8/25/2023 documentary film "DESERVE: A Better Tomorrow, Today" was accepted into the 2023 Atlanta Black Pride International Film FestivalRead NowOur documentary film "DESERVE: A Better Tomorrow, Today" was accepted into the 2023 Atlanta Black Pride International Film Festival.
Super thank you G Allen Battle for your unwavering work on #iDESERVE over the years as it is continuing to impact lives in a great way. http://www.iDeserve.net
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8/25/2023 Savannah City Council votes to name square formerly known as Calhoun Square after Susie King TaylorRead NowThe Savannah City Council unanimously voted at Thursday's City Council meeting to name the unnamed square Taylor Square in honor of Susie King Taylor. Supporters took a moment to celebrate at the council meeting.
Susie King Taylor was born into slavery in Savannah and spent much of her life as a nurse in the Civil War, going on to open schools across the city for formerly enslaved people. She achieved many firsts in a lifetime of overcoming adversity and helping elevate others out of slavery. Naming this square has been a hot topic for a few years. It was over three years ago when the Susie King Taylor Center for Jubilee asked the city to remove the name Calhoun from the square due to the figures' ties to and support of slavery. "I did not know that 58 years later I would be able to come and ask you if the square that was segregated could you now make it in honor of an honorable woman by the name of Susie King Taylor," said Patt Gunn. Patt Gunn and her coalition advocated strongly for this name change. Since 1851, John C. Calhoun’s name has been on one of downtown Savannah's 22 iconic public squares until November 2022, when Savannah’s city council unanimously voted to remove Calhoun’s name from the square. "What he stood for is not what Savannah stands for. He did not represent what Savannah is, and certainly not what Savannah wants to be," said Mayor Johnson. The process was not so simple as to give the square a new name. When the city council adopted a resolution that stated that Calhoun "was known to have supported the institution of slavery" and "had no known ties to the city of Savannah," it only removed his name from the square and didn’t assign a new name to it. The public space naming process outlined in the city ordinance was the guide for the open process, which had many requirements, including a letter of support for the name from either Mayor Van Johnson, At-Large Post 1 Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter, At-Large Post 2 Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely or District 2 Alderman Detric Leggett. A process that some residents voiced was frustrating and confusing during a series of public meetings held since it was announced in March that the city was accepting applications to name the square. The city received 300 proposals and narrowed it down to 60 and then to 15. "We (the city) are excited about the level of public engagement. We received many different naming suggestions, and to arrive at 15 strong applications is a good reflection of how engaged our community is and how important they feel this process is," said Joe Shearouse, Director of Policy and External Affairs in the City Manager's Office. In July, the city’s Park and Tree Commission heard public comments and voted on 14 applications since one of the 15 applicants withdrew theirs. The commission recommended five names to the Savannah City Council, with Taylor getting the top vote at that meeting. On August 3, the second of three opportunities for public comments, the Historic Site and Monument Commission (HSMC) also heard the 14 applications, with commission members each voting by picking their top names. Three names tied for most votes: Susie King Taylor received four votes, as did Major Clayton Carpenter (aviator) and Creek (Indigenous nations). Neither commission made the ultimate decision. This was left for Savannah City Council, which received the recommendations from the commissions, though council is not required to follow their recommendations. Ultimately, six names were recommended to the Savannah City Council:
At the August 24 council meeting, the council heard public comments from the different groups before making a vote. "We think that it would be appropriate to have a woman of her honor in this square. This journey has brought these coalition members and others together. We have the opportunity to have a new sunrise in Savannah. Let’s begin with a woman on the square, and let’s bring others into the 21st century," said Gunn before council. Taylor Square was the victor. In addition to naming the square, the city council voted 5-3 to install markers describing the history of the square, including John C. Calhoun, the decision by the council to rename it, and the process that took place after. "It makes us no better to change the name and not tell the history of the square because then the next group comes and does the same thing. I am not for erasing history; you learn from history," said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson. Taylor Square will be the first square in the city’s history to be named after a woman and a person of color. The other proposed names were recognized by several members of the council for their work in the history of shaping Savannah, and they hoped that they could find ways to continue to celebrate them. NABJ PHOTOS 2023Nikole Hannah-Jones, Center for Journalism and Democracy, hosted a brunch at (NABJ) National Association of Black Journalists for #HBCUs. A great discussion about the future of Journalism but as well as the history of investigative Journalism. (NABJ) National Association of Black Journalists Join us at NABJ for a NATAS meet and greet and enjoy an evening of jazz!
Topics to include how to win an Emmy; NATAS membership; Student Scholarship info; plus we’re looking for your input for upcoming workshops and seminars. Alway find more info at southeastemmy.com PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP: $100 This membership level is offered to all metro Atlanta professionals. REGIONAL MEMBERSHIP: $75 This membership level is offered to all professionals living outside the Atlanta market in Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and Asheville, NC. EDUCATIONAL MEMBERSHIP: $55 This Educational Discount is for Professional Membership to those faculty who teach/advise Film and Television Production at the K-12 and Post Secondary Level (College). The Southeast Chapter of NATAS serves Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina. Annual Emmy® Awards are presented in Atlanta. |
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