The fourth Annual Wreaths Across America Ceremony, hosted by the Philadelphia Winn Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, is scheduled for Saturday, December 17 at noon. It will be held at East Shadowlawn Memorial Gardens, 87 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville. This is a rain-or-shine event.
To participate in the wreath-laying ceremony for a fallen veteran, you may sponsor a wreath for $15 each using this link: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ga0265p. You may also send a check, payable to Philadelphia Winn Chapter NSDAR, to Kathy Schmidt, Chapter Treasurer, 886 Marbrook Drive, Lawrenceville, Ga. 30044.
The deadline to sponsor a wreath for the 2022 ceremony is November 29. The Wreaths Across America organization takes great pride in its mission to remember fallen U.S. Veterans, honor those who serve, and teach children the value of freedom.
- For questions or additional information, you may contact Lynn Jacques, Regent, Philadelphia Winn Chapter, at 678-332-9852 or LynnJacques55@gmail.com.
“Norcross Squares” exhibition returns to local gallery
The annual “Norcross Squares” has returned to Norcross Gallery and Studios. It is their annual fundraiser exhibit, featuring 140 pieces of art square in shape, including paintings, ceramics and a handcrafted console table hand painted in decorative squares.
“Parlor” by Anne Labaire
The Gallery invites the public to support the arts in the community, see many new art works at amazing prices, purchase one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays and participate in a silent auction for the paintings that you want.
This art exhibition and silent auction seeks to raise $10,000 for their 2023 outreach programs, which include an art show of work by high school students, a summer program for teens, and a citywide photography contest. The show and silent auction run through Saturday, December 3, when bidding closes at 2 pm.
Norcross Gallery and Studios is a growing art destination in Norcross, providing classes, workshops and opportunities for artists to participate in open studio sessions. New exhibitions open every 6-8 weeks with receptions. In addition to the light, spacious galleries, the location has studios for eight working artists on the premises.
It is located at 116 Carlyle Street in historic downtown Norcross on South Peachtree Street. Hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment at ngstudios116@gmail.com.
With ancestors as teachers, she continues family tradition
Latanya Hammonds-Odie knew from an early age that she would impact others. It was a family tradition. “I’m a third-generation college graduate. Sometimes I joke that I had to get a Ph.D. because that’s the only way I could have done better than my parents and grandmothers,” says Hammonds-Odie, a professor of biology at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC).
Hammonds-Odie
Hammonds-Odie grew up in the Chicago area. Her father was a minister and her mother worked for the Chicago Housing Authority and in public aid. Not only did her mother have a master’s degree in social work, but both of her grandmothers earned college degrees and were teachers. One had two master’s degrees.
“I had a lot of strong, black female role models,” says Hammonds-Odie. “I know I was fortunate. Very few of my students have that.”
At seven, she wanted to be a pediatrician, though she didn’t know what pediatricians did. She just knew she wanted to do something in science.
“When I went to college, it didn’t take long to realize I didn’t want to go into medicine. That’s what led me to major in biochemistry.”
Hammonds-Odie earned a biochemistry degree at Spelman College. From there, she earned a master’s in pharmacology and a doctorate in cell biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She joined the GGC faculty in 2009.
Since then, Hammonds-Odie has made it her mission to show GGC students – particularly the disadvantaged and those in groups historically excluded from science – the joys and challenges of science. “What drew me to GGC was the diversity of its student population, and its access mission and small class sizes,” she says.
“I teach a general biology course on HIV and AIDS to non-science majors, since Atlanta is a hot spot for AIDS, and these kids know nothing about it,” she adds. “I try to encourage scientific literacy, information literacy and critical thinking about ethical and scientific matters. I hope to lower perceived barriers because many students had experiences in high school that turned them off on science.”
Hammonds-Odie was recently named a “Fellow” of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB). Its mission includes advancing scientific discovery, advocating sound research policies, improving education, promoting professional development, and increasing diversity in the scientific workforce.
Through the ASCB, Hammonds-Odie also helps underrepresented postdoctoral scientists and faculty for minority-serving institutions as a director for the Faculty Research Education Development program, a year-long program pairing postdocs and faculty with more experienced scientists, who mentor the postdocs and faculty on grant applications.
It’s easy to believe Hammonds-Odie’s parents and grandmothers would be proud of all the young people she’s helped as a teacher, mentor and ASCB member. “I try to make a difference by giving people a little guidance like I got along the way,” she maintains. “If I can serve as an example and help young people find the right path, then I’m continuing a proud legacy, and there’s nothing more fulfilling than that.”
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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