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Augusta Literary Festival This Weekend

URBAN PRO WEEKLY

MARCH 5-11, 2015 VOL. 4 NO. 25

From Peanuts To Power The most written about politician in Augusta tells his story — in his own words

Former state Senate Majority leader Charles Walker documents his rise from poverty to success in a newly released autobiographical book. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Eddie Bussey 706-772-9800

UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 5 - 11, 2015

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Urban Pro Weekly LLC 3529 Monte Carlo Drive Augusta, GA 30906 Executive Publisher BEN HASAN 706-394-9411 bzhasan54@yahoo.com

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Humanitree House co-owners Denise and Baruti Tucker orchestrated the event.

“Sister Sala was one of the pioneers in Augusta to keep African culture and arts alive,” Denise Tucker shared. “If not for their work, Baruti and I could not have a Humanitree House.”

Audrey “Sala Adenike” Jeter-Allen, or Sister Sala, is known as a major influencer in the arts community, having worked at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, Sala Adenike in the gallery named after her at as both a visual arts instruc- Hobbs tor and music teacher. She co-owned ed her ability to affirm and motivate Ambasa Gift Shop, an Afrocentric retail young artists. establishment, with husband “Brother An alumnus of Vassar College in Ali” for twenty years. Her in-depth New York, she earned a BA Degree African dance experience as art director in Performing and Visual Arts from for ABATSU African Cultural Performing Empire State College (State University Arts and her artist-in-residence appoint- of New York). ments at Terrell Academy and the CSRA Sister Sala is encouraged by the African American Arts Alliance expand- imaginative art in the gallery (many

2015

By Vincent Hobbs They came forward to the gallery entrance to speak, one at a time. Many had tears in their eyes as they spoke of the impact that had been made in their lives, how they had undergone life-changing experiences due to the care and love shown to them

by Sister “Sala Adenike”. The radiant woman dressed in simple black garb with multi-colored accents smiled and held back the tears – for a while. But the parade of well-wishers was overwhelming and the tears came - tears of joy, tears of gratitude.

“You taught me to respect my elders, and to respect myself,” GRU student Khadijah Philpot exclaimed in front of a crowd of about two dozen people gathered at Humanitree House on 8th Street. Philpot studied under Sister Sala at Jessye Norman School of the Arts during her high school years.

The emotional crowd came to honor Sister Sala in a celebration that officially named the Humanitree art gallery the “Sala Art Gallery.”

UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 5 - 11,

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS Announcing the Sala Art Gallery

Humanitree House. Photo by Vincent art pieces are works by artist Baruti Tucker) and she would like to see greater exposure for artists.

“I hope that visual arts at large will become more visible, so to speak, in the community and that everyone in the CSRA will feel welcome and come to the gallery to see the work that’s here,” she said.

UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 5 - 11, 2015

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POLITICS

COMMENTARY

Race, consolidation and the weak-mayor system

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. Urban Pro Weekly Staff Writer AUGUSTA Back in 1995 every elected official worth his salt had a consolidation plan in his back pocket. That’s just how bad Augustans wanted to combine the city and county governments.

In the state legislature, Sen. Charles Walker had his bill; so did Sen. Don Cheeks. State Reps. Jack Connell, Robin Williams, and Henry Howard all had competing consolidation bills.

Whether you were for consolidation or against it, passion ruled the day.

Today, 20 years after the implementation of the merger of the city and county governments, talk of changing the city’s charter has once again surfaced — minus the passion.

This time around, the only elected official with a plan for changing the city’s charter is Mayor Hardie Davis.

Although Davis received an unprecedented media-driven drubbing for his audacity to propose a charter-change scheme that would cede virtually all local power to himself, he has succeeded in getting an atta-boy sentiment from the editorial desk of the Augusta Chronicle which boldly declared, “Changing Augusta’s municipal government is something most people agree “should be done.”

Really? Most people!

We implore the scribes at the downtown daily not to encourage Hardie — he’s got quite enough on his plate trying to run the meetings. (Anyone who doubts that should get a transcript of Tuesday’s commission meeting. Davis was called on to break a 5-5 tie twice. In one instance, he clearly didn’t understand which way he voted and in the other, he declined to vote at all, instead leading the commis-

sion into a bizarre voting “loop-to-nowhere,” like nothing ever seen before in the commission chambers).

The coming “charter-change” discussions are sure to be interesting but not likely to be anything near as meaningful or passionate — or necessary – as the consolidation battles of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

If nothing else, the consolidation bill of 1995, was the result of gut wrenching, pitched battles waged in Augusta, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. One thing those who are new to the consolidation discussion may not realize, and those who went through it may not recall, is that consolidating the city of Augusta and Richmond County was not a smooth operation.

It was characterized by a frustrating series of starts and stops, dead ends and wasted time and money. Some observers would have you believe that the black community decided that it wanted more power, led the consolidation movement, and determined its outcome.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Consolidation was the furthest thing from the black community’s mind for decades. It was the white political power brokers, both inside and outside of the government that were so passionate about consolidation that they would have accepted virtually any scheme so long as — at the end of the day — Augusta could boast a huge population increase.

It was all about increasing the population of the city. They could have cared less about a strong mayor, weak mayor or any other kind of mayor.

The white community had been trying to consolidate the city of Augusta since the 1970s with no success. Since the mid 1980s to the early 1990s, all you could hear people talk about is

how the city’s population had dwindled from 65,000 to less than 44,000.

Remember the hand wringing about Augusta just being a “dot” on the map. It was the era of growth “by any means necessary.”

Finally, in 1988, city and county residents went to the polls and passed a consolidation bill.

It was as simple as black and white.

White folks wanted consolidation; they went to the polls and voted for it. Black folks were opposed to consolidation, they went to the polls and voted against it.

But in the end, white folks got their wish — sort of.

The U.S. Justice Department stepped in and concluded that abolishing the city charter and adopting a 10-member (later changed to 15-member) council had the effect of diminishing black voting strength.

At that point, it became clear that the Justice Department was a player in the consolidation game and blacks realized that if consolidation was ever going to be a reality — black wishes had to matter.

It was at this point that black politicians realized that it was better to be at the negotiating table than on the sidelines.

Even so, the black ministers and others in the black community — a majority in fact — still opposed consolidation. It didn’t matter to them that the correctly constructed consolidation plan would have guaranteed the political dominance of blacks in the future.

Stung by the objection by the feds, the consolidation proponents attempted to sue the Federal Government and push through their consolidation plans with or without black input.

In 1992, they attempted to ignore input from the black community and

ram a consolidation bill through the Georgia General Assembly, but they were blocked in Atlanta by black politicians.

State Senator Charles Walker deemed that 1992 consolidation bill as “unacceptable” and used his position in the state senate to block its passage.

Three short years later, however, Walker cobbled together a biracial coalition of elected officials and community leaders and proposed a consolidation bill that the black community could support.

Prior to the 1995 legislative session in late 1994, Walker and his supporters drafted a set of 8 points that he felt could gain the support of enough black and whites to make consolidation a reality.

Blacks wanted strong assurances that minorities will be treated equally in terms of government jobs and contracts. Also, blacks backed the weak-mayor form of government while whites preferred the strong mayor concept. Blacks also wanted the election of the mayor and commissioners to be decided using plurality elections vs strict majority vote (50 percent plus one). White lawmakers wanted as close to majority elections as possible.

Blacks also lobbied for the creation of the mayor pro tem position which had the power to select committee assignments.

Mr. Walker said the declining financial health and tax base of Augusta and the “high level of incompetence” in local government are two of the reasons he changed his mind and decided consolidation was necessary.

“It is just time,” he said. “If I didn’t think it was the right thing to do. I’d be fighting against it. Times change,” Walker said at the time

Tabernacle Baptist Church

membership have grown from less than 100 members in 1983 to over 12,000. Follow Rev. Haynes on twitter at @fhunscripted The revival will continue with Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart of Christ Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday, March 12, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, March 19 and conclude withPastor Arthur Jackson, III of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens, Florida on Thursday, March 26.

For more information about Tabernacle Baptist Church’s March Gladness Revival or to join us LIVE via Streaming Faith, visit http://www. tbcaugusta.org For more information, contact Tabernacle Baptist Church at (706) 724-1230 or visit the Tabernacle Baptist Church website at www.tbcaugusta. org. Get social! Follow on Twitter @ TBCAugusta or via Facebook.com/ TBCAugusta

The 3rd Annual Prom-A-Palooza 2015 WHAT WILL THEY DO? Young ladies will be allowed to select from a variety of beautiful prom gowns for their perfect evening at their High School Prom or ROTC Ball or special event.

Young ladies will be available to assist them in picking out the perfect dress that compliments their body.

In addition to selecting a dress, young ladies will be given the opportunity to look at accessories such as shoes and jewelry that are available.

WHO IS THIS EVENT FOR? Young ladies in the in the CSRA that may need assistance with the financial challenges of their special event.

DONATIONS. We are also accepting donated formal dresses, shoes and acces-

TO PARTICIPATE Those interested in coming and finding the dress of their dreams, please call Roxanne @ (706) 589-3983 and set up an appointment. Appointments are on a first come first serve basis.

All appointments will be for Saturday March 14, 2015 between the hours of 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Location: Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center – 1635 15th Street – Augusta GA (706-7380089). Girls must be accompanied by their parent or guardian.

MEDICAL VILLA PHARMACY WE TAKE

• Georgia medicaid • Insurance plans • Charge cards • WIC vouchers

Local libraries offer glimpse of local Black History through tapes, transcripts Local researchers and history enthusiasts will gain access to the oral/ written (non-book or magazine) resources provided by the area’s public and private libraries.

GRU’s Reese Library, along with the main branch public library and Paine College Library has used a grant to transfer and set up some of their cassette tape recordings on the web site at http://guides.gru.edu/SavingVoices.

Reese Library has the Fulcher Collection of tapes and transcripts of 1997 interviews with Jeanes supervisors in the Special Collections & Institutional Archives.

The public libraries’ tapes include some made in the 1970s of R.A. Dent, Louise Laney, Ed McIntyre, Butterfly McQueen, Madison Woo and others. (Not all the interviews were directly with African Americans.)

These tapes are in the Heritage Room on the third floor of the main branch library on Telfair Street.

The Paine College Oral Histories set is of 11 tapes which includes one with Dr. Julius Scott Jr. (from 1988) and one with Dr. J.E. Robinson.

These tapes are at the Collins-Calloway Library.

All tapes require QuickTime program to listen to them. If you do not already have QuickTime, you can download a free version from Apple.

There are also other tapes at the above three libraries that were not put online but are available for listening in the respective libraries. Please contact each library for more information about them and times to listen to those tapes.

sories. Donations can be dropped off at Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center on Mondays and Fridays between the hours of 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Contact Roxanne @ 706-589-3983/ Lisa @ 706-833-1637 after 6:00 M-F or on the weekends. Applications can be found on the SisterOnlyClub.com.

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2015

AUGUSTA Tabernacle Baptist Church presents its March Gladness Revival, every Thursday, March 5 – March 26. The revival will take place each Thursday at 7 p.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church-East located at 1223 Laney Walker Blvd. Augusta, Georgia 30901.

Each year, Tabernacle Baptist Church invites some of the best preachers from throughout the Nation to deliver impactful messages.

The revival will kickoff with Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes, III. He serves as senior pastor of FriendshipWest Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Haynes is a prophetic pastor, passionate leader, social activist, and eloquent orator and educator engaged in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, fighting against racial injustice; committed to economic justice and empowerment in underserved communities and touching and transforming the lives of the disenfranchised. Under his servant leadership, the ministry and

Cher’s Sisters Only Club Presents

UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 5 - 11,

March Gladness Revival kicks off with Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes, III

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4th Annual Augusta Literary Festival set for this weekend

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The Augusta Literary Festival celebrates its fourth year by adding new and exciting authors and workshops. Friday March 6th will feature two workshops starting at 10:00 AM and 1:00 AM. Saturday March 7th will also feature two workshops starting at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. These workshops will be for authors and aspiring authors who want to pick the brains of authors who have expertise to share. The topics range from branding, marketing, book covers, social media, Mystery writing, and self-publishing.

The actual Augusta Literary Festival kicks off on Saturday March 7th from 10-5 PM. A wide variety of accomplished authors will be on hand to share with the public. Sanford Greene will be making his ALF debut. Greene has worked with such quality brands as Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, Fox, Warner Bros., etc. Greene is a graphic novelist from Augusta and he will be sharing his experiences at 11:00 AM. In addition to Greene, we also have Amanda Kyle Williams, Kimberly Cross Teter, and Marissa Monteilh giv-

Marvel affiliated graphic novelist Sanford Green to conduct workshop Sat. March 7, 2015, 11 a.m. Main Library Branch, Auditorium B The Augusta Literary Festival is featuring Sanford Greene, as he brings his talented art and expertise in the comic book industry to all attendees. Greene is a native of S.C. that has been working in the industry for over 9 years. His clients include Disney, DC Comics, SEGA, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Warner Brothers, Fox, and Marvel Comics. He also has side projects on his own that he is working on. Come out to the Augusta Literary Festival to see Greene’s artwork and hear his story.

Crime Novelist Amanda Kyle Williams among workshop presenters Fri. March 6, 2015,2 p.m. Main Library Branch, Auditorium B Crime novelist Amanda Kyle Williams will be conducting a book chat sponsored by the Coffee and a Good Book book club. Williams is the creator of a riveting and popular series of Crime Novels. The Stranger You Seek (2011), The Stranger in the Room (2012), and Don’t Talk to Strangers (2014) are her most popular novels and have been shortlisted for prestigious awards such as the Shamus Award and the Townsend Prize for Fiction.

2015 YERBY LITERARY AWARD FOR FICTION Fri. March 6, 1 p.m.

“Yerby Roundtable Discussion (Paine College Campus - Yerby House) Fri. March 6, 2015, 6-8 p.m.

“Yerby Award Presentation and Reception” - Main Library Branch Five accomplished authors vie for the coveted award at the award ceremony to be held on Friday, March 6th at the Main Library branch of the Augusta Public Library. Yerby’s nephew, Gerald Yerby will be presenting the top three finalists their awards. This is the grand climax of the authors’ reception from 6-8 PM. In addition, there will be food, drinks, and live jazz by Karen Gordon and Garden City Jazz. These activities will be a great literary appetizer for the main course, the Augusta Literary Festival.

At 1 PM on Friday, March 6th, on the campus

of Paine College (Yerby House), there will be a Roundtable Discussion with the five finalists of the Yerby Award for Literary Fiction. This discussion will be moderated by Dr. Anthony Neal, Chair of the Yerby Selection Committee.

Roundtable Discussion Topic: “In view of your work, what does it mean to win an award with Frank Yerby’s name?” This discussion will be moderated by Dr. Anthony Neal, Chair of the Yerby Selection Committee After the discussion, there will be a tour of the Yerby House on Paine’s campus.

TOP FIVE FINALISTS FOR THE 2015 YERBY AWARD The Yerby selection committee is proud to announce the top five candidates for the 3rd annual Yerby Literary Award for Fiction. The finalists are: Author Book

Michael C. Forsyth The Identity Thief Jadie Jones Moonlit Amanda Kyle Williams Don’t Talk to Strangers

Shiela E. Lipsey House of Cars Kimberly Cross Teter Isabella’s Libretto

ing book chats throughout the day.

The event will be held at the Main Branch of the Augusta Library on 823 Telfair St. For more info on the overall Festival, visit the official website at: http://www.augustaliteraryfestival.org.

You may also contact: Cheryl Corbin - coordinator@augustaliteraryfestival.org

7 UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 5 - 11,

BOOKS

2015

From Peanuts to Power will be available on March 16 at Amazon.com Former state Senate Majority leader Charles Walker talks to a reporter about his new book at the Walker Group offices. Walker documents his rise from poverty to success in the book and offers strategies to readers on how to create wealth. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

CharlesWalker pens life, business lessons

By Farrell Brown

On February 26, former Georgia Senator Charles Walker released the first copies of his autobiography From Peanuts to Power: The Road to Wealth, Success and Happiness. The initial release of 100 copies of the book were available at The Walker Group.

“I wanted to share with the people, throughout Georgia and throughout the United States, some of the lessons that I’ve learned over the last 35 years in the social and political arenas,” Walker said.

Walker’s book is an autobiography that tells his story of working his way from an impoverished youth from South Nellieville, Georgia to becoming the state’s first African-American

Senate Majority Leader. Walker said he wants his book to be used as a “roadmap to success”.

“I want people to understand that their place of birth has nothing to do with their destination in life,” Walker said. “I’m trying to say to people that if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”

One of the main points of Walker’s book is for people to no longer give or receive what Walker refers to as the “mental poverty tax”. The mental poverty tax is what happens when people see members of society with a lower income as inferior and treat them as such. This could lead to a vicious cycle of people not rising above their circumstances, Walker said. If a person is told they can’t go beyond a certain level of success

enough times they’ll start to believe it and never achieve past that level.

“So many people in life, especially young people, are told what they can’t do,” Walker said. “My book tells you what you can do. A lot of people say that they can’t and I know that they can. A lot of people say that they won’t.

I know that they will.”

Walker originally planned to just write his memoirs but later changed his mind to give advice to the reader through the book. Walker used notes he’d been keeping since 1973 of his goals and other milestones. He has a total of five volumes that he still keeps in his office to this day.

“I have a lot more to offer than just memoirs,” Walker said. “I have knowledge. I know how to build a business

from the ground up. I know how to deal with banks. I know how to deal with elections. I think I’ve done fairly well. I think I have a lot to share with the general public.”

Walker ended each chapter with a list of “rules for life”. These rules summarize each chapter while helping the reader make sure they get message of every anecdote Walker includes. There is also a second book that is a list of these rules of life.

“In each chapter there are lessons and I try to point out, through the rules of life, what the lessons were,” Walker said.

Walker’s book will be available on Amazon on March 16. There will also be an official book launching on Sunday, March 22 at Paine College.

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D

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t f U a a n C w s D b

t I o G w t m d p w t t D G t d m a f

David Dunton Jr. stands inside his barbershop, Dunton’s Barber Shop, on East Boundary. Dunton, who will turn 88 years old in June, has run the business for 51 years. He is considered to be the oldest working Black barber in Augusta. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Dunton’s Barber Shop – Cutting Into History

by Vincent Hobbs “…there is no place like a Negro barbershop for hearing what Negroes really think. There is more unselfconscious affirmation to be found here on a Saturday than you can find in a Negro college in a month or so it seems to me.” Ralph Ellison, Shadow and Act (collected essays) 1964 The buzz of electric clippers and engaging conversation drifts through the air. Old friends sit kneeto-knee as they discuss the neighborhood news and social issues. Hearty laughs abound as a joke is told. The front door opens and closes as a street peddler tries to hawk his latest wares to the folks waiting on stiffbacked chairs. The smell of olive oil

hair spray and talcum powder wafts into nostrils. The snap of cutting capes being whipped in the air resonates loudly in the room. This scene is repeated daily across America - in the iconic Black American barbershops.

Dunton’s Barber Shop on East Boundary is no exception. The unremarkable storefront blends into the adjacent vacant business. A faded etching of a barber’s pole adorns the entrance, and a welcoming “Open” sign, complete with an illustration of barber’s shears, hangs below.

Passersby, unless they know exactly where they are heading, will simply walk past the unpretentious facade.

However, there is a significant distinction when it comes to this partic-

ular barber shop.

Owner David Dunton Jr. is most likely the oldest, still-working barber in the city of Augusta. A spry man of 87 years, Dunton first picked up the clippers as a master barber at age seventeen.

“I’ve been a barber all my life,” Dunton shared with Urban Pro Weekly during an interview. “I was a Master Barber at seventeen years old.”

Affectionately known as “Mister D”, Dunton, who was born in Edgefield, South Carolina, attended South Carolina State University for two years, before being drafted into the Navy. After his military stint, Dunton headed to Augusta.

“While I was working, I was select-

ed by the most prestigious golf club in the world, where I worked for seven months out of the year.” During his time at the golf club, Dunton barbered the hair of celebrities and dignitaries, along with other distinguished guests. “It was arranged that I would have a job at Fort Gordon.

So for years, I worked between the golf club and Fort Gordon.”

But then Dunton saw a need for barbering services in his own community. The year was 1962.

1962 was a tumultuous year of change and achievement. John F. Kennedy was serving his second year as United States President.

Astronaut John Glenn had orbited Continued on next page

DUNTON’s Barber Shop from page 8 Social change affected Augusta during the turbulent 1960’s and beyond, and Black businesses were eyewitnesses to these events. With a business that started in 1962, Dunton saw for himself the societal upheavals caused by inequality and injustice. Six citizens were gunned down, shot in their backs by police shotguns, during the Augusta riots which broke out in May 1970, in protest of the suspicious death of 16-year-old mentally-disabled Charles Oatman, who died while being held in the city jail. Governor Lester Maddox had initiated the “shoot-to-kill” order to quell the uprising.

Many businesses suffered vandalism and complete fire damage during the riots, but Dunton and other Black business owners in the community stood guard outside their doors to let the people know that these were Black businesses and to leave them alone. “The way it happened, there were a lot of people from out of town. We let the people know that these were Black businesses.”

Dunton’s shop survived the night of unrest.

The business has established itself

a place where respect permeates the atmosphere. Teen boys must pull up their sagging pants or they might have to find another place to get their hair cut. Extreme courtesy to customers is exercised as an unspoken rule. An online review by customer “ThaKesha” gushes, “Dunton’s Barber Shop is one of the best barber shops in Augusta. It’s not about the flyest shop, the best looking barber or the location - it’s known for its friendly atmosphere and nice and friendly barbers.”

Dunton is showing no signs of slowing down. As a great-grandfather in his late eighties, he seems poised to continue to cut - and the idea of retirement is off in the far distance.

One might compare his longevity along the lines of the “fade” haircut - a hairstyle that is simply timeless.

“Back in my military days, there was a cut known as a GI cut. A fade is no more than a ‘refined’ GI cut.”

Refined. That is probably the best word to describe a man who has barbered the hair of dignitaries, captains of industry and generations of children in the Augusta community.

2015

business with some innovative ideas.

Dunton’s Barber Shop has the distinction of being the first Black barber shop in Augusta to have air conditioning. “That helped to pull customers in, but I had a hard time trying to keep an air conditioner in here. Every time I would put one in, somebody would steal it.”

When asked about distinguished clientele who have come through his shop, Dunton mentally prepares to rattle off a list. “Let me put it this way,” he said. “Every person who has been a leader in the community has come through here, over the years.”

The shop has also served as a business incubator of sorts. There are several barbers in the CSR A who were able to achieve their barbers’ license, thanks to the help and instruction of Dunton. “They all came through here. Back then, they didn’t have the barber schools. They had on-the-job training. On-the-job training,” he emphasized. “They would come in, get their hours and take the state boards.”

“Nowadays, they come out of these schools, rent a chair and think they’re ready to work,” he chuckles.

UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 5 - 11,

the Earth. James Meredith was the first Black student to enroll in the University of Mississippi. The USSR and the USA were conducting nuclear tests so often it seemed like a normal event. The Cuban Missile Crisis brought America face-to-face with Armageddon. It was into this social and political atmosphere that Dunton launched his vision of a barber shop.

“I saw a need for a barber shop in this area,” Dunton explained. “When I opened this shop, I was the second Black barber on this side of Gordon Highway – everything else was white.” According to Dunton, the surrounding neighborhood was mostly white on East Boundary during this period and a huge trailer park had sprouted up nearby, filled with workers who were building the Savannah River Site. Weighing the economic situation at the time, Dunton continued working for Fort Gordon and the golf club in order to feed his family. To keep the shop doors open, he recruited a barber to manage the business when he was away. After business slowed at the fort, Dunton continued to grow his

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UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 5 - 11, 2015

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COMMUNITY

HAPPENINGS

Augusta History Museum will use donation to offer free passes to families of Augusta patients The Augusta Museum of History has received a special donation from the Augusta Exchange Club to provide a respite for families of those being served by the Ronald McDonald House, the Fisher Houses (Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center) and Jeffrey Vaden Chavis House at the Shirley Badke Retreat, Joseph Still

Burn Center, Doctors Hospital. The funding will allow the Museum to offer free admission passes for one year to each of the four facilities for families of loved ones receiving treatment.

The museum is located at 560 Reynolds Street in downtown Augusta.

Call (706) 722-8454 for more information or visit www.augustamuseum.org.

CSRA Business League to celebrate 45 years of service The CSRA Business League will celebrate 45 years of providing service to the CSRA, on Friday, March 27, 2015 at the Augusta Marriott Hotel at the Convention Center.

The Honorable Hardie Davis, Jr., will be the keynote speaker. Small business owners and individuals around the CSRA will be presented with various awards and recognitions The League will present the Harvey Presented by

L. Johnson Small Business of the Year, the Henry H. Howard, a Women Entrepreneur of the Year award and recognize a local not-for-profit organization.

Tickets for the event are $50.00. .

For more information and ticets, call the League at 706 722 – 0994, Ms. Shirmaine Ivey at sgirmaineivey@ business-league.org or Ellis Albright at ellisalbright@business-league.org.

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2015

I chose GRU. GRU was the perfect choice for me. Small class sizes, affordable tuition, and a great campus in a friendly town - it’s got everything especially opportunity. I’m glad I chose to come here. At GRU, I can choose to be whatever and whoever I want.

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UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 5 - 11, 2015

12

UPW FORUM COMMENTARY by U.S. Rep. John Lewis

Speaker Boehner’s Netanyahu snafu Rep. John Lewis along with several of his colleagues spoke at a press conference in Washington today following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to both houses of the U.S. Congress. He made these remarks in response to the prime minister’s address: In this Congress, I take a backseat to no one in my commitment and support of Israel and the American Jewish community. On many occasions, we have worked side-by-side to strengthen our democracy and fight for equality and justice in this

country. That commitment will not change.

I have worked consistently throughout my career for long-term peace in the Middle East, a secure Jewish state and have fought against anti-Semitism and hate on American shores and abroad.

However, this nation is currently involved in sensitive, on-going negotiations with Iran. Elections in Israel are just about two weeks away on March 17th.

That the Speaker of the House of Representatives would allow the

floor of this chamber to be used to undercut the negotiations of the President of the United States is partisan, and it is not right.

Several ambassadors as well as the leaders of prominent Jewish organizations called upon the Prime Minister to cancel his speech. The Speaker’s action is an affront to the President of the United States, to the Democratic leadership of Congress, and the Department of State.

It is meant to purposely undermine the work of our elected and appointed representatives who are the ones

responsible to protect the interests of the American people.

The floor of the House is a centerpiece of public debate in our democracy. It should not be used as a partisan tool.

I am saddened, that the Speaker would threaten this nation’s historic, bipartisan support of our Israeli brothers and sisters by this action.

It is for this reason that I chose not to attend this morning’s address, and it is my hope that today’s partisan, political low will never, ever be repeated again on the House Floor.

Obama task force calls for changes to policing in America Report recommends that law enforcement report shootings and other incidents of police brutality to federal government

by Lauren McCauley, Staff writer, Common Dreams.org Rights groups and others are welcoming the release of a report by the president’s policing task force on Monday, saying that the policy recommendations are the best chance the White House has for improving the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they are meant to protect and serve.

The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing was established in the wake of recent police killings of people of color in an attempt to build trust between citizens and law enforcement. The Interim Report (pdf) calls for increased transparency around incidents of police brutality, an emphasis on de-escalation, and policies that prohibit police profiling and discrimination of any kind, among other things.

“The majority of the recommendations in the report are ones that the ACLU has pushed for and stood behind for quite some time,” Kanya A. Bennett, legislative counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement following the report’s release.

“Most of the recommendations are essential and should be non-negotiable,” Bennett continued, adding that should the White House choose to adopt the recommendations, the policies will “significantly improve

. . . the task force recommends that local law enforcement agencies be required to report to the federal government when their officers kill someone and that an independent criminal investigation be held in cases of “police use of force resulting in death, . . . the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve, particularly communities of color.”

And Daily Kos reporter Shaun King, who has followed the aftermath of police killings in Ferguson, Missouri and elsewhere, said the report is “the best thing [he’s] read since Mike Brown was killed on how we can best change policing in America.”

One pillar of the 150-page report— which is the culmination of 90 days of research, including six “listening hearings” with researchers, police and community leaders across the country—is the importance of building public trust and legitimacy.

The report argues: “People are more likely to obey the law when they believe those who are enforcing it have the right—the legitimate authority—to tell them what to do.

Building trust and legitimacy, therefore, is not just a policing issue. It involves all components of the criminal justice system and is inextricably bound to bedrock issues affecting the community such as poverty, education, and public health.”

Calling for increased transparency, the task force recommends that local law enforcement agencies be required

to report to the federal government when their officers kill someone and that an independent criminal investigation be held in cases of “police use of force resulting in death, officer-involved shootings resulting in injury or death, or in-custody deaths.”

“There is a recognition that we need to collect this data. There’s absolutely no question about that,” said Philadelphia police commissioner and task force co-chair Charles Ramsey in a press call on Monday following the group’s meeting with President Obama.

In a nod to the history of police misconduct, another key recommendation is that law enforcement agencies “acknowledge the role of policing in past and present injustice and discrimination and how it is a hurdle to the promotion of community trust.”

Going forward, the task force says that agencies should re-evaluate policies that promote racial profiling and other negative interactions with civilians.

The report says that law enforcement agencies should “adopt and enforce policies prohibiting profiling and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gen-

der, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, immigration status, disability, housing status, occupation, and/or language fluency.”

Additionally, the panel argues that local agencies should reflect the demographics of the community they represent and the federal government should implement an initiative to work towards this goal.

The group also calls for federal immigration enforcement to be “decoupled” from routine local policing.

Further, agencies should refrain from mandatory quotas and support use-of-force training that “emphasize de-escalation and alternatives to arrest or summons in situations where appropriate,” the report adds.

The report also recommends that police evaluate the “collateral damage” to public trust as a result of various law enforcement strategies, such as using “physical control equipment and techniques.”

In a post on Monday, King of Daily Kos added that, although imperfect, the recommendations are “well written, skillfully organized, and focused on concrete, measurable action steps.”

“If followed, our world would be a better, safer place for all,” King added.

President Obama now has 30 days to direct the task force to follow up on the recommendations before the panel is dissolved.

WORSHIP

Restoration Ministries

13

IPW WOMWN’S MEETING

UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 5 - 11,

CHURCH

Friday, MARCH 13, 7:30pm Unite with other incredible, phenomenal women on March 13 for the IPW Winter Fellowship. Join us at 7:30pm for an incredible time of exhortation with Dr. Bernita. Tickets for the free giveaways will end at 7:40 p.m.

First New Hope 34TH ANNIVERSARY

2015

Sunday, March 22, 2015, 2:00 p.m.

First New Hope Usher Board invites the public to join them in the Celebration of their 34th Anniversary on March 22, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., the Rev. Dr. Philip Dunston Jr., and Friendship Baptist Church of Appling, Ga. will be in charge of services for this memorable occasion. First New Hope is located at 2031 White Road, Augusta.

For information, call 706.736.6803.

Sunday School 8:30 am Morning Worship Services: 9:45 am Evening Worship Services 6 pm (4th Sunday) Bible Study: 6pm (Mondays) Midday Bible Study: 12pm (Tuesdays) Prayer Services: 6pm (Wednesdays) Celebrate Recovery: 6pm (Fridays) and 12pm (Mondays) 2323 Barton Chapel Road • Augusta,GA 30906 706.790.8185 / 706.922.8186 (fax) Visit Us @ www.broadwaybaptistaug.org • Join us on facebook Dr. C. William Joyner, Jr. Senior Pastor

Start your calling today! Mount Olivet Certified Academic Institution 706.793.0091 • 706.793.0335 • www.mocai-aug.org

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Rev. Clarence Moore, Pastor 1714 Olive Road / P. O. Box 141 (mailing address) Augusta, GA 30903 706/733-0341- Telephone/706/667-0205 – Fax E-mail address: admin@goodshepherdaugusta.org Web address: goodshepherdaugusta.org Rev. Clarence Moore Church Service: 7:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Church School: 9:45 a.m. / Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. – Wednesday Bible Study: 9:00 a.m. - Saturday / 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday

Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church

314 Sand Bar Ferry Road Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 722- 0553 Church School Sunday 9:25am Morning Worship Sunday 11am Evening Worship 6pm (1st & 3rd Sunday) Midday Prayer 12pm Wednesday Intercessory Prayer/Bible Study 6pm Wednesday

The CSRA Clergy Board of Directors

Board of Coalition Pastors P.O. Box 16013 Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor

Radio Broadcast: Sundays • WKZK 103.7 FM at 7:30 a.m.

Augusta, GA. 30919-2013 Bishop L.A. Green, Sr., Chairman

UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 5 - 11, 2015

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COMMUNITY

Help a vet who needs a heart transplant Marlon Williams of Augusta is seeking assistance from the community. Mr. Williams has been told that he must get a heart transplant. Williams, aka “Coach Will,” is active in the development of our city’s youth. The Recreation Department volunteer coach is also a veteran of the First Gulf War and is a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

The surgery is slated to be done at the Transplant Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. The procedure will place a tremendous strain on the Williams family who will need assistance meeting day-to-day expenses without the help of dona- Marlon Williams: tions from the “Thanks Augusta, public. The dona- with help from tions will enable the community I Williams to keep know I can make he and his family it through this from undergoing ordeal.” undue hardship. Marlon is married and has two children. Mr. Williams has an online fundraiser started, the site is www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/wcc7/ marlons-transplant. Anyone wishing to donate directly to the transplant fund may contact Marlon at 706-829-6664.

Donations can also be mailed to Marlon Williams, 1915 Thomas Lane. Augusta Ga. 30904.

HAPPENINGS Literary & Jazz Café 2015 Literary & Jazz Café 2015 will feature Author Tacardra Rountree, Writings From Down Through The Years, with The Paine College Playhouse Theatre Arts Organization. The event will be on Sat., March 14 – 2 pm at The Tabernacle Family Life Center, 1223 Laney-Walker Blvd, and feature performances by Karen Gordon of Garden City Jazz and The Joel Cruz Method.

Come for an afternoon with local authors, Get Success Publishing, Inc. and enjoy good food, great music and books, art, and more.This community event is sponsored by the Augusta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Jennifer Norman-Dixon Independent Cruise & Vacation Specialist

Hephzibah, GA 30815 Phone 706-925-2929 Toll Free (877-790-6082 Fax 404-601-4492

Email:jdixon@cruisesinc.com www.cruisesinc.com/jdixon

Tender Care Training Center Accredited and State Approved

Train to become a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) Phlebotomy Technician or Pharmacy Technician 1755 Gordon Hwy, Suite E • Augusta, GA 30904 For Enrollment Information,

Call (706)736-9225

Fax: (706) 736-0995

Visit www.tendercareschool.comcastbiz.net

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed proposals from contractors will be received for the Modifications and Renovations to Craig-Houghton Elementary School Project B-14-0400101 by the County Board of Education of Richmond County at the address below until 3:00 p.m. local time, Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read. No extension of the bidding period will be made.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. local time in the Board Conference Room, Richmond County Board of Education, 864 Broad Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

Drawings and project manual on this work may be examined at the Department of Maintenance and Facilities, Richmond County Board of Education, 1781 15th Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

Bidding documents may be obtained through the office of the architect: 2KM Architects, 529 Greene Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901, (706) 7363333. Applications for documents together with a refundable deposit of $75.00 per set should be filed promptly with the architect. Bidding material will be forwarded (shipping charges collect) as soon as possible. The full amount of deposit for one set will be refunded to each prime contractor who submits a bona fide bid upon return of such set in good condition within ten (10) days after date of opening bids. All other deposits will be refunded with deductions approximating cost of reproduction of documents upon return of same in good condition within ten (10) days after date of opening bid.

Contract, if awarded, will be on the lump sum basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty-five (35) days after time has been called on the date of opening.

Bid must be accompanied by a bid bond in an amount not less than 5% of the base bid. Personal checks, certified checks, letters of credit, etc., are not acceptable. The successful bidder will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds in an amount equal to 100% of the contract price.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

BID LIST: The Richmond County Board of Education maintains a bid list for many categories that are let for bid each year. Contact Amy Bauman in the Business Office at (706) 826-1298 or at baumaam@boe.richmond.k12. ga.us if you need additional information concerning the bid list.

To promote local participation, a database of sub-contractors, suppliers, and vendors has been developed by the Program Manager, GMK Associates.

Contact Jeanine Usry with GMK Associates at (706) 826-1127 for location to review and obtain this database.

Bids shall be submitted and addressed to: Dr. Angela D. Pringle, Superintendent Richmond County School System 864 Broad Street Augusta, Georgia 30901 Attention: Mr. C. Gene Spires, Controller

UrbanProWeekly • MARCH 5 - 11,

ARE YOU AT RISK?

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2015

Stress Physical Inactivity Family History of Cardiovascular disease Obesity Diabetes High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Cigarette Smoking HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK East Central Health District Hypertension Management Outreach Program

Richmond County 706.721.5800

UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 5 - 11, 2015

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