URBAN PRO WEEKLY UPW SEPTEMBER 12 - 25, 2022 • VOL. 11 NO. 3 Downtown September • ARTS IN THE HEART • ACT!VATE: Augusta Renaissance HOMECOMING: Damien Sneed’s A Tribute to ARETHA FRANKLIN featuring VALERIE SIMPSON Ceelo Green and Paine get busy What does justice look like for Izzy Scott? music, fashion, art, dance, talk
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Are Plans The Future – Or Fools’ Gold?
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MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by
Ceelo doubles down on Paine support
ne would think that Augusta’s politicians would want to stay well away from the intersection of Gordon Highway and Deans Bridge Road. The Regency Mall has meant nothing but calamity for selectAugusta’spoliticians.lame duck mayor, Hardie Davis, has been accused of ethics violations which stemmed from a billboard which encouraged voters to approve the area for a new James Brown Arena. Meanwhile, Augusta’s mayoral finalist, Steven Kendrick, employed a fourth-quar ter plan to revitalize the Regency Mall area as a part of his strategy to secure the mayor’s seat. It didn’t work.Now, Kendrick and other officials are talking about the Regency reviv al again. I have concerns, which start with a $200 million project price tag. The other primary con cern is how much of the revitaliza tion cost that the city of Augusta (read: TAXPAYERS) will incur, versus how much of the financial burden that Cardinal Management, which owns the mall, will shoulder. Ultimately, it comes down to poli tics as usual, which leads to a single question from my end – why is the city’s innovative spirit limited to hopelessly capitalistic endeavors? Why can’t the city invest hundreds of millions of dollars in city ser vices, such as transportation or education? Why is it that the only time Augusta conceives the idea of a million-dollar baby, it’s an arena orSinceshops?it’s football season, I’ll put it this way – before a team invests in a quarterback, that organization should first buy into an offensive line. It’s not just about protecting the QB, it’s about building infra structure. City leaders love to pres ent sexy projects, but beauty is only skin-deep. Infrastructure cuts to the bone, and in a city where when it rains, it floods, our money should be spent on essentials, not trinkets.
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 com.makinadifferenceshow@gmail.
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It has been hard to miss the nation al recognition that Paine College has garnered lately due to their alliance with Mr. CeeLo Green. That would be five-time Grammy Award-winning Artist CeeLo Green. Most recently Paine and Mr. Green received nation al exposure for his generous gift to Paine students of A-List electronic gear, but the story with Mr. Green goes back to last year. Green delivered the first in a series of lectures to Paine College students at the onset of the aca demic 2022 spring semester. The college appointed CeeLo Green Distinguished Artist-in-Residence in October 2021 and under the agree ment, CeeLo would present a vari ety of topics and give students the opportunity to ask questions. In January, the first lecture in the series entitled “Historicity” exam ined the artist’s DNA and how his background impacted his work and creative flow. Dr. Nancy Bookhart, Chair of the Department of Humanities, said, “Everyone has a history—a genetic root and DNA that directly and indi rectly shapes who we are and ulti mately who we become. Historicity examines the environment—family and community out of which Ceelo’s childhood aspirations were planted and developed”. Dr. Bookhart will render academic support and over sight for the lecture series through out Ceelo’s tenure at Paine. Then, in support of the College’s UNCF Scholarship Campaign, CeeLo Green performed during the cov eted Presidential Scholarship Gala and Masked Ball in February. In addition to giving lectures, CeeLo promised to assist with recruiting students, fundraising, and re-launching the Paine College Choir.
UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY SALES & MARKETING CONTRIBUTORS
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According to The Augusta Chronicle, singer-Goodie Mob mem ber CeeLo Green collaborated with the private four-year university, as well as internet service provider Moolah Wireless, to gift all its Pell Grant students a free Android tablet that includes a year of free connec tivity. They’re also eligible for the 32-gigabyte device if they participate in other federal plans, like public housing assistance or the National School Lunch Program. Two weeks ago, rapper T.I., an investor in Moolah Wireless and a fellow Atlantan, got the ball of gen erosity rolling when he assisted in distributing the company’s tablets to students at Morris Brown College. “We said, ‘OK, Atlanta has T.I. We have CeeLo,’” declared Paine College trustees board member J.R. Henderson, according to The Chronicle. “So we picked up the phone and called CeeLo Green and said, ‘You know something? We want to do exactly what we saw another college do.’” He said earlier this month that moving forward, while Paine stu dents would remain focused on aca demics, they’d also be having dis cussions about purchasing land for future developments as he believes “there should be more outlets and more strings of income coming to Augusta.” Green is also interested in collaborating with Paine to pro vide a social media platform so its students will have an easier way to get in touch with him with ques tions and concerns, it was previous ly Therereported.isno denying that Green’s presence and influence are felt throughout Paine College. State Sen. Lester Jackson, a Paine trust ee, contends that Green’s significant contribution to the campus goes far beyond money.
Growing Augusta: Arts, Agriculture,
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Apparently, no one accounted for the 4-year-old child until the point where his motionless body was spotted at the bottom of the deep end of the pool by the juvenile granddaughter of the swim instructor.
For all intents and purposes that is the end of the known facts in this story but only the beginning for the anguished parents, the traumatized children, and the hapless and feckless negligence on the part of local and state governments that fail to keep the most defenseless among us, the most safe . . .
No parent should ever feel the devastation of their child dying while learning water safety. Where is the accountability and justice for Israel Scott?
He died because of a dangerous envi ronment created by improper staffing, lack of adequate safety standards, poor implementation of what little standards were in place, and inadequately trained employees. The employees present that night were set up to fail- and they did.
The Changs found that they had to act on Mitchell’s behalf by starting a foundation and lobbying for Mitchell Bill, a set of legislative initiatives meant to address the serious lack of Swim School Safety Standards in the state of Texas: The gist of their efforts is as follows: House Bill 3357 would provide •Swim School Safety Standards for swim schools providing lessons to children six years of age or younger in a group of two or more students.
It has happened before and will likely happen again, unless . . .
Who had Izzy Scott’s back?
So many questions, so little accountability.
Israel “Izzy” Scott, 4, drowned during his second swimming instruction session. Photo courtesy of Dori Scott
NEWS
COMMUNITYCOMMENT ANALYSIS by Frederick Benjamin Sr.
Many for-profit swim schools use sim ilar curriculums, in-house employee certification programs, and safety standards as the school in Mitchell’s case. The Chang Family is concerned that the lack of consequences and regulations will only allow for more of our state’s chil dren to be unknowingly placed into these dangerous environments.
In the early morning hours of February 11, 2018, three-year-old Mitchell Chang died from complications of drowning at a swimming lesson the previous day in Texas. The very place that Mitchell was supposed to learn a life-saving skill ultimately brought his death.
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The thumbnail version is as follows: Israel Scott was among the youngest (at 4 years old) of a group of 10 children (ages 4-10) who were in their second day of swimming lessons. The lesson was concluding and the instructor (Lexie TenHuisen) was leading the students through the closing routine before they exited the pool. According to Lexie, all of the children exited the pool and some of the parents from the next group had also arrived and were interacting with their children.
The one person who certainly would have had his back was asked to stay away so as not to present a distraction . . . no one else had Izzy’s back. Dori Scott, Izzy’s mother was told that she couldn’t be present during the swimming lesson. She had no opportunity to prevent the tragedy.
T he immense tragedy that resulted in the drowning death of Israel Scott can be distilled into the few moments/seconds where a 4-year-old child was allowed to escape notice long enough to get into a life-threatening situation. For those precious moments/seconds, Izzy Scott was unaccounted for — and no one realized it. Without a doubt, negligence on the part of the swim instructor’s team is responsible for Izzy’s death, and while no laws exist to hold any of the responsible adults criminally accountable, the sad truth is that the response from every official agency involved from the county to the state level has been hand-wringing, but no action. At the very least, drafts for new legislation to make sure that such a tragedy will not be repeated, should be circulating in every relevant government agen cy. Sadly, this is not happening. For those who are new to this story, you will not get a play-by-play rehash in this dispatch. [the offi cial police report is easily obtained online from the Burke County Sheriff’s Department. However, after reviewing the official investiga tion, the mystery only deepens.
Imagine the horror, if Dori Scott, Izzy’s mother had arrived at the conclusion of the class and asked the instructor, where is Izzy? Where was Izzy, indeed?
The school’s policies and procedures for that night stated two lifeguards were to be present. There were informa tional flyers to parents with the word “lifeguards” on them. The swim school where Mitchell died was never able to produce any documentation that they employed a lifeguard position when Mitchell died. They instead trained staff as “water watchers.”
By misrepresenting training, certifi cations, and safety standards, Mitchell’s parents were denied accurate infor mation that was needed to make an informed and educated decision on the safety of the swim school. Instead, Dr. and Mrs. Chang believed what they were told and their child died.
•Provide a licensing and registrations system that will provide a publicly searchable reporting system for complaints and injuries.•Provide On site AED device (defibril lator).•Set Employee certification standards, such as CPR/AED and water safety certi fication.Senate Bill 2120 would direct the state Health and Human Services Commission to do a thorough examination of the child safety at commercial swim schools. This includes evaluating current safe ty protocols, identifying areas where improvements can be made, and then reporting their findings and recommen dations to the Legislature prior to the start of the next legislative session. Can the state of Georgia afford anything less?
After Mitchell’s death, his parents found out that the highly profitable swim school industry is not regulated in Texas. There is no oversight that verifies cer tification and credentialing. There are no minimum safety standards regarding student ratios or lifeguards. There is no database tracking children’s injuries sustained at swim schools or parent complaints.
Amazingly, no one had eyes on the 4-year-old child who had wandered into a danger zone.
Augusta, Georgia Planning and Development Department is hosting a free training course on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to assist companies in ensuring their facilities meet Georgia and accessibility
Free TrainingADAOffer
a A
WHEN: 8am-12pm on September 20, WHERE:2022
PAINE’S DAIJA BROADNAX (L) listens to her teammate just before a ball is served during a game against Southern Wesleyan College at the HEAL complex. The Lady Lions fell to the Warriors 3-0 in the final score. (September 6, 2022 - Augusta, GA) Photo by Vincent Hobbs
Got Great Story? Let us know about it. Contact Us At growingaugusta.co/upw
The Beasley Room in the Augusta Municipal Building, 535 Telfair RegistrationSt. will be open until September 6, 2022. Individuals should email their completed registration forms to mmasters@ augustaga.gov or bwright@ augustaga.gov to reserve their seats.
BACKGROUND:codes.The instructor for this event will be Steven R. Jones, Senior ADA Architect for the State ADA Coordinator’s Office and Georgia State Financing & Investment Commission. Topics include an overview of the ADA law, Georgia accessibility information, and ADA design guidelines.
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UrbanProWeekly5-SEPTEMBER12-25,2022DOWNTOWN STRONG AUGUSTA COMMONS • 600 BROAD HUB • MILLER THEATRE • HUMANITREE HOUSE • PAINE COLLEGE • ARTS IN THE HEART • FIESTA LATINA • HARLEM RENAISSANCE • FUSIC 365 • PMG AFTER PARTY FEATURING AE THE COOL . . . All Month, All Year, All the time
FEATURES *Opening Night Salsa Dance Party *Singer-songwriter Rubi Mar *Black Wombman & Black Men Talk *Art Out Loud - Augusta: Open Mic Variety Show *Afro-Caribbean Vibes, featuring Jae Hemings *Beats by J-Black *Silent Headphone Yoga + Soundbath *Interactive Bachata Workshop *More Than The Masters Podcast *Live *ACT!VATEPaintingVendor Marketplace *Victory Productions Film Screening Don’t*More…miss gardencityjazz.eventbrite.comit
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About FUSIC365: FUSIC365 (Fashion meets Music) is a marketing tool and platform for creators. The mission of Fusic365 is to revolu tionize the way fashion, music, and creative arts collaborate daily. Its motto is “live what you create.” FUSIC365 made its Augusta debut in June 2022 with The EL3VATE Convention and Dance Crew Competition, featuring celebrity instructors and judges Kathryn McCormick, Christopher Wilson, Kayla Frails and Stephen “Stevo” Jones.
About 600 Broad Hub: 600 Broad Street (the “Old Chamber Building”) is a community building platform that offers affordable co-working and event space in the heart of downtown Augusta. Its primary goal is to create an environment where professionals, students, entrepreneurs, and the community can all come together to thrive. Augusta Regional Collaboration (ARC) identified 600 Broad as a launch pad to transform Lower Broad into a Culture & Innovation District: a place for creativity, exciting events, entrepreneurs, good restau rants and a safe place for families and students to come and enjoy the increasingly vibrant downtown core.
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With a career spanning several generations and many genres, Aretha Franklin earned her title, “The Queen of Soul.” Beloved by musicians and listeners alike, Aretha is recognized as one of history’s most successful female recording artists. Aretha Franklin continued to perform well into the later years of her illustrious life. During this time, musician, vocalist, and com poser Damien Sneed toured with Ms. Franklin, developing a solid mentee relationship with the soul legend. In Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul, Sneed pays homage to the monarch herself with fresh ren ditions of her most cherished hits, including “Amazing Grace,” “Respect,” “Say A Little Prayer,” and others.
Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) is currently searching for local area art ists and musicians to highlight their talent in both our General Aviation Terminal and Commercial Airline Terminal.Stillart, such as 2-D and 3-D pieces, would be selected for display in both Airport Terminals. Musicians would be invited to perform during our busiest times of the year, Christmas of 2022 and Master’s Week of 2023. These performers would be required to play acoustically due to the capacity of the venue.
If you would like to apply for either of these opportunities, please see the details below: Still Art: Please mail or email 6-10 examples of your work, via photo graphs, to the contact below.
Live Art: Please fill out the required application by visiting, www.FlyAGS. com/Resources/565.pdf.Sendallsubmissions to Lauren Smith:1501Deadline:lsmith@augustaga.govSeptember23,2022AviationWay,Augusta, GA 30906
‘A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul’ comes to the Miller Theater on Friday, Sept.16
Damien Sneed, the multi-talent ed bandleader, composer, musi cian, and vocalist, brings his tour home to the Miller Theater with, A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul on Friday, September 16, 2022, to the Miller Theater. Presented by himmusicianscastandmusicallylateincredibleicSneedEntertainmentLeChateau&theDamienFoundation,thisdynampresentationcelebratesthemusicallegacyoftheMs.Franklin,arrangedanddirectedbySneed,featuresanaccomplishedofjazz,gospel,andsoulandvocalists.Joiningis
winningGrammy-award-ValerieSimpson as a special guest. Regular and VIP tickets are on sale at millertheateraugusta.com.
Augusta Regional Airport Searches for Local Artists and Musicians!
Multi-Talented Damien Sneed Brings Valerie Simpson to hometown event
UrbanProWeekly9-SEPTEMBER12-25,2022Augusta 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 to 4:00pm All customers Saturday 6:00am to 10:00am Landfill Field Ops. only Saturday 6:00am to 12:00pm Customer Drop Off only The Augusta Landfill is located at 4330 Deans Bridge Road. For more information, call 706-592-3200.
Filmtkbrownjr382@gmail.com(803)979-7032Photography•Spiritual
Augusta Mini Theatre launches 47th-year fundraiser
Are You Listening To God?
Saturday, October 8, 2022, will make 47 years since Augusta Mini Theatre (AMT) was founded. We have historically hosted an annual fundraiser to assist with gener al operating cost (The Alumni & Friends Chef’s Showcase). Since the pandemic, AMT has done its best to keep our staff, students, and community safe; to do so we have adjusted our annual celebra tion by hosting an Anniversary DriveBetweenThru. 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., on Saturday, October 8, 2022, Augusta Mini Theatre’s staff will accept donations during a Drive Thru-Horn Blowing 47th Birthday Celebration. During this year’s event, we hope to include our Chef’s, Restaurants and Caterers through Gift Cards. The gift cards will be available on a first come basis to those donors who give during the drive thru event. As the Augusta Mini Theatre recovers from the pandemic, supporters are asked to give a symbolic donation of a $47.00 birthday gift or any amount online at www.AugustaMiniTheatre. org, Cash App ($augustaminithe atre), Zelle (tyronejbutler67@yahoo. com) or during the Drive-Thru. From our advertising and market ing efforts, we are hopeful that long time supporters as well as new sup porters will drive into AMTs campus through the Edward M McIntyre Gate with their vehicles decorated, horns blowing and prepared to give. Once on the campus, visitors will notice a decorated and outlined path to travel along Mariah (Butler) Way where donors will be met by staff and volunteers who will accept their gift. Staff and volunteers will cele brate with donors and show appreci ation for what has been given. Prior to exiting the campus, donors will receive sponsored (Augusta Regional Airport) items and a Gift Card from one of the participating chefs, restau rants, or caterers as a thank you for their support (while supplies last). For more information, call 706-7220598.
by Thurman K. Brown We can’t escape the times that we are living in. Life is filled with trials and tribulation. No one is exempt from the power and presence of sin. As the church folk say: “Time is winding up!” Yes, it is. When man decides to take matters of God away from God; we fail to uphold the fact that we are a christian nation. No one likes the reality of the truth. We are guilty of self-indignation. God reveals his divine authority through tragedies, and unfortunate circumstances. He uses people, places, and things to accomplish his will. We are living in the last days of our lives; through discord,disobedience,strife, and dis contentment.“Thisknow also,that in the last days perilous times shall come”.(2 Timothy 3:1,KJV). God is angry. Why, you ask? He is angry because of humanity’s sin and rebellion against Him; and it can no longer be tol erated. “The Lord was grieved that he had made man on earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, I will wipe mankind, whom I created, from the face of the earth. I am grieved that I have made them.” (Genesis 6: 6,7, NIV). God has a way that belongs exclusively to Him. We must understand that God defends; and he destroys. He protects; and he punishes. Why is that? God is sovereign, which means that he does what he wants; and when he wants to. We may not understand that,but we must believe that by having strong faith and trust in him. There is nothing we can do without godly direction,and that direction is plausibly denied. It is the responsibility of any society to initiate,foster, and encourage spirituality among its members. Unfortunately, it appears as though that responsibil ity has been lost by the sad realities of life. We are living in the midst of it all.(The storms of life). Let’s get our hearts and minds in order before it is too late.
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Thurman K. Brown
A Pre-Bid Conference will be held September 8, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. local time at the proposed project site located at the end of Luke Road off of Wrightsboro Road.
Richmond County Board of Education
Bond Issue Program WEST AUGUSTA MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE GRADING
COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY INVITATION TO BID
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.
june#gardencityjazz27:july25code:UPWtextUPWto(706)528-6855
Sealed proposals from General Contractors will be received for the Grading & Site Work Construction for the New West Augusta Middle School project by the County Board of Education of Richmond County at the address below until 3:00 p.m. local time, September 20, 2022 , at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read. No extension of the bidding period will be made.
MEETINGS
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.
Drawings and project manual on this work may be examined at the Department of Maintenance and Facilities, Richmond County Board of Education, 2956 Mike Padgett Highway, Augusta, Georgia 30906. Electronic copies of the bidding documents may be obtained free of charge from the architect upon request from a legitimate bidding general contractor. No electronic copies will be released to subcontractors. If desired, printed bidding documents may also be obtained at the office of the Architect, Cheatham, Fletcher Scott Architects, 420 ½ 8th Street, Augusta, GA 30901. Applications for documents together with refundable deposit of $250 (payable to the Architect) 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.
The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities & informalities.
Bids shall be submitted and addressed to: Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw County Board of Education of Richmond County Administrative Office 864 Broad Street Augusta, Georgia 30901 c/o: Mr. C. Bobby Smith, CPA Get UPW delivered to your inbox OR your front door. Subscribe growingaugusta.co/upwat
Tuesday, September 13 Committee Meeting – 4:00 p.m. Friday, September 16 Fall Board Retreat –10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 20 Regular Board Meeting –6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 22, Building Walk-ThroughCommitteeat4:45 p.m. – T. W. Josey Comprehensive High School, (Softball/Baseball Field) 1701 Fifteenth Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901
NEW
11UrbanProWeekly-SEPTEMBER12-25,2022RICHMOND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION PROJECT NO. B-21-002-0517
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