Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society announces May Family Support Meeting celebrating end of the school year and welcoming summer
The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society is thrilled to invite the public to its upcoming May Family Support Meeting on Thursday, May 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at 1525 Dean Forest Rd., Savannah, GA 31408, with attendees asked to use the side entrance labeled “100A” for access.
As the school year draws to a close and the warmth of summer approaches, LDSS is preparing to celebrate and welcome the opportunities that summer brings. The May meeting promises to be an engaging and informative event for families and caregivers in the community.
Attendees can anticipate an exciting lineup of guest speakers who will share valuable insights and information about summer programs and activities tailored for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. From recreational opportunities to educational programs, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of resources available to make the most out of the upcoming summer months.
The LDSS May Family Support Meeting offers a supportive environment for families to connect, share experiences, and access valuable resources. Whether attendees are seasoned members of the LDSS community or newcomers seeking support and information, all are welcome to participate in this enriching event.
Historic Savannah Foundation secures approval for the Kiah Museum on the Georgia Register of Historic Places
Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) – a leading nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to saving the buildings, places and stories that define Savannah’s past, present and future – recently secured approval for the Kiah Museum, located at 505 W. 36th St. in Savannah’s Cuyler-Brownville Historic District, to be added to the Georgia Register of Historic Places. HSF’s nomination of the former art museum, which offered free admission to all during the mid-20th century segregation era, was unanimously approved by the Georgia National Register Review Board on Friday, May 3.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that the Kiah Museum has earned a well-deserved place on the Georgia Register of Historic Places,” said Historic Savannah Foundation CEO and President Sue Adler. “In the coming months, we will pursue the property’s inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places and will continue to highlight the Kiah Museum’s historical significance as one of the South’s first Black-owned museums.”
After sitting vacant following Virginia Kiah’s death in 2001 and more than two decades in probate, the Kiah Museum was acquired by the Historic Savannah Foundation as part of HSF’s Revolving Fund, which raises private money to purchase endangered historic properties, sells them to preservation-minded buyers and repeats the cycle. This historic structure, which was included on the Georgia Trust’s 2021 list of “Places in Peril,” is currently being restored by the Galvan Foundation in partnership with the City of Savannah and the African Diaspora Museology Institute. The goal is to re-open the Kiah Museum as a house museum and community space following renovations that are set to begin in Fall 2024.
Sarah Ward and Becki Harkness of Ward Architecture + Preservation in Savannah, Ga., worked with HSF to prepare the nomination and will continue to help the nonprofit ensure the preservation, protection and recognition of this important piece of Savannah’s history.
“It’s been such a rewarding experience working with the Historic Savannah Foundation to nominate this historic property and to uncover the remarkable history of the Kiah Museum,” said Ward, CEO and Preservation Principal at Ward Architecture + Preservation. “We can’t wait to see this property restored and open to the public, just as Virginia Kiah originally intended.”
Virginia Jackson Kiah was an artist, educator and Civil Rights activist who made a lasting impact in Savannah when, after facing barriers to museum entry during segregation, she and her husband Dr. Calvin Kiah, a former Dean of Education at Savannah State College, opened their own home as a museum in 1959, creating a space for Black artists.
In honor of Preservation Month, Ward and Harkness will discuss the process of nominating the Kiah Museum to the National Register of Historic Places and will share the challenges they overcame during the process of researching and preparing the state nomination. The lecture, which is part of the 2024 HSF Lecture Series, “People, Places and Stories That Define Savannah,” will take place on Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. at HSF’s headquarters, located at 321 E. York St.
Historic Savannah Foundation’s 2024 Lecture Series is open to the public. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited. Attendance is free for Historic Savannah Foundation members and $15 for non-members. Members and non-members may RSVP by emailing Kendall Graham at kgraham@myhsf.org or calling 912-233-7787, ext. 109.
Ossabaw Outtakes by Joy Dunigan & Peter E. Roberts opens May 18
Through the creative and bold work of Joy Dunigan and Peter E. Roberts in Ossabaw Outtakes, we gain new perspectives on Georgia’s first heritage preserve, Ossabaw Island. A place that possesses an inherent magic needs little embellishment in its depictions, however both artists have collectively given us fresh interpretations incorporating rich colors and textures, that pulsate.
In addition to both having a lengthy relationship with the island, their shared backgrounds in the trades of illustration, media, and design are pronounced in these works. In the artist’s collaborative effort, they both unknowingly gravitated towards the popular colorways of the late 70’s and early 80’s – a roller disco nod to the era in which the Genesis Project, an artist residency on Ossabaw Island, was facilitated by the late Sandy Torrey-West.
Dunigan mined an archive of photographic images taken over the last 14 years, here we see a few of her ‘greatest hits’ and the ‘deep cuts’. These are moments, time indefinite, captured in her curious explorations that reveal Sandy’s narrative of her carefully shared island. Dunigan’s illumination of the images with saturated earth tones and astrobrights makes it easy to feel the peculiar current of energy that the island induces when you set foot on its ground. She has expertly applied the design-savvy technique of beautifully balanced duotones and alternating defined fields of color that transform the traditional photograph into chic mixed media works that come alive and unite.
The self-described serial artist, Roberts has created sharp and inventive interpretations of Ossabaw. Roberts’ outtakes are a departure from the aesthetic we are familiar with when we think of depictions of our coastlines. Focused on icons of an ecosystem, Roberts lends his brand of pop retro magic to the island’s wildlife, undulating alligators, horseshoe crabs, visually moving forward and backward. His play on terms of group nouns as inspiration bears the hallmark of his distinctive wit and humor that inspires the viewer to pause and muse. Brilliantly, these works communicate the distinctive and smart correlation between the image and the literal word.
Both artists created 24 pieces for a total of 48 new works.
Show opens Saturday, May 18 from 4-7 p.m. at 251 Bull Street at Corcoran Austin Hill Realty. Gallery profits from run of show are donated to Ossabaw Island Foundation.
Loop It Up gets $50,000 from Genesis Inspiration Foundation
Funds will help support nonprofit’s arts-integrated programs and operations
Loop It Up Savannah received a big boost recently thanks to a grant from the Genesis Inspiration Foundation.
The local arts-integrated education nonprofit was awarded $50,000 from the Genesis Inspiration Foundation, a nonprofit supported by Genesis Motor America, part of Hyundai Motor Group. The award was announced during a check presentation Friday, May 3 at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum.
“We are truly honored and grateful to receive such a generous grant from the Genesis Inspiration Foundation,” said Molly Lieberman, founder and executive director of Loop It Up Savannah. “This grant will support Loop It Up’s core programs as we continue to build our capacity – both deepening and expanding Loop It Up’s reach.
“The Genesis Inspiration Foundation shares our love for the positive impact of the arts in the lives of young people,” Lieberman said. “We are excited to put this resource to great use as we continue to bring art and creativity into schools and early learning centers throughout our community.”
With a mission to improve educational outcomes by providing access to arts programs that engage and inspire children in under-resourced communities, the Genesis Inspiration Foundation has donated nearly $10 million to youth arts programming nationwide since its inception in 2018.
“Genesis Inspiration Foundation is dedicated to empowering young people across the nation to discover the profound impact of the arts within their communities,” said John Guastaferro, executive director of the Genesis Inspiration Foundation. “We are honored to support Loop It Up Savannah in our joint effort to broaden access to youth arts education, foster creativity and open doors to a world of possibilities.”
Loop It Up Savannah is a youth arts and enrichment organization that brings creative educational programming to more than 10,000 children across Chatham County and beyond each year through partnerships with public schools, community centers, museums, and other nonprofits. Loop It Up is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been serving the community since 2008. For more information, visit loopitupsavannah.com.
Coastal Heritage Society announces appointment of new Development Director
Coastal Heritage Society (CHS) announces the appointment of Tourea Robinson as the local nonprofit organizations’ new Development Director.
With over 20 years of experience in advancement, development, and fundraising across corporate, non-profit, and higher education sectors, Robinson is an accomplished development professional. She has successfully led and executed multiple comprehensive fundraising campaigns, generating over $50 million during her career. In prior roles as Director of Development and Director of Donor Relations, she has demonstrated excellent strategic planning, marketing, fund development, and governmental relations expertise.
Robinson is an exceptional advancement and development leader, with a proven track record of managing multi-million-dollar campaigns at community non-profits and higher education institutions. Her recent experience includes serving as Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Development, Marketing & Communications at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as Director of Development at Clay County Senior Services of Aging True in Northeast Florida. She has also held development roles at the
Ritz Chamber Music Society, Jacksonville Symphony, Savannah State University, and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) Foundation, where she managed a $32 million scholarship endowment and played a principal role in the college’s successful $7 million capital scholarship campaign.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tourea Robinson to the team as our new Development Director. She brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective that I am confident will help continue our organization’s growth and success to benefit the programs of all six of our museums,” said Nora Lee, CEO of CHS.
Robinson is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Savannah State University and her master’s in business administration with a public administration concentration from the University of Phoenix. She is a former President of the First Coast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), a National Association of African American Women in Leadership (NAAWLI) fellow, an Eta Cohort fellow of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (HELF), and a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
The mission of Coastal Heritage Society is to provide educational experiences for the public through the preservation and presentation of the historic resources of coastal Georgia and adjacent regions. Coastal Heritage Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation founded in 1975 which operates six historic museums. For more information about CHS, please visit chsgeorgia.org.
The Home Depot Foundation updated and upgraded tiny home village aimed at combating homelessness
On Thursday, May 9, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., The Home Depot Foundation, Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH) and 365 Connect teamed up to upgrade the CSAH’s Cove at Dundee, Veterans Tiny House community and new Dundee Cottages. More than 300 volunteers updated 68 tiny homes and enhanced the entire community, which serves veterans, families and children combatting homelessness.
The Cove at Dundee is recognized as one of the most successful veteran tiny home communities in the nation and is dedicated to breaking the cycle of veteran homelessness. The Tiny House Project provides a ‘housing first” environment that offers additional resources including an onsite clinic, community meeting space, laundry facilities, outdoor garden and walking path and more to support each resident’s journey towards healing, hope, renewed confidence and increased self-sufficiency. Dundee Cottages, adjacent to the Cove, is a 40-unit cottage style community with a resident service center, laundry, computer lab, counseling offices and community meeting space. Once completed, this new neighborhood will provide affordable homes for families and individuals exiting the trauma of their homeless experience.
On May 9, Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, led a large team of volunteers as they landscaped the property, painted home exteriors, built outdoor furniture for each home, assembled shade structures, created gathering areas, planted fruit trees and installed custom raised garden beds. Team Depot also built a new playground for the community’s children. These projects help provide valuable property enhancements and create a comfortable space for residents to gather and heal as they put homelessness behind them.
Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot, as more than 35,000 of the company’s associates are veterans or military spouses. Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested $500 million in veteran causes and helped renovate and enhance more than 60,000 veteran homes and facilities, ensuring more of our nation’s heroes have a safe, comfortable place to call home that fits their individual needs.
Lowcountry Down Syndrome announces Five Champions
The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society hosted its 15th annual Night of Champions & Hiring Expo on Friday, May 3 at the Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island. The Night of Champions event honored local businesses that employ differently-abled adults, including those with Down syndrome, and celebrated the invaluable contributions made by these remarkable individuals.
This year’s Champions are:
Lainey Bogardus: Michael’s Craft Store
A Champion is someone who takes on challenges and conquers obstacles. You will see that Lainey Bogardus does just that at Michael’s Craft Store where she has been working for over a year. She has mastered every task she has been asked to do. She comes to work on time and has a ready to get to work attitude. She has learned the inventory processes on the computer and the team relies on her accuracy to keep the inventory up to date. Lainey has also learned where all of the products are located in the store and can take customers right where they need to go. Lainey is the true definition of a Champion and is a very valuable asset to the store.
Darren Fuller: Butler Elementary School
Darren has been working at Butler Elementary School since 1991 and has definitely made his mark in the Cafeteria as a Food Service Worker. He will proudly tell you that he has not missed a day of work in all 20+ years of his employment. Darren helps to stock items, cleans after each dining time, and helps to serve healthy meals to the children. Darren’s lovely smile and superior customer service have created a wonderful environment at the school. His enthusiasm has established him as a true Champion and as a favorite with teachers, staff, and students alike!
Shelby Vanarsdale: Effingham Commissioner’s Office
A true Champion leads the way and makes a difference. Shelby exemplifies this spirit. Since July 2018, she has been a vital part of the Effingham County Board of Commissioners Office. While she began in the mail room, Shelby’s ambition and drive quickly outgrew that role. Recognizing her potential, she advocated for herself, leading to significant benefits for the Commissioner’s Office. Today, Shelby is the welcoming face of the Developmental Service Department. Beyond her professional duties, she dedicates her time to serving on the Board of the Effingham County Navigator’s Team and volunteering at Ship It, a pack-and-ship mailing service in Springfield.
Carey Moss: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
For a decade, Carey has been an employee at Gulfstream. He began his career on the production floor and now serves in the Customer Support Distribution Center. Known for his unwavering positivity and dedication, Carey uplifts his team with every task he undertakes. His ability to forge lasting connections and meaningful relationships among coworkers is commendable. With a constant positive attitude, Carey approaches each day with enthusiasm,ready to excel in his role and enhance the efficiency of the distribution center. Recognized for his style and charm, Carey’s deliveries are always accompanied by a radiant smile, solidifying his status as a highly esteemed member of the team and a true Champion.
Brian Walker: Publix Whitemarsh Island
Brian has been affectionately called “Buddy” by the customers and employees at Publix Whitemarsh Island for over 10 years! He loves his job and does exceptionally great work. You will always be greeted with a smile from Brian. He started as a courtesy clerk, but has worked hard to move into positions of cashier, bakery assistant and produce assistant when the opportunities arise. He never complains and is always willing and ready to help out in any way he can. Brian is definitely our Champion at Publix!
Bill Grainger: Owner, Grainger family of dealerships
In the realm of faith, the principles of time, talent, and treasure hold significant meaning. It’s a rarity to find an individual who embodies all three with such profound impact, but Bill Grainger is one such exceptional person. He dedicates time to personally connect with each of his employees, regardless of their abilities. His talent shines through his mastery of the car sales process, evident in his inclusive approach towards individuals with special needs. Bill’s generosity extends beyond words, as seen in his substantial financial contributions, including the remarkable donation of a brand-new 2024 automobile. Through his unwavering commitment, Bill exemplifies a vision of creating a better world for all people embodying the true spirit of community leadership.
“Our mission at LDSS extends far beyond a mere awards ceremony; it’s a platform for recognizing the incredible potential inherent in every individual,” stated LDSS President Joe Marchese.
The Hiring Expo featured companies offering job opportunities tailored to adults with diverse abilities. Night of Champions serves as a testament to the profound impact of embracing diversity in the workplace. Beyond showcasing success stories from esteemed businesses, attendees gain firsthand insight into the myriad benefits of inclusive hiring practices and the chance to connect with prospective employees.
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This article appears in Connect Savannah I Best of Savannah.
