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A Cure for
August 3-9, 2017
Homelessness?
August 3-9, 2017
COVER STORY
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City approves funding to ramp up housing, shelter space for city’s homeless
By Kamille D. Whittaker The scrutiny on homelessness in Atlanta, and the city’s collective government, private entity and nonprofit maneuvers around it have always seemed to cluster around events like the 1994 Super Bowl, the 1995 World Series, and the 1996 Olympics. Though then mayor Bill Campbell insisted that the city of Atlanta didn’t have a policy of removing homelessness from the streets, passages and more rigid enforcement of city ordinances addressing loitering and panhandling coupled with an uptick in police sweeps and arrests told another narrative. In fact, Anita Beaty, then co-director of the Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless documented more than 9,000 arrests of homeless people from May 1995 to May 1996, four times greater than what the task force had recorded in previous years. With the Super Bowl and a possible bid for the World Cup on the city’s calendar – the expectation for how the city planned to “clean up” in preparation was more of the same: Displacement of the city’s vulnerable populations. But along came Basil Eleby – the homeless man who has been formally charged with felony arson and criminal damage to property for allegedly starting the fire under the I-85 bridge which eventually spread to flammable plastic conduits the Georgia Department of Transportation had been storing there for years. Mawuli Davis, Eleby’s attorney of record, said the bridge’s fall and Eleby’s subsequent arrest opened up larger conversations about homelessness in the city and its intersections with substance abuse, mental health and the hyper-criminalization of those at the margins of society. An early flight at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – where homeless have been gathering – will help underscore the paradox of a city surging ahead with economic development while people literally sleep, without stable housing, at its gateway. “There are thousands of homeless individuals all sleeping under bridges and in otherwise difficult circumstances [in the Atlanta metro region] and that is a reality that many people are living with. We also know that there are issues around substance abuse which public health concern and should be treated as such. Substance abusers are sick and should be helped and looked upon more compassionately; not criminalized for having a substance abuse problem.” The antidote: compassion, perhaps. Coordinated efforts, for sure.
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Atlanta’s City Council recently approved funding for an ambitious plan to curb homelessness, announcing a $26 million bond commitment that will be added to $25 million already promised by the United Way of Greater Atlanta which made homelessness their marquee cause. The funding, a priority for the city in Mayor Kasim Reed’s last year in office, has been in the works for months — even before a recent announcement that the city planned to close the controversial Peachtree Pine homeless shelter downtown. Central Atlanta Progress is taking over the Peachtree Pines homeless shelter, which is slated to close this August. During his “state of the city” address in January, Reed disclosed that the United Way of Greater Atlanta had pledged to match city funding that will be used to renovate housing for the homeless and add more shelter space. City officials did not say where those would be located.
“I am proud to announce that with the unanimous approval of the Atlanta City Council, we will move forward with our $50 million commitment to make homelessness rare and brief in the City of Atlanta,” Reed said in a written statement. “We now have the opportunity to end chronic
homelessness in our city, and ensure that all women, men and children – regardless of circumstance – have the chance to live stable, meaningful lives and participate fully in their communities,” he continued. Around $7.6 million of the money from the Homeless Opportunity Bond will be used for the acquisition and renovation of shelters over the next three years, according to the City. The specific facilities have yet to be determined, but could include Jefferson Place, a closed shelter owned by Fulton County in downtown Atlanta that could be turned over to the city. However, the biggest portion of the money — more than $16 million — will go to buying or renovating 500 units for housing throughout the city that can be used to offer permanent homes for the homeless, the primary goal of the city’s homeless initiative. “It reintegrates these people back into the fabric of our society,” said Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond, who sponsored the measure. “I think warehousing is an outdated concept. Sometimes that works if we are looking for a central place to provide services, but we want people to come back into the fold of the whole society.” More than 3,500 men, women and children in Atlanta are in need of some kind of shelter, according to an analysis conducted by the non-profit Partners for Home. About 1,500 of those people are in emergency shelters, while 1,300 are in transitional housing, before moving independently into a house or apartment. More than 680 are still on the streets. “It reaffirms solidly the city’s commitment to dealing with the issues of the homeless,” said Bond. “This signals to them that they are not forgotten and that they are priority of this government.” Peachtree Pine, the city’s biggest shelter, will begin moving users out of the shelter in late August and close when all have found a place to stay. Alongside the infusion in funding to address homelessness, Fulton County commissioners, who decided to outsource mental health services they provided to increase efficiency of care, are looking to increase the number of people served by mental health services in the county – from 1,500 to 4,000. The county estimated it had about 34,000 uninsured residents who could use mental health care, including help with addictions, therapy or diagnosis. The providers will focus on at-risk groups, like the homeless population, and provide both group and individual therapy. River Edge Behavioral Health, which will provide the services to adults, will partner with local hospitals and other organizations. It is expected to serve 3,000 people on a $4 million contract. Another, Chris 180, will serve 1,000 children and young adults for $2 million. The services will include school-based therapy services and an adolescent substance abuse program. The county is aligning itself with the state system, which it will use to track patients and their outcomes across a range of providers. If commissioners approve the programs, some will begin Oct. 1 while others will go into effect Jan. 1. Davis sees the coordinated efforts and the focus on mental health and substance abuse as co-sign to his team’s strategy to speak up for the voiceless and work with community activists for the rights of the disenfranchised as the fight to curb homelessness continues. “One of the things that I’m hoping people get from this is that there are people who are still committed to working in the interest of our community and not just allowing people who lie on the margins to live without support from others to face the complexity of issues we face as a city, state. And there’s a lot of positive that could come out of this. What was destroyed was a bridge but it is possible to build new bridges of humanity through this process … and that’s far more important than concrete structures.”
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Denise Cleveland-Leggett named HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Atlanta Daily World
Founded August 5 1928; Became Daily, March 12, 1932 W.A. Scott, II, Founder/Publisher August 5, 1928 to February 7, 1934 Published weekly at 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta Mailing Offices. Publication Number 017255 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Atlanta Daily World, 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Subscriptions: One Year: $52 Two Years: $85 Forms of Payment: Check, Money Order, VISA American Express, MasterCard MEMBER: Associated Press Atlanta Business League Central Atlanta Progress Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce National Newspaper Publishers Website: www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com Lorraine Cochran General Manager lcochran@realtimesmedia.com
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Denise Cleveland-Leggett
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today named Denise Cleveland-Leggett to serve as HUD’s Region IV Regional Administrator. As the Regional Administrator, she will work from HUD’s Atlanta Regional Office and lead HUD’s Southeast operation in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “I’ve known Denise Leggett for many years and have been very impressed with her ability to get things done,” said Carson. “She has a keen interest in housing and a brilliant mind.” “I am looking forward to working with Secretary Carson and our stakeholders and partners to innovatively accomplish HUD’s mission to create strong, sustainable, and inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all,” said Cleveland-Leggett. “This is a tremendous honor and opportunity to
strengthen the communities and families we serve, and ensure they have a path toward achieving their American Dream.” Prior to her appointment as Region IV Regional Administrator, Cleveland-Leggett spent more than 30 years of combined and extensive legal experience in the public and private sectors, and was actively involved as a business and community leader in Atlanta. An accomplished corporate lawyer, she represented various healthcare clients in transactional and regulatory matters, including hospital acquisitions, hospital and physician contract negotiations, and clinical integrations. She also assisted in resolving and defending matters regarding antitrust and employment law, including cases of discrimination. Additionally, Cleveland-Leggett served on the Georgia Commission for Women, Georgia State Ethics Commission, State Personnel Oversight Commission, and Council for the
Hearing Impaired Legal Clinic, Co-Counsel. She has additionally served on several non-profit boards, and was appointed board chair of Literacy Action, Inc., which seeks to remedy Adult Literacy. Cleveland-Leggett is a member of the American Bar Association, American Health Lawyers Association, American Health Lawyers Association, Georgia State Bar Association and National Employment Lawyers Association. She was honored with the 2009 State Bar of Georgia’s Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service and is recognized in Who’s Who in Black Atlanta. A graduate of Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts, and Oakwood College, Huntsville, Alabama, she is married to Dr. Christopher J.W.B. Leggett and they are the proud parents of two children.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, most Friendship Baptist “walks efficient for 14th straight year in faith” to new church
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), for the 14th consecutive year, has been honored with an Efficiency Excellence Award from the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS). “This award recognizes the efforts put forward by all involved at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport,” said Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council Jr. “We are honored for the recognition and grateful to our airline partners and employees for their hard work as we continue to strive for excellence in all aspects of ATL’s operations,” he added. Last month, ATRS released its annual benchmark study of commercial airports in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, assessing the productivity and efficiency of nearly 200 air-
ports based on airport cost and revenue data. ATRS measures and compares the operational and managerial efficiency, cost competitiveness, and financial performance for airports and airport groups in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The ATRS Airport Benchmark Task Force includes leading professors and researchers from around the world. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest airport, serving more than 104 million passengers annually with nonstop service to more than 150 United States destinations and 70 international destinations in more than 50 countries. The airport boasts a direct economic impact of $34 billion in metro Atlanta and a total direct economic impact of $70 billion in Georgia.
BLACK ENTERPRISE to honor Rep. John Lewis and other iconic black men BLACK ENTERPRISE will host its inaugural receive the inaugural Earl G. Graves Award, named Black Men XCEL Summit — developed to celefor BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine Founder and brate their many contributions and achievements Publisher Earl G. Graves Sr. — August 30 through September 3, at the PGA Other honorees include actor, comedian, National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. writer and director Robert Townsend; Lonnie G. The crown jewel of Black Men XCEL, The Bunch III, founding director of the Smithsonian’s XCEL Awards: An Extraordinary Celebration of National Museum of African American History Excellence and Leadership, will recognize iconand Culture; and John W. Rogers Jr., Ariel Investic black men in every field of endeavor — from ments founder and CEO. corporate America, to the entertainment industry, “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to pay science and technology, athletics and sports, the well-deserved honor to men who are gifts to the education sector, and beyond. The XCEL Awards world,” said BLACK ENTERPRISE President and Dinner will kick off several days of activities inCEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. “Their examples are cluding golf, tennis, luxurious spa amenities, live Rep. John Lewis proper tribute and powerful motivation to the music and comedy to create the ultimate end-ofXCEL Award honorees to come.” summer getaway experience. In addition to the XCEL Awards, Black Men XCEL will also United States Rep. John Lewis, who will receive the Earl G. recognize those featured as men of distinction by the BE Modern Graves Award, is among the honorees to be recognized at the Man digital campaign launched by BlackEnterprise.com in 2015. 2017 Black Men XCEL Awards Dinner hosted by AT&T. In addition to celebrating all of the BE Modern Men in attenOften called “one of the most courageous persons the civil dance, the first ever BE Modern Man of the Year Award will be rights movement ever produced,” Congressman John Lewis (D- presented to Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Ga.) has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing Achievement and a member of the 2016 cohort of 100 BE Modcivil liberties, and building what he calls “The Beloved Commu- ern Men of Distinction. nity” in America. The youngest of the “Big Six” leaders of the civBlack Men XCEL will host more than 700 men and women il rights movement at the age of 23, he was an architect of and a attendees who will engage in development sessions and activities keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington. Lewis will designed to train, equip, and encourage leadership.
Friendship Baptist Church celebrated its new building last weekend with a ribbon cutting Saturday and “walk of faith” on Sunday. The 153-year-old historic church broke ground on the new edifice in October 2015, a year and a half after vacating its longtime home for the construction of the Atlanta Falcons’ new stadium. Founded by freed slaves and the birthplace of Spelman College, its new 44,000-square-foot home is at 80 Walnut St. S.W., just blocks away from the building the congregation vacated in spring 2014. Friendship Baptist Church Sr. Pastor Rev. Dr. Richard W. Wills Sr. said the church, in its new home after being a “church with no walls” for three years, is looking forward to “maintaining the character and culture of Friendship.” “We have a commitment to excellence,” Wills said. “[And] a commitment to being our best selves and understanding that we as a people are wonderfully made and ready to continue to serve our community.” Friendship’s role in black education has been unique in that Morehouse College, upon moving to Atlanta from Augusta, Ga., in 1879, set up classes in Friendship Baptist Church. Spelman College had its beginning in the basement of the previous church site in 1881, and close ties between these institutions continue. The city of Atlanta and the Falcons bought the Friendship Baptists’ former location in 2013 for $19.5 million as part of a plan to construct the retractable-roof Mercedes Benz Stadium just south of the Georgia Dome. In addition to Friendship, another historic church — Mount Vernon Baptist Church — was bought by the Georgia World Congress Center and the Falcons for $14.5 million.
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August 3-9, 2017
Delta makes financial investment in APS Delta officially announced a partnership with Atlanta Public Schools to improve the quality of education, with a focus on literacy, for the next generation of Delta customers and employees. The partnership includes a $500,000 donation over the span of five years. More than 600 Delta people along with community leaders, APS Board Members and staff celebrated the historic partnership in the Delta Flight Museum on Thursday. An impressive line-up of Delta, APS and Atlanta leaders talked about how Delta and APS’s partnership can have a
Atlanta turns out for the “Who’s Who In Black Atlanta” unveiling L-R: Carter Womack, Pat Lottier, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Hiram Jackson “It’s always rewarding to recognize the exemplars in the city of Atlanta, who make our hometown one of the unique cities in the world and the leading cities in the world,” said Reed. “You are the Atlanta I dreamed about as a boy.” Real Times Media will host a variety of networking events planned to continually engage the Who’s Who audience and alumni, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, “Who’s Who In Black Atlanta” associate publisher, said. “It is very important to me to harness the power present within this room tonight, to maximize relationships and provide opportunities to build your network and brand presence.” Who’s Who in Black Atlanta event sponsors were MARTA, Cricket Wireless, The Atlanta Hawks, Georgia Pacific, MACY’s, Georgia Power, Grady Health Systems, and Morehouse Healthcare.
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reminding the students that Delta supports their dreams. The giving didn’t stop there. Delta officers, directors and employees participated in the giving as well and surprised APS team members with an additional donation of $312,200 which includes a $1 for $1 match from the Delta Air Lines Foundation’s Matching Gifts to Education Fund. “This partnership and donation is a tremendous blessing to our schools,” said Wanda Moore Williams, Assistant Principal, Emma Hutchinson Elementary School. “These resources and the Delta people will help us significantly close the achievement gap in our schools.” Delta’s contribution will go directly to strengthening APS programs and ensure grade-level proficiencies in third grade reading. Research shows that these proficiencies are strong predictors of a student’s likeness to graduate high school having a life-long impact on economic and professional opportunities.
City of Atlanta launches the 2017 International Startup Exchange Program
Hank and Yvonne Thomas, foreward writers
The 17th Edition of “Who’s Who In Black Atlanta” was unveiled to a crowd of more than 600 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis on July 28. Founded in 1989, “Who’s Who In Black Atlanta” continues to be one of the most sought after recognitions among black Atlanta’s doers, thinkers, creators, and leaders, and powered by Real Times Media, the book is an opportunity to recognize them for making their respective mark on Atlanta and beyond. “‘Who’s Who’ is not the hook up,” said Real Times Media CEO Hiram Jackson, during the event. “You’ve got to do the work. When you see someone in these pages, they have done the work.” The annual publication’s purpose is to not only celebrate the accomplishments of those featured, but to also pay homage to others who have blazed the trail and made outstanding contributions over the years and continue to make a positive impact in our community. Emmy award winning journalist and anchor for CBS46 Vince Sims hosted the spirited evening where several pinnacle acknowledgments were bestowed including the Beacon Award to C. David Moody Jr., CEO of C.D. Moody Construction Company; Community Impact Award to the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, 100 Black Men of Metro North, 100 Black Men of Metro South and 100 Black Men of DeKalb; Innovator Award to Rodney Sampson, partner, TechSquare Labs, and chairman & CEO, Opportunity Ecosystem; and the H. J. Russell Trailblazer Award to Curley Dossman Jr., president of the Georgia-Pacific Foundation. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who was on-hand to celebrate the honorees, reflected on Who’s Who as a bright spot in his tenure as the city’s 59th mayor.
long-lasting, positive impact on the lives of young people in the communities where Delta people live and serve. This school year, Delta will focus specifically on two APS schools located in the South Atlanta cluster — Emma Hutchinson Elementary School and John Wesley Dobbs Elementary School — each only a few short miles from the Delta campus. Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen took to the classroom-themed stage to share how important the public school issue is and how real the need is. “Atlanta has the largest economic disparity in the world. As a result, nearly 75 percent of students in APS live in poverty which exacerbates a child’s ability to learn,” Dr. Carstarphen said. “However, with great partners like Delta and its employee volunteers, we will not only change the life of a child and that child’s family, but also impact the culture of the school and the entire community.” Dr. Carstarphen went on to compare the turnaround happening in Atlanta Public Schools to Delta’s historic turnaround and comeback from bankruptcy. “We know Delta’s motto is Keep Climbing, but APS is currently crawling,” she joked. “However, in some areas, like literacy, we must begin climbing immediately. With the help of Delta and this partnership I’m sure we will be climbing soon.” “Our business has done well, and we believe the communities we call home should share in our success,” said Glen Hauenstein, President. In addition to the $500,000 corporate donation, Delta employees around the system donated books from the APS recommended literacy list. To hold the more than 1,200 new books, Delta’s own TechOps team created four custom bookshelves crafted from recycled airplane parts. These stand-out creations will live in the libraries of the two partnership schools
Mayor Kasim Reed
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Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 Atlanta International Startup Exchange Program. The one-week international residency which has been spearheaded by the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs and Invest Atlanta will provide eight selected companies a platform for global expansion in either Toulouse, France or the United Kingdom. “We are happy to launch this year’s International Startup Exchange Program in partnership with the City of Toulouse, the U.K. Department for International Trade, Invest Newcastle and Sage. Our office works to provide Atlanta companies with unique opportunities and resources to increase their global presence and achieve substantial growth,” said Claire Angelle, director of the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs. “The International Trade Administration reports that companies which export grow faster, pay higher wages and are more resilient than companies relying solely on the domestic market. We invite entrepreneurs throughout the region to apply for this exciting program.” As part of the program, Atlanta will also welcome four startups from Toulouse and the U.K. to participate in Atlanta Cyber Week scheduled for October 1-7 or Venture Atlanta Week slated for October 8-14. “We look forward to building off the success of last year’s startup exchange by further strengthening the bonds between the Atlanta
startup community with those in our sister cities of Toulouse and Newcastle,” said Kevin Johnson, senior vice president of Economic Development for Invest Atlanta, the City’s economic development agency. “Atlanta has become a top-ranked tech capital, thanks to our talent base, a growing cluster of 20 innovation centers and programs like this one that connect talented entrepreneurs from around the world.” Toulouse and Newcastle were selected for sharing growing industries and strong, existing relationships with Atlanta. Over the course of the residency, the selected startups will connect with local startup ecosystems, gain access to international conferences and engage with investors, business leaders and potential clients in the aerospace, smart cities and cybersecurity industries. Selected startups will also receive roundtrip airfare, accommodations, dedicated co-working space and ground transportation for one representative. The inaugural Atlanta International Startup Exchange program was launched in October 2016 and has been awarded Sister Cities International’s Innovation Award for Economic Development. Atlanta startups Carbice and Partpic traveled to Toulouse while the City of Atlanta hosted Toulouse companies Uwinloc and Donecle. The deadline to apply for the program is August 11, 2017.
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Fulton County agrees to reconsider polling place changes The Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections has agreed to reconsider a recent set of polling place closures and changes in predominantly Black neighborhoods and provide the public with adequate notice of the proposed changes before voting on them. In response to a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, the Board has posted notice of these proposed changes, which will be voted upon at its next scheduled meeting at 10am on August 10, 2017, at 130 Peachtree Street SW, Suite 2186, Conference Room 128, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303. On July 18, the ACLU of Georgia sued the Board for violating state law when it approved a set of polling place closures and changes without giving adequate notice to the public. Georgia law requires election officials to publish proposed polling place changes for at least 14 consecutive days before approving them. The
Georgia NAACP President Francys Johnson Steps Down
Board had published the proposed changes just 6 days in advance. “We’re pleased the Board has agreed to reconsider these changes in the light of day,” said Andrea Young, ACLU of Georgia executive director. “We encourage all voters who would be affected by these changes to attend the hearing on August 10 and make their voices heard.”
New tax assessments for Fulton County homeowners coming on August 4th Fulton County’s Board of Assessors approved the new tax assessments, clearing the way for new assessment notices to be sent. County commissioners last month decided to keep residential assessments at 2016 values after an outcry from residents who saw their property values and thus, tax obligation, increase much more than they anticipated. On June 28, the Fulton County Board of Assessors voted to act upon the resolution approved by the Board of Commissioners. Staff from the Tax Assessors Office, County Manager’s Office, County Attorney’s Office, and Information Technology Department and others are now taking steps to implement the correction process. The Board of Commissioners has since voted to correct the 2017 Tax Digest – instructing property owners to fully disregard the Property Assessment notice mailed in May. Additionally, any appeals submitted are now null and void. A new appeal period will begin with the date of new notices, tentatively August 4th. According to action taken by the Board of Commissioners on June 21, 2016 values will be applied to most residential properties for 2017,
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with the exception of: New construction, new parcels, and properties with changes in acreage, living area or renovation will maintain their 2017 values. Properties with any change in exemption, either as requested by the property owner before June 21 or removed by the Tax Assessors’ Office in error, will be corrected with the appropriate exemption for 2017. Properties that were subject to litigation that changed ownership, value of the land, or improvements within a tax parcel as a result of the appeal will maintain 2017 values. Values of all commercial properties in Fulton County will remain at the assessed 2017 levels, due to undergoing an extensive review process in 2015 and 2016. The appeals window will be open until Sept. 18, and tax bills are expected to go out in early October after the county, cities and school boards set their tax rates, which they expect to do in early September. Tax bills will be due in early December, in order to collect tax monies in the same year the properties are assessed.
Francys Johnson, the 38-year-old civil rights attorney and pastor from Statesboro, stepped down as president of the Georgia NAACP Saturday at the 108th National Convention in Baltimore. Johnson is credited with restoring the voting rights litigation prowess of NAACP in Georgia while attracting younger professionals and bridging the gaps in Georgia between millennial activist groups such as Black Lives Matter. “Francys Johnson lent his talent, time and treasure to the Association at a critical time. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of his leadership,” said Derrick Johnson, newly appointed Interim president and CEO. Johnson, who has been mentioned as possible challenger to Rick Allen (R-Augusta) in Georgia’s 12th Congressional District, flirted with what’s next for the father of two in prepared remarks: “Our nation is in crisis. This moment calls for every head, heart, and hand to engage the work of ensuring that all the promises of our democracy are fulfilled. The upcoming election in 16 months carries consequences unlike any other mid-term in our lifetime. This election will either reinforce and sustain the path we’re on — or change it. I promise no one will work harder to turn this momentum for change into a reality,” said Johnson. While Johnson stopped short of an announcement; the NAACP rules require officers to step down to run for public office. The day stirred many emotions for Johnson who served 30 years within the NAACP at every level including Youth Council, College Chapter, Adult Branch, State Conference and previous service on the National Staff as the Southeast Regional Director. “It’s emotional to step away from doing something you
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love,” said Johnson. “Street heat and legal teeth were the hallmark of Johnson’s leadership with the Georgia NAACP. He brought his marching boots and law books,” said Graylan Quarterman, a member State Executive Committee. During Johnson’s tenure that Georgia NAACP filed 10 federal or state lawsuits addressing racialized redistricting, voting caging and purging, as well as at-large voting. “He was as comfortable leading the powerful demonstrations across Georgia in response to police-involved deaths of citizens and the Atlanta March for Women and Social Justice, the largest protest march in Georgia history at 63,000protesters, as he was giving an argument in Court or sermon in the pulpit. That takes a rare combination of talents,” said Rev. Raphael Warnock, senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Georgia NAACP will elect its next state president in October at the 75th State Convention in Augusta, Ga. Johnson’s departure comes at a critical conjuncture where the venerated organization’s relevancy is being openly questioned. “You can’t look at young folks and say you’re going to be the leaders of the future. You have to give them the opportunity to lead now and that’s what the NAACP believes,” said Leon Russell, chairman of the Board of Directors for the NAACP. “He walks in the footsteps of the greats including Savannah’s Ralph Mark Gilbert and W.W. Law; Macon’s Julius Caesar Hope; and Madison’s Walter Curtis Butler. As a scholar, a practitioner of law, and a dynamic young leader, Johnson raised the bar of excellence and made the NAACP more attractive to young professionals.”
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Road trip to Asheville: “Bring your happiness with you” By Kamille D. Whittaker I was sitting cross-legged in Triangle Park in the historic “Block” district of Asheville, NC; soaking in the sun at high noon on a near perfect day. My backdrop, over 270 linear feet of mural paintings and mosaics commandeered by an upwelling of local artists, community volunteers and $60,000 of community reinvestment into “The Block.” Each stroke depicted a swath of downtown Asheville’s historic African-American business district and surrounding Valley Street/East-End neighborhoods as an area that remained the cultural and economic center from the time of Reconstruction until the near present. Triangle Park is a remnant of this era, where people who grew up around Valley Street still gather and fellowship. The park was quiet that Friday afternoon. On a bench, with the murals as a backdrop, a young artist was sketching — feverishly — something in his visual field or mind. I let him be. Instead, I took up conversation with Ivan, a horticulturist who I saw had stopped to rest under a nearby tree. A military brat, the son of a German and African was world-traveled and considered Decatur, Ga, one of his many homes. Second to Asheville. Like old friends, we talked about travel, foodways, and local artisans, and settled in on beginnings and endings and the natural desire to preserve the novelty of good experiences and suspend them in time. I told him about my stay at the Omni Grove Park Inn, a stone laden expanse that is chiseled into the side of a mountain with terraces that have front seat views to the prerogatives of the sun and clouds. It sits on the other side of a cradled valley that the Blue Ridge Mountains gently flank in the distance. With rooms that front nature on all sides, it’s designed to always keep you in close proximity to the elements – whether you’re dining al fresco at Edison’s Craft and Ales + Kitchen, named for Thomas Edison’s frequent visits, hiking the sunset nature trail in the healing, clean mountain air or steaming with eucalyptus in the cavernous spa. When you travel well, you tune into all the senses, is what scent sommelier Kelly, of Kelly & Jones – Eau de Parfum reiterated during our blending session in the Buick Sensory Lounge.
We mixed Osmanthus and Fig with a Sheabased body oil for a signature scent. The blend, called “Tea Leaves,” was reminiscent of the aromatic warmth of Bergamot and Basil stirred by memories of both; memories, I can wear on my skin wherever I went. “Bring your happiness with you,” Ivan and I concluded, as our parting mantra. Indeed, I was on my way home, wearing the scents of Asheville on me; bringing the close to a road trip that distilled wellness in such a way that centers you from beginning to end. A holistic approach to well-being that begins and ends in your vehicle, the 2017 Buick LaCrosse has all senses comfortably connected and considered. Just like the ride to Asheville, the ride back was an incredibly quiet, relaxing and reflective driving experience with every need anticipated — spa-like. Innovative acoustics and noise cancellation detected and neutralized unwanted sounds, and helped absorb road noise before it had the chance to reach my ears. I only heard precisely what I wanted to hear with the built-in 4G WiFi activated the whole way and Buick IntelliLink indulged me with my favorite sounds, all the while helping me text, and get directions just by using my voice. In queue, were three meditative wellness podcasts to make efficient use of the 198-mile scenic sojourn to and from Asheville and Atlanta. I lingered the longest on the “Cabral Concept,” in which Dr. Stephen Cabral, a naturopathic, Ayurvedic and functional medicine doctor addresses all things wellness from motivation to mindfulness. The Head-Up Display that projects information onto the windshield and the gentle seat vibrations did all the heavy lifting so I could stay focused on the road ahead, making possible only fluid and deliberate movements. After a short while, when it essentially said to “be still” and stay in your lane with its signals and nudges, you combine it with your own intuition, and learn to trust it and get in the flow. When combined with the moon-white ambient lighting and heated massage seats that can go the distance … traveling well – literally enveloped in high quality details and design — becomes the expectation; generating euphoric impressions — and happiness — that lingers and can be brought with you; wherever you go.
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Fulton County, the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta released findings that prove the nonprofit arts and culture industry is a big business in the Metro Atlanta region. According to the latest Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 (AEP5) study, the nonprofit arts and culture industry annually generates more than half a billion in economic activity, nearly 20,000 full-time equivalent jobs and $56 million in local and state tax revenues. According to the study, nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Metro Atlanta spent $383 million during fiscal year 2015. This spending is far-reaching: organizations pay employees, purchase supplies, contract for services and acquire assets within their communities. Those dollars, in turn, generated $491 million in household income for local residents. In addition to spending by organizations, the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Metro Atlanta leverages $74 billion in event-related spending by its audiences. As a result of attending a cultural event, attendees often eat dinner in local restaurants, pay for parking, buy gifts and souvenirs and pay a babysitter. What’s more, attendees from out-of-town often stay overnight in a local hotel. “Atlanta is experiencing its greatest growth and prosperity in 40 years. Much of this success can be attributed to our commitment to diversity, enhancing quality of life, and our pro-business climate. Along with this success comes the recognition that we must support our cultural community in a manner befitting a booming international city,” said Mayor
Kasim Reed. “The American for the Arts economic study reaffirms the arts’ considerable and necessary contributions to the well-being of communities across greater Atlanta. Arts and culture are powerful tools with which to engage communities,” said Fulton County Chairman John Eaves. “It is important that we continue to support the arts and art culture both on the national and local levels. The arts community plays a major role in Fulton County: employing people locally, purchasing goods and services from local merchants, and driving tourism and economic development. The strength of every society is shown by its facilitation and support of the arts.” “The fact that four separate metro Atlanta arts organizations collaborated to provide data for this study shows how important arts and culture are to our region,” said Doug Hooker, ARC executive director. “And the numbers speak for themselves. These businesses, galleries and theaters are helping to drive our economy while also improving the quality of life for all of our residents.” “There’s no question the arts connect communities and contribute to a better quality of life for us and our neighbors,” said Alicia Philipp, president, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. “Our work in the arts builds the capacity of small and midsized arts organizations that are at the root of a thriving arts ecology, showing new work, incubating ideas and debuting talent, all the while serving as a vital part of our region’s economic engine.”
Amazon and Will Packer are developing an alternative history series called “Black America.” The recently announced series “Black America” will imagine the world where Black people rule a number of southern states ahead of an epic clash with the United States. This week, Deadline exclusively reported: Another alternate history drama series, which has been in the works at Amazon for over a year, also paints a reality where southern states have left the Union but takes a very different approach. Titled Black America, the drama hails from top feature producer Will Packer (“Ride Along,” “Think Like A Man” franchises, “Straight Outta Compton”) and Peabody-winning “The Boondocks” creator and “Black Jesus” co-creator Aaron McGruder. It envisions an alternate history where newly freed African Americans have secured the Southern states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama post-Reconstruction as reparations for slavery, and with that land, the freedom to shape their own destiny. The sovereign nation they formed, New Colonia, has had a tumultuous and sometimes violent relationship with its looming “Big Neighbor,” both ally and foe, the United States. The past 150 years have been witness to military incursions, assassinations, regime
change, coups, etc. Today, after two decades of peace with the U.S. and unprecedented growth, an ascendant New Colonia joins the ranks of major industrialized nations on the world stage as America slides into rapid decline. Inexorably tied together, the fate of two nations, indivisible, hangs in the balance. Deadline initially announced news of the Amazon streaming project at the beginning of the year but the producers hadn’t revealed details about the series except that it would take place in an alternate universe in the vein of “The Man in the High Castle,” another Amazon series, which takes a look at what the world might be like had World War II turned out differently. HBO’s highly publicized announcement of “Confederate,” from the Game of Thrones creators, is what prompted the producers behind “Black America” to unveil the show’s premise. “It felt this was the appropriate time to make sure that audiences and the creative community knew that there was a project that preexisted, and we are pretty far down the road with it,” Packer told Deadline.
August 3-9, 2017
Take the family to the High
On the second Sunday of each month the High Museum of Art Atlanta offers free admission for all visitors and special family-friendly programming from 1-4 p.m. The theme for August is All Fired Up. Learn how heat assists the creation process, turning wet clay into ceramics or molten metal into jewelry and sculptures. Explore the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions. To maximize your family’s experience at the High Museum, check out it Second Sunday Social Story online, which provides a sense of what to expect during your visit. Admission is free from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Programming takes place from 1 to 4 p.m.
OWN goes behind the scenes with “Black Love”
The Oprah Winfrey Network will premiere the four episode docu-series, “Black Love,” from filmmakers Codie Elaine Oliver and Tommy Oliver (“The Perfect Guy”) and Confluential Films, August 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT “Black Love,” highlights love stories from the Black community and seeks to answer the burning question, “What is the secret to making a marriage work?” “Black Love” dives into how love begins while showing the reality of what life-long love looks like, and offers proof that while it can happen for everyone, it isn’t a cakewalk. The docu-series shares honest, emotional and sometimes cringe-worthy always-true love stories. Featured couples include Oscar-winner Viola Davis and husband Julius Tennon; Hollywood power couple Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin; NAACP Image Award-winner Tia Mowry and husband/actor Cory Hardrict; NAACP Image Award-nominee Flex Alexander and Grammy nominated recording artist Shanice; gospel singer Erica Campbell and husband/music producer Warryn Campbell, and many additional couples from around the country. The series will air regularly on Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning on September 2.
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GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by Raynard Jackson
by Dr. Julianne Malveaux
Fake feminists give real feminists a bad name Recently, while in Paris, President Trump complimented France’s first lady on how beautiful she looked, and feminists around the world lost their minds, saying Trump was sexist, “humiliating for the American people,” yada, yada, yada. I immediately had a flashback to a conversation I had a few weeks ago with one of my Grammy Award winning songwriter/producer friends about how women, especially Black women, are objectified in the entertainment community. I am not talking about ratchet women or video vixens that are not talented or someone trying to break into the business; many of these types of women will sell their souls to be famous. I want to focus on the women who have true talent to thrive in the entertainment industry. The biggest culprit of this self-exploitative, sexist, ratchet behavior is none other than Beyoncé. No one can deny that she is a great entertainer and a helluva performer, but she is a walking book of contradictions. She claims to be a feminist, but she makes her money by walking around half naked in everything she does; most of her performances are hyper-sexualized and she has one of the filthiest mouths in entertainment. If you ever have problems sleeping, simply watch her video for the song “Yours and Mine” and you will be off to sleep in short order. I guess this was her feeble attempt to inspire women, especially Black women, with her perverted view of feminism. Can someone please tell me the value of the scene in this video when she is getting her freak on in the backseat of a Rolls Royce automobile, albeit with her famous husband, rapper Jay-Z? Isn’t this antithetical to what feminism is supposed to represent? Sevyn Streeter’s performances are just more examples of this continued objectification of women. She has one of the most angelic voices in music and is quite attractive. I am totally in love with her current single, “Before I Do.” Listen to the song without the video first. It is one of the most beautiful love songs I have ever heard; the lyrics are simply enchanting. Sevyn’s voice is so seductive and her phrasing is thoroughly erotic, but all PG-rated. Then I made the tragic mistake of watching the video. What a disaster. How can you take such a beautiful song and destroy it with such a horrible video? Streeter is damn near masturbating in the video. This video has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the lyrics of the song. What a shame. Where are my Black feminist friends who never, ever miss an opportunity to chastise President Trump for his alleged mistreatment of women? Where is Al Sharpton’s girl, Tamika Mallory, who seems to never miss an opportunity to criticize White folks for every negative pathology,
affecting the Black community? Where is my good buddy and ultra-feminist, Avis Jones-DeWeever? When will she criticize from within? Oh, I forgot, these Black feminists only speak out when White folks are sexist, not when it’s our own people. When it’s our own people, these Black feminists all seem to come down with an extreme case of laryngitis. Now juxtapose the above performances with my good friend and up and coming R&B/Hip Hop artist, BriaMarie. BriaMarie is a super talented, attractive Temple University graduate with a 3.8 grade point average; she promotes her talents, not her body. Oh, and did I mention, that she is also a Christian, not in the Hollywood sense, but as in “real” Christian. Meaning, she actually believes and lives what she preaches through her songs. Her voice is sultry, sensual, and seductive; but not sexual. She doesn’t see the need to take her clothes off because she has confidence in her musical abilities. If she was willing to take her clothes off, she would be a household name by now. But she, and her producer, Carvin Haggins, have made the decision to promote her career, while staying true to her Christian values. They actually believe that they can play in the R&B world at the highest levels, retain their moral compass, sell CDs, and make a difference in society all at the same time. Go to her website and check out her music and then tell me she can’t make it in the music business. When you watch her videos, there is absolutely no nudity, no cursing, or any sexual innuendos; simply great videography that compliments the lyrics to the song. BriaMarie actually believes she can sell CDs, produce contemporary music with no cursing or nudity, yet be successful by all industry standards. She is well on the road to accomplishing this goal. So, I challenge mainstream artists to check out BriaMarie’s approach to entertainment and truly ask themselves if they can they be successful without sex, nudity and cursing.
Despite unequal treatment, black women will rise Many women’s organizations commemorate Equal Pay Day, which this year was April 5. It meant that women, in general, would have had to work all of 2016, and until April 5, 2017, to earn the same amount of money that a White man earned in 2016. Few will recognize July 31, 2017, the day that the pay for African American women catch up to the 2016 earnings of White men — seven extra months. Hispanic women will have to work until October, or nearly 10 extra months, to earn the same money White men earned last year. I wonder about our “women’s coalitions” when majority women’s organizations, like the National Organization for Women, are basically silent on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. I wonder how much Black women’s issues really matter to majority women’s organizations. It matters when they want to present a multiracial, multicultural “united front” at a Women’s March, but less so at other times. The lesson, Black women, is a lesson some sisters remember from 1991, when Anita Hill testified during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. People had all kind of explanations for Hill’s testimony, most of them woefully wrong and viewed through a lens, darkly. Led by feminists Elsa Barkley Brown, Deborah King and Barbara Ransby, more than 1500 women raised enough money to pay for an ad in the New York Times on November 17, 1991. The ad, titled “African American Women in Defense of Ourselves” (AAWIDO), reminded Black women that no one should speak for us, except us. No one can be relied on to defend us, except us. And no one can be depended on to celebrate us, but us. No one can lead advocacy for our equal pay, but us. I’m not dismissing our allies — “woke” men of color, especially Black men, “woke” White women and other women of color—I’m just saying we can’t count on everybody to be woke. Evidence: How much noise did majority group’s make on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day? And in the Reign of Ignorance, there is likely to be even less noise, as the House Appropriations Committee has actually proposed defunding a program that collects salary data from employers. Without the data, we won’t know the extent of pay discrimination. We know plenty now. We know that Black women earn $.63 for every dollar paid to White men; White women earn 80 cents for every dollar White men make.
We know that Black women in Louisiana earn the least compared to White men, about $.48 on the dollar. In comparison, Black women in Missouri, Tennessee, Maryland and Pennsylvania earn $.68 for every dollar a White man earns. Whatever we earn, it ain’t equal. What we don’t know is how women fare inside some organizations and you can’t dismantle pay discrimination without having the details of it. Under President Barack Obama, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission established requirements to provide pay transparency. Businesses with more than 100 employees were required to start releasing salary data in March 2018. Of course, those who want to sweep pay discrimination under the rug argued that it would cost too much to collect the data. And now, the Republican Congress says that no resources may be used to collect this very necessary data. It reminds me of the old folks who used to say, “you don’t miss what you can’t measure.” But we can measure the pay inequity, and we can see it in the quality of women’s lives. We might not be able to point a finger at one company or another (Republicans are also likely to make class action lawsuits more challenging), but we have enough aggregate data to know that there is pervasive gender discrimination in the workplace, and that Black women shoulder an extra burden, because of the intersection between race and gender. Not only do African-American women earn less, we also catch more shade because of our skin color, because of who we are and what we represent. Former First Lady Michelle Obama has spoken out, though very gently, about the racism she experienced while in office. At a recent gathering in Colorado, she spoke about the many “cuts” she experienced, and told The Denver Post that “The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut,” referring to comments about her looks, and especially those that referred to her as “an ape.” She said she was dismayed in “knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who won’t see me for what I am because of my skin color.” Black women endure unequal pay, disrespectful treatment (consider the treatment of Senator Kamala Harris or Congresswoman Maxine Waters), police brutality, and more. And yet we are still here. And yet, “when they go low, we go high.” And yet, like air, we rise.
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