Support a Comprehensive Smoke-Free South Fulton

I know firsthand that long-term smoking and secondhand smoke kills.

My maternal grandfather became addicted to nicotine at an early age and died at 62 years old from lung cancer. As a City of South Fulton resident and parent of two sons, I believe it is time to strengthen the current ordinance to support a smoke-free city. The measure will make all workplaces, restaurants, and bars smoke-free to protect residents, workers, and visitors from the proven significant dangers of secondhand smoke.

Exposure to secondhand smoke is a public health and social justice issue. The fact is certain communities and populations in the City of South Fulton are more severely affected by secondhand smoke exposure than others, and many of those individuals are more likely to suffer from health disparities and less likely to be able to access health care. Secondhand smoke causes nearly 41,000 early deaths from coronary heart disease each year in the United States among nonsmokers. Twenty-eight percent of residents living in Fulton County report they are exposed in public places and 14% in their workplaces.

Here are additional reasons why making the City of South Fulton 100% smoke-free is so important:

• Smoking is still allowed in many City of South Fulton workplaces, restaurants and bars.
• Breathing secondhand smoke can have immediate adverse effects on your blood and blood vessels, increasing the risk of having a heart attack.
• Most employees that work in establishments which allow smoking, don’t often have a choice.
• Smoke-free ordinances do not harm business.

Other destination southern cities are 100% smoke-free including: Atlanta, Savannah, and New Orleans. I am appreciative of Councilmember Gumbs, Councilmember Rowell, and Councilmember Reeves for championing this effort and urge all council members to support. In a time when protection of health is of utmost importance, strengthening smoke-free makes sense. Text COSF to 46839 to join me in urging council to make all workplaces, restaurants, and bars smoke-free in the City of South Fulton!

Sojourner Marable Grimmett is a wife, mother, and  South Fulton community advocate.

Free COVID-19 Testing for the Public at the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA

ATLANTA – Free walk-up and drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be available to the public at the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA for individuals with or without common virus symptoms. National Church Residences is partnering with The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc. and Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA in collaboration with Georgia State Senator Nikema Williams, Atlanta City Councilmember Marci Overstreet, Fulton County Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington, Jr., Royal Roots Barber Shop, The Black Man Lab, I'm A Father F1rst, and WellCare to offer this public service.

Testing will take place in the YMCA parking lot located at 2220 Campbellton Road, SW, Atlanta, GA 30311 on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. To register, visit covid.fhcga.org or call 1-800-935-6721. Pre-registration is not required, but encouraged.

"We're thankful to collaborate with community partners to help spread the word about the importance of COVID-19 testing and knowing your status," said Director of Population Health, Jacque Thornton. "This is our second public testing event in Southwest Atlanta. This specific site was selected to not only test local residents, but also to raise awareness on measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc. is offering free COVID-19 testing at various locations throughout metro Atlanta. Additional testing sites can be found at http://fhcga.org.

Free COVID-19 Testing Event

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA

2220 Campbellton Road, SW

Atlanta, GA 30311

National Church Residences remains committed to protecting the health and well-being of its staff and raising the awareness about the importance of COVID-19 testing to the public.

About National Church Residences

National Church Residences serves more than 42,000 seniors through its array of housing and health care services. The not-for-profit organization is driven by a vision of advancing better living for all seniors, enabling them to remain home for life. With 340 communities in 25 states and Puerto Rico, it is the nation's largest not-for-profit provider of affordable senior housing and the largest manager of service coordinators. The organization also offers residential senior communities, home and community-based services, as well as permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless and disabled. For more information, visit us at NationalChurchResidences.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

From the Hearts of Black Moms: A Conversation on Race Featured in Atlanta Parent

https://www.atlantaparent.com/julyissue

"The choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both." - Barack Obama

I’m the proud mother of two remarkable Black children. My oldest son, Roland turned 13 in June. My youngest son, Joshua is 10, and both boys are friendly, kindhearted, athletic, and smart.

For as long as I can remember, I have been an advocate for social justice. As a young adult in Boulder, Colorado, I advocated to dismantle a nearby nuclear facility, marched in the 2017 Women’s March, and most recently joined thousands of supporters for “Black Lives Matter” both here in Atlanta.

As a community, we all have a responsibility to build a strong and accepting society in which no child has to grid himself or herself  against prejudice, hatred, and mistreatment. The nation is crying for change and I continuously reflect on how to become more of an agent of healing as we prepare for the days ahead.

Steps to continue growing:

• Engage in conversations around race.
• Support local and online Black businesses.
• Learn about other cultures and work towards being advocates and allies for historically minoritized groups.

I think the best thing we can do for each other and ourselves, is to come together as a community. Listening with open hearts and minds and being willing to engage in self-reflective work - even when it's difficult or uncomfortable.

I stay prayerful for my sons and other Black boys and men. We are seeking justice, safety, and peace.

Read Atlanta Parent's July 2020 issue here: https://www.atlantaparent.com/julyissue.

National Church Residences Partners with Fulton County Board of Health to Offer Free COVID-19 Testing in Southwest Atlanta

ATLANTA – In partnership with the Fulton County Board of Health and in collaboration with Fulton County Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington, Jr. and Atlanta City Councilmember Joyce Sheperd, National Church Residences will open a walk-up and drive-thru COVID-19 testing site to the public. Testing will take place in the parking lot at Lakewood Christian Manor, an affordable housing senior living community located at 2141 Springdale Road, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30315 on Monday, July 6, 2020 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Neither a doctor’s note for referral is required for testing.

“Testing is critically important to stopping the spread of the disease,” said Director of Population Health, Jacque Thornton. “This site was selected to enhance neighborhood access to testing in the southwest Atlanta area.”

Residents may be tested whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or not. COVID-19 testing is now available to all residents regardless of symptoms. Fulton County and community partners are offering FREE COVID-19 testing at locations throughout the county. Additional Fulton County testing sites can be found here.

Free COVID-19 Testing Events

Monday, July 6, 2020 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Lakewood Christian Manor

2141 Springdale Road, SW

Atlanta, GA 30315

This free COVID-19 testing event is in partnership with the Fulton County Board of Health. It is open to the public and for Lakewood Christian Manor residents and staff.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA

2220 Campbellton Road, SW

Atlanta, GA 30311

This free COVID-19 testing event is in partnership with The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc. This event is open to the public and for Baptist Towers and Baptist Gardens residents and staff.

About National Church Residences

National Church Residences serves more than 42,000 seniors through its array of housing and health care services. The not-for-profit organization is driven by a vision of advancing better living for all seniors, enabling them to remain home for life. With 340 communities in 25 states and Puerto Rico, it is the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of affordable senior housing and the largest manager of service coordinators. The organization also offers residential senior communities, home and community-based services, as well as permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless and disabled. For more information, visit us at NationalChurchResidences.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Our Juneteenth Story

Happy Juneteenth! Amplifying my sister, Malaika Marable Serrano's LinkedIn post about our great-great grandfather, Morris Marable.

Our Juneteenth story:

Morris Robinson was born around 1839 and had sandy blond hair, blue-green eyes and fair skin. His father was a plantation owner in West Georgia and his bi-racial mother worked in the house.

Morris was a slave.

When Morris was about 8 years old, his own father sold him to an Alabama planter named Marable for $500. That day, Morris Robinson became Morris Marable and he never saw his mother again.

During the Civil War, he ran away with his sweetheart and about $40 worth of gold. Together, Morris and his wife created a new life for themselves and raised their children to be compassionate, God-fearing, entrepreneurial, and civic-minded members of society.

I'm proud to be the great-great granddaughter of slaves. On this special day in U.S. history, I encourage all of us to celebrate the creativity, innovation, and contributions of African-Americans throughout U.S. history and around the world.

A Change is Gonna Come

“A Change is Gonna Come.” - Sam Cooke

This is the first weekend that I’ve spent with my mom at her home since the COVID-19 outbreak. I haven’t been to a salon in months, and with all that’s happening in the world with the global pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests, I found a moment of peace within myself while she was braiding my hair today. Being together was restorative.

It’s my hope that we find real change. It’s time people in power stop talking and start doing. Ar...e we really going to root out systemic racism given all that has brought us to this point? If so, it’s going to take time and leaders in power to really listen and start taking action.

As a community advocate, I’m energized by the diverse participants who are leading protests around the world. Our participation is a vital part of the movement and our enthusiasm for real change NOW speaks volumes.

My promise as a former Fulton County candidate is that I will hold leaders in all spaces accountable for their actions, and that I will work hard with other like-minded individuals and organizations to get out the vote in November so that we can see this same collective energy for real positive change at the polls.

Join me at www.Facebook.com/SouthFultonVotes.

Along the Color Line: Coping with a Global Pandemic and Race Relations Simultaneously in 2020

Sojourner Marable Grimmett

How do woke minds breathe in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic that is disproportionately affecting Black and brown communities; all while across the country protesters are rising up advocating for peace and justice because of another unlawful killing of a black man at the hands of police?

I am a peaceful protester. For as long as I can remember, I have held a protest sign in my hands waving it in the air among 60-something year old environmentalists in Boulder, Colorado, to co-creating lactation pods for moms at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and at the 2017 National Women's March on Washington, and most recently chanting “Black Lives Matter” among like-minded spirits walking towards the Georgia State Capitol in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

I’ve never been one to watch the coverage, but have always been a part of the movement protesting against hatred of every kind. Having studied civil disturbances in graduate school, I understand the history and measures employed by white supremacists and terrorists cowardly infiltrating and misplacing blame against activists shining light via protests of violence against Black and brown bodies. Additionally, the media consistently mislabels protest coverage further exacerbating stereotypical notions of blacks as “thugs” vilified on front pages of newspapers and social media.

The nation is crying for change. And the leader in charge is the worst example of leadership possible, one who has never been detached from racism and one who actively promotes and instigates acts of oppression on all of its forms.

I believe the majority are standing up to the minority of those who hate and are collectively championing for effective and positive change. I continuously reflect on how to become more of an agent of healing as we prepare for the days ahead.

I’m the proud mother of two remarkable Black sons. My oldest son, Roland turns 13 on Saturday. His hair makes him taller than his dad. He is quite, kindhearted, and smart. Yet summer travel plans have changed not because of the worst pandemic in 100 years, but because of the state of America. I am stressed being out with my sons and husband navigating daily errands or leisure time outside our home for fear of coming across a crooked racist who understands their power and fate over my Black family's lives.

The president isn’t acknowledging the pain and agony of our country's state, the 400 years of systemic racism. We are seeking justice, safety, and peace. I stay prayerful for my sons and other Black boys and men. Now I’m entrusting in our teachings and God’s will to protect them when away from under my roof.

Barack Obama is right -- "the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both."

Some ways to get involved:

·       Start a conversation

·       Get involved -- volunteer, help out

·       Access more information

·       Speak out and share your story

·       Organize

·       Support local and online Black businesses

·       Teach your kids and family members to:

o   have conversations about race

o   learn the best ways for them to be activists/active contributors into their communities        

o   learn about other underrepresented cultures and work towards being advocates and allies for others

o   understand their rights as well as having to teach young kids of color how they can try to stay safe when engaging with police/people in positions of power

A number of people have privately reached out to me, asking how I'm doing and what they can do to be supportive. I appreciate all of this and I think the best thing we can do for each other and ourselves, is to come together as a community. Listening with open hearts and minds, being willing to engage in self-reflective work and active allyship - even when it's difficult or uncomfortable - is what the world needs right now.

COVID-19 Protect Your Health

PROTECT YOUR HEALTH

Social distancing, including avoiding close contact with others, is one way to protect yourself from infectious diseases. In addition, you can reduce your risk in other ways:   Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available People who are sick should always cover their coughs and sneezes using a tissue or the crook of their elbow; wash your hands after using a tissue to wipe your nose or mouth People who are sick should stay home from work or school until they are well Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your unwashed hands For more information on COVID-19 visit the Fulton County Board of Health website at https://bit.ly/2IcAB2L.