How would you describe the concept of Food Is Medicine? “It should be our first line of defense. What we put into our bodies is so important as far as nutrition and nourishment. The concept of Food Is Medicine is around that — just putting the right things, like fresh fruits and vegetables, into your body. Nothing that’s processed, no GMOs, so there’s no chemicals — things that are not good for...
What are the odds that a part of Uptown will be designated by the city as an ‘entertainment’ zone and allows open-containers of alcoholic beverages?“That was something that was being actively investigated prior to COVID.Obviously, discussion got derailed. Once restrictions are lifted, we’ll examine the opportunity to carry beverages from one place to the next. There are communities that have done...
Executive Director, Historic Westville Was moving Westville from Stewart County to Columbus the right decision?“I think it was the right decision. I do. Although it was a very difficult decision, I certainly was not involved in that process at that time. As a native of Stewart County, I have complicated feelings about it, due to the development of Westville in Lumpkin and the amount of time...
Part 2 with the Producing Artistic Director of the Springer Opera House Read Part 1 here. How would you describe your response, and the response of your staff, to COVID? “It has not been easy. Fortunately, I have a staff of very smart, very innovative people.Just like everyone at the beginning, we didn’t know how long this was going to last. The idea was: Everybody was going to go home for...
Part 1 of 2 with the Producing Artistic Director of the Springer Opera House What qualities make for a great theater?“Of course, there is the excellence of the work itself.But one of the things I’ve learned over my career is authenticity in terms of leadership and direction of the organization, but also of service. It’s relatively easy, once you know how to do it, to do great plays and put great...
Real Estate Developer, Writer, Literary Philanthropist You have stated that, with the endowment that you established at Columbus State, your wish is to do for the literary arts what the university has done for visual arts and performing arts in recent years. How do you see that vision taking shape?“Actually, I was planning to do something like this half my life, once I could afford to do it...
What does International Holocaust Memorial Day every January mean to you and the congregation here at Temple Israel? “In the spring, within the Jewish world, there is an observance called Yom HaShoah, That is timed to coincide with the uprising at the Warsaw ghetto uprising. That’s mostly observed within the Jewish world, but World Holocaust Memorial Day makes everyone stop and think about their...
Executive Director, Chattahoochee River Conservancy What is the biggest threat to the health of the Columbus stretch of the Chattahoochee River?“The biggest threat we see on a regular basis is the litter. The amount of litter we pull from our trash traps as well as our watershed clean-ups — it’s just atrocious.Micro-plastics are becoming a problem as well. And smaller plastic pieces—fish, animals...
Chair, Friends of Ma RaineyCommunity Liaison, Muscogee County School District Is the legacy of Ma Rainey adequately preserved and presented here in Columbus, Georgia?“We’re getting there. We’re on a journey but I do think we’re getting there.We have the house here. The movie [Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom released on Netflix in December] helped.Ma Rainey is known probably all over the world better...
Executive Director, Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission Is Columbus, Georgia a beautiful place?“It is a beautiful place. But I think we could do a better job keeping it beautiful and making itmore clean. We have to make sure that we’re pushing things to keep people from littering and keeping our city clean. Because Columbus is a beautiful city.Littering is such a habit for people—to flick...