Embracing Multiple Cultures: Hispanic Heritage Month

Embracing Multiple Cultures: Hispanic Heritage Month

Latina author, publisher, educator and entrepreneur encourages everyone to embrace Hispanic Heritage Month, no matter your race or ethnicity

When Nury Castillo Crawford sought a publisher for her children’s book based on her life immigrating from Peru to the United States, she realized that her vision

By Arlinda Smith Broady

wasn’t met with open arms. Like many industries, publishing is dominated by White males.

Many book publishers utilize a formula or algorithm for predicting successful sales. Even though in the last few decades, books that didn’t necessarily fit the old standards have been huge blockbusters, many companies aren’t willing to take the risk.

“When I was ready to release my book, I had some interest because at that time there was a lot of chatter around immigration and immigrant status,” she said referring to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump’s push for tougher immigration laws.

But there was no assurance that she’d have much control over the final product. “I couldn’t get any guarantees that the title would stay the same. And the title was actually personal for me,” she said. “The characters [might not stay] as I imagined them to be because the story was based on my journey as an immigrant, and they didn’t know why I needed the girl and the mom, etcetera, to be brown. I didn’t need them to be lightened up. Some of those things were very important to me. I needed the book to be bilingual and they told me that bilingual didn’t sell.” Faith and conviction lead to a publishing business

It was a hard decision for Crawford to make — compromise her standards or take a chance that the book deal wouldn’t happen. After much soul-searching, she decided to step out on faith.

“I was like, well I’m not changing it because it doesn’t fit your box,” said Crawford. “And I pretty much resolved to myself that even if I sell not one copy, at least this will be a little bit of a biography for years to come. So when I die, my great-great-grandkids could still look at the book and be like, ‘Oh this is the journey of my family

Present at the grand opening were GCPS teacher Ainsley Clarke, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, President Veronica Maldonado Torres and many others.

Respecting and celebrating our variety of heritages

coming to this country.’” 1010 Publishing was founded as a result of her wanting to get a book published but being unwilling to sacrifice her values and her story.

That was more than five years ago and Crawford, who is also director of Academic Support for Gwinnett County Public Schools and the president of the Georgia Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, has published several books since — those she’s written and those of other authors.

Her vision for the company is to focus on multilingualism. She started out with Spanish and branched out to other languages such as traditional Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and French.

Crawford’s heritage is important to her, and she prides herself on being American as well as Peruvian. As Hispanic Heritage Month approaches, she encourages everyone to embrace their roots, but also be open to learning about others.

Asian populations are the fastest growing minority group in the United States, but Hispanics have been the largest minority group in the country for about 20 years — and the numbers continue to grow. There are census predictions that by 2025, 25% of children in this country will have Latinx roots. “Just like any other community, we need to be not only very diligent and committed to ensuring that we are being represented, but we need to hold onto our heritage,” Crawford said.

A friend who had immigrated from Venezuela had told a story of her daughter who was reluctant to speak Spanish at school. She didn’t want to be singled out as different, even though there is a pretty significant population of Hispanic children there. Pop singer Justin Bieber had released a Spanish-language version of his hit song, Despacito, and several students were trying to sing the lyrics. The girl’s family mainly spoke Spanish at home and her command of the language was perfect. She helped her friends with the lyrics, and they were amazed at how “smart” she was.

Although she shouldn’t need a popular song to boost her self-esteem about who she is, Crawford said those types of stories are commonplace. “We need our culture to be embraced by all of our leaders in every aspect, in every in every venue of our community, because research tells us that when people feel seen, heard and respected, you’re going to get the sense of community that you’re looking for,” she said. “Until people feel like

GCPS teacher and author reading to the kids on a Saturday.

they’re genuinely part of the [community], there is no real unity.”

Jordan House, K-12 Chapel Leader at Greater Atlanta Christian School agreed that it is important to highlight other cultures as part of education.

“God created humans in His image, and the fact that He created us with different characteristics represents His creativity and desire to have different aspects of His image shown,” he said. “Helping gain awareness of culture, appreciating it, celebrating it, pointing to God as the creator [is an important part of education]. In years past, we’ve done a tour of countries and highlighted many aspects that are unique and beautiful.”

He added that Hispanic Heritage Month is another way to teach God’s love. “From my viewpoint, the goal is to educate, gain awareness, gain appreciation, celebrate and honor specifically Hispanic culture. If we honor God by honoring His beautiful creation, then we’ve done our job!” he said.

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Crawford said the challenge of putting everyone — not just minorities — on a parity with the status quo isn’t unique to Gwinnett County but does seem to be slow to overcome. “I feel like the change that we desperately need to see is not going to come forward as fast as we need to see it,” she said. “And that makes a lot of sense, you know in comparison to how African Americans have been a significant part of the United States population for a long time, but it was just a year ago that Juneteenth was recognized as a national holiday.”

She pointed to states like California, Florida and Texas where many Latinx families have lived for several generations. They are business owners, government officials and citizens who are very active in how the community is run.

“Many of the Hispanic and Latino families in Georgia are first or second generation,” Crawford said. “And most of them are not proficient in English. The majority of them are learning and there are different levels of acquisition of language.”

That’s kind of where Crawford’s latest endeavor comes in. Earlier this year, she opened THE little BOOK SPOT, a multilingual bookstore with a focus on diversity — diversity in ability, language, culture, ethnicity and race — in the Plaza Las Americas, perhaps the largest Hispanic-focused mall in the area. Currently the hours of operation are noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Find out more at thelittlebookspot.godaddysites.com.

“One of the things that popped in my brain as I was talking to other Latino leaders was that when you go to a regular American mall… there’s always a bookstore inside it or nearby. It’s the opposite for our malls where mostly Latino people frequent,” she said.

So Crawford made it a goal to increase literacy, especially in the Latino community. Although she mainly writes children’s books, the store has something for everyone.

“I think we all need to be engaged and involved in learning and not leaving it up to somebody else. We should all try to be inclusive within our own lives,” she said.

The titles in her store run the gamut and don’t just focus on Latino and Hispanic cultures.

“If you can’t name one friend from another culture, that’s a problem to me,” she said. “We should all do our best to try to learn about other people.”

And one of the best places to start is inside a book. ■

Books by Nury Castillo Crawford

3,585 Miles to be an American Girl

(ages 4-7) — English and Spanish A Long Journey to Safety — English and Vietnamese

Hispanic Mentoring: A quick guide to jump start your own mentoring program

I Love You No Matter What – English, Korean and traditional Chinese Marisol — English and Spanish

Plant the Seed Well…Expect Wonders: A Parents’ Guide to making sense of

parenting in the 21st century — English and Spanish

Sofia and Vivi: A Bilingual Children’s

Book: Big Sister — English and Spanish What is going on in the World? – English and Spanish

Women Who Lead Featuring Latina Leaders: Featuring Nury Castilla

Crawford — English and Spanish

From the Mayor’s Desk

Update on the Corners Connector Trail System – We have come a long way

Peachtree Corners is fortunate to have amazing outdoor amenities we can all enjoy, such as the Chattahoochee River, parks, streams, and a wonderful Town Center. Everyone who enjoys being outside takes advantage of these areas of our community. Additionally, according to the National Association of Realtors, recent studies have confirmed living near trails and greenways will likely raise your property value an average of 3-5% and sometimes even as high as 15%. Approximately seven years ago, the City began

work on a way to connect our City through the creation of our multi-use trail system, the Corners Connector. Through various state funding sources, several locations and feasibility studies have been completed that serve as the foundation of planning for the ultimate build-out of this trail. It began in 2015 with the completion of the Peachtree Corners Livable Centers Initiative, which was funded by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). This was one of the first projects that identified the base location for the final trail system.

Over the years, several projects followed that included studies for the Winters Chapel Road & Holcomb Bridge Road corridors, the Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Innovation Hub Master Plan, and the Innovative District Trails Study. This planning reinforced and further developed the idea of a master trail system in Peachtree Corners. Since that time, the city has continued to construct and expand the trail network, and when complete, it will consist of over 13 miles of trails that crisscross the city and provide connections to a variety of places people live, work, and play.

Most recently, the ARC funded a study of feasibility on a specific segment and location of the Corners Connector along Crooked Creek from Spalding Drive east to Peachtree Parkway. The Corners Connector Crooked Creek project is a longrange plan that will ultimately provide nearly 3 miles of trail at a cost of approximately $13 million. This project involves environmental permitting and procurement of easements, so the timeline is extended.

In the shorter term, the City is pursuing federal funding for a segment of the trail from Peachtree Corners Circle to Peachtree Parkway, which is approximately 7,400 feet. The hope is to obtain funding for planning, engineering, environmental permitting and construction of this segment as a first phase of the ultimate project that extends all the way to Spalding Drive. Mike Mason, Mayor

Gwinnett County’s newest and largest city, Peachtree Corners, was founded July 1, 2012 and is located along the Chattahoochee River in the southwest corner of the county. The city is home to over 45,000 residents and 3,000 businesses.

Peachtree Corners City Hall

310 Technology Parkway Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 Telephone: 678-691-1200

The ultimate buildout of the Corners Connector is an exciting goal to look forward to over the coming years, but some segments of the Connector have already been completed. Corners Connector Tech Park Lake was completed in 2020 and includes over 1600 feet of trail around the lake adjacent to Technology Parkway and Technology Parkway South. This segment connects to over 4,300 feet of the Connector along Technology Parkway and Engineering Drive.

Phase II of the Corners Connector around the lake is currently under development and when constructed, will complete the circuit around the lake with an additional 2,600 feet of trail. This will provide an even greater amenity to those residents who live nearby and to the office workers who enjoy direct access.

Corners Connector Town Center is presently undergoing construction. This project is directly adjacent to the pedestrian bridge over Peachtree Parkway and the Lazy Dog Restaurant. This trail will connect those areas to the eastern most portions of the Town Center and Town Green, along with connections to Peachtree Corners Circle and the development to the south of the stream.

Stream connections and a boardwalk along the stream’s banks are included, along with a skywalk segment that will provide a bird’s eye view of the stream below. It will add 2,400 feet to the Corners Connector system, and with its connection to Peachtree Corners Circle, the system will have a connection along Medlock Bridge Road and South Old Peachtree Road to existing multi-use trails in Duluth.

The Burdell Branch segment is currently under development by the planning and engineering team. This portion of the system will connect Engineering Drive south to Woodhill Drive for approximately 4,900 feet of additional trail. An existing segment of Corners Connector currently ends at Engineering Drive and Peachtree Parkway in front of the Corners Fine Wine & Spirits and RaceTrac, and this project will extend that trail infrastructure south to the Chick-fil-A area and its adjacent shopping centers.

The City is finalizing the construction of the 9,200-foot segment of the Corners Connector Riverlands segment along East Jones Bridge Road. This segment connects Jones Bridge Park east to the existing multi-use trail along Peachtree Parkway. The project is part of the Chattahoochee Riverlands project (www.chattahoocheeriverlands. com), which includes a trail system that connects Newnan to the Buford Dam along the Chattahoochee River corridor.

While the City would prefer to build each new segment in coordination with the completion of a previous segment, there are several barriers that inhibit that process. Construction, in general, comes with a variety of challenges including current construction in an area, environmental studies and assessments, archeological studies, potential right of way acquisition, and funding. The City continues to investigate multiple funding sources including federal and state grants, direct City funding, and partnerships.

For the future, the City is exploring the possibility of the construction of a pedestrian bridge that will span the Chattahoochee in or around the area of the original Jones Bridge. A project of this type requires a partnership with Johns Creek, and discussions have begun between our jurisdictions.

As you can see, exciting things are underway and already in place for Corners Connector, and we continue to work towards many more amazing additions in the future.

Stay safe, Mike Mason, Mayor

On-street Parking – Be safe, be courteous

On-Street Parking means designated spaces where vehicles can be parked on a temporary basis, located on a public highway, street, avenue, parkway, or similar type of road. On-street parking spaces often provide direct access to residential, commercial, office, and other facilities.

While on-street parking is legal on public roads, there are rules that must be followed. The State of Georgia requires that on any two-way road, all street parked cars must be parked with the right-side wheels parallel and within 12 inches of the curb.

Do not park against the flow of traffic. While it might seem safe when the car is parked, you would need to drive on the wrong side of the road to park. The same applies when you pull out into head-on traffic. This creates two potentially dangerous situations and sets up a scenario that is contrary to other drivers’ expectations. Most things contrary to typical driving behavior or driver expectancy are unsafe.

Additionally, double parking is illegal in all circumstances. Double parking is the term used for parking on the street side of any vehicle that’s stopped or parked at a curb.

Other violations include prohibitions against parking in the

following areas: ■ In a space on public or private property marked for vehicle parking for the handicapped unless you have the legal authorization and the plates or placards to prove it. ■ Within 25 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, or sideline of a street or intersecting highway, except at alleys ■ Within 20 feet of a fire station without signs. If they post signs, you are not allowed to park within 75 feet of the station. ■ Between a safety zone for pedestrians and the adjacent curb or within 20 feet of the end of the safety zone ■ On the sidewalk or within 20 feet of a crosswalk ■ Within an intersection ■ In a crosswalk ■ In any tunnel ■ On railroad tracks or within

50 feet of a railroad crossing unless you are loading or unloading ■ Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant ■ Within 30 feet of a stop sign, traffic light, or flashing signal ■ In a bus stop zone ■ In front of a public or private driveway ■ Near properly marked street construction

In addition to illegal parking, there are other things that should be done to ensure the safety of your parked vehicle as well as the surrounding community.

On limited-width feeder roads, cars should refrain from parking across from each other on opposite sides of the road. (See image). This is not only unsafe for pedestrians; it creates a bottleneck on the road that increases traffic conflict points.

Also, when cars are parked across from one another, the limited width of the road creates a safety hazard as it does not allow for the entrance and exit of school buses, sanitation trucks, construction vehicles, EMS and fire vehicles, or other larger vehicles into or away from the area.

If your car has mirrors that will push inwards, towards the driver’s window, always do this before leaving your vehicle. This will prevent your mirrors from becoming broken or dislodged due to being sideswiped by a passing driver.

Do not park your car on a street where no other cars seem to be parked. Even if there are no signs saying that you cannot park on the street, there may be a rule that the other drivers are aware of. If a street is completely devoid of parked cars, there is probably a reason why. Take the hint from other drivers and steer clear of it. Street parking that seems too good to be true probably is.

Do not block other cars. Leaving enough space ensures that everyone’s cars will stay free from dents and dings. If it doesn’t seem like drivers and passengers can move around freely once you park, find a different spot.

Don’t take up two spaces on the street. In residential areas where the parking spaces are limited and not marked, always park as close to the end of the open space as you can. Often there is room for two cars between driveways. If you park in the middle, you make it impossible for another car to park in that space.

Remember, safety is of the utmost importance. Street parking can be dangerous to vehicle owners, bicyclists, scooters, and walkers. Let’s all do our best to be safe and courteous.

Lightning Safety Tips for Homeowners

It’s that time of year again when the clash of cool air from the north with warm air from the gulf gives us inevitable strong thunderstorms. These storms can cause untold damage to your home and the electronics inside.

A few Lightning Facts:

■ Lightning is a powerful burst of electricity that occurs in all thunderstorms. ■ On average, a single lightning bolt is hotter than the surface of the sun and can reach temperatures around 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. ■ One-quarter of all lightning strikes are from the cloud to the ground. When lightning strikes the ground, it seeks out the shortest path to an object with a positive charge, this might be a tree, building, house, or even you.

What can you do to help reduce the chance of damage to your home or injury to you and your family?

The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) recommends protecting your valuable electronic equipment by using dependable Surge Protectors listed for lightning protection for both the power and cable/phone, not the cheaper power strip, but the surge protection that is fused. The cost of point-of-use surge protectors will vary, but if you are interested in protecting your equipment this is your best bet. You can also ask Georgia Power about their surge defender system that can be installed for a small fee each month. This will help protect your appliances and electronics but will not stop the threat of fire from a direct strike.

To protect your property, it is recommended to install a Lightning Protection System (lightning rods on your roof). A good lightning protection system for the house can run from $2,500.00 to over $4,000.00.

How Lightning protection systems work:

A home lightning protection system consists of air terminals, conductor cables, and ground rods. The air terminals, which are also referred to as lightning rods, serve as the strike receptor. They come in many shapes and sizes.

The conductor cables are heavy braided copper or aluminum cables connected to the air terminals and run across the top, edges of the roof and down the side of the structure to the ground rods. They carry the lightning current from the air terminals to the ground rods.

The ground rods are thick heavy rods buried deep to provide the lightning strike a safe place for the energy to discharge and dissipate without damaging your structure. The cables and ground rods are the most important components in the system accomplishing the main objective of diverting lightning current safely past a structure. This system should always be installed by a licensed electrician.

Hopefully, most of us will never have to deal with the effect of a lightning strike, however, it is best to be informed and prepared.

Curiosity Lab Offers A Very Unique Environment

The future of smart cities and intelligent mobility innovation relies on the continued evolution of internet of things (IoT) technology, a market that is projected to grow to $555.8 billion in 2028, up from $383.1 billion in 2021. There is clearly huge potential here for both private and public entities to develop new IoT technologies and help create solutions that benefit consumers and businesses everywhere.

Long aware of this growth potential, the City of Peachtree Corners began to explore opportunities to help the industry prosper a few years ago. City leaders noticed there was one key step missing in the development process for many IoT technologies: the opportunity to test the technology in a controlled, living laboratory environment.

Peachtree Corners launched Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners in 2019 to fill this need and pave the way forward for the development of IoT technologies

that can support smart city and intelligent mobility innovation.

Curiosity Lab’s unique facilities and infrastructure and its location within an existing 500-acre technology park create realistic conditions that enable robotics, artificial intelligence solutions, autonomous services, and countless more use cases to be optimized and ultimately scaled for the suburban and urban landscapes of tomorrow.

For example, Curiosity Lab’s three-mile test track can accommodate advanced vehicle testing, from driver-assist concepts found in most cars today, all the way up to Level 5 technology (fully autonomous vehicles). The track is part of an existing roadway through a commercial technology park. Cars and pedestrians cross over it in more than 30 places as they go to their homes or workplaces.

More than 10,000 people work in this technology park, while another 2,000 people live here.

This provides a real-world setting that is not controlled and thereby extremely valuable for companies who need to test their technologies in the wild.

Companies also can use Curiosity Lab’s Ford-Edge-based test vehicle to develop advanced mobility and autonomous technologies. Companies working on fully autonomous driving systems, mapping, light detection/ranging (LiDAR), cameras/computer vision, radar, V2X systems, and/or data simulation can place their technologies on the vehicle and gather data as the vehicle interacts with pedestrians, other cars, traffic lights and more.

Curiosity Lab offers a safe place to park for advanced vehicles not actively testing. The 30-by-28-foot Innovation Garage offers drive-in access, a lift, work benches, electric vehicle charging stations, and 5G connectivity. The climate-controlled environment provides both privacy and an expanded workspace.

Sitting right next to the autono-

mous vehicle track, the Innovation Center is the ecosystem hub of Curiosity Lab. These 25,000 square feet of light colorful space is filled with early-stage startups, tech companies, and corporate innovation teams all testing new technologies and exchanging ideas.

One of the main features of the Innovation Center are the multiple available workspaces. From individual desk space to full offices, the Center offers a variety of choices. In addition to workspace, there are several meeting room options from offices that seat two, to a conference room that seats 15. Additionally, there is a large event space that can host more than 100 people and can be used for corporate innovation offsite events, entrepreneurial classes, and technology community events. The event space includes a stage as well as access to the kitchen facilities for use by caterers.

The Innovation Center houses open workspaces for companies and the Prototype Design Lab, a lab that offers bench space, handheld tools, and multiple 3D printers to help design, build and tinker with hardware prototypes. Additionally, companies may bring in any additional tools that they need to work on, modify, or complete their design work.

The Innovation Center is perfect for coding bootcamps, technical training seminars, pitch practices, and more. Its special event space, which can host more than 100 people, is ideal for corporate innovation offsite events, entrepreneurial classes, and technology community events.

The podcasting room is one of the latest additions, helping com-

panies enter the popular world of podcasting, which now has 424.2 million listeners worldwide. Curiosity Lab’s new and improved podcasting room includes a soundboard with four microphones and video capabilities to help users record content for target audiences. Users can leverage their own podcasting software in conjunction with this high-quality plug-andplay system. Innovation Center members are welcome to book the podcasting room to record & broadcast their technology news.

Warning for Pet Owners – Toxic Blue-Green Algae

Toxic Blue-Green Algae, or Cyanobacteria, are microscopic organisms that naturally live in lakes and ponds.

With a combination of warm weather, sunlight, and nutrients, still waters can produce large amounts of algae that can cover and discolor the water. Exposure to this type of algae can cause health issues in humans and animals when touched or ingested.

Dangers Associated

The main danger linked with blue-green algae is it can be toxic or deadly to animals when consumed in high concentrations. Dogs are more susceptible due to their tendency to play in and ingest water containing these algae. Animals could die within hours of exposure to blue-green algae bloom. There is also no remedy for blue-green algae poison, so prevention is the most effective measure. The poison produced can cause rashes, cramps, nausea diarrhea, and liver problems in humans.

Signs that your dog may have BlueGreen Algae Poisoning

Symptoms may show up between 20 minutes to 5 days after exposure ■ Vomiting or Diarrhea ■ Drooling ■ Disoriented or Weakness ■ Difficulty Breathing ■ Loss of consciousness How to detect and avoid:

■ If the water has a blue-green, yellow, white, or brown paint-like appearance ■ Looks like ‘Pea Soup’ ■ If the water smells or tastes nauseating ■ Dogs are attracted to the smell and taste, so keep them leashed around detected waters

If you or your pet comes in contact:

■ Rinse off your pet with clean water immediately ■ Do not let your pet lick their fur or paws ■ Call your veterinarian (If caught early enough, the vet can flush out most of the toxins) ■ Wear gloves to protect yourself and then wash with soap and water

https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/ blue-green-algae/ https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/bluegreenalgae/faq.htm https://www.usgs.gov/centers/kswsc/science/ cyanobacterial-blue-green-algal-bloomstastes-odors-and-toxins-0?qt-science_center_ objects=0#qt-science_center_objects https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/bluegreen-algae-symptoms-tips/

Georgia Tech Coding Boot Camp

Become a Web Developer in 24 Weeks

Classes start on October 17th Part-Time Schedule / In-Person Format / Weeknight Classes

Georgia Tech Coding Boot Camp equips learners with the market-driven skills needed for careers as full stack web developers. Participate in engaging classes — held in person at the Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners — and master the fundamental technologies behind front end and back end development. ■ IN-DEMAND SKILLS: Learn HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery, C#, ASP.Net, Bootstrap, Express.js, React.js, Node.js, Database Theory, MongoDB, MySQL, Command Line, and Git. ■ PART-TIME SCHEDULE: Attend weeknight classes — three hours per class, three times a week — and continue working while you prepare for your next professional move. ■ HANDS-ON LEARNING: Team up with your classmates to get real-world experience, collaborate on complex projects, and build applications that demonstrate your knowledge.

Rewarding Program Benefits ■ Build an impressive portfolio of web applications to showcase your technical proficiency and problem-solving skills. ■ Access a network of more than 250+ employers who are seeking candidates with strong full stack coding experience. ■ Partner with our Career Services team for personalized resume support, portfolio reviews, and one-on-one career coaching. ■ Receive a Certificate of Completion from Georgia Tech Professional Education.

Learn more or apply today at bootcamp. pe.gatech.edu/coding/ or scan the QR CODE BELOW: