UPW Urban Pro Weekly

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY

The media’s obsession with Hardie Davis’ emails sends a chilling message to privacy advocates OCTOBER 1- 7, 2015 VOL. 5 NO. 5

Career Center offers wealth of information to job seekers The One Stop Career Center is now located on the Augusta Technical College Campus.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Eddie Bussey 706-772-9800

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Tiffany Brooks, coordinator for the South Augusta Career Center at Augusta Technical College, looks at a monitor in the computer lab.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

One Stop Center making moves OPEN HOUSE AND JOB FAIR SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, OCT. 2 What is the overall mission of the One Stop Career Center?

Just as the name suggests, OneStop Career Centers are common places that exists to connect individuals to resources regarding employment opportunities, training, educational programs, as well as social, and community programs all under one roof. Individuals can also receive assistance with resumes, attend interviewing and other development workshops, in addition to free access to internet job searching, and work related faxing and copying services. The new

South Augusta One-stop is developing new partnerships and programs to meet the needs of citizens in the area including Wrens, Hephzibah, and McBean.

Is this program in any way connected with the Georgia Dept. of Labor Career Centers?

Yes, the One-stop Career Centers operate in conjunction with the Labor Department Career Centers.

The South Augusta Career Center serves as non-comprehensive center, so an individual can access and manage their unemployment

claims, submit their weekly certifications and job searches online at any area One-stop, however to physically meet with a representative from the Department of Labor or receive wage verification forms, they must report to the Greene Street One-stop Career Center.

Both the Waynesboro and Greene Street Center are comprehensive and have onsite Department of Labor personnel to assist center patrons.

If someone is looking for training, whom do they need to

contact?

Any staff member at one of the three area locations. One-stop staff are trained to inform and connect individuals to various available training and educational assistance programs in the area.

Does the Center work with specific companies in the CSRA? One-stop Career Centers are open to the public and serves individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, employed, and/or those Continued on next page

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Effective July 1, 2015, the former One-stop for South Augusta residents was relocated from Peach Orchard Road to its current location at the Augusta Technical College’s campus.

With a new location, the center is looking for innovative opportunities to strengthen workforce and educational development to increase gainful employment.

The South Augusta and Burke County One-stop Career Centers are seeking resource partnerships to expand services to center patrons.

If your organization would like to participate as a Community Resource Partner, please contact One-stop Coordinator, Tiffany Brooks at tbrooks@augustatech. edu or call 706-771-4923.

ONE STOP from p.2 who seek to find training and other resources to help their career development. This goal is accomplished with the help of several government, local, and non-profit agencies in the area. The center also offers its patrons opportunities to find supplemental resources to help them as they seek gainful employment.

Community Resources included but are not limited to free food, clothing, training, free healthcare screenings and wellness programs.

Local agencies and community organizations that serve as partners include: DFACS, AHA, Job Corps, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services, EOA, , Medical Associates Plus, Amerigroup, Paine College CAPS, Salvation Army Women & Men’s Life Skills Training Program, and Serenity Health Behavioral Systems, just to name a few.

The One-Stop Careers Centers are centrally focused on both mandated and community-based agencies, but have built relationships with staffing agencies including Augusta Staffing and Staff Zone in order to match patrons with gainful employment.

Does one have to be a student at Augusta Technical College to take advantage of the program?

No, all One-stop Centers are open to the public and serve individuals who are legally eligible to work in the United States, ages 17 and older.

Where are the One Stop centers located?

There are three area locations to serve you! The all new South Augusta One-stop (3140 Augusta Tech Drive, Aug, GA 30906), Waynesboro (216 HW Y 24 S, Waynesboro, GA 30813) Downtown Career Center, (601 Greene St. Augusta, GA 30901) What is the registration process like and is there ever a cost for your services?

The benefit of the One-stop Career Center is that all services are free of charge! To qualify for any work training or WIOA programs, persons interested must register with Georgia Work Ready at https://www. workreadyga.org/. Registration is free and takes between five to ten minutes to complete.

South Augusta One-Stop Career Center 2015 Fall Open House & Job Fair FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015 Open House 10 AM - 3 PM Job Fair Open to the Public 11 AM - 3 PM 3140 Augusta Tech Drive Augusta, GA 30906 Located at the Peace Officer’s Training Academy Participating Employers Include: Coca Cola, Global Personnel Solutions, Staff Zone, U.S. Army Recruiting, Kudzu Staffing Participating Agencies Include: Augusta Tech Admissions, Augusta Tech Adult Education, GA Fatherhood Program, Serenity Health Behavioral Systems, Division of Child Support Services

For Job Fair Registration and Information, Contact Tamikia Utley: Tamikia.utley@dhs.ga.gov For Open House Registration and Event Information Contact: Regina Gilliam, Regina.gilliam@augustatech.edu

UrbanProWeekly - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2015

The One-Stop Career Center seeks Resource partners

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THE CITY

COMMENTARY

The big overkill Media assault on mayor over an inconsequential mistake highlights a descent into absurdity with chilling consequences for elected officials.

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UPW Political Analyst AUGUSTA If I were an elected official in Augusta, Georgia, I would disconnect my cell phone, eliminate my email address, and sweep my home to make sure that my home is not being bugged.

If I fail to do this, then I operate at my own peril.

If I am a citizen of Richmond County, I would make sure that I never email or phone, the mayor, the city administrator, any of the commissioners or anyone in city government for that matter. If I do, then I do so at my own peril.

The recent request from The Augusta Chronicle for copies of Mayor Hardie Davis’ government, emails is no different from a commissioner’s desire for access to the former city administrator’s hard drive. And while the request for the hard drive was motivated by suspicion of egregious activity, the request for Davis’ emails smacks of harassment, and is a step in an unfortunate direction.

The public’s right to know has limits — or at least it should. Cellphones and wireless technology have ushered us into a new era of social intercourse where there is no presumed expectation of privacy.

The suggestion that state law allows any correspondence that occurs from a government device to a private entity to

UPW

be open to public scrutiny is a chilling prospect.

How can you expect an elected official or law enforcement official or anyone anywhere to hold an honest conversation with a constituent, or a colleague, with any expectation of confidentiality, if the tape is always running and anyone anywhere at anytime could request a transcript?

The troubling aspect of the media’s request for correspondence from elected officials is that there is no way to effectively separate business from nonbusiness conversations that occur over identical physical and digital platforms.

Anyone who owns a business or who has been issued a company phone knows how it is virtually impossible to screen calls that may or may not be business or company-related.

Should the mayor’s wife call him about picking up some groceries and then hang up and call again on his government phone and ask about a dinner reservation for an upcoming business-related conference?

So, what’s next. If commissioners get compensated for gasoline, how detailed must their monthly accounting be? What if they go get groceries right after filling up on the taxpayer’s “dime.”

The prospect is truly absurd.

Does this full frontal attack really amount to reining in unacceptable behavior on the part of the city’s chief

executive or is something else at play here? Does this really have to do with allegations of plagiarism?

That matter should have been dead and buried.

This appears to be nothing more than the most obnoxious form of rank bullying. And just because it’s permitted by law, doesn’t mean it’s helpful in moving this community forward. Daily blasting in the pages of the Augusta Chronicle, heretofore, had been reserved for such noted scoundrels as Barack Obama, Ricardo Azziz and Black Lives Matter.

Not too many folks can boast a front

Davidson among the best Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School has been recognized, by the U.S. government as a National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015. The designation is based on the school’s overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

“This honor recognizes your students’ accomplishments and the hard work and dedicationthat went into their success,” Duncan said to the awardees. “Your journey has taught you collaboration, intentional instruction, and strong relationships in school and with your community.

You represent excellence—in vision, in implementation, and in results— and we want to learn as much as we

URBAN PRO WEEKLY

Urban Pro Weekly LLC

3529 Monte Carlo Drive Augusta, GA 30906

Executive Publisher / Sales BEN HASAN 706-831-7828 bzhasan54@yahoo.com

page zinger, an editorial, a political cartoon and a slap from AC columnist Sylvia Cooper, all within a 48-hour news cycle. The only way Davis can top that, is if his next State of the City address turns out to be ISIS inspired.

The only short-term solution for citizens and elected officials alike is to be hyper-aware of anything said to anyone at anytime for any reason that they wouldn’t want being broadcast to the world for any stupid reason.

The only other alternative is to just go off the grid completely and deal with folks one on one — face to face.

Executive Managing Editor FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com

can from you.”

“We are proud of the commitment the Davidson administration, community, parents, and students have made to excellence in education. They are to be commended for demonstrating that ALL can achieve at high levels,” remarked Richmond County Schools Superintendent Dr. AngelaPringle.

Richmond County Board of Education President Helen Minchew stated, “The Board of Education is extremely proud of Davidson’s students and staff who have consistently workedso hard. This is such a tremendous honor for our school system and especially for Davidson Fine Arts.”

Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media KEN MAKIN KRISTIE GREGORY contributing columnists

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COMMUNITY

HAPPENINGS

Welcome to Jessye Norman Boulevard AUGUSTA The “Honorary Jessye Norman Boulevard” signs will be unveiled October 9, 2015 at 4:30 PM at 8th and Greene Street.

The public is invited, especially all businesses on 8th Street, where the signs will be displayed. Students from the Jessye Norman School of the Arts

will sing the JNSA School Creed. The words were written by Russell Joel Brown, and the music was written by Edwin Hamilton, one of the School’s music instructors.

The Jessye Norman School of the Performing Arts, Augusta University’s Arts benefit concert, “Family Ties: Summerville Campus.

Augusta’s Famous Siblings” will be Tickets are available at the held Oct 11, 4 PM, Maxwell Theatre of Jessye Norman School 3-6 PM.

Jesse Norman Blvd.

Boxing Match Postponed The Pro Boxing Match featuring Ray Whitfield and Divante Jones scheduled for the Bell Auditorium this weekend on Sat. Oct. 3 has been rescheduled for Sat. Nov. 14.

Any tickets sold for the event will be honored on the new date.

Let’s do it again Group promoting 20th Anniversary of Million Man March prepares bus for local participants Augustans who want to revisit, relive or otherwise participate in the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March will have their opportunity on October 9 when a bus headed for the event will leave Augusta at 6:30 p.m.

If you want to book a seat on the $79 round-trip tour or details on the march, contact Brother Ali at 706-3996838.

This year marks the 20th anniversary since a sea of black men filled the National Mall in Washington and together pledged to do right for themselves and their families. The 20th-anniversary observance of the Million Man March will be on October 10, 2015 at the Mall in Washington, D.C. Billed as Justice Or Else, the event is open to people of all races, ethnic backgrounds and sexual preferences.

Mexican Americans and Native

Americans were encouraged to participate in this year’s march.

“If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed,” chief organizer and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan said in a statement, quoting poet Victor Hugo. “In gathering for justice, we gather to turn on the light,” said Farrakhan, who helped organize the first march.

“Twenty years ago, those who gathered did so for the dignity of our black men,” read a joint statement issued by Rev. Jamal Bryant of Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore and fellow organizer Tamika Mallory, former executive director of the New York-based National Action Network.

“Today, we see that the need for justice and equity is far-reaching, and requires systematic and deliberate change for people of many backgrounds.”

Performers: Russell Joel Brown and sister, Karen Brown; and Wycliffe Gordon and sister, Karen Gordon. Tickets: $40.

God’s Masterpiece Women Conference Thursday, October 8 at Noon and 6:30 PM Friday, October 9 at Noon and 6:30 PM Saturday, October 10 at 9 AM Greater Young Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 405 Sandbar Ferry Road There is no cost to attend this event.

For registration and conference schedule go to: http://goo.gl/forms/d8K0xzwLsu

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ARC vs Grovetown Academy of Richmond County volleyball players huddle with their coach during a timeout in a game against Grovetown at the Westside Patriot’s gym.

The tri-match featured all three schools. The Lady Musketeers were defeated by the Lady Warriors 2-0 in the final score.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

(Above) Westside’s Lainey Scroggs prepares to serve the ball during a game against Grovetown at the Patriot’s gym. The Lady Warriors defeated the Lady Patriots 2-0 in the final score. (At Right) Grovetown’s DeAndra King attempts to block the ball during a game against Westside at the Patriot’s gym. The Lady Warriors defeated the Lady Patriots 2-0 in the final score. Photos by Vincent Hobbs

UrbanProWeekly - OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2015

SPORTS VOLLEYBALL

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MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by Ken Makin

The Augusta Commission and the element of fear ‘Obama Cool’ should be the rule for community leaders I have often wondered how President Barack Obama felt on Election Night 2014 – the night when Republicans gained control of both the House and the Senate.

Surely, he felt anger, frustration, disappointment – among other negative emotions. Yet in that hour of doubt, that hour of chaos, a new President was born.

A better President.

That was 10 months ago. Looking at the President now, there’s nothing about Mr. Obama that suggests he is a “lame duck.” He’s hit home runs on domestic and foreign policy. Last year around this time, he looked tired.

This year, he has his swagger back – most notably in recent pictures with The First Lady that are swarming social media.

This brings me to the Augusta Commission. Believe it or not, I see that same comeback potential with

the 10-person board. (And no, my nose isn’t growing like Pinocchio’s in the Geico commercial).

Despite the negative perception that surrounds the commissioners, it is important to understand that there is so much opportunity for our city. Corporations want to come here.

Residents want to retire here. Serious discussions about taxpayers’ resources are at the forefront.

With so much at stake, the Commission must do what the President has done – put all fears to the side. Eliminate the fear of failure.

Put aside the fear of the media.

Manage your concerns when it comes to the fear of letting people down.

I see that one person conducts himself in this political fashion, for better or for worse – Mayor Hardie Davis.

While his timing may be controversial, his ambition is an asset. That was certainly the case when he pushed for

more power for the Mayor’s office.

However you feel about the “King Hardie” proposal, or the Mayor’s office latest request for a SUV, one thing is for certain – Mr. Davis is not standing pat.

The mindset is a simple one, and we see it in our nation’s highest office.

President Obama is governing as if he has nothing to lose. He is acting with conviction, not cowardice. He understands that political power can often be a “Catch 22” – you’re doomed if you do, you’re doomed if you don’t.

That understanding didn’t make him pessimistic, it made him powerful.

Our commissioners need to act with similar boldness. When six white commissioners pushed their privatization agenda upon the residents of Richmond County some years ago, they cared very little about political or public opinion. They acted with strength and got things done.

I’m not suggesting that this current Commission – with its Black majority – act with such callousness. I am asking that they act with conviction.

Make the tough decisions regarding SPLOST. Demand better for your constituents from the powers-that-be.

Remember this – if one believes they are doing the work of the people, that is most of the battle.

In his darkest hour, our President sought the light within. He has not looked back and has cemented his legacy. I challenge the Augusta Commission to do the same Ken J. Makin is the host of “Makin’ A Difference,” an online radio program available on iTunes and Soundcloud (soundcloud.com/makinadifference).

Updates on the show are available at facebook.com/makinadifferenceshow. You can also reach Ken by email at makinadifferenceshow@gmail.

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