap it and start over again. Our vision is to be an internationally diverse, livable, urban, green sustainable community.” The county now has its chance to start on that undertaking since its purchase of the mall was finalized in April, but don’t expect obvious results overnight. The grounds are being tended to––cutting the grass, fixing leaks and potholes, erasing graffiti––in order to keep the mall from falling into total disrepair, and upgrades to decades-old infrastructure will have to be in place before redevelopment can begin. The drive to get input from the community as well as the private business sector is all aimed at doing the job right. And that’s going to take time.

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“This is truly going to be, if we want to do it right, a model of how you equitably and inclusively redevelop a dead mall. That’s something we all have to be patient with.” Developers and merchants see dollar signs; Joe Allen sees the future. He envisions a day when a shopper turns off Pleasant Hill and onto Mall Boulevard, transformed into a “complete street.” “You see greenery, you see people out walking and biking beside you. It’s well-lit. You get to Ring Road and what

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you have before you is not the dead mall with the dead trees but you see green space. You see people leaving their home…townhomes to apartments. There’s walkability.” In Allen’s thriving new world there are families on picnics, residents eating and drinking at local establishments,

hotels, office buildings, and eventually a transit system that will shuttle shoppers and residents from McDaniel Farm Park to Infinite Energy Center. In this, the most diverse county in the Southeast, the CID sees the Gwinnett Place area as “a world of places in one place.” But it will take a public-private partnership to make the vision and the renderings and the dreams come to life. Joe Allen is cheerfully optimistic. But, he notes, “It could be that in fifty or seventy-five years somebody’s going to say, ‘You know what? It’s awful hot out here, all this climate change. Let’s put all this stuff under a roof.’” Maybe. But for now, let the sun shine in.

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LAWRENCEVILLE

GWINNETT ENTREPRENEUR CENTER

If there’s something our community can never have enough of, it’s definitely small businesses. Inspired entrepreneurs bring fresh innovation, creativity, and vibrance to the local business landscape. So, it’s important for us to support these go-getters right back through providing resources and fostering their small businesses’ growth. That’s why the county is creating the new Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center (GEC), a state-of-the-art facility designed to uplift emerging entrepreneurs and nurture small biz startups. The GEC, located in downtown Lawrenceville, will provide educational training and networking opportunities while offering coworking space and offices where entrepreneurs will receive hands-on support. The county has tapped Georgia Gwinnett College’s School of Business to staff and operate the new Center. The 6,000-square-foot facility is slated to open in early 2021.

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BUFORD

THE WATER TOWER

When it comes to environmentalist and water conservation efforts, our county is a leader in the state, winning many awards over the years and serving as home to several green organizations. Among these is a promising new nonprofit called The Water Tower, which launched in 2019 with the goal of driving innovation and reimagining water conservation in our local community and beyond. The nonprofit consists of a 501(c)(3), The Water Tower Institute, and a 501(c)(4), The Water Tower at Gwinnett, which both support applied research, technological innovation, workforce development, economic development, and public engagement around water. The Water Tower is located in Buford, right in between two of the county’s greatest environmental innovators: the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center and the Environmental & Heritage Center. The county has invested a remarkable $30 million into the nonprofit’s main headquarters building, demonstration area, and field training center, where their unique and pioneering water conservation work will take place. The revenue generated from this development will create a sustainable funding source for the nonprofit’s programming. The Water Tower will also offer economic development opportunities for water-related businesses by providing coworking and laboratory spaces as well as programs for angel and early-stage funding for budding startups. The Water Tower’s first phase of construction is expected to be completed in early 2022.

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STONEMOUNTAIN

AMAZON FULFILLMENT CENTER Next time you pick up a delivery from your front door, just think—it might have been packaged by a robot! Online shopping giant Amazon already has several robotic fulfillment centers open or under construction across the country. In fact, there’s one in our own backyard.

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The Stone Mountain facility opened last November, and it’s the first Amazon robotics fulfillment center in the state. With a massive 700,000 square feet of space, the campus is 4 stories tall and spans the length of 12 whole football fields. The center will employ more than 1,000 people across our community, with most earning $15 an hour and benefits like health insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan on their first day of work!

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LILBURN

STONE MOUNTAIN TENNIS CENTER

Sometimes, economic development is about letting go of the old to make way for something exciting that will bring new life to the places we know and love. After a long period of stagnation, a promising new project is underway in South Gwinnett, with potential to revitalize our county’s “Southern Gateway”. The 26-acre facility that once hosted the tennis competitions during the 1996 Olympics is the site of the massive new development. The county has chosen renowned developer Fuqua Acquisitions II, LLC to take on the job. Although the exact plans for the space are not yet clear, the development will attract new business, engagement, and opportunity to the Stone Mountain area and bring our “Southern Gateway” back to life.

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BUFORD

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EXCHANGE AT GWINNETT

Buford is already home to local shopper’s paradise Mall of Georgia and family favorite Lake Lanier Islands Resort, but there’s another exciting project underway that will bring even more fun, one-ofa-kind experiences to the city! The expansive and long-awaited mixed-use development, Exchange at Gwinnett, is located near Mall of Georgia, but on the opposite side of I-85, close to Coolray Field. Several of its businesses are already open, like top-notch entertainment venues Topgolf and Andretti Karting & Games. The project will also be home to various new restaurants, stores, and living spaces, including over 1,000 new apartments, a 107-room Homewood Suites hotel, and a Sprouts Farmers Market grocery store. Exchange at Gwinnett is expected to be completed by mid 2022.

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DACULA

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THE ROWEN PROJECT

What would you do with 2,000 acres of wooded land in eastern Gwinnett County? If, as Rowen Foundation president Mason Ailstock says, “Real estate is real estate,” then you’d want to do something to make this particular plot of earth special, beyond its natural beauty. Ailstock is heading the non-profit group that is establishing public and private partnerships and developing some ideas to make Rowen––the knowledge park and economic boom coming soon to the county we live in––more than just a generational real estate deal.

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“What really makes a place special,” says Ailstock, “is the programming and the areas of connection that are created, particularly across very diverse groups and industry segments that otherwise would not have interacted with one another. And Rowen, to me, is that kind of opportunity.” Like Research Triangle Park (RTP) in North Carolina, Rowen will be home to research facilities, offices, and residences, first focusing on agricultural, medical, and enviW H AT R E A L LY M A K E S A P L AC E ronmental research. Unlike its slightly larger SPECIAL IS THE PROGRAMMING North Carolina counterpart, Rowen is being AND THE AREAS OF CONNECTION developed in a time and place already pulsatT H AT A R E C R E AT E D, PA R T I C U L A R LY ing with economic activity and growth. RowAC R O S S V E RY D I V E R S E G R O U P S en is touting the possibility of 18,500 jobs by A N D I N D U S T RY S E G M E N T S T H AT 2035 and up to 100,000 jobs by the project’s completion, slated for more than thirty years O T H E R W I S E WO U L D N O T H AV E from now. I N T E R AC T E D W I T H O N E A N O T H E R . When RTP took shape in 1959, North A N D R OW E N , T O M E , I S T H AT K I N D Carolina had very low GDP and an economy O F O P P O R T U N I T Y. built on agriculture and manufacturing. Ailstock, who came to Rowen Foundation four - MASONAILSTOCK, PRESIDENT OF ROWENFOUNDATION years after serving as Chief Operating Officer at RTP, says, “Students who were going to the universities there were heading to the west coast or erty. We want to understand the trethe northeast to find long-term employment. So, it was a mendous environment that’s along the very challenging time for the state.” Apalachee River. What that means for RTP helped transition North Carolina into the new us as stewards of the land and stewards economy. Rowen already has a leg up, starting with the of this vision, how we use that property collective $405 billion GDP in the area between Atlanta, in a way to fulfill our mission but also Athens, and Gainesville; the benefit of nearby research respect the past.” universities; and easy access to more than two dozen ForAilstock thinks of himself as a “place tune 1000 companies. maker”who sees beyond “marble, If this just conjures up thoughts of lab coats and Bunsen ferns, and fountains” to inspiring placburners, Rowen has promised a park that also includes, es that serve as catalysts for growth. well, parks. Green space, public art, and limited residenThat’s his hope for Rowen. tial opportunities along with entertainment options for the “I want it to be a place that because public at large are some early ideas for Rowen. Collectiveof how it’s planned, designed, proly, the Rowen team hopes to take advantage of Gwinnett’s grammed, and how it brings diverse enormous diversity and steward well the environment and groups of people together, we learn honor the area’s past. As a first step, a University of Georfrom and listen to one another…How gia cultural resources and historical analysis report of the working together helps to create a area has been ordered as part of Rowen’s due diligence. shared future. “Before we even have roads out there or a formal mas“I’d love for Rowen to be known for ter plan, we want to understand the history of the propthose qualities.”

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"Despite the forecast, live like it's spring." - LILLY PULITZER

S E T T L E S BR ID GE PAR K , P H OTO BY C H R IS TI AN S CH UL ZE

Scan it for more inspiration!

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BERKELEY LAKE

LAWRENCEVILLE

SUWANEE

BUFORD

GRAYSON

SNELLVILLE

AUBURN

LOGANVILLE

SUGAR HILL

codes ! e Q Rom n th n a c S s e fu e v a h o and g

PEACHTREE CORNERS

LILBURN

DACULA

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 this spring. Just scan your city’s QR code and hit the road for the next celebration!

BRASELTON

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CIT Y EVENTS & HAPPENINGS!

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FREEZE FRAME SCAN FOR MORE! “ Say Cheese!”

An Unexpected Hobby and a Lifelong Dream As a veteran marketer, IT pro, finance expert, and Chief Financial Officer of the preeminent 12Stone Church, Norwood Davis’s career has been defined by good ol’ hard work, grit, and playing by the rules. He’s also an honors alumnus of military college who loves riding Harleys, and most see him as real tough and serious upon first impression. So, people are always surprised to learn that his emerging passion is anything but strict or rigid. Davis loves spending his off days painting his heart out, practicing creative expression without restraint. It all started in 2017 when he and his wife decided on a whim to try a painting class at a downtown Norcross art gallery they’d discovered. That evening, not only did the couple meet Rosa Obregon, the owner of The O Gallery, and her husband, but Davis ignited his newfound passion for putting brush to canvas. Today, thanks to Rosa’s assuring encouragement and mentorship and Da-

vis’s willingness to try new things, painting is his go-to hobby. “Painting exercises a completely different process for me than my daily profession,” says Davis. “As a CFO, my work requires following or enforcing rules. With painting, there are no rules. There’s a freedom for me that inspires.” Unlike Davis’s spontaneous discovery of his artistic passion, Rosa Obregon’s love for art is an integral part of her life’s journey. In fact, if there’s a paragon of the saying, “practice your passion and the money will follow,” Rosa is definitely it. As a Mexican immigrant who once experienced homelessness and worked as a teacher for 18 years, she didn’t always get the opportunity to practice her art. But in 2018, with the encouragement of her husband, she took a leap and pursued her dream: launching her very own gallery. Today, Rosa is truly living the life she’s always wanted. Every morning, she heads to the gallery, turns on music, and lets it transport her to a different realm from which she draws inspiration for the paintings she then sells for a living. Although Rosa and Davis found their passions for art in different ways and for different reasons, their stories are compelling reminders to stay curious and pursue what truly speaks to you—you never know the fulfillment it may bring!

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PODIUM SCAN FOR MORE! HEADPHONES OUT, PEOPLE!

Celebrate ‘Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day’ with an Act of Kindness Gwinnett County prides itself on being a welcoming place. We embrace people from all over the world, enjoying their various cultures, cuisine, and unique perspectives. The pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges and increased stress for many of us. Now it is more important than ever that we continue to display the kindness and generosity of spirit that has been the hallmark of our great county. Your county government is trying to do its part to keep communities whole by providing food assistance programs, opening a mass vaccination center for the Gwinnett Health Department, and rolling out Project RESET 2.0, the County’s eviction prevention and utilities assistance program. The County is using more than $28.1 million from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program to offer up to 15 months of total assistance, which may include rental and/or utility arrears (up to 12 months) and future rental and/or utility assistance. To learn more about Project RESET 2.0 program, who qualifies, and required documents, visit GCGA.us/RentalAssistance. Renters and landlords can apply for the program at GCGA.us/ProjectRESET2. But the County can only do so much. That is why we lean on you, as individuals and good neighbors, to really make a difference in each other’s lives. Starr Valentino founded “Do Something Good For Your Neighbor Day” in 2009 with a mission of encouraging people to display acts of kindness to neighbors, friends, and anyone who crosses their path. Metro Atlanta counties including Fulton, Coweta, and DeKalb have previously recognized the day through proclamations. While the day was observed this year on Sunday, May 16, being thoughtful and considerate with one another should be something we all aspire to do each and every day.

Nicole Love Hendrickson CHAI RWOMAN GWI NNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMI SSI ONERS

It starts with small gestures. Holding a door open for someone. Paying for the coffee of the person in line behind you. Writing a thank you note. Letting someone merge in traffic or give up a close parking space for someone else. Checking on an elderly neighbor. Picking up litter. Thanking the mail carrier for his or her hard work. And if you are the recipient of someone else’s kindness, look for opportunities to pay it forward. Little gestures of goodwill can be incredibly meaningful to someone struggling with life’s challenges. Various faiths call on us to be kind to one another. We all know these lessons, but these are stressful times, and we can forget to practice patience. But it is incumbent on us to look out for each other. Acts of kindness can bridge differences in culture, politics, religion, and creed, and unite us as one people. Research shows that kindness benefits the giver as well — physically and emotionally. When people are kind, their stress levels go down and they are happier and feel less lonely. So won’t you join me in doing something good for our neighbors?

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They’re our neighbors, community leaders, role models – they’re cancer-fighting heroes. This year, we’re sharing inspiring Heroes Project stories about perseverance, faith, service and the value of being there for those you love. Cancer brings challenges and setbacks along the way, and these stories are a true testament to human strength. So, take a moment to reflect, read your neighbors’ stories and remember to cherish every single day.

We're feeling nostalgic and celebrating the 11th Anniversary of the “We Light A Candle” song that benefited Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society and other cancer causes. SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH THE MAKING OF VIDEO!

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Grateful for every moment & every relationship. As First Lady of Peachtree Corners, Debbie Mason is an enthusiastic leader who’s always engaged in serving her community, whether it means volunteering at a local nonprofit or always being there at major events. But little did she know that all of that love and hard work she’s put into helping her neighborhood thrive would come right back to her when her life took an unexpected detour. When Debbie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it came as a disheartening shock. The diagnosis was also a harbinger, signaling a temporary hiatus from her busy professional life. Social and political commitments were cast to the wayside, replaced by medical visits and treatments. Due to the pandemic, Debbie traveled solo to doctor’s appointments, conveying updates and test results to her husband and mayor of Peachtree Corners, Mike Mason, through FaceTime. In every way imaginable, her husband and sons stepped up, ensuring Debbie felt comfortable, cared for and never alone. While going through treatment, Debbie found the

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universe working inversely. Used to being on the giving end of situations, she found herself receiving, and receiving in abundance, from an entire community of neighbors and close friends who flooded her doorstep and home with get-well cards, food, and gift cards for local restaurants. Flower arrangements in rainbows of colors arrived in droves. “People were telling me that I had a whole city of people praying for me,” Debbie says. But the person she’s most grateful to is her neighbor who, upon the urging of his late mother who herself passed from the disease, urged him to tell every woman he met to take the CA 125 test, a test that detects ovarian cancer before it’s too late. At the time, Debbie had conceded for no other reason than to pay deference to a life lost. But today, she’s thankful beyond words. “By urging me to get the CA 125 test, my friend Richard may have saved my life,” she says.

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My family and my faith in the Lord gave me and continue to give me strength. Margarita Argueta appreciates that she is able to open her eyes every morning. She finds beauty in a blooming flower and even in her neighbor hollering from next door in the middle of the night. Her outlook on life has changed drastically since cancer made its appearance in her life, reminding her that every moment is a gift and one to be cherished. When the doctor first diagnosed her with breast cancer, Margarita felt fear and shock. Her mind shot to her two young children, her odds of survival, and what the rest of her life would look like. Her family rushed to her side, showering Margarita with nothing the doctor could pre-

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scribe, yet everything she needed: heavy doses of love, support and care at a juncture when life was at its most challenging: she’d been diagnosed with cancer twice, back-to-back. Margarita’s experience with cancer has altered her view on many things—“physically, mentally and spiritually.” But she also cannot look past the beautiful lessons it has taught her, one of the most integral being to view life’s many blessings in a new light and appreciate them in a way she never before had. “My family and my faith in the Lord gave me and continue to give me strength,” says Margarita. “I thank God for my family. I enjoy the good things in life every day. But I make it a point to also learn from all experiences, even the ones that feel the worst.”

Cherish every minute of every day with those you love. On pleasant days when the sun is shining bright, you’ll find Charlotte Armstrong riding her bike outside with the “big kids.” As a cheerful preschooler, her mornings are filled with crayons, markers and a vivid imagination that brings out her carefree, free-spirited nature. But underneath it all, Charlotte is made of tougher stuff than any preschooler should be. Charlotte’s mother Kathrine remembers all too well the day their universe turned upside down. Charlotte was a cherubic baby, only 20 months old when her mother noticed a strange firmness in her belly. An x-ray confirmed a cancerous tumor. What followed felt surreal to Charlotte’s parents as they faced disbelief and heartbreak. “We

started that day like any other day,” says Kathrine. “But as soon as you hear those words, your life changes forever.” Fortunately, Charlotte was too little to understand what was happening. A jubilant child, she immersed herself in Snapchat during treatments, having fun with the different, often silly filters that took her to a happier, carefree place so reflective of her true nature. And she rarely if ever cried during months on end of chemotherapy. “Luckily, most of the time she was smiling and stealing everyone's heart,” says Kathrine. It’s been over a year since Charlotte’s last round of chemo. Watching their beaming daughter, Kathrine and her husband are amazed at her resilience, bravery and all she endured with rarely a complaint. “She gets her strength from the prayers and support of so many people,” says Kathrine. “Going through a situation like this reminds you how precious life is and how important it is to cherish every minute of every day with those you love.”

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Blessed to be able to help. Andre Redding felt a swarm of emotions flood him when he was diagnosed with three types of cancer: breast, prostate and colon, all appearing within two years. Why me? He asked God. The response came back, soft, a whisper: Why not you? Andre accepted it humbly, bowing his head to God’s will. As his treatments began, his children, grandchildren, wife, brothers, cousins and many others sourced him hope, kindness and prayers. “I appreciate the fact that God decided that he would put brilliant people in my life story when he did,” says Andre. “He allowed me to meet heroes who have now become friends. I look at life differently now. I look at it through hopeful eyes.” In the process, Andre also discovered a larger purpose in life. No longer was his focus solely on fighting for himself, but on restoring his own strength to become a source of strength for others in a similar situation. So strong was his willpower and desire to help that he not only won the fight against cancer, but in the process, he also launched what has become his pride, passion and legacy for others diagnosed with this illness: his nonprofit organization, Fight 2 Finish. True to his ambition, Andre’s organization does exactly as its name suggests: helps men suffering breast cancer fight till the end in their war against this abominable disease. “Knowing I have an opportunity to lend a hand to another human being who is going through what I have been through is really motivating,” says Redding. “I am so blessed to be able to help.”

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Every treatment, every test, every procedure and surgery, God is with me. “I had heard about breast cancer, supported breast cancer initiatives, had friends and acquaintances with breast cancer, but I really didn’t know what breast cancer was,” says Suzanne Adams. So, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, the whole ordeal felt very surreal to Suzanne at first. But the moment grew very real when her loving husband, Jimmy, and her dear daughter, Tiffany, huddled around her chair, a spread of gadgets on the counter before them, all of them at a place in life none of them had ever imagined being. Together, they all prayed. Then, her husband and daughter took turns shaving Suzanne’s head while comforting her and assuring that they would face this challenge together, supporting her every step of the way. That is when the sobering reality of cancer struck Suzanne. Suzanne and her devoted family have faced many heartbreaks and triumphs along her journey fighting cancer through many treatments, hugs and tears. Surrounded by her family and adoring granddaughters, the one thing she refuses to do is let the disease steal her joy. “I am surrounded by an unfailing God,” she says. “I have a beautiful family, amazing friendships, and a community that has already healed me in many ways no one will ever know or realize.”

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H E A LT H Y

Relay for Life:

A Drive-in to Remember Throughout the past year, cancer hasn’t stopped affecting people in our community—but neither has our very own Relay for Life of Gwinnett. This past May, the local cancer-battling organization kicked their in-person events back into full gear with their Drive-Up Celebration at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. People from all across our community gathered to honor and celebrate the inspiring cancer survivors and caregivers in their lives. With lively games, glow-in-the-dark goodies, and scrumptious concessions galore, it was a golden opportunity for people who have been touched by cancer to reflect and cherish time together—which was especially meaningful after so much time spent apart. The emotional night concluded with the Luminaria drive-thru, where cars weaved through a beautiful path of glowing paper lanterns. Each Luminaria was decorated and dedicated to someone who has faced cancer. Thanks to the rockstar fundraisers and the generosity of sponsors like Primerica and Northside Hospital, the Drive-Up Celebration raised a whopping $230,000! The funds are now headed towards pivotal cancer research, essential patient care programs, ever-needed education, and meaningful health equity initiatives. After this stellar kickoff to 2021’s in-person events, Relay for Life of Gwinnett will continue to celebrate survivors, remember those we have lost, and take a stand against cancer in our community.

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DOING! SCAN FOR MORE! BLAST OFF, BABY!

Nothing says springtime in Georgia like azaleas and dogwoods. We’ll put up with a fine coating of pollen on our cars and patio furniture if it means we can enjoy a month-long feast for the eyes, itchy and watery though they may be. And when those blossoms open up, watch for the honey bees––and the people like Roy Rush who keep them––as they fly into action. There’s no lockdown for them. And the result of their seasonal work is as sweet as, well, honey.

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DOING!

Roy Rush climbs into his pickup before dawn this clear April day and turns onto U.S. 84, heading out of Cairo for Loganville, some four hours north. As the eastern darkness gives way to daybreak and the lights of south Georgia disappear in Roy’s rear view mirror, it won’t be long before he sees blooming redbud, black cherry, and dogwood trees. Awaiting Roy on a small grassy plot of land on the outskirts of Loganville are eighteen wooden boxes––beehives––each occupied by thousands of bees. Each hive is meticulously nurtured by this 69-year-old Illinois-born Navy veteran, who’s made beekeeping his livelihood––and his passion. He spends hours each day working the hives to create the perfect environment to raise the most bees, then moves them to where they can make the most honey: Cairo with its tulip poplars and Tupelo trees early in the year, then Lo-

ganville in springtime. And when the blossoms fade, it’s on to the sourwood trees of Blairsville in the summer. “I’ve got that Midwest work ethic. I’m not afraid of the work,” says Roy with dozens of honey jars on his truck bed still waiting to be delivered. That’s just part of his job this day along with checking on the wellbeing of his hives and driving back again to south Georgia. “I like being busy.” Good thing. It all started as a birthday gift, a one-hive starter kit from his wife, Donna. “She was trying to get me a hobby that would keep me home. Now she’s wondering if that’s good or not,” he says with a laugh, “because I spend a lot of time with the bees.” It’s time well spent, because in Roy’s world, honey is money. The bees in Roy’s keeping, busy though they may be, what with pollinating, keeping the hive clean for their queen, and making honey, pollen, propolis, and wax, are not as productive individually as you might think. In a bee’s lifetime, it’ll make about one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey. By human standards, that doesn’t seem like much to show for six weeks of living, but there’s power in numbers; Each hive will yield 100 to 150 pounds of honey, and with a total of 150 beehives and honey going for some $20

THERE’SNO‘I’ INHIVE*

* THE R E I S .

Ever wondered who makes your delicious honey? Get to know the three types of honeybees in every hive!

WORKER BEE

QUEEN BEE

DRONE BEE

We should really change the phrase “busy as a bee” to “busy as a worker bee”! Worker bees are the all-female Type A overachievers of the bee world, in charge of everything from building honeycombs to gathering nectar to tidying up the hive.

Royalty might be less prevalent in the human world, but in the honeybee hive, the Queen bee still reigns supreme! And she’s definitely one unique bug, eating a special diet of royal jelly and giving commands to her subordinates just through her pheromones.

These all-male bees are bigger than the worker bees, but they don’t pitch in much around the hive. They stick around during warmer months until they’re kicked out in the fall to save space and honey. If you ever see a drone bee out and about, don’t fear, they have no stinger!

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FREAKING SWEET HEALTH BENEFITS! Honey: it’s super sweet, an excellent sugar substitute, and goes with so many recipes! But what’s even sweeter is its surprising range of proven health benefits. So, next time you see a bee buzzing by, tell ‘em thanks! +

High in antioxidants which promote heart health

Soothes throat and suppresses coughs

a pound, you can do the math. Let’s just say it more than pays for the gas on the Cairo Beeline Express. Tending to living creatures is nothing new to Roy or Donna. Back in the ’80s they had what amounted to a zoo on their twenty-acre piece of land in Loganville. Donna, after she became pregnant, realized that her horse riding days would be put on hold for a while, so she started a pony ride attraction for kids’ birthday parties. The menagerie grew to include pot-bellied pigs, ostriches, kangaroos, turkeys, wallabies, and hamsters, among other furry and feathered friends that naturally drew crowds from schools in the area. 9/11 put the brakes on the field trip business and eventually the animals either died, got sold, or ended up on Roy and Donna’s wall. All that’s left today are camels and ducks. Oh, and bees, of course. Even before his 35-year career as a sales rep for a fastener company up north wound down, Roy began replacing his briefcase and samples with honey extractors, queen excluders, and brood chambers.

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Improves cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Contains vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, and potassium

Reduces blood pressure and may decrease risk of heart attacks

Has effective antibacterial properties

Eases digestive issues and reduces inflammation and ulcers

Aids healing of burns and wounds

DOING!

Scan it for more inspiration!

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DOING!

UNIQUE HONEYS

SWEETENUPYOURPANTRYWITHTHESE

There are hundreds of varieties of honey across the world—each with their own unique flavor profile, cooking uses, and health benefits. Whether you’re using honey for baking, grilling, throat soothing, or topical treatments, you probably need more than one type in your pantry. Check out our nine favorites!

TUPELO

FIREWEED

CLOVER

This variety is a rare Southern delicacy, boasting an extra sweet, buttery flavor. Drizzle it over biscuits or ice cream!

Fireweed, a tall-growing wildflower with bright purple petals, brings a bold, buttery flavor to this honey—perfect for backyard grilling!

One of the most popular varieties, clover honey is a versatile go-to with a soft floral aroma.

ORANGE BLOSSOM

MĀNUKA

EUCALYPTUS HONEY

It’s sweet and mild with a bright

pantries!

This potent variety is native to New Zealand and has various antiinflammatory, cough soothing, and skin care benefits.

Loved by koalas and originating in Australia, eucalyptus leaves give this honey an herbal scent and menthol-like flavor.

ACACIA HONEY

WILDFLOWER

BUCKWHEAT

With a mild, sweet flavor and a light (almost clear) color, acacia honey works well in anything from tea to baked goods to biscuits.

This all-purpose honey can taste mild or strong depending on the flower blend. Plus, local wildflower honey may help you fight seasonal allergies!

This dark, molasses-like honey has a stronger taste than others, packed with antioxidants and throatsoothing properties.

citrusy taste, ideal to stir in your tea or drizzle over pancakes and

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While probably 95 percent of beekeepers are hobbyists who do it for their own honey or to pollinate their gardens, commercial beekeepers like Roy are in it for the long haul, come what may: bad weather that can destroy a hive, pests that can be fatal to bees, and, of course, the bee stings. Lots and lots of bee stings. “That’s why not everyone’s a beekeeper,” says Roy, who gets stung virtually every day, multiple times. But before you question his sanity for not doing his job in a suit of armor, consider this: Roy has had one knee replaced already and knows that his other leg is in need of a knee replacement as well. But, he says, “Bee stings kept me from getting it done five years earlier.” Apitherapy, says Roy, is a beautiful thing and a boon to arthritis sufferers. “You pick up a bee, tap its butt wherever you want it to sting you, and she’ll sting you,” he says, as he demonstrates on the back of his hand. “Whenever you pull away, that stinger stays in you. And you wait a minute, then you take your fingernail and scrape the stinger away.” Then with a smile, he adds, “You’ve just had a dose of bee venom.”

And that, apparently, is a good thing. So if you can stand the stings and the uncertainty that goes with relying on the weather and the temperament of your bees, you may have Apis mellifera in your future. If so, Roy suggests you do what he did: join a local bee club, take a course, and connect with a mentor. That’s one man’s formula for success. “I have a business where I have little competition and I can make money at it. But there’s no doubt, there’s work.” That work’s satisfaction comes in a tangible way. “Whenever you get a hundred pounds of honey and your back’s hurting, you’ve got something to show for it.” Which makes the ride back to Cairo that much sweeter.

R OY RU S H

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FOODIE HOUR SCAN FOR MORE! “ Please refrain from licking photographs.”

I R AC H A H O N E Y HOT SR

Chicken & Waffles What’s better than the Southern classic, chicken and waffles? Chicken and waffles with a kick!

Prep time: 30 MIN

Cook time: 30 MIN

Makes: 8 Servings

CHICKEN 1. Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Place the chicken in a gallon-size plastic bag and pour the buttermilk on top, making sure all thighs are coated. Seal the bag and stick it in the fridge for at least two hours. 2. Preheat oven to 275° F. Line parchment paper on two rimmed baking sheets. Strain the buttermilk from the plastic bag into a shallow bowl. Then, add the egg and whisk the mixture together. 3. In a separate shallow dish, mix the flour, panko, garlic salt, onion powder, paprika, kosher salt, and pepper. This will be your dry mixture. 4. Dip each chicken thigh in the wet mixture, tap off the excess, and dredge in the dry mixture, again shaking off the excess. Place each chicken thigh on one of the prepped baking sheets. 5. Pull out your heavy cast iron skillet and place it over medium-high heat. Pour the peanut oil into the skillet until it’s one inch deep. Once it’s getting hot, test to make sure it’s at frying temperature by dropping a pinch of flour in the oil. If it immediately sizzles, you’re ready to get frying! 6. Fry the chicken in small batches, making sure to keep them spaced apart in the pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, until the chicken is crispy and the desired brown color. Once each chicken thigh is done frying, place it on the second clean baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Finally, put the baking sheet in the oven to keep the chicken warm as you prep the waffles.

SRIRACHA HONEY SAUCE 1. Place a small saucepan over medium heat and stir in the honey, sriracha sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. 2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low to keep warm until the waffles are ready.

WAFFLES 1. Grab your waffle maker and coat each iron with cooking spray. Then, preheat the waffle maker. 2. Next, crack both eggs and separate the egg whites from the yolks. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and set aside. 3. In a large mixing bowl, pour the flour, milk, canola oil, and egg yolks. Mix with an electric mixer set to low speed until all ingredients are moistened. Then, bump up the mixer speed to medium and mix until smooth. Now, gently fold in the beaten egg whites. 4. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter on each hot waffle iron and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, until waffle is golden. 5. Finally, serve the waffles topped with the fried chicken and drizzled with the warm sriracha honey sauce. Enjoy!

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WHAT YOU NEED:

Chicken • 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk • 1 egg • 1 cup all-purpose flour • 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs • 1 teaspoon garlic salt • 1 teaspoon onion powder • 1 teaspoon paprika • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper • Peanut oil, for frying Sriracha Honey Sauce • 1/2 cup honey • 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder Waffles • 2 eggs • 2 cups selfrising flour • 2 cups milk • 1/3 cup canola oil • Cooking spray

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H E A LT H Y SCAN FOR MORE! DOCTOR, DOCTOR TELL ME THE NEWS

AND EASY

Healthy Living Habits that Work ACTUALLY

When it comes to advice about healthy living, there are opinions nearly every place you turn. Unfortunately, a great deal of that information is based on fad diets and trendy workouts that may deliver quick results but don’t promote a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. The medical community generally agrees that slow and steady is the way to win the race toward healthy living. 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. SPRING 2021

H E A LT H Y

1 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.

2 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, which can vary depending on numerous factors such as your age, activity level and overall health. Then get smart about the portion sizes that will help you stay within those parameters. Initially, you may want to weigh out portions but soon you’ll be able to recognize and adjust your portions on sight.

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3 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.

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4 Replace what you lose. A strong workout may help you shed calories, but it also can deplete your body of essential fluids. Staying hydrated is crucial to keep your body functioning properly, from regulating your body temperature to providing the lubrication your joints and muscles need to keep you in motion. Rehydrating during and after exercise is important for getting the most out of your workout. For example, try incorporating an electrolyte beverage, such as Propel Electrolyte Water, which helps replace what is lost in sweat and supports hydration by stimulating thirst and promoting fluid retention. The 10 flavors contain no calories and provide B vitamins to support metabolism as part of a daily diet and antioxidant vitamins C and E.

2 5 Give yourself a break. Most experts agree it’s OK to indulge and enjoy your favorite treat occasionally. Skipping a day at the gym won’t end your efforts either. The key is to make those allowances an exception rather than the norm, skipping one day instead of three or eating a sliver of pie, not a giant slice. Rewarding yourself within reason is a good way to stay motivated and create a sustainable healthy lifestyle.

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T R E Y & H OL LY L E W IS 74

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SERVANT HEARTS SCAN FOR MORE! LESS ME, AND MORE WE.

BY SALINA JIVANI

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S E R VA N T H E A RT S

tions p e c n o sc i m n o m Com On a muggy evening in the outskirts of on ti c i d d a t u o b a Clarksdale, Mississippi, fourteen-yearold Trey Lewis clutched his first bottle of alcohol. He never imagined the first sip would be the precipice of a vicious, downhill cycle that would nearly destroy his future. Or that one day, he’d draw on his harrowing experiences with alcohol and later drugs to launch the largest partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient program of its kind in Georgia—possibly the nation.

When people are more informed and put aside their judgments, they can better help themselves and those around them when signs of addiction surface. Understanding these three prevalent misconceptions about addiction can bring greater clarity and awareness to this issue that millions of people deal with every year.

MYTH #1

As CEO and founder of Good Landing Recovery, a center for alcohol and drug addicts, Lewis is an anomaly. Not only has he experienced the ruthless, viselike grip of abuse and addiction, but he’s also escaped from their clutches, becoming an unwavering force in extricating others from their lethal stronghold. THE GREAT YE T CHALLENGING DAYS Raised in the Bible Belt, Lewis attended church every Sunday with his family—although faith, at the time, felt little beyond a routine obligation. His paternal grandparents doted on him, the only child of their son, and he attended a private school where he had a voracious appetite for learning, making him an exceptional student. His days were filled with his favorite hobby—sports of any and every kind—which he relished with a large group of friends. “I don’t think it’s possible to have a better childhood than I did,” he says. Despite this optimism, however, his story is far from perfect. Shortly after Lewis’s birth, his mother started displaying bizarre symptoms. At first, the doctors chalked it up to postpartum depression, common in new mothers, but over time, the symptoms worsened, carrying with them a greater degree of severity and risk. Upon further examination, the doctors finally were able to aptly diagnose her: she was bipolar with psychosis. 76

YOU NEED TO HIT “ROCK BOTTOM” BEFORE YOU CAN TRULY START GETTING WELL. THE REALITY You don’t need a lifechanging wakeup call in order to start “truly” wanting recovery. It’s never too early or too late to start seeking help.

MYTH #2

ONLY CERTAIN TYPES OF PEOPLE ARE PRONE TO ADDICTION. THE REALITY While factors like genetics or trauma can make people more vulnerable, addiction can affect absolutely anyone. So, it’s not something to be ashamed of!

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“

In October of 2019 I came to Good Landing Recovery. I never thought being sober or sobriety would be a part of my life. I was truly in hell in my addiction. But only through God and Good Landing have the chains of addiction been broken off and my mind has been set free. I am truly transformed. The gratitude I have for GLR is more than I can ever truly express.

bbs David Ho

MYTH #3

DRUGS PRESCRIBED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AREN’T AS ADDICTIVE AS ILLICIT DRUGS. THE REALITY Prescription pills are actually just as addictive as illegal drugs and have an even higher risk of overdose. It’s so important to stay informed!

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By the time he was five, her condition spiraled into a full-blown illness that incapacitated her mind. Though he felt her love implicitly, it was apparent that his mom was helpless to her mind. Lewis’s paternal grandparents stepped in to care for him while his father grew resigned to the fact that hoping for her to one day resume her role as a guardian to Lewis was a far-fetched dream. This realization wasn’t an easy one to process. “I remember the doctor coming over and giving me a sedative because I couldn’t get it together knowing my mom was leaving,” he says. From there, his mother’s condition only worsened as she began self-medicating her mental illness with drugs. Then, in 1994, with drugs in her system, things took a turn for the worse. His mom got into a lethal accident, killing a pedestrian and being imprisoned for vehicular homicide. Thinking back to his first experience with alcohol, Lewis understands the overwhelming urge to self-medicate. “When I drank the first time, it started as a miracle cure to my underlying anxieties and social inhibitions,” says Lewis. But what he couldn’t have anticipated was the viselike hold the liquor would take on his life. THE DOWNWARD SPIR AL For a while, Lewis managed to keep the booze or drugs from affecting his life. He remained a stellar student, gaining a full tennis scholarship to Brewton-Parker College in Georgia. Then, in the summer of senior year he made friends with illicit drugs. And everything changed. What started as a recreational and weekend pastime quickly became a daily fix. Soon Lewis was an IV drug addict who couldn’t stop. For nearly a decade, he transferred in and out of ten treatment centers, hoping to regroup his life. He’d make enough progress to pull it together for a semester at college only to relapse and have four horrible ones to follow, making for a turbulent college path. To defeat the cycle, he turned to the military, where many of the men he’d admired had served. Despite the drug abuse, Lewis had no felonies to his name, which proved a saving grace in gaining him acceptance to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Lewis was hopeful that new scenery and a strict military regimen would instill the discipline he lacked in turning his life around. However, he quickly realized that a change in landscape wasn’t enough to change him. Although in the military, he still loved a good party replete with alcohol and drugs. Then the inevitable happened. Lewis was slapped with a DUI—the equivalent of a death blow in the military. 77

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“When you feel you’re

the scum of the earth and

someone says they want to

make an investment in you, that's transformational !”

Word spread like wildfire and at the front of the base, large posters screamed the announcement to passersby. Then one night at an airmen’s event, he caught the attention of the Command Chief Master Sergeant. “I see leadership in your life, and I’d like to mentor you,” the sergeant told Lewis. “I’m not sure you know who I am,” he told the Sergeant, shuffling his feet. “I’m the one who got that DUI.” The Sergeant appeared unfazed, reassuring Lewis that the offer still held. For someone who was at life’s nadir, these words were a welcome salve to Lewis’s bruised perception of self-worth, sparking hope within him. Shortly after, he met a group of college-age professionals and staunch Christians who befriended him and taught him the meaning of living for God. LE T TING GOD LEAD THE WAY Once he left the military, stronger and more confident, Lewis decided to foster his newfound love for the Lord by going on staff at a local church. Immediately, he was drawn to fractured people, the oppressed and the throwaways of society. Often, he’d find himself at homeless shelters, and the hidden nooks and crannies of the city where these forgotten souls were often cast. “My desire to see people en-

counter God became my spiritual gift mix,” says Lewis. Relishing his work, Lewis shifted to working for a company known for helping people establish churches. In this new role, Lewis traveled the nation, training leaders and visionaries on the business administration, legal and revenue aspects of running a non-profit—essentially, everything he one day aspired to do. By March 2017, the idea of a non-profit, faith-based drug and alcohol recovery center was already percolating in Lewis’s mind. But like every budding entrepreneur, his doubts outweighed his confidence. Then one day, a gentleman from one of the churches Lewis had worked with called, proposing an idea. As someone who helped launch businesses that committed to funding missions and ministries, he advised Lewis to go the for-profit route instead and contribute a certain percentage of revenue to fund missions, fulfilling his desire to both launch a business close to his heart while giving back to God. Good Landing Recovery was born in July 2017. And then came pin drop silence. Two months passed, then three

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without any clients. Pretty soon, fall was around the bend, with doubt and apprehension crouching in closely behind. Finally, a hunting trip to Mississippi proved fruitful, winning the company its first client. By May the following year, business was booming—Good Landing Recovery had taken off. A FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE CLIENT JOURNEY The phrase “full medical clinical facility” can conjure myriad images. Some might envision a program crammed with two hours of bible study and a few hours in group therapy before it tapers off to something mundane, like six-hour painting sessions. However, things work differently at Good Landing Recovery. With its professional staff, including a former surgeonturned-medical director, three nurse practitioners, and twelve master-level therapists, Good Landing Recovery has a competent staff combined with a customized plan of action for every individual who entrusts it with their recovery journey.

This tailored approach starts with extending varying levels of flexibility to accommodate nearly any client situation. “If the client wants to house with us, they can, or they can meet with us online, or they can come in person without housing here,” says Lewis. The company even works virtually with people from out of state. And the program can be refined to each person’s needs. For instance, if an employee stays sober throughout the workday, but has trouble keeping dry after work, Good Recovery Landing can devise an evening-time accountability program through an outpatient level of care. Clients also have control of their journey. If they come to the end of their allotted ninety or hundred-day treatment plan and feel they’re still not ready to immerse in the world, they can choose to stay for up to two years. Surprisingly, the center sees a huge draw to this program and a strong resistance from clients against prematurely aborting the process, which Lewis sees as a positive sign. NOT YOUR RUN-OF-THE-MILL KIND OF RECOVERY CENTER In nearly four years, what started as one housing building unit and three staff now is a full-fledged operation supporting over 140 clients across 17 housing properties, making Good Landing Recovery the largest of its kind in at least the Southeast region, if not the entire country. And Lewis has remained true to his word, passing upwards of 25% of the center’s quarterly distributions to fund ministries and give back.

“

Good Landing has been so many blessings in disguise to us that are constantly being revealed daily right before our eyes. It is a family filled with love, hope, compassion, joy, and miracles. We are so fortunate to be here and give back and help those who struggle with addiction. Philippians 1:3 Cliff &

Chris Heaton

SPRING 2021

S E R VA N T H E A RT S

T H IS G O OD L AN DIN G S IG N F L IE S H IG H AB OVE TH EIR ON- C AM P U S GYM.

But there’s much more that makes Good Landing Recovery a unique advocate and ally. For one, it works to erase the dark stigma surrounding the concept of treatment in people who’ve never attempted it before and those who’ve had a poor experience with prior treatment facilities. The campus is intentionally airy, friendly, warm and inviting, giving clients the illusion they’ve set foot in a temporary oasis versus a hospital or institution. The facility also shuns adopting dated processes to shake out addiction, instead leaning on methods proven to be life-giving and life-altering. Here, clients learn to create a long-term vision for their future, working in lockstep with staff who help them envision a life and goals beyond drugs and alcohol. To take it a step further, the center hosts an open-public program called Recovery Church every Friday, which draws crowds from Athens to Atlanta and includes a full church service. “Friday night is the end of the week and usually when the wheels start falling off people’s recovery journey,” says Lewis. “We bring our best on Friday night to draw them in, have them engage and keep them going strong.” Although it’s rooted in Christian values, Good Landing Recovery doesn’t discriminate in who it serves, be it people from different religious beliefs, backgrounds, nationalities or otherwise, making it a welcoming reprieve for all. Moreover, it offers many programs catering to alcohol, drug and outpatient rehab as well as interventions, even working alongside businesses concerned for employees who may be in the midst of active addiction. Instead of severing relationships with talented, downtrodden employees, the center encourages business to advocate for treatment,

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I never thought I would become the woman I am today. Good Landing helped my dreams become my reality.

e Daniell itt Brumm

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Rock bottom will teach you a lesson that mountain tops never will.

Connor Lawrence

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which can help employees dust off the layers of addiction and defeat to shine their greatness. “We work successfully with tons of businesses that have these issues,” says Daniel Garner, Director of Marketing. Perhaps the most prominent example of its passion to make a difference in the lives of anyone impacted by alcoholism, addiction and abuse—not just clients—is its podcast: The Comeback: Stories that Inspire, which reaches an audience of millions across the nation. The podcast airs new episodes every Wednesday, serving as a powerful resource for active addicts, those in recovery or even loved ones of addicts seeking hope and insight to offer help. “In establishing the programs at Good Landing Recovery and their individual components, I considered the parts that were super effective in my own journey,” says Lewis. That, according to Lewis, includes having the right resources and staff on hand to treat a client both effectively and thoroughly. “Typically with an alcoholic,” says Lewis. “You’ll be medicating an anxiety disorder. You can talk to them all day long, but if you can’t treat that disorder, you’ll be doing a major disservice.” Effectively identifying behavioral disorders that can impede recovery is why the facility employs a staff psychiatrist. Other unique services they boast include case man-

SPRING 2021

agement, job services, a leadership development program and then of course leisurely activities, such as movies and bowling, to infuse some fun. But the attention and games aren’t the only things that keep clients around. “Our sense of community is why so many people end up staying,” says Lewis. And spearheading the effort to cultivate and foster the ambiance of a close-knit village is Lewis himself. Although it may be atypical to see the CEO himself down in the trenches, at Good Landing Recovery, it’s the absolute norm. Lewis heads up Monday morning groups every week, and recovery groups on Friday nights. You’ll often see him walking the halls or engaging with clients. “I’m right there,” says Lewis. “I know what they’re going through. I’ve been there and I want to be visible to them as evidence that they can do this. That it’s possible—I’m living, breathing proof.”

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