UPW - Urban Pro Weekly

PHOTO BY GALADRA PLUMMER

On May 25, 2024 Ruth B. Crawford celebrated her 109th Birthday. In the photo Crawford poses under her likeness created by artist Salonika Rhyne during the dedication ceremony of the Women of Empowerment mural a year ago. Photo By Galandra Plummer

Happy 109th Birthday

Ruth B. Crawford

Special thanks to our partners who have been instrumental in the ongoing success and growth of the SOUTH AUGUSTA FARMERS MARKET.

(L-R) Karen Gordon, Mayor Garnett Johnson, Chimere J Brown (Market Manager), Loretta Adderson (Adderson’s Fresh Produce), Shanna Carkhum (Housing & Community Development). Not shown: Ronic West (Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce), Carolyn Henry (Logic Point Consulting)

There are literally too many people to thank in this post - folks who have been doing this work before we even knew there was work to be done.. farmers who’ve been stewarding land and growing crops to nourish our bodies... small business owners who’ve invested the blood, sweat, and tears into building something great and necessary.. public servants who answer the call each day - whether voted into office or hired in a City department. Also not shown are:.... THE PEOPLE who just want to be great, and only want for our community to be a reflection of its best & brightest. Who want us to continue to BE better, and DO better, so that we can HAVE.... better.

We owe it to ourselves and our children’s children to leave this community in better shape than we found it. The people. The places. And even the things.

Let’s work!

Club Car, The Practice Club at Jones Creek and iHeart Media Augusta

Pairing up for Women’s Golf to benefit Cher’s Sisters Only Club

AUGUSTA

Club Car ® Women’s Employee Network is pairing up with The Practice Club at Jones Creek , iHeart Media Augusta and Cher’s Sisters Only Club to bring the global celebration of Women’s Golf Day to Augusta.

On June 4 between 10:00 am - 9:00 pm, women from across the CSRA are invited to experience golf in a welcoming environment. The Practice Club at Jones Creek will be open for participants regardless of golf skill or experience to take a free lesson and practice on the range or in the teaching bays. Toptracer technology featured at The Practice Club at Jones Creek makes it possible to simulate play at courses around the world and to enjoy friendly competition like longest drive and closest to the pin contests.

“Club Car Women’s Employee Network is excited to work with great partners to grow the game and connect our community with this global celebration of women’s golf,” said Lynthia Ross, Global Communications Leader for Club Car. “We are excited to bring this event to Augusta and hope to see it grow each year. Women are winning!”

A reception will be held at The Practice Club at Jones Creek from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. During the reception, members of Club Car WEN and Cher’s Sisters Only Club will be present to welcome guests and enjoy networking over refreshments. The event is free and women are asked to register in advance at www.clubcar. com/womensgolf. Donations made during the event will benefit the Cher’s Sisters Only Club

scholarship fund.

“We are excited to be part of this event that celebrates women playing golf around the world. Our organization has a mission to empower women of all ages to be healthy and continually grow and develop themselves. Golf does that,” said Cher Best, President of Cher’s Sisters Only Club and co-host of the Fattz and Cher Afternoon Ride -Out (96.3 Kiss FMiHeart Media Augusta). “It is great to have partners like Club Car and The Practice Club at Jones Creek embrace our vision for women’s total well-being.

Throughout the day, teaching professionals will be on hand to provide instruction and help women who are new to golf and those looking to sharpen their skills. The Practice Club at Jones Creek will also feature golf stretch and exercise trainer Anna Bishop.

“We are elated to be the host location for this global Women’s Golf Day celebration in Augusta,” said Andrew Brooks, Owner of The Practice Club at Jones Creek. “Golf is a game for all people to enjoy and we hope this shows our community that The Practice Club at Jones Creek is a great place for all to learn, practice and grow in the game.”

Women’s Golf Day (WGD) was launched in 2016 as a way to make it easier for women interested in playing golf learn how to start and where

http://www.growingaugusta.co/UPW

+1 (706) 751-2537

http://www.growingaugusta.co/UPW

+1 (762) 233-5299

to play. During a week of golf introduction and instruction programs held May 28 – June 4, women around the globe unite through golf and are encouraged to wear red and white for the networking events.

“Women want to play golf and many simply didn’t know how to get started or where to play,” says Elisa Gaudet, Founder of Women’s Golf Day. “These events help connect women to golf courses, practice clubs and a community of women who love the game. Having a location where women feel welcome, comfortable and can have a great time makes it more likely for them to continue to learn and play.”

K.L. Gordon • Saundra Kelly

Vincent Hobbs

Wake-Robin Golf Club is the oldest registered AfricanAmerican woman’s golf club in the United States. she notes. circa 1935

The End of An Era Looming

Brenda Durant, Exec. Dir. of the G.A.A.C., is retiring

Under her guidance, the Arts In The Heart Festival and Public Art have flourished in Augusta

AUGUSTA

The Board of Directors of the Greater Augusta Arts Council has recently announced the retirement of its Executive Director, Brenda Durant.

Hired in 1997, Brenda has guided the Arts Council into the 21st century impacting the Arts in Augusta, Georgia for three decades with vision, dedication and passion.

Under her leadership the popular Arts in the Heart Festival was transformed from a small local festival into the nationally award-winning festival that draws over 100,000 attendees on the third weekend of September every year. Arts in the Heart has become known for celebrating the diversity of our city with a shared focus on international food, Fine Arts and Crafts and curated performances by local and regional performers.

Devoted to building the next generation of artists, Brenda added the Young Artist Market, which allows youth to sell their creative works at the festival. She has been instrumental (no pun intended) in growing the music aspect of the festival over the years, including bringing in Blue Bird Café for two years, Singer Songwriter events, and national performers. She was also a part of the team that initially conceived of what became the Westobou Festival, and helped coordinate it for the first few years, before it became an independent event.

She has served on countless committees over the years, including Georgia Arts Network, Metro Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Augusta, Imperial Theater Board and hosted the Arts Weekly Radio show on Perry Broadcasting for eleven years.

Brenda’s dream of the Arts Council becoming the Public Art Agency came true after she attended a national leadership workshop hosted by Americans for the Arts. In 2014 the Greater Augusta Arts Council was named the Public Art Agency for the City with an initial city-wide project of painted traffic boxes. From there the vision took off with numerous Public Art installations filling our downtown and beyond. Our murals, sculpture trails and growing public art

profile reflects Augusta’s love of the arts and our talented arts community, thanks to the vision and perseverance of leaders like Brenda Durant.

Brenda will remain with the Arts Council through this year’s Arts in the Heart Festival, retiring in October. Her future plans include volunteering with a few local non-profits to stay connected with the community, playing with her grandchildren, traveling, and opening a home-based travel

At Paine College, a Georgia historical marker was unveiled on the campus of Paine College in honor of John Wesley Gilbert, Paine College Alumnus and professor who is distinguished as the first black archaeologist.

Dr. John W.I. Lee, author of the book The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert attended the marker unveiling and also gave a lecture on Gilbert at A.R. Johnson Magnet school.

agency.

The Arts Council has named a search committee who will release a job description for the Executive Director position in late June.

Brenda Durant has left a legacy in Augusta, which can clearly be seen in our current burgeoning Arts Community, mural projects, artists workforce programs, and of course our public art. Her funky colored shoes will be difficult to fill, and she will be missed.

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WILL HOLD THEIR ELECTION CERTIFICATION meeting for the May 21, 2024 General Primary and Nonpartisan Election on May 28, 2024 at the Board of Elections Warehouse, 2029 Lumpkin Road Augusta, GA 30906 at 2:00 PM. The agenda is attached and the

Greater Augusta Arts Council Executive Diredtor, Brenda Durant will be retiring this year.

Dancing Stars of Augusta

The stars were shining bright at the Alzheimer’s Association Dancing Stars of Augusta event on May 4th. Over 300 people attended the event, including Miss Augusta University, Eboni Watts (left) and Miss Augusta, Elleana Garcia (right).

Dancing Stars of Augusta

Felina Martin’s UPW LifeStyleSKETCHES

Dancing Stars of Augusta

An elegant night of formalwear was another Alzheimer’s Association Dancing Stars of Thomas DeChant accompanied by his wife, Mrs. entered the event wearing a stylish embroidered ing black pants.

SKETCHES

Candlelight Music Series

The Candlelight Music Series kicked off at the Commons on May 5th. You can hear amazing live music from R&B to Jazz on Sundays during the Summer. The music series is also a great place to “see and be seen”. At the May 12th event, you were greeted at the gate by Augusta Mayor, Garnett Johnson and event hostess and iHeart Radio Host, Cher Best.

another highlight of the Augusta event. Mr. Mrs. Letitia DeChant, embroidered blazer with match-

Candlelight Music Series

The Legend and the Muralist

RUTH B. CRAWFORD & ARTIST SALONIKA RHYNE, Women of Empowerment

Ruth Crawford celebrated her 109th birthday on May 25. A year ago, a day after her 108th birthday, she was honored at the ribbon cutting for a new mural in the Golden Blocks mural which honors African American women educators. The longtime educator and founder of the Shiloh Community Center attended the ribbon cutting for a mural paying tribute to her and five other female educators in Augusta’s African American community. The artist who created the mural, Salonika Rhyne was on hand to participate in the double ceremony . The Women of Empowerment mural, one of several, in a series on public

art pieces designed to promote the history of the area known as The Golden Blocks, honors Ursula Collins, Marjorie Carter, Louise Laney, Rosa T. Beard, Rosa C. Tutt and Ruth Crawford. It’ is on the side of a building at 1119 James Brown Blvd.

“This mural is not just a mural. It’s an opportunity to connect with the subjects and celebrate their accomplishments and their contributions,” said Salonika Rhyne, who painted the mural. The project is spearheaded by the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History and the Greater Augusta Arts Council.

Ruth B. Crawford poses with artist Salonika Rhyne at last year’s mural ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photo by Galadra Plummer

It’s a CSRA Family Affair . . .

Brian C. Howard

Mark “M.V.” Oliphant

. . . on Starz TV series BMF

ATLANTA

The famed television drama series “BMF” (Black Mafia Family) on the Starz network chronicles the true story of brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. However, they’re not the only family featured in this season’s thriller.

Fans of BMF in the CSRA can now boast of having two of her native sons who are actually cousins starred in the series. Actors Mark “M.V.” Oliphant and Brian C. Howard, who are fourth cousins linked by their familial roots in Wrens, GA, were both featured in pivotal roles in the series’ third season. Oliphant, a 1985 graduate of T.W. Josey Comprehensive High School, appeared in episode 7 with lead co-stars Laila Pruitt (Nicole Flenory) and Donielle T. “Lil Dee” Hansley Jr. (Breeze) where their encounter with his character as an officer at their high school lands Nicole and Breeze in major hot water. Howard, a 2006 graduate of George P. Butler High School, co-starred in three episodes (episodes 1, 4 & 5) as Diesel, a member of Big Meech’s BMF Atlanta crew who, along with crew members Stacks & Payne (a la rappers 2 Chainz& Lil Baby respectively) stage a ploy to expand the Flenory drug cartel enterprise. BMF, produced by rapper/actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, is giving fans the continuation of a thrilling saga as the series delves into the lives of crime bosses Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory & Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. If you missed watching these episodes of BMF, you can retrieve these series on demand through a subscription to Starz networks.

The story behind The WEiRDO Collection is amazing. So at a young age, I used to be called “weird” or a “weirdo” because I didn’t confide to social norms so I used to do things like wear mix match shoes or not match because no one ever told me I HAD to be a specific way or dress a certain way. Time goes on I start to see those very people who called me weird starting to do the exact things that they called me weird for. I learned then that all people want is something that they can go off of to embrace their inner differences so I took all of that into consideration and started my business “The WEiRDO Collection”

— Jahshawun Youmans Theweirdocoll@gmail.com

“I started in 2018 on my college dorm room floor.”

Richmond County earns Cognia accreditation through 2030

AUGUSTA

The Richmond County School System has successfully completed their Cognia reaccreditation, which is an indication that the School System meets established performance standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership. This reaccreditation cycle began when the school system was last accredited in 2018. In March 2024, we were notified of the results and our overall score exceeded the national average by 64 points.

Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw, Superintendent of Schools adds, “The result of our commitment to improving student achievement and success was on full display during

this entire process. The Cognia reviewers commended us on our involvement of stakeholders and how we provide support to students to remove academic and non-academic barriers. These outstanding results were a combination of contributions by our school-based leaders and our Accountability Team, who led this process and provided updates on our progress. The leadership of the Accountability Team was integral to our exceptional overall score.”

Areas of improvement in the report include enhancing student voice so students are more engaged in their learning and the opportunities for improvement. One area of improvement that was noted which we had already begun work on was our deci-

Gold Cross EMS offers paid training EMR Training

AUGUSTA

sion-making process on long-range plans for facilities, structures and programs.

Cognia also noted two of our challenges including having too many buildings that are not at capacity to maximize funding and maintaining teachers and leaders who are capable of impacting student achievement and school programming offerings.

Data for reaccreditation was compiled from our state and national test results, Georgia Health Climate Survey, RCSS and Federal Surveys, and feedback from stakeholder meetings, advisory groups and Community Conversations.

The School System is accredited through 2030.

G.B. Hill Medical Supply Grand Opening Celebration employment enterprise

Gold Cross EMS, our locally owned emergency medical provider in the CSRA, in an effort to continue combatting the nation-wide shortage of emergency medical personnel; will be hosting a paid 3-week long training academy for men and women looking to become certified EMR’s. This EMR class will begin Monday, June 24, 2024, at the company’s headquarters located at 4328 Wheeler Rd, Martinez, GA 30907. Interested candidates must submit their application at www. goldcrossems.com by Monday, June 17, 2024.

This cost-free, three week academy will provide quality training to anyone interested in becoming an EMR for Gold Cross EMS. Full-time employment with benefits – which include health insurance commence on the first day of class. While enrolled, trainees will complete a 40-hour work week and take all necessary coursework to prepare for the national examination. Uniforms, textbooks and equipment will be provided for all accepted students.

“With the success we have experience with our previous classes, we decided to do another class and offer this great life changing career opportunity to our community.” said Gold Cross President and CEO Vince Brogdon, “Here at Gold Cross EMS – we have always prided ourselves on being a locally owned and operated company – that gives back to our community. This EMR class is open to anyone in the community - looking to become a first responder in this community - and will allow people from this community - to work for a local company that takes care of- this community.”

Upon certification, graduates will receive an immediate wage increase and will then qualify for other incentives and promotions offered by the company. They also become immediately eligible to receive the company’s competitive benefits, to include: paid-timeoff, health, dental and vision benefits; life insurance, and employer-matched 401K. They also gain access to continuing education for recertifications, can later take the EMT course free of charge and tuition assistance is available for a paramedic program if they decide to go that route one day.

In order to be eligible for enrollment in the Gold Cross EMR program, candidates must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, applicants must hold a valid Georgia driver license and pass a background check, provide a three-year Motor Vehicle Record MVR, pass a physical agility test (PAT) and urine drug screen. A two year full time employment commitment to Gold Cross EMS is required. To apply, please visit www.goldcrossems. com. Interested applicants may also contact Gold Cross EMS for more information by emailing naldridge@goldcrossems.com .

AUGUSTA

G.B. Hill Medical Supply, a pioneering leader in providing top-quality medical supplies and equipment, announces the grand opening of its first storefront and warehouse location on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. As a veteran-owned enterprise, G.B. Hill Medical Supply is committed to its values of commitment to excellence, accountability, integrity and respect while being focused on providing customers and fellow veterans an exceptional experience.

For more than 5 years, G.B. Hill Medical Supply has operated as a direct supplier providing delivery services of medical supplies and equipment to medical facilities. From there, the business grew to include direct delivery to meet medical supply needs of personal use customers.

“It is exciting to offer this new and expanded service option for our current customers and introduce new customers to the level of quality and service our team provides,” said Greg Hill, Founder & President of G.B. Hill Medical Supply. “We look forward to becoming the medical supply provider of choice for end users of personal medical supplies and equipment. Our prices and customer service are unmatched in the industry.”

The grand opening celebration begins with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 10:00 am. G.B. Hill Medical Supply is located at 3066 Damascus Road, Suite 4, Augusta, GA 30909. All are invited to join the celebration and stop by to shop in the new store.

About G.B. Hill Medical Supply: G.B. Hill Medical Supply is a veteran-owned and operated medical supply company dedicated to providing top-quality medical supplies and equipment to healthcare professionals, veterans’ organizations, and individual consumers at wholesale prices. Standing with a firm commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, G.B. Hill Medical Supply works to ensure the delivery of the right medical supplies and equipment at the right time to support the continuum of care provided by those we serve ~ our customers. For information about G.B. Hill Medical Supply or to support the business by placing an order, visit www.gbhillmedical.com or contact them at 706.955.5909.