UPW - Urban Pro Weekly

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY

JUNE 10 - 23, 2021 • VOL. 9 NO. 20

BLACK MUSIC MONTH FEATURE

INTRODUCING NEW CARTOON FEATURE

JIMI HENDRIX & the R&B HALL OF FAME The AUGUSTA Connection by Corey Washington

Lines, Lies, and Betrayal

Redistricting in the midst of GOP Voter Suppression 2011 Augusta Redistricting Committee

IN 2011, MEMBERS OF THE AUGUSTA REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE were snubbed by G.O.P. operatives at home and in Atlanta. Above (L-R): Comm.

Alvin Mason, School Board member Marion Barnes and Comm. Bill Lockett helped to devise a local redistricting plan that was fair and balanced.

Ultimately, the federal courts drew the map that eventually led to the area’s greatest political gains for African Americans.

Eddie Bussey 706-772-9800

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

2

What’s Next for Public Education?

By André Benito Mountain

students a fighting chance to continue learning beyond the school day. Parents should partner with teachers and ask them, “Do you have the resources you need to effectively teach our children?”

If the answer is no, parents should mobilize to advocate for teachers to get the resources needed to support effective instruction. Too often, the relationship between parents and teachers becomes adversarial, to the detriment of real progress and productive struggle against oppression and resource disparities.

In recent weeks, I’ve been asked often about what I believe will be next for public education. We have just endured one of the most dramatic shifts in the history of American education. School districts were forced to grapple with the long-standing digital divide in our communities. More than that, we have been put on notice that the technological skills of our teachers must be addressed in the professional learning offered by school districts. Do teachers have the necessary technology and expertise to prepare a generation of digital natives for their future lives and careers?

In my new book, Virtually Lost: Essays on Education in a Global Pandemic, I share the stories of several educators who have discovered how transformative this time has been for them and for our profession.

360-Degree Communication We have also learned the importance of 360-degree communication. Schools must open the lines of communication to hear from families and scholars about how they are doing on all levels. Is the instruction engaging? Are the assign-

ments relevant or just busy work? Is the teacher accessible if I have questions or concerns? Is the administration available to answer questions?

The balance of power must shift to allow the communities served by schools to have more say in how things are rolled out. Bringing parents to the table doesn’t end after the Open House in the Fall, or the first PTA meeting. It must be an ongoing partnership where suggestions, concerns and ideas are presented to a school leadership team with an expectation for discussion and follow-up. With FB Live, Zoom, and Skype, we have multiple platforms to conduct town halls for our school communities to share their concerns and for leaders to share the vision and trajectory of the school.

Work-Life Balance and Wellness

More than anything, this period of unbelievable uncertainty has taught me the important of wellness and work/ life balance for both teachers and students. Our children need time away from devices to get outside and to enjoy natural spaces. Movement and sunlight are critical to their natural development.

What is problematic is that many of our children have become accustomed to spending hours on devices for schoolwork, then transitioning to other apps for additional hours on the same device for entertainment. We must break that cycle and help our children rediscover the world beyond the device. Teachers can also find themselves trapped in the screen, so making a schedule and creating more structure around family activities that foster for social interactions is key to maintaining the mental health of our teachers.

The Economic Divide The global pandemic exacerbated an already significant economic divide, raising concerns about how schools and school districts can make access to education more equitable. How can we level the playing field for families who must work outside the home, yet don’t have the resources to provide high-quality childcare? Many families were left to leave students unsupervised, supervised by siblings, or in daycare facilities that were not ideally suited for students engaging in virtual learning. Now, we must look closely at the access to rigorous and engaging after-school programs and summer academies that give economically disadvantaged

UPW

PUBLISHER Growing Augusta: Arts, Agriculture, & Agency LLC http://www.growingaugusta.co +1 (706) 751-2537

URBAN PRO WEEKLY SALES & MARKETING

http://www.growingaugusta.co/upw +1 (762) 233-5299

CONTRIBUTORS K.L Gordon, Denise Tucker Rickey Jones [editing] Layout/Design by Urbanpromedia

CITYWATCH

Every 10 years in the months following the latest census count, states retreat to their chambers to redraw their electoral maps. Everything from U.S. Congressional seats to local schoolboard districts have to be redrawn to reflect the changes in where people have decided to live, move to, flee or die.

The redrawing, or redistricting, is ordered by the U.S. Constitution and is enforced with the weight of the federal courts and U.S. Department of Justice but the changing political climate has made the role of the federal governmant less important than in years past.

The importance of each decades redistricting — down here on the ground — is immense. How the districts are drawn will help determine control of the state government and its policies for at least the next 10 years.

The once-a-decade redistricting process will play out in a particularly charged atmosphere this time, coming on the heels of high-profile presidential and U.S. Senate elections with narrow margins, false claims of “voter fraud” and court challenges to restrictive new voting laws.

10 years ago, a biracial adhoc redistricting committee was created to redraw the local election maps for school board and commission districts. At issue was District 6 which, in the past, was preserved as a “safe white” district despite demographic shifts that suggested that the “safe-white” status could no longer be justified and that the district be redrawn to reflect the rise black-voter strength. The committee unanimously voted to make District 6 a “toss-up” where blacks and whites could form a coalition to support candidates of their choice.

However, when the matter came up to a vote at the ensuing commission meeting, some of the white commissioners changed their vote and the matter died on the table deadlocked at 5-5. Mayor Deke Copenhaver was not at that

meeting, to break the tie one way or the other.

The resulting betrayal incensed the black community along with its political leaders. The matter was moved to the state legislature where no agreement was reached on redrawing the maps despite Richmond County’s pending elections in 2012. After local activists sued the state over the lack of new maps, the matter was reviewed by the U.S. Courts where the lines were redrawn in time for the area’s local elections.

Those elections led to the election of the county’s first black sheriff and marshal as well as local magistrates and solicitors posts. Ultimately, with the election of Ben Hasan, District 6 became a majority-black district and tipped the balance of power for the county for African Americans.

3 UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

Redistricting QuickTake

REMAP. . . a look back

ARTICLE BELOW APPEARED IN DEC. 8, 2011 EDITION OF UPW

Brigham, Smith redistricting flip-flop sparks community anger, mistrust

By Frederick Benjamin Senior UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer On Tuesday, five white commissioners of the 10-member city commission voted to reject the redistricting map unanimously recommended by the ad hoc committee setup for the purpose of selecting the new map for city and school board elections. With five of the six white commissioners voting against the map and the four black commissioners plus one white commissioner voting for it, there was a rare 5-5 tie and the opportunity for Mayor Deke Copenhaver to decide the matter.

Mayor Copenhaver, however, was not at the meeting. He was on vacation. That means that the map moves on through the process without a recommendation from the city commission.

The map, as drawn, creates a sixth majority-black district. And if it is adopted, it could tip the balance of power on the commission in favor of blacks.

Two of the commissioners who voted against accepting the maps, Jerry Brigham and Grady Smith had just a week earlier joined 10 other ad hoc redistricting committee members in overwhelmingly endorsing the same map.

In rejecting the map, one is left to wonder how much pressure was brought to bear in getting them to reverse themselves and negate the work

of 10 other committee members.

The map, known as Plan 3, was hammered out after a marathon session and was the result of a biracial compromise.

Black committee members who formed a majority of the ad hoc committee were persuaded to keep District 6, which had previously been a majority white district, from being overwhelmingly black. The committee decided to reduce the black population in District 6 from 68 percent to between 55 and 58 percent, but settled at 60 percent on the advice of redistricting consultant Linda Meggers.

One has to wonder if Brigham and Smith knew at the time that creating another majority-black district at the expense of a majority-white district was a deal breaker for the city’s white powerbrokers.

A week ago, black political observers were stunned when the final redistricting map garnered support from every single white committee member, but were skeptical of the map being wholeheartedly endorsed by the contentious Augusta-Richmond County Commission which had yet to vote on it.

Many blacks viewed the rejection as symbolic of the attitude of the current county commission majority toward their black colleagues. Others viewed it as business as usual.

The committee members, who had worked so hard in support of the

map, wondered about the last-minute reversal.

“I was shocked that after the work of the ad hoc committee that we would get this result,” said State Representative Quincy Murphy, a member of the ad hoc committee from the legislative delegation. “We thought we had begun a new day in Richmond County. Working on this plan we had black and white, county commission, board of education and legislative delegation,” he said.

“The ad hoc committee has done its job,” said State Representative Wayne Howard, also a member of the ad hoc committee. “That day was special,” he said, referring to the unanimous acceptance of the map by the committee.

One has to wonder, how much of Tuesday’s ‘no’ vote was aimed at humiliating Commissioner Alvin Mason, who chaired the redistricting committee and who had garnered a lot of positive press for presiding over the surprising unanimous vote.

Mason voiced his displeasure with the tactics of Brigham and Smith both during and following Tuesday’s vote.

“I’m not surprised or upset,” Mason said. “There was ample opportunity for anyone to come forward and make a comment about the way the maps were drawn. They chose not to do that. They chose to use this forum, in this setting, in the mayor’s absence to put on this drama.”

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

4

Pop-Up Augusta!

NYOTAIMORI UPW sat for a few moments with Kigwana “Kigg” Cherry, founder of Pop-Up Augusta!, to talk about his upcoming NYOTAIMORI EVENT. First, what is Pop-Up Augusta!?

Pop-Up Augusta! is a collective of uniquely curated, spontaneous experiences. Guests can expect myriad events- dinner parties, spoken word events, concerts, and family-friendly gatherings.

The events are intimate, exclusive and unforgettable.

Pop-up dinners are one-time food events that offer guests a taste of something different.

Whether it’s an unexpected location, a personal interaction with the chef or a unique menu or theme… these events cater to the “Experiential Diner” — who craves not just an amazing meal but a new and exciting dining experience. From a “Top Chef” collaborative dinner to underground supper clubs and a funky fried chicken series, we’re seeing these one-of-a-kind dining experiences pop up all over the place.

What is NYOTAIMORI? Nyotaimori literally translates to “Female body plate” or body sushi, as it’s commonly referred to. Origins go back to Japan’s Edo period, 1603 – 1867. When Samurai warriors would return from battles, they’d celebrate their wins in geisha houses that hosted nyotaimoris. Body sushi parties were and are also common among organized crime rings like the yakuza, Japan’s equivalent to the Sicilian mafia. To put things in perspective, it’d be like naked women donning spaghetti and meatballs in The Godfather.

Today, nyotaimoris are a highend sensual art form combining a visual and culinary experience.

This requires a highly trained sushi chef and experienced model. No, it’s not just eating sushi off a naked body. Lol What compelled you to host this event?

It is always my desire to raise the bar with Pop-Up Augusta! events; to bring new and diverse concepts to the Augusta River Region. I like to pique curiosities and chart the unknown.

Essentially, our team is curating memorable experiences.

How do we find out about and get tickets to one of your events?

Guests must complete pre-registration to receive invitations for our signature events. We don’t post ticket links, we don’t advertise who, what, nor where. We share the date and the concept, but details are only given two days before. And only to ticketholders.

What else do you have up your sleeve? What’s coming up?

So glad to have events! We’ll be bringing back a few perennial favorites such as The Mimosa Crawl and Speakeasy:Burlesque.

Pop-Up Augusta! is also partnering with Black Girls Brunch ATL for BRUNCHELLA: a two-city event, this summer.

Pop-Up Augusta! Nyotaimori June 19 Augusta GA Register at popupaugusta.com for exclusive invite Info: (657) 215-5444

5 UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

#gardencityjazz june 27 : july 25

UMOJA VILLAGE Updates 1. Deadline is this Friday, June 11th to nominate Aikenites under 40 for the Aiken Standard’s Young Professionals 2 Follow who make Aiken great by making a difference and touching the community in positive ways. Let’s not complain if we don’t see faces who look like us, because we didn’t take the time to nominate deserving Blacks/African Americans.

To nominate online: aikenstandard. com/yp2follow2021.

By mail: Aiken Standard Young Professionals, P.O. Box 456, Aiken, SC 29802.

Must include contact info for the nominee or nominator, including phone number and email address.

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

6

Karen Brown & Partners to conduct

FREE VIRTUAL 4th Annual Sand Hills Community Center Summer Youth Program June 14 – 26 Augusta native Karen Brown, former Dance Theatre of Harlem Principal ballerina, dance administrator, dance professor and founder of En Pointe Plus Dance Mastery Institute (EPP) and her team will conduct the free virtual 4th Annual Sand Hills Community Center (SHCC) Summer Youth Program. Ms. Brown is the Creative and Program Director of a 2-week SHCC arts enrichment program held from June 14-26, 2021, sponsored by the City of Augusta and the Augusta Commission in collaboration with the City of Augusta Recreation & Parks Department and the Richmond County Board of Education.

The program is designed for students from ages 10 to 14 that are 6th, 7th and 8th graders. They will experience painting, writing, dancing, singing, spoken word, financial literacy, athletic training and public speaking workshops. Throughout the program there will be awards, and prizes. Each student receives an event t-shirt. This two-week program scheduled June 14-19 and June 21 – 26 will be held Monday through Friday with videotaped culminating events held on Saturday, June 19 and Saturday, June 26, also presented on the Zoom platform. The Zoom link will be provided after registration.

Distribution sites for supplies pickup (as long as supplies last) will be shared at registration. Instruction and activities are scheduled in blocks of time for each grade level with adequate breaks during the sessions. Level appropriate training in visual arts, dance, vocal instruction, and financial literacy will be given to each participant. Each child will have an opportunity to accumulate points for participation and creativity. Age appropriate awards will be given at the culminating event each week and grand prizes will be

awarded during the final event.

The students will be taught by several renowned instructors such as Baruti, Russell Joel Brown, Pepper, Funmi and Karen Brown. This year, EPP will again be partnering with Pepper of Contemporary Dance Theater and she will teach modern dance and choreograph. Ballet and other dance classes will be taught by Ms. Brown.

Hip Hop will be offered as well as training for athletes to learn to jump higher and run faster with strength and agility, and vocal instruction will be taught by Funmi. Broadway actor Russell Joel Brown’s “Project: Inspire” which weaves content from “The Lion King” with valuable life lessons will be taught, and the “ABC’s of How Money Works” will be taught by Keith Brown.

“I’m grateful to have the opportunity for the fourth time to fulfill our vision of this program which so positively impacts a growing number of students in the community as evidenced in the parents’ testimonials,” said Karen Brown, Creative and Program Director of the 4th Annual Sand Hills Community Center (SHCC) Summer Youth Program.

To register students may use the link below from the City of Augusta website, https://forms.augustaga.gov/ Forms/SandHillsSummerProgram, or go the Facebook address https://www.facebook.com/ SandHillsSummerYouthProgram.

Included in the registration are Information Zoom calls for parents/ guardians and participants that are on Thursday, June 3 and Thursday, June 10 at 6:00 p.m. using the following link:https://umsystem.zoom. us/meeting/register/tJIudOyorz0sG9f7jxMd5RAxSChcMPLbvCaM. If you have more questions, please call (762) 233-0882.

KeviaMack PERCEPTIONS Artist Check In A Tribute to Judith Ortiz Cofer Keyvia Mack, a rising senior at Davidson Fine Arts, was commissioned by the Department of English and World Languages at Augusta University to paint a commemorative piece about Judith Ortiz Cofer.

Ortiz Cofer, a renowned poet and professor of Creative Writing at the University of Georgia, lived in Augusta and graduated from Butler High School and Augusta College (now Augusta University) in 1974.

Ortiz Cofer, a poet, novelist, and essayist, wrote about her experiences as a Puerto Rican woman and writer and her prose-poetry collection The Latin Deli was nominated for a Pulitzer-Prize. Ortiz Cofer died in 2016.

Mack, who draws and paints, was inspired

by Ortiz Cofer’s essay “The Story of My Body” included in The Latin Deli. In the essay, Ortiz Cofer describes how she is perceived differently depending on location and audience, and Mack focuses on the power of perception in her painting. When asked to describe the painting, Mack explains, “In the middle there are different faces, but those faces are all the writer.

At the top of the painting there are puzzle pieces of her face, and you will see some pieces are trimmed. As people of color, we sometimes have to fit into different environments and change or adjust who we are. Also, we cannot control what other people see.”

Mack said she enjoys working on commissioned pieces like this one, especially when patrons give her “free

reign to paint the world as beautiful as I see it.” Influenced by her mother’s art and encouraged by a middle school teacher who “saw potential in her work,” Mack approaches art as a passion and a business. On Instagram her business is keyoflife. artistry, and she creates portraits and customized hoodies for customers.

The painting, Perceptions, is on display in Allgood Hall, room E227, at Augusta University.

— Seretha D. Williams

7

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

8

Red, Black and Greens….. Food Fight for your LIFE!

By MaChere T

It’s All About that SOULfood Soul food is a traditional African American cuisine with roots in the Deep South. Many black children grow up eating fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, greens cooked with pork or smoked turkey and cornbread that tastes like cake. However, teaching your children to eat healthier will change health disparities in the black community. This food is often high in saturated fat, salt and added sugar.

Too much of these things can negatively impact your family’s health. But you can embrace those special family recipes by creating healthier soul food, your way. Changing your diet can be challenging because you have to train your “taste buds” to desire healthier food and with children it is even more difficult; especially if they are used to eating rich and fatty food and junk and processed food. Here is how you can begin to make healthy changes on the dinner plate.

Rethink Dinner Time •Teach your children to fill up on veggies first.

•Serve your family small portions of high calorie dishes such as macaroni and cheese.

•Save those decadent dishes for special occasions, such as celebrations and holidays.

Swap it out •Swap solid fats for avocado oil, olive or peanut oils.

•Train your children’s taste buds to enjoy healthier options by cutting the calories their favorite dishes. I started swapping out low calorie cheese a little at a time for traditional macaroni and cheese; then to plant based dairy and now my family can’t tell the difference.

•Use Black or Brown Rice or Quinoa to sub out white rice.

•Toss up a bowl of healthy potato salad. Substitute the mayo with Hellman’s Vegan Mayo or with plain, non-fat Greek yogurt to slash the fat and maintain creaminess. Add a touch of mustard for extra flavor. Sneak in

extra veggies.

Be Creative With Family Favorites •Skip the candied yam sugar rush.

Bring out the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes by oven roasting yams or sweet potatoes with cinnamon, vanilla and a little maple syrup or brown sugar.

•Create juicy, crispy “oven-fried” or Air Fried (if you have that option) chicken by soaking it in non-dairy milk then coating with a blend of panko breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Before baking, add a spritz of oil •Slow cook greens in vegetable broth with a drizzle of avocado oil. Sweeten the pot with honey and apple cider vinegar. If collard or turnip greens are too bitter for your child’s palate, try mixing in a little cabbage which cooks up a bit sweeter. Serve with baked cornbread sticks for a fun and nutritious meal.

•Reinvent Peach Cobbler by baking peaches, with honey and top with oats, toasted almonds.

Switch it Up •Use smoked paprika or a sprinkle of smoked salt for savory, smoked flavor instead of dropping fatty meat in your greens like ham, bacon or salt pork.

•Sauté kale or chard in olive oil and garlic for a quick and satisfying side dish.

•Experiment with vinegars. Apple cider and rice vinegars work with a variety of greens.

•Try fresh herbs. Instead of smothered chicken, marinate chicken in fresh rosemary and lemon juice overnight.

Bake or grill it for a flavorful main dish.

REMEMBER: Soul food traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Create NEW Traditions. If you start now you will help to eradicate many of our food caused health issues like high blood pressure and obesity. As always, It’s the Red, The Black and the Greens and we are in a Food Fight for Your Life!

Soulicious Macaroni and Cheese

This lower fat Mac and Cheese is NOT dairy free, however, you can keep all the taste with less calories.

SERVINGS: 4 INGREDIENTS 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni 2 tablespoons earth balance butter substitute 1 large scallion, white and light-green parts, thinly sliced crosswise 2 tablespoons wheat flour 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional) 1 Tablespoon of Vegan Cream Cheese (I love Miyokos) 2 cups nonfat milk 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded low-fat sharp cheddar cheese Sweet paprika DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 1 1/2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking oil spray. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat; cook the macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the scallion and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, until it has softened. Add the flour, dry mustard, hot pepper sauce and salt, if desired; cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add the milk; cook for about 10 minutes, stirring, until the mixture has thickened somewhat. Remove from the heat and add the cheese and cream cheese, stirring until it has melted. Drain the macaroni and add to the sauce mixture, stirring to combine. Transfer to the baking dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with paprika and bake for about 25 minutes, until set and lightly golden on top. Serve warm.

Business Structure 101 and your Secretary of State office to ensure no one else as acquired your chosen name.

Next, acquire your Employee Identification Number (EIN) from www.irs.gov. Register your name with the Secretary of State for your appropriate jurisdiction - Georgia’s site is sos.ga.gov and South Carolina is sos. sc.gov. You can google to locate your Secretary of State for another state.

Establish your business bank account at a bank of your choice. When selecting a bank, ask questions about lending practices, lines of credit for business owners, and lending requirements to ensure it makes sense for your business to partner with that bank.

Obtain your local business license from your appropriate jurisdiction and any additional licensing you may

need. Your local business license office should be able to walk you through additional requirements.

These requirements change based on jurisdiction and business type.

We will continue with additional business basics in our next article.

Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce is here to service business owners in the CSRA community through advocacy, education, programming and more. Visit us at www.mygabc.org and follow us on social media @mygabc

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

By Ronic West Many times, our businesses are birthed from our passions and where we have the most interest. During the pandemic, we learned that having the basic structure in place is critical to ensure we have access to programs, grants, and other items to grow and sustain our businesses. I am extremely transparent and will have to be honest that even after having these basics in place, barriers can still be faced.

Therefore, this is only one of many reasons organizations like ours must exist and continue to advocate for our business owners. For us to advocate most effectively, we want to ensure all business owners have the basics covered.

Once you have selected a business name, search through social media

9

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

10

Black Music Month Feature

Hendrix writings leads author to rock-legend pilgrimage After writing two books, author Corey Washington is developing a documentary on the life of Jimi Hendrix Growing up in New York City, in the late 70’s and early 80’s, I had never heard of Jimi Hendrix. When I moved down South in the late 80’s – early 90’s, I would occasionally see him on TV, connected with Woodstock or some other wild psychedelic rock situation. He never interested me as a person that I would want to learn about, much less, listen to his music. Now, fast forward to 1997, as wrestler Hollywood Hulk Hogan starts to use Jimi Hendrix’s song, Voodoo Child as his ring entrance music. For the first time, I heard this overpowering cornucopia of guitar mastery, accentuated with effect pedals, and it was music to my ears.

I found out that it was Jimi’s music, and the rest, as they say, is HISTORY. When I say HISTORY, I’m talking both in the literal and figurative sense, because I have been involved in some historic events concerning James Marshall Hendrix AKA Jimi Hendrix. Who would’ve thought that a research paper I did at Augusta State University, asking why Jimi Hendrix was under appreciated in the Black Community would turn into my first book on Jimi in 2010 called, Nobody Cages Me. That book got me in the door, as I began to meet many people that knew Jimi personally, as well as other people that had a mutual admiration for Jimi. The knowledge, contacts, and information that I gathered eventually led to my latest book on Jimi called Jimi Hendrix Black Legacy, which came out in 2019.

In addition to writing two books on Jimi Hendrix, I’ve had the honor of accepting two awards in his behalf at the National R&B Hall of Fame. The first time I accepted his induction award was as a solo artist, in 2016, at Dearborn, MI. The next time, I was able to accept on his behalf, was when his group, the Band of Gypsys were inducted in 2019, in Detroit, MI. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I was recently appointed to the Board of the Hendrix Music Academy (HMA). This non-profit, started by his

niece Tina Hendrix, is designed to cater to economically disadvantaged youth, in the Seattle area. These kids are allowed to learn any instrument they want, including music production, free of charge.

Many kids have expressed how this academy has changed their lives for the better. I got to see this firsthand when I flew to Seattle at the end of May to check out the HMA. Students were engaged and having fun, as they learned about chords, song structure, and so forth. The kids were even fed a healthy meal.

The highlight of my trip was when I got to meet Leon Hendrix, the patriarch of the Hendrix family. He is Jimi’s younger brother and grew up with him in Seattle.

He was visiting his family and working on recording some music. We went on a tour of their old neighborhoods in Seattle.

Leon narrated and reminisced about the many adventures he and Jimi had. Many of the places were torn down due to gentrification and urban sprawl, but a few places remained. Leon is as close as you’re going to get to knowing what Jimi was like as a child/teen. It was very gratifying to capture his oratory history lessons on video. In fact, I was able to video many different landmarks in Seattle for a documentary that I’m working on about Jimi’s life. To cap the tour off, I signed my latest Jimi Hendrix book for Leon.

I look forward to continuing my research and documentation of Jimi’s history and legacy. As I do so, I’m always repping Augusta, Ga. The first thing people say is JAMES BROWN. As I learn more and more about Jimi, I’m starting to see more parallels between Jimi and James Brown, including the JAMP school in JB’s honor and the Hendrix Music Academy. I already suggested that the Hendrix family start their own bus tour like the James Brown family, so maybe we’ll see some cultural exchanges between the two families in the future. Whatever the case, I’m all in. ­— Corey Washington Author of Jimi Hendrix Black Legacy www.jimibl.com

Washington with Billy Cox of Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsies at the 2019 National R&B Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

AUGUSTA Family YMCA of Greater Augusta’s Camp Lakeside will host R.O.C.K Grief Camp this August for children who have lost a parent or primary caregiver within the past year.

R.O.C.K, Remembering Others and Creating Keepsakes, is a one-day camp experience that gives each child the opportunity to treasure and remember their loved one with the assistance of trained staff. The camp supports grieving children and teens ages 6 to 16. In partnership with Posey Funeral Directors and Children’s Hospital of Georgia, R.O.C.K. Camp is offered at no cost to campers.

“Our camp will allow grieving children to just be kids while also tackling some of the feelings they are going through,” says Charlie Prescott, Camp Lakeside’s director.

“We are excited to be able to partner with our community to bring this opportunity to CSRA families, especially after the year of isolation we have experienced,” adds Melissa Posey Loose of Posey Funeral Directors.

“This will be a fun day for campers and a positive moment for building bridges of friendship and support.”

Campers will enjoy typical camp activities, like archery and kayaking, while being around other children also learning to cope with grief.

Staff from the Children’s Hospital of Georgia will conduct grief conversations and lead activities. At the end of the day, each family will be provided resources of how to obtain counseling services if needed.

The camp will take place at Family YMCA Camp Lakeside on August 28.

If you are interested in learning more about R.O.C.K Camp, complete the interest form on the Y’s website at thefamilyy.org/programs/22511786 by July 15. Space is limited.

Get UPW delivered to your inbox OR your front door. Subscribe at growingaugusta.co/upw

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY INVITATION TO BID Due to closure of Richmond County Board of Education building for COVID-19, sealed proposals from Contractors will be collected for the T.W. JOSEY HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL / SOFTBALL FIELDS, PROJECT #B-17-005-3756.4 project via email until 3:00 p.m. local time, Tuesday, July 13, 2021.

Please send the completed bid package to the email address RCSSBIDS@rcboe.org and use the subject line, “Company Name”, T.W. Josey High School Baseball/Softball Fields. No extension of the bidding period will be made.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held Thursday, July 1, 2021 @ 10:00 A.M. local time in the T. W. Josey Cafeteria, 1701 15th Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

Drawings and project manual on this work may be examined at the Department of Maintenance and Facilities, Richmond County Board of Education, 1781 15th Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

Bidding documents may be obtained at the Office of the Architect: DICKINSON ARCHITECTS, P.C., 771 BROAD STREET, SUITE 200, AUGUSTA, GA 30901. Applications for documents together with refundable deposit of $150.00 per set should be filed promptly with the Architect. Bidding material will be forwarded (shipping charges collect) as soon as possible. The full amount of deposit for one set will be refunded to each prime contractor who submits a bona fide bid upon return of such set in good condition within 10 days after date of opening bids. All other deposits will be refunded with deductions approximating cost of reproduction of documents upon return of same in good condition within 10 days after date of opening bid.

ELECTRONIC BIDDING DOCUMENTS MAY BE OBTAINED DIRECTLY FROM THE ARCHITECT. REQUESTS MAY BE MADE BY PHONE OR EMAIL BY CONTACTING JACKIE PARISH AT 706-722-7488 OR JPARISH@DICKINSONARCHITECTS.COM. A LINK WILL BE PROVIDED FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS. ONLY REGISTERED PLAN HOLDERS REQUESTING THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE ARCHITECT WILL BE NOTIFIED OF PUBLISHED ADDENDA. Contract, if awarded, will be on a lump sum basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of 35 days after time has been called on the date of opening.

Bid must be accompanied by a bid bond in an amount not less than 5% of the base bid. Personal checks, certified checks, letters of credit, etc., are not acceptable. The successful bidder will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds in an amount equal to 100% of the contract price.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

To promote local participation, a database of Sub-contractors, Suppliers, and Vendors has been developed by the Program Manager, GMK Associates. Contact Jeanine Usry with GMK Associates at (706) 826-1127 for location to review and obtain this database.

Bids shall be submitted and addressed to: Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw Superintendent of Schools County Board of Education of Richmond County Administrative Office 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor Augusta, Georgia 30901 c/o Mr. Bobby Smith, CPA

11 UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

Children’s grief camp coming to the YMCA

UrbanProWeekly - JUNE 10 - 23, 2021

12

vöxnbāss (4th) Sunday Soiree June 27 @ 5:00p St. Luke Anglican Catholic Church 3081 Wheeler Road Augusta 30909 tix: gardencityjazz.eventbrite.com (762) 233-5299 Bring own seating & picnic. Limited capacity. Covid protocols in place.

In the event of inclement weather, concert will take place inside church.