UPW - Urban Pro Weekly

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Golden Blocks

Comic project wins Pro Awards

Highlights from the Augusta Commission meeting 4.2.24

In this week’s Wrap-Up of the Augusta Commission meeting held on April 2, 2024, city officials approved various agenda items, such as the Richmond County Juvenile Court’s Thrive Program receiving funding to support youth who have been victims of crime. View a list of news briefs below for more details.

Augusta, Georgia Initiative for Community Housing Taskforce

To amplify the efforts of launching the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) program in Richmond County, Commissioners approved the development of an Augusta, Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) force to represent and participate in the University of Georgia’s GICH Program related initiatives which includes applying to participate and administer workshops, training, community meetings, annual retreats for a term of three years. The task force comprises industry leaders, Augusta, Georgia Departments, auxiliary authorities, and community representatives.

Augusta’s recent selection as one of only five local governments in the state to participate in the GICH program is a testament to the City’s commitment to improving housing conditions. This program, which provides collaboration, training, and technical assistance, is a beacon of hope for our community, offering the opportunity to create and implement a locally-based plan to meet our housing needs. Alongside Augusta, the City of Cornelia, the City of Thomaston, the City of Saint

Marys, and Catoosa County were also chosen for this initiative, further highlighting the significance of our participation.

Housing and Community Development Department Enters Agreement With Community Foundation of the CSRA

Augusta’s Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) was approved to enter an agreement with the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area to partner in revitalization activities for the Laney-Walker Bethlehem neighborhood. Part of the neighborhood redevelopment includes the development of a Grocery / Market/ Wellness Center and upgrades to facilities providing foodservices and sustenance to improve the quality of life within the Laney Walker and Bethlehem communities. As part of the partnership, HCD will receive grant funds totaling $500,000 from the Community Foundation for the CSRA to aid in Laney Walker Bethlehem’s redevelopment.

Design Concept Plans Approved For Newman Tennis Center’s Phase I Improvement Project

The Central Services Department received the green light to move forward with the design concept plan for the Newman Tennis Center

Groundbreaking ceremony for new fire station set for April 24, 2024

The Augusta Fire Department will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fire Station 3, located at 2075 Powell Rd, Augusta, GA 30909. This event marks the beginning of the construction process for a state-of-the-art facility aimed at enhancing emergency response capabilities and public safety infrastructure.

“Fire Station 3’s launch will boost our emergency services with cutting-edge technology, reinforcing our swift, effective community safety response,” said Fire Chief Antonio Burden. “We’re excited to enhance Augusta’s exceptional fire and EMS services as our community grows.”

The ceremony will include insights from city and fire department leaders, offering attendees a closer look at the project’s community benefits.

The public is invited to celebrate this significant milestone on April 24, 2024, from 10:00am to 11:00am

Event Details:

- Date: April 24, 2024

- Time: 10am – 11am

- Location: 2075 Powell Rd, Augusta, GA 30909

For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Chiquita Richardson at 706-825-1076.

Phase I Improvement Project and continue with the preliminary and final design process.

The work to be done at the Newman Tennis Center is part of an approved SPLOST 8 Improvement Project. Phase I of the enhancement work includes repairing and resurfacing tennis courts, replacing all perimeter fencing, and replacing lighting with LED fixtures. With these upgrades, the Center can continue meeting the community’s quality-of-life needs by providing safe, sanitary, and functional tennis opportunities for tournaments, residents, and guests of all ages.

Richmond County Juvenile Court’s Thrive Program Receives $100,000 Grant

The Richmond County Juvenile Court’s Thrive Program received approval to accept a $100,000 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. The funding will support the Program’s efforts in serving youth who have been victims of crime.

• April 15, 2024, from 5:30pm to 7pm: AugustaRichmond County Public Library System Board of Trustees Meeting at the Diamond Lakes Branch Library.

View the complete agenda from this week’s Augusta Commission meeting at augustaga.gov. Media interested in covering these topics should contact Danielle Hayes, the Public Information Manager, at 706-312-5511.

Richmond County School System to host Job Fair

The Richmond County School System will continue recruiting for open positions and for the 2024-25 school year on Tuesday, April 16 at our Transportation Department at 2950 Mike Padgett Highway.

The Job Fair will take place from 4 – 7 p.m.

JOINING OUR TEAM .

Fashion & Lifestyle contributor FELINA MARTIN

Felina Martin, is an author, artist, fashion designer, and serial entrepreneur. Her passion for innovation and community is evident in her art, community engagement, and life journey. When she is not creating (which is rare), you will find Felina visiting area galleries, restaurants, and events, exploring nature, or taking a class. Connect with Felina on Instagram or Facebook.

Education columnist SAUNDRA KELLY

Saundra is a dedicated wife, homeschooling mom, children’s ministry director, educator, edupreneur, advocate. Her passion is empowering and supporting families’ educational journey. She has combined her expertise in education with her entrepreneurial skills to co-found DeKel mPact, Beyond the Doors and the CSRA Microschool Network. She is trained in cultural competency, multi-sensory teaching techniques and educational best practices.

Felina Martin

Saundra Kelly

A championship HBCU basketball team finally gets their White House moment more than 65 years after their victory

By Rayna Reid Rayford Essence Magazine

A championship HBCU men’s basketball team finally got their visit to the White House more than 60 years after their big wins.

The Tennessee A&I Tigers of Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State University in Nashville made history in 1957, becoming “the first HBCU team to win a national championship,” and then “again by becoming the first college team to win three back-to-back national titles from 19571959.”

Mr. Barnett, George Finley, Ernest Jones, Henry Carlton, Robert Clark and Ron Hamilton attended a private ceremony on Friday at the White House, where Vice President Kamala Harris paid homage to the team during a round-table discussion in the Roosevelt Room, The New York Times reports. It’s now been 67 years since the team’s first national title.

“There’s so much that we have accomplished as a nation because of the heroes like those that I’m looking at right now,” stated Harris. “I, like so many of us, stand on your broad shoulders, each one of you.”

Finley said, “This is the greatest day of my life,” continuing “I thought this would never take place.”

“[Winning] the championship was big, but it wasn’t as big as being here with [Vice President] Harris today,” added Finley.

The team gave Harris a custom jersey following the ceremony and received a tour of the White House.

Their path to this much belated visit was not without obstacles. According to CBS, “the team was subject to a bomb threat on the plane during their return trip home from Kansas City following their victory at the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) championship game in 1957.”

In addition, it would also take decades for the

Tigers to get inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This honor was finally bestowed in 2019 after a years-long public relations campaign, which was covered in the PBS documentary “The Dream Whisperer.”

Progress on this front was made in January when Congressional Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) “led a letter joined by more than 50 Members of Congress to President Biden to respectfully request that he invite the surviving members of the

1957-1959 Tennessee A&I Tigers Men’s Basketball Team to the White House. I am pleased that my request has been honored, and that the Tennessee Tigers enjoyed a long overdue commemoration to honor their historic accomplishments,” per a statement.

“The Tennessee A&I Tigers men’s basketball team broke barriers on the court while fighting injustice off it.

In 1957, they became the first HBCU to win a national championship before becoming the first team to win three

in a row,” Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on Threads. “It was my honor to welcome them to the White House for the first time.”

Barnett, who also played for the championship winning New York Knicks during the 1970s, has another upcoming celebratory moment later this year. On Saturday, during the Men’s Final Four tournament, it was announced that “Barnett will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.”

Golden Blocks comic project lands 3 American Advertising awards

By Kevin Faigle

A year and a half ago, Augusta University and the College of Education and Human Development obtained grant money to develop three comic books, Golden Blocks Legends Comics, to use as educational tools.

The first in the series, Lucy Craft Laney: Mother of the Children of the People, has been honored with three American Advertising Awards, an award which recognizes and rewards the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising in the southern region of Georgia. The entries will move on to the district level, where they will compete with other cities.

The entry won Professionals Best in Show, Professionals Mosaic and Professionals Gold for the work done in the comic book. Juan Walker, PhD, associate professor, is team lead of the project and was blown away by the recognition since the project was a new endeavor.

“It’s really extraordinary because as an educator, we have talked about not teach-

ing in a bubble, and this project exemplifies not being in a bubble,” Walker said. “Yes this is curriculum, but other people have told me this is great for social studies and literacy, and it brings awareness to the community.”

Art Abdon of Art the Artist Studio illustrated the book with the help of his daughter, A’Shaela Abdon, an Augusta University alumna. Art Abdon was shocked when he

heard their name called on three different occasions.

“It was surprising, but it was really awesome and great,” Abdon said.

“We were all thrilled, particularly for the artists, Art and his team,” said Betsy VanDeusen, PhD, director of the Dr. Paulette P. Harris Literacy Center. “You could just feel the joy, and that it was a big deal in their field and particularly for the awards related to the quality of the artwork.”

There were several people involved in the project including Kim Barker, PhD, associate professor in

L-R

PhD, A’Shaela Abdon, Art Abdon, Kim Barker, PhD.

the COEHD, who helped write and edit the book, and local historian Corey Rogers of the Lucy Craft Laney African American History Museum, who provided a lot of the background information and was instrumental in laying out the importance and facts on the history of Laney.

Besides the awards the comic has received, the book has taken on a life of its own. Other institutions have called looking for advice on how they can adapt their own stories to comics as a learning aid. They also received a call from Lucy Craft Laney

Elementary School in Minnesota. A teacher there was hoping for more information, and Augusta University was more than happy to provide them with copies of the comic so they could better understand the history of Laney.

“There’s always the idea of wanting to do something that’s impactful, but then to be able to help other people do that same thing, recreate the model, is so powerful,” said Barker. “Beyond this we are researching how effective this is with not only kindergarten through 12th-grade students, but our teaching candidates and how it impacts their content knowledge and their ability to teach using evidence-based practices.”

There was a lot of work in developing the comic. From not only the storyline itself, but the illustrations as well. While they had some photos of Laney, Abdon said it took several revisions to find just the right “look” for her in the comic. The illustrators also concentrated on the accuracy of the historic buildings in the book. They wanted to make it appealing to kids but also didn’t want to lose the impact it could have.

The next comic will feature local teacher and coach John Tutt, who taught mathematics in Augusta for more than 60 years. That comic is due out this month. The final comic is expected by the end of the summer and will feature Thomas Walter Josey, one of Augusta’s first African American physicians.

Abdon said they will likely bring in other paid artists and interns with AU ties to help with the final comic.

The team has learned a lot of lessons in this journey and have been working to make the comics even more effective since they started on the ground floor. From how much text to use to the general layout of comics, this has all been a work in progress for the entire group.

One thing is evident, though, they have gotten plenty of support from the community and beyond.

The first comic book is on Lucy Craft Laney. Laney was the seed who helped sprout many successful people in various fields, the creators of the series said. Artwork is courtesy of Art Abdon.

Artist Art Abdon provided the illustrations for the first book on Lucy Craft Laney.

Juan Walker,

ART BY SALA Q&A

JETER-ALLEN was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and resides in Augusta GA. She is a Visual Artist/Painter, Book Illustrator, Indie Singer/Songwriter, and African Dance Choreographer. She has been an Artist in Residence at the John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School and was the Visual Arts Teacher at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts. She is an alumna of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie NY and holds a BA Degree in Performing and Visual Arts from Empire State College, State University of New York.

As a visual artist, Ms. Jeter-Allen’s paintings have been exhibited at various colleges, museums and community galleries both local and nationally. She has an art gallery named in her honor at the Humanitree House in Augusta GA.

As a singer/songwriter, her classic CD of original songs entitled Same Direction is available on I -Tunes and Spotify.

UPW: There are a lot of Brooklyn natives who have brought their talents to the Garden City. What was it about your Brooklyn experience that contributed to your artistic journey?

SALA: The Brooklyn of my childhood included piano lessons with Mrs. Hamilton who lived in the neighborhood and came to the house; the soulful music of the day on WWRL AM radio; public transportation to museums and concerts; a steady supply of crayons and color pencils.

UPW: What brought you to Augusta and why is it that you have made it your base of operations for all of these years?

SALA: After college, adulthood had arrived. Family life ensued.

The spirit of entrepreneurism was surfacing. A family friend had moved to Augusta and established a business. His encouragement played a big role in the bold decision to relocate and establish our family business on Broad Street known as AMBASA Gift shop.

AMBASA took us 20 years in (19822002), after which the Arts were able to take a front row seat in my life.

UPW: You express yourself creatively in so many ways. What was the first talent you possessed that captured the attention of others?

SALA: The childhood piano lessons paid off with being accepted into the High School of Music and Art (now known as the Fiorello High School of Music and Performing Arts, NYC). This led to 3 years of exposure to classmates exploding with creativity and talent, while at the same time, Black is Beautiful was the mantra during the Civil Rights and Black Power era.

UPW: Tell us a little about the “Same Direction” project. Just how important is music in your life and what can we look for in the future?

SALA: I had sung with a couple of local bands in Brooklyn NY. I began writing songs across my adult life. By the year 2000 or so I had a collection of songs and wanted to do something with them. I began a journey to independently produce a music project, Same Direction. CD’s were the mode at that time.

I found a local studio and engineer and got it done! The project is still out there, available on iTunes and other

streaming services.

The musical performance part of my life has quieted down, but who knows? The right project may just present itself….

UPW: As an artist, you seem very comfortable marketing your brand. Why is it important for artists to have a business sense?

SALA: Actually, I wish I had been more astute at marketing my brand. Co-owning and managing AMBASA Gift Shop for years certainly gave me immeasurable on-the-job training in business!

Depending on an individual artist’s definition of “success”, surely being business savvy in today’s environment is a plus, if not a necessity. Technology has made it a wide-open field…to succeed, or to be eaten by wolves. Let the artist beware!

UPW: Murals have become very important to modern urban landscape. How did your mural project(s) come about and are there any upcoming?

SALA: I have one local mural.

I was the Art Teacher at the Jessye

AUDREY “SALA ADENIKE”

Audrey Sala Jeter-Allen : The visual artist and educator expresses herself through a mix of creative genres which includes painting, singing/ songwriting, dance and book illustration. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Audrey Sala Jeter-Allen at a mural she painted as part of the the Golden Blocks art project. The mural, which includes original song lyrics written by Jeter-Allen, is located on the front of the former Pilgrim Health building on Laney-Walker Blvd. The visual artist and educator expresses herself through a mix of creative genres which includes painting, singing/songwriting, dance and book illustration. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Norman School of the Arts for many years. One day while at work I received a message from Mr Corey Rogers, Head Historian (and now Executive Director) at the Lucy C. Laney Museum. When I was able to call him back, he told me about an ambitious project in the works called the Golden Blocks Legacy. It was to be a collaboration with the Laney Museum and the Greater Augusta Arts Council. They were looking for artists to submit creative ideas, honoring the rich history of the Laney Walker District also known as the Golden Blocks.

My mural idea was accepted along with the ideas of 3 other artists in different genres. It was a wonderful collaboration of the artists with the Laney Museum’s Corey Rogers and Pax Bobrow of the Augusta Arts Council as mentors.

The project was completed in November of 2019. My mural, called The Golden Blocks Legacy, proudly graces the historic Pilgrim Insurance Annex Building at the corner of Laney Walker Blvd and Pine St. Images and more info is available at this website (scroll down to #19): https://georgia-humanities. opentour.site/augusta-s-golden-blocks/ golden-blocks-legacy-mural

UPW: You have always promoted African culture and your contribu-

tions to the city’s youth in that sphere has been unmatched. How did you get introduced to African drumming and dancing?

SALA: I do remember being around 12 years old when my parents took me to a live concert performance of African Dance and Drum. I believe it was Le National Ballet du Senegal (West Africa) but I’m not totally sure. That performance resonated with me, but hibernated from me until years later. Before leaving NY for Augusta, ABATSU African Drummers and Dancers was created and did a limited number of performances at that time. Although I was in close proximity to the dancers, I was a vocalist with the group at that time.

Again, years later, the spirit of African dance was awakened and the new iteration of ABATSU began in Augusta. In order to bring authenticity to the group, I traveled to Atlanta GA consistently to study the history, culture, rhythms and dance movements of West Africa.

After close to 20 years of teaching and performing as Artistic Director of ABATSU African Drummers and Dancers, I retired in 2014.

I have been invited since 2012 to be the guest artist/consultant to teach African dance to the top dance students

at Davidson Fine Arts School for their annual Black History Month Program. It is always sensational. Many thanks to accomplished professional dancer and Modern Dance teacher, Ms Sharon Skepple Mayfield for consistently inviting me to continue my involvement with African Drum and Dance and the youth of our city.

UPW: What are you involved with presently and what can we look forward to for the rest of 2024?

SALA: These days I function under the moniker Art By Sala. Along with

the occasional commissioned piece, I enjoy creating art for myself. I do host an online virtual event once a month known as the Art By Sala Paint and Sip. I create a new image every month. The ladies and I gather on Zoom, to paint, laugh, and bob our heads to good music! More info can be found on my website.

https://salavisualartist.wixsite.com/ sala/paint-and-sip-events

My catalog of painted images is also available for viewing and purchasing on the website below.

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/ audreysala-jeter-allen/shop

Artist: “The Golden Blocks Legacy Mural”

Location: The Old Pilgrim Insurance Annex Building, Laney Walker Blvd, Augusta, GA

Illustrator: Hello Queen, Children’s Book by Tacardra Rountree

Illustrator: The Secrets of Hattie Brown Coloring Book, Companion to Historical Novel by Barbara Brown Gathers

Designer: Adinkra Wisdom Cards

SPORTSVIEW Paine College

Lady Lions Softball Action

Paine Lady Lions catcher Katherine Garcia, a senior, gets ready for the pitch during the first game of a softball double-header against Brewton-Parker College.

(April 9, 2024 - Augusta, GA)

Photo by Vincent Hobbs/ Sports Journal

Paine Lady Lions pitcher Kayla Carter winds up for the pitch during the first game of a softball double-header against Brewton-Parker College. Carter, a freshman, previously played softball and basketball at Evans High School.

(April 9, 2024 - Augusta, GA)

Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal

April 9, 2024 (Augusta, GA)Paine Lady Lions outfielder Makayla Jordan gets ready for the pitch during the first game of a softball double-header against Brewton-Parker College. Jordan, a freshman, previously played softball at Cedartown High School.

(April 9, 2024 - Augusta, GA)

Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal

Sacred Heart Garden Tour

Tours at 5 Gardens: April 26 & 27th, 11am-5pm

1301 Greene Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901 706-826-4700

Sacred Heart Cultural Center Courtyard and Grounds

Explore the beautiful grounds of this 150-year-old historic landmark to learn about its remarkable history, first as a Catholic Church and, after surviving a 15-year vacancy, being restored to become a non-profit cultural center and event venue. Guests will marvel at the 15 styles of brick work, the elaborate Romanesque architecture, and the meticulous preservation efforts that keeps the campus thriving with special events and as the home to nine non-profit organizations and small businesses. Even if you’ve admired the beauty of Sacred Heart before, don’t miss this special stop on the tour to see it in a whole new way! (Tour ends at 4:00 pm on Friday, April 26)

Twin Gables

The gardens of this 1911 Dutch Colonial Revival home were originally designed by a Boston landscape architecture firm for the Chicago couple who built the lovely home as their winter residence. The gardens were later augmented with southern climate friendly plants by Augusta’s Julia Lester Dillon, the South’s first female landscape designer. Twin Gables became the home for the presidents of Augusta University in 1984.

Green Court

This beautiful, historic home was originally built in 1823 but grew in size

and ornamentation by successive owners. The home was owned by several notable Augustans in the 1800s, including a Georgia governor and an influential attorney and philanthropist. It was named Green Court by a northern businessman and founder of Quaker Oats, Henry Parsons Crowell, as his winter residence. He created the lush gardens and invited the public for tours once a year. The current owners, who purchased Green Court two years ago, are lovingly restoring the gardens back to the original vision of Mr. Crowell.

Jenks Farmer’s Lily Farm

Explore the flower fields, gardens, and rare plant nursery on this 1750’s farm that’s been featured in Southern Living, Garden and Gun and New York Times. The ‘business’ side includes an organic lily farm specializing in big bulbs like milk and wine crinums and pineapple and spider lilies. Interplanted in those are rows of flowers and vegetables. Relax under towering pecans and explore the preserved barns which now serve as workspaces and educational spaces for gardening and writing classes. This is a magical farm where Jenks Farmer and Tom Hall work hard to preserve the integrity of the land and rural nature of simple country life.

The Master’s Table Urban Garden

This working garden set in downtown Augusta helps produce the food that serves lunch to 200 food-insecure individuals every day, 365 day per year.

Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Annual Golf Tournament Honors Four Black Golfers

The Lucy Craft Laney Museum will host its 8th Annual Golf Tournament on May 18, 2024.

The four-person best ball tournament (Captain Choice) will be held at The Augusta Municipal Golf Course, with checkin and late registration at 7AM-8AM. Tee-time will be 8:30AM - Shotgun Start. Early registration is recommended since the tournament has sold-out for the past two years, and there is a limited number of openings.

Golfer’s Entry Fee is $90 EARLY BIRD now - May 12th, or $100 per player on day of Tournament –subject to availability. Early Registration includes

Rhian Swain & Yuliia Wilson Art Reception

Art Reception in Sacred Heart Great Hall: May 7th, 5-7pm

1301 Greene Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901 706-826-4700

Exhibit runs May 8thJune 21st

RHIAN SWAIN is a painter, photographer, illustrator, and writer who grew up all over the world. Currently serving as the Arts Council’s Board President, she is best known for her Arts in the Heart artwork, used to promote the festival over the past 24 years. In 2023 she was inducted into the National Association of Women Artists and received an NEA grant to create an exhibit: “Breaking the Barriers: Women Who Impacted the Arts”. The owner of RedWolf Advertising, Rhian has been exhibiting and selling artwork regularly for 40 years.

YULIIA WILSON, originally from Ukraine, moved to Augusta years ago for her family. She has a master’s degree in art from Culture and Art University in Kyiv. Having been a painter since birth, she has enjoyed working with a variety of materials and techniques. Her preferred style is working with mixed media. She enjoys doing murals with paint and plaster because of the freedom of space and not being confined to a frame. Her art is a continuation of her feelings and thoughts. Recently, her work has taken on a minimalist aesthetic with white panels, textures, and pastel colors.

one Museum Tour Admission.

The Museum will be honoring the 60th Anniversary of the four Black Golfers who desegregated the Augusta Municipal Golf Course (The Patch) in 1964: John Elam, Clois Herndon, Raymond Jenkins and Dr. Harry Maurice Thompson.

A Golf Tournament pairing and Reception will be held at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum on May 17th from 6:00pm - 9:00pm. The reception will include beverages, light food, entertainment and a tour of the museum and the current special Golf Exhibition. All funds raised from the tour-

nament will be used to renovate the Museum’s Administration building.

The Lucy Craft Laney Museum has served as a cornerstone for the cultural and historical preservation of African-Americans in Augusta and the surrounding area since opening in 1991. In addition to recognizing Black leaders in Augusta, the museum sponsors numerous community outreach initiatives that include exhibitions, lectures, youth camps, and tours of Augusta’s historic Black sites.

To register visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.

Salvation Army of Augusta partners with The Frog Hollow Group

The Salvation Army of Augusta celebrated the success of The Frog Hollow Group’s partnership and its impact with drives at two of their locations in January and February. The Frog Hollow Group hosted two Spirit Nights at their restaurants, TACOCAT and Farmhaus Burgers. The funds raised through the drives were enough to provide food, shelter, clothing, and casework for 30 days at The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope.

In addition, both restaurants participated in The Salvation Army’s “Give Hope Drive,” a monthly endeavor where local businesses serve as dropoff locations for essential items need-

ed at The Center of Hope.

Lieutenant Jamie Dupree, Assistant Corps Officer of The Salvation Army of Augusta, presented the impact of their drives to Frog Hollow Group leadership, “We extend our sincerest appreciation to The Frog Hollow Group for their unwavering support and commitment to our cause.”

The impact of The Frog Hollow Group’s work translates into vital resources that directly support individuals in need. With the faces of homelessness changing, the need for individualized casework is growing as every situation is different. An individual’s stay at The Center of

Hope involves providing essential resources including food, shelter, clothing, and comprehensive casework. The term “casework” involves developing a personalized plan based on their circumstances and referrals to a spectrum of services, including counseling, job placement assistance, and access to community resources, all crucial elements in helping individuals rebuild their lives.

Breannah Newton, Director of Operations for The Frog Hollow Group, stated, “We are immensely proud to stand alongside The Salvation Army of Augusta in their mission to uplift and empower our

community. Our collaboration signifies our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the Augusta Area.”

The Frog Hollow Group’s dedication extends beyond financial support. The management team has actively engaged with The Salvation Army to receive training on assisting homeless individuals seeking aid at their establishments. By incorporating The Salvation Army’s referral programs into their operations, The Frog Hollow Group has not only enhanced customer experiences but also fostered a safer and more supportive environment for all.