southwestgwinnett magazine - March-April 2023

SATURDAY

APRIL 29 10AM-2PM

GWINNETT COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

FREE event with over 60 vendors, summer camp info, door prizes, stage presentations, kids activities and more! The first 300 kids in line will receive a string backpack filled with goodies!

CO-PRODUCED BY:

The Gwinnett County Public Library will be kicking off their Summer Reading Program at the door! Stop by to learn more and sign up!

THE EDITORIAL & CREATIVE TEAM

Ongoing

Events, concerts and theatre

March 9 and April 13

Peachtree Corners Photography Club Group Meet Up

6:45-8:15 p.m.

Atlanta Tech Park

107 Technology Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at Atlanta Tech Park and/or online. Photographers of all skill levels are welcomed at 6:15 p.m. for social time. Find out more at pcphotoclub.org.

March 10, 11, 17 and 18

Shrek the Musical

6 p.m.

Duluth Wildcat Theatre

3737 Brock Rd., Duluth

Tickets: $5

Seoul of the South Food Tour Ticket Sales

11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tickets: $69 per person

Explore Gwinnett’s Seoul of the South Food Tour tickets are available for the 2023 season. Tickets sell quickly, so don’t wait. Dates are set for May 20, June 24, July 8, August 12 and September 16. The tour runs for four hours.

Tickets include food at four local Korean restaurants and bakeries; transportation is provided. For more tour information and to get tickets, visit exploregwinnett.org/seoulofthesouth.

Dates to Remember

March

Women’s History Month

Daylight Saving Time starts |

March 12

Pi Day | March 14

St. Patrick’s Day | March 17

Ramadan | March 23-April 21

April

Palm Sunday | April 2

Passover | April 5-13

Good Friday | April 7

Easter Sunday | April 9

Tax Day | April 18

Arbor Day | April 28

May

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month

Teacher Appreciation Day | May 2

Star Wars Day | May 4

Cinco de Mayo | May 5

Every Friday Yielded Men

Fridays weekly, 7-8 a.m.

Moe’s Original Barbecue

5005 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 810, Peachtree Corners

Yielded Men (YM) is a weekly safe, small discussion group focused on building relationships and encouraging men in their walk with God. Each week the group addresses a specific issue that most men face in life. All are welcome. Visit yieldedmen.org to find out more.

March Through March 19 Deli

Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m.

Lionheart Theatre

10 College St., Norcross

Tickets: $18, $16 for seniors and students

About the show: This is the world premiere of a new play by local playwright Diane Dexter. In 1990, the Davidson family is confronting changes. Chain restaurants are cutting into their business, the customer base is shifting and the younger generation sees opportunity elsewhere. Get info and tickets at lionhearttheatre.org.

About the show: Based on the DreamWorks animation film, Shrek the Musical is the story of hulking green ogre whose home is invaded by a gang of homeless fairy-tale characters. For more info, go to duluththeatre.weebly. com.

March 11

Celebrating Ruth Bader Ginsburg

3-4 p.m.

Gwinnett County Public Library — Peachtree Corners Branch

5570 Spalding Dr., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

Find out about the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Go to gwinnettpl.org for more info.

March 12, 26 and

April 9, 23

Duluth Farmers and Artisans Market

2-5 p.m.

Duluth Town Green

3167 Main St., Duluth

Admission: free

Area vendors bring in-season, local produce, baked good and other food products. Other available items include cut flowers, baskets, soaps and homemade candles. The market is open on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, March through November. Go to the calendar at duluthga.net for additional info.

March 14

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Tips, Tools & Resources for Women-Owned Small Businesses

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Gwinnett County Public Library — Norcross Branch

5735 Buford Hwy., Norcross

Admission: free, registration required

The library hosts ACE Women’s Business Center so participants can learn how to get a business started, what resources are available to grow it and how to get more engaged in the community. Register and learn more at gwinnettpl. org.

March 14

Pi Day Celebration

4-5 p.m.

Gwinnett County Public Library — Peachtree Corners Branch

5570 Spalding Dr., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

Children will learn about Pi using hands-on activities — and celebrate Albert Einstein’s birthday. More events and info can be found at gwinnettpl. org.

March 16

Luck of the Forum

6-8 p.m.

The Forum

5185 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

Feeling lucky? Stop in for a purely gold St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Luck of The Forum, featuring music by Mike Veal Band, Irish dance performances, face painting, a bar and roaming entertainment. For details, check out theforumonpeachtree.com.

March 16

Expression & Emotion Artist Reception

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Pinckneyville Park

4758 South Old Peachtree, Norcross

Admission: free

View a showcase of portrait photography featuring the Atlanta area. Meet artists Arik Sparano and Francesca Lowe during the reception. The Expression & Emotion show is on display March 6 through June 9, during open hours at Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center. More info is available at the GwinnettParks.com calendar.

March 17

St. Patrick’s Day Bingo

12-2 p.m.

Lucky Shoals Park

4651 Britt Rd., Norcross

Admission: $5

Ages 50 and up are invited to a bingo game in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The GwinnettParks.com calendar has details.

March 18

Irish Fest

11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Downtown Norcross

Admission: free

Downtown Norcross will be full of Irish cuisine, dancing and live music in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Special activities for kids, 1-4 p.m. Get all the info by clicking on the Events page at norcrossga.net or visiting facebook.com/ HeartOfNorcross.

March 18

Women of Wonder Tea Party

12-3 p.m.

Lucky Shoals Park

4651 Britt Rd., Norcross

Admission: $25

In honor of Women’s Month, all ages are invited to an event for women in the community who would like to network, promote their businesses and be uplifted by motivational speakers. Click on the calendar at GwinnettParks.com for more.

March 18

Shamrock ‘n’ Roll Benefitting Revved Up Kids

5:30-11 p.m.

Crown Plaza Hotel

6050 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross

Tickets: $125 for general admission; $160 for VIP admission

Guests will enjoy casino style gaming, dancing, delicious food, and raffle and auction items. The adults-only, St. Patrick’s Day-themed casino party raises funds to benefit Revved Up Kids. Go to revvedupkids.org for additional info and tickets.

March 18-19

Pirates of the Phantom Waves

Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m.

Gas South Arena

6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Duluth

Tickets: $28-$34

About the show: In this original fairy tale, the betrothed Santella and Radzmire are sailing home with their their wedding party when the ship is attacked by pirates. The journey takes them to the Kingdom of Pavilon during a lavish celebration for the King. Visit gassouthdistrict. com for details and tickets.

March 23

Ana Gabriel

8 p.m.

Gas South Arena

6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Duluth

Tickets: $61-$185

About the artist: María Guadalupe

Araujo Yong, better known as Ana Gabriel, is a Mexican singer and songwriter. In her long career, she has performed many genres of music and received several accolades. For additional info and tickets, visit gassouthdistrict. com.

March 24

Historic Trolley Tour

1 p.m.

Downtown Norcross

Boarding at the Crossing parking lot

40 Peachtree St., Norcross

Local historian Gene Ramsey guides visitors on a historic trolley ride to learn the city’s unique stories. There are opportunities to sample the fare of downtown Norcross merchants. RSVPs are required. A link will be provided soon on the Event page at norcrossga. net.

March 24

Glow Skate Party

6-9 p.m.

Pinckneyville Park

4758 South Old Peachtree, Norcross

Admission: $6 for Gwinnett residents, $11 for non-residents

Bring skates and neon outfits to the Pinckneyville Hockey Rink for loads of glow-in-the-dark fun with a DJ, neon art and more. Food concessions will be available. Everyone ages 5 and up are welcome. For more info, go to the GwinnettParks.com calendar.

March 24-26

Madagascar Jr.

Greater Atlanta Christian School

King’s Gate Theatre

1575 Indian Trail Rd., Norcross

About the show: Based on the DreamWorks movie, Madagascar Jr. follows the friends as they escape from the New York’s Central Park Zoo and journey to King Julien’s Madagascar. Visit greateratlantachristian.org for more information.

March 25

Peachtree Farm

Plant & Pot Sale

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Peachtree Farm

356 Research Ct., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

Peachtree Farm’s spring plant sale features a variety of edible and ornamental plants perfect for starting your home garden. These include varieties of tomatoes, peppers, herbs, squash, cucumbers, Hostas and amaryllis. All plants are planted and grown by the farmers at Peachtree Farm. For more info, click on peachtreefarm.org.

March 25

Reading is FUNdamental: Building Speech, Language and Emergent Literary Skills

11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Gwinnett County Public Library — Duluth Branch

3180 Main S., Duluth

Admission: free; registration is recommended

Parents / caregivers and their children, ages 1-5 join Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, Meridith Rose as she teaches about reading and how to

build your child’s speech, language and emergent literacy. This month’s book is “The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Spring” by Eric Carle. Visit gwinnettpl. org for more info and to register.

March 25

Cardboard Boat Competition

6:30-8:30 p.m.

West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center

4488 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross

Admission: $10 for Gwinnett residents, $20 for non-residents

Teams of up to four participants, ages 9 and up, will build a cardboard boat and one participant per team will enter the boat and attempt to sail it across the pool. Supplies will be provided at the event, but the design and implementation are up to the teams. Register each member of your team. Unmatched participants will be assigned to a team at the event. Get details at the GwinnettParks.com calendar.

March 30

Celebrate Women’s History Month: Tell Your Story

1-2 p.m.

Gwinnett County Public Library — Peachtree Corners Branch

5570 Spalding Dr., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

In honor of Women’s History Month, attendees will share about a woman who has inspired them in the past or present and how it has impacted their life. For details, visit gwinnettpl.org.

March 30-April 1

Little Women

Thursday, 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.

Wesleyan School Powell Theatre

5405 Spalding Dr., Peachtree Corners

About the show: Wesleyan High School students perform a musical based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. Additional info is at wesleyanschool.org.

April

April 1

Bunny Hop at the Forum

10-11 a.m.

The Forum

5185 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

Stop in at Peterbrooke Chocolatier for a morning of Easter fun at the Bunny Hop. It kicks off with outdoor games and crafts with the Easter Bunny, fol-

lowed by an egg hunt. Click on theforumonpeachtree.com to learn more about this and other upcoming events.

April 5

Dragon Daughter’s Art History

3-5 p.m.

Gwinnett County Public Library — Duluth Branch

3180 Main S., Duluth

Admission: free

Explore art history and drawing in conjunction with the life story of Bilan Liao, the author of the book “Diary of the Dragon’s Daughter.” Learn about the artist’s journey from China to America. To find out more, click on gwinnettpl.org.

April 5, 12, 19, 26

and May 3

Forum Fit

6-7 p.m.

The Forum

5185 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

This weekly fitness session combines strength conditioning, cardio and mindfulness, leaving participants feeling balanced and empowered. Earn a loyalty stamp for every completed class. Want to learn more? Click on theforumonpeachtree.com.

April 6, 13, 20, 27

and May 4

Thursday Night Live

6-8 p.m.

The Forum

5185 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

The Forum brings in favorite local musicians every Thursday evening, April through October. Everyone is invited to kick back and groove to the smooth sounds.

For the musical line-up and details, go to theforumonpeachtree.com.

April 7

First Friday Concert — Xtreme Party Band

7-9 p.m.

Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center

10 College St., Norcross

Admission: free; reservations required

About the band: Formerly known as Pilot 54, the new band name makes more sense because the party never stops. Catering to every music decade and genre, the band performs hit after hit. Find out more at the Events page of norcrossga. net, where you can also RSVP.

April

8

Duluth Rotary Car Show

10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Duluth Town Green

3167 Main St., Duluth

Admission: free

Exotic autos, antique classics, foreign sports models, hot rods and muscle cars take over Duluth City Hall when the Duluth Rotary Club hosts this car show. Watch for upcoming info on the calendar at duluthga.net.

April 8

Easter Egg Hunt

10 a.m.

Rossie Brundage Park

350 Autry St., Norcross

Admission: free

The Easter Bunny is hopping to downtown Norcross to hide his eggs in Rossie Brundage Park. Residents should bring Easter baskets to celebrate the renewal of spring. Children will have the opportunity to visit with the Easter Bunny and parents are encouraged to take photos. The Events page at norcrossga.net is the place to learn more.

April 8

Egg-stra Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt

1 p.m.

Rossie Brundage Park

350 Autry St., Norcross

Admission: free; RSVP encouraged

Children with special needs and their families are invited to this Easter Egg Hunt designed for them and held in a safe, inclusive environment. The event will be wheelchair accessible and sensory-friendly with consideration for the visually and hearing impaired. Learn more and RSVP on the Events page at norcrossga.net.

April 11

Lunch and Learn: How to Become an Entrepreneur

12-1 p.m.

Gwinnett County Public Library — Norcross Branch

5735 Buford Hwy., Norcross

Admission: free; registration recommended; lunch is provided

Entrepreneur Aysha Treadwell of Crimson Commercial Consultants shares how to start a business and create a lender-ready business plan. This workshop has multiple dates available, including May 9 at the Lilburn Branch and June 13 at the Duluth Branch. Click on gwinnettpl.org to get more info and to register.

April 13

Second Thursday: Cars & Car Safety

10:30-11:45 a.m.

Southeastern Railroad Museum

3595 Buford Hwy., Duluth

Tickets: $17 for one adult and one child with train ride, $13 without train ride

On the second Thursday of every month, parents and their children, aged 2 to 4 years, are invited for a morning preschool interactive program. Go to train-museum.org for updated details and ticket info.

April 14-16

Once Upon a Mattress

Greater Atlanta Christian School King’s Gate Theatre

1575 Indian Trail Rd., Norcross

About the show: The Princess and the Pea is the basis for this musical comedy. For all the latest info, visit greateratlantachristian.org.

April 15

Good Word Brewing Presents Little Beer

1-5 p.m.

Location and pricing TBD.

The City of Duluth is partnering with Good Word Brewing to bring this event that showcases pale lagers and other sessionable beers. More than 70 breweries from around the country will provide samplings for ticketholders. Check the duluthga.net calendar for updates.

April 15-16

We Belong Here: Rising Against Asian Hate

Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Gas South Arena

6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Duluth

Tickets: $20-$25

About the show: This presentation of the Atlanta Chinese Dance Company showcases a collection of folk, classical and contemporary Chinese dances, culminating in a new work inspired by Asian American civil rights movements. For info and tickets, click on gassouthdistrict.com.

April 18

Animal Cookies at the Farm

10:30 a.m.

McDaniel Farm Park

3251 McDaniel Rd., Duluth

Admission: free

It’s a celebration for National Animal Cracker Day with stories, crafts, games — and, of course, animal crackers. A hayride starts at 11 a.m. This event is designed for children ages 18 months to 5 years of age. Visit the calendar at GwinnettParks.com or call 770-8225450 for more.

April 20

How Georgia Turned Purple: An Evening with AJC Reporter Greg Bluestein

7-8 p.m.

Gwinnett County Public Library — Duluth Branch

3180 Main S., Duluth

Admission: free; registration requested.

Top AJC reporter Greg Bluestein hosts at issues reshaping Georgia and American politics and discusses his new book, “Flipped: How Georgia Turned Purple and Broke the Monopoly on Republican Power.” Books will be available for sale and signing, and complimentary refreshments will be provided. Learn more and register at gwinnettpl.org.

April 20-23

The SpongeBob Musical

Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m.

Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Valor Christian Academy

4755 Kimball Bridge Rd., Alpharetta

Tickets: $20

About the show: Based on the animated series, this show celebrates the power of optimism. SpongeBob and all his friends face annihilation of their undersea world. Just when all hope seems lost, an unexpected hero rises up. The musical is presented by CYT Atlanta; go to cytatlanta.org to learn more.

April 20-23

Disney on Ice Presents Find Your Hero

Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Duluth

Tickets: $19-$124

About the show: Disney on Ice presents an adventure filled with tales of heroism from everyone’s favorite Disney stories. Join Moana and demigod Maui as they voyage into uncharted territories. Anna and Elsa, the Little Mermaid, Rapunzel and Belle also rise to their challenges. Get tickets and info at gassouthdistrict.com.

April 22 Neighborhood Cleanup & Recycling Day

8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Norcross Public Works

345 Lively Ave., Norcross

Admission: free

Norcross hosts two Neighborhood Cleanup and Recycling Days each year, one in Spring and one in Fall. Watch the Norcross Events page at norcrossga.net for details such as the locations and times of various activities, along with what items are accepted.

Norcross Gallery and Studios

116 Carlyle St., Norcross, norcrossgalleryandstudios.org, 770-840-9844

Exhibits and Events

Fine Art, With Love, a juried show March 2-April 15

Georgia Spring, a collaborative show April 20-May 27

Meet the Artist of the Month

March 29 — Adrienne ZinnApril 26 — Cynthia Corbin

4:30-6:30 p.m.

45 South Café, 45 S. Peachtree St., Norcross

Open Studios

Evening Open Studio, Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m.

Cost: $5 members, $10 non-members|

Moderator: Patty Grewe-Mullins, pgrewemullins@gmail.com

Daytime Open Studio

Thursdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cost: $5 members, $10 nonmembers

Moderator: Anne Labaire, labaireart@gmail.com

April 22

City of Peachtree

Corners Recycling Day

8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

City Hall

310 Technology Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

Peachtree Corners residents only are invited to bring their residential waste for recycling. ProShred will offer shredding, up to five boxes per household, and eWaste will be on hand for electronics recycling. Note that there are some restrictions. For more info, contact Katherine Francesconi at kfrancesconi@peachtreecornersga.gov or 678-691-1200.

April 22

Spring Nature Photography Boat Tour

9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Lake Lanier

5850 Charleston Park Rd., Cumming

Admission: $75 per person for current PCPC members

Peachtree Corners Photography Club

members are invited to a six-hour guided tour of Lake Lanier. There will be opportunities to snap photos of landscapes, waterscapes, fish, birds and relics of the lake from the 1950s. Visit pcphotoclub.org for all the details.

April 25

Forum Friends

4-6 p.m.

The Forum

5185 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

Children enjoy an ultimate playdate with kid-friendly crafts, games and entertainment on the last Tuesday of the month. Watch for the latest details at theforumonpeachtree.com.

April 27

STEAM

5-7 p.m.

Duluth Town Green

3167 Main St., Duluth

Admission: free

Enjoy an evening of science, technology, engineering, art and math as students from the Duluth school cluster

showcase their project-based learning projects. For details, visit the calendar at duluthga.net.

April 27-29

The Addams Family

Thursday-Friday, 6 p.m.; Saturday

Paul Duke STEM High School

5850 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross

Tickets: Adults, $15; students, $10; ages 5 and under, $7; tickets increase $2 day of the show

About the show: The crazy, creepy Addams Family are celebrated in a musical comedy based on Charles Addams characters. Watch pauldukestem.org for details and tickets.

April 27-30

The Addams Family

Thursday-Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Norcross High School

5300 Spalding Dr., Norcross

About the show: The Norcross High School Players present The Addams Family, a musical comedy based on the characters created by Charles Addams. Go to nhs-drama.com for more info.

April 27-29

The Sound of Music

Wesleyan School Powell Theatre

5405 Spalding Dr., Peachtree Corners

About the show: The music of Rodgers and Hammerstein bring the story of the von Trapp family to life. Find out more at wesleyanschool.org.

April 28-29

25th Annual Wesleyan Artist Market

Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Wesleyan School

5404 Spalding Dr., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

The work of more than 80 professional artists will be showcased, including fine art paintings, ceramics, pottery, photography and jewelry. Select Wesleyan student artists will also display their pieces. The artist market is a fundraiser for Wesleyan’s fine arts initiatives. For more info, visit artistmarket. wesleyanschool.org.

April 28-29

School House Rock Live! Jr.

6 p.m.

Duluth Wildcat Theatre

3737 Brock Rd., Duluth

About the show: Based on the popular 1970s cartoons, this fast-paced musical teaches lessons with catchy tunes. The show is presented by the 9th Grade

Advanced Theatre. Visit duluththeatre. weebly.com for more info.

May

May 5-21

Jeffrey

Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, 2 p.m.

Lionheart Theatre

10 College St., Norcross

Tickets: $18, $16 for seniors and students

About the show: Jeffrey, a gay actor/ waiter in New York, has reconciled himself to celibacy. Then his friends introduce him to the man of his dreams, who happens to be HIV-positive. Go to lionhearttheatre.org to learn more and reserve tickets.

May 6

Viva Mexico

12-5 p.m.

Thrasher Park

93 Park Dr., Norcross

Admission: free Celebrate everything from the beautiful country of Mexico, including authentic cuisine and colorful margaritas. Tickets will be available for a bottomless margarita experience; the link will be provided at the Events page at norcrossga.net when it’s available.

May 6

Duluth Derby Day

2:30-7:30 p.m.

Parsons Alley

3530 Lawrenceville St., Duluth

Admission: free

Dress in wide-brimmed hats and bow ties for the ultimate Kentucky Derby viewing party. There will be lounge seating and pre-show activities before the large screen lights up with the race. Need more info? Go to duluthga.net and click on the calendar.

Inflation, Supply Chain, Employment — The Worst Is Almost Over

Emory professor, economist Tom Smith gives perspective on current and future economic activity and trends.

Words by Arlinda Smith Broady

eading into the fifth year of coping with COVID and its effects on the economy, most people have no idea if things will ever get back to normal. To help make sense of pressing issues such as inflation, supply chain glitches and employment / unemployment, the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce invited Emory professor Tom Smith to shed some light on the subject. Smith is considered a specialist in the area of labor economics, pricing, film, finance, sports, economics and finance as well as the economics of the entertainment and healthcare industries. His insight is often sought after by local news outlets and international publications, including Time Magazine, CNN, NPR and The Huffington Post.

“During COVID, the economic recession was a head spinner for most economists and most businesses,” Smith said. “Typically, when you go into an economic recession, people’s incomes fall, and consumption drops. And then firms do what we call an ‘adjustment.’

“The pivot is that firms will start to do inventory readjustments, will see inventory stack up, and will then decrease their production. In doing so, they will reduce their workforce. Then other people lose their jobs and you have a decrease in income and a decrease in consumption. And then that follows until somebody kicks you back out of the recession.”

But this time, the economy basically fell flat. Most people kept their jobs and the government was giving money to those who couldn’t work.

“So instead of people sitting around and not doing anything, everybody went to their computers and …just started buying everything,”

Hsaid Smith.

Smith admitted that he, himself, was guilty of major home improvement projects and having Amazon packages arrive on a regular basis.

“We had an explosion of spending,” he said. The peak of it was probably in November and December of 2021.

The Fed steps in

“Going into January, February and March of 2022, the Fed thought this was transitory. It was not,” he said. “So, the Fed started …taking action in early March 2022 and …we saw interest rates go way up. But in the process, the economy was getting squeezed a little bit.” That caused inflation to rise to a little above 6%.

At the end of this January, the chair of the Fed and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors raised interest rates another 25 basis points in the federal funds target rate.

“I thought it was going to be 50 basis points — a lot of economists did — so this is the Fed sort of giving us a gift. I believe that there are going to be two more 25 basis point increases,” said Smith.

In the middle of February, St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said he agreed with Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester in advocating a 50 basis point interest rate hike at the central bank’s meeting earlier that

Tom Smith

month. Bullard also said that he would like to see the Fed get its benchmark rate to a range of 5.25% to 5.5% and get there “as soon as you can.”

What does that mean for an area like Southwest Gwinnett with its steady economic growth and relatively low unemployment?

“That means that inflation is going to be trending down. We don’t have deflation, but we have dis-inflation,” said Smith. “Dis-inflation means we’re still going to see prices increase, but prices are going to increase by a smaller amount.”

He explained that the economy works if inflation is at about 3%. That allows firms to make adjustments as necessary.

“The economy is no worse, employees get a bullet raise of 3%. But if you’ve got a 3% raise and 3% level of inflation, you’re not doing any worse,” he said. “But at 6% inflation, everybody’s wallet is getting squeezed.”

Smith predicts that by the end of this year, inflation will be at about 4.25% to 4.5%.

Happier days ahead

Supply chain problems are already starting to work themselves out. Vendors and manufacturers are finding workarounds so they can do without or using substitutes for things they can’t get.

In March of 2020, the number of people in the workforce returned to pre-COVID levels.

“But here’s the problem: it’s like a moving walkway at the airport. Let’s suppose you step off the moving walkway …and leave your luggage there, and you’re looking at your phone for five minutes. The next thing you know, your luggage is halfway across the airport,” Smith said.

Had it not been for COVID, the economy would have kept going at the same pace, but we kind of “stepped away from it” and it kept moving without us.

“We are actually in a deficit of about six and a half million workers, essentially the size of the Atlanta metro area,” said Smith. “That’s how many people should be in the economy working — and they’re not.”

In conclusion, Smith gave his take on the question of whether we are in a recession or not.

“For the most part, I think we’re actually coming out of the recession in the next month or two. It will be a little bit tough. We might see unemployment rates, like I mentioned, bumped up a little bit. But inflation will be trending down, and by the time we hit the summer, I think actually things will be really good,” he said.

Smith expects that within a year, economists will say that the economy entered a recession in March of 2022.

“Then two years later, they’ll say, ‘Oh, the economy exited a recession in March of 2023,’” he predicted. ##

Business Organizations and Events

Atlanta Tech Park

107 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092 atlantatechpark.com, 404-797-1221

Gwinnett Young Professionals — Continuing the Conversation with Emerging Entrepreneurs

March 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Hear from previous winners of the Emerging Entrepreneurs award — Anthony Chen, Ali Jamal, Naveed Tharwani and Elizabeth M’balu Oke — as they share their tips and tricks to take you from side hustle to start-up to seasoned business owner.

Atlanta Tech Meet Up

April 4 and May 2, 6-8 p.m.

The monthly meet up, sponsored by Resolvit, is held on the first Tuesday of every month in the Atlanta Tech Park Café. It’s a great opportunity for anyone to network and join a good group of people discussing anything related to technology.

SMTA Expo

April 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) holds this all-day event with free technical sessions, lunch and the chance to network with leading suppliers in the industry.

Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

Office in Atlanta Tech Park

107 Technology Pkwy., Peachtree Corners southwestgwinnettchamber.com, 470-482-1899

SWGC Coffee Connections

March 10, 17, 23, 31 and April 20, 27 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Free admission for SWGC members and visitors. Meet up with local business professionals over coffee. Meetings are normally held in the large meeting space behind the SWGC office at Atlanta Tech Park.

The March 23 meeting is a Spotlight held at Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, 500 Pinnacle Ct., Norcross. The non-profit will show how they help more than 25,000 neighbors regain their financial independence. The April 20 meeting, a Spotlight on Autism Acceptance Month with Ventures ATL, will be held at the usual Atlanta Tech Park location.

SWGC Business After Hours

March 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Three Dollar Café

6050 Peachtree Pkwy., #100, Peachtree Corners

This is an opportunity to meet and connect with chamber members and their guests after working hours.

Southwest Gwinnett Nonprofit Roundtable

March 17, 9:45-11 a.m.

Stay in the Atlanta Tech Park Café after Coffee Connections for an opportunity to get to know other nonprofit organizations serving the area. Contact Allie Neal, 678-526-3335 for more info.

SWGC First Friday Breakfast

Friday, April 14, 7:30-9 a.m.

Hilton Atlanta Northeast

5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Peachtree Corners

Chief Magistrate Judge Kristina Blum will be the guest speaker.

Peachtree Corners Business Association

4989 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 215, Peachtree Corners peachtreecornersba.com, 678-969-3385

PCBA Lunch Club

April 20 and May 4, 11:30-1:30 a.m.

Check online for locations.

Open to PCBA members and their guests. Online registration is required.

Meet up with PCBA members for an enjoyable way to network and save 15% off your lunch check.

PCBA Connecting Over Coffee Morning Meetup

March 14, April 11 and May 9, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 5215 Town Center Blvd., Peachtree Corners

Free admission for PCBA members and their guests. Register online as space is limited.

Meet with other PCBA and business professionals over coffee in a positive atmosphere on the second Tuesday of the month. Business cards will be shared with all attendees.

PCBA Business After Hours / Speaker Series

March 23 and April 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Anderby Brewing

Event registration is $35. Advanced registration is $25 for members and $30 for guests. Registration includes appetizers and drinks.

The March meeting with gather at Anderby Brewing for business networking. In April, the After Hours Speaker Series will be presented at Hilton Atlanta Northwest, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Peachtree Corners.

PCBA Maximize Your Membership

Lunch Series

March 29, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Community Chest Room, City Hall 310 Technology Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Event registration required. Cost is $10 for members, $20 for guests and future members. Lunch is included.

Learn about the benefits and features of PCBA membership. This program will help business owners, managers and sales professionals build relationships, attend events, build brands and leverage networks.

Eat More Healthy Foods

Healthy restaurant options in Southwest Gwinnett

Words by Patrizia Winsper

Two months into the new year and we’ve probably already fallen short of the fitness goals we set for ourselves. It can be depressing and downright demotivating.

A bright spot in my findings on health and fitness is the 80/20 rule. What we eat is responsible for at least 80% of our overall health and well-being, the other 20% is how much we exercise. If what we eat has such a huge impact on our weight and body mass index, it definite-

ly warrants first priority on anyone’s wellness journey.

Cooking at home is the best way to guarantee you’re eating well but it can be time consuming, so I set out to find some healthy places to eat in Southwest Gwinnett.

Clean Eatz

What exactly does “eating clean” mean? Clean, unprocessed foods are those left closest to their natural state. They’re richer in nutrients because they’re derived directly from the earth. Eating clean nourishes the body with vitamin and mineral-dense foods.

If eating clean seems like a headache, allow Clean Eatz, at 3975 Holcomb Bridge Road, to do all the work.

Owner Nancy Glass is determined to help people along their journeys to better health. Besides providing customized meal plans and properly portioned “grab ’n go” options for the past two years, she also hosts fun and informative health fairs, giveaways and pop-up events.

“We don’t take anything away that you’d normally eat, we just give you healthier and better portioned ingredients,” Glass said. “Some people don’t know where to begin. We get to know each customer to learn about their nutritional needs.

Butternut squash soup prepared by Chef Jesse Kauffman, for the Clean Eatz Valentine’s Day pop-up dinner. Photo courtesy of Patrizia Winsper.

Nancy Glass, Owner of Clean Eatz Peachtree Corners, at the Valentine’s Day pop-up dinner.

Filet Oscar served at Clean Eatz’ New Year’s Eve pop-up dinner by Chef Jesse Kauffman. Proof that consuming healthy food does not mean you have to go hungry. Photo courtesy of Nancy Glass.

“At Clean Eatz you’ll receive guidance and fine-tuning. We customize meals on a regular basis, from the allergens you’re avoiding down to the macros and calorie count you need,” Glass explained.

Roses are red, violets are blue. Clean eating is healthy and delicious too!

I attended the Valentine’s Day dinner, an event with local Chef Jesse Kauffman — think Clean Eatz meets fine dining.

Patrons enjoyed a caprese appetizer, butternut squash coconut soup, a choice of three entrees — filet Oscar, salmon risotto or brisket penne marsala — and a French apple tart dessert, proving that healthy meals do not have to be bland, nor should they leave you wanting.

High performance fuel that doesn’t break the bank

Whether playing sports, studying, holding down physically demanding or corporate jobs, balancing the stresses of parenting and everyday life, we’re all athletes who need to be properly fueled to perform at our best.

The Clean Eatz price point is such that anyone who frequents drive-throughs can experience what clean food does for your body, for the same price or less.

“It’s more economical than weekly groceries. With prices as low as $6.52 per meal, you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner — 21 meals — for $137. Plus, you don’t have to go grocery shopping or cook. Just place your order and come pick it up,” Glass said.

Microwavable containers mean meals are ready in minutes. There are no subscriptions;

you can order as much or as little as you like. When you pick up your meal plans at the restaurant, they’re fresh and can either be refrigerated for the week or frozen.

What are some Clean Eatz?

Whether you’re craving smoothies, sandwiches, flatbreads, bowls, wraps, salads or melts, Clean Eatz has something for you. You can dine in the café or take your meal to go.

Delicious selections that don’t make you feel like you’re depriving yourself abound, like the BBQ lasagna with diced chicken and a drizzle of Monterey cheese, or the chicken and sweet potato dinner, or the steak queso melt.

Drinks include seasonal teas and infused water, and smoothies can be made with vegan or regular protein. The caffeinated Mocha Mudslide is a favorite.

We Change Livez Challenge

To be eligible to win three months’ worth of meals from the café, or a grand national prize of $25,000 plus a year’s worth of meals, consider participating in the “We Change Livez Challenge” by registering online at cleaneatz. com.

It runs from through March 31st. Winners will be announced in April.

Latin Fresh

Stradling the border of Norcross and Peachtree Corners, at 4941 South Old Peachtree Road, is Latin Fresh, a health-driven, family-operated restaurant serving up Latin American cuisine and showcasing flavors from among 33 countries.

Cordon Bleu-trained Chef David Aaron began this venture almost a year ago with his wife and their respective families. They’ve all worked tirelessly to bring his vision to life: nat-

Peachtree dinner.

Chef Jesse Kauffman

Photo courtesy of Patrizia Winsper.

From left, Jay and Ofelia, David Aaron and Juanita (Photo by Isadora Pennington)

Latin Fresh serves delicious tacos. Photo courtesy of Latin Fresh.

Bowls with the flavors of Latin America

ural, locally sourced or farm-to-table ingredients in what Aaron calls, “Latin soul food.” It’s a newer restaurant, still forging relationships with local vendors, but Aaron isn’t new to the restaurant scene. He has consulted and helped open over 40 different food and beverage operations. Aaron and a partner own three bars and restaurants in Bogota, Columbia with some 100 employees.

“Sustainability is our philosophy, so the food has to be the same. I try to keep a conscious mind about what we’re doing to the world,” Aaron said.

Explore the many tastes of Latin America

Latin American cuisine encompasses food from many diverse regions. This is reflected in their lunch and dinner offerings of “build your own” bowls, wraps and tacos, all priced at $13. On a base of brown rice, white rice or Gallo

pinto (Costa Rican black beans and rice), customers can add proteins like Cuban pulled pork, Argentinian beef stew with sweet potatoes, potatoes, apricots and corn, Venezuelan pulled beef, Peruvian roasted chicken, Columbian style chicken, Brazilian fish stew and chickpea stew.

Toppings include avocado, lettuce, garbanzo beans, corn, carrots, cauliflower, cheese, Caribbean spicy pineapple and diced tomatoes.

Top off the meal with a choice of sauces: Cilantro Aioli, Jerk Caribbean, Suero (sour cream), or Aji (spicy).

Try exotic juices made in-house from pure imported pulps, not syrups. Desserts include Cuban Tres Leches and Venezuelan Quesillo, which is like a flan.

“Everything is made from scratch. We don’t use anything canned or frozen. This is how Latinos eat: Mom goes to the farmer’s market to get fresh ingredients and cooks the food she picked up that day. Everything is fresh and very natural,” Aaron explained.

Treat your friends and colleagues to healthy

Latin Fresh can provide drop off or full-service catering at homes and businesses for two to 1,000 people. The restaurant can also be reserved for private events.

“People are looking for healthy options that don’t sacrifice taste. Healthy is natural. It should touch your heart and soul knowing that you’re doing good,” Aaron said.

Loving Hut

For those beginning a vegan journey, Loving Hut at 6385 Spalding Drive, Suite E, has been offering vegan versions of Pan-Asian favorites since 2009.

Employee Zen J. Jackson has turned to plantbased eating. He’s been a customer longer than he’s worked at Loving Hut, and took some time to describe their dishes to me.

Loving Hut employee Zen J. Jackson. Photo courtesy of Zen J. Jackson.

The main wall Photos served

Sneak peek of what’s to come at the new location set to open this year in Buford.

Sushi: Shrimp Tempura Roll.

Fried Fish Fingers

Love Ocean Soup: Enoki mushrooms provide a protein-like texture, bean curd, shredded carrots, soft tofu, with crispy onion and fresh cilantro garnish.

Sweet and Sour Divine

The largest international family of vegan restaurants

The visionary behind providing access to vegan food across the globe — there are 200 Loving Hut restaurants in 35 countries — is Supreme Master Ching Hai, a spiritual teacher, humanitarian and environmentalist. Similar to a guru, Supreme Master Hai has disciples from all faith backgrounds. It’s not about eliminating one’s belief system in favor of her teachings, it’s more of an addition to your existing faith. Restaurant Manager Tammy Chiu is a disciple of Supreme Master Hai, but not all employees are.

Let’s do the cha-cha, vegan style

Some popular dishes include the Combo Cha Cha: a sweet and savory stir-fry of deep-fried

vegan shrimp (made from konjac root and shaped into shrimp).

“Ironically, it’s a little fleshier than real shrimp,” Jackson chuckled. It’s sautéed in a house-made sauce and served with quinoa, brown or white rice, and a salad.

Other flavorful dishes are the Sweet and Sour Divine with bell peppers, broccoli, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, and the Sweet and Sour Island with crispy bean curds.

For those who don’t want noodles and rice, American-style options like vegan burgers, a Philly cheese steak and an avocado bacon sandwich hit home. Jackson refers to the menu as “stacked” full of options that keep their clientele coming back for more.

Loving Hut doubles as a shop where patrons and neighborhood restaurants can purchase vegan shrimp, drumsticks, nuggets, sushi tuna, tuna rolls, bacon slices (with a similar texture to real bacon) and vegan lamb chunks.

The average price of meals is $12.95, with the chickpea burger being the most expensive at $14.99. The Au Lac Sandwich at $11.95 is the least expensive; it’s a Vietnamese hoagie with house-made BBQ sauce over soy slices, pickled carrots and daikon on a toasted baguette.

“People rave about our coconut, strawberry mousse and peanut butter cakes,” Jackson said.

VeGreen Vegetarian Fusion Restaurant

VeGreen Vegetarian Fusion Restaurant at 3780 Old Norcross Road, Suite 106 in Duluth is the result of two vegetarian friends coming together, one from Hong Kong and the other from Taiwan. Together, they spread the good news about the health benefits of veganism and choosing kindness in all we do, including our food choices.

“Increased vegetable intake combined with decreased meat consumption has been shown to reduce health risks,” Assistant Manager Jackie Szeto said. VeGreen embraces a plant-based lifestyle and encourages people to eat better by serving delicious vegan alternatives that are just as good as celebrated Asian dishes like General Tso’s Chicken and Mongolian Beef.

“Each vegan meal consumed by a happy customer leads to a smaller carbon footprint, less animal cruelty and better health,” Szeto affirmed.

Manager Jeromy Chanthavisay spoke about widening our circles of compassion to include all living creatures. He cited a menu of almost 100 dishes that

people can enjoy without eating meats. Most vegan proteins are made from soybeans. Their appearance and texture are very similar to animal protein. Dishes on the VeGreen menu are made with these “mock meats” which are becoming more common as more people transition to veganism.

Plant-based seafood, a small but growing part of the market, includes vegan sushi. “We pride ourselves on having many different vegan sushi rolls since it’s rare. Sushi is still derived mainly from seafood,” Szeto said.

According to Szeto, many vegans have life-changing stories about how transitioning to more plant-based diets have made their serious illnesses disappear.

Besides VeGreen Fusion and VeGreen 2Go in Duluth, you can visit VeGreen Burger in Kennesaw. A new Buford location is opening soon. Citing the founders of VeGreen, Szeto shared, “we wish everyone to live life with a happy, healthy and full belly.”

Slutty vegan

CEO Pinky Cole knows a thing or two about having a belly full of scrumptious vegan food. Cole started Slutty Vegan out of her West End Atlanta apartment in 2018.

Originally, her meatless burger joint creations could be ordered on Instagram, then from a food truck, and within the same year, from the first brick-and-mortar location.

Her motivation? Bringing vegan options that she craved herself to a community steeped in Black history and culture that may never have considered eating plant-based food before. In the plant-based meat category, burgers are the most popular, and Cole’s empire has flourished accordingly. There are currently seven locations in Georgia, two in New York and one in Alabama.

Hey, slut!” is how you’ll be greeted in her restaurants, challenging notions that veganism is stuffy or that only certain kinds of people partake in the often-stigmatized lifestyle. Our parents may once have punished us for being foulmouthed, but swearing has been proven by popular science to be good for you. It can lower anxiety, reduce pain, prevent violence, help trauma victims recover language and even promote cooperation.

Now, partake in swearing while ordering healthier, plant-based options of your favorite “junk foods” at Slutty Vegan in Duluth at 2045 Pleasant Hill Road, and you’re practically on a health retreat!

Instead of a bar of soap in your mouth, you’ll be rewarded with a vegan Philly, a plant-based burger and a boozy slushy for requesting “A Hollywood Hooker, a One Night Stand and a Slutty Slushy.”

All this talk about healthy food options in Southwest Gwinnett has me eager to try some. Where shall we go first? ##

at VeGreen Fusion below courtesy of VeGreen.

CEO and founder of Slutty Vegan, Pinky Cole. Photos courtesy of Drea Nicole Photography.

Big Dawg

The Big Dawg at Slutty Vegan: Plantbased bratwurst, sauerkraut and slut sauce on a vegan pretzel bun.

Teppan Tofu, the newest entrée, is on a sizzling plate.

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Real Estate Stays Hot in Southwest Gwinnett

The entire metro Atlanta area has enjoyed a strong real estate market over the past few years. Limited available housing, a growing job market and low interest rates have kept local home prices in the stratosphere.

Even now, while the overall market has slowed somewhat — largely due to increasing interest rates — Southwest Gwinnett home sales remain strong.

An upward trend

April Rener, REALTOR®, Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners confirmed that Southwest Gwinnett has seen a positive shift in real estate values, especially in the last five years.

“With the revitalization of downtown Norcross, the creation of Peachtree Corners Town Center and the popularity of downtown Duluth, our area has become more and more appealing to residents,”

she said.

Rener reported that the area’s median sales price in 2018 was $253,000. It increased to $390,500 in 2022.

“That’s a 54% increase! We’ve also seen more residential development projects target our area as the commercial sector has grown,” she said, adding that the real estate market will likely continue to increase in the coming years, based on the data.

Words by Kathy Dean Photos courtesy of individual brokers

April Rener

According to Alan Kaplan, Realtor, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, the metro Atlanta residential housing market should continue to outperform the national housing market, largely due to the demand.

“This demand is fueled by strong population growth — 14% in the last decade — as a result of Atlanta being one of the more affordable metro cities on the national level,” he explained.

At this time, the market is leveling out somewhat. “I see the market, overall, being less aggressive and more balanced between buyers and sellers,” Kaplan added. However, Laura Hayes Reich, Associate Broker with The Terri Hayes Team, reported that she still sees bidding wars on desirable homes due to the low inventory.

Hot spots

Housing throughout Southwest Gwinnett is hot, but one community is scorching.

Berkeley Lake is consistently in high demand, said Ginny Nevins, Broker/Owner, Windsor Realty. “It’s an amazing place, and it can be very hard to find a home there.”

She added that very few Berkeley Lake homes ever show up on real estate listings. “I actually have a list of people waiting to get in,” Nevins explained. “Berkeley Lake is a highly desirable community, and homes often sell before they even hit the market.”

Berkeley Lake will continue to gain in popularity since it’s one of the few lake communities convenient to major interstates and highways, Rener agreed.

“Peachtree Corners will become even more desirable as the Forum begins its transition by the new developers,” she predicted. “And any new construction or renovated homes near downtown Duluth and Norcross will continue to be in-demand due to the walkability.”

rental properties also are in demand because many people — like young adults, empty nesters and single parents — don’t want to be homeowners and prefer a managed residential lifestyle.

With limited availability of land and high land costs, “…the trend will likely be for smaller units in both the ownership and rental product categories,” he said. “This means more townhomes and condos instead of the traditional single-family detached homes on 1/3 of an acre.”

Two distinct groups are setting the current residential trends, according to Terri Hayes, Broker/Owner of The Terri Hayes Team — the 30- to 40-year-old age group with young families who want the community / neighborhood lifestyle with larger homes and the empty nesters / baby boomers whose children are in college or are grown.

She said that a large number of buyers prefer Peachtree Corners and the Southwest Gwinnett area due to factors that include “…desirable location, lower taxes, award-winning schools, communities that have a wonderful family feel and upper scale restaurants at The Forum and Town Center.”

Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson reported that the City is driving significant resources to the Holcomb Bridge Road corridor. “Expect to see improvements along Peachtree Corners Circle, which should help to incentivize new residential development and result in upgrades to the existing residential developments in the area,” he said. Also, planned improvements to The Forum shopping center should attract significant attention due to the added residential and hotel component, he noted. In fact, that’s a local project that greatly interests Rener. “The community, at large, is very excited about the new developers breathing life back into this shopping staple,” she said. “And, again, as developments like this get better, our home values go up!”

Housing trends

Johnson said that while detached single-family homes continue to be sought after,

Southwest Gwinnett 2022 Real Estate Trends

Covers Norcross, Peachtree Corners and Berkeley Lake

$427,000

Average sold price an increase of 17.6% from 2021

$171.5

Average sold price per square foot an 8.2% increase from 2021

18.6

Average days on market down 3.1% from 2021

2 months Inventory a 70% increase over 2021

Market figures and data supplied by Alan Kaplan with Atlanta Fine Homes, Sotheby’s International Realty and generated by Trendgrafix.

Alan Kaplan

Ginny Nevins

Laura Hayes Reich, left and Terri Hayes

Atlanta REALTORS® December 2022 Market Brief

3,973 Residential sales down 40.2% from 2021

$389,000

Median sales price up 3.5% from December 2021

$462,500 Average sales price up 4.4% from 2021

10,547 units

Atlanta area inventory up 45.9% from December 2021

3,845 New listings down 26.0% from December 2021, and down 23.3% from November 2022

1.9 months Inventory

According to Atlanta REALTORS® President Michael Fischer, “The Atlanta real estate market has been rebalancing over the last several months, with the number of listings increasing and the total number of sales cooling from the records set last Spring.”

The Atlanta REALTORS® December 2022 Market Brief, compiled by First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS), is a regionally focused synopsis of monthly sales and home prices for residential properties in Metro Atlanta. This summary covers 11 counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Paulding, and Rockdale.

Move-in ready is in

One of the main things that homebuyers are going for these days is an updated, fully finished home. Current high construction costs and long delays make rehabs much less appealing.

“Buyer demand is lower for homes that need a lot of cosmetic updating, but it’s still incredibly high for properties that are move-in ready,” Rener said. “We are certainly in a ‘beauty contest’ when listing homes for sale.”

Laura Hayes Reich also reported that most buyers want ‘no fuss, no muss’ when purchasing a home, particularly with the high cost of remodeling.

“Buyers are willing to pay more for homes when everything is updated,” she said. “All custom-built home communities, as well as Waterside — the newest development in Peachtree Corners — have much to offer to all buyers in every age group.”

“They want to downsize to a smaller home with upscale amenities similar to the homes they are leaving,” Terri Hayes said. “Due to all the wonderful lifestyle amenities of Southwest Gwinnett, they want to stay in the area in a downsized, but quality, home that is much smaller.”

Medlock Bridge Townhomes

Those are exactly the kind of homes that are exciting Nevins, as well as many of her clients. “Medlock Bridge Townhomes is an upcoming development of six high-end townhomes in Peachtree Corners,” she said. “It’s a perfect option for people whose children have moved out and who want to downsize their square footage, but not their lifestyle.”

She reported that empty nesters still want to stay in the area and to keep the amenities they’re used to.

“People still want the high ceilings and high end finishes…and the shopping! They still want easy access to the things they know and love.” Nevins said. “With the purchase of The Forum by North American Properties, the developers of Avalon, the advantage to be within a block of what’s to come at the Forum will be another draw to our development.”

Medlock Bridge Townhomes is expected to draw buyers from Southwest Gwinnett and surrounding areas, including North Fulton. The project has already generated quite a buzz.

“It’s the first development in the area with zero dissension from officials, the public, anyone,” Nevins added. “Everyone wants to know how soon it will be constructed!”

Kaplan expects a continued high demand for older, lesser expensive neighborhoods, which are especially attractive to first time homebuyers. “There will also be high demand as high rental rates outpace mortgage rates, which should result in many shifting from the rental to home buyer market,” he stated.

Don’t wait to buy

Some people are considering waiting until interest rates decrease, Kaplan said — but he doesn’t advise it. “Because our housing market continues to appreciate at a strong pace, waiting for a change in interest rates could have a net neutral effect on buying power,” he explained.

“While a lower future rate may make borrowing less expensive, the increase in home prices between now and that anticipated rate change will likely result in little to no change in buying power,” Kaplan continued. Buying before a home appreciates allows buyers to retain the opportunity to refinance once interest rates drop, he said.

Through good and bad economic times, real estate will always be a great investment in the future, Terri Hayes stressed.

“When you invest in real estate in Southwest Gwinnett, the quality of your family life is heightened since you reside in a wonderful place that has so much to offer,” she said. ##

Medlock Bridge Townhomes Northeast elevation rendering

The Stream Premieres in Atlanta

Duluth resident creates a short film exploring the American Dream.

Words by Glenn Boylan

Duluth resident Sam Dubin has drawn upon his own family history to create The Stream, a film that explores the American Dream from the perspective of a middle class immigrant family, where deep love and harsh conflict exist side-by-side.

In the works for more than two years, The Stream premiered in January, first at Atlanta’s Plaza Theatre and then with a New York City premier later that month at the Wythe Hotel.

A difficult trip

The movie focuses on a tense father-son car trip to sell the family’s lake cottage. The father, played by Ivan Logvinov, had worked hard in several jobs to make it as a Russian immigrant

in the U.S., but had to sell the cottage due to financial hardships. The son, played by Sam, is a young adult aspiring to be an artist, and is upset that the cottage is being sold.

The different attitudes of the blue-collar dad and the artistic son, combined with memories of the family’s better times at the cottage, create an environment for confrontational, yet honest communications between the two generations.

“This film has a lot of love in it,” Sam said after the Atlanta premiere. “It’s about giving your children a chance, even if sometimes it doesn’t turn out like you think it will.”

Authenticity from real life

The Stream comes across as a very authentic film, and with good reason. Sam is the son of

immigrants, and his family has a long history at the lake cottage they own at Lake Hartwell. Ivan is also an immigrant himself. Alexey Pyekh, who played the young version of Sam’s character during flashbacks in the movie, is also from an immigrant family.

The story and its background are relatable to a lot of people. It was interesting to see that when Sam asked the audience in Atlanta how many of them were first or second generation immigrants, about a quarter of the audience raised their hand.

The result, Sam said, is that the team making the film understood the story “deep in their bones.” Thinking about their families and remembering their lives growing up really infused the immigrant dynamic into the movie. And it wasn’t all acting. The touching story the dad tells in the movie about the son’s birth re-

Photos courtesy of Sam Dubin

ally happened. There’s a scene where the family’s station wagon broke down. It wasn’t staged. During filming, the car really did break down. The crew just went with it.

Throughout the production process, Sam and Ivan often discussed their similar backgrounds in order to make the family dynamic shown in the film very real. “It’s an homage to the sacrifices immigrant parents make,” Sam said. “I was thinking about my family.”

Based on family

Sam’s real-life father Yakov was involved too.

When Sam finished the script, he asked his father to read it, slightly worried that maybe it hit too close to home. But his father loved it.

“Reading the script filled me with emotion,” Yakov said. “We’re so close to our kids. The movie reminded me that’s why we came here — so our children could pursue their dreams.”

As the premieres came closer to happening, Yakov really got involved with promoting it on social media. “I’m going to become a promoter!” he joked with the audience in Atlanta.

He and Sam really enjoyed creating the posts they made to promote the film. “You’ve probably seen my dad more on social media than me,” Sam said.

Multiple roles in the production

Sam wore many hats while creating The Stream. Writer. Producer. Director. Actor.

He said that being the director and one of the actors during filming was difficult. Sam was constantly jumping back and forth between the two very different responsibilities. Initially he didn’t want to act in the film because of that.

“It took immense trust in the crew,” he said. “I do want to act again, and direct again, but not in the same film.”

After the premieres, Sam was quick to give a lot of credit to the film crew. They worked hard on a tight budget and just about everything was complicated by the fact that much of it took place during the COVID epidemic.

Previews, screenings and premieres

One of the first public previews of The Stream was at Good Word Brewing & Public House in

downtown Duluth. Good Word hosted a ‘beerfunding’ event to help raise money for the production costs.

That was followed by screenings at a few film festivals, and the two premieres.

The public release of The Stream is coming soon. It will be released online. Sam said there won’t be a sequel, but he hasn’t ruled out the idea of expanding the current 24-minute film into a full-length feature.

In making The Stream, Sam told the story underpinning his and other immigrant families’ time here in the U.S. It’s a story filled with difficulty, but also with joy and hope. In the process of telling that story, he’s seen his relationship with his own family grow.

His dad Yakov said, “I’m really proud of Sam. He’s worked really hard. He didn’t give up.”

One day, Sam was driving with his mom and talking about the film. She told him that she didn’t realize how much of an impression the time they spent at their lake cottage made on him.

Sam summed up the movie this way: “The Stream is part of all of us. It’s a way to begin to understand that one part of our lives may be over, but there’s more to come.” ##

Opposite page from left, The scene where the family station wagon broke down was very realistic because the car really did break down.

Dubin praised the work of the crew, who worked within a tight budget during the COVID pandemic. Above from left, The father in the movie is played by Ivan Logvinov, who is himself a first generation immigrant.

The crew

Left, Sam Dubin, who is from an immigrant family, wrote, produced, directed, and acted in the movie.

Disney Unveils

Re-Imagined Diverse Dolls Inspired by Disney Princesses

Pinckneyville Middle student Maya Robinson portrays Rapunzel as part of a collection of dolls across the African diaspora.

As a typical teen, Maya Robinson had no aspirations to be in the spotlight. An eighth grader at Pinckneyville Middle School, she gets good grades, she’s learning to play the piano, likes to play tennis and does a little modeling on occasion.

Maya has already been featured in several projects — a campaign that focused on empowering young girls, modeling for a children’s clothing store, visuals for a children’s book and a calendar called AfroArt —with an Atlanta-based photography studio called CreativeSoul.

Husband and wife team Regis and Kahran Bethencourt have been working with hundreds of children for more than 13 years showcasing natural hair and ethnic lifestyle in photography and authentic, visual storytelling. Their brand has been featured on the Steve Harvey Show, Teen Vogue, CNN, Glamour magazine, Vogue Italia, Black Enterprise, BET.com, BBC News, the OWN network and more.

Ethnically accurate and princess inspired

Perhaps their most notable project is the collaboration with Disney featuring a special edition artist series collection of dolls across the African diaspora inspired by Disney princesses.

The CreativeSoul Doll Collection reimagines what classic Disney princesses would look

Words by Arlinda Smith Broady

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney World, photos by CreativeSoul Photography

like through a diverse lens. The dolls contain natural hairstyles and intricate Afrocentric fabrics and adornments, while paying tribute to four Disney princesses — Tiana, Snow White, Rapunzel and Cinderella.

The girls and the dolls were part of Walt Disney World Resort’s EPCOT International Festival of the Arts presented by AT&T in early February. They, along with the CreativeSoul Photography founders, were present for book and doll signings.

In addition to the dolls, there is a series of five photographic prints of the models which inspired the dolls. The series includes one bonus print paying tribute to Elsa.

“Our mission has always been to bring bold, inspiring images of people of color to life,” said Kahran in a press release.

“We are both excited and proud of this project and hope that, through the lens of photography, it will help further empower young girls of color and show they can be a princess too,” added Regis.

Disney representatives said the CreativeSoul Doll Collection is another way that the company continues to “Celebrate Soulfully,” an initiative that invites families and friends to gather for experiences that honor Black heritage and culture through music, food and art.

Meet the Robinsons

Once back home in Peachtree Corners, where she’s lived her entire life, Maya returned to her regular routine. Her mother, Sindy Paez-Robinson, said Maya enjoys the modeling, but doesn’t have aspirations to do that when she grows up.

“She’s not someone who pursues modeling or wants to be a Disney star or anything like that,” said Sindy. “She’s actually a little shy, but because she works so well with CreativeSoul and she feels so comfortable with them, any time an opportunity comes up with them, she jumps at it. And she’s just a great kid.”

Also in Maya’s family are her dad, Thomas Robinson, and brother, Thomas Robinson, Jr., a 17-year-old student at Paul Duke STEM. The Robinsons have lived in Peachtree Corners for about 14 years and can’t think of any other place as home.

Sindy said she met the Bethencourts through Instagram when Maya was about 5 or 6 years old. The relationship has blossomed over the years.

“We did that way back when, and they love my daughter and they feel just like family. …They’re such great, warm people,” she said. “Ever since then, they’ve just always had Maya in mind for different projects that they’ve been doing across the years.”

Dolls in the CreativeSoul Doll Collection retail for $59.99 each. They are available at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and shopDisney.com. ##

Opposite page, the Disney doll inspired by Rapunzel

Above, Maya Robinson Right, the limited edition doll set

T-Mobile, Curiosity Lab Partner to Fuel Young Minds

At the first joint “hackathon” between the telecom giant and the technology incubator, participants devised applications aimed at quality-of-life issues.

Words by Arlinda Smith Broady

Photos by George Hunter and Tytan Pictures

any of us who are probably just tech savvy enough to set a password for our streaming services might not understand what a “hackathon” is and why these events are so vital. Be assured, however, that it has nothing to do with axes, bad

Mstand-up comedy or taxis.

The purpose of a hackathon is to inspire participants to pool their various skills over a relatively short period of time to create code, usually for a new software product or service.

Last month, T-Mobile partnered with Curiosity Lab for a fun and fantastic threeday hackathon weekend. T-Mobile already has a long history with Curiosity Lab — since the

Continued on page 30

Left, Calvin Njuguna and Amy Doukoure from Georgia Institute of Technology presenting Above, engaging at the hackathon

Left,

Bob Siegel, a telecommunications industry veteran and the Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center’s 5G Connected Future program catalyst, explains to students at the Hackathon how important their input and creativity is to the expanding tech world.

Dr. Kiesha King, Sr. National Education Administrator at T-Mobile, welcomes participants to the first Hackathon that T-Mobile has presented at Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners. She explains how T-Mobile is committed to diversity and inclusion and growing talent in the communities it serves.

Above,

The team from North Carolina A&T takes first place, included are the T-Mobile team and Mayor Mike Mason Below Left, Michelle Balatico, senior program manager of events and outreach at T-Mobile encourages participants to look for opportunities to work at T-Mobile and work with the telecom giant.

Above, left, the second place team from Tennessee State, Georgia Middle State and Southern Connecticut State University

the third place team from Georgia Institute of Technology

Continued from page 28

technology incubator was created. So, it was inevitable that it would host its first hackathon focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) at its metro Atlanta partner at Peachtree Corners.

There were workshops and career panels for attendees to learn about 5G, telecom and internship opportunities. The students worked in teams to come up with some creative solutions combining autonomous technology while considering data privacy, user experience and developing ideas — all for crash and prizes as well as bragging rights.

The hackathon was open to students who had intermediate to little coding experience. Although registration was open to HBCU students in any degree program, each team had to have at least two members in a computer science, computer engineering or related major.

Participants were asked to develop and pitch a creative and impactful tech solution or prototype that aligns with the T-Mobile experience and using the tools and training provided to them on site, while also keeping 5G and the connected experience in mind.

From Friday evening, Feb. 24, through Sunday afternoon, Feb. 26, the 20 participants found more ways to make T-Mobile’s 5G technology useful to everyone.

Diverse customers, diverse employees

Dr. Keisha King is the senior national education administrator at T-Mobile. Her job is a testament to T-Mobile’s commitment to giving everyone a seat at the table when it comes to creating new products and services and maintaining what it already has in place.

King’s background is in education as a teacher, a principal and an executive director in a school district of more than 70,000 students of whom

96% received free or reduced lunches.

“I’m naturally attuned to serving underrepresented students. So, when we think of all the work we’ve done at T-Mobile across K 12, it’s only natural that you’re going to find that we’re interested in post-secondary education and workforce development and even adult learning programs,” she said.

“We’ve connected 5.3 million students across the country with critical connectivity in over 5,000 school districts. …We have a $10.7 billion commitment to connect kids and so this is a part of that commitment — an initiative that seeks to create and nurture,” King added.

King encouraged participants not to pigeonhole themselves in existing careers, because the world is moving so fast that in 10, 20, 30 years from now, some jobs may become obsolete.

“About 65% of the future careers don’t exist today,” she said. “And students who are housing insecure, food insecure, living in communities that are under resourced — those students traditionally do not have this opportunity to sit in these spaces and see how they want to impact the future of this world. So this is really changing the trajectory.”

T-Mobile is looking for new ideas, and it is committed to looking everywhere for those new ideas.

“We have external diversity and inclusion councils, we’ve worked with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and we’ve done HBCU week with the U.S. Department of Education,” King said. “We brought in students to get student feedback on our products and services and now we want to impact the higher education space. We’ve done that work overtime and now this hackathon — specifically here — is the next area we’re starting to explore.”

She added that decades ago, a person of color with natural hair and minimal make-up was probably not the ideal model of a corporate administrator, but as the world changes, perceptions change.

“Not only do we have a diverse customer base, but T-Mobile has a very diverse workforce in general. Over 60% of T-Mobile employees are people of color and 40% of employees identify as women,” King said. “We’ve always valued diversity in the workplace and continue to do so. But we also realize we have a lot to learn, and we have a lot of work yet to do. And this is a part of that commitment.”

Opportunities abound

Since various skills levels were invited, the event didn’t just throw students into situations without help. T-Mobile staffers were flown in from around the country and local experts in technology and business start-ups were on hand to mentor.

Michelle Balatico, senior program manager for events and outreach at T-Mobile, was on hand to let attendees know about opportunities at the company.

“I recruited a lot of network engineers, product developers, software engineers, as well as marketing folks. I would say in terms of the hackathon here, this is your time to shine and learn things like a sponge,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to fail …and have faith in yourself. If things aren’t working, don’t get frustrated, just try and try again and present what you have.”

Balatico said that at a hackathon T-Mobile sponsored in Texas, a group of freshmen weren’t confident in their solution. But she encouraged them to present their solid foundation and they ended up as the first-place winners.

“This is your time to really be able to explore different opportunities,” she added. “My team also runs the internship program. …We are hiring for summer interns. We’ve got quite a few [opportunities] in the Atlanta area, both technical and non-technical.”

Mayor Mike Mason with the team from T-Mobile and Curiosity Lab.

Bob Siegel, a telecommunications industry veteran and Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center’s (ATDC) 5G Connected Future program catalyst, agreed that now is the time for these young creatives to spread their wings.

“Building a business of your own is one of the greatest things you could ever do, but it’s also one of the hardest,” he said.

Organizations like ATDC help show how to use the advanced technology of 5G and monetize it so individuals can grow their own companies. Working with Curiosity Lab, Siegel has coaches, other catalysts and experts in a variety of fields to help bring them along.

“We don’t take equity; we don’t charge a lot of money,” he said.

“We’re here to help. That is our goal. If you succeed, we’re successful.”

Let the coding begin

After a quick rundown of rules and judging criteria, the 20 participants got to business.

The basic standards were to use technology as part of the solution, but the judges were also looking for functionality, creativity and scalability. A solution is no good if it costs a million dollars to make just one dollar.

In the presentations, they wanted to hear about roadblocks and how the participants overcame them. Collaboration was also important. Anyone who has ever taken the time to read all the names involved with a new application or device knows that it takes teamwork.

By Sunday afternoon, the six teams appeared to have a mixed bag of emotions. There were many who weren’t confident they did enough in the 36 hours. Some had high hopes that they’d found a solution to an age-old problem.

In the end, everyone learned something, whether it was how to write Java code, how to give a five-minute pitch that covered all the bases or just how to network effectively. The weekend was a success all around.

The hackathon is something Curiosity Lab plans to repeat — many times, said Kelsey Neely with Curiosity Lab.

“Last year Peachtree Corners and Curiosity Lab won an international award for setting the blueprint for smart cities in the United States,” she said.

This 10-year-old city is setting an example for others to replicate. Its success is already unprecedented. It was in Peachtree Corners’ Tech Park that the first modem and the first color printer were invented. If the visionaries and administrators have their way, many more firsts are on the horizon. ##

Hackathon Winners

First Place

Chore Warrior, an application designed to make chores fun

$4,000 for the team to split and phones for each team member

Team: Michael Miles Brown, Isaiah Stokes, Ra’Shad Foster and Wilhelm Robinson from North Carolina A&T

Second Place

Travel Tracker, notifies you if your child enters a moving vehicle

$2,000 for the team to split and Beats earbuds

Team: Yazeed Hasan, Hanni Altousy, Kevin Bartholomew Jr. and Loui Altous from Tennessee State, Georgia Middle State and Southern Connecticut State University

Third Place

iFeel and imHere, inspired by the ideas of mental health and independence in young children

$1,000 for the team to split

Team: Calvin Njuguna and Amy Doukoure from Georgia Institute of Technology

A Job of Challenges and Rewards for Gwinnett County Lifeguards

Words by Nathan Deen

Photo by George Hunter

Santiago Restrepo and Lesly Montoya

antiago Restrepo and Lesly Montoya signed up to be lifeguards in high school thinking it would be a convenient and temporary summer job.

But now Restrepo is going on his fifth year working at the West Gwinnett Aquatic Center in Norcross and just started a new position as a manger, while Montoya has been there two years and is a water safety instructor. But that’s the thing about the job, Restrepo said. People come in for the summer and have a hard time finding a reason to leave.

“For the most part, it’s a lot of kids coming from high school looking for a seasonal job, and they’ll come and work for the summer and end up sticking till the winter,” Restrepo said. “It turns from a few months into a few years. We have so much going on, it makes it a place that you want to come back and keep working at.”

Looking for lifeguards

With summer approaching, Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation will soon be on the lookout for new lifeguards at its five aquatic centers and four public pools located across the county. Restrepo and Montoya agree lifeguarding is a great way for young adults to spend the summer, and the job provides plenty of long-term opportunities and benefits.

Montoya, for example, just started college at Georgia State University and plans on majoring in early childhood education, something she wasn’t sure of until she started working with youth as a water safety instructor.

“It’s one of the best things that’s happened to me,” Montoya said. “It’s opened so many doors. I want to be a teacher, so this has given

me the experience to be able to do that.” While there’s plenty of fun to be had on the job, lifeguarding isn’t for everyone. Candidates will need to be capable swimmers and be able to handle the responsibility of being able to respond and handle life-threatening situations.

Anyone interested in becoming a lifeguard must first meet prerequisites, including a 300-yard swim using freestyle, breaststroke or a combination of both, tread water for two minutes using only their legs, and perform a surface dive and retrieve a brick from 10 feet of water.

Before they can apply, they will also have to complete a Red Cross certification course.

A positive environment and high expectations

Montoya, 18, said the team of lifeguards and facility managers at West Gwinnett Aquatics Center has created an environment that builds teamwork and bonding.

“Forming bonds here is the main reason I really love my job,” she said. “We’re all very close. It helps when you’re not guarding to have someone to talk to because you always want to have someone to talk to at a job. The managers are always there for us and willing to accommodate any issue.”

But Restrepo, 23, said each lifeguard is expected to maintain the same high level of alertness and professionalism that’s expected of firefighters and EMTs. It could be the case that a lifeguard never experiences an emergency situation during the time they work there, but they should always be ready.

“I know it looks like a fun job — and it is a fun job — but we have to tell them all the time that this is a job, and we have to make sure we’re doing it right because we can put people in danger if we’re not doing it right,” he said.

“We are like first responders in these situations, so we have to be on top of everything.”

While on duty, the lifeguards have built-in routines to keep them honest and from getting too relaxed, Restrepo said. Each lifeguard is given a weekly audit that requires a 500-yard swim, multiple diving exercises, CPR and water safety refreshers, and quizzes about scenarios, such as how to handle injuries.

Staying alert is key

“It’s really easy to relax and think nothing’s ever going to happen, but you never know when something’s going to happen,” he said.

“We try to catch everything before it happens. If we see a little kid who’s going to jump in the water without their parents, we’ll look for stuff like that before it even happens.”

Restrepo and Montoya both said they have to pay attention to what’s happening out of the water just as much, if not more, than what’s happening in it. On a busy summer day, the team of lifeguards could have as many as 500 people to account for, including children wandering away from their parents.

“There was a situation where a girl was left alone by her parents, and we caught it a little late,” Restrepo said. “But there’s a girl in the water by herself and she’s in distress. That’s something you should immediately look for. You want to look for something that doesn’t look right.”

Other times, a child could go off to the restroom or another area of the facility by themselves without the knowledge of their parents.

“We have a lost child procedure that we go through,” Restrepo said. “We get everybody out of the water, and we’ll contact the facility manager, and we’ll pretty much shut down the facility. We can’t let anybody in or out, and we go around and search until we find the kid.”

Montoya said that lifeguards cycle through 15-minute rotations while on stand for half of their shifts, and while on stand, they are prohibited from talking.

“It takes a lot of patience and a lot of awareness,” she said. “You have to be aware at all times because you don’t really know what can happen at any instance.”

The other part of the job is spent helping to manage the facility.

“There’s a lot more that goes into it (than sitting by the pool),” she said. “We really keep this facility together. At the end of every shift, we always have assigned duties like cleaning the restrooms, the lobby, the pool deck.

“We all have a part here, and I think we do a great job coming together and getting it done,” Montoya added.

To apply to become a lifeguard, visit gwinnettcountyjobs.com. For more information about training and requirements, visit gwinnettparks.com or email lifeguard@gwinnettcounty.com. ##

“It turns from a few months into a few years. We have so much going on, it makes it a place that you want to come back and keep working at.”

Santiago Restrepo

Religious Services and Events

Compiled by Nathan Deen

Springtime includes the religious observances of Easter, Passover and Ramadan for many residents. Here are some of the many events planned in the area.

Alif Institute

The Alif Institute is hosting A Taste of Ramadan in the Arab World Artist & Artisan Bazaar from 12 noon to 6 p.m. on March 5. The event is free and open to the public and will include shopping, food and crafts.

On March 24, Alif Institute will hold a Ramadan Iftar and Lent Dinner, which includes a three-course meal. The event is open to the pubic, but registration is required.

An adult ticket is $45 for institute members and $50 for non-members. Student tickets are available for $30.

Address: 3288 Marjan Drive, Atlanta 30340

Website: alifinstitute.org

Phone: 770-936-8770

The Chabad Enrichment Center of Gwinnett

Chabad Enrichment Center will host a Passover Seder on April 5 at 6:30 p.m. It is a traditional Seder led by Rabbi Yossi Lerman with a catered dinner. Guests must RSVP on website.

Address: 6251 Smithpoint Drive, Suite B, Peachtree Corners 30092

Website: chabadofgwinnett.org

Phone: 678-595-0196

Rabbi: Yossi and Esther Lerman; Mendel and Chana Lerman

Christ Church Episcopal

There will be a bilingual Palm Sunday Service at 1 p.m. on April 2. On April 9, there will be Easter services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with a 9 a.m. breakfast held in between. An egg hunt will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and a Spanish service will be at 1 p.m.

Address: 400 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross 30071

Website: ccnorcross.org

Phone: 770-447-1166

Interim Priest-in-Charge: The Rev. Liz Hendrick

Congregation

Beth Shalom

Congregation Beth Shalom is an inclusive, diverse, egalitarian and conservative synagogue that provides a spiritual environment for the community to learn, pray, serve and celebrate together. Passover services will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon on April 6 and 7, with concluding Passover services from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon on April 12 and 13.

Address: 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody 30338

Website: bethshalom.net

Phone: 770-399-5300

Rabbi: Mark Zimmerman

Cross Pointe Church

The church will host the Cross Pointe Color Run, a free event, on April 8. Easter services are 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on April 9.

Address: 1800 Satellite Blvd, Duluth 30097

Website: crosspointechurch.com

Phone: 678-812-4500

Pastor: James Merritt

Duluth First United Methodist Church

DFUMC will have a sunrise service on April 9 from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. in front of the Sanctuary, followed by contemporary and traditional worship services at 11 a.m. Children 5 and younger are eligible for childcare during services.

Address: 3208 Duluth Highway, Duluth 30096

Website: duluthumc.org

Phone: 770-476-3776

Pastor: The Rev. Terry Tippens

Generations Norcross Church

Easter service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on April 9, and guests are invited to a cookout afterward. The building is in the back of the One Heart Church parking lot. Follow signs to the building.

Address: 706 N. Peachtree Street, Norcross 30071

Website: generationsnorcross.com Phone: 770-810-5332

Pastor: James Rowell

Mary Our Queen Catholic Church

Mary Our Queen will hold Holy Week Masses and Easter Masses. On April 2, Palm Sunday Masses are at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m. The 11 a.m. Mass is live streamed. There will be a vigil at 5 p.m. on April 1.

Mass will be held at 12 noon on April 5, and there will be a Tenebrae liturgy at 7 p.m. There will be a Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. on April 6.

On April 7, the church will host Stations of the Cross and Divine Mercy Chaplet at 12 noon and 7 p.m., a journey through 14 meditations tracing Jesus’s last day on Earth. The Passion of Our Lord and Veneration of the Cross, a gospel reading of the Passion, will be held at 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

There will be a Polish Easter Basket Blessing at 10 a.m. on April 8, followed by a children’s egg hunt at 1 p.m. Vigil Mass will be held at 8 p.m. Easter masses on April 9 will be at 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Address: 6260 The Corners

Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092 Website: maryourqueen.com

Phone: 770-416-0002

Pastor: The Rev. Charles Byrd

Mount Carmel United Methodist Church

Maundy Thursday service will be held 7 p.m. on April 6, and Good Friday service will be at 7 p.m. on April 7. There will be an egg hunt at 10 a.m. on April 8. Sunrise service will start at 6:45 a.m. on April 9, followed by outdoor worship at 8:45 a.m. and an indoor service at 10 a.m.

Address: 5100 South Old Peachtree Road, Norcross 30092

Website: mtcarmel-umc.org/ home

Phone: 770-449-4498

Pastor: Lori Osborn

Norcross Presbyterian

Norcross Presbyterian will hold an Easter breakfast before Sunday worship on April 9. The Easter service begins at 11 a.m. and will be live streamed on YouTube.

Address: 89 Jones Street, Norcross 30071

Website: norcrosspresbyterian.org

Phone: 770-448-7744

Pastor: Dr. Matthew M. Fry

One Heart Church

One Heart Church will host a onehour Good Friday service at 7 p.m. on April 7, which will include worship and taking communion. The church will host a kids egg hunt after Easter service on April 9. Sunday service begins at 10 a.m.

Address: 706 N. Peachtree Street, Norcross 30071

Website: oneheartchurch.org.

Phone: 678-533-1900

Pastor: Gearl Spicer

Peachtree Corners Baptist Church

Easter service held at 9:30 a.m. on April 9. Childcare is provided and a children’s service is offered for kindergarten through 5th grade.

Address: 4480 Peachtree Corners

Circle, Peachtree Corners 30092

Website: pcbchurch.org

Phone: 770-582-2441

Pastor: Jay Hackett

Peachtree Corners

Presbyterian Church

The church will hold 12 noon services on Monday through Wednesday and Friday of the week of Easter, as well as a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. Palm Sunday and Easter services are at 10:45 a.m.

Address: 5918 Spalding Drive, Norcross 30092

Website: pcarpchurch.org

Phone: 770-263-7005

Pastor: Harper Price

Perimeter Church

Palm Sunday service will be April 2 at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. A Maundy Thursday service will at 7 p.m. on April 6, and Good Friday service will be at 12 noon on April 7. There will also be a Saturday evening service at 5 p.m. on April 8. Easter Sunday services are at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on April 9.

Address: 9500 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek 30097

Website: perimeter.org

Phone: 678-405-2069

Pastor: Jeff Norris

Unity Atlanta Church

The New Thought Good Friday Service will be at 12 noon on April

7. Unity Atlanta Church hosts multiple participating New Thought Ministries in the Atlanta area. On April 9, there will be a 7 a.m. sunrise service, followed by a breakfast. Easter service begins at 11 a.m. and will be live streamed. Childcare for children 4 and younger is available.

Address: 3597 Parkway Lane, Peachtree Corners 30092

Website: unityatl.org

Phone: 770-441-0585

Reverend: The Rev. Jenn Sacks

Victory Church — Norcross Campus

The Norcross campus will hold a Good Friday service on April 7 at 7 p.m., and there will be a 4 p.m. service on Saturday. Easter Sunday services will take place at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. All services are available online.

Address: 5095 Brook Hollow Parkway, Norcross 30071

Website: easterinatlanta.com

Phone: 678-327-6760

Pastors: Johnson and Summer Bowie

The Duluth Church Cemetery

Words by Glenn Boylan Photos courtesy of the Duluth Church Cemetery

Cemeteries are where people’s lives are remembered and honored. Certainly, that’s true for the Duluth Church Cemetery on the south end of Main Street in downtown Duluth. It contains the graves of almost every person who played a significant role in the founding and development of the city.

But the Cemetery has become more than just a historic graveyard. It’s a place for contemplation and solitude and the appreciation of nature, right in the heart of downtown Duluth. It’s a place for quiet walks and sitting down to reflect. It has become so important to the Duluth community that the community itself plays a big role in maintaining it.

Origins in the 1800s

Kathryn Parsons Willis and her daughter Kay Montgomery have lived in Duluth all

their lives. The Parsons family has been in Duluth since 1821. Willis, 91 years old, was born in the house next door to where she currently lives. Montgomery was born in Joan Glancy Hospital. Their family started the Parsons Stores in 1925, one located in what is now Parsons Alley.

Annette and Charles Summerour are lifelong residents of Duluth. They have a long family history in the city, going back to the very beginning. Annette’s great-great grand-

Continued on page 38

Left, The graves of Cora Lillian (d. 1872) and Phoebe (d. 1874) two infant sisters who are believed to have been Cherokee Indians.

Above, The William Day Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution are one of the groups that help out during volunteer work days.

Middle

The Cemetery has become a place for walks and reflection in the heart of downtown Duluth.

Bottom row, Singleton Howell, Evan’s son, donated land for the Methodist Church and became the first person to be buried in the Methodist Cemetery.

Monuments old and new are all around the still active Cemetery.

Left, Volunteers help take care of the Cemetery during twice yearly work days.

row, The grave of Evan Howell, the founder of the city of Duluth.

Continued from page 36

father, John Knox, was mayor of Duluth in the mid 1800s and is buried in the Cemetery. Originally, the Cemetery consisted of the separate Methodist and Baptist church cemeteries. The Methodist Church was started in 1871 and the Baptist church started in 1886. Both churches were originally located near where the current City Hall, Town Green and Cemetery are located. [The church buildings are still in use today. The Baptist Church is now Maple Street Biscuit restaurant. The Methodist Church is being used as a Community Center in the South on Main residential community.]

The two cemeteries were next to each other, but the gravel road that runs between them is symbolic of the fact that they were run as individual entities.

Willis, who has been a member of the Duluth Methodist church her entire life, led the cemetery maintenance on the Methodist side. The Summerours, lifelong members of the Baptist Church, led cemetery maintenance on that side. About 25 years ago they decided to operate it as one cemetery and handle expenses out of a combined fund. Both churches donated to this and with fundraising they managed to cover costs.

Willis had long handled a separate fund for the Methodist cemetery which had begun when $500 was left to the cemetery about 60 years ago. This was kept in a separate account and grew to $50,000.

Willis took over management of the fund and moved it into the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. This fund, which had grown to $150,000, was recently combined with the joint cemetery maintenance fund with the full approval of the Methodist Church.

A place to see Duluth history

“I have people say over and over that it’s like a park with a deep meaning to it and a history,” Montgomery said. “People enjoy walking through with their families and their dogs, or just by themselves. You can see a lot of history right there.”

The grave of Evan Howell, who founded Duluth, is just the beginning of the history that can be found at the Duluth Church Cemetery. Many other members of the Howell family are there, as are multiple generations of the Parsons and Summerour families.

Graves date back to the mid-1800s. Adults and children who died during the 1918-1919 Spanish flu epidemic are there, and about 70 veterans.

The long history has made it difficult to document it all. Charles Summerour has spent years trying to categorize every grave — the exact number is unknown, but it is over 300. Many of them are so old that the gravestones can no longer be read, making them impossible to trace.

Community involvement

While still respecting the lives being honored at

the Cemetery, it has also become a place where many Duluth residents like to visit. The beauty, the peacefulness and the history make it a place people love to walk in.

The value that the community places on the Cemetery is reflected by the extent that the community helps to take care of it.

Donations to support the Cemetery are vital. Some are in memory of people who died, but others are given directly to the organization, especially during the fall fundraiser which includes a barbeque and a live auction.

Perhaps the most visible support comes during

work days,” Willis said.

Duluth businesses help out, too. Georgia Paving always donates the gravel for the road. For many years, Woody’s Nursery has provided, at very low cost, the shrubs and trees planted on work days. Annette Summerour puts together the lunch for the volunteers with help from businesses such as Suzanna’s Kitchen.

The City of Duluth has provided invaluable support as well. The city allocated SPLOST funds to build a retaining wall, as well as the beautiful fence, wall and landscaping that now surrounds the Cemetery.

The number of veterans buried at the Cemetery has led to great support from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) organization.

The William Day Chapter of DAR, led by Debbie Bush, has helped during volunteer work days. This past fall, the group laid 70 live wreaths on veterans’ graves as part of the Wreaths Across America program. “They have really adopted the Cemetery,” Montgomery said.

Maintenance, renovation and improvements

The largest cost for maintaining the Cemetery is the routine landscaping maintenance. This involves cutting the grass, planting and trimming shrubs and trees, and keeping everything clean. Some problems are not so routine, as with the large, diseased tree that had to be carefully cut down before it fell.

Fixing the coping that outlines a gravesite is another expense. As the land settles, sometimes the coping falls and needs to be repaired. Gravestones, many over 100 years old, need care as well. Many get broken, are leaning or laying on the ground and have to be fixed. And being out in the elements, they can get dirty as well. The Cemetery has people who know the proper way to clean them without damage.

But the Friends of the Cemetery are not just trying to maintain the status quo. The Cemetery is still in operation, though is starting to run out of space. A new columbarium is being installed at the southeast corner of the Cemetery which will have space for 76 cremation urns.

The Duluth Church Cemetery is an important part of the city. While that would be reason enough for Willis, Montgomery and the Summerours to care so deeply about it, there is even more to it.

It’s also about family.

“I’m big into tracing my roots,” Montgomery said. “I’ve gone back 800 years on one of my lines. I’ve always been interested.”

the volunteer work days held at the Cemetery two times per year. Dozens of volunteers show up and work in teams to spruce up the grounds.

“Except for the large, old trees, every bush and tree there today was planted on one of those

The Summerours and Parsons have generations of family members buried there. They have all been involved with the Cemetery throughout their lives, as well as their families before them. They all clearly love it.

To find out more about the Cemetery, visit its website at duluthchurchcemetery.org or call 770-476-2902. ##

Top, The tombstone of J.G. New, who along with Dr. E.G. Ware donated the land for the Baptist Church. Above, The Cemetery entrance on the South side, which was originally the Baptist Cemetery.

Gwinnett Native Steps into West Precinct Commander Role

Born and raised in Gwinnett County, Major J.D. Griffin vows to ‘police the way I want to be policed.’

Words by Arlinda Smith Broady Photos courtesy of Gwinnett County Police

Although you don’t see the phrase, “protect and serve” on police vehicles these days, Major J.D. Griffin, the new commander of Gwinnett County’s West Precinct believes that is the basis of good policing.

“I was raised by a couple of teachers, so I think there was already a kind of a sense of service in that household,” he said. “But I didn’t want to do teaching. I was trying to look for something that would cater more to my skill set.”

Not wanting to stray too far from home, Griffin attended North Georgia College (now University of North Georgia) and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

“I grew up in Gwinnett County, went to Berkmar High School. Other than college, I’ve been in Gwinnett my whole life,” he said. “I grew up in Lawrenceville, went to high school in Lilburn and worked all over. Now we live in Suwanee.”

As a local, Griffin understands the concerns and priorities of the people he serves, he said. He’s been with the Gwinnett County police since 2005, moving up in the ranks.

“I worked at our Central Precinct next door. I’ve worked in our crime suppression unit, focusing mainly on West Precinct and Central Precinct. And then I worked in special investigations in narcotics for seven years,” he said.

Behavioral health unit launched

Most recently, before coming to the West Precinct, Griffin worked in the uniform division office. “From there, we launched large projects and created our behavioral health unit,” he said.

He added that the behavioral health unit is already showing promise by partnering police officers with social workers for situations that call for mental health intervention.

“Its official start was around July of 2021,” he

Major J.D. Griffin

said. “That was with one officer and a clinician. [We were] trying to figure things out and grow it.

“About two months ago, we finally got it staffed with a sergeant and six officers paired up with clinicians, licensed clinical social workers or licensed professional counselors,” he added.

As his largest project, Griffin is glad to see it fitting into the mix.

“Officers love it. The public loves it — mostly family members of people who are mentally ill appreciate it,” he said. “It’s great knowing that there are officers with additional training and social workers …working together as a team.”

When the situation has more of a criminal element, the social worker steps back. When there is more of a mental health issue involved, the police officer steps back and lets the social worker take the lead,” Griffin explained.

“That’s something I’m pretty proud of. I’m glad that we accomplished it as a department. …It’s still new, but it’s going forward very well,” he said, adding that it has already been useful in situations throughout the county.

Gwinnett Police held to high standards

Griffin stressed that the Gwinnett County Police force has standards of excellence that it adheres to in all situations.

“Gwinnett County has high standards that it sets for the officers, and high expectations,” he said. “We have a culture of holding people accountable, to make sure that we’re not condoning or tolerating officers that shouldn’t be here. …I think that is something that we’ve done well.”

As a member of one of the most diverse counties in the country, Griffin said the rights of all people are taken seriously.

“I’ve grown up in Gwinnett County, so that that diversity, to me, that’s just home. It’s something that has just always been there for me. So, I

don’t look at it as an as an outsider,” he said. “I like being part of that diversity and we continue to look for ways to improve as a police department,” he continued. “Gwinnett County is incredibly progressive in that sense.”

At the end of the day, the needs of all Gwinnett communities are a priority for West Precinct, said Griffin, but there is a hierarchy and some issues, like violent crime, take precedent over property crime.

“That is not to say that we’re not also focusing on other property crime, like car break-ins, entering autos or other problems. Again, our focus is on: what is the worst thing that we’re facing right now?” he said.

Public safety is a community effort

Like Peachtree Corners officials, Griffin applauds the combined law enforcement efforts

that thwarted a street takeover last summer, and the use of technology to track down the individuals involved in a homicide at a local gas station last year.

Like nearly every police department in the country, Gwinnett County is facing staffing shortages. “Our staffing levels are low at the moment, but it’s improving,” Griffin said. He added that the current shortage is one reason that the plan to hire city marshals makes sense. Recently passed by Peachtree Corners City Council, the plan provides city-based support for the Gwinnett police.

“One of the issues that we run into is city ordinances versus county ordinances, and our officers’ inability to enforce the city ordinances. A marshal program is one way to address that,” he said. “And I think they tend to work pretty well.”

He cited Grayson and Sugar Hill as examples. “I don’t see any issues there,” Griffin said, adding that it’s probably a better solution than Peachtree Corners having its own police force. In order for the police to be most effective, however, it takes a partnership with the community, Griffin said. He pointed out that Chief J.D. McClure recently started a gun crime initiative to address gun violence in the county. Statistics show that about 91% of guns stolen in the county are taken from cars.

“One thing I would like to impress upon people is to please stop leaving unattended firearms in cars,” he said. “We’re seeing kids as young as 13 with guns and most of them were stolen from cars.”

Griffin welcomes the opportunity to meet with schools and community groups to show that crime prevention and safety is a partnership among residents, businesses, police and local government.

“The more opportunities we have to interact with the community in positive ways, the better,” he said. “My mom still lives in this county. My wife and my kids live in this county. I want to police the way I want to be policed.” ##

Personalized Shopping Experience

“Officers love it. The public loves it — mostly family members of people who are mentally ill appreciate it. It’s great knowing that there are officers with additional training and social workers …working together as a team.”

Major J.D. Griffin

Gwinnett County City Ranks

Wealthiest in State

Berkeley Lake’s mayor says the wealth isn’t what makes this city special – it’s the people.

Words by Arlinda Smith Broady

Photos courtesy City of Berkeley Lake

Although Georgia is home to some of the largest companies in the world — Coca-Cola, Home Depot and Delta Air Lines — it’s also home to 17 billionaires, according to Forbes magazine. Just about all of those uber rich individuals live in the city Atlanta.

But you may be surprised to learn that the wealthiest city in Georgia, by median household income, isn’t the state’s capital. It’s not Sea Island, with its homes averaging around $4 million. Although the city in question is in metro Atlanta, it’s not Druid Hills – even though that community’s average home is worth about $1 million.

According to data released recently by the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Gwinnett County boasts the city with the highest average income. Have you figured it out? It’s right here in Southwest Gwinnett — the affluent lakeside community known as Berkeley Lake.

With a median household income of $138,189., the poverty rate of Berkeley Lake is practically non-existent at 1.8%, according to Census data. Although the home values aren’t typically in the seven figures, the median home value in Berkely Lake is $557,000.

What stands out most, however, is that Berkeley Lake probably has the highest percentage of homes that are occupied by the owners. With a rental rate of only 3.5%, an amazing 96.5% of houses have their owners dwelling within. Although Mayor Lois Salter wasn’t surprised by the numbers, she stressed that the city doesn’t focus on them.

“I’ve lived here since 1985 and raised children here, and it has been a very great blessing to me,” she said. “Apparently it is to other people, because we don’t have a lot of people moving in and out.”

Biggest asset is the people

With a population of 2,054, according to latest Census figures, the small city has the benefit of being near a vibrant big city and even closer to Norcross and Peachtree Corners. Both of those cities are working on smart growth and economic development that benefit the entire area.

“We have been for many years the wealthiest city in Georgia per capita, but we think of our-

selves as a small town where people know each other and look after each other in a way that I think is quite unusual,” said Salter.

Berkeley Lake became a city in 1956, well before the main thoroughfare, Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, was even there. It was a place for people to get away from the city crowds and noise. Over time, people began to turn those vacation cabins into primary homes.

Salter said that she sees Berkeley Lake as a nice place to live with nice people.

“I don’t know how to say this exactly, but people seem to be getting less patient with each other in the area beyond our city — in the larger culture. We have a history of people being willing to disagree with each other without being disagreeable. And everyone tries to keep manners about them,” she said.

Years ago, Salter invited a member of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia to meet at length with the city council. It resulted in the City Code of Ethics.

“We hashed out a commitment that we made to each other. I bring it up on the record every January as a code of conduct that we renew to each other, that is based on civility,” she said. Salter admitted that it can be challenging at times because people do get passionate about things. “But we remind ourselves of that and we commit ourselves in a renewed way, at least yearly. And I think that has some effect on filtering out into our community,” she said.

The chapel at city’s center

One example is the chapel across the street from City Hall.

“Before Berkeley Lake was a city, that little building was built by residents, largely with their own hands,” she said. “I was president of the chapel association for two years before I became mayor, and I loved the impact that the chapel has on our community.”

The residents meet one Sunday a month with a visiting minister. That way, no single denomination is favored.

“But the thing is, we all get together. We hear who is sick …and we look after each other in that way,” Salter said. “And after the visiting preacher preaches a sermon, we sing some songs and we have breakfast.”

The short service is at 8:30 a.m. so everyone can get out early enough to make it to their own churches.

“The chapel, I believe, has a real impact on our culture that we cherish here,” she said. “Besides the natural beauty, the beautiful spirit is what makes this a special place to live.” ##

Opposite page, kids jumping enjoying themselves on July 4 between the city’s parade in the morning and the fireworks in the evening.

Middle picture, the monthly Berkeley Lake Chapel service which sometimes takes place on boats in the middle of the lake, followed by breakfast provided by members in shared turns.

Below, Twice a year Berkeley Lake citizens put bags of non-perishable food and household goods by the chapel mailboxes to be collected and delivered to neighborhood cooperative ministries.

Never Too Early to Learn

Countywide initiative encourages parents, caregivers to get kids school ready as early as birth.

Words by Arlinda Smith Broady Photos courtesy of Gwinnett County Schools

Everyone pretty much believes in the adage that it’s never too late to learn. But a Gwinnett County Public Schools initiative has made it a mission to encourage parents, guardians and caregivers that it’s never too early to start learning.

Building Babies’ Brains has a strategy to ensure that all parents have access to the information and tools they need

to be their child’s first and best teacher so that all children have access to high quality early learning at home or elsewhere.

It’s not a program or even something that’s exclusively part of Gwinnett County Public Schools, said Kim Holland, director of Early Learning and School Readiness.

“It’s not a GCPS thing, but we are the lead facilitators for it. We help bring everything together and make sure that the work continues to move forward,” she said. “It’s part of my daily

Above, Daphnee and Paola, Gwinnett Building Babies’ Brains, Ambassadors enjoying the scarf song at the Duluth Library story time with Ms. Sarah. Opposite page, Gwinnett Building Babies’ Brains Ambassador, Paola, speaking with a parent at the Duluth Library about the GBBB website.

work. And GCPS has been a great partner in terms of allowing me to give a lot of my time to this external initiative that we have around kindergarten readiness and making sure that children are ready to thrive in kindergarten.”

Learning how to learn

Schools have what they call a Kindergarten Readiness Index that determines if children come to school prepared to learn and what they already know. In Gwinnett County, the largest school district in the state, nearly half of kindergarteners arrive on the first day with no clue how to be a student. So, part of the job of educators is getting kids prepared to be educated.

“Within our early learning and school readiness group, we have several different buckets of work,” said Holland.

A few years ago, her department launched a program called “Play to Learn.” It took place within the school and invited pre-kindergarten children and their parents to see how things like playing with blocks, partaking in story time and tracing letters in sand or shaving cream could help develop the desire to learn.

And while it may sound simple, getting parents to engage infants and toddlers can be a complicated concept, but most find ways to make it work once they understand it.

That’s where people like Beth Richard come in. As a parent engagement specialist with Early Learning and School Readiness, she’s also a Building Babies’ Brains (BBB) ambassador.

“Not only do I get to work with the school system, but I also get to go out and meet with the community and meet partners and build partnerships so that we can meet more parents,” she said. “I also get to work as a Gwin-

nett County Public Schools teacher expert and go out with Building Babies’ Brains to implement what we call ‘Impact Labs,’ which are like workshops for parents.”

BBB has done a few labs with the Gwinnett County Public Library System and is looking for other groups to partner with, anywhere parents with small children are.

Stacey Lord is the coordinator for Early Learning and School Readiness.

“I am the one who gets to coordinate the external programming piece with Gwinnett Building Babies’ Brains. I sort of have two hats,” she said. “I support school system early learning, but I get to switch my hat over and really help facilitate …the work out in the community.”

There is an entire army of parent engagement specialists and community outreach liaisons. Their jobs are to engage with the community and teach everyone in Gwinnett County about the importance of early learning and ensure that families who have early learners, aged birth through 5, have access to high quality early learning programming.

How do you build a baby’s brain?

The concept isn’t as daunting as it sounds. “Kindergarten readiness is a problem in our county. Only 46% of kids are coming to school ready, and that’s across the county — everywhere in Gwinnett. Our ambassadors want parents to know what they can do to support their children toward kindergarten readiness,” said Holland.

“We know, through lots of great neuroscience research that a baby’s brain is being built at an amazing rate when they’re born,” she continued. “By age 3, 80% of that foundation is al-

ready built. So, by the time they get to the schoolhouse door at 5, 90% of those foundations are already there.”

Holland explained that it’s important that BBB gets parents to understand the importance of early learning and show them how to engage with their child to make sure they’re building their brain right and getting ready for kindergarten.

BBB doesn’t create curriculum or present programs. It’s more of a clearinghouse where parents can find library story times and “Play to Learn” program sites, as well as the locations of “Great Little Minds” book boxes scattered throughout the county.

The library system, Community Services, Parks and Rec, politicians and board members, the faith based community and local higher ed institutions, as well as a representative pediatrician, lots of nonprofit leaders and Early Learning Center leaders all come together with the common goal of preparing kids for kindergarten.

“We are a group of volunteers that comes together in a working group environment to tackle the problem of kindergarten readiness,” said Lord.

Empowering parents

All three women stressed that BBB isn’t about parent shaming.

If parents don’t have access to many of the resources, there are still things that they can do. Talking to them, singing to them or reading to them will stimulate their brains and make them want to learn more.

“I think parents, especially new parents, have this guilt factor,” said Richard. “Then some people [think we’re implying that they are a] bad parent.”

But the goal isn’t to cast blame.

“We talk about this all the time,” said Holland. “When you left the hospital, they gave you some information on feeding and some information on how to put the car seat in your car, but they didn’t give you any information on how to be your child’s first and best teacher. Right?”

Most parents haven’t gone to school to learn how to be educators, but they are their children’s teachers.

“We’re just helping build your toolkit. So, we call it that,” said Holland. “If you want to work on something on your house, you go to the home center and you get whatever you need and you put it in your toolbox to use. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Find more info on Building Babies’ Brains at buildingbabiesbrains.com.##