More From Participants of The AIDS Walk Atlanta 2013

Individuals, organizations and groups of people of all backgrounds come together with one common goal, which is financial support to help AIDS Walk Atlanta/5K run, the victims of AIDS and their family members.  Supporters range from individuals who walk/run volunteers who come back annually to donate their time and sometimes money.   Bikers who ride with a passion and for a purpose also donate time, while sports drinks creator gives away free sports drinks to help people replenish and revive the runners and organizations all doing there part to help raise money to create awareness and to find a cure.

With the support of all the good people of Atlanta, AIDS Atlanta was able to reach their goal of over one Million Dollars raised and climbing.  2014 is expected to do even better.

 

2013 AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5k Run, One of the Largest AIDS Event in the Southeast Gains Over One Million Dollars in Financial Support

2013 AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run from Dawn on Vimeo.

AIDS  Organizations Will Receive  Financial Support Thanks to the AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5k Run Annual Event

AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run is an annual event that supports AID Atlanta and seven other AIDS service organizations.  They have been funding support to organizations for 23 years.  It’s one of the largest fundraising events for AIDS in the Southeast United States as well as  the most visible. With this years attendance reaching over 10,000 people.  The AIDS Walk & 5K Run involvement makes it possible for AID Atlanta and the other AIDS organizations continue the work to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. They have funded several programs, including the HIV primary health care, case management, HIV testing & counseling, and also provides support to AID Atlanta’s education program; which provides more than 80,000 prevention contacts annually.

2013 AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run at Piedmont Park

2013 AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run at Piedmont Park

Two Women indirectly affected by the disease are Caroline Mitchell and Tanzie Rena. They each give an account of their own personal experience of what it’s like to lose someone to HIV/AIDS. According to Caroline she has lost her brother and sister to AIDS in 1989 at a time when AIDS patients had stigma & discrimination attached.  Her sister was a prostitute and her brother was gay it was one of the toughest times her family had to deal with.

Caroline Tolbert (c) 2013

Caroline Mitchell (c) 2013 photo by D. Garvin

Caroline says “although my mother was always there for all of us, this was the one time she says was unable to fix it.”  During this tough time Caroline tried to be the strength for them all and became the support system for her siblings helping them at their homes.

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The Names Project Quilt laid out for People to Sign

Tanzie Rena’s pain is still fresh after recently losing her child this year just few months earlier to cancer, which may have also been a complication from the HIV virus.  However, Tanzie says “it doesn’t’ matter what my child died from, just not having my son here still hurts all the same.” Tanzie was also in attendance at the Atlanta AIDS Walk & 5k Run event where she signed one of the AIDS Quilt.

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Sal Gangi, College Park Fire Fighter (c) 2013

College Park Fire fighter, Sal Gangi explains the effects of HIV/AIDS and how they handle a call with an infected person.  However, he also reminds us that “it doesn’t matter who people are or whether or not they have HIV/AIDS, everyone is treated fairly and we are here for the people” says Gangi. Gangi’s reputation precedes him for the concern he has for human life  as a professional and simply as a human being.  One great example of that is from a mother of a dying child, Tanzie Rena, who remembers Gangi vividly because of the compassion he displayed to her son during his extreme weak & fragile state two weeks prior to his death.

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Tanzie Rena and Fire Fighter Sal Gangi

According to Tanzie Rena, Sal Gangi was one of the first responders who arrived at her house on an emergency call when her son fell ill from his sickness just two weeks prior to his death.“I remember this fire fighter because of the compassion he showed my son in his sufferings. I remember Mr. Gangi talking to my son the entire time to keep his focus on him and not his circumstance; even talking to him about living in New York City.”  “That stood out to me because he was so kind to my son and  it meant the world to me because no mother wants to see their child suffering”.  I will never forget him for for his kindness” says Tanzie.

College Park Ga. Fire Station (C) 2013

College Park Ga. Fire Station (C) 2013

The Names Project Foundation is Another participant of the event, they’re a non-profit organization and has been around since 1987, and has charge over the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

The Creation of the AIDS Memorial Quilt Being Made on the Spot at the AIDS Walk Event (C) 2013

The the AIDS Memorial Quilt Being Made on the Spot by Director of Programs, Jada Harris  (C) 2013 Piedmont Park

“The purpose of the quilt is to memorialize the victims of AIDS who has passed on and to help remind people of the seriousness of the disease” says Jada Harris.  According to The Names Project “The Quilt was conceived in November of 1985 by long-time San Francisco gay rights activist Cleve Jones.  Since the 1978 assassinations of gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone, Jones had helped organize the annuandlelight march honoring these men.  At the end of the march, Jones and others stood on ladders taping these placards to the walls of the San Francisco Federal Building. The wall of names looked like a patchwork quilt.”  After seeing the wall, Jones and friends were inspired to create a larger memorial in memory of his friend Marvin Feldman, which was the inspiration for the quilts first patch a year later.

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The Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Family

 

 

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Donations for AIDS (c) 2013

 

Prevention is the Best Protection

CarolineTolbert, The wife of Gospel Recording artist, Terrell Tolbert of Atlanta Ga. briefly discusses how the family has to deal with the heartache and trials of losing not just one, but two loved ones to the devastating Disease of HIV/AIDS.  According to Mitchell both brother and sister died of the AIDS virus in the same year of 1989, just months apart.  When a family member becomes sick or even dies everyone suffers, very rarely does it happen to two members of the same immediate family at the same time, which is a double impact.  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention “African Americans are the racial ethnic group most affected by HIV in the United States.”

 

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(c) 2013 Photo taken at Caroline’s home by D. Garvin

In 2010 an estimated 44% of all new HIV infections cases among adults and adolescents were African Americans, and although African Americans only represent a small percentage 12%-14% of the country’s population, African Americans account for a higher proportion of HIV infections at every stage of the disease. This epidemic has been increasingly growing, HIV is commonly transmitted through anal, vaginal sex or sharing needles with an infected person.  So, the question would be what is being done to address these concerns and where are they in the curing of the disease?

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Sewing a quilt to leave a part of you behind after gone from AIDS (C) 2013

There has been recent talk of a cure for HIV/AIDS in some patients, however they are still In the research phase, however there is more room for the hope for a cure today, then ever before.  Just as Caroline has mentioned about certain men not wanting to wear protection, until a cure is found be sure to protect yourself at all times.

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AIDS Walk Sign (c) 2013

 

 

Leonard Beaty

Leonard’s Story 2 from Dawn on Vimeo.

 Beaty Spreads the Gospel, Showcase New Talent and Inspires the Students Through Music

Leonard Beaty was born and raised in Rochester NY, in a strict single family home.   He was the third of four siblings.  Music has always been a part of his life.  He spent his whole life in church and his mother played drums and his uncle Andrew Beaty was a national recording gospel artist, formerly in a group called the chronicles, which was the beginning of his love for music.  A home filled with the sound of music set the tone for Beaty’s passion and love for music.  Beaty says when he was a young boy, he asked his godmother to buy him a keyboard and he promised he would always be obedient.  It was that first piece of instrument that started him on his path as a musician.

Leonard Beaty, captured in the back room of Elizabeth Baptist Church as he awaits performance time  (c) 2013  Photo by D. Garvin

Leonard Beaty, captured in the back room of Elizabeth Baptist Church as he awaits performance time
(c) 2013 Photo by D. Garvin

The lost of Beaty’s  grandmother put him in a state of depression. For the first time Beaty put away the keyboard that brought him so much joy. But, time away from playing brought on even more sadness, so Beaty decided to pick up his keys again and began playing.  According to Beaty he “felt a change in his spirit and began playing a new songs.”  Beaty never put the keys down again and began playing in churches as a young boy, as he got older he decided to invest in his own professional keyboard and never put it down again.

 

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Beaty Directs the Music at church (c) 2013

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Elizabeth Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga. (c) 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Record Company Offers Free Classes to Area Teens

James Barlow, also Known to the community as JB.  Barlow has been an Audio Visual Technician for over 25 years.  His role as an Audio Visual Technician has allowed him the opportunity to see and travel the country on many occasions.  Throughout his travels he has met many people in the field and has formed great business relationships/partnerships.

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With the numerous years of AV experience and travel opportunities under his belt, Barlow decided to share his gifts and talents with the youths of Georgia.  Five years ago, Barlow came up with the brilliant idea to form a youth development workshop program that will offer opportunity to students to gain positive influence and pull out creativity, as well as instill leadership skills by teaching team work, job readiness, life skills, audio visual technical skills and the arts. Today this program has come to fruition and is currently located at The West End performing arts center, the name of the program is called Art @ Work.

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Barlow understands the importance of mentoring and how meaningful engagement in arts and education can have a life-changing impact on a youth’s life; while at the same time having a positive benefit to not only the teens, but the organization and the community as a whole. Barlow says “Growing up, I never had a mentor to show me what to do or how to do it. I pretty much had to figure it out on my own.”  As an adult I realize the importance of mentoring and decided to give back to my community by allowing the youth to see the opportunities that lie ahead; opportunities that will help them to be successful in the world of audio visual and the arts.  One of Barlow’s favorite sayings “In order to seize the opportunity, you must to see the opportunity.”

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According to Barlow, some of the business relationships include Wade Jones and L.A. Jackson.  Jones and Jackson are business partners with the Peach City Record label and L.A. Jackson  who’s also the author of his newly released book, Musicology 2101 joined forces to help support Barlow’s dream to teach and support the youth by offering their time, talent and expertise.

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Independent Talent Come Together To Introduce Angelic Singz To The Atlanta Trance Dance Music Scene

Angelic Singz 3 from Dawn on Vimeo.

Angelic Singz, another one of Atlanta’s independent talent working her way into the music Industry debuting her first single called Atl Pretty Girls. Although this is Angelic’s first song to be released under nuqis music.  According to her producer, Angelic is no stranger to music and she also has a background of opera singing under her belt.  She performed at the 2013 Black History Month Parade in Atlanta, and is now being groomed to create an image for mainstream music. Angelic is realizing that it takes more than just pretty voice to make it in this industry, but a recognizable image necessary. The look for the cover of the Atl Pretty Girl Remix was implemented by Ward, however the style was a creation of Angelic, the image was the driving force of nuqis music and the creative eye was for the photos was from A. LO Photography. The overall collaboration from the three helped to pull together a great look and image for Angelic and  the C D cover for Atl Pretty Girls remix.

Herman Ward fondly known to his peers as Kat, is a local producer who has come a long way in the years of working in the music industry. Ward has worked his way up from production technician on tours ranging from Neyo to Usher and Janet Jackson to Limp Bizkit, just to name a few. He’s has produced music ranging from Hip Hop, rock and funk. He say’s “the mixture of genres is the formula he uses to create his style of dance music for nuqis music.  Nuqis Music and Angelic joined forces in collaboration for the Song Atl Pretty girls, which he says is the “Anthem for the pretty girls of Georgia.”

Arioel Lopez, also known as A. LO, is a man of many talents, he’s not only a successful photographer with a creative eye, but is also a popular online radio host for independent artist called B100radio.com. A. LO also understands the importance of image from a perspective of both a photographer and a host for independent artists. He was hired to incorporate his skills and expertise to help make the vision come alive.

Wednesday Wind Down, Atlanta’s Free Annual Concert Series at Centennial Olympic Park

2013 Wind Down Wednesday at Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta Ga from Dawn on Vimeo.

Wednesday Wind down has been a fun filled summer event held from the month of May-September for the past 15yrs years at Centennial Olympic Park. This event brings together up to 1500 people annually to enjoy the music that fills the atmosphere every Wednesday evening.  This week featured band is “The 6:30 band” with lead Singers Josh Bias and Angelica Tucker.

Centennial Olympic Park began hosting events sometime after the completion of renovation for the Olympic Games in 1996. There are several Atlanta Landmarks that surrounds the park including, Georgia World Congress CenterGeorgia DomePhilips Arena, CNN Center, Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.  According to Centennial Park, it sponsors “community-wide free events, including the Fourth of July Celebration, Wednesday Wind Down concert series and Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days. The Park also hosts festivals, fundraisers and private events.” These events plus daily traffic brings an estimated three million visitors through the park.

The City of Atlanta hosts & sponsors of the event are Nature Care, Valley Crest, TruGreen, Airtran, and WAOK & 104.7 Radio Stations.  A host of other sponsors throughout the years have brought the best in music and live entertainment, from both local and national Bands including Blues, funk, R&B, jazz and more.  This week’s show featured performance was from the 630 band.  Be on the look out for even greater performances and more fun in the sun in the years to come.

L. A. Jackson Celebrates The First Release of His Seven Volume Book “Musicology 2101”

LA Jackson 091413 2 from Dawn on Vimeo.

On September 14, 2013, Friends, family and music Industry players come together in support of L.A Jackson for his newly released book Musicology 2101 at his book signing party, the book was released earlier this year.  The event was held in Riverdale, Ga. a popular south side spot called Blitz Sports Bar & Grill. Also in attendance was Wade Jones, business partner/Co-Founder of the Peach City Record label. Jones and Jackson have formed not only a great business/partnership, but they’ve also formed a great friendship in the process, as Jones speaks highly of Jackson and shows strong support of  his book.

The book signing also included a sneak peek of a few of the artists on his Exposer 3, CD.  Artists include, Warren J. Gallimore, Kimosha Letoi, Lion Tafari, Elliot Holden, Doja and last but not least, Young Steve released through L.A Jackson’s own MKM Multi-Media Works Entertainment.  The book signing was also an opportunity to introduce a few of the artists that’s a part of the MKM Entertainment Company. It was a great turn out, lots of  fun, food, music and great performances, enough to satisfy the senses. To find out more information about what L.A Jackson, the artists on the compilation Exposer CD and“Peach City Records” are up to, check out his Facebook page.

Stone Mountain’s 2013 Yellow Daisy Festival: One of America’s Favorite Arts and Crafts Festival

Yellow Daisy Festival from Dawn Garvin on Vimeo.

Georgia hosts its 45th annual Yellow Daisy Arts & Crafts Festival at Stone Mountain Park. It features over 400 artists from all over the country. The festival is held annually during the month of September to celebrate the blooming of the Confederate Yellow Daisy. The confederate yellow daisy was discovered in 1846 on Stone Mountain, by Rev. Thomas Porter. In the fall the “extremely rare Confederate Yellow Daisy (the Helianthus Porteri) appear on the mountain, growing in the cracks and crevices of the rock, which are located in its natural habitat along the hiking trails on the mountain at the park.

The event started as a small arts and crafts show for the families and friends in the community, including shopping, live entertainment, and lots of good food. Over the years the event has grown tremendously into a four day event with artist from all over the country. The event continues to grow annually, yet maintaining a small town feel and family friendly atmosphere. Thousands of people attend the festival annually to experience the arts, crafts, music, trails, good food and fun.

Vendors display their crafts to the thousands of attendees annually, things such as pottery, basket-weaving, map-making, photography, wood carving, and a variety of art. According to Stone Mountain Park Events “The Daisy Festival was voted one of the top three arts & crafts shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, a Southeast Tourism Society,  Top 20 Event and winner of multiple awards by the Southeast Festival and Events Association.”

Andrew Gunn Brings The Music To The Streets of Atlanta At The 2013 Dragon Con Event

20130830 Dragoncon2 dg from Dawn on Vimeo.

Andrew Gunn, a traveling street musician who sings and plays guitar on the road. Gunn is straight out of Massachusetts, making his latest stop all the way in Atlanta Georgia for one of the largest multi-media popular culture conventions that “focuses on science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art music film and the universe” known as Dragon Con.  Gunn found a great location in downtown Atlanta, where thousands of people were for the event. Gunn says he will make his next stop in Florida as he continues his musical journey playing where the spirit leads.  He says jokingly that he will head south for the winter, however south is the direction he will be heading.  Gunn, moves around frequently on a budget, resting in different locations and as he puts it, sofa surfing.  Be on the lookout for Andrew, as he may be seen in a city near you.