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JAN. 31 - FEB. 13, 2022 • VOL. 10 NO. 12

EN GARDE by Bisa Butler

Black Virtuosity: Exploring Social Justice Through the Arts

AUGEATS

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Yelp Just Released the Top 100 Places to Eat in 2022, and Augusta Makes the list once again The Brunch House of Augusta was named one of Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for 2022. After making its debut in the Garden City last February, it is already at No. 51 on the list that includes everything from fine dining to food trucks.

Owner Asian Brown said he decided to open the restaurant on a whim after noticing downtown Augusta needed a place for local breakfast dining.

To determine Yelp’s Top Places to Eat in 2022, Yelp reached out to the user community first, requesting individuals to submit restaurants that they can’t wait to return to in 2022 in the U.S. Yelp’s data science team analyzed the submissions from the community to determine the top restaurants by ratings, number of reviews, and volume of submissions, with geographic representation based on equal share of submissions of top-rat-

ed restaurants nationally. Yelp further curated the list with the expertise of our Community Managers around the country to finalize the rankings. The resulting list is collaborative and passion driven – an accurate reflection of the Yelp Community itself.

The Brunch House is one of 20+ restaurants featured in the 2021 Augusta Black Restaurant Week.

2022 Martin Luther King Jr. TE DA Parade NAACP W NE Theme: “When We Fight, We Win” Dyess Park Community Center Sat, Feb. 26, 2022 @ 1:00 pm

Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022

UPW URBAN PRO WEEKLY

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 Olivia Gaines Menia L. Chester Frederick Benjamin Sr. Layout/Design : UrbanProMedia

Black Virtuosity: Exploring Social Justice Through the Arts “In the world of no justice and black ladies on the back of buses, I’m the immaculate conception of rappers-slash-hustlers, My God, it’s so hard to conceive, But it all falls perfect, I’m like autumn is to trees.”

Jay-Z, Shiny Suit Theory Georgia-born artist Amy Sherald’s painting of former first lady, Michelle Obama, is in Atlanta’s High Museum for the next several months. While the portrait hangs as a timeless reminder of the elegance and grace exhibited by our nation’s first African-American first lady, the artist behind the portrait also exemplifies the virtuosity of African-American creatives. Sherald, a graduate of Atlanta’s Clark-Atlanta University, is an artist who understands the power of her art to effect change, using each canvas and stroke to speak to the representation of people of color in art and shift the narrative. She credits an art teacher with nurturing her to explore her fascination with creating. As her style developed, Sherald resolved to use shades of gray for the skin tone in her paintings to have the focus of her paintings rest upon the humanity of the subjects rather than their racial identity. She pushes the viewers of her work to look beyond race, which she believes creates unnecessary limitations on art. Embedded in our schools are thousands of ‘teaching artists’ whose work as educators includes exposing young people to the broad array of ways art is created, but also the ways artists use their art to challenge the status quo and promote social justice.

I consider myself a ‘teaching principal’. I enjoy moments when I can join a class and either teach or co-teach a lesson. Not only does it keep my feet firmly grounded in the art of teaching, it creates an indelible connection

with my students who get to connect with me over content rather than controversy. This connection is especially strong when there are connections to be made in the areas of the arts and social justice. Working with teachers to enhance instruction through collaborative planning and post-observation conversations, I find ways to help my teachers enhance what they’ve planned by suggesting they include additional elements of the arts or new approaches to engage the students more deeply in the content. In our celebration of African-American culture, school leaders should consider how they work to elevate the status of African-American artists and writers throughout the school year in their respective schools. The Southern Poverty Law Center in conjunction with Learning for Justice, formerly Teaching Tolerance, has developed the Social Justice Standards - The Teaching Tolerance Anti-Bias Framework, a guide for schools looking to explore a comprehensive conceptual framework grounded in four distinct domains: identity, diversity, justice, and action. In recent years we’ve seen an increase in hate groups, attacks on immigrants, hate crimes against mosques and temples, and restrictions on what teachers can discuss in their classrooms. The climate of America compels us to become more vigilant in teaching young people about social justice. It is not enough to put a few things in motion in February as a token gesture in observance of African American history. We must explore the identity of our students, teach them to celebrate diversity, learn about groups that fought for justice and threats to justice.

Finally, we must engage them in the actions that promote social justice, namely empathy, acts of courage, and the creation of art and literature that challenge the status quo.

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Black Virtuosity is essentially a resurgence of the vibrancy and creativity we saw during the Harlem Renaissance. As we have done in the past, the resilience of the African-American community in the present should be celebrated from the context of this continuous well-spring of creativity that has sustained us in America. –­ ANDRE BENITO MOUNTAIN

EDUCATIONARTS

Mid-Summer Afternoon Dream by Amy Sherald, painter Entry Points Visitors to Marbut Traditional Theme School enter a lobby adorned with ceremonial African masks created by our students in conjunction with our teaching artist in-residence, Mrs. Carolita Chester-Benton. There are three display cases surrounded by an art installation dedicated to the work of Bisa Butler whose quilting of images from African American history inspired our theme for the year: Patchwork. Mrs. ChesterBenton has worked with faculty and students to create self-portraits in the style of Butler’s work with rich and vivid colors and an amalgamation of patterns, like our school community. We are inextricably connected by our shared vision for student success. Traditionally, discussions around art and artists in America lift up those who are White and male. Regardless of the demographics of the school, leaders must continue to be cognizant of the need to create spaces that celebrate the contributions of African-Americans to the global society in ways that are meaningful and rele-

vant for our children. The contributions of African American women not only inspires our young women, but teaches our boys to respect and honor the contributions of women as artists, writers, and activists in their own right. School leaders should think of their schools as an architect would think of a blueprint of a new structure: What are the entry points that might bring more people into the structure? Likewise, schools must create entry points for celebrating what I describe as “Black Virtuosity”, a term that encompasses the creative genius of African-Americans despite centuries of oppression, discrimination, and injustice. Black Virtuosity is essentially a resurgence of the vibrancy and creativity we saw during the Harlem Renaissance. As we have done in the past, the resilience of the AfricanAmerican community in the present should be celebrated from the context of this continuous well-spring of creativity that has sustained us in America.

Editor’s Note: Read the complete article on UPW Facebook Page.

• HB 888: Censoring the teaching of historic racism in state’s classrooms • P7

COMMUNITYWATCH

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Leon Maben, Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History board member and historian, Joyce G.D. Law at presentation.

Laney Museum board member Maben honored for service Lucy Craft Laney Museum News Many of our museum’s supporters know Mr. Maben well from his role as Chair of our Annual Golf Tournament; and, vigorous support of both the T. W. Josey High School and the Ft. Valley Alumni Associations. He holds several other civic leadership positions.

At the December 16th, 2021 meeting of Augusta-Richmond Count y Historic Preser vation Commission, historian LTC (Ret.) Joyce G.D. Law, CSR A Region Co-Representative of Georgia A f r ic a n - A mer ic a n H i stor ic Preservation Network (GA AHPN) Board, presented two (2) awards to Mr. Maben on behalf of other local organizations. Museum Board of Directors President Rosa Clemons and Museum Executive Director Linda Johnson attended the surprise presentation.

Veteran award-winning sports journalist Stan Byrdy gifted an

autographed copy of his latest historical work The Donnie Hixson Story, in recognition of Mr. Maben’s countless contributions to the county’s character districts. Mr. Maben’s high school classmate running back Joe Jackson appears in the biography. Sand Hills Neighborhood Association honored Mr. Maben’s year-long dedicated participation in city-wide cleanup/ beautification campaigns by gifting a certificate of appreciation, along with a picture collage depicting the 2021 Inaugural Veterans Day Recognition at Summerville Fitten Street Cemetery.

Commenting on Mr. Maben’s singular leadership as Vice-Chair of the HP Commission, LTC Law remarked: “Mr. Maben doesn’t just point the way, he brings his gloves, equipment, and works alongside others to work; then, is attentively present for successive cultural events.”

NBA program offers career development summer internships to HBCU students The application window is open for the National Basketball Associations’ first-ever class of the NBA HBCU fellowship program, which will provide career development opportunities in the NBA for HBCU students.

The application window will be open through Feb. 20, and the inaugural program will take place between June 6 and Aug. 12. Current full-time undergraduate (juniors and seniors) and graduate students can apply to intern with the league office or any of the league’s 30 teams for 10 weeks this summer.

“The HBCU Fellowship Program is a true continuation of the NBA Foundation’s mission to drive economic opportunity for young people within the Black community,” NBA Foundation Executive Director Greg Taylor said in a statement. “We are proud of the investment the

league has made to promote important school-to-career opportunities and to further develop the best and brightest talent from our nation’s HBCUs.” Details at https://nbafoundation. nba.com/hbcu-fellowship/ https://w ww.blackenterprise.com/ applications-are-now-open-for-2022 -nba-hbcu-fellowship-program-providing-career-development-opport i n it ies -for-hb c u- st udent s/ ? ut m _ source=jeeng

Umoja Village Calendar

*** ATTENTION ALL CHURCHES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES, please use the Umoja Village Community Calendar as a planning tool and a marketing tool. This calendar is paid for by the Umoja Village organization and exists to help us work together so that our events and activities can be as effective as possible and to help alleviate dividing our intended audience due to multiple events planned on the same dates. You can use this calendar, on www.umojavillage.

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The Black Historical Committee of Aiken will hold its 22nd Annual Black History Parade on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m. This year’s theme will be: Excellence In Community Service: Honoring Betty Gyles. Entry fee is only $20.00. Pick up applications at the Smith Hazel Recreation Center, 400 Kershaw Street in Aiken; or Brothers & Sisters of Aiken, 132 York Street in Aiken. Together, let’s make this parade the best year ever and truly demonstrate unity. Attention all churches, youth groups, praise dancers, families, organizations, and businesses! For more information, call The Black Historical Committee of Aiken, 803-642-7634.

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COMMUNITYWATCH Covid Testing Sites Consolidated Effective January 24, 2022, the Georgia Department of Public Health-East Central Health District will combine the COVID19 testing efforts at the North Leg Road and the Augusta University COVID19 testing sites into an exclusive Department of Public Health COVID19 community testing site located at Augusta University, 524 15th Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901 Beginning Monday, January 24, 2022, extended COVID-19 testing hours will be offered Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM with both scheduled appointments and on-site registration available.

To schedule an appointment visit: Ecphd.com/covidtesting Site name: Richmond County-DPH @ Augusta University *For additional information call: 706-721-5800

• SUMMARY OF SECTIONS OF GA HB 888 AKA “CLASSROOM CENSORSHIP BILL”

SECTION 2: This is the bulk of the bill, Section 2 identifies 7 points that are no longer allowed to be taught in schools (surrounding race, equity, and “white guilt”).

Then, details how those standards impact public funds, curriculum, course credits, and discussions of topics like public policy in Georgia schools.

All discussions of partisan public policy or courses and course credits in any way related to advocacy, lobbying, or organizations which engage in either, are prohibited.

Requires all education material to be posted online, all districts to have rapid systems to report and investigate claims of schools violating these 7 established points, and will WITHHOLD 20% of STATE FUNDING from any school not in compliance.

Three (seemingly contradictory) elements of instruction on the k12 level are excluded from these bans - “nonpartisan” discussions primarily.

Notably, college students, staff, and faculty are excluded from these prohibitions for the sake of “intellectual freedom.”

These next five sections of the bill ensure universal compliance with the above prohibitions on content.

SECTION 3: The bill amends provision 20 of part 1, Article 6 of chapter 2 - relating to the purpose and objectives of the Quality Basic Education Program. The bill adds a clause barring schools from “assigning [students] any distinction or classification within any public school” and adds ethnicity to the list of protected classes.

SECTION 4: Changes State core curriculum to comply with Section 2.

SECTION 5: Limits the curriculum that local boards of education may require high school students to learn - requiring compliance with amended Section 2 of

this bill..

Character Education program.

SECTION 6: Requires compliance with Section 2 in the

SECTION 7: Requires the existing GA course of “History

and Literature of the Old and New Testaments” to comply with the provisions outlined in Section 2.

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SECTION 1: Codifies language denying systemic racism as an American reality, refutes concepts of equity. “Dispels the idea that the United States and its institutions are systemically racist” and “debunks the misguided argument that the present-day problems of black Americans are caused by the injustices of past failures, such as slavery.”

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#gardencityjazz june 27 : july 25 code: UPW text UPW to (706) 528-6855

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Subscribe at growingaugusta.co/upw

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MLK PARADE DATE CHANGED NEW DATE IS SATURDAY, FEB . 26

Have A Suggestion For A Great Story?

Let us know about it.

Contact Us At growingaugusta.co/upw

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Latrell’s Tasty Chili It’s Chili Weather!

Live your best life! That is my motto. My name is Menia L. Chester, I am a chef, owner of Desserts by Latrell and Southern Jazz and Sweets.

Colder weather makes me want to prepare chili for my family.

We usually have cornbread cakes or crackers and a salad. There are many versions of this hearty soup but this is one of my favorites. It includes red kidney beans and black beans. Both are a good source of iron, phosphorus and potassium. They are also an excellent source of protein and fiber. For people with diabetes, adding beans to a healthy diet can possibly help with the control of blood sugar while reducing the risk of heart disease. Remember, portion control is key to the success of a healthy relationship with food. Enjoy!

LATRELL’S TASTY CHILI Serves 6 INGREDIENTS 1lb ground turkey (or ground beef) 1 medium yellow onion finely diced ½ cup diced bell pepper Latrell’s Chili Seasoning Mix 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 ½ tablespoons ground cumin 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 1 1/2 teaspoons salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper* -optional ¼ tsp dried oregano ½ tsp dried parsley 2 cups water 1 (15 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes 1 (16 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 (12 oz) can of black bean drained and rinsed 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce 1 (6 oz) can of tomato paste

Instructions 1. Add the ground turkey, diced onions and bell pepper to a large soup pot.

Cook until the meat browned, making sure to break it into small pieces as it cooks.

2. Add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, garlic powder, salt, pepper, oregano, and optional cayenne pepper. Stir until well combined.

3. Add the water, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, drained beans, and tomato sauce. Stir well.

4. Bring the liquid to a boil. Cover the pot then reduce the heat and gently simmer, 20-25 minutes stirring occasionally.

5. Remove the pot from the heat. Taste to adjust your seasonings. Serve hot!

Serve with optional toppings: Cheese, sour cream and/or minced green onions.

Note: The meat can be omitted for a vegetarian version.

If you have questions, would like to see other recipes, or learn about events by Latrell, please visit my website or send me an email.

Website: www.southernjazzandsweets.com

Land banks can play vital role in community development

Good Jobs Challenge Applications Now Due Thursday, February 10 Thank you for all the work that you do every day to support your communities and build economies that work for all.

Throughout this year, we’ve seen unprecedented interest in EDA’s funding opportunities, including our American Rescue Plan programs.

It is our mission to efficiently, effectively, and equitably disperse these funds to help communities respond to and recover from the pandemic and build back better.

With that mission in mind, we have decided to provide Good Jobs Challenge applicants with an extra two weeks to complete their applications.

The Good Jobs Challenge application deadline is now Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. ET. We are also providing potential applicants with the option to submit their intent to apply to GoodJobsChallenge@EDA.gov by January 5, 2022. The applicant’s intent to apply email should include the applicant’s name and a contact person with contact information.

Submission of intent to apply is voluntary; it will have no impact on an applicant’s consideration. There are no consequences if an applicant submits an intent to apply email but does not actually apply for the grant.

To help support your efforts, please review our FAQ and other resources.

If you have any further questions, please contact GoodJobsChallenge@ EDA.gov.

cy consistent with local priorities and needs. Land banks have proven critical community development tools in a range of geographies and under varying conditions, whether to help with recovery efforts in the wake of economic or national disasters or to support equitable development in neighborhoods that struggle under the weight of decades of chronic disinvestment and unjust policies.

Following the Great Recession, the national land bank field exploded,

with more than a dozen states passing enabling legislation that allowed, to varying degrees and unique to each state, for the creation of local, county, and regional land banks.

There are more than 200 land banks currently in operation across the country. While there are land banks operating in all regions across the country, approximately 75% of all land banks are located in just five states: Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

Today, another national crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, is not only threatening public health, but also disrupting real estate markets, household security, and neighborhood vitality—and doing so with a disproportionate impact on communities of color. Over the next few years, it is expected that state and local leaders will again turn to land banks to help minimize the harms of vacant, distressed properties and to assist in an equitable recovery.”

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The Center For Community Progress sees increased need for understanding the importance of land banks: “Land banks are flexible, nimble public entities endowed with special powers by state legislation that can acquire, hold, and then steward large inventoraies of vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties to productive reuses that support equitable community development and improve neighborhood resilien-

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