Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy whose power is in the voices of its people at the ballot box. Citizens in many Georgia communities have faced prohibitively long lines, some several hours long, at polling places throughout the state in recent elections, particularly in the Atlanta area. Myriad explanations have been […]
We watched in sadness and horror as a young unarmed black man was gunned down while jogging in a local neighborhood in Brunswick. Our hearts are broken for Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, his family, and friends, and we are angered that he was targeted, harassed, and murdered. We are angered that justice was slow in coming. […]
By Commissioner Tena Blakey, Nick’s Sister On one cold rainy night at Hartsfield International Airport, I met my mom, stepfather and baby brother as they were coming out of the International Terminal. I was 25 years old and was/is very excited to be a big sister. You see, they had been in Russia for two […]
In her book, They’re Your Parents, Too! How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy, Francine Russo calls it “the last transition of our first family.” It’s the time when families reconvene decades after the children left the nest to help aging parents navigate their senior years. If we are lucky, […]
It’s no secret that Atlanta is a center for sex trafficking activity. A busy international airport, the convergence of three major interstate highways, and a booming convention and sports industry create a ripe environment for the practice to flourish. And flourish it does as Atlanta repeatedly finds itself on many lists of top cities […]
I do realize that January is almost over, so I’m a little late on the New Year’s Day greetings. The month has passed by in a blur of snow and ice and busyness, and it doesn’t look like things are going to slow down any time soon. The Commission had a productive 2016. We welcomed […]
We have more to consider on the Georgia ballot this year than candidates for local, state, and national offices. There are also four amendments to the Georgia constitution to think about as well. I encourage you to do your research ahead of time so you will be prepared to make informed choices. Amendment 2 is the […]
There is a crispness to the October morning air in Georgia now that signals the seasons are finally turning the corner into fall. Leaves will shift their colors soon to the golds, oranges, and reds that lure folks to the mountains and clog the winding roads with leaf peepers out to take in the scenery. […]
Better behaved than New Orleans and more demure than Charleston, Savannah takes its place among the great Southern grandes dames as a city of beauty, hospitality, and charm. Laid out with an engineer’s precision, old Savannah is beautiful in the way of all intricately designed things. Spanish moss draped live oaks give this historic town […]
This year I read a book entitled, “Being Mortal” by Dr. Atul Gwande. I don’t remember who recommended it to me, but it articulated many of my observations, experiences, and feelings based on my decision to pursue a career in nursing. When I was a 20 year old student, I was assigned to care for […]
I was born in overalls, or more accurately, I was raised in them. The moment I had the ability to think and move for myself, I ran full speed ahead to the most functional, albeit fashionable, OshKosh pair. They fit unbelievably. Like the quintessential poster child for the South, I climbed magnolia trees and caught […]