What is BlackPac, and should we endorse it???

From BlackPac website - http://www.blackpac.com/

OPINION: One week from election day, a longtime friend of mine called and asked if I knew anything about an organization known as BlackPac which was backing many black candidates nationwide, including Georgia Democrat Lucy McBath who is running for Congress.

I was embarrassed to say no, but told him I would check it out. Then we got into a discussion centered around Republicans running Georgia, lack of black leadership, President Trump's nationalist agenda, and a mood of political doom progressives face in the United States. We discussed campaign financing, self-help, mass incarceration, and technical education. 

Our conclusion is that we have to continue to fight for everything, and politics is not a sprint but is a marathon. We must continue to hold politicians accountable.

Later that evening, I sat down with my husband to watch the movie The Kingdom. The ending was mind-blowing and speaks to fighting a war when both sides have the same philosophy. Stalemate!

Politicians are warriors who lead us to the brink of inhumanity if we follow the wrong ones. 

On Tuesday, vote for someone who will carry out your agenda. But more importantly, lead yourself!

For more info on BlackPac, go to: https://www.facebook.com/pg/voteblackpac/about/

Community general assembly to meet in Austell, Ga.

We Thrive in Riverside Renters Association and State of Our Schools is hosting a community general assembly meeting Sunday, November 4 from 3:00p.m. until 5:30p.m. at Riverside Epic Center, 135 Riverside Parkway in Austell,  Ga.

Guest speakers will include:

Dr. Timeka Cline, principal, Bryant Elementary School
Ron Davis , Austell Community Taskforce
Barry Krebs, Keep Cobb Beautiful
Barry Smith, First Christian Church of Mableton
Marcia Fisher, Grandview 7th Day Adventist Church
Erica Thomas, State Representative, HD 39
Tre Hutchins, South Cobb Alliance
Monique Sheffield, HOA Network
Word of Faith Representative
  

Please RSVP to monicadelancy@hotmail.com or call 770-369-6531 if you plan on attending.

Note: According to the city's website, residents enjoy low property taxes, low occupational business tax structure, and easy access to I20 and I285. With a population of 6,500, Austell is the home of the Norfork-Southern Railway John Whitaker Intermodal Facility - the largest facility east of the Mississippi River. The population of Austell is 55% Black, 32% White, 11% Hispanic, and 9% Other.

Breaking news: Cobb County swat standoff underway

Press Advisory from Cobb County Georgia Police:

Cobb County Police Department is on scene at 2353 Arkose Drive in reference to a possible barricaded subject. SWAT is on scene and the residence has been isolated. Arkose Drive is currently shut down at Windy Hill Road and Austell Road. We are advising citizens and motorists to avoid the area.

Most of Austell Road has been shut down. You can access 2350 Austell Road (FOP Lodge 13) from Jean Place SW and Wanda Circle SW from Windy Hill.

UPDATE:

On Tuesday, October 30, 2018 around 8:45 a.m., Cobb County Police Department uniform officers responded to 2353 Arkose Drive after they were alerted by 38-year-old Jenna Born and 23-year-old James Gniewkowski that a male suspect had held them at gunpoint since the previous night. Born and Gniewkowski stated that they were able to escape but that a third victim, 27-year-old Sydney Cahall, was still at the residence with the male suspect, 43-year-old Frank Malone.

Cobb County Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) responded to the location. After several hours of negotiating, Malone released Cahall and then gave himself up without incident.

Malone was charged with Aggravated Assault and False Imprisonment.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department's Crimes Against Persons unit at 770-499-3945.

Breaking news: Gang member "Whitey" Bulger killed in W. Va. prison...

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/10/30/whitey-bulger-dead-killed-west-virginia-prison-cheryl-fiandaca-wbz-tv/

Gang/thug life often results in prison sentences for members who respond to disrespect

Seek wisdom so you will be saved!

I was recently called to be a juror in a Cobb County Superior Court proceeding. After two days, I was not selected as a juror, perhaps because when questioned, I told the court I had a medical condition for which I should be excused.

Anyway, the case was a felony murder case involving a gang member. I didn't want to participate in this type of action, whether he was guilty or not. Another juror told the court that he could not be impartial in the case because the defendant was black. He was not selected as a juror either. 

This morning, I found out that the 27 year old, Laronte Jamal Nelms, was sentenced to life plus 65 years by a jury which deliberated only one hour. Unlike slavery which was for life, this type of sentence sends a message.

What can we do to help prevent gangs?

Two news articles reported that this murderer shot unarmed Trinity Darnell Hardnett because he disrespected another gang member in a Food Mart.

My mom told me of a close childhood friend of hers who shot and killed a man because he called him a MF.

Watch what you say and how you respond to slights in public. The world is getting more dangerous every minute, and with guns being carried around, anyone can wind up dead.

While waiting outside the courtroom, a fire fighter told of over 300 people per day being cremated at one funeral home... let's choose life over death.

For more info on this particular case, go to: 
https://patch.com/georgia/marietta/cobb-gang-murder-results-life-without-parole-65-years
and
https://www.myajc.com/news/local/cobb-man-gets-life-for-killing-man-who-had-shown-disrespect-gang/bGVY8oVAx3XKA3o0p3NztK/

Obama's White House florist gives tips on holiday wreathmaking

Dowling (seated) with (l to r) Jazmin Perez, Destini X Shakur, and Bianca George

"Wreath Magic" with the former White House florist, Laura Dowling, was held in Building 1 of AmericasMart yesterday afternoon as part of a Creative Workshop series for members. 

Dowling was the chief White House floral designer from 2009 - 2015. Before her service at the Obama White House, Dowling was senior manager of strategic communications at The Nature Conservancy. Dowling has a Master's Degree in public administration. She studied French floral art in Paris and also studied floristry in Germany. As creative director for flowers and decor at the White House, she managed thousands of official and private events, including the iconic White House Christmas.

Dowling said you can use almost anything to make a wreath as long as you have layers and imagination. (pictured here in front of wreath using marshmallows)

"Christmas at the White House was a year long planning process," Dowling said when I asked her about how culture and colors were interjected into floral designs while the first African American family lived there.

"Mrs. Obama selected the theme... she loved holiday planning. It was important to her that each member of the family was represented, even their dogs! Designing for her involved personal aesthetics coupled with traditional White House expectations. There were Kwanzaa as well as Hanukkah decorations," Dowling said. 

The Obama White House was about hope and change, and Dowling dealt with floral diplomacy. According to Dowling's bio, she believes that "flowers can be more than just decorative objects, conveying important diplomatic messages, cultural meaning and symbolic metaphor."

Since Michelle Obama had her own White House garden, many organic elements were used in decorations. Also, Dowling repurposed and recycled items from the White House warehouse and collected soda and beer cans to use in decorations, since aluminum is a wonderful material to use, she said. Mrs. Obama's major Christmas theme was "Simple Gifts".

First Ladies add their own flair to White House decorations amidst all male portraits of Presidents.

Every First Lady puts her stamp on the White House, Dowling said. First Lady Caroline Harrison in the late 1800's was the first to decorate with Christmas trees lit with electric lights, and simple wreaths were placed in White House windows. 

In 1964, garlands on the portico added simplicity and synergy. Nancy Reagan used popcorn and tinsel in the Executive Mansion Christmas Tree. The Clinton's wreaths were too heavy and created a flower emergency. 

Donna Murray was one of three lucky participants who won a door prize - a wreath made from purple cabbages, petite potatoes, and orchids.

Dowling said thousands of people apply to be volunteers each year to decorate the White House. Those who are selected know how to use color, layers, and a variety of elements, including bulbs, vegetables, fruits, preservatives, water tubes, flowers, branches, feathers, pods, fur, ribbon, acorns, snowflakes, heather, berries, coxcombs, leaves, and peppers.

Tangerines, leaves, and orchids make a beautiful wreath.

A very memorable time for Dowling included a volunteer losing her diamond ring amidst hundreds of decorations which was found after a Secret Service man utilized a metal detector. Another memorable event was her designing a floral arrangement with hot peppers without gloves which resulted in her hands burning for 10 hours.

Dowling's book, Wreaths: with How-to Tutorials, was introduced at the AmericasMart event. To watch her TEDx talk, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcUzE7t_3o8

As voting day nears, watch this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zLQLUpNGsc
and
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=black+nationalism+youtube&view=detail&mid=39D08E4911DEB43EA6EC39D08E4911DEB43EA6EC&FORM=VIRE

Coffee with a Cop national day celebrated Wednesday...

Wednesday, October 3rd is National Coffee With a Cop Day! Police precincts across the US will host events to bring police officers in engaging/trust building social hour with community members.

Refreshments and coffee will be served. Call your local precinct to see how you can participate.