PIGMENT International hosting "Art of Black" in Miami, Dec. 4-6

Screen shot - https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/events/detail/pigment-international-reveal/32ead7e2-9888-4015-aa69-5ca9982764c5

Art of Black: PIGMENT International, the artists’ collective, will host a three-day intimate salon event that includes an exhibition of fine art by some the preeminent African American artists in the country. 

The event will be held at the Penthouse Riverside Wharf, 125 SW North River Rd., Miami, Florida, December 4-6. It will include an Art Talk on collecting and valuing art, special recognition of the careers of two acclaimed national artists – Frank Frazier and Gerald Griffin, and special entertainment and guest appearances

The curated celebration will feature PIGMENT International founding member artists Paul Branton, Gerald Griffin, Jason E. Jones, Blake Lenoir, James Nelson, Dana Todd Pope, Pearlie Taylor, Raymond Thomas, Martha Wade, Minnie Watkins and Reisha Williams. Also exhibiting will be Nkosi Imported Crafts, and guest artists Ferrari Sheppard and Shawn Warren

Day General Admission: $25.00 Daily, Noon to 5pm Evening/ Reception: $50.00. For more information, call 305-400-1900.

Press Sec. Sanders lies about press conference details - fake responses from Trump White House

Photo - Dougfarber1 - Creative Commons Attribution

Trump White House Press Sec. Sarah Sanders lied about Reporter Jim Acosta and an “intern” at last week’s press conference.

In her statement, Sanders said, "President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration. We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern..." Check out the video for yourself.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYNM6UQVW04)

Lindsey Walters, seen trying to take the mic from Acosta, is not an intern but is a deputy press secretary with credentials making $130k a year. Maybe Sanders should define "intern" and whether Walters is an intern.  Her bio is mentioned here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Walters


Whatever the case, Walters should have known not to try to take the mic from Acosta while Trump paced on the platform, and Sanders should know that people are watching every move this White House Administration makes. They should just stick to the facts and answer questions so as not to be construed as liars. 

If they do not know the answers, they should say, "We'll get back to you on that." They should take cues from the way police officials handle press conferences after major disasters and mass shootings. Those leaders never attack or discredit the media.

Poor judgment. The so called “intern” altercation may have been a setup.

Voting trouble?

Enemies of the people - who are they?

Me asking Kentucky coal miner questions underground in 1978 - scary, but not as scary as being in a presidential press conference today.

Amendment I - Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

OPINION: Why do you think the first amendment to our Constitution elevates freedom of the press up there with other freedoms including religion, speech, assembly and petition?  Because all these freedoms are of major importance to our democracy!

I take professional offense at Pres. Trump calling other journalists "enemies of the people" when they question him at press conferences.

People in the White House press corps have been verified by the Secret Service, so I don't think they are terrorists or anarchists. For the highest official in the land to call them "enemies" stoops to dictatorship.

The "PRESS" are paid to lean in, iron out, move forward, seek justification from those they question. They have the responsibility to pressure someone into answering and uncover truth. They are logical and hard working. I am a member of the press.

People who shun the press tend to be hiding something that needs to be uncovered  or they just don't know answers and, therefore, have no constructive solutions.

Why does Trump call these citizens FAKE NEWS and ENEMIES? Why is he abridging freedom of the press? If I had access to White House briefings today, I would turn in my badge until the administration ends the war with the press.

'enuf said!

Using phone apps may result in sexual assault

Person alleged to be involved in sexual assault after using phone app to contact victim

Cobb County Police Department Crimes Against Persons Unit is requesting the public's help in identifying a male who was involved in a sexual assault incident that occurred on Sunday, October 7, 2018 at the Intown Suites located at 2030 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062.

Per investigators, the victim and the suspect utilized a mobile phone application that allows users to see members in close proximity. According to the victim, the suspect arrived at victim's location within five minutes of them communicating through the application indicating that the suspect was likely in the general area where the incident occurred. The victim was then allegedly overpowered and sexually assaulted.

The suspect is described as a 26-30 year old African American male with a medium to dark complexion, 5'10"-6'0" in height, and weighing roughly 200-230lbs. On the day of the incident the suspect was wearing the below pictured clothing and had a full beard that was short in length.

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

Voters and volunteers expressing political will, even through hardships

Volunteers for Abrams and Amico were out with signs under overcast skies in Marietta, Ga. It was reported that sign wavers were paid $10 per hour, or $50 for 5 hours.

There has been huge voter turnout despite inclement weather today, inaccurate information on poll opening times, and misleading paperwork on where to go vote for infrequent voters. 

There should be a hotline that people can call to report being told to go elsewhere to vote so this data can be gathered.

It's still better than the good old days of voter tests and poll taxes, but many black and Hispanic millennials who have moved in the last two years faced being turned around at the polls, having to go to two locations to be able to vote.

"It was very annoying...I even had my printout of where I was supposed to go, but they told me NO," said one young business professional around 1 p.m. after going to a second polling place to vote. "There were two other blacks behind me that they turned away, too."

Some polling places had only three voting machines, and some folks had to wait 3 1/2 hours to cast their votes.

Some believe that it was just miscommunication. Others believe the Secretary of State's office has made it harder for people who move frequently to know where to vote.

Be informed. 2020 is coming up, and this has been a test!

Austell, Ga. community activists PLUG IN to issues facing adults and youth

The EpiCenter where the meeting was held is located near Six Flags and a huge industrial park.

To fulfill the dictates of a grant, community members gathered for a South Cobb General Assembly Meeting yesterday at the EpiCenter to discuss needs ranging from mentoring, home ownership, trash pickup, economic development, fair housing, political involvement, justice, and wellness.  

About 25 community members were in attendance.

Smith said kids MUST read!

Barry Smith, Executive Minister of First Christian Church of Mableton, said his organization has had good success mentoring children with "Grandma Time" and "Mommy and Me" programs where kids and adults bond with reading, crafts, and cookie baking activities.  "Our children must be ready for school," he said. "If a kid doesn't know how to read by 3rd grade, we have a problem."

Davis said economic inequities still exist.

Former Banker Ron Davis represented the Austell Community Taskforce which has a vision of a safe, strong, and self-reliant community. Speaking of problems with police, Davis said, "Don't judge an entire force by a few bad individuals." He said people should focus on the Eight Dimensions of Wellness (https://www.acvillage.net/home/resources/8_dimensions_of_wellness.aspx) and get children engaged which will erase boredom in school. 

He mentioned that there are over 1,000 evictions a month in Cobb County, and his organization has partnered with State Farm in an Eviction Aversion Program. He said it's not about getting a home - the problem is sustaining lifestyles.
 

Michael Murphy also represented the Austell Community Taskforce.

Longtime Community Activist Michael Murphy said in order to maintain the economic base, companies contemplating moving into the area must see a well-trained workforce as a resource.  He said having a mortgage is not a problem and that Georgia State Senator Michael Rhett is about to introduce a banking bill that should help home ownership if passed.

Krebs said keeping the community beautiful helps economic development.

Barry Krebs represented the South Cobb Lions Club which is involved with Keeping Cobb Beautiful and the Adopt-A-Mile program. He said that participants pick up trash every quarter. To obtain an application, contact keepcobbbeautiful@cobbcounty.org. He said that if you get youth involved in trash pickup, they are less likely to litter.

Monique Sheffield, a real estate agent and member of the Board of Cobb County Zoning and Appeals, said  a great training vehicle is Commissioner Cupid's HOA Boot Camp which is held each year. Also, she said to go to Mableton.org to learn about an event at the Georgia International Convention Center next weekend. She said the biggest turn off in a community is seeing trash everywhere, and she takes plastic bags in her car and picks up trash herself when she discovers it on the ground.

"On what level do you want to be engaged?" she added.

Minister Marcia Fisher represents Seventh Day Adventists.

Minister Marcia Fischer of Grandview 7th Day Adventist Church said she gets so many calls on her personal cell phone from people who are having "food emergencies," so her church is giving away turkeys this weekend, but they help folks with food and clothing year round. "We have been surviving. Now it's time for us to THRIVE," she said of her long term goals to help abused women and children.

Hutchins is asking for donations.

Tre Hutchins, also of the South Cobb Alliance, said the community depends too much on Commissioner Lisa Cupid to solve all their problems. "We ask her to make miracles happen. She needs our support." Hutchins said that his organization is asking for donations to get UGA to complete a feasibility study and help draft a bill to incorporate another city, and he has also been in conversations with Former Governor Roy Barnes. 

Retired teacher Gerald Jordan who represented the Riverside EpiCenter/Word of Faith Church which has 20,000 members on the rolls, said they will be providing meals for a week to 2,500 families for Thanksgiving. He said kids need to be trained to be in the rising Georgia film industry and sports team's back offices. "Some kids can mentor each other," he said if enough adults are not available.

Jordan said focus should be put on uplifting education in S. Cobb and Pebblebrook clusters.

Maryellen Gomes, a school social worker for the Cobb County School District, said we must do more to prepare kids for future employment. She noted that Google is hiring at a minimum of $15 an hour, and mothers could earn a decent income, but they have to apply. "Our parents are under a lot of stress, and we need mentors," she said. She is involved with a district program that thoroughly screens mentors.  

Google on Riverside Parkway is one of many large companies that should be interested in community development in South Cobb.

To learn more about this organization or to get involved, contact Community Activist Monica DeLancy by calling 770-369-6531 or email monicadelancy@hotmail.com .

Participants were also given an activity to gauge their astuteness on political representation.

NACA endorses Stacey Abrams for governor

Message from the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA):
 
Your vote is crucial so that your voice can be heard. Vote early or on November 6th. VOTE and GET OTHERS TO VOTE! The following website provides voting locations (click here).

VOTE FOR NACA ENDORSED CANDIDATES.

 

NACA has endorsed the following candidates who support economic justice including affordable home ownership.

• Governor - Stacey Abrams
• Lt Governor - Sarah Riggs Amico
• Attorney General - Charlie Bailey
• State School Superintendent - Otha Thornton, Jr
• Secretary of State - John Barrow

Participate in Election Campaigns:

It is extremely important to get out the vote. If you have any time between now and November 6th please select the below link and identify the days and times you would be available. Any amount of time is important particularly on November 6th election day. We will refer you to the campaigns to work on phone banks, canvass and other campaign activities.

• Campaign Participation - click here.

If you have any questions or concerns about voting including where to vote and the candidates contact Member Services at 425-602-6222. It is important that you vote.

US Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) behind 14th Amendment repeal

Oct 30, 2018

Press Release

“I am very happy that my legislation will soon be adopted by the White House as national policy.” Washington, D.C.- Congressman Steve King, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, releases the following statement in the wake of news reports that President Trump intends to restore the plain meaning of the 14th Amendment by ending the mistaken practice of granting American citizenship at birth to the children of illegal aliens. King is the recognized leader in Congress on this effort, and is the lead author of HR 140, a bill ending “birthright citizenship’ that he has introduced in each Congress since 2011.
“I am delighted to learn that President Trump intends to end automatic citizenship at birth for the children of illegal aliens whose parents have no ties, and owe no allegiance, to the United States,” said King. “Granting ‘birthright citizenship’ is a historical mistake which attempts to erase the phrase ‘and subject to the jurisdiction thereof’ out of the 14th Amendment in defiance of what the framers of that amendment were attempting to achieve.   Ending ‘birthright citizenship’ for illegal aliens will decimate the disgusting ‘birth tourism’ industry, and it will ensure that illegal aliens cannot use ‘anchor babies’ in order to take advantage of our overly generous welfare system. I commend the President for his actions, and I am very happy that my legislation will soon be adopted by the White House as national policy.”
The operative text of the 14th Amendment reads as follows:
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Congressman King has written extensively on the legal scholarship behind his effort to restore the original meaning of the 14th Amendment. Those wishing additional background information are encouraged to read this King op-ed: Ending Birthright Citizenship Does Not Require A Constitutional Amendment.
An excerpt:
“By its own terms, the language in the amendment precludes the notion of universal automatic birthright citizenship. It would have been quite simple for the language to exclude ‘and subject to the jurisdiction thereof’ to accomplish the goal of bestowing citizenship on any child born in the United States no matter the status of their parents. The 14th Amendment’s addition of a jurisdictional requirement to the territorial requirement, however, denies any interpretation that birth alone grants citizenship.
Counter to this logic, proponents of universal automatic birthright citizenship claim that those born in the United States necessarily are subject to the jurisdiction of the country. However, this renders the language ‘subject to the jurisdiction thereof’ superfluous. Why would the drafters of the 14th Amendment include this qualifier at all if it was met simply by virtue of being born in the United States? The legislative history outlined below will make clear that the addition of ‘subject to the jurisdiction thereof’ was designed specifically to make sure the people granted citizenship did not have divided political loyalties.”

Stay Woke, Inc. and Public Policy Polling say Florida voters have major justice concerns

According to two organizations, understanding public opinion helps to inform advocacy, improve messaging and prioritize organizing campaigns to address particular issues of equity and justice.

The groups used poll questions designed to assess voting behavior, trust in current public officials and to gauge public support for a range of equity and justice-related issues. To conduct this poll, Public Policy Polling interviewed 847 registered voters in Florida on October 23-24, 2018 using automated telephone interviews via landlines. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 3.4%. 

Key Findings: In most cases, more Florida voters supported the proposed constitutional amendments than opposed them. However, large numbers of Floridians remained undecided about many of these measures and few initiatives had more than the 50% support or opposition, indicating that more work would need to be done to pass these amendments with the 60% threshold required to pass a Constitutional Amendment in Florida.

1. Proposals to address police violence/accountability were the most popular with Florida voters. 52% of respondents said they would support a constitutional amendment to require police officers to exhaust all reasonable alternatives prior to using deadly force. 66% of respondents indicated they’d support an amendment to repeal part of the state’s Law Enforcement Bill of Rights law to be able to give community oversight structures the power to subpoena police officers who are under investigation for misconduct. This indicates a majority of voters are broadly supportive of policies focused on addressing police violence that have yet to be endorsed or considered by legislators in the state. There was broad support for these proposals across racial groups: White, Latino and Black respondents were all more likely to support these policing-related proposals than to oppose them. 
2. 51% of respondents indicated they would support imposing a tax on firearms ammunition to fund gun violence prevention programs, suggesting Florida voters want policymakers to take more action on gun control than has been taken to date.
3. Amendment 4 received 63% support, consistent with other polls suggesting this amendment is at or above the requisite 60% support to pass this November. However, given the 3.4% margin of error, it will be important for the 10% of undecided respondents to end up voting for the initiative to ensure that it passes.
4. Proposed constitutional amendments that had more opposition than support included proposals to enact same-day voter registration, ban private prisons, allow people with past felony convictions to run for office, and abolish the death penalty. This is the first known instance in which a statewide poll has been conducted to assess public support for a ban on private prisons or for allowing people with felony convictions to run for public office. We find, at least in Florida, that these proposals did not appear to currently enjoy broad support among registered voters. However, this may be at least partially due to unfamiliarity with the issues. For example, in addition to the 36% of respondents indicating they’d support a ban on private prisons another 24% were “not sure” whether they’d support this proposal - the highest proportion of “not sure” responses among the proposals in the poll.
5. A Medicare-for-All Single-Payer healthcare system was one of the more popular proposals tested with 47% of respondents supporting, though 70% of Trump voters were opposed to the initiative. 
6. Despite national polling suggesting broad support for voting reforms including same-day registration, a plurality of respondents in our survey opposed same-day voter registration in Florida. This opposition was driven predominantly by white respondents - majorities of Latino (54%) and black respondents (68%) supported same-day registration while 59% of white respondents opposed it. 
7. When asked which they were most excited about voting for this year, 55% of respondents indicated they were most excited about voting for Florida’s next Governor compared to 28% who chose the Senate race and 8% who chose Amendment 4. This suggests the Governor’s race may have important down-ballot (and “up-ballot”) effects on the Senate race and potentially other elections in Florida this year. Furthermore, 1 in 4 black respondents indicated they were most excited about voting for Amendment 4, suggesting this amendment could also play a role in increasing black turnout this year.
8. Overall, 87% of all respondents indicated that they voted in all or most local, state, and federal elections in their adult life. However, 18% of black respondents and 14% of Latino respondents indicated they voted in only “some”, “few” or “none” of these elections compared to only 9% of white voters.
9. When asked why they did not vote more often, black respondents were more likely (28%) to cite structural barriers (lacking ID, transportation or time-off work) as well as not believing their vote would make a difference (23%), compared to 19% and 13% of white voters respectively.
10. Respondents indicated they had similar low levels of trust in their local, state, and federal representatives: no elected representatives at the local, state, or federal levels were trusted “a lot” by a majority of respondents.

For more information, contact Stay Woke, Inc., PO Box 540717, Orlando, FL 32584 or email deray@thisisthemovement.org

Pence says Georgia ain't Hollywood, but some beg to differ...

According to Project Casting, Georgia is taking all of Hollywood's jobs.

The spotlight is on Georgia in politics and entertainment, which means billions in revenue are being funneled into the rising, Southern state. 

As Oprah Winfrey, Will Ferrell, and Barack Obama make their rounds in Georgia this week, so do Pres. Trump and VP Pence, however, the vice president made a remark in Dalton today that diminishes the spotlight on Georgia as a big film state.

Just look at how many films have been made here lately by the Georgia Film Commission's efforts.

According to Project Casting (PC) (http://www.projectcasting.com/news/now-filming-in-georgia/), 29 TV shows and films were made in Georgia last month. "Georgia's film industry is on fire," PC says. Since 2008, movie producers have received a 30% tax break from filming in Georgia.

Yes, the economy has been boosted by this entertainment onslaught.  Three thousand jobs were created when "Avenger: Infinity War" was filmed here. Film Director Tyler Perry bought a whole fort to make films, so what does that tell you?

At a Republican political rally in Dalton, Pence said, "This ain't Hollywood. This is Georgia."

Hold on to your hat. A change is gonna come.

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.