Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative’s inaugural class Powered by Real Times Media
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Kenny Leon’s True Colors takes center stage
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‘The Revival: Time for a Moral Revolution’ coming soon
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May 12-18, 2016
Wolf Creek Amphitheater:
The New King of the South
May 12-18, 2016
COVER STORY
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Wolf Creek Amphitheater’s Sandy Ward-Poag includes tributes to Prince in summer of superstars By Terry Shropshire When you have large groups of people booking for your shows from all the way on other side of the North American continent, you are doing something right. Just four years ago, Wolf Creek Amphitheater was an unknown jewel hiding in plain sight on Atlanta’s south side. Today, however, the energy coming out of that meteoric venue has generated its own powerful light that now shines across the state and the country. That’s because leadership brought in a onewoman juggernaut named Sandy Ward-Poag, JD, who along with her a passion for urban music and being a native of the South Fulton County, she has totally flipped the script on the order and hierarchy of great entertainment venues in the South. The diverse musical menu that Ward-Poag has prepared for audiences this summer is as appetizing as a five-star exotic cuisine that’s designed to satisfy the palate of many music lovers across multiple genres. Wolf Creek Amphitheater 2016 began with a “Night of Classic Soul” with singing sensation Stephanie Mills, Howard Hewitt and Jeffrey Osbourne. The gear shifts into fifth with the “Old School Hip Hop Festival” featuring Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, Rob Base and Juvenile, The atmosphere revs up even higher though concluding in September with the Wolf Creek Funk Series featuring old-school mega-bands Cameo, SOS Band, Klymaxx and Cherelle. And in between will be some of the most dynamic musical nights in the entire city as Ward-Poag pays tribute to the late, legendary Prince by bringing on the likes of Sheila E. and Morris Day and the Time and many others. Today, Wolf Creek is the No. 1 urban outdoor concert venue in the city. And it began with the vision of one commissioner and a woman with the engine to power it into motion. “I built the amphitheater from the ground up. And it was very unique opportunity. It was an unknown venue. It is the vision of one of the (Fulton County) commissioners,
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Bill Edwards. It started as a venue during the Olympics, and then the commissioner sought funding to build the amphitheater.” When Ward-Poag, a 30-year veteran of the entertainment industry via TV, music and movies was hired, there were only two concerts on the books. However, the Howard communications graduate was able to generate six concerts for 2012, then 12 shows in 2013 and 17 in 2014. And in 2015 to 20 concerts and 15 of those concert sold out. This year, we will have over 20 concerts and I expect all those concerts to sell out. That is my prediction. Currently, the No. 1 urban entertainment venue in the city serves over 100,000 patrons in 2015. The success of Wolf Creek Amphitheater can be traced back partially to an idea Ward-Poag came up with to give the venue some needed shine. “I would say it was the ‘Old School Affordable Concert Series.’ That’s how we started the Wolf Creek Amphitheater. I started to think about how can I get people here and to know Wolf Creek. I got together with a promoter and we put together a list that comprised [an array of talent], and then we decided to package them with a comedian and a DJ for $25,” she said. “It was the South Fulton jewel that no one new about and that drove the patrons in. They came in droves. They love these old school artists. And it reignited many of the old school artists’ careers because they weren’t getting booked.” That was just the beginning. Ward-Poag also ensured that the patrons experience would be an unforgettable one. Today, not only are the major Atlanta radio stations jockeying for seating, some of the big mainstream promoters are now trying to poach from the fertile musical grounds that Ward-Poag and her team created. “It is extremely attractive because we offer a lot for your concert t icket dollars.
We offer free parking, which is attractive for all patrons, and we offer free shuttles to all off-sight parking, which is rare. We offer 50 bathrooms for women. This may seem small for some … but this is a coup, there is no waiting in line. There are two attendants in every restroom all night long and make sure everything is clean and replenished all night long. Top notch. Customer service has been my mantra from day one … I came in there and said ‘I want to make this a classic venue for South Fulton and Atlanta and I want to be upscale, and I want to be top-notch customer service wise. I wanted them to have a good time and see a very beautiful venue, and that’s been my mantra.” Another major contributing factor was the endorsement by major artists for the venue and the experience, particularly glowing reviews from performer Keith Sweat. “I must give a shout out to Keith Sweat, because he came out to our venue and saw the venue, and he said ‘Sandy, I think this is a win-win for the South … and I want to help you brand this venue.’ He made guest appearances and just came onstage and performed for free. When they saw those appearances, the crowd didn’t know what they’re getting for their dollar. So he will always be endeared to me. He definitely helped brand Wolf Creek.” The success of Wolf Creek has been so appealing and attention grabbing, that big-names such as AEG and Live Nation have tried to poach her shows and artists, and Sweetwater in LeGrange, Ga., pretty much replicated their concert venue. Ward-Poag had to keep reinventing themselves, with skyboxes that have air-conditioning and catering to the LED screens that enable concertgoers sitting in the back to still see their artists in great detail. With all of these combined amenities and luxuries that decorate a beautiful venue, Ward-Poag doesn’t call the Wolf Creek Amphitheater performances “concerts” anymore. “I don’t just call them concerts. They are the largest outdoor parties in Atlanta. So for the value of the ticket, you are going to get the artist, you are going to get the comedian, and a DJ that keeps you on your feet during intermission. And I just love it. It energizes the entire staff to stay motivated to do something bigger and better to keep you on your feet.”
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NEWS
May 12-18, 2016
Police officer among dozens of Gangster Disciples arrested in federal raids ADW Staff Reports The U.S. Department of Justice announced that among the four dozen alleged Gangster Disciples members charged in indictments, a former Atlanta-area police officer who prosecutors say claimed to be a hit man for the violent gang and tipped off other members about police activity. Federal agents have arrested multiple members and associates of the national gang The Gangster Disciples on RICO charges stemming from an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on April. Agents also arrested Gangster Disciples members on a separate indictment handed down in Memphis, Tennessee. Vancito Gumbs, who was an officer in DeKalb County, just east Atlanta, allegedly tipped off fellow gang members to police activity, including an October raid on a bar that he knew a gang member frequented, the indictment says. He also told someone he killed people as a hit man for the gang, according to the FBI. The Gangster Disciples are a national gang active in approximately 24 states, including Georgia. The Gangster Disciples brought money into the gang through, among other things, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, extortion, wire
fraud, credit card fraud, insurance fraud and bank fraud. The gang protected its power and operation through threats, intimidation and violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault, and obstruction of justice. It also promoted the Gangster Disciples enterprise through member-only activities, including conference calls, celebrations of the birthday of the Gangster Disciples founder, the annual Gangster Ball, award ceremonies, and other events. The gang also provided financial and other support to members charged with or incarcerated for gang-related offenses, and members who were fugitives from law enforcement would be provided “safe houses” in which to hide from police. To introduce the criminal nature of the Gangster Disciples to a new member, older members and leaders in the various local groups ordered newer members to commit crimes, including murder, robbery and drug trafficking. Further, Gangster Disciples members would teach other members how to commit certain crimes, including fraud crimes, and would provide drugs on discount to other Gangster Disciples members who would then resell the drugs.
Ferguson’s 1st black police chief issues harsh warning
By Terry Shropshire Delrish Moss of Miami was motivated to become a police officer after being mistreated by law enforcement. He said his pursuit of a high-ranking position in a police department had a personal motivation: He wanted to fire bad cops like the ones who abused him. Moss took the oath of office at the Ferguson Community Center on Monday in front of a crowd of about 150 people, including city residents, police from other departments in the region, as well as a handful of officers from Moss’ previous employer, the Miami Police Department. Then, in his first remarks to Ferguson officers as their new boss, Moss delivered a stern warning. “If you work hard, if you stay honest and committed, if you maintain respect for the community and do your job well, we will get along just fine,” he said. “If you fall short of that, and
it’s through a mistake of the head, we will work to correct that. But if you do it with malice, if you do the job in a way that disrespects the badge that you hold, I will see to it that you are either removed from police service, or further prosecuted.” Moss has been president of the Miami Police Athletic League, which reaches out to youth, and he has served on the board of the Urban League of Greater Miami as well as having been active in an organization called A Safe Haven for Newborns. He also is a member of the NAACP, National Association of Black Journalists and Tender Essence Inc., which deals with issues such as teen pregnancy, substance abuse and violence. More than a year and a half after the death of Michael Brown, the beleaguered county near St. Louis, finally has new chief of police. The veteran Florida police officer was picked to lead the Ferguson Police Department, according to reports. The news of Moss’ appointment marks a turning point for the department, which has come under intense scrutiny after generating national headlines from Brown’s death. The unarmed black teen was fatally shot by a white police officer in August 2014. Since Brown’s death, protests have been held to protest the tragedy as well as the handling of the case. A federal probe concluded there was racial bias throughout the Ferguson’s justice system. “Change doesn’t come easily, but I think I’m ready for that challenge,” Moss told ABC 10. A major with the Miami Police Department, Moss comes to Ferguson with 32 years of experience on the job. The 51-yearold’s years of experience are something Ferguson officials are looking to in hopes of repairing the department’s reputation since Brown’s death. According to ABC 10, Moss was selected over three other finalists from Indiana and Missouri and will replace Interim Ferguson Police Chief Andre Anderson, “who was suspended last August after it was discovered that he’d previously been suspended three times in one year.”
The indictment alleges that Gangster Disciples members committed 10 murders, 12 attempted murders, two robberies, the extortion of rap artists to force the artists to become affiliated with the Gangster Disciples, and fraud resulting in losses of over $450,000. In addition, the Gangster Disciples trafficked in large amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, illegal prescription drugs, and marijuana. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of 34 different firearms seized as part of the investigation.
Georgia is a ‘Top 10’ Best State for Business
CEOs rated Georgia 8th out of 50, as a ‘best’ state in which to do business, according to Chief Executive magazine’s annual Best & Worst States for Business survey, released today. The 8th place ranking reflects a drop of three notches from Georgia’s 5th place ranking in the 2015 survey. However, CEOs had good things to say about the peach state. The Best & Worst States survey gauges the sentiment of CEOs on a variety of measures that they themselves have viewed as critical. These include the tax and regulatory regime, the quality of the workforce, and the quality of the living environment. The rankings are crucial, as CEO sentiment drives investments in offices, factories and other facilities that bring jobs to a region. “Georgia is quickly advancing in its ability to host and keep business, as well as allow for small-business growth,” said one CEO. Another stated, “My top pick is Georgia; it is growing so fast and the cost of living is very reasonable.” “Georgia is doing a good job of diversifying industries and its aggressive incentive program is working,” said Marshall Cooper, CEO of Chief Executive magazine and ChiefExecutive.net. “Technology, entertainment, biotech and manufacturing are all growing in Georgia right now,” he said, “and the state should see strong benefits from their efforts in the years ahead.”
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BUSINESS
May 12-18, 2016
Mayor Reed signs historic lease agreement with Delta Air Lines By Terry Shropshire In an historic agreement between one of the world’s largest airlines and the city of Atlanta, Mayor Kasim Reed announced that Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson signed a 20-year Airport Use and Lease agreement.
provides the foundation for the next 20 years of investment so Atlanta remains the leading airport in the world, producing more than $50 billion a year and economic activity.” Hartsfield-Jackson served 101 million passengers in 2015, becoming the first airport in the world to reach this milestone, with a Delta flight arriving in Atlanta officially identified as
carrying the 100 millionth passenger. Together, Hartsfield-Jackson and Delta have a major economic impact on the City of Atlanta, the metropolitan region and the state. Delta Air Lines is the largest employer in the City of Atlanta, with more than 30,000 employees working at its headquarters. Hartsfield-Jackson employs 63,000 people, with a direct statewide economic impact of $70 billion. “[The] lease signing with Delta Air Lines is a landmark agreement and will ensure the Airport’s continued trajectory as the region’s dominant economic generator for decades to come,” said Miguel Southwell, aviation general manager for Hartsfield-Jackson The new lease and agreement means the Atlanta International Airport. “As part of the agreement, we have maintained our status as following to Atlanta residents and workers: one of the most cost competitive airports in the country, kept our rates low for all airline • The lease will begin July 1, 2016 and carriers and put in place a forward-looking $6 will keep Delta Air Lines’ corporate billion capital improvement plan. I applaud headquarters in Atlanta through 2036; • The agreement allows Hartsfield-Jackson Mayor Reed and his team for their dedicated leadership and unwavering support in this Atlanta International Airport to move process, Richard Anderson and his team at forward with a $6 billion capital Delta for their tireless efforts, the Atlanta City expansion program; Council for their confidence and unanimous • This means the plans to build two new vote, and our outstanding team of professionals domestic parking decks and add five at Hartsfield-Jackson.” additional gates to Concourse T; This agreement marks the last momentous • The construction of a sixth runway; undertaking for Anderson, who joined Delta • The investment of more than $900 Air Lines’ Board of Directors in April 2007 million in a new international concourse; and became CEO in September 2007. Under • The new lease replaces the previous Anderson’s leadership, Delta has strategically agreement which took effect in 1980 recreated its business model, reduced debt and and was extended in 2009; strengthened revenues. Anderson retire from “Hartsfield-Jackson, the busiest airport in Delta’s CEO post on May 2, and will be elevated the world, established and plays an integral role to Executive Chairman of the Delta Air Lines in Atlanta’s position as a global economic center Board of Directors. Ed Bastian, currently and preferred destination. It is an example of President of Delta Air Lines, was named CEO civic leadership over multiple generations of on May 2, and will work with the City of Atlanta’s progress,” said Richard Anderson. Atlanta to fulfill the airport use and agreement “Under Mayor Reed’s fine leadership and conditions. vision, today’s signing of the 20-year agreement “I am proud to stand with Richard Anderson today in signing this new, 20-year lease agreement,” said Mayor Reed. “The City of Atlanta and Delta Air Lines have a special partnership because together, we have been more successful than we could have been on our own. Hartsfield-Jackson is the world’s busiest and most efficient passenger airport, and Delta is one of the world’s largest and wellrespected airlines. Richard Anderson has my personal gratitude for his partnership over the last six years, and I look forward to continuing to work with him and with Delta Air Lines for years to come.”
May 5-11, 2016 Powered by
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Issue 39 Volume 88 •
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A culture of concealing: Blacks and mental illness
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Mayor Kasim Reed celebrates grand opening of Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative
By Terry Shropshire Mayor Kasim Reed announced the opening of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative at a celebration at the historic Flatiron Building in downtown Atlanta recently. Mayor Reed was joined by city officials and business leaders to open the offices of WEI, an incubator for women entrepreneurs that will provide resources and support to accelerate business growth. “I am extremely proud of the commitment we’ve made to women entrepreneurs in the City of Atlanta with the creation of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative,” said Mayor Reed. “Today’s opening is an important step forward to ensure that ambitious women who are willing to take the risk necessary to put their visions in motion will have all the support they need to be successful. “In partnership with Invest Atlanta, the Reed Administration secured funding and office space to maximize the success of … WEI’s entry into Atlanta’s growing entrepreneurial community. The WEI is a result of the city’s ongoing efforts to harness the power of womenowned businesses and emerging entrepreneurs for the socio-economic advancement of Atlanta. Through a competitive selection process, 15 women entrepreneurs were selected to incubate their business at the WEI. Over the course of 15 months, the entrepreneurs will have access to practical business education, financial capital and business support services. “This is an amazing time to not just be an entrepreneur, but an entrepreneurial woman in the City of Atlanta,” said WEI executive director Theia Washington Smith. “Our region ranks number one in the U.S. for the number of
women-owned firms, and our unique incubator will help even more women here succeed.” The 15 women selected for the inaugural class are: Lynn Lilly, CraftBox Girls; Melanie Rhodes, MelanCo. Enterprises/DSS Experts; Samantha Hodgkins, SparkFire Active LLC,; Joanna Douglas, Parketing; Dawn Belisle, Delights by Dawn; Jeannell Darden, Cococurls; Jennifer Bluemling, Borrowed By Design; Sherry Popovic, cME compete; Cicely Gay, Amplifiers Inc.; Logan Williams, Rapid Parking Solutions; Adrienne Brown, Adrienne J. Media; Tiffany Ray, Generation Infocus, Monica Hooks, m-oracle; Sheila Woodhouse, DoxMed; and Tonya Hicks, Women Do Everything. “It’s been an honor and a privilege for me to be involved with the WEI program,” said Home Depot chief financial officer Carol Tomé, who also chairs WEI’s six-member advisory board. “I am grateful for Mayor Reed’s vision to create an initiative that provides opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Atlanta.” WEI will be housed on the 11th floor of the downtown Atlanta’s iconic Flatiron Building — the city’s oldest standing skyscraper. The 40,000 square foot landmark is undergoing a transformative journey to intersect its historical character with cutting-edge innovation and design. This unique collaborative space will serve as a technologically advanced backdrop to Atlanta’s emerging and existing entrepreneurs, seeking to foster their business growth in a space that is engaging, energetic and supportive of bold ideas. The WEI incubator lasts for 15 months and is cyclical. Applications for the next class of entrepreneurs will be available in early 2017.
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COMMUNITY
77-year-old Atlanta attorney Hurl Taylor earns 8th college degree By Terry Shropshire Hurl Taylor demonstrated unequivocally that it is never too late to get your college degree. Or maybe two of them. Or three. Or … Well, actually, Taylor, who is now 77 years old, has just been awarded his eighth degree – count them, eight degrees – the latest coming from the Emory University Candler School of Theology with a master of Religion in Public Life. This is Taylor’s second degree from Emory. Taylor earned his first Emory degree, from the law, in 1985 at the age of 47. “I’m really excited because I think sometimes, senior citizens kind of pine away,” said Taylor, who still practices law, as he spoke with WSBTV. “They don’t do a lot. Going back to school, for me, keeps the old mind very active and I like academics.” This latest degree will be used to support his prison ministry, Taylor told Emory University News Center. He first experienced prison ministry in Heidelberg, Germany at the end of a 20-year career in the Army, the publication states. After graduation, Taylor said he plans to take a pilgrimage back to Germany for three weeks with other Emory-Candler students and faculty members as part of a conference to study contemporary religion in Germany ahead of the upcoming 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. According to the news station, Taylor and his contemporaries will meet with Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders and will also engage issues around the religious response to the refugee crisis.
You may recall Taylor’s name. He was one of the lead defense attorneys during the infamous Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal and trial. When the trial concluded, most of his contemporaries thought Taylor would take a reprieve from his practice and work. Instead, Taylor decided to return to school for his most recent degree in religion. The Richmond, Va., native earned his first degree in biology from Hampton University in 1960. Ironically at that time, Taylor’s aspired to teach biology to high school students. Obviously, seven degrees later, his plans have have changed radically.
May 12-18, 2016
Willie A. Watkins making a difference in West End By Lorraine Cochran-Johnson Willie A. Watkins, funeral director and mortician in the West End community for more than 35 years, wants to change the trajectory for youth and young adults in his community. A socially conscious businessman and community activist, Watkins decided it was time for him to utilize his resources to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are in need, after refusing to continue to watch young people and young lives destroyed by environmental and social conditions that affect our communities. As a result of his caring and firm commitment to address the issues that threaten our communities and youth, on Thursday, May 12 the Willie A. Watkins Foundation, Inc. was launched. The Willie A. Watkins Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to creating hope for young people who may be hopeless. To achieve this goal, the Willie A. Watkins Foundation, Inc. targets at-risk youth and young adults who reside in the West End community, with the intention of removing barriers that prevent young people from being successful. To this end, the first initiative is a partnership with the Joseph E. Brown Middle School. According to Willie A. Watkins, “I have always been committed to my community and the generations that are to come. Today, we face critical times economically and socially and it is the responsibility of those who can make a difference to do whatever is humanly possible to do so, because at the end of the day what matters most is what you’ve done and not what you’ve said”. The launch event took place at the Hammond Museum at 503 Peeples Street S.W. For further information, contact: Sandra J. Reese at sjr@ willieawatkinsfoundation.org.
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ENTERTAINMENT
May 12-18, 2016
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Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company announces celebrity golf tournament and gala Kenny Leon, Artistic Director of True Colors Theatre Company, will host a group of celebrity guests from the entertainment, sports, and media worlds for a day of entertainment and golf to raise funds for the theatre company’s education programs including the National August Wilson Monologue Competition for high school students. The event is being chaired by Charmaine Ward, Georgia Pacific Sr. Director of Community Affairs. The ‘Golf in the Day’ morning event features a lively golf tournament with Samuel L. Jackson and Kenny Leon in hot competition for the “Kenny Cup,” currently held by Kenny and Team East Coast. The day begins with a continental breakfast before the tournament and concludes with lunch and an awards presentation. Each foursome is paired with a celebrity golfer for the day. The ‘Gala at Night’ includes festivities at the Millennium Gate Museum, including dinner buffet, cocktails, R&B entertainment, as well as the opportunity to mingle with celebrity guests from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Celebrity guests include Samuel L. Jackson, Ahmad Rashad, Peabo Bryson, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Flex Alexander, Shanice Williams, Phaedra Parks, Richard “Shaft” Roundtree and Elijah Kelly. The ‘Greens in the Day, Blues in the Night’ event is supported by; Delta Air Lines, Georgia Power, AT&T, Georgia Pacific, Bank of America, Adidas, Granny Nannies, Gude Management Group, Wilmington Trust and InterContinental Buckhead.
True Colors celebrity golf tournament and gala supports programs which offer students from low-income neighborhoods — where arts programs are minimal to nonexistent due to budget constraints — the opportunity to study theatre. Students of all races have the opportunity to explore African American culture and history along with improving public speaking and reading comprehension skills. Participants in the AWMC are offered free acting workshops to prepare for the competition and future mentoring opportunities. The program exponentially increases arts in education dollars for participating schools and builds the skills and confidence of the youth in the following participating cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, New York City, Pittsburgh, Portland, Seattle and Los Angeles. The True Colors Golf Tournament and Gala begins Saturday, May 21 at 9 a.m. at Bear’s Best Atlanta, and the Celebrity Gala will start at 7 p.m. at the Millennium Gate Museum. True Colors Theatre Company is a regional theatre company based in Atlanta, founded by Artistic Director Kenny Leon, and Managing Director Jane Bishop. True Colors strives to be an important voice in the American discussion of diversity including plays and playwrights from various times, cultures and perspectives. For more information visit www.truecolorstheatre.org
Kenny Leon’s Celebrity
SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016
Noni Ellison Southall W.W. Grainger, Inc Golf & Gala Co-Chair
f l go& la ga
Terri J. Vaughn Nina Holiday Entertainment Golf & Gala Co-Chair
Charmaine Ward Georgia-Pacific Golf & Gala Co-Chair
Celebrity Golf Tournatment Bear’s Best Atlanta Registration 7am Shotgun 9am
Gals on the Greens Ladies Golf Clinic Regisration 11am Start Time 12pm Lunch & Awards Reception
Star Studded Gala Millennium Gate Museum Cocktails, Dinner, Live Auction Cocktail Attire 7pm-11pm
For more information, please visit www.biddingforgood.com/KLTrueColorsGolfGala or contact LaTeshia Ellerson at lellerson@truecolorstheatre.org
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Park Tavern jazz jam features tribute to Prince In order to celebrate the life of one of the most talented, influential and admired artists of all time, the Atlanta Jazz Festival will present a special Tribute to Prince during this year’s Late Night Jazz Jam. Russell Gunn, along with his Quartet, and Lil John Roberts — who performed with Prince at the 2005 NAACP Awards — will host the evening at the Park Tavern on Saturday, May 28 at 11 pm. The jam and tribute will take place right after the festival concerts in Piedmont Park. Enoch IS Real will spin tunes to welcome guests and get the party started on the right note. “We are saddened and shocked by the passing of P r i n c e ,” states C ami l le Russell L o v e , Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “It seems fitting that we honor his life and legacy during this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival. Our late night jam session will be a great spot for this, and we are inviting musicians from Piedmont Park to join us. It should be an extraordinary night of music.” Truly the quintessential
contemporary musician, Russell Gunn’s imaginative trumpet playing has earned him respect and recognition for pushing the boundaries of jazz. With a singular style that incorporates influences of masters like Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, and the underrated Booker Little; Gunn has gained a following for his own music through touring and well-received albums, including the Grammynominated Ethnomusicology, Vol. 1 and Ethnomusicology Vol. 2. One of the most sought after jazz and R&B drummers of his generation, Lil John Roberts has maintained his status in the industry as the ultimate heartbeat. As a teenager he played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in a project that was created and directed by Wynton Marsalis. He has worked with numerous jazz greats including Herbie Hancock, Rachelle Ferrelle, George Duke and Kirk Whalum. And he’s toured with Dionne Farris, Xscape, Monica, The Goodie Mob, JOI, Janet Jackson, Prince and many more. The Park Tavern is located next to Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta.
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ENTERTAINMENT
May 12-18, 2016
Chaka Khan coming to Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Chaka Khan, a true Renaissance Woman and “Every Woman,” will bring her special brand of entertainment to Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Friday, August 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Friday, May 13 at 10 a.m. A singer, songwriter, producer, visual artist, author, actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, activist and mother, Chaka is an international music icon who has influenced multiple generations of artists and continues to do so. From the moment she burst onto the music scene in the 1970s as the 18-yearold lead singer of the multiracial band Rufus, her powerful voice and show-stopping stage presence set her apart from any other
singer, and during her 40-year career, she has developed a vast international fan base and performed on six continents. Chaka is a ten-time GRAMMY® Award winner (with 22 GRAMMY® nominations) who has the rare ability to sing in eight music genres, including R&B, jazz, pop, rock, gospel, country, classical and dance music. She has released 22 albums and racked up ten #1 Billboard magazine charted songs, eight RIAA certified gold singles and eleven RIAA certified gold and platinum albums. Chaka’s recorded music has produced over 2,000 catalogue song placements. In 1999, she established the Chaka Khan Foundation, which includes a variety of
programs and initiatives that assist women and children at risk. In 2013, the Chaka Khan Foundation combined forces with Community Partners to continue and expand its reach into the community, where it continues to do so. In July, 2012, Chaka received the McDonald Corporation’s 365Black Award, honoring her for her leadership of the Chaka Khan Foundation. Besides being a successful musician and a devoted philanthropist, she is also a successful entrepreneur, having launched a line of gourmet chocolates, Chakalates, which was sold in 20 Neiman Marcus stores.
T.I., Phaedra Parks attend HISTORY’S ‘Roots’ screening
By Terry Shropshire In celebration of HISTORY’s new miniseries, “ROOTS,” cast member Tip “T.I.” Harris and executive producer Will Packer hosted an advance screening of the first episode of the show in Atlanta on Monday, May 9 at the Center for Civil and Human Rights. The screening as followed by a panel discussion moderated by BET and The Rickey Smiley Morning Show personality Jeff Johnson. Other panelists included: T.I.; Will Packer; Ed Lover, Hip Hop legend and host of the nationally syndicated “The Ed Lover Show;” V-103 morning show personality Ryan Cameron of The Ryan Cameron Morning Show; Dr. Samuel Livingston of Morehouse College and President of the Atlanta chapter of the National Action Network and Tamarre Torchon. Civil Rights leader and former mayor of Atlanta, Ambassador Andrew Young, also attended attendance and spoke to supporters. The screening was attended by Atlanta’s top influencers including:
leader and former Mayor of Atlanta Egypt Sherrod, Television Personality, HGTV’s “Property Virgins” and “Flipping Virgins” Yamma Brown and Deanna Brown, daughters of the Late James Brown Jeff Johnson, Television Personality, BET and “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” Ed Lover, Host of “The Ed Lover Morning Show” on Boom 102.9 Ryan Cameron, Host of “The Ryan Cameron Morning Show” on V-103 Gary with Da Tea, on-air personality on “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” and Dish Nation Derreck Kayongo, CEO of the Center for Civil and Human Rights John Silvanus Wilson, President of Morehouse College
Tip “T.I.” Harris, cast member of “ROOTS” Will Packer, Executive Producer of “ROOTS” Phaedra Parks, Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta” Ambassador Andrew Young, Civil Rights
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EDUCATION
May 12-18, 2016
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Brenau graduates to ‘Set Sail’ for professional adventures
Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Annie B. Andrews charged Brenau University graduates on Saturday, May 7, to never let fear of the unknown stop them from following dreams. “At the beginning of my career, I thought I had to choose between a safe route and an adventurous one,” Andrews said. “Embarking on my Navy career, I was surrounded by the bold and the daring. As my professional career progressed, I realized you can have both. You can have security and adventure – money in the bank while taking shots at the moon.” Andrews addressed the 210 graduate and 78 undergraduate students who received diplomas from the university’s coeducational programs on all its campuses and online – many of them visiting the historic campus in Gainesville for the first time. She also spoke Friday, May 6, to the 104 graduates of the university’s 138-year-old Women’s College.
“Admiral Andrews understands the importance of education and she understands the fact the job market today and the needs of society are ever-changing,” said Brenau President Ed Schrader. “When I first met her, I knew she had something important to share with us.” In her 32-year Navy career, Andrews became the third African American woman in the branch’s 240-year history to rise to the rank of rear admiral and was the first to command the Navy’s recruit-training operation in Great Lakes, Illinois, which cycles through more than 100,000 new sailors each year. After she retired from the military late last year, she turned her eyes from the seas to the skies. Today she serves as the human resource administrator for 46,000 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, D.C. Andrews advised graduates that their potential is unlimited as long as they are willing to take on both risk and responsibility, stay committed to their goals and “attack” fears head-on. “Your professors have given you the tools to be successful, and now it’s up to you,” Andrews said. “Breakthroughs don’t happen unless someone is daring enough.” Both Friday and Saturday’s ceremonies were streamed live online. The events drew viewers from as far away as Brazil, where the parents of general business M.B.A. graduate Bruna de Souza Rosa watched on a large screen television from their home in São Paulo as she received her diploma. After the ceremony, as de Souza Rosa held up her cell phone, a roomful of cheering family members emanated from her phone’s tiny speakers. “They liked it,” she said, translating the cheer from
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
2016 Spring Commencement Announcement
Portuguese. “Excellent.” In all, almost 400 students were acknowledged in the May 6 and May 7 graduation ceremonies. Whether recipients of associate or doctorate degrees, Andrews told graduates the key to success – no matter which field they enter – is to always pursue “the light” of selfdiscovery. “When they say knowledge is power, they aren’t kidding,” she said. “Knowing who you are and who you will be, that is power.” “Notice, I didn’t say ‘who you want to be.’”
Winter Cardwell of Suwanee, Georgia, greets family and friends after receiving a Master of Arts in Teaching degree at the Brenau University commencement ceremony in Gainesville, Georgia, on May 7, 2016.
Northwest Atlanta Brainy Bytes offering girls-only STEM Camps
Dr. Jabari Simama, President
and The Board of Directors of Georgia Piedmont Technical College with The Board of Trustees of the Georgia Piedmont Technical College Foundation
Invite you to attend our
2016 Spring Commencement Saturday, the Twenty-first Day of May, Two Thousand Sixteen at
Ten o’clock in the morning Ms. Suzanne Shank, Keynote Speaker Founding Partner, Siebert Brandford Shank & Company at the
Georgia World Congress Center
285 Andrew Young International Boulevard, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Equal Opportunity Institution
ADW | 8
Brainy Bytes is holding two northwest Atlanta girls-only STEM camps this summer. The STEM Explorer Camp is available to girls ages 8 to 11 in Woodstock starting June 6 and in Acworth starting June 27. Brainy Bytes is one of the area’s premier providers of science and technology camps and classes, offering STEM and STEAM camps and classes to kids ages 5 and up. The full-day, week-long STEM camps for girls will include stop-motion movie making, LEGO® Mindstorms® EV3 robotics and video
game creation. Stop-motion movie making will include using cameras, animation software and video-editing software to create multi-scene movies. In EV3 robotics, campers will work in teams to design, build and program robots to move, possess intelligence and perform complex tasks. For video game creation, girls will use drag-anddrop programming to create professionallooking games. The camps were launched with the goal of making STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—more appealing to girls, because it is a field where the gender gap is very wide. Studies show that girls often begin paying attention to gender stereotypes in second grade: one of which is that they aren’t good at math or science. “We want to engage girls earlier, in part by making the STEM teaching environment more welcoming,” said Ena Hackaday, Brainy Bytes founder and owner. The camps will feature prominent area women in STEM fields who will share their job roles, education and career paths. The Woodstock girls-only STEM Explorer Camp will be held at Woodstock Community Church, 237 Rope Mill Road, the week of June 6 to June 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $335. The Acworth girls-only STEM Explorer Camp will be held at Brookwood Christian School, 4728 Wood Street, beginning the week of June 27 through July 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $335.
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GDOL to assist with First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville Career Expo The Georgia Department of Labor’s Gwinnett Career Center and Crossroads Career Network will be assisting with the annual First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville Career Expo on Thursday, May 19. The expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church located at 395 West Crogan Street. Employers and organizations expected to participate in the expo include: Cobb
County Police Department., Department of Community Affairs, Department of Juvenile Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Georgia Department of Public Safety, Giswold Home Care, Gwinnett County Police Department., Gwinnett County Schools, Heavy Equipment College of Georgia., Manpower, Mansfield Oil, Nature Scapes Landscape, Smile Staffing, Spiritwares Embrodery & Gifts, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy,
UPS, US Auto Sales, Wrigley’s, and others. The Gwinnett Career Center’s Veterans Service Unit will be there to assist veterans with employment services. Due to The United States Department of Labor’s Veterans Priority of Service guidelines, all veterans will be able to enter the expo early at 8:30 a.m. The GDOL and the Crossroads Career Network, founded in Georgia in 1987, have a
The Revival: ‘Time for a Moral Revolution of Values’ comes to Atlanta
On Monday, May 23, “The Revival: Time for a Moral Revolution,” a national revival tour to redefine morality in American politics, will head to Atlanta, Ga. The national tour challenges people of faith and moral leaders to be more vocally opposed to harmful policies, racism, and hateful political rhetoric that disproportionately impacts the poor, people who are ill, children, immigrants, communities of color, and religious minorities. The first part of the national revival tour will have 19 stops from April 2016 to Jan. 2017. This includes New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Missouri, Washington DC, Tennessee, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Kentucky, and Virginia. Co-founders Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, President and Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach and architect of the Moral Monday Movement in North Carolina; and Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr, Senior Minister Emeritus of The Riverside Church, President of Healing of the Nations Ministries, and National Minister for the Drum Major Institute; have been invited by Georgia faith communities and moral leaders to conduct revival meetings and services. They will be joined in some states by other national social
justice leaders who bring the same deep moral analysis of the nation’s problems including the Rev. Traci Blackmon, acting Executive Minister of the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries, and Sister Simone Campbell, leader of the “Nuns on the Bus” and Executive Director of the Catholic social justice lobby NETWORK in Washington, DC. “The revival will advance a fusion movement where people from all walks of life see themselves connected in the struggle to support a multi pronged agenda,” said Rev. Dr. Barber, Cofounder of The Revival. “We will reframe the conversation not as left versus right, conservative versus liberal, democrat versus republican. Instead, we reframe it to a moral analysis that asks if policies are morally defensible, constitutionally consistent, and economically sane when examined under the lens of our deepest moral and constitutional values.” “The so-called limited language that seeks to limit moral debate especially in the southern context but also throughout the country, including religion in public schools, abortion, homosexuality or whatever name it cloaks itself in, must be challenged because it hijacks faith and it hijacks moral language,” he said. “In working toward a spiritual and political renewal of the nation, our multi-state tour is focused on a revolution of moral values,” said Rev.
Dr. Forbes, Co-founder of The Revival. “By morality, we mean governing for the good of the whole, not for the good of a destructive few. In the tradition of the great prophets, a revival is about stirring up the faithful; restoring believers to a place of maximum impact. Our tour is about preparing leaders of faith to go to the public square and provide a strong moral voice and witness against the extremists’ rhetoric and policies.” In each state, Rev. Dr. Barber, Rev. Dr. Forbes, and in some states Sister Simone Campbell, and Rev. Traci Blackmon, will lead revival services (in mosques, synagogues, and churches) that feature liturgy of musical arts reflective of our deepest moral traditions, and testimony from people who have been impacted and hurt by regressive policies. Prior to the revivals, the leadership team will train hundreds of faith and moral leaders in each state to strengthen local and state activism from the bottom up. Lastly, local faith leaders, citizens, and impacted persons will be invited to sign on to the “Higher Ground Moral Declaration,” a petition directed to each of the Presidential candidates, senate candidates, and governors. They will also be supported and encouraged to lead direct actions in their respective states for three Mondays in Sept. 2016.
long-standing history of working together on expos and other events to assist job seekers in their search for employment. For more information about the network, visit www. crossroadscareer.org. For more information about the jobs, or to apply online, visit www.employgeorgia.com to create an account and upload or create a resume.
Gospel music’s Flower Child Casey J blooms with new releases
Gospel music’s No. 1 flower child Casey J is dropping two digital deluxe incarnations of her best-selling debut album The Truth. On May 13 The Truth (Continues) deluxe and deluxe video editions of the album will go live in the iTunes Store and on digital service providers everywhere. The original The Truth project debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Magazine’s Gospel Albums chart last Spring and has spent over 52 non-consecutive weeks on the chart. Aside from the dozen songs that comprised the original project, the deluxe version also includes the previously unreleased tracks “You Are Good,” “Beyond The Veil” and “Journal (Intro).” The deluxe video edition includes those elements and the concept music video of Casey J’s radio smash “I’m Yours” – a rousing anthem that recently rested at No. 1 on Billboard Magazine’s Gospel Airplay chart for five weeks. It’s been an astounding two years for the former Atlantaarea elementary school teacher who has become one of the most popular artists on today’s gospel music landscape. Casey J’s inaugural radio single “Fill Me Up” spent fourteen weeks atop Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart and was swiftly followed by the success of “I’m Yours.” This past February, she also won her first Stellar Gospel Music Award as New Artist of the Year. Chris Carter produced the live session alongside Korey Bowie with Rick Watford, who’s played guitar on sessions for artists as diverse as Dorothy Norwood and R&B crooner Will Downing, supervised the acoustic rock-flavored band. The earthy, organic melodic worship service was done before a standing room only audience at the Fresh Start Church in Duluth, Georgia where Casey J serves as the Sunday morning worship leader.
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May 12-18, 2016
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May 12-18, 2016
GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by Raynard Jackson
by Julianne Malveaux
Hypocrisy and the ‘n-word’ Once again, liberal hypocrisy was on full display at the White House Correspondents’ Association’s (WHCA) annual dinner. The dinner was begun in the early 1920s and usually the incumbent president and vice president of the United States attend. It is supposed to be a time of merriment and humor; but over time, it has become more and more of a liberal lovefest for the journalistic community in Washington, D.C. Members of this group brag about their supposed storied history, but as is habit with liberal journalists, they only tell you what they want you to know. The first thing one should do is take special note of is the first word in its name. I rest my case. What’s not included in their own historical narrative is the fact that they didn’t allow women to join until 1962. WHCA leaders were forced to change that policy figuratively at gunpoint. In 1962, iconic journalist Helen Thomas urged President Kennedy not to attend the dinner unless the WHCA changed their policy on female membership in the organization. They agreed and Kennedy attended the event. The other thing the WHCA won’t tell you is that in their more than one century of existence, they only had one black journalist to head the group, Robert M. Ellison of the Sheridan Broadcasting Network, and have only had one African American on their board, April Ryan, White House correspondent and Washington bureau chief for American Urban Radio Networks. In recent years, WHCA has begun to hire noted comedians to provide the entertainment for their dinner. They have hired comedians like Sinbad, Jay Leno and Jon Stewart to name a few. For this year’s dinner, they hired comedian Larry Wilmore (who is black), the host of “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” on Comedy Central. Wilmore was an unmitigated disaster. But what was even more disastrous than Wilmore’s performance was the deafening silence from liberals to his act. You can view his unedited performance on C-SPAN’s website. His ending was what got everyone’s attention and not in a good way. Speaking directly to President Barack Obama, Wilmore said, “But behind that joke is the humble appreciation for the historical implications for what your presidency means. When I was a kid, I lived in a country where people couldn’t accept a black quarterback. Now think about that. A black man was thought by his mere color not good enough to lead a football team. And now to live in your time, Mr. President, when a Black man can lead the entire free world. Words alone do me no justice. So, Mr. President, if I’m going to keep it 100, Yo, Barry, you did it, my nigga!” Obama grinned from ear to ear and gave Wilmore a bear hug. If a White comedian,
especially a conservative one, had called the first black president “my nigga” he would have been immediately excoriated and rightfully so. When Trump questioned Obama’s birth certificate, the media gave the issue wall to wall coverage. The Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the National Association of Colored People (NAACP), the Urban League, Al Sharpton, Joy Reed, Melissa Perry, etc. all demanded every Republican official to immediately “repudiate” Trump, and if they didn’t, these liberal groups and individuals implied that these Republicans somehow agreed with Trump’s position. I find it totally hypocritical now that these same liberal groups and individuals have all come down with a severe case of laryngitis. As of this printing, the WHCA has not issued so much as an apology to the president or the American people for the total and incomprehensible disrespect Wilmore showed towards our first black president. What have we, in the black community done to create an environment where a person, let alone a black person, feels comfortable calling the president of the United States “my nigga”? If we can’t condemn a black person for using this insidious word, how can we justify criticizing others for doing the same thing? How can we criticize Jennifer Lopez or the Quentin Tarantino, the director of the cult classic “Pulp Fiction” and “Django Unchained,” for using it? How can we criticize former West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd for using it on the senate floor or during an interview with “60 Minutes”? Instead of Obama nervously laughing at Wilmore’s description of him, he should have immediately taken to the microphone and denounced Wilmore on the spot. So, to all my liberal media friends, especially the black ones, the next time Trump makes a statement you disagree with, I don’t want to hear your moralizing lectures about racism and civility. The next time a Republican official makes a stupid, racially-charged comment about Obama (and they will), I hope those same liberal members of the media will also get a sudden case of laryngitis like you did over the Wilmore foolishness. I know why Republicans are silent on this issue — they have absolutely no credibility within the Black community. But liberals “claim” to love Black folks, but yet they can’t muster enough courage to take a principled stand and denounce Wilmore’s performance. What a shame this moment has found them totally unprepared for the moment that could have been their finest hour. Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF).
Don’t send Flint down the drain — fix the problem The Flint water crisis is now two years old — and the water still isn’t safe to drink. There have been civil and criminal investigations, two congressional hearings and extensive reporting, particularly during the presidential primary in Michigan. Gov. Rick Snyder appointed a special task force. Yet only 33 pipes — three of every thousand — have been replaced. The Obama administration’s limited declaration of emergency was extended for four more months in April, but the administration made it clear no further extensions will be granted. State emergency resources will end at the same time. Residents still depend on bottled water and filters, and they won’t be supplied beyond August. Now residents are not only suffering from the lead poisoning but from depression and anxiety driven by an agony that it seems will never end. Melissa Mays, one of the mothers who forced the exposure of the poisoned water, appeared on my radio show last week. She is sick and tired of being sick and tired. At a demonstration protesting the two-year anniversary of the crisis, she said, “Flint wasn’t a community that was ‘worth going out on a limb for.’ So, our job is to prove them wrong. Our job is to show them we are not going sit down and take this anymore. And you know what, I have been peaceful. I have tried to fight this in the courts, in the labs doing all the things to prove that the water was poisoned. We got that proof. The water is poisoned. And two years later, it is getting worse. “I watched my 13-year-old son damn near pass out today from blood tests looking for bacteria and immune disorders. He’s 13. So, I am reaching my breaking point. I’m tired of being peaceful. I’m tired of being nice. They’re not listening.” The city has gone back on water drawn from Lake Huron, as opposed to the toxic Flint River. But in mid-April, Professor Marc Edwards and the Flint Water Study team at Virginia Tech, the courageous team that helped expose the poisoning, reported that new testing shows Flint’s water remains unsafe to drink. The Flint crisis has led to the exposure of leaded water and aged pipes in other communities in America. But it is clear that Flint paid the price of being poor and largely
black. The governor’s own task force concluded, “Flint residents, who are majority black or African American and among the most impoverished of any metropolitan area in the United States, did not enjoy the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards as that provided to other communities. “Moreover, by virtue of their being subject to emergency management, Flint residents were not provided equal access to, and meaningful involvement in, the government decisionmaking process.” Now the Michigan Civil Rights Commission is holding its first hearings on the role that discrimination played in the crisis. Some indictments have come down, but the problem isn’t being solved. Gov. Snyder couldn’t find funds in the state to replace the lead pipes exposed by the toxic water. Yet he’s allocated $1.2 million of state funds to pay private attorneys for his criminal defense fund. The residents want action. They need an emergency program to replace the lead pipes. They want an end to the state appointed emergency manager system. It was an unelected emergency manager, with no accountability to the residents of the city, who made the decision to use the toxic Flint River water. And they want Medicare coverage for all those impacted by the poisoning. The latter is not unprecedented. Residents of Libby, Montana, benefitted from a special provision put into law by Sen. Max Baucus that provides full Medicare coverage for every person who was exposed to asbestos poisoning from the mine owned by W.R. Grace & Co. that left hundreds dead and many more sick. The same should be done for the victimized residents of Flint. This country continues to squander billions on failed “nation building” efforts on the other side of the world. We wasted over $2 trillion on the debacle in Iraq that has helped destabilize the greater Middle East. As Flint has revealed, we will face spreading calamities from obsolete water systems, dangerous bridges, crumbling roads, dated and insufficient mass transit. It is time we stop pretending we can police the world and start rebuilding our own country.
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