Truth Seekers Journal

GirlTREK: Walking a Lifestyle Change for Better Health

GirlTREK is a national movement empowering Black women to prioritize health through walking, fostering a sense of community and self-care, with over 1.3 million members and growing.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA – November 9, 2024

In a world where Black women face disproportionate health challenges, a movement is gaining momentum, offering not only a path to physical well-being but a sisterhood of support, empowerment, and life-changing habits. GirlTREK, founded in 2010 by T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, is quickly becoming a national force in the fight for better health among Black women, with over 1.3 million members and counting.

The statistics speak volumes

A 2022 survey conducted by GirlTREK reveals some of the profound impacts of their mission and work: 61% of Black women have lost weight, 90% report fewer symptoms of depression, 59% walk daily at life-saving levels, and 56% have sustained the habit of daily walking for over a year. For many, these numbers are more than just figures—they are a lifeline to a healthier, more fulfilled life.

Walking for Health, Walking for Life

GirlTREK was born from a simple idea shared by Dixon and Garrison, whose bond was strengthened by their mutual love for Tupac, Nikki Giovanni, and, yes, smothered pork chops. The idea was to create a walking group for Black women that would help improve physical health and foster a sense of community, resilience, and empowerment.

The group has grown into a powerful movement in just over a decade. In 2013, GirlTREK organized a landmark walk to honor Harriet Tubman on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with 15,000 participants.

GirlTreker – Tonya Flemons

By 2020, GirlTREK reached the monumental milestone of inspiring 1 million Black women to walk toward their healthiest, most fulfilled lives. Now, GirlTREK is on a mission to encourage even more women to take charge of their health through the simple act of walking.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, Black women in the U.S. are at higher risk for preventable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. “There are 20 million Black women in this country, and 82% are overweight—that’s 16 million women at greater risk,” the organization states on its website. According to GirlTREK, the solution is rooted in scientific research. They have specifically identified walking as a bridge to better health, walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

The health benefits of daily walking are well-documented. Research shows that it can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes by over 50% and lower depression by nearly 50%. For GirlTREK, walking is not just an exercise—it’s an act of self-care and, for Black women, self-preservation.

One Woman’s Goal

Tonya Flemons averages between 8,000 and 15,000 steps per day. She has launched an initiative to complete a 5K walk/run in fifty states. She has completed 5K’s in 8 states: Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, Kansas, Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia. Her most recent event was a 10K in Charleston, SC.

The Power of Sisterhood

One of the unique aspects of GirlTREK is its ability to minimize the isolation that often accompanies chronic illness and mental health struggles. The organization has created safe spaces for women to walk together, share their stories, and support one another on their journeys to better health.

Through initiatives like Sisterhood Saturday, a weekly walking series that draws hundreds of thousands of women, GirlTREK has cultivated a sense of camaraderie and partnership that extends beyond physical activity. Each Saturday, women nationwide gather in their neighborhoods to walk together, fostering a shared commitment to health and healing.

In addition to these weekly walks, GirlTREK hosts annual events such as the Black Family 5K, a, a post-Thanksgiving tradition that brings families together to celebrate health and community. To help members organize these events, GirlTREK offers downloadable toolkits with race templates, FAQs, and tips for making the walk memorable and impactful.

Education Through Movement

GirlTREK is also using innovative tools to further its mission of education and empowerment. One of its most successful initiatives, the Black History Bootcamp Podcast, launched in 2020, is a 21-day walking meditation series that blends physical activity with history and reflection. The podcast has been so well-received that it earned three prestigious Webby Awards in 2022 and 2023, including Best Live Podcast Recording and Best Podcast Series.

Another popular initiative, the Self-Care For Freedom Fighters Spring Challenge, launched annually on April 1, is a ten-week holistic wellness series designed to jump-start healthy habits and promote long-term well-being. Through these programs, GirlTREK helps women improve their physical health and provides the tools and support to transform their entire lifestyle.

A Bold Vision for the Future

As the most significant health movement and nonprofit organization focused on improving the health of Black women, GirlTREK is committed to addressing the health crisis facing this community. The organization’s ambitious goal is to increase the life expectancy of Black women by 10 years in 10 years—a mission that has already begun to bear fruit.

According to GirlTREK, “Walking is one of the most accessible and powerful tools for reversing the devastating impacts of chronic disease. “But it’s more than just about walking—it’s about reclaiming our health, our joy, and our lives.”

GirlTREK’s growth is a testament to the power of community, self-care, and resilience. With every step taken, they are helping to create a healthier, more empowered future for Black women across the nation. And the movement is just getting started.

For more information or to join the movement, visit GirlTREK.org.

Loretta Green, 89, Wears Her Poll Tax Certificate as a Badge of Perseverance

Loretta Green’s Story: At 89, Loretta Green has been voting since 1960 and has a poll tax exemption certificate, symbolizing her resilience in the fight for voting rights, which she continues to advocate for today.

By Milton Kirby – Atlanta, GA – November 6, 2024

At 89 years old, Loretta Green, originally from Mobile, Alabama, and now an Atlanta resident has been casting her ballot since 1960—and she has a poll tax exemption certificate to prove it. For Green, this certificate is more than a document; it’s a testament to the resilience of voting rights. She knocked on doors this Election Day, rallying support for Vice President Kamala Harris and encouraging registered voters to make their voices heard.

Green’s journey in voter advocacy spans decades, rooted in a history of discrimination and unyielding perseverance. After the Civil War and throughout Reconstruction, Southern states enacted laws designed to curtail the voting rights of newly freed Black citizens. Chief among these barriers was the poll tax—a fee that, though small, effectively barred countless Black and poor White citizens from the ballot box.

The tax, ranging from $1 to $2 (roughly $20 to $40 today), was required annually, and voters often had to show proof of past payments to remain eligible. This and other discriminatory tactics sought to undermine the Fifteenth Amendment’s promise of voting rights, carefully crafted to avoid federal intervention while systematically disenfranchising African Americans.

This unjust barrier persisted until the mid-20th century when the civil rights movement brought national attention to voting rights. Although the Supreme Court initially upheld poll taxes in Breedlove v. Suttles in 1937, the tide turned with ratifying the 24th Amendment in 1964, which abolished poll taxes in federal elections. Two years later, the Supreme Court further ruled in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections that poll taxes in all elections, state and local, were unconstitutional—ushering in an era of more inclusive democracy.

Ms. Green has attended countless voter rallies over the years, proudly displaying her poll tax exemption certificate as a reminder of past obstacles and the progress achieved. For Green, this certificate is a powerful symbol of the struggle and the triumph in the long fight for equal voting rights. She continues to inspire her community this Election Day, sharing her story as a reminder of the sacrifices made to secure the right to vote for all Americans.

November 5th – A Day of Change?

Election Day in the US: Voters across the country cast their ballots, with many expressing relief, optimism, and a sense of civic duty. For some, this election marks a personal milestone, such as voting for the first time.

By Milton Kirby – Atlanta, GA – November 5, 2024

As dawn broke on November 5th, voters across the United States began lining up to cast their ballots, eager to participate in what some see as a critical election for the future of the country. Polls opened at 7:00 a.m. and will close between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in various jurisdictions. In some areas, lines began to form well before 6:30 a.m., underscoring the commitment of many Americans to make their voices heard.

At the polling place located at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in South DeKalb County, Georgia, voters expressed various thoughts and emotions as they exited the voting booths.

Terrance Olive, a Rockdale County resident, cast his ballot on the first day of early voting. Today, he returned to the polling site to support his wife, who is working as a poll worker. Reflecting on the campaign season, Mr. Olive said he felt relieved that Election Day had finally arrived, as it marked the end of a relentless barrage of political advertisements. He expressed optimism about a smooth transition in leadership, confident that the country would avoid the heated discourse seen in 2020.

For 43-year-old Ja’Ron Clark, this election marks a personal milestone: his very first-time voting. His decision to participate came after persistent encouragement from his mother. Mr. Clark prepared for his vote by watching the recent presidential debate, eager to understand each candidate’s platform.

Learning about his family’s history, particularly discovering in his thirties that his grandmother had been a house-enslaved person, has profoundly impacted him, shaping his understanding of civic duty and motivating his participation.

Another voter, Konrad Crowder of Lithonia, Georgia, shared his perspective. An experienced voter in both local and national elections, Mr. Crowder expressed confidence in Vice President Harris, saying, “I tend to believe more in what Harris says and that she will stand by it.” He expressed doubts about the sincerity of former President Trump’s policies, voicing concerns that his focus seemed to benefit “his rich friends.” Crowder, like many others, found the voting process straightforward and efficient.

As the day continues, voters nationwide will cast their ballots, each vote contributing to a potential turning point in the country’s future. For many, November 5th is more than just a date on the calendar – it’s a day to make a change.

The Rise, Reign, and Rot of Black Confederates in the Era of Trumpism

Black Republicans, including Senator Tim Scott and Representative Burgess Owens, are criticized for their support of Trump and perceived betrayal of African American freedom-fighting ancestors.

By Lola “C.R.T.” Renegade

Critical Race Truths: #where-truth-is-never-a-theory

“Blacks who claim respectability and allow that mirage to keep them quiet and from being actors in the necessary drama needed to change an oppressive society are instruments of continued oppression.”

(Black Robes White Justice: Why Our Legal System Doesn’t Work for Blacks by Former New York Supreme Court Justice Bruce Wright).

In America’s neo-Nazi, hate-filled, and turbulent era of Trumpism, a wretched phenomenon has emerged—the rise of Black Confederates. These individuals, once on the periphery of American politics, have ascended to prominence within so-called Republican conservative circles, wielding influence and helping to shape the negative narratives of racists’ views of people of color. Their ascent from the fringes to the forefront has been fueled by self-loathing, distorting African American history for the comfort and appeasement of white racists, spreading countless lies, engaging in complicity, stirring controversy, embodying contradiction, descending into moral decay, displaying and embracing psycho-sociopathic behavior. The ultimate betrayal is to their African American freedom-fighting ancestors, who offered up the ultimate sacrifice—their lives—for people of color to have equal access to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and an essential seat at the table.

Truth be told, these race and truth traitors have always been among us, from the moment Africans were kidnapped from Africa and brought into America’s stolen land as enslaves. These defectors betrayed their fellow enslaves by disclosing to their white colonizing slave masters information of slave uprisings on plantations, leading to the assassination of those fearless Black souls seeking freedom. Art brings their characters to life, as is epitomized in the roles of Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson) in the movie “Django Unchained,” Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover) in the movie “Shooter,” and enslave catcher Bigger Long (Omar J. Dorsey) in the movie “Harriet.” Harriet Tubman knew their type well; she would threaten their lives when they wanted to abandon the Underground Railroad, taking them North to freedom and preferring a return to the plantations to live as slaves. She knew that once they left, they would hope to gain favor with their masters and give away the secret routes to freedom. Harriet was credited with stating, “I could have freed thousands more if only they knew they were slaves.”

Several months ago, race traitor and Black Confederate South Carolina’s U.S. Senator Tim Scott kneeled on one knee on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to propose to Mindy Noce (they have since married). Fortunately for him, the Confederate state of South Carolina legalized interracial marriage in November 1998, the last state in America to do so. Remember, they were the first state to secede from the Union and ignite the Civil War to preserve slavery by firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. At that moment, with him on bended knee, I envisioned the spirits of over 12 million kidnapped and enslaved Africans, along with the more than 2 million thrown overboard during the brutal Middle Passage journey, rising from their watery graves to confront him on his votes in the Senate against disenfranchised people of color, as well as his putrid fealty to America’s modern-day slave owner, former President Donald Trump, and America’s alt-Reich.

On their podcast, five Black instruments of continued oppression sat watching a video, enraptured by the rants of their mentally, morally, criminally deranged, draft dodging, truth arsonist, and felonious Svengali— Donald Trump (known as #45 (president) and also now as #34 (number of felony convictions from New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg). Their (including Trump’s) Dunning-Krueger effect is on full display. On their podcast, they have dubbed themselves “America’s Starting Five,” an assembly of politically treacherous and unconscionable Black Republican men, which include U.S. Senator Tim Scott (SC) and Representatives Burgess Owens (IA), Wesley Hunt (TX), John James (MI), and Byron Donalds (FL). It’s worth noting that Scott was one of the “no” votes for the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first African American woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. And Representative Burgess Owens just referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “the greatest example of DEI” (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Perhaps Owens will one day discuss how he moved from security guard and chimney sweeper to Congress. More than likely, the only requirements are to hate yourself and your race.

Side note: I have no problem with their interracial marriages or relationships; in fact, I fully support any way the Browning of America can be expedited. I simply believe it is more than a coincidence that all of their spouses and partners are white.

During one of the Starting Five’s podcast episodes, Scott, crowing and looking like a toxic rendition of Foghorn Leghorn, dismissively asked, “Who is Alvin Bragg anyway?” as if the Manhattan District Attorney is insignificant for daring to bring charges against their Big Daddy Trump. Timmy has selectively forgotten that it was DA Bragg who led the unanimous conviction of Trump on 34 felony charges by a jury of his peers. But what can one expect from someone with the spine of a wet noodle? Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley plucked him from the ass pockets of obscurity, appointed him as a United States senator, and made him a household name. He repaid her by not supporting her presidential bid and instead declaring his love and loyalty to the racist, mentally ill, and monosyllabic Trump—whose very existence leaps straight from the pages of the DSM, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Trump Ass Mints, anyone?

These historically feeble identical quintuplets’ goal is to find more Black voters to lead to the soulless promised land of their dysfunctional MAGA (Make America Grate Again) Republican Party. The present-day Republican Party is not the party of President Abraham Lincoln, who is credited with reluctantly freeing America’s enslaves, and it has not been that party since Lincoln’s assassination. Today, its MAGA faction is rife with neo-Nazi racists, misogynists, inequality, xenophobia, hypocrisy, historical revisionists, election deniers, misanthropes, pathological liars, massive greed, criminality, and corruption. This politically radioactive group is in lockstep with their maniacal mafioso, Trump, who is intent on again turning American democracy into his very own kleptocratic kakistocracy and the White House into an outhouse, despised by true democratic nations throughout the world. MAGA’s overuse of the word conservative is simply a euphemism for corrupt, greedy, women-hating neo-confederates.

The “starting five” and their accomplices are keeping plantation life alive as useful tools and sycophantic apologists to white neo-Nazis. Line them up, and they are easily recognized from their quintessential minstrel show as viewed in D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation and their guiding GPS doctrine written by the slave trainer, Willie Lynch. Offer them promises of slight acknowledgment, 30 pieces of silver, and the power to destroy their own race and top it off with a transactional white partner/spouse, and they will happily dance and grin for the benefit of their Hitleresque colonizing audiences into the afterlife.

I am a 67-year-old African American woman, a change agent for social justice, a pure patriot, and a dedicated super voter in Fulton County, Georgia. This is the same county where District Attorney Fani Willis has taken on the task of prosecuting the criminality of Donald Trump and his fake electors for attempting to undermine and overthrow our 2020 presidential election, effectively aiming to steal my vote, along with 11,779 other Georgians. One of the fake electors is now the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, Burt Jones. You can’t make this shit up! This movie plot has been played before; it’s been in syndication all of my life. As a little girl growing up in the still-Confederate state of Mississippi, I watched my parents repeatedly leave home to cast their votes, uncertain if their votes would be counted, thrown out, or if the polling place would be moved without notice upon their arrival.

The number of votes that the self-professed racist, sexual predator, obvious mental case, and misogynist Trump received in the elections of 2016 and 2020 convinced me that a solid 45 percent of Americans are stone-cold racists. It is beyond grotesque that any decent patriot would allow an unfit individual like Trump to be within miles of the White House. My radar for detecting racists is quite experienced and advanced. The first decent white person I met was Mrs. Campbell, my eighth-grade science teacher; this was around 1970, and the first year we were forced into school integration. Until my escape on the Overground Railroad (Greyhound Bus) after completing high school, I grew up in the Mississippi Delta, a state still mired in the legacy of the Confederacy and, for many African Americans, still wreaks of racism, poverty, and inequality.

I implore African Americans and other people of color to beware and not be fooled and fueled by these blatant shameless Negroaches and peddlers re-adopting second-class citizenship for Black and Brown people while they line their pockets, trading positions and wealth for our continuing inequality, injustice, and suffering. These Black confederates are exceedingly excited to drive their Trump MAGA motor coach through African American communities, sit in black barbershops and churches for white racists determined to identify low-information and unsuspecting black voters to join with them to participate in their own demise. Besides pardoning a few Black rapper felons and sending out a couple of dollars during the pandemic, Trump did nothing to move the economic needle for Black Americans. What Trump has done for African Americans and other people of color is set race relations in this country back more than 100 years with help from the Black Confederates.

Racist America, understand this: My contemporaries and I, who endured this country’s Jim Crow Era, are not going back to that time. We will not be singing “Dixie” or longing for the land of cotton. Our history in this nation will never allow us to sit idly by and watch this happen again. If a bloodbath is what the U.S. Supreme Court, federal courts, and red states are setting us up for under another potential Trump presidency, then if we must, we will meet you on the battlefields. The backs of Black women have always been the bridge where many crossed over to save America from itself and will be again as we step up to elect Harris-Walz to the presidency — to continue the greatest Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Biden-Harris Administration in this nation’s history. Now that is the real problem the media and many white Democrats and Republicans had with Biden—not his age.

Early Voting in Georgia ends on high note

By Milton Kirby – Atlanta, GA – November 4, 2024

Early voting ended on Friday, November 1st, in the battleground state of Georgia. Four million four thousand five hundred eighty-eight voters had cast ballots either by voting early or absentee by mail. With 55.3% turnout, Georgians cast 3,761,968 ballots during Early Voting and 242,620 ballots by mail.

As of Saturday morning, 92 Georgia counties have exceeded 50% turnout. This is unprecedented in Georgia’s history.

During Early Voting in 2018, 1,890,364 voters cast ballots. 2,697,822 cast ballots in 2020, and 2,289,933 cast ballots in 2022.

“This was the most successful early voting period in Georgia’s history because voters trusted the process,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. “Four years of progress brought us here. We’re battle-tested and ready, regardless of what the critics say. And we’re going to hold those who interfere in our elections accountable.”

Statewide, reports of long lines were minimal. However, there were some reports of voters waiting in line for more than 30 minutes from a few popular voting locations in metro Atlanta areas. Now that early voting has ended, voters who have not yet cast their ballot should confirm their polling location on My Voter Page and cast a ballot on Tuesday, November 5th.

According to TargetSmart, 76,183,090 votes have been cast as early in-person or mail-in. 41% of those votes cast were by registered democrats, 39% registered republicans and 20% other.

As Election Day nears, millions of voters have already cast their ballots nationwide.

According to data from the University of Florida’s Election Lab, whether through mail-in ballots or early in-person polling stations, more than 70 million Americans, roughly 44% of the 2020 turnout, had voted against standing in line on Election Day as of Friday afternoon.

Academic experts, reporters, and pundits have been going through basic and limited data gleaned from the early voting numbers, trying to get clues about tomorrow’s outcome.

A flip in the ways people vote early

Voting trends have shown that more people have been choosing to cast their ballots before Election Day, and this has increased in numbers over the last 30 years, but 2020 turned out to be a major outlier.

In the last presidential election, 69% of the 158 million total votes were cast before Election Day either through the mail, which included mail ballots dropped off in person, or at early voting poll sites, according to data from the Michigan Institute of Technology.

According to the data, some 43% of the 2020 early votes came from mail ballots.

The shift in voting patterns is apparent in Georgia, which has seen record early voting numbers, with over 4 million ballots cast as of Saturday. According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, roughly 92% of those were cast at in-person polling places and the rest via mail.

Some states, including swing states Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arizona, only offer early voting through in-person absentee options. Under this option, a voter must request an absentee ballot, fill it out, and deposit it in a ballot box or at a designated location. They are counted as a mail ballot voter.

US News has labeled seven states as Swing States during the 2024 election cycle.

Those states are listed below with their respective electoral votes:

Arizona 11, Georgia 16, Michigan 15, Nevada 6, North Carolina 16, Pennsylvania 19, and Wisconsin 10.

A total of 17,882,174 votes have been cast in these seven swing states. Of which, registered democrats have cast 40% or 7,179,095. Thirty-nine percent or 6,938,594 have been cast by registered republicans. The most astonishing fact in these swing states is that 21% of the votes cast were by other voters. They reinforce that the 2024 presidential election will be decided by independent voters and the candidates’ ability to connect with and convince those independent voters that their plan and road map for the country is the best direction in which to go.

Giant Pandas to Bid Farewell to Zoo Atlanta in October

By Milton Kirby – Atlanta, GA – October 9, 2024

Zoo Atlanta’s beloved giant pandas will soon return to China, marking the end of a 25-year program. In mid-October 2024, giant pandas Lun Lun, Yang Yang, Ya Lun, and Xi Lun will depart for China as the zoo’s agreement with China comes to an end.

The giant panda program at Zoo Atlanta began in 1999 with the arrival of Lun Lun and Yang Yang, who became symbols of international collaboration for the conservation of this endangered species. Their first offspring, Mei Lan, was born on September 6, 2006. In 2013, twin females Mei Lun and Mei Huan followed, captivating the hearts of visitors.

Photo by Milton Kirby Giant Panda Zoo Atlanta

Ahead of their departure, these iconic animals will remain on display at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center at the zoo. Their exit signals the conclusion of a significant chapter for Zoo Atlanta, which has contributed over $10 million toward giant panda conservation in China over the years, supporting projects in eight nature reserves.

Giant pandas are native to the cool, high-elevation forests of southwestern China. Pandas can be found in native China at elevations as high as 13,000 feet. They are solitary animals, males and females come together only briefly to mate.

Giant pandas are shy and don’t venture into areas where people live, restricting them to very limited areas. Their popularity around the world has helped the giant panda become the focus of successful conservation programs, such as that at Zoo Atlanta, for the last 25 years.

Giant pandas primarily feed on bamboo, a low-nutrient plant, which explains their slow metabolism and frequent need for sleep. Though they are members of the bear family and have a digestive system similar to carnivorous bears, their diet is predominantly vegetarian. They rely on specialized jaw muscles and a unique wrist bone that functions as a thumb to process bamboo.

The population of giant pandas in the wild is critically low, with only around 1,500 remaining due to habitat loss, human activity, and reproduction difficulties. Pandas once roamed more widely across China and parts of Myanmar and Vietnam. Still, today, they are confined to six mountainous areas in Sichuan, Gansu, and Shanxi provinces. Efforts to conserve their habitat are crucial as infrastructure development and human activities continue to fragment their living spaces.

Giant pandas communicate with one another in dense bamboo forests primarily by scent. Males regularly scent-mark the margins of their territories by adopting a “headstand” position to mark a bamboo stalk with their anogenital glands. Research at Zoo Atlanta has demonstrated that although seemingly subtle, vocalizations are crucially important communicative tools, especially during the reproductive season. Research done at Zoo Atlanta has also shown that giant pandas have color vision.

While other herbivorous animals, such as antelope, zebras, or rabbits, have very long digestive tracts, the giant panda retains an essentially bear-like digestive tract. Thus, the digestive efficiency of the bamboo they consume is quite low. Examination of the feces demonstrates that their food has been only partially digested. The low nutrient value of their food and their low digestive efficiency result in an animal that is constrained to a low metabolism. This lifestyle explains why giant pandas sleep so often and why they eat such enormous amounts of bamboo.

Adult females average about 230 pounds, with males sometimes reaching 350 pounds. Their hair is very dense, conserving their body heat in their cold habitats. Their iconic coloration remains a mystery to scientists but may aid with camouflage.

The Chinese government has established more than 50 panda reserves. Still, only around 67% of the wild panda population lives in reserves. Zoos and panda reserves are also working to keep pandas from becoming extinct.

Zoo Atlanta’s partnership with China was crucial in giant panda conservation efforts. Under the agreement, the zoo paid an annual loan fee to host the pandas, and these funds were directed to conservation initiatives in China. The panda program at Zoo Atlanta stands as one of the zoo’s most significant contributions to wildlife conservation.

The departure of Zoo Atlanta’s pandas mirrors the trend seen at other U.S. zoos. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee have hosted pandas through similar agreements with China. However, as of 2024, Memphis Zoo no longer houses pandas following Le Le’s death and Ya Ya’s return to China.

In contrast to Zoo Atlanta, The Smithsonian National Zoo and the Memphis Zoo, the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, CA welcomed the first giant pandas into the United States in 21 years earlier this year. The pandas reside in the zoo’s Panda Ridge a new habitat.

While the giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta will soon return to their native country, their legacy in the U.S. will live on, thanks to decades of public engagement and successful conservation efforts to save these magnificent creatures from extinction.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Celebrates Opening of $1.5 Billion Arthur M. Blank Hospital

By Milton Kirby – Atlanta, GA – October 3, 2024

On September 27, 2024, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hosted a private ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its new $1.5 billion Arthur M. Blank Hospital. The state-of-the-art, 19-story facility, located on a 76-acre campus, is designed to meet the healthcare needs of children across Georgia with cutting-edge technology.

The event highlighted the journey of three former patients who served as honorary construction managers for the hospital project: 15-year-old Lex Stolle, a survivor of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated at Children’s Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center; 11-year-old Ariella-Faith Damisa, who underwent a life-saving liver transplant at Children’s in 2017; and 11-year-old Jojo Alonge, who is receiving ongoing physical therapy following treatment for a spinal tumor.

Photo courtesy of Arthur M Blank Hospital

The new Arthur M. Blank Hospital officially opened its doors at 7 a.m. on Sunday, September 29, coinciding with the closure of Egleston Hospital. Beginning at 7:30 a.m., patients from Egleston were transferred via ambulance to the new facility. A fleet of 65 ambulances transported the patients along a planned route from Clifton Road to North Druid Hills Road. More than 1,000 volunteers, including child life specialists, hospital chaplains, and interpreters, were on-site to assist families during the transition.

The new hospital offers 446 licensed beds and a wide array of pediatric specialty care services. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, consistently ranked among the nation’s top pediatric healthcare systems, operates more than 60 locations across Georgia, with services ranging from asthma treatment to sports medicine.

The hospital’s opening also marked a personal milestone for Arthur M. Blank, who celebrated his 82nd birthday on the same day. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot and a prominent philanthropist, donated $200 million toward the construction of the facility. Blank is also the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, further solidifying his deep ties to the city of Atlanta.

The invitation-only event was attended by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who, despite working through the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, acknowledged the significance of the hospital in advancing pediatric healthcare for Georgia families.

Asthma is one of the most critical conditions treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. According to the hospital, 1 in 10 children under the age of 18 in Georgia has asthma, one of the highest rates in the country. Asthma also leads to more than half a million missed school days each year in the state and is the leading cause of hospital admissions at Children’s. The hospital emphasizes the importance of understanding asthma triggers, early warning signs, medication management, and creating effective action plans to keep children healthy.

In addition to medical services, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta provides comprehensive support for the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of its young patients and their families.

Children’s Healthcare has a strong history of delivering advanced and compassionate care to children and teenagers. As one of the largest multispecialty healthcare providers in the Southeast, their pediatric specialists cover over 60 different areas of expertise.

Children’s Healthcare is nationally recognized in 10 pediatric specialties. It operates as a general medical and surgical facility for children and serves as a teaching hospital.

To assist medical professionals, Children’s offers various training and educational resources, along with online networks and referral tools, aimed at enhancing knowledge and productivity.

The Arthur M. Blank Hospital is poised to help keep the Children’s Network at the forefront of healthcare and healthcare research for years to come.

Video courtesy of the Arthur M. Blank Hospital

Additional Video Highlights

Arthur M. Blank – Home Depot Co-founder, Falcons Owner, Atlanta United Owner & Philanthropist

Donna Hyland – Children’s Chief Executive Officer

Linda Matzigkeit – Children’s Chief Administrative Officer

Dawn Simon – President of Children’s Professional Staff

How Helene became the near-perfect storm to bring widespread destruction across the South

By Terry Spencer – September 29, 2024

Hurricane Helene killed and destroyed far and wide — from Tampa to Atlanta to Asheville, North Carolina, its high winds, heavy rains and sheer size created a perfect mix for devastation.

The storm made landfall late Thursday along a largely undeveloped expanse of pine trees and salt marshes on Florida’s Big Bend coast, but it immediately displayed its far-reaching power several hundred miles away. As of Sunday morning, at least 64 people were confirmed killed.

Tampa Bay was inundated with a massive storm surge that sent water up to people’s attics. Atlanta got more than 11 inches of rain, more than any 48-hour period in recorded history. So many trees were toppled in South Carolina that at one point more than 40 percent of the state lost electricity. In North Carolina, dams were in jeopardy of failing and entire communities are cut off by floods. Floodwaters submerged a hospital in Tennessee so quickly that more than 50 patients had to be rescued from the roof via helicopter.

How did a single storm unleash destruction so far away?

Dan Brown, a specialist at the National Hurricane Center near Miami, said Helene had all the attributes that make a storm widely destructive.

Discarded items from homes in the Shore Acres neighborhood St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson

It was large, about 350 miles (560 kilometers) wide. It was strong, with winds reaching 140 mph (225 kph) when it made landfall late Thursday, creating widespread storm surge. It carried heavy rains. And it was fast, speeding north at up to 24 mph (39 kph) offshore and 30 mph (48 kph) inland.

He compared the geographic scale of Helene’s destruction to 1972’s Hurricane Agnes, 1989’s Hurricane Hugo and 2004’s Hurricane Ivan.

“Systems that get very powerful, large and fast moving unfortunately do bring the potential for impact and damage well inland,” Brown said Saturday.

Here is a look at the many deadly tentacles of Helene.

FLORIDA

Helene’s devastation began Thursday, hours before it made landfall, as it swept through the Gulf of Mexico. Its then-120-mph (193-kph) winds created storm surge that pushed 6-to-15-feet (2-to-4.5 meters) of water into island and coastal neighborhoods all along Florida’s west coast.

Nine people who drowned were residents who stayed behind after their Tampa Bay area neighborhoods were ordered evacuated.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri expressed his frustration — issuing evacuation orders isn’t a decision that’s made lightly, he said. Many who ignored officials then called for help as some sought refuge in their attics from the rising waters. Deputies tried to help, using boats and high-profile vehicles, but they couldn’t reach many neighborhoods.

“We made our case, we told people what they needed to do and they chose otherwise,” Gualtieri said at a Friday press conference.

Late Thursday, Helene’s eye slammed into the northwest Florida coast in the Big Bend area, the spot where the Panhandle makes its westward jut from the peninsula — Hurricanes Idalia and Debby had previously hit the area within the last 13 months.

Susan Sauls Hartway had evacuated her seaside home — it was gone and when she returned Friday.

“I knew it would be bad, but I had no idea it was going to be this bad,” Hartway said. “This is unbelievable.”

GEORGIA

After making landfall, Helene sped into Georgia. Among more than 20 dead were a 27-year-old mother and her 1-month old twins died Friday when trees fell on their house in Thomson, just west of Augusta. An 89-year-old woman was killed when trees fell on her house nearby.

Rhonda Bell and her husband were spending a sleepless night in the downstairs bedroom of their century-old home just outside Valdosta, where Helene’s center passed shortly after midnight.

The winds broke off limbs, tore away neighbors’ roof shingles and knocked down fence panels in the neighborhood with train tracks along one edge. Then a towering oak tree crashed through the roof of an upstairs bedroom.

“I just felt the whole house shake,” Bell said. “Thank God we’re both alive to tell about it.”

Atlanta was hit with 11 inches (28 centimeters) of rain, the heaviest 48-hour downfall since the city began keeping records in 1878. Streets flooded, submerging cars. Firefighters rescued at least 20 people.

NORTH CAROLINA

Helene’s heavy rains in the state’s western mountains caused massive flooding and mudslides in the Asheville region, cutting off most communication and making the roads impassable.

Video posted online shows large portions of the city underwater.

More than 1,000 miles (1,610 kilometers) away in Texas, Jessica Drye Turner begged on Facebook on Friday for someone to rescue her family members stranded on their Asheville rooftop.

But in a follow-up message Saturday, Turner said the roof had collapsed before help arrived and her parents, both in their 70s, and her 6-year-old nephew had drowned.

“I cannot convey in words the sorrow, heartbreak and devastation my sisters and I are going through,” she wrote.

eff Muenstermann and his wife, Lisa, friends of Turner’s, told The Associated Press on Saturday they had spoken to Turner after she posted the initial plea for help. At her request, they messaged members of The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, where they all attend, to pray for the family’s safety back in North Carolina.

“I just thought they were going to be rescued,” Jeff Muenstermann said. “I asked everybody to pray and they did. And then a couple hours later, her husband called me, completely distraught and said … we lost them. They all drowned.”

SOUTH CAROLINA

The storm was especially deadly in South Carolina. The biggest impact appears to be falling trees. The storm also produced tornadoes in the state.

In Saluda County, two firefighters were killed when a tree fell on their truck while they were answering a call. In Greenville County, four people were killed by falling trees. Four people were also killed in Aiken County by trees falling on homes, including a 78-year-old husband and his 74-year-old wife.

TENNESSEE

Helene’s heavy rains caused the state’s eastern rivers to overflow their banks and threatened to break dams, endangering those living nearby and forcing them to flee.

Patients and others at a hospital near the North Carolina border had to be evacuated to the roof Friday when torrents from the overflowing Nolichucky River rushed into the building.

Unicoi County Hospital tried to evacuate 11 patients and dozens of others, but the water was too treacherous for boats sent by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to navigate.

Helicopters were flown in to help rescue them. Eventually, everyone was evacuated.

Tina Charles Makes WNBA History in Record-Breaking 2024 Season

By Milton Kirby – Atlanta, GA – September 21, 2024

Tina Charles, one of the WNBA’s most iconic players, continues to add to her illustrious career during a historic 2024 season. Charles, who made her debut in 2010 as the first overall draft pick by the Connecticut Sun, was unanimously named Rookie of the Year in her debut season. Since then, she has etched her name in the league’s record books, with her most recent accomplishments coming during a season filled with remarkable milestones.

After a 12-year journey through the league, Charles joined the Atlanta Dream as a free agent in February 2024, following stints with the Connecticut Sun (2010–13), New York Liberty (2014–19), Washington Mystics (2021), Phoenix Mercury (2022), and Seattle Storm (2022). Her move to Atlanta has been marked by a string of firsts for both her and the franchise, cementing her status as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

On September 19, 2024, during a game against her former team, the New York Liberty, Charles became the WNBA’s all-time leader in total rebounds and double-doubles. Heading into the game, she needed just two rebounds to tie Sylvia Fowles’ record of 4,006. In just over three minutes into the first quarter, Charles grabbed her third rebound, passing Fowles and making history. “I can’t take this moment without mentioning Sylvia Fowles and what she’s meant to my career,” Charles said. “The heights she reached. The great person she is. It’s pretty special, full circle for me.”

The historic night didn’t stop there. Later in the game, Charles notched her 194th career double-double, surpassing Fowles for the most in WNBA history.

Charles’s six seasons with the New York Liberty added special significance to her achievements, as she was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame on September 19, 2024.

In August 2024, Charles also moved into second place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list, passing the legendary Tina Thompson. Charles accomplished this feat on August 21, when she converted a layup against the Phoenix Mercury. Just days earlier, on August 16, she had recorded her 3,000th career field goal in a game against the Seattle Storm, where she scored the game-winning shot, capping off a 16-point performance.

Charles’ contributions to the Atlanta Dream have also been groundbreaking. She set a new franchise record for double-doubles in a single season, surpassing Érika de Souza’s record of 18, and became the first Dream player to record over 500 points and 300 rebounds in a single season.

The 2012 WNBA MVP, Charles has been named to nine All-WNBA First- and Second-Teams, earned eight All-Star selections, and was part of four All-Defensive Teams. Internationally, she represented the U.S. in three Olympic Games, winning gold medals in 2012, 2016, and 2021.

With over 7,000 career points and 4,000 rebounds, Charles is the only player in WNBA history to reach both milestones, a testament to her all-around excellence. Although she sits behind only Diana Taurasi in career points, with Taurasi’s record at 10,500 points, Charles’ legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats is firmly solidified.

As the 2024 season concludes, Tina Charles continues to shine, leaving an indelible mark on the league and inspiring generations of players to come.

Atlanta Lock in a Playoff Berth with Big Win Over New York Liberty

By Milton Kirby – Atlanta, GA – September 19, 2024

The Atlanta Dream secured the final WNBA playoff berth with a 78-67 win over the New York Liberty in their regular-season finale. The victory on New York’s home court guaranteed Atlanta the eighth and final spot in the postseason.

The Dream started their core lineup of Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Tina Charles for the 15th time this season. They executed efficiently from the start, outscoring the Liberty in three of the four quarters. The Dream’s lead grew steadily, with quarter scores of 21-15, 22-15, and 22-19, before holding off a late Liberty surge in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

Despite the triumph, the celebration will be short-lived as the number 8 seeded Dream faces the same opponent, the number 1 seeded New York Liberty, in the first round of the playoffs starting on Sunday, September 22. The first-round format is a best-of-three series, with games one and two on the higher-seeded Liberty’s home court. If a third game is necessary, it will be held in Atlanta. The semifinals and finals will follow a best-of-five format.

“I don’t think anything matters at this point,” said Atlanta head coach Tanisha Wright regarding the upcoming playoffs. “The regular season is over. Everybody is 0-0.”

Game Summary

The Dream set the tone early, with Allisha Gray sparking a 9-0 run midway through the first quarter. Gray contributed five of the team’s first nine points, including a key three-pointer, while Atlanta’s defense held New York to 31.2% shooting and added three blocks and two steals. By the end of the first quarter, Atlanta had built a 21-15 lead, with Gray leading the way with seven points, going 3-for-4 from the field. Tina Charles added to the Dream’s offense with six rebounds in the first.

In the second quarter, Maya Caldwell’s three-pointer off the bench extended Atlanta’s lead to 26-18, forcing a New York timeout. The Dream’s relentless attack led to a 14-5 run to close the half, with Naz Hillmon and Rhyne Howard combining for 12 of the team’s 22 second-quarter points. Atlanta dominated inside, outscoring the Liberty 30-8 in the paint during the first half while shooting 52.8% from the field.

The third quarter saw the Dream extend their lead further. A 10-0 run to start the period, capped by a Jordin Canada hook shot, put the Dream up by 20 points, their largest lead of the game. Atlanta maintained strong shooting, hitting 50% from the field and 66.7% from three-point range.

While the Liberty attempted a comeback in the fourth, the Dream’s bench stepped up. Haley Jones led the reserves with four points, going a perfect 1-for-1 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. Rookie Ezinne Kalu also made her mark, scoring the first points of her WNBA career with an and-one jumper.

The Dream shot 80% from the free-throw line in the final quarter, sealing the win.

Both teams will have two days of rest before their rematch in the playoffs, with the Dream looking to continue their momentum into the postseason.

Video courtesy WNBA Atlanta Dream