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Leaders of the organizations building the Atlanta BeltLine park, trail and transit system have issued statements blasting “systemic racism and inequities” in the wake of protests over the death of George Floyd. The statements in part address criticism of the BeltLine’s own role in displacing minority communities, saying it must not become part of “infrastructural racism.”
The June 3 statements came from Clyde Higgs, CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc., and Rob Brawner, executive director of the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership. ABI is the group building and operating the BeltLine, while ABP is its fundraising arm that carries out such community missions as creating affordable housing.
The BeltLine is planned as a loop around central Atlanta, largely using old rail lines, and intended as a way to unify the city and boost economic opportunity. Several sections have been built, including around Atlanta Memorial Park, with another section in Buckhead recently entering the design stage. But the project has seen gentrification controversies in recent years. A failure to meet affordable housing goals in 2017 led to the departure of ABI’s previous CEO and caused Ryan Gravel, the urban planner who conceived the project, to resign from ABP’s board.
Higgs’ statement said ABI is “heartbroken over the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others.”
“While we are disheartened by the violence and devastation that we have witnessed in recent days, we understand the pain and frustration behind the protests,” Higgs wrote. “The outcries are not only a painful reminder of the generations of systemic racism, they are a call to action.
“We stand with advocates who are calling for an end to structural inequities and the creation of more equitable conditions in our communities. The BeltLine was envisioned as a beacon of light, a catalyst for hope, and a bridge between communities where barriers once stood,” he continued.
He said ABI will do better to listen to community needs.
“We will be intentional, work to build trust, and operate with empathy and concern for residents and businesses along the BeltLine who have felt isolated and marginalized,” Higgs wrote. “Our only option is to come together as one, respect each other, and reimagine a new reality where all lives are valued, and everyone thrives. Our future and our city depend on us coming together as One Atlanta.”
Brawner wrote that ABP is “deeply saddened by the murders of innocent black men and women and the systemic racism their deaths represent.”
“As a white man, I know I will never experience the daily discrimination black Americans face,” Brawner wrote. “I have not been subjected to generational oppression. I could too easily fall back into being the ‘white moderate’ Dr. King warned of in his ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ — the stumbling block preferring the absence of tension to the presence of justice. And that is not enough — not for me, not for my family, and not for any other white person.”
The BeltLine project, he wrote, will “focus on people.”
“Otherwise, our collective investments will simply perpetuate an ‘infrastructural racism’ where world class amenities are enjoyed by the privileged while communities of color are displaced,” he wrote. “We need to be better than that. We need to love our neighbors better than that.”
To read the full statements, see the BeltLine website here.
The post Leaders say Atlanta BeltLine must not become part of ‘infrastructural racism’ appeared first on Atlanta INtown Paper.
Mark Spain Real Estate—one of the fastest-growing private firms in America according to Inc. 5000—has expanded the size of its Stockbridge office from 2,400 square feet to more than 3,300 square feet. The larger real estate office, serving southern metro Atlanta, is now located at 827 Fairways Court, Suite 200. The office will open to agents the week of June 8, 2020. The new location is about a mile off Interstate 75 and is located near Eagle’s Landing Country Club.
“We are pleased with the growth we are experiencing in Henry County and the surrounding area,” states Chairman and CEO Mark Spain. “With the larger location and expanding sales team, we look forward to helping even more families in the region with their real estate needs.”
Mark Spain Real Estate serves communities in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, with plans to expand in 2020. The firm sold 142 percent more homes in 2019, compared to 2018. Additionally, the Mark Spain Georgia real estate team grew by 34 percent in 2019. The Stockbridge team is led by Director of Sales Sherron Lavender and currently has 16 agents, with a goal to nearly double the size of its team in the next few months.
Mark Spain Real Estate is seeking professional and self-motivated team members for all its locations. It has a proven system to make agents successful. There is no cold calling required and Mark Spain Real Estate provides booked appointments, covers marketing expenses and provides world-class training to help real estate agents succeed. Applicants must be willing to obtain a real estate license, if not already licensed. Visit www.joinmarkspain.com to apply to join this growing team.
“As we grow, we look forward to being the go-to resource for the communities we serve,” said Mark Spain Real Estate President John Makarewicz. “Our Guaranteed Offer program, for example, is a hassle-free way to sell a home without showings or open houses. We experienced a 628 percent increase in homes sold through our Guaranteed Offer in the metro Atlanta real estate market in 2019.”
Mark Spain Real Estate’s growth is not limited to the Atlanta market. This spring, it tripled the size of its Charlotte location and quadrupled its Raleigh office when it opened in new locations. Its 2019 gross sales exceeded $1 billion for the first time and the firm averaged 81 closings per week.
To learn more about Mark Spain Real Estate or the metro Atlanta residential real estate market, visit markspain.com or call toll free at 1-855-299-SOLD.
U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that 23 Georgia students nominated by his office will attend U.S. military service academies this fall.
“Being admitted to a military service academy is an extremely high honor,” said Senator Perdue. “Each of these students has demonstrated academic excellence, physical prowess, and the determination of a leader. More than that, they have demonstrated the moral and ethical values it takes to succeed in our armed services. I have no doubt they will rise to meet the challenges of our time. Congratulations to each of these students, as well as their families and mentors. I wish them the very best as they prepare to become leaders in the U.S. military.”
Members of Congress are tasked with nominating students to attend our nation’s military academies annually. Nominees who are then appointed to the academies are awarded full four-year scholarships that include tuition, books, room and board, and medical and dental care in exchange for military service upon graduation.
An additional student was accepted into the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Preparatory School, which does not require a congressional nomination.
The students are listed below:
U.S. Air Force Academy
Kathleen Geyer – Thomasville High School Scholars Academy, Thomasville
Jasmine Jacob – Forest Park High School, Morrow
Colby McRae – Upson-Lee High School, Thomaston
Vyvy Nguyen – Morrow High School, Morrow
Madigan Starr – Columbus High School, Midland
U.S. Naval Academy
Brian Bird – North Atlanta High School, Atlanta
Sarah Goins – Starr’s Mill High School, Fayetteville
Jacquelyn “Jackee” Gwynn – Brookwood High School, Snellville
Jennifer Harnage – Hilgrove High School, Marietta
Gavin Kim – Allatoona High School, Acworth
Luke King – Brookstone High School, Columbus
Dwight Kinney – Cherokee High School, Canton
Zachary “Zach” Quick – Newnan High School, Newnan
Elizabeth “Mae” Shippen – Pace Academy, Atlanta
Robert “Matthew” Peters – Cairo High School, Cairo
U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Jackson Filipowicz – Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, Alpharetta
Autumn “Gracee” Keaton – Haralson County High School, Temple
Kaitlin Palaian – Henry W. Grady High School, Atlanta
Jared Ryley – Wheeler High School, Marietta
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Meredith Buchanan – Veterans High School, Kathleen
Will LeFort – Westside High School, Augusta
William “Connor” Pitts – East Paulding High School, Dallas
David Rivera – Pickens High School, Ball Ground
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Preparatory School
ShaCameon Wilson – Albany State University, Albany
Frazier & Deeter, one of the nation’s fastest-growing accounting and advisory firms, announced today that it has been named as a member of the HITRUST Quality Subcommittee (the Subcommittee).
The HITRUST Quality Subcommittee comes as a part of the HITRUST CSF® Assessor Council, which is comprised of ten HITRUST Authorized External Assessors and one HITRUST executive, who represent a wide variety of organizations supporting the healthcare and public health sector.
The Quality Subcommittee, comprised of four firms, is focused on the consistency, integrity, and quality of the HITRUST Assurance Program.
“The Quality Subcommittee is strategically charged with ensuring HITRUST Assessors consistently achieve the levels of quality that are critical to HITRUST,” said Jeremy Huval, Chief Compliance Officer at HITRUST. “Frazier & Deeter’s appointment to the council was made due to their team’s years of HITRUST experience, motivation to provide thought leadership, and track record of quality.”
Andrew Hicks, Frazier & Deeter’s National HITRUST Practice Leader and Vice President of Risk Assurance, will serve as the representative on the Subcommittee. Hicks will be able to provide direct input on the assessment and certification program while sharing challenges and opportunities that he has encountered as a Certified HITRUST CSF Assessor.
“There are approximately 100 HITRUST Authorized External Assessors, of which, only four have been selected to participate in this important capacity,” said Hicks. “As a firm dedicated to customer quality and continuous improvement, we are honored to have been selected and will continue to positively influence the quality of the HITRUST Assurance Program.”
hroughout the response and the ongoing recovery to COVID-19, Anthem is proud to lead with our commitment to improving lives and communities, serving as a trusted partner and resource to consumers and care providers in the communities where we live and work. To that end, Anthem is providing $2.5 billion of financial assistance to ease the burden COVID-19 is placing on our affiliated health plans’ consumers and employer customers, care providers and nonprofit partners across the country. Anthem is addressing this crisis and delivering solutions to support individuals and communities with affordable, accessible care and lasting relief and recovery.
“At Anthem, we understand the important role we play in supporting recovery and care as we navigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19,” said Gail K. Boudreaux, President and CEO of Anthem. “Consumers, care providers and our local communities are all feeling the impact of the pandemic and the current social unrest. We are deeply committed to serve those who count on us as their healthcare partner, now more than ever. As our nation moves forward, we will continue to support the health and well-being of all those we serve, and help to create a better healthcare system.”
Supporting Those We Serve
Premium Credits. Delays to routine care and elective procedures, combined with shelter-in-place
orders across the country, resulted in lower volumes of healthcare claims for our affiliated health plans. As a result, Anthem affiliated health plans are supporting customers by providing a one- month premium credit to members enrolled in select Individual plans and fully insured employer customers ranging from 10-15 percent. In addition, individuals in stand-alone and group dental plans will also receive a 50 percent credit. Consumers and employer customers will receive the premium credit in July. Anthem’s health plan affiliates are also working with some employer groups on special payment arrangements as a bridge to continue to provide insurance for their employees during this difficult time.
Extending cost share waivers for COVID-19 treatment. Anthem’s health plan affiliates will continue to waive cost sharing for in-network COVID-19 related treatment for members enrolled in fully insured employer plans, Individual plans and Medicare Advantage plans through December 31, 2020. Self-insured employers who previously chose to adopt cost sharing waivers for treatment can choose to extend the waivers.
Anthem’s coordinated response efforts are focused on increasing access and coverage, adapting tools and policies to assist consumers and care providers, and leveraging data and advanced analytics to provide innovative solutions. Moreover, we are committed to addressing health challenges and inequities facing communities across the country. Details regarding the company’s actions to support customers, care providers and local communities during the pandemic include:
Extending access to coverage and waiving cost shares for virtual care. Until September 30, 2020, Anthem’s health plan affiliates will continue to allow expanded telehealth coverage, including some physical, occupational and speech therapy, and will continue to waive cost shares for in-network telehealth visits, including telephonic visits, for medical and mental health or substance abuse disorders, for fully insured employer plans, Individual plans, Medicare Advantage plans, group retiree plans and Medicaid plans, where permissible. This will also include waiving cost shares when utilizing TeleDentists®, an in-network provider with Anthem offering online and mobile-app enabled teledentistry solutions for dental care.
Addressing food insecurity and other needs for the most vulnerable. Anthem and its affiliated health plans are working with state partners to accelerate funds to care providers who treat the most vulnerable, particularly those with chronic conditions, behavioral health, and other special healthcare needs. Anthem’s health plan affiliates are also reaching out to Medicaid beneficiaries to facilitate connections with state and social services, helping newly eligible and at risk members enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Our health plan affiliates are directly contacting hundreds of thousands of Medicare Advantage and Medicaid consumers to make sure they have necessary medications on hand, their nutritional needs are being met and critical health needs are addressed during this time of social distancing and isolation.
Addressing health disparities. As we look to the future, Anthem will continue to make a difference in improving health across the nation, including addressing health disparities facing minority and underserved communities disproportionally impacted by this pandemic and other health inequities. Anthem is focused on empowering individuals to understand and take action on the health risks that affect them, including racial and ethnic risk factors, social drivers of health and pre-existing conditions. Through our efforts to collaborate with care providers, health advocates and community leaders we are working to address gaps in care and provide data and resources to effect positive health outcomes for members and communities at large.
Supporting Our Care Provider Partners
As the care provider community continues their work on the frontlines treating and caring for consumers, Anthem has continued to support care provider partners of its affiliate health plans and allow them to focus on caring for patients. Among the programs Anthem has implemented are:
Funding Support. Anthem is providing funding to support care providers’ telehealth capabilities, quality-based programs and PPE, and extending additional funding to provide critical support to targeted independent primary care physician organizations and multispecialty groups who are facing financial pressure during this crisis. Additionally, Anthem is actively working with care providers to accelerate claims processing for outstanding accounts receivables, resolving claims where possible and appropriate, as well as accelerating payments to support state specific Medicaid programs.
Dental PPE Credit. Understanding the costs associated with increased PPE utilization, Anthem will provide in-network dental providers a PPE Credit of $10 per patient, per visit, from June 15th through the end of August.
Suspending Prior Authorizations. Anthem is simplifying access to care by temporarily suspending prior authorization requirements for respiratory services and medical equipment critical to COVID- 19 treatment including Durable Medical Equipment such as oxygen supplies, respiratory devices, continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP devices, non-invasive ventilators, and multi-function ventilators.
Extending Existing Prior Authorizations. Anthem’s health plan affiliates are temporarily extending prior authorizations on elective inpatient and outpatient procedures, issued before May 30, 2020. This will allow more flexibility in scheduling these procedures.
Supporting Our Communities
With many individuals and families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis in a variety of ways, Anthem is committed to lifting-up our local communities through partnership and relief. Together with our philanthropic arm, the Anthem Foundation,
$2 million to local Boys and Girls Clubs supports virtual programming and helps distribute meals to children and families in need.
$1.8 million supports Feeding America and its network of food banks to serve neighbors in need across the country.
$1 million Annual Disaster Giving Program membership enables the American Red Cross to continue safely deliver its vital disaster services nationwide as communities face increasing impacts of the coronavirus in the U.S
$1 million contributed Rapid Response Loan Fund the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
businesses in Central Indiana.
More than $1.4 million dollars of personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, distributed to care providers, hospitals and food banks across the U.S.
$430,000 supports local United Way COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Funds.
$250,000 helps Americares and Direct Relief get medical resources get where they need to be. For example, the organizations have collectively committed and are working to distribute over 7.8M N95 masks to essential healthcare workers in the US since the COVID-19 outbreak began.-
The Gwinnett Chamber serves as the voice of business, large and small. There is strength in numbers. Because we represent more than 2,500 companies, we present a unified voice in matters of public policy that affect the business community and advocate on their behalf.
The Gwinnett Chamber believes in the importance of civic engagement and participation. While the Gwinnett Chamber does not endorse political candidates, we do encourage our members to educate themselves about the policy positions of candidates, and we are committed to provide information and resources about candidates so you are able to learn more about their priorities.
To read more about our voter information, candidate questionnaires and more, CLICK HERE.
Trillion Dollar Stimulus for Small Business is Smart
Small Business Needs Help A recent video by Jim Cramer says a lot about the economy and stock investment. What we’re gauging everyday is primarily big corporation earnings and outlooks,. This is blue chips and large caps of all kinds, but mostly the top 30 to 100 companies in capitalization and sales on the NASDAQ,…
Protesters march along Boulevard in the Old Fourth Ward on June 4.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Atlanta on Thursday, June 4, for one of the biggest displays of solidarity with George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Despite the number of protesters, the Atlanta Police Department reported just after 11 p.m. that it had only made six arrests the whole day – the lowest number since protests began on May 29.
Marches and demonstrations took place at The King Center, State Capitol, Piedmont Park, Old Fourth Ward, and once again at the central rallying point of Centennial Olympic Park, In one of the biggest marches, an estimated 2,000 marched from Ponce City Market down the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail.
Police have arrested more than 500 since protests began and a nighttime curfew remains in effect until sunrise on the morning of June 8.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields spoke and marched with protesters around Centennial Park, although not everyone was happy to see them. The National Guard’s use of tear gas and ongoing arrests of those defying the curfew have angered many protesters.
Bottoms said the National Guard would stay in place until the situation had stabilized after last Friday’s night of chaos that included looting, arson, vandalism and violence perpetrated what Shields and Bottoms have described as “agitators” and “disruptors.”
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