• • • •• • •••• • •• OPINIONS August 25, 2020 -WWW.GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM/OPINIONS• ILLUSTRATION BY MONTENEZ LOWERY | THE SIGNAL Turning a Wendy’s into The Rayshard Brooks Peace Center Activists promote building The Rayshard Brooks Peace Center SUSANA DURÁN Staf Columnist he Rayshard Brooks Peace Center (R.B.PC.), aims According to her and Leonard Dungee, with Cure Violence were asking for. As a Pittsburgh resident and Georgia State to become a community owned home for programs Atlanta, they reported sightings of white supremacist agitators student, I worked alongside my neighbors and GSU Students T to support local youth, economic development, and bore arms in response. If you did not get to visit the Peace to demand that President Becker agree to the C.B.A. Now is the distribution of fresh food, and peace and strengthening the Center before it was dismantled by order of Atlanta Mayor perfect opportunity for President Becker to speak up and stand community say Te Sleep-in Activists for the Rayshard Brooks Keisha Lance Bottoms, you would have seen outdoor tents, with our Black neighbors. Even just expressing support for the Memorial Site. For two weeks, the Sleep-in Activists have been showers for the homeless, a community garden, neighbors Peace Center would help elevate the work the Lady A is doing. canvassing the community to inform them of the Rayshard grilling up meats to feed hundreds every week. Te community Alternatively, President Becker could also spare a few pennies Brooks Peace Center and to sign a petition supporting the Peace space was working as they intended, refuge for homeless Black from the $21 million Center Parc Stadium agreement towards Center, in memory of Rayshard Brooks, a Black man who died boys who sought a safer place to sleep and eat. “But [the media the Peace Center. If you want to help, attend their rally on afer being shot by Atlanta Police ofcer, Garrett Rolfe, in the and politicians] won’t tell you the good that did happen when we August 29 at 7:00 pm, across the Rayshard Brooks Peace Center, Wendy’s parking lot. were at the [Wendy’s],” they say, “only the bad, and that’s why we I met with the activists as they reconvened from the canvass are canvassing; so far, nobody has heard of it, but once they do, formerly known as Wendy’s. Saturday night, August 8. “Lady A,” the main activist behind the they are all for it and sign the petition. I’d say almost 100% of the During our conversation, one of the organizers pointed out a Sleep-in Activists and the R.B.P.C., says they have collected just people we have talked to signed it.” dark sedan that had driven past about fve times. “Te hood is about 400 signatures in the two Saturdays they have canvassed, Peoplestown has organized before. On August 18, 2016, woke – that’s your story!’’ said Leonard Dungee. Shortly afer I totaling 1,200. “Lady A,” her nickname for safety and security Georgia State University fnalized the purchase of Turner Field lef, they called and informed me reasons, has lived in the area for over 25 years, recounted what stadium, with no commitment to the specifc community two Georgia State troopers they have been up to at the Wendy’s afer Rayshard Brooks. benefts agreement (C.B.A.) the surrounding neighborhoods pulled in on them. Letter From The Editor A Welcome, an Introduction and a Farewell ADA WOOD Editor-in-Chief he Signal was established in 1933. In October, that what you want from a news organization on social media. our work from over the will be 87 years of student-driven journalism from And without our Production Editor Monte Lowery and our summer will continue T the heart of Atlanta. And if you’ve seen our new logo, Senior Staf Designer Shancheze Johnson, our new logo and into the rest of the year, even you might have noticed an addition calling to that — see the print layout wouldn’t be possible. knowing that I won’t be here to fulfll new “est. 1933,” right above the A in Signal. I’d be remiss not to mention the more than 75 writers, that promise. Te Signal looks diferent this year: We’ve rebranded our artists and sales associates of Te Signal who all play a part in Tat’s because I wouldn’t want to place my bets marketing and social media and redesigned our print product the paper, website, podcast, social media and video content on anyone but my successor as your next editor-in- because 2020 wouldn’t be a more ftting year to keep the we provide every week. chief, Brooklyn Valera. change rolling. We’ve all heard it before — “unprecedented Tis team and these decisions were extremely intentional. Brooklyn has it all: tenacity, grit, creativity, journalistic times,” “times of change,” etc. Now, your favorite campus paper will be entirely in color, integrity and the leadership capacity she will need to take on But that 1933 is pretty signifcant because although we with new page layouts that bring you the most news in the are bringing you change, an updated look and reinvigorated most compelling way, plus fascinating ways to engage with us this mantle. I made that promise because there’s no doubt in vision of what Te Signal means, at our core, we maintain our and your community (check out the Kickback on the last two my mind that she will exceed it. three-pronged mission statement above all else: providing in pages). Brooklyn, you’ve been by my side as I laid the foundation a fair and accurate manner, news of interest and signifcance From the bottom of my heart as editor-in-chief and on for the future of Te Signal, and now that future is here, and it to the Georgia State community; the opportunity for students behalf of our team, we hope you love what we’ve created for belongs to you. Shoot for the stars, and I know you’ll make it. to pursue experience within a professional newspaper you as much as we do — I promise the vigor we put into this As for the Georgia State community, it has been an honor environment; and truthful and ethical advertising. rebrand will be evident every day of this new year. to tell your stories, amplify your voices and learn about who In our new logo, you might have noticed our new (but not I joined Te Signal as a news reporter more than you are, where you came from and what you believe in. quite so new afer you’ve read our mission statement) slogan: two years ago in April 2018. Troughout my time here, Tank you, I couldn’t be more proud to have made the choice Independent, Impactful, Impartial. I’ve gained invaluable experience that has provided me to go to Georgia State. While under quarantine over the summer, several more opportunities than I would ever imagine. So many Tere are a hundred names I could mention and give members of our team were extremely hard at work to bring opportunities, in fact, that I’ve outgrown this home I’ve come thanks to for helping me get to where I am. While I look you what you see today and what will continue throughout to love. toward the future, I couldn’t write this letter without a nod to the semester. While this letter intends to welcome you back to our new the past. Daniel Varitek, who passed on the position of editor- Over the summer, I know many of you have faced gripping school year and introduce you to our new products, it is also in-chief to me, paved a way for me to accomplish so much. realities of the age we live in, and this isn’t the frst week of a farewell. August 31 will be my last day as editor-in-chief Danny and I have always been suckers for traditions, and school you were hoping for. But I wholeheartedly believe in of Te Signal as I will pursue a full-time internship at Te you, in our generation and the resilience of our communities Atlanta Journal-Constitution and freelance work for Atlanta I think it’s time we started one together, so I’ll end this letter to come out of this brighter, better and stronger. magazine during my senior year. just as he had when he made his leave. As for how we kept busy this summer, I, as editor-in-chief, Te AJC was a dream of mine I never thought I could directed the project, along with Managing Editor Brooklyn achieve before I joined Te Signal. It is extremely bittersweet Goodbye, and good luck, Valera as my right-hand woman. Julian Pineda, our former to fnd I have achieved that dream but have to say good-bye Ada Wood marketing manager, and his successor Franky Huang crafed to what got me there. Editor-in-Chief ‘20 our beautiful marketing vision that’s clean, quick and exactly Earlier, I made a promise that the passion you see behind .