UPW - Urban Pro Weekly

TURPIN

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Mira Hobbs, president of the Turpin Hill Neighborhood Association, is working to call attention to a host of issues affecting life in her community. She is pictured near the park at Carrie J. Mays Community Life Center.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

A

Makin

D. Hamlin’s recovery is also about proactiveness, prevention

By the time you read this, it is likely that the Super Bowl will have been played and either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles will be your National Football League champions. With that said, there is one name which will define the 20222023 season – Damar Hamlin.

When Hamlin collapsed on the field the evening after New Year’s Day on Monday Night Football, it stunned the viewing audience and led to unified well wishes and prayers. Hamlin’s recovery was nothing short of a miracle, and yet, awareness regarding sudden cardi-

ac arrest began to wane in the rush to “return to football.”

I recently spoke with Lekesha Benson, who founded the NOLA Network in 2017 after her son Javaris, died from sudden cardiac arrest, or SCA.

“After his death, I began researching (SCA) and found that African Americans are seven times less likely to be diagnosed, even when presenting with symptoms which is why it is a health equity issue,” Benson said. “Response is also less amongst minority communities, which decreases the likelihood of survival.”

The common rhetoric used after Hamlin’s injury was that it was a rare occurrence, which Benson refuted.

“Players have died outside of play, or stopped playing due to a condition being found, or have needed life-saving procedures or medication to prevent a cardiac arrest,” she said.

Ultimately, the goal of healthcare advocates and activists such as Benson is to be proactive about the need for CPR training and on-thespot assistance at youth sporting events.

“Damar was with profession -

al trainers, but this happens to kids everyday, with their friends or at home,” she said. “We need to empower them to respond. Response saves lives, but I am a firm believer that the best course of action is prevention when possible.”

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 at makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com.

Voting Information March 21, 2023 Special Election

On March 21, 2023, registered voters in School Board District 6 and the City of Blythe will head to the polls to cast a vote in a Special Election.

Offices on the Ballot are School Board District 6, Mayor of City of Blythe, Councilmember of City of Blythe.

The Voter Registration deadline is Tuesday, February 21, 2023. All eligible persons wishing to cast a ballot in the Special Election must register, make changes or updates to their registration by that date to be eligible to vote in the Special Election. You can check your registration or register online at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/. Eligible voters have many options for casting their ballot, including: Voting by Mail Ballots will begin being mailed on February 27, 2023.

Applications are being accepted now. Interested persons must apply by submitting an absentee ballot request form located on our website at www. augustaga.gov/vote. Applications can be mailed to our office at 535 Telfair Street, Suite 500, Augusta, Georgia, 30901, by fax at 706-821-2814 or by email at richmondelections@augustaga.gov. The last day to request a ballot is March 10, 2023. Voters who cast an absentee ballot by mail do not have to provide a reason for voting by mail. In order to be counted, voted mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the Board of Elections Office no later than 7:00 PM on March 21, 2023. Voters who are elderly or disabled and requested “ALL” ballots last year will need to make a new request for this Special Election.

Advance Voting will be held beginning, February 27, 2023 in the Linda W. Beazley Community Room in the Municipal Building located at 535 Telfair Street only. Voting hours will be weekdays from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM daily through Friday, March 10, 2023 and from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 4 and March 11, 2023. Beginning, March 13, 2023, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 6:00 PM daily. The last day to vote advance is Friday, March 17, 2023. All voters voting in person during Advance Voting must provide one of the six acceptable forms of photo identification. Voting is not permitted on the Monday prior to the Election.

Election Day Voting will be available from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM on March 21, 2023 and only

polling places in District 6 and the City of Blythe will be open. Voters must report to their assigned precinct in order to vote on Election Day. All voters voting in person on Election Day must provide one of the six acceptable forms of photo identification prior to casting a ballot.

Sample ballots will be available at voting sites or can be viewed at the Board of Elections Website at www. augustaga.gov/vote or the My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/. For more information, please contact the Board of Elections Office at 706-8212340.

Absentee Ballot Drop Box will be available in the Linda Beazley Room of the Municipal Building during the hours of Advance Voting is taking place, February 27th – March 17th, 2023.

TURPIN HILL

A community coping with blight

BY F/ BENJAMIN SR. SPECIAL TO UPW

AUGUSTA

Mira Hobbs took on the task of heading the Turpin Hill Neighborhood Association about a year ago and since then a new mayor and District 2 Commissioner have moved into the picture. UPW visited with Hobbs to get an update about the prospects for progress. Her responses were a mix of apprehension and hope for imminent and swift change.

“So far we have made an effort just to have those in the government recognize that our area has been neglected in many ways. I have personally had conversations with members of the new administration, including the mayor, and I believe that as we continue to let our voices be heard that our concerns will be addressed,” Hobbs told UPW. “We would like to see some of the issues with vacant/blighted houses and right-of-way maintenance brought to the forefront, as empty houses and trash-filled overgrown lots invite unwanted crime into our community.”

The Turpin Hill neighborhood is close to downtown and is mainly residential with plenty of aging structures and is the site of Camp Dyer, a training ground for African-American troops in the SpanishAmerican War. Hobbs is moving to get the site the historical recognition that it deserves.

“We did have Mr. Erick Montgomery, Executive Director of Historic Augusta come and speak to our association about the history of Turpin Hill and discussed the process for obtaining a marker. Our first goal is to get a historical marker from the state of Georgia, but that is going to require quite a bit of research on our part, so it may be some time before we are able to get that done,” Hobbs said. “Leon Maben from the Lucy C. Laney Museum has also been very helpful in this effort.”

Hobbs is looking forward to working with the new members of the adminis -

tration.

“Hopefully, some strong, creative solutions will be made available in this area by this new administration,” Hobbs said. “Commissioner [Stacy] Pulliam has continued to keep in contact with our association and attends our meetings as her schedule permits. Her first campaign promise was to sponsor a quarterly Community Breakfast for the members of District 2 which she fulfilled in January. She invited various members of the government, including Mayor Johnson, DA Jared Williams, Interim Administrator Douse, and most of the major department heads, to speak about the activities and plans that affect our community in general.”

Hobbs also had kind things to say about Commissioner Francine Scott (Superdistrict 9). “Our at-large commissioner, has also been very responsive to our needs and attends our meetings, as well. I spoke with her and Comm. Pulliam regarding the overgrowth at the rear of the Carrie J. Mays Community Center and Oates Creek and both of those issues were resolved with their assistance. So, I believe that we now have representatives for our area that are concerned and willing to make sure that our needs are being addressed properly,” she said.

Mira Hobbs, president of the Turpin Hill Neighborhood Association, was elected in January 2022. She is working to bring attention to neighborhood issues and concerns affecting the

Turpin Hill area.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

“WE HAVE MADE AN EFFORT JUST TO HAVE THOSE IN THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZE THAT OUR AREA HAS BEEN NEGLECTED IN MANY WAYS.”

Debris from grass clippings and other foilage dumped into Oates Creek collects near the concrete retaining wall of the stream. Hobbs has noted that commissioners responded to her requests by having city crews work on clearing the obstructions.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

The Turpin Hill Area

ART&COMMUNITY

SampleAugusta.com/Roundtable

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27th from 5pm to 7pm COLUMBIA COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER1000 Market St, Evans, GA 30809

Sample Augusta aims to engage Augusta’s music community through leadership, education, and programming. We are currently planning and funding the next rendition of our Industry Roundtable series by partnering with Georgia Music Partners. This roundtable will unveil the first phase of a new grassroots research study that will assess the resources and census of the greater Augusta music industry for the inception of AugustaMusicPartners.org, led by Joe Stevenson, who is also the founder of GlueStick Music.

The panel will be moderated by Sample Augusta’s Walter Santiago & Rachel Goodman and the guest speakers include local artist and community organizer Dorian Harris known as The Art Dealer, Mala Sharma of Georgia Music Partners, Jay Markwalter of

Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau, Joe Stevenson of GlueStick Music/Augusta Music Partners, and Josh Small of The Columbia County Performing Arts Center. This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed in addition by GetUp Productions.

Sample Augusta is currently seeking sponsorship for the first high-level discussion on maximizing music’s impact on our community. Our efforts would go even further with the paid sponsorship opportunities disclosed.

SampleAugusta.com serves the creative music and nightlife community in the Greater Augusta area through community programming, paid marketing, event promotion and production. Our start-up team and platform provides individuals,

venues, and events such as the all-ages stage fund series at Grantski Records and Augusta’s Arts in The Heart festival both in media (digital media sponsor) and production support (Community Stage).

Georgia Music Partners (GMP) is a not-for-profit advocacy organization with the mission to promote the growth and success of Georgia’s music industry through partnerships and workforce development. GMP has been instrumental in leading efforts at local, city and state levels from conducting economic impact studies, white papers, to passing the Georgia Music Investment Act in 2017. Georgia Music Partners continues to work pro -

actively with city, county and state leaders to advance policy and legislative initiatives to protect, grow and market opportunities for the 70,000 music industry professionals around the state.

Augusta Music Partners (AMP) is an entity that is an accumulating resource and data pool for the music and entertainment industry of the greater Augusta region. The mission is to amplify and stimulate the economy by strengthening the platforms that already exist to empower the local music industry and its overall stakeholders.

Contact Walter Santiago or Visit SampleAugusta.com/Roundtable

DELTA SIGMA THETA On the Move!

The 300,000+ members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. celebrated its 110th anniversary on January 13th. The sorority honors its 22 founders through service, scholarship, sisterhood, and social action. Over 200 members of the Augusta Alumnae Chapter marked the anniversary with several events to serve the Richmond and Burke County communities and beyond.

The chapter started the anniversary weekend with a sold-out fundraiser, The Winter White Dream of Crimson & Cream. Members sold 375 tickets to raise funds for youth initiatives:

Scholarships for Augusta area youth headed to college this coming fall.

The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy

EMBODI: Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing

Independence

Delta GEMS: Growing & Empowering

Myself Successfully

The chapter raised $20,000 to pur-

chase books and materials and fund enrichment activities to support these young people in their academic and social growth.

On Sunday, members participated in a virtual national Founders Day observance along with thousands of sorors from across the globe.

Augusta Alumnae members followed the fundraiser and Founder’s Day observance up in true Delta fashion by participating in MLK Day celebra-

tions, to include the NAACP parade on Saturday and the annual Alpha Phi Alpha breakfast on Monday morning. Later in the day, Soror Rev. Millicent West was the keynote speaker at the Parks Baptist Church MLK Day program in Beech Island.

Deltas also partnered with Augusta University’s Mu Xi Chapter of Delta, and the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of History to present the 9th annual Mental Health Summit. 173 reg-

istered guests attended, along with nine community resource partners, to learn more about the Mind-Body Connection.

“The Augusta Alumnae Chapter has been serving the area for 44 years, and we are not slowing down, said Chapter President Danita Myler.

For more information go to https:// dstaugustaalumnae.org/, and follow them on Facebook at Augusta Alumnae Chapter – DST.

Let’s C.H.A.L.K.: Evolving Perspectives of Mental Health and Wellness INTEGRATING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR GEN ALPHA AND GEN Z YOUTH

The world has changed dramatically since the introduction of the digital age and the birth of Gen Alpha (children born after 2010) and Gen Z (born between 1995 and 2010). The shift has led to an increase in mental health and wellness awareness, in part because these generations have grown up with access to unprecedented amounts of technology and an increasingly interconnected society.

The widespread availability of information has caused many of these generations to become more knowledgeable about mental health, from how to spot signs of distress in themselves and others, to how to access resources for help. A greater understanding of mental health and wellness leads to an improvement in overall well-being and provides individuals with the support they need to cope with difficult emotions and challenging life events.

At the same time, this new awareness has caused a shift in perception surrounding mental health and wellness. Where once the stigma behind mental health issues was great, it is now becoming more and more accepted. Individuals have a greater sense of understanding, empathy and acceptance of mental illness, which in turn leads to more positive conversations surrounding the issue.

The rapid evolution of our understanding and facilitation of mental health and wellness has been brought to the forefront by Gen Alpha and Gen Z. Their knowledge, influence and growing openness to discussing mental health has been instrumental in fostering a movement of increased support, understanding and resources. It is their point of view that is changing the narrative around mental health and wellness for the better.

Parents, schools, and local communities can work together to support the mental health and wellness of Generation Alpha and Generation Z youth by creating an open dialogue and providing access to the necessary resources.

Parents and guardians can start the conversation with their children early and teach them to recognize and understand their feelings, create healthy coping strategies, and ask for help if needed. They should also take time to listen to their children and understand their experiences without judgment.

Schools should provide appropriate guidance and mental health education in the classroom. This could include teaching basic psychological concepts such as how to properly manage stress and understand mental illness. They should also create a safe and support-

ive environment for students to openly talk about their mental health.

Finally, local communities can provide resources for youth to take advantage of through local government agencies, churches, or non-profit organizations. Such resources can include support groups, counseling, and activities designed to promote mental health and wellness.

Creating a supportive environment can help Generation Alpha and Generation Z youth navigate the challenges of their lives. By engaging in meaningful conversations and providing access to the necessary resources, parents, schools and local communities can work together to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Dr. Onnie Poe letschalk@fillinginthegaps.net

Members of the Augusta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. celebrate 110th Anniversary.

2023 BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATIONS

Williams Memorial CME Church hosts

Annual Black History and Unity Day Celebration

The Williams Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church will be hosting their Annual Black History and Unity Day program on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 ast 10 A.M. The gurest speaker for the occasion is Mr. Jared Williams, District Attorney of the Augusta Judicial Circuit. D.A. Williams is the first African American to be elected to this position in Augusta’s history.

Many of the historically African American organizations and HBCU alumni groups have been invited to help celebrate in this program. Mr. Russell Joel Brown, Augusta native and Broadway actor and singer will be singing during this celebration.

Williams Memorial C.M.E. Church is located at 1630 Fifteenth Street in Augusta.

Black History Month at The Augusta Museum of History

Feb. 13, 20, 26; 2 pm:

Film Screening: And They Went Down Both to the River

Feb. 18, 12:30 pm;

Voices of the Past: Augusta Civil Rights Activist

Feb. 26, 3 pm; Creative Impressions, Genius in Chains

The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation & Tourism Dept. will host the 13th Annual Black History Concert

1 song can bring back 1,000 memories!

PRESTON & WESTON

Saturday, Feb 25, 2023

The event will be from 6:00 PM-9:00 PM

The Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior & Youth Center

To purchase tickets, visit the Odell Weeks Activities Center, Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, or the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior & Youth Center.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. This program has a limited capacity, and we encourage participants to purchase tickets in advance. This year’s event will have a catered meal, and a door prize raffle!

For more information, call 803-642-7634.

STEP AFRiKA!

Sunday, Feb. 26, 7:00 PM

The Lyceum Series welcomes Step Afrika! back to the Maxwell Theatre stage to round out Augusta University’s Homecoming celebration. Step Afrika! is the first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping.

Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes

Maxwell Theatre Box Office

706-667-4100

maxwelltheatre@augusta.edu

each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding.

Over the past 20 years Step Afrika! has grown to become one of the top 10 African American Dance Companies in the US and Washington DC’s largest African American arts organization. Step Afrika! began as an exchange program with the Soweto Dance Theatre of Johannesburg, South Africa, and has expanded to become a national and international touring company presenting performance, residencies and workshops worldwide.

General Public: $5.00

Our SUPERHERO FAMILY FUN DAY is the epitome of inclusion, and diversity for children and individuals with special needs. Diversity is the hallmark of our society. To celebrate this diversity and cultivate harmony and respect for all children and individuals, we are hosting an event that highlights their super abilities instead of their disabilities. Our vision is to combat discord by promoting positive behaviors among the youth in our community.

We here at SWAT Foundation are taking action by fostering a sense of belonging for all children who have disabilities and their families. To do this, We are hosting a Superhero themed family fun day.

This event will provide community resources, access to health screenings, and fun for all youth. This event will be a youth led initiative that promotes respect for all people.

We are asking all attendees and vendors to wear something SuperHero themed such as a cape, mask, or tshirt. This event will be held Saturday April 22, 2023, 11am-1pm.

https://form.jotform.com/230256927270153

Vendor Registration

https://form.jotform.com/230355420669153

PLANTING AND USING HERBS; HOW CAN I USE MINT SPRIGS?

Latrell’s Southern Sweet Tea with Mint

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. My goal is to teach you about food, finance, anything about the home, gardening, and healthy living.

As I am preparing for my spring garden, I always keep in mind the herbs and vegetables that I might need for my canning projects or cooking classes. Three of my favorites are mint, basil, and rosemary. Rosemary and mint are perennial plants in the south. With great care and attention, your basil may survive a mild southern winter as well.

Several garden plants, including herbs prefer well-drained, loamy

to sandy soil that is loose and not tightly packed. A soil pH range of about 6 to 7.5 is preferred, although plants such as rosemary do better with a more alkaline soil (7.5). The only way to understand your soil is to have it tested. This can be done at your local extension office with a simple soil test kit. Just take a cup a soil in a plastic storage bag to the office and they will be able to assist you for a nominal fee.

Using fresh herbs in recipes is fun and tasty too! Fresh parsley is more than a garnish, try adding it to your salads for delicious change. Mint is always good in tea! Here is my take on homemade sweet tea with mint. To sweeten or not to sweeten…that is your choice!

LATRELL’S SOUTHERN SWEET TEA WITH MINT

Ingredients

9 individual black tea bags

2 cups granulated sugar (optional)

Water, Ice

4 Fresh mint sprigs and lemon slices

DIRECTIONS

Place the teabags and 1 or 2 mint sprigs (your choice) in a heat safe bowl. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat. Pour the boiling water over the teabags and steep (soak) for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the bags and mint sprig then discard. Add the sugar to the tea and stir until completely dissolved.

Pour the tea and sugar mixture into a gallon pitcher. Top off the pitcher with cold water. Pour the sweet tea into ice-filled glasses. Add a sprig of mint to each glass. Serve immediately. If you have questions, would like to see other recipes, or would like to learn about events by Latrell, please visit my website and send an email via the contact form.

Website: www.southernjazzandsweets.com

City to host a business development workshop

Augusta is hosting a local small business development workshop series to help entrepreneurs ensure business success. The seminar is titled The ABC of Business Success and will be held from 6pm-8pm on February 22, 2023, in the Linda Beazley Community Room in the Augusta Municipal Building.

Augusta is hiring in February

Session topics include marketing and branding, market research and competitive analysis, and project preparedness and readiness.

This event is free, but registration is required.To register, email Dr. Yolanda Jackson at yjackson@ augustaga.gov or call 706-821-2406 for more information.

The Augusta Human Resources Department will host three hiring events in February to allow the community to apply for jobs with their local government. View the complete schedule below and all meetings will be held from 10am-1pm in the Linda Beazley Room in the Augusta Municipal Building, located at 535 Telfair Street.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Participating departments include Augusta Animal Services, Augusta Fire Department, Augusta E-911, Richmond County Correctional Institution, Richmond County Marshal’s Office, and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

T hursday, February 16, 2023

Participating departments include Augusta Engineering and Environmental Services, Parks & Recreation, Augusta Regional Airport, Augusta Transit, Utilities, and the Central Servcies Department.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Participating departments include the Augusta Human Resources Department, Augusta Information Technology Department, Augusta Law Department, Finance Department, Planning and Development Department, and the Procurement Department.

Attendees should bring a resume and be prepared for interviews.

For more information, the public should call 706-821-1006.

FOOD SECURITY MATTERS

Greater Augusta Food Access February Work Session

You’re invited to join us for the second of three community meetings on food insecurity and policy. The February 11 work session is designed to identify resources in our community and create a plan of action to address our shared concerns. Through facilitated dialogue and small group activities, we will work together to create a roadmap for a better future. Please bring your ideas, questions, and enthusiasm to help shape our collective action plan. All are welcome!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2023

11:00am - 1:00pm EST

2241 Wheeless Rd, Augusta, GA 30906

Details here: https://forms.gle/5ARcA4ZdPKBmpKE98

TOPICS INCLUDE:

Local/Regional/State Initiatives; Community Food Education; Distribution, Production, Processing; Marketing/ Communication; Resource Stewardship; Skilled Workforce/Training; State Food Policy & Legislation

FACILITATOR: CAROLYN HENRY, CEO, LOGICPOINT SOLUTIONS.

Carolyn Henry is a certified Project Manager Professional and active Scrum Master with over 30 years of experience in program and project management and systems engineering fields. Her areas of expertise include program and project management, certification and accreditation (C&A), methodology execution, customer service, strategic policy and planning, enterprise operations management, and personnel training.

Questions? Need special accommodations? Dietary restrictions? Contact kgordon at (762) 233-5299 or kgordon@growingaugusta.org

AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY’S NEVAEH ROSS (front) goes to bat during the first game of a softball double-header against Newberry College held at Jaguar Field. The Jags won both games, 7-1 and 4-3. (February 7, 2023, Augusta, GA)

Photo by Vincent Hobbs