Continuing Conversation: December
Renewing the discussion about the Netflix series “High on the Hog” and also the upcoming holiday season
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
7:00-8:30 pm
By popular demand, we will continue the conversation begun in September that was sparked by the fabulous Netflix series “High on the Hog”. The high impact of African-American cuisine on our social and cultural experiences clearly resonated with our group and prompted mutual sharing about the significance of food and cooking in our own traditions.
Early December seems the perfect time to renew the conversation—while Thanksgiving is still fresh in our minds and as we are prepare for the many winter holidays that ring out the year.
If you are inclined to prepare for the Conversation:
Watch the four-part series High on the Hog https://www.netflix.com/title/81034518)
Enjoy this lively interview with Dr. Leni Sorensen, a food historian featured in the series https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/21/dining/leni-sorensen-food-scholar-historian.html?referringSource=articleShare
Read this great NYT article on the representation of African-American culinary traditions and contributions https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/dining/high-on-the-hog-netflix.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article
Please put this on your calendar and join us on December 7!
-Written by Donna Smythe
Holiday Volunteer Opportunities
Looking for places to volunteer this holiday season? Check out the links listed below.
The AFI Member Experience: Andrea Arena
Spending time with my AFI friend feeds my soul
By Andrea Arena
As busy professionals often do, we have been struggling with finding an opportunity to connect. Then, I got a text from my Atlanta Friendship Initiative friend indicating that she had an unexpected trip the next day. I quickly responded, “Meet me at Spondivits on the way to the airport.” After hugs and greetings, we settled into a booth, and she asked has I was doing. She quickly dismissed my claims that everything was fine with a shrug that translated to something like, “save that for someone else.” You see, we were complete strangers paired by The Atlanta Friendship Initiative and bound by our personal commitment to combat racism through genuine friendship. The charter was to meet regularly, engage our families and become real friends. And it worked. We focus on our similarities and explore the different lenses through which we view the world. We speak candidly about our struggles on all topics, including race, but most importantly we listen, we learn, and we fervently support one another. Ever had that type of connection with someone whose path you probably would never have crossed? You could. Apply for membership to the Atlanta Friendship Initiative today by completing the application at AtlantaFriendshipInitiative.org/Membership But you can’t have my friend. She’s taken!
You can find this article on her LinkedIn here.
Continuing Conversation: September
On June 29, a small klatsch of AFI friends launched the first-ever Continuing Conversation about Ava Duvernay’s phenomenal documentary, 13th, about the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Ably facilitated by Maria Foxhall and Donna Smythe, the small group format prompted a compelling, far-ranging discussion with opportunities for everyone to participate actively.
Enthusiasm runs high to create/sustain a forum to share what we are reading and watching on racial & social justice topics, so let’s keep the Continuing Conversation going:
Featuring: High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America
September 21
7:00-8:30 pm ET
Facilitators: Maria Foxhall and Donna Smythe
Small group format. Registration is limited to 22.
Watch the series (available on Netflix) and then join us for a lively conversation!
"Food, community, culture, resiliency. High On The Hog traces the moving story of a people's survival and triumph via the food that has knit generations together and helped define the American kitchen. From Gumbo to fried chicken, our culinary journey stretches from Africa to enslavement, to the Harlem Renaissance, up to our present-day; we celebrate the courage, artistry, and resourcefulness of the African American people. This is not just an African American story; it’s an American story. A feast for all the senses."
Interested? Check out the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wsEdxt1Ico
New Friends: August
Here’s the list of our new members who joined AFI in the month of August…
Karen Bass
Derrick Brown
Jarred Clark
Lisi Desai
Brian Harper
Ashton Harris
Deva Hirsh
Jeremy Moore
Gail Morales
Laura Murvartian
Gail Neder
Audrea Rease
Mollye Rhea
Chris Sizemore
David Tann
Jay Veal
Robin Washington
Lynette Wilson-Phillips
Events in Atlanta for July and August
If you’re looking for a great way to enjoy the rest of the summer months with your friend, here are some lists of things to do near you in July and August.
Events in July
https://gosouthatlanta.com/things-to-do/events/atlanta-in-july.html
Events in August
https://gosouthatlanta.com/things-to-do/events/atlanta-in-august.html
New Friends: June & July
Betsy Pickren Jeff Street
Angela Raub Melody Kelley
Beth Reese Tyese Lawyer
Lydia Medwin Robin Hindsman Stacia
Amy Dosik Wendy Hsiao
Meredith Hodges Rhonda Taylor
Karen Nolan Cynthia Logan
Gail Neder
Audrea Rease
Christopher Evans Roy Cummings
Tom Cook Jay Veal
Bill Courtright Robert Richardson
Alex Ostendorf Otis Threatt
Dan Rutz William Edwards
David Russ Kimberly Brown Sanders
Friends in the News May 2021
Otis Threatt
Helped lead the committee that hosted the 100 Black Men of Atlanta’s annual fundraising gala on May 13
Jeff Rosenzweig
Married former CNN anchor Natalie Allen
Bob Hope
Announced the merger of his firm, Hope-Beckham Inc., with GPR Global. GPR Managing Partner Gina Espinosa-Meltzer will become a partner with Hope-Beckham, succeeding the late Paul Beckham
John F. O’Neil III
President, Central Region for Cushman & Wakefield recently joined the Board of Trustees of Morehouse College
John Grant
Highlighted in the Atlanta Business Chronicle with the announcement of a 6-year extension of the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. The new agreement includes ESPN’s First Take crew broadcasting live for the first time ahead of a HBCU game.
Links for Covid-19 vaccines in Georgia
For more information on and to schedule your Covid-19 vaccination, visit https://myvaccinegeorgia.com/en/site/ALL or https://dph.georgia.gov/.
Friends in the News Jan - March 2021
Janine Musholt
Selected as new President of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation
Helene Lollis
President and CEO of Pathbuilders, was recognized as an honoree in the Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2020 Most Admired CEOs
Rev. Raphael Warnock
Elected new Senator for Georgia for the U.S. Senate
John O'Neill
President, Central Region, Cushman & Wakefield, was honored with the Corporate Diversity Champion recognition from the Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Awards
Chris Womack
New President of Georgia Power. He will assume additional responsibilities as Chairman and CEO in April 2021
Goodwill of North Georgia, led by President & CEO Keith Parker
Received the Outstanding Diversity in an Organization in the Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Awards
Doug Hooker, Milton Little,Valerie Montgomery Rice, and T. Dallas Smith
Named to GeorgiaTrend's 2021 100 Most Influential Georgians
GATHER WITH FRIENDS (SAFELY) March 2021
Out of Hand Theater
Out of Hand Theater, in partnership with The King Center, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Atlanta Public Schools, and the United Way) is looking for Equitable Dinners Volunteers. This is a great opportunity for AFI Friends to volunteer virtually together! For more information, visit http://www.outofhandtheater.com/equitable-dinners
Whitehall Terrace
Whitehall Terrace is a community garden committed to providing food to the food insecure. Volunteers are needed to help with weeding, watering, picture taking, mowing, planting, litter pick up, harvesting, and more! Visit https://volunteer.handsonatlanta.org/opportunity/a0C1H00001tuRIbUAMto sign up.
Know of an opportunity for friends to gather? Please share with us at atlantafriendship@gmail.com.
Profile: Amanda Gorman
from poets.org
Amanda Gorman was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Harvard University in 2020.She is the author of the poetry collection The Hill We Climb (Viking, September 2021) and The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough (Penmanship Books, 2015).
In 2017 Gorman was named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. She previously served as the youth poet laureate of Los Angeles, and she is the founder and executive director of One Pen One Page, an organization providing free creative writing programs for underserved youth.
Gorman was selected by President Biden to read an original poem for his Inauguration on January 20, 2021, making her the youngest poet to have served in this role. Enjoy her performance from the Presidential Inauguration again by visiting this LINK.
AFI Co-founders Interviewed on Conversations with David Lewis on AM 1690
Listen to the full interview here.
Buisness leaders launch Atlanta Friendship Initiative
Read the article published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle here.