Local Matters Podcast

Dennis Briatico been an animal advocate or a rescuer on and off for 26 years now. He's been working with animals in some capacity for 31 years. He's bounced around the rescue community fostering for different organizations and helping where he could but finally found where he feels like he belongs with FONAA. He's now dedicated to saving as many animals as possible in the North Augusta city shelte...

Dr. Jackson Drumgoole joins us to discuss the particular challenges of young people aging out of foster care. Bridge Builder Communitites is now developing a tiny home community to address their needs. We discuss the trauma foster children experience, the consequences of that trauma, how important fathers are, and what can be done to give these young people a chance to create a better life. Bridge...

People decide to start voting for various reasons. Elizabeth Hope Brown always voted in national elections but realized the importance of voting for state and local candidates after working in public service and having kids in the school system. We also talk about what it takes for her to feel more connected to the local government, and how the internet has been a friend to her as she seeks inform...

Seasoned architect Barton Drake explains what architects do, and how their work builds community for the future while valuing the past. Their work affects families, neighborhoods, and communities. We discuss adaptive re-use, being good stewards of the environment, energy efficiency, reducing operations costs, and using the human imagination to impact lives through architecture. www.hed.design.com...

Aja Brown is the Strategic Impact Partner at Forward Platform and former Mayor of Compton, CA. She helped make the connection between environmental justice, good data, and federal funding, with a particular focus on the Inflation Reduction Act and the Build Back Better Act. We touch on the impact of Climate Change, job creation, generation of clean energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. So...

Dhrmaine Bradley aka Bobby Boucher has hosted More Than The Masters Podcast since 2016. He loves Augusta, and his podcast is dedicated to showcasing the various sides of Augusta. A native New Yorker, he has no plans to return. We discuss why people don't have pride in the city, how podcasters choose guests, the one thing he would change if he could, and the dating scene in Augusta. More Than The M...

Host Janice Allen Jackson delves into the 2023 election results for Burke County, Columbia County, and Richmond County. In this insightful review, we'll break down the outcomes, analyze the implications, and discuss the impact on our local communities. To contact Mrs. Jackson for consulting or speaking engagements, please see the Contact Us page: www. Janiceallenjackson.weebly.com Follow us on Soc...

Bethany Trapp of the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority describes what it is like to serve homeless people. She discusses the work of Augusta's Homeless Task Force, the need for a larger shelter and better coordination of all services, to include mental health, job preparation, and other services. We also tackle the issue of whether the problem is more severe now, or if it is just getting more at...

Meet candidates Ceretta Smith and Deborah Fisher Join host Janice Allen Jackson in the latest episode of the Local Matters Podcast as she delves into the Grovetown mayor's race. Listen as she engages in a lively and informative discussion with mayoral candidates Ceretta Smith and Deborah Fisher. They will share their visions for Grovetown's future, what they have accomplished in the past, and what...

Host, Janice Allen Jackson sits down with Cedric Johnson, Chair of the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority, and Brad Usry, Vice Chair and New Arena Committee Chairman. In this special episode, Brad and Cedric discuss the upcoming November 7, 2023, C-SPLOST (Coliseum Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) vote, which aims to secure funding for a new state-of-the-art James Brown Arena. Disco...

Join us on this special episode with Local Matters Host, Janice Allen Jackson, as we dive into the upcoming municipal elections in Georgia's Richmond, Columbia, and Burke Counties. In this election preview episode, we'll explore the races for councilmembers in Blythe and Hephzibah, Mayor and Council seats in Grovetown, and City Council seat in Harlem. Plus, we'll discuss the Mayor and three City C...

Augusta Mini Theater, a cultural gem that has been enriching the lives of young talents for 48 years. Our guest, Tyrone Butler, shares the inspiring journey of this institution, its impact on the community, and the transformative power of the arts. Discover how he came to start this and keep it going for 48 years, the upcoming weekend of activities, and their plans for the future. You can learn mo...

Reverend John K. Coar III is a Millennial preacher, founder of JCI3 Ministries, and author of When Wait Your Turn Means No Turn at All on Westbow Press (2023). Rev. Coar is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Truett Seminary-Baylor University, an Army Reservist, and Minister of Christian Education at the Good Shepherd Baptist Church of Augusta, GA. He joins Local Matters to discuss his book,...

Brigitte Brown Jackson joins us from Detroit, Michigan. She wears many hats, to include Motivational Speaker, Educational Consultant/Strategist, Extreme Execution Coach, and Licensed Minister. She hosts the Powerful Podcast and operates Exponential EduVentures. In his episode, we discuss the connection between water infrastructure failures and how effectively school systems can educate children. T...

September is National Voter Registration Month. Travis Doss, Executive Director of the Richmond County (GA) Board of Elections, discusses the November 7 elections, the cost of elections, and whether every vote is counted and whehter it really counts. He also offers his opinions on the easiest ways to register to vote, and the easiest way to request an absentee ballot. Finally, we touch upon the to...

We know the government can't solve every problem. There is a need for individuals and non-profit organizations to serve. Shabazz Ali, CEO of At Risk Youth of Charlotte, NC and Community Activist, talks about his efforts to address some of the deepest problems we have: families in poverty, fatherless households, unemployment, alcoholism, and homelessness. He also talks about the limits of what elec...

Jacob Taylor is a Human-Centered Design Consultant for The Connective, based in Phoenix, AZ. Jacob engages in the critical evaluation of regional solutions, and identifying potential cross-municipal collaborative opportunities that employ smart city initiatives. We discuss how frustrating it is for smaller cities to try to keep up with technologies that municipalities right across the way enjoy, h...

We continue our conversation with Dr. Linda Tucciarone, Co-Founder of Augusta's Heritage Academy. She discusses whether school size is important, the importance of family involvement, and some things private schools can do that public ones can't. We also touch on societal trends that have impacted the ability of students to perform in the classroom. To contact Mrs. Jackson for consulting or speaki...

Dr. Linda Tucciarone, Founder and recently retired Executive Director of Augusta's Heritage Academy, joins Local Matters to explain why she decided to start a school. She also describes the factors behind their success, and some particular challenges of education in urban communities. To contact Mrs. Jackson for consulting or speaking engagements, please see the Contact Us page: www. Janiceallenja...

Richmond County (GA) educator and parent Erin Quattlebaum shares her experience and wisdom gleaned from it. She addresses the particular plight of special needs students, to include the way the process is supposed to work on their behalf. She also explains why it doesn't always work and the consequences when it doesn't. DISCLAIMER: Local Matters Podcast Host Janice Allen Jackson is speaking only f...

Wallace White, Associate State Director, AARP of Georgia, joins us to discuss services provided by the American Association of Retired Persons. He also defines who a senior citizen is, the need for volunteers to carry out their mission, and the Age Friendly city designation. To contact Mrs. Jackson for consulting or speaking engagements, please see the Contact Us page: www. Janiceallenjackson.weeb...

This is not your average back to school bash! Join the SWAT Foundation on Saturday, July 29, 11am to 2pm at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, 1714 Olive Road. To contact Mrs. Jackson for consulting or speaking engagements, please see the Contact Us page: www. Janiceallenjackson.weebly.com Follow us on Social Media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LocalMattersPodcastofGeorgia Subscribe on Youtube: Local Mat...

Carla Delaney, Augusta's Director of Planning and Development Services, walks us through all the steps necessary to re-develop property. She also describes the easier way to get a business license, why so many regulations exist, and what code enforcement really is, and is not. To contact Mrs. Jackson for consulting or speaking engagements, please see the Contact Us page: www. Janiceallenjackson.we...

Augusta, GA Director of Planning and Development Services Carla Delaney joins us to describe the responsibilities of her department, the comprehensive planning process, and some of the challenges of her job. She also tells us how every day citizens can participate. To contact Mrs. Jackson for consulting or speaking engagements, please see the Contact Us page: www. Janiceallenjackson.weebly.com Fol...

Local Matters host Janice Allen Jackson discusses the origin and history of affirmative action and how the recent decision of the United States Supreme Court affects Georgians. She also describes oddities of the ruling, disagreements among the justices, and measures some universities are taking in lieu of race-conscious admissions policies. DISCLAIMER: Local Matters Podcast Host Janice Allen Jacks...