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Celebrating Black History Month & Local Black Entrepreneurs

Black Americans have enriched our community, country and world through innovative ideas and inventions across multiple areas, from science and technology, to mathematics, the arts, sports and especially, business. According to data collected through the Census, there are more than 2 MILLION Black-owned businesses in the United States today. As of 2012, Black-owned businesses generated more than $150.2 billion in gross revenue and employed more than 900,000 people across the country. 

One of the most well-known historical examples of Black entrepreneurship is Madam C.J. Walker. Walker founded her own major corporation, Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, which trained thousands of beauticians and created and sold various hair care products specifically designed for Black women in the early 1900’s. The Madam CJ Walker Museum in Atlanta is dedicated to honoring her legacy.

Another notable historical figure is Black Atlantan, Alonzo Herndon, who founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company in the early 1900’s. In 1922 the company achieved legal reserve status, a position enjoyed by only four other Black insurance companies at that time. 

Right here in Sandy Springs,  there are many Black entrepreneurs who are thriving and making our community a better place for all. 

  • Beautiful Curly Me: Founded by mother & daughter team Evana & Zoe Oli, Beautiful Curly Me is, “a brand that encourages young girls to love and be confident in who they are.” Born out of a need for then 6 year old CEO Zoe Oli, Beautiful Curly Me has a line of Black dolls, puzzles and books written by Zoe (now 11) that instill and inspire confidence in young girls. For every doll purchased on their site, one is given to a young girl in need. 
  • A Space in Time: Located in the heart of Sandy Springs, A Space in Time is both an event venue and an art gallery, showcasing work from emerging artists. Owned by entrepreneur Ebony Hamlet, A Space in Time offers two spacious & adaptable suites that can host a variety of gatherings. 
  • Young Chefs Academy: The Young Chefs Academy helps kids develop a passion for the culinary arts through creative, hands-on activities and learning. The Young Chefs Academy located in Sandy Springs is owned and operated by chefs Arielle & Cameron, two experienced & talented African-American chefs who enjoy helping children learn the joy of cooking. 
  • A Fresh Start Family Childcare: Owned & operated by Olivia Ferreria, A Fresh Start Family Childcare offers a safe, caring and nurturing environment for infants and children to develop necessary learning and social skills for early childhood education. 
  • Phoenix Sandy Springs Gymnastics: Under the leadership of coach Gina White and the Phoenix Gymnastics team, Phoenix Sandy Springs Gymnastics offers affordable and accessible gymnastics to adults and kids of all ages and backgrounds. Phoenix Sandy Springs Gymnastics’ well-qualified & enthusiastic staff have created a space that helps any and every person build themselves up both mentally and physically.

Listed above are only a few of the many examples of local businesses led by Black entrepreneurs. Our community is full of brilliant Black minds, voices and creators; this Black History Month, and every day, we hope you will join us in celebrating them by shopping at and supporting Black businesses & entrepreneurs.

  

Applying to City Boards and Commissions

A new year means new opportunities to make a difference in your community. One of the best ways to do this is by serving on a board or commission. Being a board member is a great way to meet new people, develop new relationships and be more civically engaged. It can also help you step out of your comfort zone to pursue more leadership roles in the future.  

When a vacancy occurs on a citizen board or commission, it is an opportunity to seek out new voices to contribute to the dialogue on community issues. Whether they are looking to add more diverse opinions and ideas, or find someone with specialized knowledge relevant to a specific task, boards are always looking for new members that can offer more insight.

Learning About Boards and Commissions

Boards and commissions are advisory or regulatory groups that work with many cities and counties. Regulatory groups set licensing standards and professional requirements for members. Advisory groups provide guidance to the program or agency with which they are affiliated. Board and commission members are unpaid volunteers. Examples of boards or commissions in Sandy Springs include the Board of Appeals, the Planning Commission and the Board of Ethics. 

Who Can Apply? 

Some boards require members to have a certain level of subject matter expertise, while others require few qualifications. In most circumstances, boards are looking for individuals who possess certain qualities. Teamwork, creative thinking skills and the ability to communicate effectively are all helpful characteristics of an effective board or commission member.

An emphasis on diversity has led some cities to make a conscious effort to engage underrepresented populations in hopes that more individuals from these communities will join boards & commissions to share their ideas.

To learn more about available boards & commissions in Sandy Springs, follow the link below. 

Applying to Boards and Commissions

Those who review your application will appreciate that you recognize the importance of the board to the community. Understanding the board’s purpose & goals will help you structure your application in a manner which highlights your skills, knowledge and expertise as they relate to the work of the board. Below are suggestions of the things you should do when applying for a position: 

  • Understand the purpose of the board or commission
  • Determine the types of issues the group discusses and reviews
  • Research the level of commitment that is involved
  • Attend a meeting or event to gain a better understanding of how the board operates
  • Meet with current or past board members; this information is usually available on the city’s or county’s website

Many boards and commissions have web pages linked to the official city or county government website. Check the board or commission web page to review materials of the organization, such as minutes, newsletters, strategic plans and annual reports. 

Communicating Your Interest

To increase your chances of being selected, you should voice your interest. Popular ways to publicize your desire are:

  • Contacting your city council representatives or county commissioner
  • Using social media such as Facebook and Twitter to get the word out

Speaking with current board members and staff is also a great way to express your desire to be selected.  When you are actively promoting yourself to be on a board, be direct and explain why you think you are the candidate that would be an asset to the board. Directly ask the staff person or board member to review your application.

Furthermore, providing public comment is a great way to show that you have interest in city/county policy and that you can articulate your thoughts, while also having an open mind. 

Go For It 

You’ll never know the type of impact you can have unless you pursue the opportunity. Your ideas could be the next step toward creating a better future for our community. What are you waiting for? 

  

Local Option Sales Tax Deal Approved by City Council Nov. 7, 2022

Did you know that Sandy Springs will receive $85 million MORE in sales tax revenue over the next 10 years without any tax increase for our residents? 

Recently, our elected officials negotiated a deal with Fulton County & 14 other cities that will see Sandy Springs collect a larger portion of the current sales tax revenue. That means more money for police, fire, EMS, emergency management, recreation, community events, sidewalks, road construction, maintenance and other essential services. 

Sandy Springs City Council approved the newly negotiated arrangement on November 6. “I’m just glad it’s over. I think we probably negotiated the best deal that we could get,” Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said.

We appreciate the hard work, diligence and dedication of our city leaders to achieve a result that not only benefits Sandy Springs, but also builds stronger relationships with local leaders in our neighboring cities.

Our city leaders worked hard to achieve this result while building stronger relationships with local leaders outside of Sandy Springs. We appreciate their diligence and dedication. Now, it is up to each and every one of us to communicate with our elected officials to let them know our ideas about how this additional revenue should be spent. 

  • What are the needs in your neighborhood? 
  • What sort of investment in public safety would you like to see? 
  • Where do sidewalks need to be repaired or built? 
  • Does your neighborhood need a new park? 

Plan now to call or write your representatives, or to attend a Sandy Springs City Council meeting and speak in person about your ideas for how our city can best grow and thrive. Sandy Springs is already a great place to live, work and raise a family, but this additional revenue can make our community even better! 

  

Let’s Vote Together

Statewide and local elections directly impact our daily lives in more ways than you might think. From laws we must obey, to the amount of funding our schools receive, and even our election procedures and rules, these elections influence our community just as much as, if not more than, our national elections. 

Even with so much at stake, voter turnout in statewide and local elections is notoriously low. One major reason why: voters feel that they either don’t have enough time or information to make an informed decision.

According to a study by the National Civic League, “lower turnout is frequently a result of a lack of awareness of the candidates and issues.” 

We’ve experienced this ourselves. For example, chances are that you can name the candidates from recent national elections, along with a few policies they stood for. Yet many of us struggle to do the same for our local candidates.

This is not because we are lazy, but because state and local information can be difficult to come by. That is why Sandy Springs Together has created a voter guide for the upcoming election. 

Even for those of us who have voted before, the process can be confusing. Election rules can change between elections or might be different if you have just moved to the state. 

The Voter Guide includes information about voting rights, instructions for registering and voting, links to candidates’ websites and more information you can use to help make an informed decision this November.

Evidence suggests that providing voters easy access to information about voting and candidates can lead to more qualified and accountable candidates being elected. No matter where we live, what we look like, or how much money we make, our voices are equal at the ballot box. So, let’s get ready to #VoteTogether! 

  

Protecting Tenants’ Rights

What are tenants’ rights, and how do they impact housing affordability?

These questions and more were addressed during the August, 2022 Atlanta Regional Housing Forum, Strengthening Tenants’ Rights in Georgia. 

The AJC published an investigative series over the summer, exposing absentee landlords and dismal management of apartment properties, resulting in dangerously unhealthy and unsafe living conditions in many of metro Atlanta’s apartment complexes. 

During the housing forum Bill Bolling, co-founder and moderator, stated that Georgia has some of the weakest laws regarding tenants’ rights in the entire country. As a result, many corporations and private equity firms view Georgia as a favorable environment for buying and renting multi and single family homes and townhomes. The practice of corporations buying a large volume of single family homes and townhomes and then renting them, reduces the number of homes from the home buyer inventory and inflates not only home prices but also rents. 

Many states have laws that provide renters with legal options for recourse when infractions by landlords occur. However, other states, like Georgia, give the landlord more legal authority …the website below illustrates the differences, state by state regarding legal protections for renters. 

Desiree Fields, researcher with UC Berkeley, covers this practice in her recent report that details how Sunbelt cities with weak tenant protections are preferred locations for investors to grow their portfolios. Metro Atlanta is the leading target of investors for this activity. In her report Fields recommends, “nationwide, broad-based tenant protections to limit rent increases, ancillary fees, and fines and to promote security of tenure. The property rights of landlords should not take priority over the fundamental role of housing in supporting life, safety, and welfare.”

Efforts have been made in Sandy Springs to ensure that our renters are not living in unhealthy and unsafe conditions. Recently,  Sandy Springs Code Enforcement proposed creating a special Apartment Inspection Unit which would increase the number of apartments that can be inspected in an effort to hold landlords and property managers accountable.

There is still much work to be done, but we are taking positive steps towards protecting and strengthening tenants’ rights in Sandy Springs and across the state of Georgia. For more information from the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum on this issue, follow this link to watch the full discussion.    

When We All Vote, Good Things Can Happen!

Are you registered to vote? Have you moved or changed your name in the past several months? 

Have you NEVER voted but are eligible to, or has it been a long time since you last voted?  

Then you must register to vote or update your voter registration status! What are you waiting for?! 

The upcoming midterm election will shape the future of our state and country for the next decade and beyond. Making sure you are registered to vote is the first and most CRUCIAL step in ensuring that your voice is heard this fall. 

Registering to vote is a quick and easy process that takes very little time and can even be done from the comfort of your own home. The Georgia Secretary of State’s website has a helpful how-to guide that provides information on the steps and materials you need to register to vote.

Voting is a means to communicate to our elected officials how well we think our local, state, or federal government is doing. It is the foundation of our democracy. By voting, we can elect officials who will represent our ideas and interests in government, as well as voice our opinion about public projects, services and laws that directly impact our communities. 

October 11, 2022 is the voter registration deadline for the November 8th General Election. Is your voter registration up to date?  It’s time for a check-up.

You can check to ensure that your voter registration status is active by going to the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page website.

After logging in, look for “Status” under the “Personal Information” section. If you see a green “Active” status your registration is fine! Just make sure your address is up to date. 

 If your status says:

  • “Inactive” – Even if your status is listed as Inactive, you can still vote! But an inactive status means that you are in the first stage of a process that will result in you being purged from the rolls. It is very important that you take the necessary steps to get off the “inactive list” as soon as possible. One of the easiest ways to do this is to vote during the next election! Read about what to do to solve this problem here. 
  • “Contact County” – This means that your County Elections Office is missing a piece of information it needs to complete your registration. It could also mean that you are old enough to be registered to vote (17.5 years old) but you’re not yet old enough to vote in an election (18 years old). Contact your County Elections Office as soon as possible to correct the issue. 

We each deserve to have our voice heard and ideas represented in the community we live in, so why not do what it takes to make that happen? 

This November, we encourage you to join your family, friends and neighbors by making a plan to #VoteTogether because when we all vote, good things can happen!