Athens Justice and Memory Project

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the April 19th meeting will be remote. The regular meeting for the Athens Justice and Memory Project will be available to watch live on YouTube at the link available on the ACCGov calendar. AGENDA Athens Justice and Memory Project Team Meeting #7 Monday, April 19, 2021 5 pm – 6:30 pm Virtual WebEx Meeting A. Moment of silence for Linnentown decedents a. The Committee will take a moment of silence to acknowledge and show respect to those who are no longer with us. B. The chairperson will ask that all participants state their name before speaking, since some members are calling in via phone a. The secretary will lead a roll call of team and support members i. Hattie Whitehead, Committee Chair and First Descendant of Linnentown ii. Bobby Crook, First Descendant of Linnentown iii. Linda Thomas, First Descendant of Linnentown iv. Christine Davis Johnson, First Descendant of Linnentown v. Jennifer Rice, UGA Professor and Researcher, Parliamentarian vi. Charlene Marsh, Secretary vii. Mariah Parker, Commissioner viii. Kelly Girtz, ACC Gov Mayor, non-voting/supporting member ix. Krystle Cobran, ACCGov Inclusion Office and non-voting/supporting member x. Shayla Lee, ACCGov Inclusion Fellow, non-voting member xi. Dr. Lynn Bustle, Associate Professor in Art Education at UGA who is helping Dr. Rice and the subcommittee with 4th part of the walk of recognition b. Reading of the last meeting minutes (Vote) C. Brief description of Budget Recommendations: INCLUSION OFFICE THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Fax (706) 613-3029 www.accgov.com  ● Walk of Recognition: percentage allocated ________ ● Minimum Wage Increase for ACC employees: percentage allocated _____________ ● Walk of Recognition ● ACC Black History Center Note: ● Exact allocations are being held off until economists determines how much the committee will have to allocate (see F) Vote to approve - held off on vote D. Subgroup Dr. Jenn Rice ______________________ Walls of recognition ● Dr. Rice gave an overview of the 4 points of the walk of recognition ● It is now in the implementation phase ● Dr. Lynn Bustle - associate professor art education who Dr. Rice reached out to for help with the 4th point of the walk of recognition; ● Dr. Bustle has a plan to incorporate this into her 3 courses: ○ It would be a mosaic; a wall installed by the community ○ The community will be involved at every step and the work would start immediately as they gather information about the stories going into the mosaic ○ Because this is community involved, there is a lot of communication going on as members are helping build it and that is important for community connections ○ This project will start by learning what stories are important and need to be told; over a period of year there will be multiple workshops where members of the community will be able to sign up and help create pieces of the mosaic. ○ Options of how students could get involved through Dr. Bustle’s course 1) Socially engaged art as pedagogy practice course 2) First year odyssey cratificism (combines activism and craft) course to bring people together to make things and discussing issues that are important to the community and during this they can invite members of the community to engage in this dialogue and creation of the art; 3) Spring course will help carry on the project and begin the installation of the mosaic over 1-2 weeks INCLUSION OFFICE THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Fax (706) 613-3029 www.accgov.com  ○ Notes: There is a new contemporary art center downtown - they have a grant to run programs for youth and Dr. Bustle would like to get younger students engagement ■ Ms. Hattie mentioned this would be a great way to get grandchildren involved ○ Mayor Girtz: How to combine the narrative and artwork? ■ Dr. Bustle: We can take existing tile and handwrite text - this will allow us to include quotes or stories ○ Timeframe for this wall of recognition is a year ○ Dr. Rice mentioned that this is a great way to bring in UGA students and the community. This is a collaborative effort. ○ Dr. Rice wanted to get a sense from the room if the committee is okay with move forward with this plan ○ The makeup of the mosaic: ■ Composed of tile that is broken by everyone ■ Other pieces are clay medallions ■ Colored pieces of grout ■ A drawing holds all of the pieces together so that when you walk up to it, you see your image and become a part of the wall. If we’re able to get a spotlight, it’ll be beautiful. ○ An informal vote was conducted so that Dr. Rice and Dr. Bustle can prepare further plans for a formal vote ■ Unanimous support E. Updates on Economists ○ Mayor Girtz is looking for someone who is an expert in lost wealth and disparities similar to Linnentown ○ Former UGA professor recommended some business professors ○ Mayor Girtz has reached out to a contact and is scheduling a sit down in the next few weeks ○ There are social impacts that could result (ex. What’s the difference in likelihood in someone who could send their kid to college if they had a mortgage versus if they didn’t?) ○ Professors recommended to get a graduate student who is studying urban economics to get involved F. After economists determine the amount descendants should receive, plans will move forward. Notes on each budget item ● Linneontown walk of recognition ○ There currently isn’t approval to put on UGA’s space, so it will be in the right of way that is controlled by the city ○ Estimated cost $27,000 INCLUSION OFFICE THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Fax (706) 613-3029 www.accgov.com  ● Affordable housing proposal didn’t get approved due to gratuity clause so Ms. Hattie will be doing further research of it ● Athens-Clarke county Center for Racial Justice/History Center - to educate community about history of Athens (past, present and future) ○ Need a building to house this center ○ Ms. Hattie will put a subcommittee together in the future to take on this project ● High speed internet - to provide high speed internet services, publicly funded for the low income comm ● Proposal for minimum wage increase ○ Majority of the current employees are at $15 ○ Mayor Girtz is current sending proposal for his budget recommendations ○ Committee is asking for minimum wage of $20 for part-time and full-time employees ● Recommended percentages of total allocations: ○ Ms. Linda recommended to not use percentages because prices may vary in each category ○ Mayor Girtz highlighted the challenging economic environment and suggested prioritizing the larger pool of dollars into things that will functionally change people lives such as housing and wages ○ Dr. Rice asked ■ How money will be given? Is it a one-time thing or recurring? ■ Dr. Rice suggested making a list of high priority projects as money is distributed ■ Will this be a special fund and someone would utilize the funds based on this committee's recommendation? ■ Ms. Hattie said that the economist will help guide our recommendations and asked if we need to create a prioritization list ○ Mayor Girtz suggested that the committee do an analysis of other cities to help decide how money will be utilized ○ Ms. Hattie suggested creating a subgroup on the matter ■ Subgroup will discuss how to incorporate UGA G. Activities: Hattie Whitehead & Krystle Cobran April WebEx meeting(s) to inform public about Justice & Memory Committee and Budget Recommendations Meeting adjourn INCLUSION OFFICE THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Fax (706) 613-3029 www.accgov.com