Hooper Renwick Legacy Preservation Committee

HOOPER RENWICK LEGACY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES Tuesday, June 20, 2023 Third Floor GwMA Conference Room 6:00 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 6:03 pm. Chair Brown led the opening prayer. Paula Foil, Secretary took roll call and confirmed a quorum was not present. PRESENT Committee Member Constance Brown Committee Member Deidra Williams Committee Member Gary Glenn Committee Member Joyce Moore Committee Member Gwendolyn Brown Taylor Committee Member Vivian Summerour-Daniel ABSENT Committee Member Theresa Bailey Committee Member Pastor Ronald Dunnigan Committee Member Rory Johnson Committee Member Greg Lott Committee Member John Maxey Committee Member Rubye Neal Other attendees: Commissioner Jasper Watkins, Mayor David Still, Council Member Victoria Jones, Council Member Glenn Martin, Council Member Marlene Taylor-Crawford, Chuck Warbington, Angelia Parham, Mark LeBlanc, Cammie Mansfield, Brian Boggs, and Paula Foil.  1. Approval of Agenda No approval of the agenda due to a lack of quorum. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes 2. Approval of Meeting Minutes for March 21, 2023 No approval of prior meeting minutes due to a lack of quorum. Old Business 3. Artifacts Update Committee Member Moore said there were no new details regarding the artifacts. 4. Project Status Update – Mr. Mark LeBlanc, Program Manager Mr. Mark LeBlanc, Gwinnett County, Hooper-Renwick Themed Library Program Manager gave the Committee an update regarding the library project site. Mark shared nine photographs of the project site with the Committee (attached). The photos showed some of the demolition on the inside of the building, exterior openings on the back of the building, piping for the underground storm water system, old utility pipes that had been removed from the property, and the temporary shoring of the exterior walls near the large openings on the back of the building. The foundation system is planned for this summer. Hoping for construction completion by third or fourth quarter of 2024. The exhibits are an eight-week installation. Hoping for a grand opening either the end of 2024 or early in 2025. 5. Project Status Update – Mrs. Cammie Mansfield Mrs. Cammie Mansfield, Gwinnett County, IRPC, Historical contact for the Hooper-Renwick Themed Library updated the Committee. In an effort to increase awareness in the community for the library, multiple committee members, along with Cammie Mansfield and Brian Boggs attended several events. On April 15th Jackie Robinson Day at the Gwinnett Stripers baseball game. Committee Member Brown Taylor, Committee Member Summerour-Daniel, Committee Member Moore, Committee Member Williams, and Chair Brown represented the Committee. In the beginning part of June Cammie Mansfield and Brian Boggs assisted with the teacher immersion program for Gwinnett County teachers. The program led the teachers through the chronological history of Gwinnett County. They had five speakers that told of the Hooper- Renwick legacy. On the panel representing the Hooper-Renwick School and the Committee were Committee Member Neal, Committee Member Moore, and Committee Member Brown Taylor. Committee Member Glenn and Chair Brown also attended in support of the program. On June 16th the City of Lawrenceville Juneteenth Celebration. Approximately 120 people came by the table to ask questions about the project. Committee Member Brown Taylor,  Committee Member Maxey, Committee Member Summerour-Daniel, Committee Member Williams, and Chair Brown represented the Committee. On June 17th the United Ebony Society Juneteenth Celebration at Rhodes Jordan Park. Approximately 350 people came by the table to ask questions about the project. Committee Member Maxey, Committee Member Williams, and Chair Brown represented the Committee. (separate tables) Cammie Mansfield is planning on creating a temporary exhibit regarding Hooper-Renwick so it can travel around the County to continue to peak interest in the project. New Business 6. Discussion Regarding Events to Increase Awareness and Support Chair Brown said the Committee has been increasing awareness and support whenever the opportunity arises and they will continue to attend these events as often as possible. Commissioner Jasper Watkins III, Gwinnett County-District 3 Commissioner, encouraged the Committee to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in January to increase awareness as well as working with the United Ebony Society to combine the Juneteenth Celebrations from Norcross and Snellville with the Lawrenceville Cerebration. He also encouraged the Committee to invite various groups from Atlanta to the Lawrenceville celebration. Chair Brown mentioned they coordinated and participated in Black History Month this past February and they are planning on participating again next year. Committee Member Williams said the Committee has been focused on being boots on the ground at various events and on social media to get the information out to the youth. 7. Discussion Regarding Potential Bus Stop Commissioner Jasper Watkins updated the Committee on the possible micro transit stop at the library. He said the micro transit stop would be right at the main entrance not on Neal Blvd and that the Gwinnett Department of Transportation supports the idea of the stop. Commissioner Watkins mentioned that the community would need to cover the cost of the actual micro transit bus stop. Several of the Committee Members suggested placing this idea on hold until after the library is complete. Final Adjournment Council Member Glenn Martin led the closing prayer. Chair Brown adjourned the meeting at 6:50 pm. Minutes Signature ___________________ Constance Brown, Chair ___________________ Greg Lott, Vice-Chair