JULY 2020 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine
Our Town GWINNETT
Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker
Up Close with Agavero Cantina, see story on page 5.
11 15 19 20
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On the Cover: Food, Fun, and a Fantastic Atmosphere: the Agavero Cantina Awaits! By Kristen Eleveld Businesses are resuming their usual operations, malls are starting to reopen, and, most importantly, our favorite local restaurants are opening their dining rooms to allow us to enjoy the delicious food and wonderful ambiance we have missed so much. Of course, much of the food was available for take-out or delivery, but a huge part of the dining experience happens as you enjoy the atmosphere of an excellent restaurant that places a priority on giving its customers the best experience they can. Restaurants like the Agavero Cantina know exactly how much customers enjoy a lively dining atmosphere, and the staff at Agavero is ready to greet every diner with the fun and entertainment that have become synonymous with the Cantina. The original Agavero Cantina location has been run by a three-man team since 2012. Juan Carlos Castejon, Raul Contreras, and Rene Rivera – who all had previous experience in the restaurant business since they were in their teens – bought the business and turned it into one of the most popular Mexican restaurants in the Lilburn area. Carlos and Raul, who are cousins, and Rene, who is married to Raul’s sister, have been friends most of their lives and knew their partnership would be a successful one. The Agavero Cantina, which has a second dine-in restaurant in west Midtown, is known for miles around for its fun theme nights and birthday celebrations. While some theme nights are currently on hold due to the COVID-19 situation, you can still stop by on Thursdays and enjoy some mariachi music, courtesy of Mariachi Mexicanisimo. This local group doesn’t just play music – they put on a show that will have you singing along at the top of your lungs. Of course, what really sets this restaurant apart is the way they celebrate birthdays. “We’re big on birthdays here,” Carlos laughed. “We want to make it a true celebration.” And what a celebration it is. You will be treated with the sight of staff members in
luchador masks as they begin to dance and sing. But it is not just a show for you to watch. You get to dance, too, and become part of the fun. They even offer you a complimentary drink or dessert to make your night one to remember. To comply with social distancing guidelines, the restaurant is not currently doing the entire birthday celebration routine. But Carlos promises that if you want to celebrate later in the year when the festivities can really get under way, it will be worth the wait. If you want to experience the food and fun but are not quite ready to dine in at a restaurant, you should consider heading to the Agavero Cantina Parkside, located on Main Street in Lilburn. Nicknamed the Taco Bus by local patrons, this location is set up like a permanent food truck, offering a limited menu of some of the same delicious foods as its dine-in counterparts. You can sit outside and enjoy the weather while an Agavero team member brings you your order. When you have finished your meal, you might consider signing up for the cornhole league, co-sponsored by the Agavero Cantina and CornholeATL, for a chance to earn a trophy for your cornhole skills. Continued on page 12
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Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine
Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com
Editor Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultZ.com Photography Gena Ford Photography
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— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm EndResultZ.com Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett /NE DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents copyright 2020 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.
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IN THIS ISSUE 5 On the Cover: Food, Fun, and a Fantastic Atmosphere: the Agavero Cantina 7 8 9 9 10 11 13 14 15 17 18 19 20
Awaits! From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion High School Students Organize Peaceful Protest in Gwinnett Leadership Lessons: Are Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back from Greatness? Meet Cindy P. Gilbert (a.k.a. Sister Knowitall) Recalculating Life’s GPS One on One with Hi-Hope Service Center No Place for Hate Postcards – Travel the World and Never Leave Home! Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Celebrates 40 years Crane’s Corner: My Waking Moment Chaplain’s Corner: Killing Giants, Anymore? Killing Coronavirus with Kindness: Meet Susan Kliesen Making a Difference: Up Front & in the Margins
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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion
1988
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We are in unprecedented times. Despite this, I hope everyone is having a great summer. We must make the best of any situation. Enjoy this time and spend it, as best as you can, with the people you enjoy the most. No matter what we are facing we will overcome it together. And time keeps a rolling (thanks Johnny Cash) no matter what life puts in front of us. If we are lucky, we might live healthy into our 90’s. Again, if we are so fortunate. In work I was recently doing for my doctorate in leadership, we were asked to pick a song that resonated with us the most. I chose Kenny Chesney’s Don’t Blink. It encompasses all the things I am trying to articulate in this column. If you have never heard it before, I encourage you to check it out. I also encourage each of you to Keep Pushing Forward (KPF) no matter what you are facing. Always try to inspire others to make our community the best it can be. I encourage you to find the good in people and to try and make others laugh and smile. I challenge you to take the high road in dealing with others. Let’s face it. Some people just like to “push our buttons” online or in person and can be difficult to deal with. However, true leadership means we take the high road and make such situations better. We operate with integrity. It is difficult at times, but I promise you will be glad you did. I wish you a safe and blessed July. Stay cool and enjoy each moment no matter what our world throws your way. As Kenny Chesney says in Don’t Blink: “Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand... you can’t flip it over and start again... take every breath God gives you for what it’s worth.” We have some great things happening on our end, so stay tuned for our news and growth plans. If you missed it, please review page 6 and see all the ways to connect with us, forums to join and more. Have a blessed month, Our Town Gwinnett community. And as always, thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, Our Town!
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By Emily Rubin Everyone knows that our youth are our future. They will be the ones to make change in the world and make it a better place for their children. One strong example of the youth making change can be found here in Gwinnett. Parkview High School students Raven Toney and Cathy Martiato and Brookwood High School student Aja Thomas organized a peaceful protest in Lilburn City Park on June 5th to demonstrate against police brutality following George Floyd’s murder. The protest began with touching speeches and spoken word poetry by the teens and other volunteers. To keep everyone safe, masks were mandatory for participation, and social distancing was strongly suggested. “We really tried to keep it as safe as possible with the pandemic,” Cathy said. “Obviously when we got to City Hall, we tried our best to social distance. But our main concern was to make sure everyone was safe.” When protestors arrived at City Hall, volunteers and organizers continued with speeches. The crowd collectively took a knee for a 9-minute moment of silence to match the minutes Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck. Another speech followed in which protestors began to yell out the names of countless other Black Americans killed by police. Tears were shed, and it was obvious that a large part of the community came together to mourn and demand change. “We expected maybe Continued on page 10
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Leadership Lessons: Are Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back from Greatness?
Meet Cindy P. Gilbert (a.k.a. Sister Knowitall)
By Traci Sanders
By Beth Volpert Johansen
What did the language sound like in your home growing up? Did you hear phrases like, “We can’t afford that,” or “We’re just not those type of people”? The verbiage we grew up listening to shapes the decisions we make throughout our lives and shapes us into the people we become. Negative language that focuses on lack and less than, rather than optimism and abundance, causes us to take less risks, not trust as often, and not open our hearts as deeply to others. It disempowers us in our relationships, careers, and even in our health. We create what are called limiting beliefs. But how do we overcome these negative scripts that have been playing out in our heads since childhood? The first thing we can do is ask ourselves: Is this a true statement? Can I disprove it? Next, we need to replace the negative scripts with more empowering ones that we can work toward proving true. Our minds will not allow us to be wrong. What we tell ourselves must come true! It’s how our brains are wired. One other way we can change our limiting beliefs is by changing our environment. We must take a hard look at who we’re spending the majority of our time with and ask ourselves: “How do I feel when I’m with this person? Do I feel better or worse after spending time with him or her?” Limiting beliefs can manifest in various ways and show up in the form of excuses, bad habits, complaining, worry, and even something as simple as procrastination. There are two types of limiting beliefs: destination and directive. Destination beliefs are similar to conclusions that you form based on your life experiences. An example would be: “I’ll always be broke because I’ve always been broke, and my family has always been broke.” Directive beliefs are like road signs that pop up to lead you to confirm your destination belief, such as not having money to pay a certain bill one month. Your mind could follow a pattern such as this: “Oh man, I don’t have the money to pay this bill this month. I never seem to have enough money because I don’t make enough money at my job. I can’t get a better job because I don’t have the skills. I’m always broke and I’m always going to be broke.” This process can happen very quickly and snowball into horrible, self-defeating thoughts that keep us from greatness in our lives. Unless we are armed with information and tools to combat these thoughts, we will always gravitate toward them because they are familiar to us (also known as our comfort zones). Here are three action steps to get you started on your path to overcoming limiting beliefs: Realize and recognize that these thoughts didn’t appear overnight and they won’t be easy to overcome. Being aware is the best way to be prepared. Watch for the directive beliefs to pop up along the way and prepare yourself with some truth statements that will help you make that switch in your brain toward a more positive and empowering outcome. Fill your mind with encouraging and empowering material every day – podcasts, books, videos, sermons, etc. Also, surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you every time. These may or may not be the people who knew you in your childhood because those people tend to only see you as who you used to be, not who you have the potential to become. Limiting beliefs can be overcome with the right mindset, tools, and environment. The power is yours!
Cindy Pitts Gilbert has spent over twenty years researching, working with, and learning from all types of natural health and wellness practitioners. Now she is sharing that wealth of knowledge to help others detox their homes and bodies through various resources. Her podcast entitled Dear Sister Knowitall features a series of informative conversations with experts in the field of natural, holistic, and alternative health and wellness to provide listeners with solid research to demystify and simplify health-related topics, specifically the process of removing toxins from the body, home, and mind. Cindy’s journey to eliminating toxins in her own life began when she developed a severe allergic reaction to bleach, which led to thyroid issues and spiraled into numerous other health conditions. Clean eating and natural detoxing became a passion for Cindy, who wanted to learn everything possible and to share that knowledge with others to empower them in their health. She became so dedicated to this cause that her family said to her one day, “Why don’t you stop trying to ‘fix’ us and go write a book about it?” Cindy took that advice and created a blog instead. Her blog is filled with articles, videos, and product recommendations for those who wish to take the self-education route. There are several resources on Cindy’s website where people can learn more about detoxing their lives. Detox 120 helps people get rid of their “stinkin’ thinkin’,” as Cindy puts it. Her resources include a personalized detox plan, webinars, a replacement grocery shopping list, access to her private Facebook group, and more. She even offers a complimentary conContinued on page 14
Calling for 2021/22 Junior & Senior Guys & Gals to be Model Ambassadors n express your personality junior/senior photo sessions n special destination photo locals n receive perks and merch n receive special discounts
We need you! Vote in the runoffs August 11th.
Elect Jasper Watkins III Commissioner District 3 Gwinnett County
(Auburn, Braselton, Centerville, Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Mountain Park & Snellville)
Decisive, Determined, Dependable Military Decorated Registered Pharmacist & Licensed Nuclear Pharmacist Gwinnett Rotary & Chamber of Commerce VFW Post 5255 & American Legion Post 232 Medical Reserve Corps GEM I’m Jasper Watkins III, a decorated military veteran, civic leader, and a 14-year resident of Gwinnett County. I’m in the Democratic runoff for District 3 Commissioner and our campaign continues to gain momentum every day. I need your support to win on August 11th. I’m committed and excited to become the next County Commissioner of District 3, Gwinnett County. Throughout my 25 years of military service and 15 years of private sector experience, I have devoted my life’s work to serving my community and defending our nation’s principals. My goal is to unite us with a progressive platform that raises income and restores economic security for the middle class, creates good-paying jobs, builds a clean energy economy, protects our voting rights, provides accessible mass transit, and removes barriers to opportunity for every resident in Gwinnett County. Moreover, I will address our concerns about the safety of our neighborhoods, housing that is affordable, fiscal accountability, and inclusion.
In less than two years, Gwinnett County will have more than 1.5 million residents!
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Now is the time to decide to protect our future quality of life by creating an upward cycle of prosperity for the 21st Century. Committee to Elect Jasper Watkins III 1911 Grayson Highway, Ste.8-233, Grayson, GA 30017 770.609.5548 www.watkins3for3.com
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PAGE 9
Recalculating Life’s GPS
Peaceful Protest
By Michelle L. Sutter
fifty people,” Raven said. “I don’t know if anyone actually counted, but it was at least 300 people.” Even though the expected turnout was small, the young women had prepared for a much larger group. Aja collected donation money for Cathy to purchase medical supplies and first aid kits. Excess supplies were donated to the Lilburn Co-op and other similar non-profit organizations. When Raven had the idea to organize the protest, she reached out to Representative Jasmine Clark who provided her with contact information for others who wanted to help. Raven then contacted Lilburn Police Chief Bruce Hedley to confirm the plans and make sure no police officers would interfere with the protest. She referenced the Atlanta protests and the police with riot gear, rubber bullets, and tear gas. Raven knew people wanted to protest, but Atlanta was not safe enough for them. By clearing her plans with the police chief and ensuring no cops would taunt the Lilburn protestors, she created a safe option for peaceful protestors. “It’s way easier to keep everybody safe if we make the protest peaceful than if we just say, ‘Oh, we’re going to go out and vandalize’,” Aja said. “Plus, that is not our goal; we wanted everybody to hear us out. The main thing was keeping everyone safe, and it’s way easier to do that when everyone is peaceful.” The protest was not just a way to demand change; it was a meaningful experience for the young women. Raven’s grandmother organized and protested in the Civil Rights Movement, and now she is doing the same. “This means so much to me,” Cathy said. “I’ve been struggling with a lot of racial issues since I was little, not only that but I also struggle with social anxiety, so speaking was a very hard thing for me, but it felt really good to speak. Looking out into the crowd I could see everyone was there for one reason, and it was to support.” Change does not happen overnight. Police brutality and racism will not disappear in a short span of time either. Raven, Cathy, and Aja say they can see themselves organizing more protests in the future, perhaps even in areas outside of Lilburn where others have not yet organized protests. The young women encourage other youth looking to get involved in activism to talk to others, to ask advice, to not be afraid, and to take the opportunity to make a change. They want others to make their ideas into a reality, no matter how young they are.
As I reflect back on the first six months of 2020, it brings me back to a story I authored a few years back recounting my 2012 diagnosis with a rare genetic disease, a disease without a cure. At that time, I came to realize that for so long my life’s journey had been eerily similar to that of a GPS system – recalculating my route, even when not asked. I was always very diligent in charting my course, making lists, setting goals, doing everything I could to be on time, in time, and making the most of my time. However, when I least expected it, Life’s GPS sent me down a very scary road. Most would agree that the last six months have been a pretty wild and scary ride. So here I sit once again, finding Life’s GPS recalculating, putting me on a new path filled with personal heartache and continued discovery – a pandemic life lesson of sorts. In reflection, I have learned from COVID-19 that there are two-sides of the COVID coin. First, the bad side. It took the life of my most cherished mentor and friend, Wayne Drye, the CEO and founder of World Insurance Assocation, Inc. here in Atlanta. This disease is ruthless. It is real. It is not to be messed with. Now for the other side of the coin. His unexpected loss taught me to stop and remember to slow down and appreciate every day you have on this earth. For each of us, our days are numbered. How many we have left only God knows. For me, back in 2012 after meeting with a genetic counselor, I learned my days were likely far less than many around me. When presented with this information, you have a choice: feel sorry for yourself, or take every day you have and embrace it, as it honestly could be your last. Continued on page 12
Continued from page 8
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By Taryn Haber Gwinnett County has forever changed, thanks to one mother, driven to provide the best for her child. Nell Moses, along with the parents of five other developmentally disabled children, helped open Hi-Hope Service Center in 1960. Hi-Hope was one of the first organizations in Georgia to teach children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). They faced several obstacles in the early days, including discrimination from the community and a severe lack of funding. Their first fundraiser was a spaghetti dinner to raise money for their volunteer teachers to subsidize their cost of travel to the school. After being hosted for the first ten years in a variety of Lawrenceville locations, including the property of their first paid teacher, Vinie Lowry, construction of a “special needs school” was finally completed in 1970. At a time when many people with I/DD were institutionalized and forgotten about, Hi-Hope helped pioneer the idea that they could be contributing members of their communities. In the 1970s, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandated that all students receive a public school education, making the school obsolete. Hi-Hope switched their attention from children to adults. Today, Hi-Hope Service Center helps adults with I/ DD rise to their full potential through a variety of programs and resources that they might otherwise never have access to. Hi-Hope CEO, Susan Boland Butts, spoke on the genuine need for Hi-Hope and centers like it. “These individuals,” she said, “would be isolated and devalued, and they would not have the opportunity to have a real life and even a meaningful life.” She came to work for Hi-Hope in 2008 after eighteen years of working for other nonprofits. With Hi-Hope, she found a purpose worth dedicating her life to. “I came for the job, but I stayed for the people.” According to Boland Butts, once you make connections with people, it’s hard to let them go. Hi-Hope uses three primary programs to support everyone they connect with: the Day Program, Employment Program, and the Residential Program. The Day Program, the largest of all three, is based out of the main Lawrenceville campus, running Monday through Friday. The individuals spend time volunteering, attending community events, and participating in small group learning activities. There is a focus on life-long learning and developing skills and tools to support them in all aspects of life. An important function of the Day Program is the Communication Program. More than half of the 150 people that Hi-Hope supports have communication issues to varying degrees. Some are entirely nonverbal; others have limited vocabulary or difficulty being understood. Through conducting functional communication reviews, Hi-Hope can determine what level of support each person needs. The program uses tools that range from low tech, such as a communications wallet with pictures that the users can point to indicate basic needs/wants, all the way to higher tech tools like tablets that give a voice to people with I/DD who might never have one otherwise. One unique individual at Hi-Hope uses an even more advanced tool. Kristen Dille, a lovely young woman who has no use of most of her body beyond her eyes, now has access to an eye-gaze tracking device that helps her use a computer to give her a voice to the outside world. By tracking her eye movement to an iPad of images, she can communicate with the world, including saying “I love you” to her father for the first time in twenty-eight years. This incredible achievement, facilitated by Hi-Hope Service Center, was described by Boland Butts: “We can’t help people live a full life if they can’t communicate how they want to spend that life.” The Employment Program is another way that Hi-Hope helps its participants to choose how they want to spend their lives. Job Developers find employers that are open to hiring individuals with I/DD. Job Coaches help participants understand what they want to do, provide job training, and follow-up with employers after placement to see if additional training is needed. Hi-Hope also provides pre-employment training in high schools for students aged fourteen through eighteen. This training program stretches across Gwinnett and four surrounding counties, preparing students coming out of high school to immediately find a job in the competitive marketplace. The Residential program consists of five group homes within Gwinnett County with four residents each. Each of these group homes is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year. The residents are Continued on page 19
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Agavero Cantina Continued from page 5
Recalculating Life’s GPS Continued from page 10
While the Taco Bus does not do the big birthday celebrations at this location, Carlos and the Agavero team encourage everyone to make a day out of their meal, and bring soccer balls, lawn chairs, and other fun outdoor equipment to enjoy the park around them. This slower paced, more casual atmosphere is perfect for families and people who want a quick bite to eat before challenging their neighbor to a race across the green. More than anything, when you come to any Agavero Cantina location, you can expect to enjoy yourself. A large part of that is due to how much the owners enjoy their jobs, and love forming relationships with their customers. “I’ve worked at a Mexican restaurant my whole life,” said Carlos. “People come here to relax and enjoy themselves, and I love being part of that. It’s like a party every day here.” If you want to join the party, the Agavero Cantina is ready and waiting for you in three different locations. Hop in the car and get ready for one of the most fun meals of your life. More information at www.luchadorgroup.com.
Wayne’s passing reminded me of this. He had us all convinced he was going to live to 100! Then all of a sudden he was gone – it was like he vanished. I was left thinking if only I had one more day, one more dose of his daily encouragement, just one more phone call asking me how my day was going. Or, just one more time with him asking me, “Has anyone told you today how awesome you are?” Just one more day! I have been a list maker my entire life. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t have my to-do list by my side. So in honor of Wayne (a fellow listmaker), I share a list I wrote years ago with some 2020 updates. • Make random acts of kindness an essential part of your every day • Pay for that person’s drink behind you at Starbucks. It might just make his/her day! • Send a card to a friend “just because,” not because Hallmark told you to • Text someone you lost contact with and let that person know you are thinking of him or her • Give twelve-second hugs (unfortunately this is on pause for this year)! • Look people in the eye, give them a 2020 fist bump, say “Good Morning,” and wish them well • Be true to your word (one of Wayne’s greatest traits) • And, most importantly, make an impactful difference in the world around you When I write it down, I see how it easy it is! We all have six months left to a year like none other. Our 2020 Vision can still be achieved. Let’s get to work and make it happen. It is never too late to make a difference. This story is dedicated to Wayne Monroe Drye Read about his wonderful life which was so eloquently captured in his obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/sandy-springs-ga/wayne-drye-9176109
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No Place for Hate By Bill Crane
FLEX HOURS.
My paternal grandmother, Mary L. Crane, imbued in me at a young age an attitude towards life which has always served me well. If you start each day willing to learn something new, you probably will. Several years ago, I learned about a national school education program, offered at no-cost in elementary, middle, and some high schools, assembled and presented by the AntiDefamation League, called No Place to Hate. The ADL offers everything from a need’s assessment and the creation/signing of a resolution of respect to One World of Difference anti-bias and bullying training. More than 1,600 schools across the nation have completed or are in the process of making themselves No Place to Hate. And long before we entered the deep divisions and racial tensions our nation is currently experiencing, I think we all might have benefitted from observing or taking this course. As a Southerner and native Georgian, I have long been frustrated by how many other parts of the country, as well as numerous primary news outlets, view the South as a bastion of racism, racial prejudice, and bigotry. Though those weaknesses of character and characters certainly do exist here, I have found in my travels that our reality far exceeds that reputation. We simply need to do more walking the walk, as well as talking the talk, to get us to a better place, reputationally, as well as more importantly in reality. The Georgia House of Representatives, led by House Speaker David Ralston, took a significant and “learning” step in the right direction when passing a new Hate Crimes bill for the state of Georgia during the 2019 legislative session. The bill’s passage was narrow, and it has largely sat in the State Senate’s “Inbox” since. In recent days, the State Senate and Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan passed their own version of such a bill, with quite a few variations, some to the good – others not so much. Georgia previously had a not particularly well-written Hate Crimes statute, earlier challenged, and overturned by the courts, roughly fourteen years ago, and the state remains one of four in the nation without any form of hate crime statute or penalties. We are currently in a moment of reckoning, and hopefully for many, also a moment of Continued on page 16
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Meet Cindy P. Gilbert Continued from page 9
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Dear Friend – How many introductions have begun with those and similar words? Plenty it seems. For Gwinnett resident, Leeann Hill, such greetings are what she finds attached to postcards she pulls from her mailbox almost daily. “I feel such an anticipation at the mailbox every day,” says Leeann. “I look for a postcard tucked in the middle of all these ads. It completely changes my attitude just going to the mailbox!” Leeann actively takes part in a global initiative called Postcrossing. The goal is to allow anyone to send and receive postcards from all over the world. For each postcard sent, the sender receives a postcard from somewhere in the world! The idea of receiving “real mail” is exciting and lots of fun. Each postcard is like a little surprise. In the current world pandemic situation, citizens are more aware of the fact that ours is certainly a global society. Getting to personally know the people of different countries gives “Postcrossers” a feeling of community. Because of the postcard exchange, those who live in different countries are not just statistics, they are people. “Sending postcards is a way to remind ourselves that we are all connected,” says Leeann. “We are all part of the human experience.” Most of the messages that Leeann receives are all about the homes, cultures, and lives of the writers. The only recent change is that many of the cards in her mailbox have a short note acknowledging the fact that humans worldwide are self-isolating and are often accompanied by best wishes and prayers for the health of Leeann’s family and friends. One of the most remarkable aspects of the postcards is that they are somewhat reminiscent of times gone by. Many of the cards are quite intricate, representing the lives and communities of the sender. Additionally, most cards come with an array of very interesting stamps. “I get some cards with really cool stamps,” says Leeann. “The different denominations run right across the top of the cards. Sometimes I get cards with a branded official country Postcrossing stamp.” The postcards really are a work of art displaying the personalities of each sender and offering a glimpse into the postal practices of countries around the world. Recently, Leeann opened her mailbox to find a postcard from a country she didn’t have marked off on her wall map or tucked into her scrapbook. “I was so excited to get a card from Austria!” she says. “I had never had one from there before.” In addition to adding new locations to her map, Leeann finds learning about exotic places she has never heard of very exciting. “I had never heard of the Åland Islands. Every time I get a card from somewhere new to me, I locate it on Google Maps and then go to the Postcrossing site to record my receipt.” When she records each card’s location, she leaves a note for the sender thanking them for broadening her world. “Postcrossing pushes me outside in that you can be somewhere else via the Internet,” says Continued on page 17
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Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Celebrates 40 years
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By Beth Volpert Johansen At a time when the world is busy scrubbing, cleaning, and using unprecedented numbers of disposable items, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful (GC&B) is set to celebrate forty years of reducing, reusing, and recycling. While the current circumstances more than call for reducing contaminated surfaces by using disposable items, the reality is there is significant reduction of car pollution since people are staying home. What a paradox. Each action has an RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PEST CONTROL equal and opposite reaction. Gwinnett County is, as per usual, ahead of the curve on many things. Among them are the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center, The Gwinnett Heritage Center, and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful. All these entities serve to improve the environment and educate the community about the importance of living the healthiest lives possible. The forward thinking began in early 1979 when the Lawrenceville Junior Women’s Save on existing water! Club identified growing community concerns about illegal dumping and littering. In 1980, Eliminate Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful was created to educate and most importantly, engage the Our proven Hydretain fire ants from your public in the effort to improve our community’s environment and quality of life. Led by the program reduces lawn and prevent first executive director, Tine Liegerot, GC&B began what would become a legacy of volunoutdooor watering up teerism, corporate sponsorship, and county support. 50% while improving newtocolonies from Along with the identification of illegal dumping and littering came the realization that the health of your lawn. establishing with new jobs were bringing more people to the county, meaning more people, more litter. Watch for harmful our insects proven Fire Ant Interestingly, those same people predicted to add to the problem served to help solve it. on ornamental “On a positive note, the more people who came to Gwinnett, the more development foltrees and shrubs. Control treatment. lowed,” says former GC&B director, Connie Wiggins. “So much of the dumping was done down long dirt roads, those dirt roads started to see new housing, schools, and commercial Flea andCare Tick Lawn •• Lawn Care development which cut down on the illegal dumping.” treatment to provide •• Tree Shrub Care Plant&Health Care One of the most impactful accomplishments for GC&B came during Wiggins’ tenure •• Core Aeration season-long control as director. “When I came on, we put into place a public-private partnership that brought Core Aeration together the county government and various industry partners that built the Recycling Bank • Seeding throughout • Seeding of Gwinnett,” says Wiggins. “That facility provided a way to conveniently recycle many • Fire Ant Control your lawn. items that had previously ended up in landfills.” The reduction in waste going to landfills • Fire Ant Control • Water Management was just one of the many benefits to the center. Education became an enormous issue for both Water management •• Same-Day Free students and adults. “People were surprised when we began to speak publicly about the bigSame-Day Free Estimates Estimates ger issue of the environment,” says Wiggins. “It raised questions of who is responsible and • Same-Day Free Lawn Care Lawn care why we should care about the effects of pollution and waste on the environment. It caused Estimates $25.00 First Custom fertilizationand and weed programs Custom fertilization weedcontrol control programs people to start thinking about the issues.” Lawn Treatment $25.00 first lawn While the idea of education for children is a given, the education of the population was Plant health Health Care Plant care an entirely different thought process. For Wiggins, the subject of litter was brought home treatment $25.00 first lawn Fertilization, disease and insect control First Plant New customersHealth only up to Care Fertilization, disease and insect control to her as she attended a luncheon at a beautifully appointed home in Atlanta. The gracious treatment 6,000 sq. ft. when you agree and impeccably dressed hostess had asked the attendees to bring a “sack lunch.” During the Locally Owned and Operated $10 OFF New onlyprogram. up to to ourcustomers 7-8 treatment luncheon, unbeknownst to the attendees, a camera had been set up. “The hostess asked us Locally Smaller company,and bigger service 6,000 sq.with ft. when agree owned operated Not valid any you other to our 8 treatment program. to throw our lunch trash on her gorgeous wood floors,” recalls Wiggins. “Her point was that discount offer. Smaller company, bigger service Pre-pay Not valid withdiscount any other we need to treat the outside world the same as we do our homes. It was a very uncomfortdiscount offer. able thing to experience, but it brought home the need to address litter on an adult as well as a student level.” Following in Connie Wiggin’s footsteps is the dynamic and creative current GC&B No contract to sign Director, Schelly Marlatt. To her, fell the task of keeping up with the rapidly growing and You call, we come vastly diverse Gwinnett, maintaining programs, and developing relevant community outPre-pay discount reach to build a governing board that represents the interests and needs of Gwinnett County. “We will host our 14th annual Governor’s Environmental Address and celebrate our 40th Service guaranteed Anniversary/Birthday celebration on Friday, October 23rd at the Infinite Energy Center in No contract to sign We strive to come exceed the evening,” says Marlatt. “We are working hard to put together a meaningful evening You call, we that encompasses many aspects of how GC&B has and continues to ‘Connect People and your expectations Resources for a Sustainable Gwinnett.’” The event will be the one and only fundraiser for Service guaranteed the year, and they are currently seeking sponsorships. We strive to exceed The message of connecting people and resources is timeless. Historically, GC&B has your expectations always worked hard to connect people who can get things done. Public and private partnerships have taken the Gwinnett County entity into the next level of ideas and ingenuity. Supporting that drive to keep Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful depends upon community partners like Primerica Foundation that has provided grant funds to develop a new, interactive, multilingual website to bring their message to the community.
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No Place for Hate Continued from page 13 awakening and learning. A hate crime statute will not solve all judicial or racial inequities in Georgia, but it will be a significant step in the right direction. All too often in legislative bodies, when differing points of view are significant, the “perfect” becomes the enemy of the good. Though the Georgia General Assembly is in the waning days of the remainder of their biennial legislative session (requiring any new bill to start all over again in 2021), finding common ground on such a delicate issue remains a heavy lift. But we hope if those 236 lawmakers have learned ANYTHING in recent days and weeks – assuming they have been paying attention to happenings in our state Capitol and elsewhere around the nation – doing NOTHING is not an option, and the typical response of appointing a task force or blue-ribbon commission will be far from enough. Ralston is a lifelong conservative, who leads a GOP caucus with a somewhat narrow majority. Many within likely would find murder to be murder or assault to be assault and might not subscribe any additional import or sentencing to the particulars of the motivation of an assailant. Even getting to this point was no simple task. Ending or removing hate never
really is. The State Senate should pass the House bill, which will not require reconsideration, and then amend the statute later.* My mother also taught me another rule very applicable to this situation, and it applies to the benefit of everyone: Simply treat everyone, as you would prefer to be treated, or the treatment you would seek or hope for a friend or family member. My mother constantly repeated this Golden Rule first learned in Sunday school and later reinforced, believe it or not, during my days in a college fraternity. Though I am far from perfect in my track record on this, it is a daily status that I attempt to reach and maintain. And when you are operating on that gold standard, you also soon realize that there really is no place for hate. Give it a try. What have you got to lose? * The Georgia General Assembly passed an amended version of the Hate Crimes bill referenced in this column on June 23, 2020. The bill was then remanded to the desk of Governor Brian Kemp for signature. New laws in Georgia typically take effect on July 1 of the next fiscal year. The Governor has three weeks to sign or not sign legislation passed by both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. Crane is the senior political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns the full-service communications consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
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Our Town5/26/20 Gwinnett 3:37 PM
Crane’s Corner: My Waking Moment By Bill Crane I am a middle-aged white male, proudly born and raised a son of the South, though not always proud of things we Southerners have done, or the way we have treated others. But I would never describe myself as “woke.” Even now I am not entirely sure what that term means. But I can tell you the experience, circumstances, and the year that I woke up, and finally came to realize the challenges almost all AfricanAmericans likely experience in their lives, that I am likely never to experience in mine. It was 2015, and through a friend, I received a call from someone I had met briefly once before, Lisa Cupid, a Cobb County Commissioner. As our conversation began, her voice was trembling, she was still clearly in shock and had suffered recent trauma. I cannot do her story justice, but I will try. Lisa Cupid was a young mother of two, living with her husband in southwest Cobb County, near the Six Flags Amusement Park. Commissioner Cupid had been elected District 4 Commissioner in 2012, the first black female on the Cobb County Commission, and at the time, its lone Democrat. In 2012, she also completed her law degree studies at Georgia State University but had not yet taken the State bar examination. She remained determined to pass the bar. Fortunately, Cupid found a friend and campaign supporter who owned a hotel several miles from her home, with a comfortable lobby, Wi-Fi, and coffee readily available for latenight studying. For several nights a week, often until early morning, Cupid studied in that lobby. After a long night of study, she trudged out with her law books to her car for the short drive home. Another vehicle pulled out almost immediately behind her, following closely and copying her every turn and signal. As she grew closer to home, she became increasingly concerned that the vehicle aggressively tailing her had some intention to do her harm. So, she purposely chose to turn into the wrong subdivision and see if she could lose the tail. She called 911, shared her situation, her fear, and the fact that she was a Cobb County Commissioner, as she tried to rapidly turn around in a cul-de-sac, leaving behind the car following her, as she raced back out of the subdivision. Finally, the car stopped following her and broke away. Cupid would soon learn that her pursuer was an undercover Cobb County Police Officer driving an unmarked car. Later, Cupid was told the officer was working the hotel and surrounding area looking into a series of automobile break-ins. Fortunately, Cupid was not beaten, nor killed by the errant officer. She was simply terrorized for the crime of leaving a hotel lobby late at night, while being a black woman. I assisted the Commissioner during these trying days and weeks, as well as through the passage of her bar examination. I strangely got calls, some from peers and others who lived in Cobb County, each from a white male, each chastising me. “You live in DeKalb County, why are you even involved in this?” “You might be doing your own business harm by sticking your nose into this matter.” “I thought you had more sense than to wade into something like this…” These calls were a nuisance, but my life was not altered, and I was not suffering daily slings and arrows as Cupid was, nor being isolated on the commission, nor spoken ill of publicly. And yet, she persisted. Cupid is now a candidate for Cobb Commission Chair, has no primary opposition, and will face either current Chair Mike Boyce or one of his GOP primary opponents in November. She recently led the Cobb Commission in the unanimous adoption of a resolution condemning racism in all its forms. Though there is still a long way to go, she has also made inroads with reforming policing in Cobb. Though I no longer make public endorsements, if I lived in Cobb County, there is no ques-
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Postcards Continued from page 14 Leeann. “Getting involved in this allows me to be a part of a bigger stage. Just today, I had cards from Taiwan and Singapore. They all had something positive to say. That makes it lots of fun!” Recently, Postcrossing is facilitating mail to and from China again. The site closely monitors postal service and offers suggestions for getting involved during the global health crisis. The Postcrossing blog indicates that they have had lots of people who are self-isolated around the world for whom a Postcrossing postcard was a bright spot in a lonely world. The site says, “Whatever your situation might be, sending and receiving postcards seems to bring people a small measure of comfort in these troubled times and we are thankful for that.” More information at Postcrossing.com.
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Chaplain’s Corner: Killing Giants, Anyone?
Our Town GWINNETT
By Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of David and the giant Goliath. This is one of the most common stories that Christians use to motivate one another when we are facing challenges. I must admit that I personally used this story to encourage my older son during his first season playing football. I even used it to persuade a young man from my church to ask a girl out when that girl was totally out of his league. David and Goliath is a story of bravery, courage, and boldness. But more importantly, it is a story that challenges us how to act when facing a giant. The past couple of months have been a vivid reminder that in this country we have been facing a giant for nearly 400 years. This giant is called racism. I strongly believe the time is now for not only the church, but those who value human life, to stand up against this giant and bring him down. If racism is a giant, we need to consider the following in order to kill it: 1. You cannot fight what you do not face. We need to recognize that this giant is among us, and that we need to listen to those who are being oppressed, to those who are mourning, and to those who are in despair because of racial tensions. 2. You cannot slay what you do not see. We need to walk side by side with those who are being persecuted, oppressed, and afraid for their lives. 3. You cannot defeat what you do not define. We need to call out by name the systematic evil and sins that are taking place in society. Continued on page 22
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Killing Coronavirus with Kindness: Meet Susan Kliesen By Traci Sanders The current pandemic has produced a great deal of panic, chaos, and fear in many people, but it has also inspired many others to reach out and help their neighbors where they can, give their time and resources to support others, and bring joy and comfort to those who are struggling. Private citizens are not the only ones who have been affected. Local business owners have suffered great losses. Some have become creative in how they are now serving their customers. Others have not been as fortunate and will not be able to recover from this economic disaster. Susan Kliesen is a realtor from Grayson who stepped up to do her part in her community by utilizing her existing contact list to spread awareness for local businesses in need. Kliesen started a campaign called Killing Coronavirus with Kindness to give local citizens something to look forward to each day, while also supporting local businesses. It all took place on her business Facebook page where she started with $1,000 worth of gift cards to local restaurants and businesses that she gave away each day for five days. Every person who replied to Kliesen’s email, Facebook post, or Instagram post stating how he or she was spreading kindness during these tough times had his or her name entered into a digital name wheel. Winners were selected in a Facebook LIVE video at 4:00 p.m. each day on Kliesen’s personal Facebook page. The gift cards were to such locally owned small businesses as Sam’s on Main, Johnny’s Pizza, and local beauty salons. The response was nothing short of astounding! In fact, even some of the local businesses started paying Continued on page 21
Hi-Hope Service Center
Continued from page 11
taken to and from medical appointments, work, or personal activities. These homes face a significant issue, however, when it comes to funding. The primary funding stream for the entirety of Hi-Hope is Medicaid. The State sets the amount they receive, and it is generally only enough to provide the basic services. Hi-Hope is committed to supporting individuals who have higher support needs. To do this requires dollars beyond Medicaid’s basic rate. In the Residential Program, individuals pay for their room and board through their Social Security disability benefits. Most times, this money falls short. Hi-Hope relies heavily on fundraising to provide quality services above and beyond the basics. For example, the Communication Program relies entirely on private funding. With a campus hosting two primary buildings, five group homes, and a fleet of vehicles, the cost of maintenance is high. Fundraising helps them keep all their doors open and support many families in the community. Without that support, many working parents would need to quit their jobs to provide full-time care of their adult children, resulting in economic hardship. In the State of Georgia, there are over 6,000 people with I/DD who are on waiting lists for services that places like Hi-Hope provide. They have been found eligible, but State Medicaid programs have limited funds, and the waiting list can be years long. Over 10% of that 6,000 are in Gwinnett County. In addition to the sheer number of people waiting, the population is living longer. When individuals with I/DD were institutionalized regularly and separated from the community, they were only expected to live until their 40’s. Because of advances in healthcare and the benefits of life in their communities, individuals are living into their 70s and 80s. With longer lives, aging residents need more specialized care. With these issues in mind, Hi-Hope has plans. They hope to develop several more group homes over the next five to ten years. They are growing their Day Program to support more people so that more families can work and contribute to the long term support of their adult children. Growing the Employment Program, allows more individuals to experience the joy of meaningful work. As a business, Hi-Hope wants to operate at a scale so as to be sustainable over the long term. For now, however, Hi-Hope was proud to celebrate an important milestone. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in Gwinnett. They look forward to many future years of serving the community and growing in the future. More information at www.hihopecenter.org/pastabilities
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Making a Difference: Up Front & in the Margins
need the basic necessities that come from our retail food establishments. While Deseree was busy filling orders and adjusting to a “new normal,” Jessica was learning new online platforms, reaching out to her clients via phone, and carrying out services to mental health patients that she would normally see in person. She credits an early mandate that provided a waiver for face-to-face contact requirements. “It kept our clients and ourselves from coming into contact with the virus, but the reality is many of our clients do not comprehend why we can’t come see them at their houses,” explains Jessica. “Trying to interact with young children on a video call isn’t the best judge of how they are progressing. It is hard to see things like body language and the environment in which they are living.” Finding a way to do the best by her clients has been foremost in Jessica’s thoughts and she is looking forward to the day she can proceed with her work in person. Also located in Lilburn is Tina Camden who works for Stand Up For Kids, a non-profit dedicated to the support of homeless and at-risk kids. Tina started as a volunteer, and the students captured her heart. Working with a chapter at Parkview High School, Tina’s role is to help match students 1:1 with a local mentor. “We work with the academic counselors and the social worker to identify students who might benefit from the program and go from there,” explains Camden. “With 1:1 support, we can personalize the program to best meet the needs of each student.” Homeless students can live anywhere – a friend’s couch, a car with their family, a hotel – any place identified by the McKinney-Vento Act. “This pandemic forced us to change our delivery model in a hurry,” says Camden. “We recognized a huge and immediate need for technology.” Given that students have access to computers at school, sheltering-in-place brought forth the very real problem of homeless students or those living below the poverty level not having access to technology. While the world was going on around them and adjusting to online meetings, these students were marginalized in their access to basic needs. “We have been able to deliver donated and refurbished technology to some of our students who need it, but this is an issue that will not change, especially if we are forced to remain in place,” says Camden. “These students want, very much, to succeed.” To that end, Tina Camden tells the story of a senior who pays her own rent and wanted Continued on page 22
By Beth Volpert Johansen Defining the basis of what constitutes a crisis is often determined for the general populace by an authority such as local, state, and federal governments. While generally accepted as a truth, the COVID-19 pandemic is a true crisis. For some though, the unrecognized front line workers and behind the scenes providers, have seen the pandemic through a different lens. When Our Town Gwinnett Owner Ryan Sauers places questions and topics for discussion on social media, he gets any number of responses. Some turn to debate, some provide guidance and support, and others become stories. His request for something out of the mainstream brought the Our Town Magazine Community Forum many suggestions. From the responses emerged the idea that, while physical health, police/fire services, and education often made front page news, there were a certain number of people providing and serving in other essential capacities. Lilburn resident Jessica Ward and her daughter Deseree Desrosiers have been spending a great deal of “quality mom-daughter” time since shelter-in-place guidelines were first established. For Jessica, a mental health worker contracted to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, it meant moving to an online platform – much like teachers. But for her daughter, the direction for her retail job at Kroger was a little less clear. “We went from about thirty orders a day on the Click-List to more than 100,” says Deseree. “People were frustrated, everything suddenly seemed impersonal, and we had to figure out how to do our jobs and stay safe.” Eventually, things did smooth out, but one thing became more than clear. Deseree and her co-workers were very essential. After all, people
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Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Continued from page 15 Additionally, GC&B has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund and Gwinnett County Public Schools on a project to continue championing the fight against hunger and reduction of food waste. The Project is aptly named, Food Waste Warriors 2.0. “We are also evolving and launching a new and rebranded Green Schools Platform,” explains Marlatt. “Instituting a supporting ‘green school’ web-based organization and platform with tools will enable continued expansion of problem-based learning including that of wasted food issues and audits as an integral component of Gwinnett’s Green Schools Program.” Providing a scalable and repeatable program will enable other schools, hospitals, and other institutions to replicate the efforts in the fight against hunger while reducing food waste and waste in general. Projects like these and support from a variety of corporate, governmental, non-profit, and private sources has allowed Marlatt and her team to dream big and be innovative in response to the growing needs of the Gwinnett community. “We are proud to have been recognized as Best of Gwinnett for the second consecutive year,” she says. “We could not be successful without the collaboration and partnerships from many organizations: Gwinnett County and all of their departments, the Board of Commissioners, Primerica Foundation, GCPS, Bank of America, and Keep America Beautiful, just to name a few. “Gwinnett is so much more than our shared playground, workplace, and community,” Marlatt continues. “It is our combined responsibility, and for Gwinnett to continue to serve as a desirable destination for businesses, travel, and tourism, and a growing number of families, we need to work together to keep her clean, beautiful, and thriving.” In order to accomplish those goals, GC&B relies on the ongoing support from local environmental stewards to support many volunteer opportunities throughout the community all year long. Whether volunteering as an individual or as a group through the workplace, civic organization, church, or school, participation is vital to the continued success of GC&B’s actions. “This support impacts our ability to transform public places into beautiful spaces, conserve natural resources and improve our watersheds – each serving as a powerful outlet for people who are passionate about the environment. Each year, we partner with more than 100,000 volunteers and 100 community partners to protect health, landscape, habitats, streams, and water quality,” Marlatt says. “As we celebrate our 40th birthday this year,” Marlatt adds, “we continue to look at ways that we can serve the community in the best possible way. Gwinnett is a growing, changing, and ever-evolving community, and GC&B will grow, change, and evolve along with our citizens. We want to be the preferred resource for sustainability solutions because we’re not just stewards of the environment; we’re stewards of the community. GC&B looks forward to having a hand in a long-standing tradition of bringing people together to do great things and solve problems. Connecting People and Resources for a Sustainable Gwinnett is our passion and we will continue to serve the county we love.” Reaching out to the global community that calls Gwinnett home takes forward-thinking initiative. Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful has come a long way since they waged a war on illegal dumping and litter. Education has been the strongest method for bringing the consequences of unfettered waste into the spotlight. While trash isn’t exactly a glamorous topic, GC&B has managed to capture the attention of a whole host of community stakeholders and convinced them to commit to a sustained and renewable effort to keep Gwinnett County Clean and Beautiful. More information at www.gwinnettcb.org
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Meet Susan Kliesen Continued from page 19 it forward by sponsoring the program with gift cards to other local businesses. Some even started sharing the process on their own Facebook pages. The best part is that the kindness spread and created a movement throughout the community. Local citizens started calling in to sponsor the program with more gift cards, and some of the winners turned around and paid it forward by donating gift cards for future winners. What started as a five-day event has blossomed into an entire movement of kindness and concern for the fellow man. Therefore, the wheel keeps spinning. It does not take place every day, but it is still going on for now. Kliesen has been so overwhelmed by the response and outpouring of support, she threw in an extra special incentive on one of the daily drawings. For each person who entered the drawing – by commenting on her social media post or responding to her email – she donated one item to the local food bank in their name. The result was over 140 items donated in a single day! In a time when most people panic and hoard resources, this event is proof that what goes around comes around and one person can make a difference if he or she believes in his or her cause strongly enough. It is not about having all the answers or all the resources; it is about knowing how to find the answers and use the resources we have available to create something new. The next time you think your voice, your vote, or your ideas do not matter, just remember this story, and speak out! It all starts with one act of kindness. More information at https://www.facebook.com/SusanKliesenRealEstate/
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BEST BEST BEST BEST
Up Front and in the Margins Continued from page 20
My Waking Moment Continued from page 17
tion who I would be voting for. As important as the recent marches and protests were for the opportunity to pick up her hard-earned cap and gown from Parkview. She called “Ms. thousands, electing people who understand the way things are, as well as the need for more Tina” and asked her for a ride. “She wanted that meaningful moment of celebrating her than subtle change, is what will make the difference between a series of dramatic events, and graduation,” says Camden. “This is a kid who had graduated with honors, been accepted into a movement. Choose wisely, and VOTE. Georgia State University, and is on the waitlist for Georgia Tech. She deserved her moment.” Crane is the senior political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns the full-service And Sara got her moment. Faced with no way to have her senior pictures done, Camden and communications consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com her daughter, Iris, spent an afternoon creating a photo shoot for Sara to share with her family who lives in Pakistan. “My daughter is great with photography,” says Camden. “We went to Stone Mountain since Sara had never been there and took great pictures and made lots of Continued from page 18 lovely memories for that child.” When it comes to When it comes to finding the perfect roof For as much as the COVID-19 pandemic has been covered in a negative light, one thing 4. You cannot change what you do not challenge. We need to challenge the authorities to for your your home we have a HUGEroof selection home we is for certain. There are many people out there who shine. Whether it is providing services When it comes to finding the perfect adhere to higher standards. When for it comes to roof finding the perfect in mental health, essential goods, or helping to bridge the gaps in homelessness, there are of brands and colo approach may but we need toadoHUGE something. Do something. ofperfect, brands and colors to choose from, soPlease. for your This home we have a be HUGE selection for not your home we have selection outstanding people serving on the front lines and filling in the margins. Rodrigo Cruz is the Lead Pastor of The Nett Church. More information at www.thenwe can make house look Allmake your More information at www.StandUpForKids.org of brands and colors choose from, soyour ofto brands and colors to choose from,perfect. sowe can ettchurch.com.
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