Shawn
EdwardS SHAWN EDWARDS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AUGUSTA, GEORGIA LAND BANK AUTHORITY, poses for a photo on Broad Street downtown. The land bank works in conjunction with various city departments to facilitate the construction of affordable housing by non-profit community development organizations and private developers. Photo by Vincent Hobbs
URBAN PRO WEEKLY UPW AUGUST 29 - SEPT. 11, 2022 • VOL. 11 NO. 2 DirectorLandAugusta’sBank City’s online services among the best AUGUSTA I.T. DEPARTMENT GETS NOTICED KEN MAKIN COMMENTARY “No child left behind” Abandoned
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If we want to save the children, we must see them first
Vincent Hobbs Menia L. Chester Frederick Benjamin Sr. :
Samson “S.C.” Toe as the newly appointed Assistant Conductor of the Augusta Symphony! S.C. currently serves as the Director of Music at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church where he conducts the choirs, works with the clergy and staff in worship preparation, and enjoys leading the congregation in joyful praise through music. He previously was the Music Director at the United Methodist Church in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while also working as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Pittsburgh Renaissance City Choir. Welcome to the Augusta Symphony! Samson “S.C.” Toe
K.L. Gordon Ken Makin
Layout/Design
Augusta Technical College is honored to be one of only two colleges in the nation to receive a $20,000 Impact Grant to start a food pantry on our campus for students! Thanks to TargetX for granting us this award and special thanks to employees Kaylei Martin and Melissa Redmond-Burch for leading this effort. Go Cougars!
202228,-11SEPT.-29AUGUST-UrbanProWeekly2 Growing Augusta: Arts, Agriculture, & Agency LLC +1http://www.growingaugusta.co/UPW(706)751-2537UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY SALES & MARKETING CONTRIBUTORS+1http://www.growingaugusta.co/UPWPUBLISHER(762)233-5299 •
T wo weeks ago, my dad and I watched a local news report about the Richmond County School System entitled “The invisible children vanish from the classroom – again”. It was a report about the fates of homeless children who “went missing” in local schools.
Augusta Transit Management, also known as RATP Dev USA, Inc. and service provider for Augusta Transit, will host a career fair from 10am – 4pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 2844 Regency Boulevard. Individuals with a Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with Passenger Endorsement are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will be offered bus operator positions on-the-spot, a sign-up bonus, and excellent benefits. Augusta Transit is committed to enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors in Richmond County through providing sustainable and safe transit services. Media interested in covering this topic should contact Public Information Manager Danielle Harris at 706-564-3460.
UrbanProMedia MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by Ken Makin
Movers & Shakers Augusta Transit Management to host career fair on Sept. 7
$20K GRANT WILL CREATE FOOD PANTRY
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The most heartbreaking commen tary of the report came from a mother of four: “It’s frustrating because I have kids that need to be in school, so they don’t end up homeless at 15 years old and destitute. …They’ve got to get an education.”Thereare countless concerns which I have about this situation, the highest of which involves the quality of life for Black folks in Augusta. I’ve pre viously expressed in this space how rampant homelessness and reckless capitalism have factored into more crime, and worse, hopelessness. That is only part of the tale, though. The pressing concern as it relates to this story is how RCSS officials can continue to conduct business as thou sands of children are disappearing off of their rolls. Local news suggested those children are “invisible.” I understand the intent, but I wouldn’t dare call them invisible. Thrown away by the local government? Most certainly. Suggesting the children are “invisi ble” adds to the destiny inflicted upon them by RCSS – “out of sight, out of mind,” is how the saying goes. That is a troublesome way to approach student enrichment, because the children we ignore today become the adults of tomorrow. No child left behind. What hap pened to this attitude in our schools? The irony of the phrase, which was the name of the education-based law from 2002-2015, was that it showed how schools are not only penalized for low scores, but also exposed the lack of funding for education. “No child left behind” should be the mantra of the village that responds to homeless children with love and resources. Instead, capitalism instructs officials to wipe the indigent from the rolls in the name of test scores and funding. Public education is in crisis mode –and the burden of responsibility isn’t just on our teachers. It’s the responsi bility of the village as well. Ken Makin is the host of Makin’ A Difference and a freelance writer for ESPN and The Christian Science Monitor, among other outlets. Look him up on Facebook at Makin’ A Difference, and you can also send him an email with your thoughts makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com.at
to receive the award during the 2022 GMIS International Annual Conference held on August 21-24, 2022, in Philadelphia.
“We are honored to receive this recognition because it speaks to our team’s dedication to harness ing new technology to enhance the services we provide our cli ents,” said Chief Information Officer Tameka Allen. “I applaud the hard work of our government’s Information Technology team as they con tinue to implement initiatives that streamline our services and strengthen the relationships we have with our partners,” added Augusta, Georgia Interim Administrator Takiyah A. Douse.
IT department is set
AUGUSTA
The Georgia GMIS also recog nized the department’s Open Data Catalog Hub webpage with the G2 Business Award during their spring conference.
Augusta IT Department’s new online service receives statewide and international recognition
The Augusta, Georgia Information Technology Department has been recognized as the 2022 winner of the Government Management Information Sciences (GMIS) G2 Business Award presented by GMIS International. GMIS International is the leading professional associa tion for government IT profession als, representing nearly 450 public sector agencies in 35 states and 8 countries. This award recognizes Augusta’s IT department for its implementation of an Open Data Catalog Hub webpage. This project generated significant benefits for business both local and from other cities by providing spatial data easily available in download able format. The customers for the system include engineering firms, power companies, land surveyors, architecture Firms, data analysts, andAugusta’srealtors.
UrbanProWeekly3-AUGUST29-SEPT.11,2022
202228,-11SEPT.-29AUGUST-UrbanProWeekly4 Have A Suggestion For A Great Story? Let us know about it. Contact Us At growingaugusta.co/upw Patients needed for Dental Hygiene Student Clinic Augusta University Dental Hygiene students provide quality dental cleanings in the dental hygiene student clinic under faculty supervision. All services are provided at reduced fees. For more information, please email jflanigan@augusta.edu
proclaims August
UrbanProWeekly5-AUGUST29-SEPT.11,2022
Black Business and Black Philanthropy Month
Mayor Davis as
Commissioner Jordan Johnson, Ronic West, Mayor Hardie Davis with students from DeKel mPact Services. Mayor Hardie Davis, Ronic West, president of GABCC flanked by orga nization members.
Land banks use var ious approaches to acquire prop erties, which inevitably have a pro found impact on the overall nature and extent of the operations of the land bank. Although the AGLBA receives most of its properties as a result of tax foreclosures, it is key to the Augusta Georgia Land Bank’s operations that it have the authority to acquire properties from three other possible sources.
UPW: Does the land bank ever sell or auction any property in the land EDWARDS:bank?
UPW: What is a land bank and what is the Augusta, Georgia Land Bank Authority’s main mission in
The AGLBA is held to the same standard as any private property owner as it pertains to code enforcement (meaning prop erty condition), as well as upkeep and maintenance. Additionally, the AGLBA maintains insurance on structures to avoid liability.
EDWARDS:property?
All properties held in the name of the AGLBA on pub lic lists are available for sale.
EDWARDS:Augusta-Richmond?
First, a land bank should be able to acquire other publicly owned properties from the local government, wheth er acquired years earlier as a result of foreclosure proceedings or prop erties that have become surplus.
Second, a land bank should have the discretion to acquire proper ties through voluntary donations and transfers from private own ers. Thirdly the Land Bank has the authority, to purchase or lease on the open market.
UPW: What are the AGLBA’s short-termEDWARDS:goals?
The future is bright for the AGLBA, as we continue to be a leader in our industry. Not only in the advocacy for low to moderate income families and households seeking to establish longterm generational wealth through real estate. But also in the creative solutions utilized to leverage gov ernment funding. We will continue to seek additional funds to grow Augusta’s population and seek, as always, to remain fiscally responsible to our commitment to both com -
202228,-11SEPT.-29AUGUST-UrbanProWeekly6 Q& A ShawnDIRECTOREdwards
The AGLBA in the short term will continue to work with private investors for the devel opment of housing throughout Richmond County. It is this group that is the primary client type of the Land Bank, as they seek to create wealth through real estate. Policies have been adopted by the board of directors to ensure that communi ties are not gentrified as these inves tors create new housing opportuni ties. And continued communication with community leaders is an essen tial step taken by the Land Bank to guarantee that native populations are not displaced.
Augusta, Georgia Land Bank Authority
The AGLBA did present to the Richmond County Commission in May of this year a request for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the purpose of directly developing affordable, quality housing. These properties slated for that specific funding infusion were presented under a concept of living wage housing for sale. This would have entailed the acquisition of tax delinquent, abandoned properties for rehabilitation and sale on the open mar ket. However, some neighborhoods may have required the inclusion of rental properties as clients transi tioned to home ownership. Private investors would have leveraged these funds and thus created truly mixed-income neighborhoods of various housing types.
HobbsVincentbyPhoto
UPW: What about its longer-term goals?EDWARDS:
UPW: What are some of the ways that the land bank acquires
Although titled in the name of the Augusta Georgia Land Bank Authority, approxi mately 50% of the parcels held currently are held on behalf of the city of Augusta Richmond County’s Housing and Community Development Department. The AGLBA also holds property for other city departments including Engineering and Utilities. These properties are not marketed as available for sale to the general public as they are held for specific city projects in the future.
UPW: Does the land bank own all the property in the land bank?EDWARDS:
UPW: Is the ALBA responsible for the upkeep and environmental impact of the properties it EDWARDS:controls?
UPW: Does the land bank have any plans to develop affordable housing on its own and then sell or rent that EDWARDS:housing?
A land bank is a public authority created to hold, man age, and develop tax delinquent, vacant, abandoned and dilapidat ed properties. Land banks act as a legal and financial mechanism to transform vacant, abandoned, and tax-foreclosed property back to a productive use. In addition, a land bank is a powerful locational incentive that encourages rede velopment in distressed, blighted communities that generally have little available land. The Augusta, Georgia Land Bank Authority’s (AGLBA) mission is to collabo rate with the City of AugustaRichmond County on community and economic development projects by providing land to be used in the production of affordable housing for low and moderate income households.
Bridge Road. For more information, call 706-592-3200.
EDWARDS: The AGLBA is catego rized as a non governmental organi zation (NGO) with Richmond County and receives an annual infusion of approximately $140,000 annually. However, with requests like that of ARPA funding the Land Bank seeks to be more aggressive in its mission to re mediate blight and will continue to seek both local, state, and federal funding options to meet this goal.
UPW: What is the current / or projected budget for the AGLBA?
Pre-register for this in-person event from now until July 29, 2022. If you are eligible you will get notice on August 1, 2022. Individuals who participate in this event will get 75% off of Fines!! to 4:00pm to 10:00am to 12:00pm 4330 Deans
All customers Saturday 6:00am
Augusta, Georgia Land Bank Authority offers conference for investorsLifting
Landfill Field Ops. only Saturday 6:00am
The Augusta, Georgia Land Bank Aut hority (AGLBA) has announced that they will host the 2nd Annual Augusta Land Development Conference on October 4th and October 7th at the Augusta Marriott Convention Center. In its inaugural year, investors and non-profit orga nizations were presented the chance to hear from city leadership, private market industry leaders and developers/investors alike on the various elements of residential development and opportunities in Augusta. This four-day conference will expound on those project opportunities includ ing those created from the Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant award, Fort Gordon’s Growth Marketing Plan, and additional development of the Georgia Cyber Center Nathan Deal Campus for Innovation. Leading in the region and state is a goal of the AGLBA. From partnering with nonprofit organizations in appli cation for the Georgia Investments in Housing Grant Program to request ing American Rescue Plan Act funds for the remediation of blight utiliz ing private market leveraged reha bilitation funds, using innovative approaches to community building provides an opportunity to demonstrate strategies for achieving the mission.Interested parties are encouraged to register for the conference at ldconference.com. Space is limited. For additional information, please contact Ashleigh Neville at 706.432.5272.
EDWARDS: The AGLBA public listing is available on the city of Augusta’s website at Listing?bidId=View/6114/AGLBA-Properties-augustaga.gov/DocumentCenter/https://www.
State Court Misdemeanor Warrants!
THE GOAL OF THIS EVENT IS NOT TO ARREST INDIVIDUALS Richmond County Sheriff’s Office • Solicitor-General’s Officer Richmond County State Court • Augusta Public Defender’s Office Richmond County Clerk of Court • CSRA Probation Event Questions (706) 261-0427 • Application Questions: (706) 821-1084 Apply: https://www.augustaga.gov/3045/Operation-Lifted-Cloud Operation Lifted Cloud Event August 30 and 31st 7 am - 7 pm. Greater Young Zion Baptist Church 405 Sand Bar Ferry Road Augusta, GA 30901 Augusta Landfill has new Operating Hours To streamline services at the Augusta Landfill, Augusta, Georgia’s Environmental Services Department has updated the operating hours at the landfill. View the new schedule below, which will go into effect on August 1, Monday2022.–Friday 5:00am
UPW: How can the public view a list of all the ALBA properties?
Customer Drop Off only The Augusta Landfill is located at
Come by this 2-day event where the purpose is to clear up qualifying outstanding bench warrants that may be affecting
UrbanProWeekly7-AUGUST29-SEPT.11,2022 munity and our mission.
your privileges!
TO MAKE JELLY
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7. Fill hot jelly immediately into hot, pre-sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4inch headspace. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel. Apply and adjust prepared lids. 8. Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes. 9. Let processed jars cool, undisturbed, 12 to 24 hours and check to ensure that the lid is sealed. If you have questions, would like to see other recipes, or learn about events by Latrell, please visit: www. southernjazzandsweets.com and remember…live your best life!
Live your best life! That is my motto. My name is Menia L. Chester, I am a chef and owner of Desserts by Latrell and Southern Jazz and Sweets. The week we are going to talk about peppers! What are you going to do will the abundance that you have from your garden? Make pepper jelly of course. It is easy and simply delicious! You can serve this on a biscuit or melt it a little and pour it on top of a block of cream cheese then serve it with crackers. Enjoy!
5. Remove from heat and strain through a jelly bag into a bowl. (Several layers of cheesecloth may be used.)
1-1/2 cups white distilled vinegar (5%) 6 cups sugar 1 pouch (3 ounces) liquid pectin
3. Place sweet and hot peppers in a blender or food processor. Add enough vinegar to purée the peppers, then purée.
Latrell’s Pepper Jelly
TO PREPARE PEPPER JUICE
SpecialDIRECTIONSNote:Wear plastic gloves and do not touch your face while handling hot peppers. For more questions on canning please visit National Center for Home Food Preservation’s website.
Yellow
Latrelle’s Yellow Pepper Jelly
3
2 hot peppers
1.PROCEDURE:Washandrinse half-pint canning jars--keep them hot in a boiling water canner until ready to fill. Prepare lids and ring bands according to manufacturer’s directions.
6. Measure 2-1/4 cups of the strained pepper-vinegar juice into the 8- to 10-quart saucepan. Stir in sugar until dissolved and return mixture to a boil. Add the pectin, return to a full rolling boil and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; skim off foam quickly.
4. Combine the pepper-vinegar mixture and remaining vinegar into an 8- or 10-quart saucepan. Heat to a boil; then boil for 10 minutes.
2. Wash all peppers thoroughly; remove stems and seeds from the peppers.
large yellow bell peppers
UrbanProWeekly9-AUGUST29-SEPT.11,2022 Get UPW delivered to your inbox OR your front door. Subscribe growingaugusta.co/upwat june#gardencityjazz27:july25code:UPWtextUPWto(706)528-6855
— Thurman K. Brown Thurman K.
(Hebrews 11:1, NIV). When you put your trust in God; you are totally relying on him, and not your trials or your circumstances. When you study and understand God’s word; you grow stronger spiritually. God’s word only works in the supernatural,and not in the natural realm. Mentally, we could never think like God because he is so sovereign. Remember this: Trouble does not last always.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,but the end thereof are the ways of death”. (Proverbs 14:12 KJV). What are you to do when you are experiencing a trial? There is no sin in becoming tired and weary. However; there is sin in giving up and losing hope. The world is not our friend,and it treats us as if there is no God. So how does one cope with his/her dilemma? Faith is the answer; which means being sure of the things we hope for knowing that something is real even if we don’t see it physically.
tkbrownjr382@gmail.comBrown(803)979-7032FilmPhotographySpiritualWritings Get UPW delivered to your inbox OR your front door. Subscribe growingaugusta.co/upwat june#gardencityjazz27:july25code:UPWtextUPWto(706)528-6855
10UrbanProWeekly-AUGUST29-SEPT.11-28,2022
God’s Word Is The Cure For Unbelief In these perilous days and times,everyone needs the Word Of God. There is so much grief,strife,envy, depression and lack of empathy amongst ourselves. Simply put, everybody is going through something;whether it be a trial, a test, or a tribulation. Life reminds us of realities;and it has a way of catching up with us.
11UrbanProWeekly-AUGUST29-SEPT.11,2022HOUSING: The Augusta Housing Authority announces applications being accepted for conventional public housing for three, four, and five bedroom housing. This wait list is open indefinitely or until further notice. Apps also accepted for the Project-Base Voucher program for one and two bedrooms at The Legacy at Walton Oaks, for seniors 55 and older. This wait list is open until Dec. 30, 2022. Submit preliminary online applications for either program on www.augustapha.org or call 706-312-3173 if you need assistance. TAKENOTE MAKE PLANS TO VISIT AUGUSTA MINI THEATRE ON OCTOBER 8, 2022! This year, Augusta Mini Theatre celebrates 47 years of service!!! Our Drive Thru Celebration will be a festival of jubilation!! With fun activities, and special surprises, throughout the event, there will be something for everyone to enjoy! Have A Suggestion For A Great Story? Let us know about it. Contact Us At growingaugusta.co/upw
12UrbanProWeekly-AUGUST29-SEPT.11-28,2022
