UPW - Urban Pro Weekly

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY

JANUARY 8 - 21, 2024 • VOL. 12 NO. 11

thee Montgomery Bus th

BOYCOTT

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., along with the Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, is booked by Montgomery, Ala. city police on Feb. 23, 1956. The civil rights leaders were arrested on indictments by a grand jury in the bus boycott.

The Day that blacks refused sit in the back of the bus

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MLK Events Aiken/Augusta EVENTS

JANUARY 21

JANUARY 12

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration

Tri-College Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

12:00 pm Join Augusta Technical College, Augusta University, and Paine College for the 2024 Tri-College Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Augusta Technical College, Augusta Campus.

Keynote speaker: Dr. Otis Johnson 3200 Augusta Tech Drive Augusta, GA, JANUARY 13

2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade

To celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Augusta, Georgia has teamed up with the Augusta Branch of the NAACP to host the 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. Parade Route: The Parade will start at Dyess Park Community Center, located at 902 James Brown Blvd. The parade will proceed south on James Brown Blvd., then west onto Wrightsboro Road, north onto Augusta Ave., east onto Laney Walker Blvd., and then north onto 11th Street to Johnson Motors.

JANUARY 15

27th Anniversary Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award Breakfast 07:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Augusta Marriott Hotel at the Convention Center.

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm USC Aiken and Aiken Technical College will host the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration at 3 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.

NBA legend and South Carolina native Alex English will provide the keynote address. English, renowned for his decorated basketball career and his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, played college basketball at the University of South Carolina before being selected in the 1976 NBA draft. He played 15 seasons in the NBA with four teams and scored more points than any other NBA player during the 1980s. He was named to eight NBA All-Star teams, and his No. 2 jersey was retired by the Denver Nuggets in 1992.

After his playing career, English was a TV analyst and assistant coach with Toronto, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Sacramento.

He later became the first-ever director of player programs for the NBA and an active participant in the Sports Diplomacy’s Sports Envoy program for the U.S. Department of State. He dabbled in acting and has been involved in various business ventures in South Carolina, owning both franchises and startups. A member of the USC Board of Trustees since 2020, English currently lives in Blythewood.

The celebration will also include recognizing the 2024 Human & Civil Rights Champion Award recipients and winners of the poster, essay and multimedia contests held in conjunction with the event.

Doors open at 2:30pm. Program starts at 3:00pm.

This event is free and open to the public.

JANUARY 17

Keeping the Dream Alive: Why Dr. King’s Message Still Matters 16th Annual Interfaith Celebration The most diverse interfaith event in the CSRA: Baha’is, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Religious Humanists, Sikhs, & Unitarian Universalists Sacred Heart Cultural Center 6:30pm Gathering Music / 7:00 pm Service Free event, open to the public Special Guest Speaker: The Progressive Religious Coalition Presents Dr. Jon Meacham Jon Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize–winning author of 15 bestsellers.

Two of most relevant are: His Truth Is Marching on: John Lewis and the Power of Hope and The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels. He is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University, a contributing writer for The New York Times Book Review, a fellow of the Society of American Historians, and a

ACTIVITIES JANUARY 15

The MLK Day Party Sip & Paint

Get ready to celebrate MLK Day with a fun-filled Sip & Paint party!

4:00 pm to 08:00 pm 305 12th St, 305 12th Street, Augusta Come join us for an evening of fun at the Pedal Pub Augusta! Bring out your artistic side! There will be multiple images available to choose from and paint. Good food, drinks and hookah will be available. DJ Cellus will be on the 1&2s so you know it’s a vibe!

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY

MLK Day Litter Cleanup, Monday, January 15, 2024 9:00 AM 10:00 AM, 640 Laurens Street Northwest, Aiken, SC, Keep Aiken County Beautiful kacb@aikencountysc.gov

PUBLISHER Growing Augusta: Arts, Agriculture, & Agency LLC http://www.growingaugusta.co/UPW +1 (706) 751-2537 SALES & MARKETING http://www.growingaugusta.co/UPW +1 (762) 233-5299

CONTRIBUTORS • K.L. Gordon • Ken Makin • Vincent Hobbs • Menia L. Chester • F/Benjamin Sr. Layout/Design : UrbanProMedia

MLK Civil Rights Archive : Moral Courage vs Hate

If we are wrong, justice is a lie.

Love has no meaning.

And we are determined here in Montgomery to work and fight until justice runs down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

The first mass meeting of the Montgomery Improvement Association attracted several thousand people to the spacious Holt Street Baptist Church, in a black working-class section of Montgomery. Both the sanctuary and the basement auditorium Were filled well before the proceedings began, and an audience outside listened via loudspeakers.

In addition to reporters, photographers, and two television crews, black leaders from other Alabama cities such as Birmingham, Mobile, and Tuscaloosa were among those in attendance. The meeting opened with two hymns, “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arm.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. then delivered an address that he had quickly composed before the meeting.

In his speech, King described the mistreatment of black bus passengers and the civil disobedience of Rosa Parks, and then justified the nonviolent protest by appealing to African-American Christian faith in love and justice and the American democratic tradition of legal protest.

Rev. Abernathy read the resolutions that he, King, and others on the resolution committee had drafted. The assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor, resolving “to refrain from riding buses. . . until some arrangement has been worked out ” with the bus company. King appealed for funds, then left to speak at a YMCA fathers and sons banquet.

We are here in a general sense because first and foremost we are American citizens and we are determined to apply our citizenship to the fullness of its meaning. We are here also because of our love for democracy, because of our deep-seated belief that democracy transformed from thin paper to thick action is the greatest form of government on earth.

But we are here in a specific sense, because of the bus situation in Montgomery. We are here because we are determined to get the situation corrected. This situation is not at all new. The problem has existed over endless years. For many years now Negroes in Montgomery and so many other areas have been inflicted with the paralysis of crippling fears on buses in our community. On so many occasions, Negroes have been intimidated and humiliated and oppressed because of the sheer fact that they were Negroes.

Just the other day, just last Thursday to be exact, one of the finest citizens in Montgomery, not one of the finest Negro citizens, but one of the finest citizens in Montgomery was taken from a bus and carried to jail and arrested because she refused to get up to give her seat to a white person. . . .

Mrs. Rosa Parks is a fine person. And, since it had to happen, I’m happy that it happened to a person like Mrs. Parks, for nobody can doubt the boundless outreach of her integrity. Nobody can doubt the height of her character, nobody can doubt the depth of her Christian commitment and devotion to the teachings of Jesus. And I’m happy since it had to happen, it happened to a person that nobody can call a disturbing factor in the community. Mrs. Parks is a fine Christian person, unassuming, and yet there is integrity and character there. And just because she refused to get up, she was arrested.

And you know, my friends, there comes a time when people get tired of being trampled over by the iron feet of oppression. There comes a time, my friends, when people get tired of being plunged across the abyss of humiliation, where they experience the bleakness of nagging despair. There comes a time when people get tired of being pushed out of the glittering sunlight of life’s July and left standing amid the piercing chill of an alpine November.

There comes a time. We are here, we are here this evening because we’re tired now.

And I want to say that we are not here advocating violence. We have never done that. I want it to be known throughout Montgomery and throughout this nation that we are Christian people. We believe in the Christian religion. We believe in the teachings of Jesus. The only weapon that we have in our hands this evening is the weapon of protest. That’s all. And certainly, this is the glory of America, with all of its faults. This is the glory of our democracy. If we were incarcerated behind the iron curtains of a Communistic nation we couldn’t do this. If we were dropped in the dungeon of a totalitarian regime we couldn’t do this. But the great glory of American democracy is the right to protest for right. . . . My friends, I want it to be known that we’re going to work with grim and bold determination to gain justice on the buses in this city. And we are not wrong, we are not wrong in what we

are doing. If we are wrong, the Supreme Court of this nation is wrong. If we are wrong, the Constitution of the United States is wrong. If we are wrong, God Almighty is wrong. If we are wrong, Jesus of Nazareth was merely a utopian dreamer that never came down to earth. If we are wrong, justice is a lie. Love has no meaning.

And we are determined here in Montgomery to work and fight until justice runs down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I want to say that in all of our actions we must stick together. Unity is the great need of the hour, and if we are united we can get many of the things that we not only desire but which we justly deserve.

And don’t let anybody frighten you. We are not afraid of what we are doing, because we are doing it within the law. There is never a time in our American democracy that we must ever think we’re wrong when we protest. We reserve that right.

When labor all over this nation came to see that it would be trampled over by capitalistic power, it was nothing wrong with labor getting together and organizing and protesting for its rights. We, the disinherited of this land, we who have been oppressed so long, are tired of going through the long night of captivity. And now we are reaching out for the daybreak of freedom and justice and equality.

May I say to you my friends, as I come to a close, and just giving some idea of why we are assembled here, that we must keep and I want to stress this, in all of our doings, in all of our deliberations here this evening and all of the week and while whatever we do, we must keep God in the forefront. Let us be Christian in all of our actions. But I want to tell you this evening that it is not enough for us to talk about love, love is one of the pivotal points of the Christian faith.

There is another side called justice. And justice is really love in calculation. Justice is love correcting that which revolts against love. The Almighty God himself is not the God just standing out saying through Hosea, “I love you, Israel.” He’s also the God that stands up before the nations and said: “Be still and know that I’m God, that if you don’t obey me I will break the backbone of your power and slap you out of the orbits of your international and national relationships.”

Standing beside love is always justice, and we are only using the tools of justice. Not only are we using the tools of persuasion, but we’ve come to see that we’ve got to use the tools of coercion.

Not only is this thing a process of education, but it is also a process of legislation.

As we stand and sit here this evening and as we prepare ourselves for what lies ahead, let us go out with a grim and bold determination that we are going to stick together. We are going to work together. Right here in Montgomery, when the history books are written in the future, somebody will have to say, “There lived a race of people, a black people, ‘fleecy locks and black complexion’, a people who had the moral courage to stand up for their rights. And thereby they injected a new meaning into the veins of history and of civilization.” And we’re gonna do that. God grant that we will do it before it is too late.

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Dr. King addresses the first mass meeting of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1956

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Wed., January 10 11:30 - 1:00 pm GUEST SPEAKER Ramone Lamkin The luncheon will feature a discussion with Marshal Ramone Lamkin.

As the Marshal of Richmond County, Marshal Lamkin is dedicated to keeping Augusta CLEAN and SAFE. Marshal Lamkin’s office participates in the C.A.V.E. (Crimes Against the Vulnerable and Elderly) Task Force and has initiated programs locally such as Eddie Eagle.

Under his leadership, the Marshal’s Office began investigating and charging certain cases of illegal dumping as felonies in an effort to improve health and quality of life for Richmond County’s citizens and to aid in city beautification efforts.

Deadline to RSVP and pay is Monday, January 8th To make a reservation please call 706-724-3576 or email Cynthia Riley at cynthia@lucycraftlaneymuseum.com www.

LucyCraftLaneyMuseum. com

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Lucy Craft Laney Museum Community Luncheon Series

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Southern Culinary Roots: Looking Back to Move Forward in the New Year CHEFCASSANDRA

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s we embark on a new year, we often embrace dietary changes, eliminating items labeled as ‘bad’ or ‘unhealthy,’ a category that many times includes traditional Southern food.

Rooted deeply in the cultural tapestry of Indigenous peoples, Africans, and European settlers, Southern cooking has evolved into a uniquely flavorful culinary tradition, unfortunately burdened with an undeserved reputation for being inherently unhealthy.

When we reflect on our culinary roots, our food is tied to “Three Sisters” agriculture–which refers to a specific Indigenous farming technique growing three main crops—corn, lima beans, and squash—in a manner that is beneficial and sustainable for both the soil and the crops. Indigenous corn became a staple, giving rise to iconic dishes like cornbread and grits.

Lima beans, and other varieties of beans, provide essential protein and enriched Southern stews and casseroles. Squash diversifies our vegetable options. Native Americans also influence Southern diets through the introduction of wild game, foraged foods, and culinary techniques such as smoking and drying meats.

Additionally, European settlers play a pivotal role in shaping Southern cuisine by introducing domesticated livestock, including pigs, cattle, and chickens. These animals become essential to Southern cooking, giving rise to celebratory dishes like ham and bacon. Settlers also bring dairy farming practices, ushering in the use of milk, butter, and cheese in Southern culinary traditions. The introduction of various grains, such as wheat and rye, expanded the Southern baking repertoire, giving rise to staples like biscuits.

Introducing a spectrum of ingredients, spices, and cooking methods, African culinary traditions have become integral to the distinctive flavors found in Southern dishes.

Staples like okra and black-eyed peas, a vibrant palette of spices, and cooking techniques such as slow cooking and smoking all originated from African influences. The cultural exchange between African, European, and Indigenous culinary traditions has woven a multicolored quilt of flavors and techniques that define the unique and celebrated

nature of Southern cuisine.

This week, as we explore the authentic traditions that form the essence of Southern cuisine, in an effort to show that our food can easily fit into a healthful eating plan when we return to the principles embedded in its earliest roots– a celebration of seasonal and local produce.

THE VEGETABLE-CENTRIC SOUL OF SOUTHERN COOKING: Essential Southern cuisine is renowned for its flavorful and hearty dishes, highlighting beans, greens, and grains. Meat is used sparingly, serving both as a protein source and seasoning to enhance richness and depth of flavor. Due to the absence of refrigeration and modern food storage, home cooks heavily depended on seasonal, local produce.

The dependence on fresh, locally available ingredients is notably pronounced in Southern dishes influenced by African American culinary traditions, such as braised collards, and Indigenous culinary traditions, like succotash. These dishes serve as prime examples of the region’s commitment to showcasing a diverse array of vegetables and grains, reflecting a culinary heritage deeply rooted in the use of wholesome, seasonal produce.

To fully embrace the essence of Southern cuisine, it’s crucial to rediscover and celebrate local, seasonal foods. Instead of caving to the misguided urge to eliminate cultural foods from your diet, shift towards a commitment to celebrate your cultural heritage through the use of seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Get rid of the notion that Southern food needs saving, the revitalization and enjoyment of Southern cuisine in our daily meals does not require a radical transformation; rather, it hinges on a return to our authentic roots. By shopping for a diverse array of local, in season produce, we not only honor the legacy of Southern cooking but also support our local farmers. This dedication to local produce not only safeguards the vibrant essence of our culinary traditions, preserving their richness and authenticity for generations to come, but also nurtures our health and longevity as a people.

SMOKED BUTTER BEAN BLISS: In the rich culinary heritage of the Southern United States, where lima beans are affectionately known as “butter beans,” our exploration this week invites us to a comforting and flavorful destination: tender butter beans in a lush paprika infused broth. This hearty soup not only celebrates the versatility of butter beans but also pays homage to the Indigenous agricultural contributions and the culinary skills of enslaved African cooks. As we savor this delicious blend of tradition by the spoonful, it serves as a reminder to seek out local produce, connecting us to the roots of Southern cuisine and supporting local farmers who cultivate the ingredients that make this culinary journey so vibrant and meaningful.

NOTE: For optimal results, choose fresh or frozen butter beans over canned.

The canning process can sometimes result in mushy beans due to overcooking and extended shelf times, which can compromise their delicate texture. Frozen or fresh beans ensure a stew with a more enticing and robust consistency. Serve with cornbread.

Secures a soup with a more enticing and robust consistency.

INGREDIENTS: 2 cups local frozen butter beans 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 bell pepper, diced 2 celery stalks, diced 1 large tomato, diced or 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes 4 cups vegetable stock 2 bay leaf 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon thyme Salt and black pepper to taste Hot sauce to taste Chopped fresh parsley for garnish INSTRUCTIONS: SAUTÉ AROMATICS: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, diced bell pepper, and diced celery. Sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.

ADD TOMATOES AND SPICES: Stir in the diced tomatoes. Add the bay leaf, smoked paprika, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

ADD LIMA BEANS AND BROTH: Add the butter beans and stock to the pot, ensuring that the beans are submerged. Bring the mixture to a boil.

SIMMER: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the stew simmer for about 1.5 to 2 hours or until the butter beans are tender.

ADJUST SEASONING: Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add hot sauce to taste if using.

FINISH AND GARNISH: Remove the bay leaf. Serve the stew warm, garnished with chopped fresh herbs.

SERVE: Ladle the stew into bowls and enjoy it as a hearty and flavorful dish on its own or served over rice.

WHERE TO FIND FRESH, FROZEN BUTTER BEANS IN THE CSRA: Savor the essence of Southern comfort with this Smokey Butter Bean Stew – rich, hearty, and perfect for chilly days. Crafted with ingredients from Wilson’s Farms, 620 W Martintown Rd, North Augusta, SC (North Augusta Church of Christ parking lot), open Fridays and Saturdays, 9 am to 4:30 pm. Offering a diverse selection, from Butter Beans to peas, potatoes, raw milk, cheddar cheese, eggs, nuts, and seasonal fruits, their certified all natural produce, cultivated in Aiken County and just south of the state line in Florida, brings the finest regional flavors to the CSRA year-round. Follow them on FaceBook: Wilson Farms-North Augusta.

OURTOWNOURPEOPLE

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Maga antics boost national recognition for Augusta D.A.

Burt Jones was one of the 16 Republicans who acted as fake electors for Donald J. Trump in Georgia in an effort to overturn his 2020 defeat.

Photo by Audra Melton for The New York Times Augusta District Attorney Jared Williams is making mainstream news because of Republican shenanigans in Georgia and Trump’s election inteference.

UPW Staff Written Augusta politicians rarely get a mention in the world’s major media outlets. However, Augusta District Attorney Jared Williams has avoided national obscurity due to the machinations of state G.O.P.’s peculiar form of democracy.

Recently, Williams has figured prominantly in news stories that made it into international news cycle. All of the stories focused on anti-democratic practices by the state Republican majority with the assistance of Trump loyalists.

Less than six months ago, the Guardian website highlighted Williams’ historic election victory as the first black district attorney for the Augusta JudicialCircuit. The article was entitled “A Black prosecutor was elected in Georgia – so white Republicans made their own district.”

The article went on to discuss the separation of Columbia County from the Augusta judicial district, which includes Richmond and Burke Counties.

And just days ago, Williams was discussed in a New York Times article entitled “Who Will Investigate One of Georgia’s Most Ambitious Politicians in the Trump Case?”

In this article, Williams is mentioned as one of the state procecutors who could be tapped to prosecute state Lt. Governor Burt Jones, one of 16 G.O.P operatives who acted as fake electors for Donald Trump in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results. According to the article, “the

district attorney in Augusta, Ga., became the first to publicly declare an interest in the job. Jared T. Williams, a Democrat, said that he was willing to investigate Mr. Jones’s actions after the 2020 election “if called upon.”

It is up to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to find a special prosecutor to investigate Mr. Jones. The head of that agency, Peter J. Skandalakis, has the responsibility to select the special prosecutor and has said that he will speak with Williams about the job.

However, he admitted that there would likely

be an uproar if Williams, a Democrat, were selected. Jones had made it known that he is a prospective gubernatorial candidate in 2026.

The fact that Williams had been a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the creation of an oversight commission for local prosecutors might further complicate Williams’ selection for the job. Jones had supported the new commission. The suit was recently withdrawn by the plaintiffs after a Georgia Supreme Court decision effectively stymied the commission from operating.

ALERT: Rail Line Works May Affect Some Transit Routes in January Beginning Monday, January 15, 2024, CSX will be working on rail projects that may affect Augusta Transit bus routes at the following locations: 1. 6th Street (#3 Gold Line/East Augusta) 2. 7th Street (#4 Turpin Hill/Purple Line) 3. Fenwick Street (#3 Gold Line/East Augusta, #4 Turpin Hill/Purple Line & #6 Brown Line/Gordon Hwy) 4. Taylor Street 5. James Brown Blvd (#6 Brown Line/Gordon Hwy) To avoid any disruption to your travel plans please listen to daily public service announcements on local media or call Augusta Transit Customer Service (706) 821-1719 between 6 a.m. thru 8 p.m.

Monday–Saturday.

To find a bus route near you, bus schedules and which bus gets you to your destination call (706) 8211719 between 6 a.m. thru 8 p.m. Monday–Saturday.

Augusta Transit is committed in its role to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors in Richmond County through the provision of sustainable and safe transit services.

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The Salvation Army receives donation from Food Lion Feeds Charity The Salvation Army of Augusta has received $2,500 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help nourish neighbors experiencing hunger. The Feeding the Hungry grant will support The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope, where our soup kitchen provides food for upwards of 100 people every day.

The soup kitchen at The Center of Hope plays a crucial role in serving dinner every evening to both shelter participants and the broader community, while also providing breakfast to shelter participants each morning. Operating seven days a week, 365 days a year, the soup kitchen has become a cornerstone in addressing food insecurity in the Augusta community. The grant comes at a critical time as The Salvation Army of Augusta has witnessed a doubling of food

prices in 2023, far exceeding its budgetary provisions. With the rising demand for assistance, this grant ensures The Salvation Army can sustain its commitment to the community, even amid escalating food costs.

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is committed to supporting families facing food insecurity across its 10-state footprint. Established in 2001, the foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to feeding local neighbors in the communities it serves. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $18.1 million in grants.

About The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm

of Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C. Established in 2001, the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to eliminating hunger. The charitable foundation has provided more than $18.1 million in grant funding, helping to nourish communities with fresh food for backpack programs, Kids Café’s, and other hunger-relief programs as well as funding for long-term programs to help shorten the lines at food banks. The charitable foundation partners with Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief agency, in addition to local food agencies serving the 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states in which Food Lion operates. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com/pages/ food-lion-feeds.

Jewish Community to Host a Program on AntiSemitism and Hatred

SPIRIT NIGHT FOR THE SALVATION ARMY OF AUGUSTA

10% OF FOOD SALES WILL BE DONATED TO THE SALVATION ARMY OF AUGUSTA

On Sunday, January 14, 2024, the Jewish Community will host Perspectives on Hate: A program that examines the impact of hate, bigotry, antisemitism, and racism on present day society.

This program is very timely following the October 7th terrorist attack in Israel, which has resulted in an unprecedented growth in Antisemitism and Islamophobia around the country.

The program will begin at 1:00 pm in the Linda Beazley Room at the Richmond County Municipal Building, 535 Telfair Street. The event is being cosponsored by the Augusta Jewish Museum and the Jewish Community Center and Federation of Augusta (JCCFA).

The keynote address will be given by Agnes Mueller, Ph.D., Professor of German and Comparative Literature at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Mueller will discuss Holocaust Memory and Antisemitism.

Also participating in the program will be panelists: Bobby Christine, District Attorney for the Columbia County Judicial Court; Richard Rogers, News Anchor at News Channel 12/26; and, Mara Price Zeichner, Assistant Campus Director at the University of Georgia Hillel. Questions and answers will follow the presentations.

The event is free and open to the public.

Registration is requested at www.augustajewishmuseum.org/events or by calling (706) 426-1542 or by calling the JCCFA office at 706-228-3636.

The Augusta Jewish Museum and its programming chronicle the life, history, and contributions of the Jewish community in the Central Savannah River Region. The museum also educates about Jewish traditions, remembering the Holocaust, and Israel-the land and its people.

The Jewish Community Center and Federation of Augusta (JCCFA) is in its second year as a new organization. The mission is to support Jewish life locally, nationally, in Israel and around the world.

The JCCFA promotes social, cultural, educational, and humanitarian activities reflecting Jewish thinking and ideals of social justice and raises funds to support its mission.

It’s time for POINT IN TIME COUNT

Volunteers Needed

We are recruiting volunteers who want to give back to their community and participate in this important count of our homeless

Join Us

JANUARY 22-31, 2024

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE FOLLOWING: Homeless Day Count Homeless Night Count Making Resource Bags

Volunteers for count days will receive event hoodies

SCAN TO REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER:

To volunteer please go to: https://forms.gle/3gkmS2FQhAQYM5wi8

For questions and more information contact: Tammy Ruth | truth@augustaga.gov | 706-821-1797 Bethany Trapp | btrapp@csraeoa.org | 706-831-0459

* The Point-in-Time (PIT) count is a national count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January.

POINT IN TIME 2024 January 22 Monday

January 23 Tuesday

4:00-7:00pm

12:00am-6:00am** Encampment Canvassing of Identified locations

Shelter Count •

Garden City Rescue Mission (828 Fenwick St.)

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The Salvation Army (1384 Greene St.)

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Augusta Rescue Mission (525 Walker St.) –

10:00am – 12:00pm “Hot Spot” Master’s Table Soup Kitchen @ Golden Harvest Food Bank 702 Fenwick St., Augusta, GA 30901

January 24 Wednesday 10:00am - 2:00pm “Hot Spot” Project Life 1758 Gordon Hwy. Augusta, GA 30904

January 25 Thursday

January 26 Friday

January 28 Sunday

January 31 Thursday

10:00am- 12:00pm “Hot Spot” GAP Ministries (1235 Greene St., Augusta, GA 30901– enter from Ellis St. side in rear)

10:00am - 2:00pm “Hot Spot” Dream Center 3364 Peach Orchard Road Augusta, GA 30906

10am-12pm “Hot Spot“ Compass for Hope Outreach” James Brown Areana Parking Lot 601 7th St, Augusta, GA 30901

10am-12pm “Hot Spot“ Project Refresh Shower Day Georgia Department of Public Health 950 Laney Walker Blvd., Augusta, GA 30901

9:00pm-12:00am** Encampment Canvassing of Identified locations – logistics and setup.

**LOCATIONS FOR ENCAMPMENT OUTREACH ARE APPROXIMATE TO ACCOMMODATE THE FLUID NATURE OF THESE ENVIRONMENTS. Please email or call Tammy Ruth for location specification at 706-432-5321 or truth@augustaga.gov

2024 Point In Time Count Volunteer Registration Going On Now!!! Sign up HERE or scan the QR Code:

Tammy Ruth- Augusta Housing & Community Development- 706-432-5321 or truth@augustaga.gov

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Augusta’s local Continuum of Care (CoC), also known as the Homeless Task Force, announces the kick-off of the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, which will take place January 22-31, 2024. The CoC solicits the help of volunteers across the CSRA to join in this effort to help survey Augusta’s homeless population.

“We are excited to once again, partner with our Homeless Task Force and the local community on this vital count of displaced and unhoused individuals in our community. Each year our community has shown up and committed valuable time and resources in an effort to make the count a successful endeavor,” says Tammy Ruth, Homeless Coordinator and Homeless Task Force Laison for Augusta Housing and Community Development.

The PIT count is the most comprehensive count for homeless populations who are currently sheltered and unsheltered across the country. Federal Law and Regulations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) requires all cities in America to produce an unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a one-day point in time during the last 10 days of January. Information from more than 450 communities across America is then combined in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress (AHAR).

Bethany Trapp, Program Coordinator for the Marion Barnes Assessment & Referral Center for the Homeless, has volunteered and helped coordinate the vital PIT count for over five years now. She serves as a member of the Homeless Task Force and chairs the Street Outreach Committee, a committee charged with identifying and providing resources for unsheltered individuals throughout the year.

“I am aware of the importance of PIT,” says Trapp. “The PIT Count is far more than a head count. It brings our community together to provide an insight into the challenges our homeless neighbors are facing and a glimpse into the community work that our Street Outreach Team is doing almost monthly. Volunteer registration is currently open, says Ruth. “Those who register will be asked to attend one of two required trainings. We currently need both day and night count volunteers. Those volunteering will join a group charged with surveying the homeless at various locations throughout the county and at various times throughout the week. Our Homeless Task Force provides a resource bag for each homeless individual we encounter.

Volunteers are needed to help prepare those bags. We have a task for any community member that has a desire to help and make a meaning impact in their community.”

2024 Point In Time Count

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