Civic Engagement – Page 36 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Exploring Charleston: by foot and hoof!

House and Garden Tour

By Morgan Robertson

As we learned two days ago through our conference programs, tourism plays a huge role in Charleston’s economy, and SLC does a great job of incorporating tours into the sessions offered through the conference. With my love for architecture, and Ingrid’s considerable interest in flora, there seemed no better activity for us than the Houses and Gardens Tour!

Our guide, Mimi, was an expert on the homes on the tour as well as local history.

Interesting tidbits of Charleston:

Charleston has a history of destructive fires. Following the first fire of 1730, a city ordinance was passed stating that all kitchens must be separate from the main house. Luckily for 21st century Charlestonians, this is no longer the case. Of these fires, arguably the worst was in the Ansonborough fire of 1838, which laid waste to many houses and buildings. Consequently, many of the existing homes in Charleston were built in 1840 or after.

These homes largely come in two styles: single house or double house. A single house design is a structure that is only as wide as one room and extends towards the back of the property.

A double house design is the same idea, but it is two-rooms wide.

Despite the fires, the structures built following the last major fire have largely been preserved. The major reason for this is that Charleston was the first city in America to pass a historic zoning ordinance to preserve the historic downtown that we saw today.

One thing we soon noticed in the homes–and on a notable fountain in the city–is the prevalence of pineapples. These items were considered exotic, coming from the Caribbean and even more distant lands, so when captains would return from their journeys, they would often place pineapples outside of their home, to symbolize a safe return. These also could represent a message of “I’m back,” a sort-of invitation to visit. And grocers, of course, would put out pineapples as a message of having received a new shipment of items–again, suggesting that people “come on in.” Thus, they stand for hospitality and are often associated with wealth.

We visited many houses, in some cases having the opportunity to meet the owners. In all cases, we learned more about the houses, the architecture, and the history. One of our favorite was on Anson Street, where we saw a beautiful home and landscaping (by Sheila Wertimer), along with a personal tour by the owners, Barrie and Noah.

A good example of the Charleston Single was in “Goldsmith Row,” where we had a chance to see a home that was only twelve-feet wide and still beautiful!

In all our stops, the owners were extraordinarily generous. It takes a lot of civic spirit to welcome strangers into your home!

One highlight was to see a house that was featured in an Edward Hopper painting! In 1929, Hopper painted the entrance to a home on Society Street, titling the painting, “Charleston Doorway.”

This excursion was fantastic, and we were able to immerse ourselves in the lavish gardens and history of some of Charleston’s aesthetically pleasing historic homes.

Here are a few more shots of the lush gardens!

Giddy Up! A Historic Carriage Tour Through Charleston

By Ingrid Cuero

Later on in the day, Morgan and I took a step into the century’s past to ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Old South Carriage Company conducts a pleasant tour through historic Charleston, priding themselves on providing a tour with “southern hospitality”. While waiting for our horse, we spotted a fellow bearkat: Professor Weikle, who teaches in SHSU’s Communications department. It was so nice to see her by way of this wonderful coincidence!

Ashley, our tour guide, introduced us to our steed, Elwood. Supposedly, he has a character of his own; traveling his own route as he sees fit.

Giddying up, we were off to begin our day!

The tour guide shared many fun facts about Charleston; (1) Charleston is the second largest historical district in the world, second only to Rome. (2) because of a big earthquake that took place in 1886, earthquake bolts are built into almost all of the buildings in Charleston;

…and (3) A shopping street called King St. is considered one of the top ten shopping streets in the country. However, it wasn’t always this way. The Civil War devastated the Charleston economy, and it wasn’t until the 1950’s that the area was revitalized and put Charleston back on the map. Our tour guide humorously noted that this is the only street she had seen in which a Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and a Target are all on the same street!

We also drove past St. John’s Lutheran Church, adding to our continued understanding of why Charleston is known as “The Holy City”. St. John’s is over 250 years old, making it one of the oldest congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

One of my favorite sights, along with its fascinating background, was Henry’s on the Market.

Both a seafood restaurant and a music hall, this eatery is known to be the oldest restaurant in Charleston, opening in 1932. Though Elwood may have been a little tired, attempting to take us back home early on his own accord, Morgan and I thoroughly enjoyed our time strolling through Charleston!

Riding High in the Low Country

With a lighter day on the Southern Legislative Conference’s Docket, we did a bit of exploring and learning on our own. With us passing the official half-way mark of our trip, we felt a bit of pressure to ensure we are getting the most out of this opportunity, while still having fun.

Kayaking the Low Country

With a day more or less free to explore and spending time on our own dime, we decided to kayak. Feeling empowered, we asserted our independence, noting, “We are women, hear us oar!”

At first, however, the only roar we heard was thunder. Indeed, this was the scene ten minutes prior to our arrival:

Fortunately, it soon cleared up–almost miraculously. Within twenty minutes, the weather cleared, producing a pleasant looking morning.

Although this “eco-tour,” as it is described, is educational, it is mostly a fun excursion, designed to get us exercise, learn about the outdoors, and relieve some advisor-induced stress.

But it was educational. Charleston is one of the South’s key cities in terms of culture and economics. Its barrier islands gave it a protective harbor of sorts, and that, in turn, made it an attractive base for sea-travelers early on in US history. And, today, we felt as though we were continuing in that tradition, navigating these barrier (or, as our guide Daniel referred to them, “hammock”) islands.

Our paths took us through estuaries, which are waterways mixed with salt and freshwater. The mix, however, is heavy on the salty-side, which on the plus side, means there are no (or at least very few) alligators. (This story had us a bit worried, but we reminded ourselves that it occurred in a freshwater environment). There are, however, many other animals, and we saw herons, egrets, pelicans, blue crabs, many types of gulls, a marsh wren, a woodstork, oyster beds, and the curious fiddler crabs (everywhere).

We also learned about the Charleston “pluff mud,” which is a nutrient rich mud that lacks oxygen. It has been plundered in the past by farmers, so it is now federally protected, and according to our tour guide, if you take any with you, you are subject to a $500 fine. He did not mention the charge, but it would be something along the lines of “mud smuggling.”

Somehow, Daniel convinced the college students to put this mud on their faces. They did this, even after they learned that much of its nutritional richness comes from “decaying matter” and “crab waste.”

Most of the morning, however, was devoted to paddling and having fun, although Michelle did have a minor mishap, when, instead of saying, “I am woman, he me oar,” she said, “I am woman, hear me go overboard.” But she bounced back nicely, and ultimately made her second-ever kayaking trip a success.

So we were a little sad when we had to turn back.

And as we prepared to depart, we looked upon blue skies, satisfied with a morning well spent.

We soon learned, however, that more rain was coming, but that is a story for the next blog.

Exploring the “Holy City:” A Day in Charleston, South Carolina

All agree that Charleston is most commonly known as the “Holy City,” but explanations differ as to why. Some say it is because people of many religions settled here, motivated partially by its religious tolerance. The more prevalent explanation is that the skyline is punctuated by churches. We are agnostic on the origin of the name, but we are more knowledgeable today about the city thanks to…

Bulldog Historic Walking Tour

By Ingrid Cuero

The Southern Legislative Conference sponsored a “Bulldog Walking History Tour” for us today, and for two hours on a (hot) Sunday morning, we learned about the past and present of The Holy City.

As a way of warning, we learned that Charleston has “tourism police,” whose primary job is to keep tourists from obstructing the city’s transportation. Who knew?

Our first stop was the Charleston City Market, which was built on land donated by Charles C. Pinckney and other landowners . Interestingly, Pinckney was a founding father, was nominated once for VP, and twice for President (under the Federalist Party). He had conditions on the donation of this land, one of which was that it must be used as a City Market–and it has been for the past 235 years!

Many people confuse the City Market with the Old Slave Mart in Charleston, but these are not the same buildings and, in fact, the City Market has never been used for the sale, transport, or storage of slaves.

Charleston is architecturally intriguing. It is not blessed with an abundance of stone, so the “stone buildings” you see are probably brick that has been scored to appear to be stone. On the other hand, stones were imported from England to make the cobblestone streets. “Imported” may be a bit pretentious, in that they were actually used for ballast on the ships and then discarded in Charleston Bay when cargo was loaded. The discarded stones were then used for the roads.

Perhaps the most famous of Charleston’s homes are on “Rainbow Row,” 13 homes marked by pastel colors. Many myths exist to explain the origin of this colorful street, but the most likely account is that the original preservationists wanted a Caribbean look, and subsequent buyers/restorers followed suit.

Interestingly, a tour guide told me that Oprah Winfrey owned one of the homes, although I was not able to verify that. I did find, however, that she stayed at Charleston Place, which is the site of our conference.

We also passed the Robert Smalls historical marker…

…which was especially interesting to us because, on the way to Charleston, Professor Yawn drove us to Robert Small’s house in Beaufort, SC and told us a bit about him.

Smalls is best known for leading one of the Civil War’s greatest intelligence victories, while also securing his freedom and the freedom of fellow slaves (and their enslaved families). Following the war, he returned to South Carolina, and he purchased the home of his former “master.” He lived there for the remainder of his life with his wife and children, and he let his former master’s widow, Margaret Johnson-McKee continue to live there. According to our tour guide, Smalls actually never told Johnson-McKee that she no longer owned the house, sparing her embarrassment. Smalls was one of the founders of the Republican Party in South Carolina and was elected to both the SC state legislature and the US Congress.

In reading more about Smalls, I was particularly moved by one of his speeches, in which he asserted, “My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.”

Also of interest was the Charleston intersection known as the “Four Corners of Law.” Each of the street corners hosts a legal institution of sorts: (1) Charleston City Hall (municipal law), (2) the County Courthouse and former provincial capital (state/county law), (3) the Post Office and Courthouse (federal law), and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (God’s law).

This lesson illuminated both the literal and figurative intersections of government and social institutions, as well as the importance of working together to achieve results–which, also, incidentally, is the theme of the Southern Legislative Conference!

LEAP Makes a SPLASH at Family Night!

Jessica Cuevas

LEAP Ambassadors have attended many SLCs over the years, and they always enjoy “family night.” This year, the host city, Charleston, selected South Carolina Aquarium as the venue for this evening, and the results were FUNtastic!

Welcoming us was the Blue Dogs Band…

…and the aroma of great food. The songs were good, and the menu featured pulled pork, chicken, beans, house salad, bread rolls, poppy-seed cole slaw, various sauces, and gouda mac ‘n cheese. Amazingly, while we ate we had a chance to gaze at the “Great Ocean Tank,” the deepest tank in North America at 42 feet. We were all grateful no seafood was on the menu.

Nearby was the Bald Eagle exhibit, and we had a chance to see–and pose with–a bald eagle.

But when we heard there was face painting on the second floor, we joined other five-year olds in line. Continuing with our theme of the aquarium, Olivia adorned her face with mermaid; Michelle, a shark; Morgan, an (oddly) smiling crab; and I got a sea turtle.

Ingrid, not getting the gist of the evening, got a flower, making her a flower child.

With the attention span of goldfish (2 seconds), and being naturally drawn to interactive museum features that do not require literacy, we saw the “touch and feed center” and immediately raced to it. We were able to touch starfish, sea urchins, hermit crabs, baby sand-tiger sharks, and sting rays!

At least one LEAP Ambassador was too frightened to touch the animals. The LEAP Code of Discretion prevents us from identifying this individual, but we would just like to apologize for Olivia’s absence from the preceding gallery.

We learned that Charleston is home to three different turtles: (1) Green Sea Turtle, (2) Kemp’s Ridley, and (3) the Loggerhead Turtle (South Carolina State Turtle). They vary in color and size, and there was a couple in the Recovery Theater. The Recovery Theater – Sea Turtle Care Center is a portion of the aquarium that features an x-ray room, surgical rooms, many turtles, and interactive exhibits about the 13 patients in residence: 2 Loggerheads, 5 Green Sea Turtles, and 6 Kemp’s Ridleys.

The turtles often get hurt due to the pollution in the oceans from humans. In fact, it is estimated that by “2050, oceans are projected to contain more plastic than fish!” The most common reasons for ill or injured turtles are due to (1) fishhooks, (2) fishing lines, (3) broken bones, (4) pneumonia, and (5) osteomyelitis (bone infection).

Although it was disheartening to read about the stories of the different turtles, most of which were named after cheese (Mozzarella, Parmesan, etc.), I was glad to see they were recovering. Soon they might be able to swim among the other 385 sea turtles that have been released from this center.

Caretta, a loggerhead sea turtle, is the only turtle that will always call the aquarium home, due to her high dependency on humans impeding her from surviving in the ocean.

To nobody’s surprise, turtles were the highlight of my evening. However, this aquarium had many types of sea creatures to enjoy and learn about, such as; fish, jellyfish, sharks, lobsters, shrimp, and much more.

As Take Me Home, Country Road was echoing throughout the aquarium, and with children and adults dancing, we “o-fish-ally” called this turtle-tastic evening a night.

Traversing the Low Country: Savannah to Charleston

With today being the opening of the 2023 Southern Legislative Conference in Charleston, SC, we (sadly) were forced to depart from the beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia. Before we left, however, there were a few spots we wanted to explore.

Bonaventure Cemetery

By Olivia Discon

We wanted to see Bonaventure Cemetery for a couple of reasons: (1) it was featured prominently in the book (and movie) of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil…

…and (2) the great singer-songwriter Johnny Mercer is buried there.

Mercer was a prominent singer-songwriter from the 20th century, writing more than 1,500 songs in his lifetime. Some of his most notable songs include Moon River, Somethings Gotta Give, Too Marvelous for Words, and Come Rain or Come Shine. Mercer’s talent for crafting clever and evocative lyrics, combined with his smooth vocal style, made him a beloved figure in the music industry. He received numerous accolades throughout his career, including four Academy Awards for the Best Original Song. Johnny Mercer’s contributions to American music continue to resonate today, cementing his legacy as one of the most celebrated lyricists of all time.

And Savannah, Georgia is both the birthplace and resting place of Johnny Mercer, who lies alongside his family in the same cemetery section.

Many headstones were engraved with some of Mercer’s lyrics. For instance, inscribed on his mother’s grave is the line “My mama done tol’ me” from Blues in the Night.

Though this visit was certainly somber, the morning sun cast across the greenery and marble tombstones was a lovely way to start our day and commemorate our time spent in Savannah.

Tybee Island

Morgan Robertson

Continuing on our morning adventure, we went on to visit the beautiful barrier island: Tybee. The island proved both fun and educational, a great way to energize us despite an early start.

The Tybee Island Lighthouse has existed since 1733, albeit in different iterations. The first structure was 90 feet tall, but it succumbed to its proximity to the beach. Unfortunately, the lighthouse builders didn’t learn from this fate, and they again built too close to water that often encroaches upon hitherto dry land. The third structure was more fortunate, in that no acts of God befell it; but it did suffer from the onslaught of the Civil War and the destruction it brought.

Fortunately, the base of the lighthouse was salvageable and a fourth structure was built upon the base of the third. At 154 feet, this structure narrowly misses being one of the ten tallest lighthouses in the United States.

This being our first visit to a lighthouse, it shone light on the advance of technology. In 1791, for example, 15 lanterns were used to signal ships. Between the 1930s-1960s, 1,000-watt incandescent bulbs were standard practice. One-thousand-watt quartz bulbs were used until 2010, which were followed by the use of the 1,000-watt quartz-halogen bulb.

Lighthouse wasn’t an easy job and, in fact, a lighthouse might have up to three keepers, plus support staff. We were able to tour the houses for these staff, and, as part of the much-maligned “Gen-Z,” we saw many unfamiliar objects!

Despite the nice accommodations, comfortable amenities, and short commute, lighthouse-keepers definitely had a long climb to work. In the case of the Tybee Island Lighthouse, the climb consisted of 178 steps.

On the other hand, the occupation offers some beautiful views!

It was a great start to the day, bringing the past to life, offering great views, and getting our blood pumping.

The Tybee Island Lighthouse is 30.29 times taller than Jessica Cuevas–and, despite being obsolete, is also twice as technologically advanced as Ms. Cuevas, who single-handledly destroys group communications by using Android.

Zunzi’s

Michelle Cardenas

After a beautiful morning of exploring Tybee Island we headed to Zunzi’s, one of Georgia’s most famous restaurants. Their menu included a variety of platters, salads, and sandwiches that did not disappoint. Our entrees included the Oliver’s Lunch Bowl, the Johnny Roll, and The Conquistador.

The Conquistador placed Zunzi’s on the map when it was named one of the best chicken sandwiches in America by the Travel Channel. I decided to put this to the test and indulge in one, and I must say it had very distinct flavors that made it overall delectable. This was the best way to say goodbye to Savannah and begin our South Carolina oddyssey.

Southern Legislative Conference

Ingrid Cuero and Michelle Cardenas

Fittingly, the first event of the Southern Legislative Conference was the “welcome evening.” And what a welcome! What an evening!

The event was held upon the deck of an aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown.

We soon enjoyed southern hospitality, from the greetings of the staff to the conversation with other guests.

Arkansas Senator Clint Penzo, and his wife, Allison, generously shared time and dinner with us. Senator Penzo discussed his varied career path into politics, and how each of his careers has helped him in the political world.

Our education, however, wasn’t only vicarious. We also learned about the art and science of flying when we boarded a flight simulator.

Mimicking the experience of a pilot flying a military aircraft (or a passenger in a vehicle driven by our advisor, Professor Yawn)…

…the simulation included radio conversations, target strikes, and even an air stop for refueling.

It was a rather unique experience that we were not fully prepared for–clenching on to our seats and trying not to fall. Beyond the intensity of the simulator, it was a rather gratifying and educational experience

We proceeded to make our way through the aircraft carrier stopping by a couple landings to take pictures of the gorgeous view. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge paired up perfectly with the multi-colored sky allowing us to take some spectacular photos!

Our last stop on the Aircraft carrier was the flight deck, but just getting to the deck was an experience. We saw long corridors, war rooms, elaborate equipment, and steep stairs.

Morgan and Jessica Contemplating Waging War (on each other)

The deck featured stunning lights, military aircrafts, and a band.

Jazz bands filled the air as the sun set, and then the sounds of fireworks were accompanied by strings of colors decorating the Charleston skyline.

The band began playing patriotic songs, and as we looked over the harbor, which was harbor surrounded by forts (Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, Fort Johnson), we had a small sense of what Francis Scott Key might have felt when writing “the bombs bursting in air.”

For us, it was a day of new experiences, of looking back and forward, capped with a truly welcoming reception.

The charm and southern hospitality of South Carolina were made very evident as we ended our magical evening.

Savannah Smiles on LEAP Ambassadors

Savannah, the oldest city in the State of Georgia, is a lively town with a vast and rich history. For our second day in the Deep South, we endeavored to learn more of Savannah’s history, and maybe experience some of it, too!

So, with an assist from Old Town Trolley Tours, we set out to learn more. And did we! For example, did you know that Savannah is where Eli Whitney developed the cotton gin? Or that the second deadliest battle of the Revolutionary War (The Siege of Savannah) occurred here? Or that Savannah was America’s first “planned city”? James Oglethorpe laid out the city in a grid system with 24 original squares but only 22 are still in existence today! There is a statute of Oglethorpe in Chippewa Square that is facing the south towards Florida – his Spanish enemies.

All the statues we saw were facing in the direction of their enemies since one should never give their back to them.

Our first stop was the First African Baptist Church, which is the oldest Black congregation in North America.

The church played an integral role in American history by serving as a part of the Underground Railroad, hiding those who were escaping enslavement. It was also the place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached his first sermon.

Savannah has been featured in several popular films and in literature. Forrest Gump, Something to Talk About, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and Lady & the Tramp are just a few of the films set in (or filmed in–or both!) Savannah. We were able to drive past and explore the famous locations where some scenes from the blockbuster films were shot, including Chippewa Square, often referred to as Forrest Gump Square since that’s where the scene of Forrest sitting on a bench waiting for the bus was filmed.

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist was another highlight of our tour. Savannah once had four prohibitions: slavery, liquor, lawyers, and Catholics. The cathedral’s congregation was reorganized and established in 1796, becoming the first Catholic church in Savannah, consisting primarily of Haitian immigrants.

Although the original structure burned in 1898, the current building beautifully replaces the original while reflecting the long-standing Haitian and French influences on the region.

The trolley was an excellent way to get a glimpse into the beautiful city of Savannah! Exploring cities with a vibrant culture allows us to broaden our sense of the world through a comparison to our individual communities and experiences.

Goose Feathers Café

After a long morning of exploring, we decided to hop off the trolley at the City Market stop to head over to Goose Feathers Cafe. Greeted by the staff’s warm hospitality, we browsed menu options before ordering. Many of their menu items were named after historical streets and city celebrities of Savannah. Therefore, our entrees included the Oglethorpe sandwich, the Barnard Street Club (both the regular and gluten-free options), and the Greek salad.

The food was both delicious and flavorful, showcasing the delicious flavor combinations of the Deep South.

Mercer House

After our great lunch from Goose Feathers Café, we felt refreshed and energized, ready to continue sightseeing!

LEAP trips differ from most other educational field trips. While no class credit is earned for the trip, homework and preparations are expected. We might, for example, research a town, watch a documentary, or read a book. For this trip, we did all three!

Collectively, our favorite read for the trip was John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. This book details Savannah in the 1980s through the eyes of an outsider (Berendt) who describes the murder trial of Jim Williams. To us today, Williams is something of a celebrity and savior of Savannahian architecture and culture.

To Savannahians in the 1980s, Williams was the proprietor of countless homes and host of infamous Christmas parties. To everyone, he is the subject of arguably the largest controversy in the Low Country.

The Mercer-Williams House faces Monterrey Square in the historic downtown of Savannah and was originally built for the great-grandparents of Johnny Mercer (General Hugh Mercer is Johnny’s famous great-grandparent) in 1860. Williams purchased the home in 1969, and it was almost in complete disrepair. Like the art and antique dealer that he was, Williams completely revamped the house down to hand-mixed, original paint colors, and hand-painted granite designs on the baseboards.

From a young age and under the guidance of his carpenter father, Williams renovated or restored different items. He used the basement of the Mercer-Williams as his workshop to repair the antiques, which he would later sell in the main house. Williams had a unique love for portraits, which was clearly displayed as we ventured around the house. Notable portraitists included Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Hudson, and John James Audubon. My favorite of the Williams collection was the 20 Audubon prints in one of the parlors.

The most impactful portion of the house was the study where Williams shot and killed his employee/lover Danny Hansford. Berendt describes in detail the events that did (or did not, depending on your belief in Williams’ innocence) take place in that room. The room felt heavier as we all knew we were in the room where Hansford threatened Williams with a German Luger, misfired, and seconds later fell to the ground with three new wounds.

Over the course of eight years and four trials, Williams was found not guilty by the Georgia Supreme Court, only to die a few months later at the age of 59, just a few feet from where he killed Danny Hansford.

Our experience in the Mercer Home was further enriched by having read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. With that background knowledge, we were able to associate the beautifully decorated interior with the events that occurred within the walls of the house.

Our tour guide, Max, gave a great overview of the history of the House and its few occupants. Some of the Williams family still take residence in the upper levels of the House, so sadly photography was not allowed. However, we did not let this distract us from our tour, as we visualized the scenes in the book in the rooms before us–and took advantage of much outdoor photography!

Leopold’s Ice Cream

We couldn’t leave Savannah without trying Leopold’s Ice Cream. After almost a full day of walking the historic squares of Savannah, we were due for a cold yet sweet Savannah tradition.

Leopold’s is known for their rich homemade ice cream dating all the way back to 1919. They pride themselves in having the “Best ice cream in Georgia.”

Due to Leopold’s reputation and the ice cream shop’s popularity, we were met with a long line and waiting time. To maximize this time we thought about the flavors we would order, perspired, and waited some more.

After a long debate and thought, I opted for the Butter Pecan and one of Professor Yawn’s favorites, the Peanut Butter Chippy. Olivia decided on the coffee chocolate chip; Ingrid, the vanilla. Jessica had a scoop of Rum Bisque and a scoop of Chocolate Chewies and Cream. Morgan took a different route and opted for a combination of lemon custard and coffee chocolate chip, a weird combination if you ask me. Nonetheless, we were all very pleased with our selections, and a majority of us would agree that this is the best ice cream in Georgia!

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is one of the “Golden Isles” of Georgia, and it is one of the most popular. Interestingly, it is owned by the State of Georgia, and it is governed by its own board of directors, which limit its development. That’s a happy reality for us, because we were visiting to explore some of its more natural elements.

And while we may have been there to see the island’s natural elements, but this did not stop us from driving through the “historic district,” where wealthy individuals such as Frank Henry Goodyear (Goodyear Tires) and William Rockefeller had houses. They were beautiful, and more closely resembled mansions than cottages.

Our main destination, however, was “Driftwood Beach,” which features hundreds of dead trees, victims of beach erosion. At low tide, these trees lie in impossibly intriguing angles across the beach, perfect for climbing, posing, or nature photography. We attempted all three.

Not all of the Ambassadors, we learned, are equally adept at climbing.

Or taking photos.

But, generally, we persevered, got a few notable photographs, and we experienced the beauty of a natural setting in the Georgia Low Country.

With that accomplishment, we traversed the Sidney Lanier Bridge (whose poetry we read prior to traveling, and whose home we stopped by yesterday), and returned to Savannah.

A Dive into the Deep South: Georgia

For LEAP Ambassadors, July means not only higher temperatures, but also the opportunity to attend the Southern Legislative Conference! And although this year’s program is in Charleston, South Carolina, we flew into Atlanta, with the idea of seeing a bit more of the deep south along the way. And while a few of us may be considered ‘seasoned’ travelers, traveling is a new experience for others. In fact, this was Michelle’s first time on an airplane!

We were all very hungry after our two hour flight, so we made our first stop at the Ponce City Market, which is in a 20th century mixed-use building with a intriguing industrial interior. It consists of two floors, with the restaurants on the first and some retail shops on the first and second floors. There are a variety of cuisines from all over the world that we could have had for lunch, but instead most Ambassadors opted to pursue the deep south theme and order from Hop’s Chicken, with orders of fried chicken sandwiches, mac & cheese sides, and, of course, sweet tea.

Feeling a bit more “experimental,” Professor Yawn and Stephanie ate a wrap from Botiwalla along with SPDP, which are flour crisps with yogurt and two kinds of chutneys. Ingrid chose to get a plate of pork, rice, and beans from El Super Pan.

With full stomachs, we were ready to take on the rest of our day, starting with The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park

By Michelle Cardenas

Upon arriving at Dr. Martin Luther King’s gravesite and museum, we were met with a recording of Dr. King’s powerful words echoing across the surrounding area. We were instantly drawn to the Civil Rights Walk of Fame, where many highly influential figures in the civil rights movement, such as Rosa Parks, Gandhi, and Judge Thurgood Marshall, were featured.

The park was decorated with inspiring quotes which encapsulates the hopes MLK had for future America. We were enthralled by the powerful messaging and representative structures. The eternal flame had to have been one of my favorite pieces in the park. The flame’s symbolism was incredibly profound; its persistence emulating Dr. King’s fight against racism and segregation.

The real showstopper was definitely Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and wife Coretta Scott King’s grave and memorial. The memorial has a vibrant pool and fountain surrounding the graves, which displayed a quote from Dr.King: “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.” The words, placed on what looks like a shallow staircase, have a serene stream of water pouring down, which resonated heavily with the group.

We eventually made our way to the Martin Luther King Jr. Museum located on the grounds of the National Historic Park. There were many of Dr. King’s personal items on display, such as his suits, shoes, robes, wallet and my personal favorite; his cufflinks and tie clips.

Some of Martin Luther King’s biggest accomplishments were also on display including his Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, presented to him by President Jimmy Carter and his Grammy, which he won for his speech “I Have a Dream”.

Dr. Martin Luther King’s wife, Coretta Scott King, had many pieces featured in the museum. A piece that stood out from her collection included the veil she wore for her husband’s funeral; some lipstick and tear stains still remained on the garment.

After seeing so many remarkable pieces and mementos of history, we headed to the gift shop! We made sure to pick up some mementos of our own to commemorate the visit.

Before leaving, we took the time to let the beautiful exterior truly sink in. In this time, Ingrid was able to capture the vivacity of the area with some excellent photos of the flowers.

It was a beautiful and moving experience, and it was both an inspirational and educational way to start the trip.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum

By Ingrid Cuero

We then headed to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, which was fitting following the MLK museum. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. actually endorsed President Carter during one of his early campaigns! Upon entry, we encountered a beautiful display with international flags surrounding a patch of vibrant flowers, signifying the 39th President’s commitment to a connection with other countries.

We began with a film providing an overview of the Carter Presidency, which was a great way to set the tone for our visit. Carter grew up on a farm in Plains, Georgia, and had a rich background. He was the first in his family to leave Georgia to pursue higher education, served in the military, and had a career as a nuclear engineer. President Carter was portrayed as a President who led with his conscience before his politics, passing key civil rights legislation in his time in office. Something that stood out to me was that he decided to leave the Navy to take over his father’s farmland. He was not necessarily invested in politics at first, but when a previous Senator vocalized a few issues that went against his beliefs of an equal society, President Carter decided to run for state senator. This marked the beginning of a career surrounding Carter’s passion for equality, civic engagement, and ethics.

President Carter’s election into office can be described as a fluke of fate. After experiencing the presidencies of two career politicians, Johnson and Nixon and the misfortunes of The Vietnam War and Watergate, voters were looking for something other than a “traditional” politician. Carter came across as an everyday American, earning trust with voters.

One of the highlights of the Carter Presidency was the peace negotiations with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem. We were able to view some pictures and videos of the monumental achievement of restoring peace among the two countries.

One of my favorite pieces in the museum was a portrait of President Carter by Octavio Ocampo, a mosaic. If you look closely, President Carter is made up of painted buildings, boats, flags, and 18-wheelers.

We viewed a model of Carter’s Oval Office, which had a collection of art curated by the President himself. To note a few, there was a sculpture from an early American sculptor we were familiar with, Frederic Remington; a portrait of a young George Washington; and a bust of Benjamin Franklin.

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience in President Carter’s Museum!

Erica Davis Lowcountry

By Jessica Cuevas

Following a long day–one in which we woke up in Houston–we made our way from Atlanta to Savannah, a 3.5 hour drive. In Savannah, we headed to Erica Davis Lowcountry for dinner. For our appetizers, we had fried green tomatoes and oysters rockefeller, all-time classic dishes of the South.

The fried green tomatoes were highly popular amongst all of us, but Ingrid’s favorite was, by far, the oysters rockefeller.

With great starters, we were eager to indulge in our main entrees.

Morgan ordered the best thing on the menu, which, according to the person who took our order, was the Wassaw Redfish; Ingrid had the Crab Stuffed Flounder; Michelle had a Flounder Po’Boy; Professor Yawn and Stephanie shared the low country boil and a pulled pork plate; meanwhile, Olivia and I shared a BBQ combo of smoked brisket, pulled pork with mac n cheese and savannah red rice.

We were intrigued to know that all the barbeque sauces at this restaurant are made there and that they had experimented with and created a sweet and delicious *peach* barbeque sauce–and it was our favorite!

Although some of us were full, others could not leave without having dessert. Following our entrees we treated ourselves to a banana pudding, key lime cup, and a slice of carrot cake. They were all delightful!

With full stomachs, we headed back to the hotel, ready to write about our experiences, edit photos, and prepare for an even more action-packed day tomorrow.

Freedom, Independence, and Service: Celebrating July 4th the LEAP Way

Michelle Cardenas

If it’s the Fourth of July in Huntsville, you know community members will be coming out to Kate Barr Ross Park to see what the City has in store. With a full house expected in the Park, LEAP Ambassadors arrived early to assist Parks and Recreation–under the supervision of Penny Joiner and Kristy Wheeler–with the large undertaking of entertaining the community.

Parks does this program annually, but it is a lot to put on. There is face-painting, bouncy houses, a dunking booth, a mechanical bull, balloon artists, a watermelon-eating contest, and a selfie station.

Filled with altruistic motives, LEAP Ambassadors did do a couple of test runs on the mechanical bull and in the bouncy houses…just to ensure the equipment was working properly.

At work time, we got down to business. At the information booth, LEAP Ambassadors were responsible for passing out wristbands and parental waivers for those wanting to participate in any of the games and the watermelon eating contest.

Local celebrities such as Aron Kulhavy (City Manager), Sam Maisel (Assistant City Manager), Penny Joiner (Parks and Rec Director) and Greg Mathis (Fire Chief) took turns sitting in the hot seat to get dunked! Taking advantage of the local figures’ goodwill, many people took the opportunity of using their hands to hit the target.

One of the crowd’s favorite events, and my personal favorite, was definitely the watermelon eating contest. The sight of all the participants digging their face into the watermelon was amusing.

This can be quite competitive…

One of our own, Ingrid Cuero…

…was brave enough to participate in one of the contests held. Although she didn’t win, she wasn’t afraid to get messy and demonstrated great sportsmanship!

And this was only one of the festivities!

The other activities proved just as fun for the participants.

Of course, the bouncy house was a fan favorite…

….including of at least one LEAP Ambassador…

And probably the biggest hit was the mechanical bull.

For good reason!

And we can attest to that!

Thanks to the great staff at Parks and Recreation, and support from Huntsville Police, Fire Department and the larger community, this was an enjoyable and memorable Fourth of July.

A lot of us are from larger cities, and it is particularly gratifying to see how welcoming Huntsville is. We are all proud to become more a part of the community, and this made it even more memorable to spend the day volunteering!

Thank you to the Parks and Recreation Staff for allowing us this opportunity and to the Huntsville community for coming out and being a part of things!

WAC: The Fall of Afghanistan and realities under the Taliban

Morgan Robertson & Olivia Discon

A little over two years ago, President Joe Biden announced the United States of America’s intent to withdraw from the Afghanistan War; our longest standing war in history. The aftermath of this cataclysmic event has been felt around the world, but no more so than in Afghanistan itself.

The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston (WAC) is widely known for bringing in big names and esteemed speakers. However, the panel for this past Wednesday was by far one of our favorites. One of LEAP’s goals is to broaden our knowledge of, and establish relationships with, the various departments on campus. For this event in particular, we had the privilege of having Major General David Glaser, Chief Strategy Officer for SHSU, join LEAP on our trip to Houston. General Glaser was a career military officer, and he offered us not only insights into the Afghanistan conflict, but also a unique perspective on the University’s strategic plan. On our drive down, we were able to ask General Glaser questions about his career and what it means to undertake a strategic plan for a large organization. He happily answered our questions, and asked a few of his own about our experiences at SHSU!

The event was hosted at the Asia Society of Houston, a beautiful contemporary structure that mixes Asian and American architecture influences.

While the architecture was certainly captivating aesthetically, its construction is equally admirable. The Asia Society is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified building. LEED certified buildings are green structures that are environmentally conscious in terms of reducing its carbon footprint and its water and energy conservation.

We arrived early so that we could participate in the social hour held before the program, and we were glad we did ! We had the opportunity to meet Jalil Shahkar, who works closely with General Sami Sadat. After a friendly introduction, we were able to take a photo with both General Sami Sadat…

…and Lt. General Khoshal Sadat, who would both be sitting on the panel later that evening.

Indeed, the social hour gave us the opportunity to interact with many people and represent SHSU, something we watched General Glaser do as well!

Chief Programs Officer Ronan O’Malley began the program by formally introducing the panelists for the evening: Green Beret and Executive Director of the 1208 Foundation, Thomas Kasza; Lt. General Sami Sadat, the final commander of the Afghan Special Operations; and Lt. General Khoshal Sadat, a former Deputy Minister of the Interior.

The audience then watched three clips from the 2022 documentary, Retrograde. These clips set the tone for the evening in three parts…

…before the end, which was Biden’s announcement of withdrawal and the suddenness of evacuating Afghanistan; the fall, which was the effects on Afghan troops after the abrupt loss of the United States’ support; and the chaos of the evacuation itself, which the panelists was not fully captured in media/governmental reports.

Both General S. Sadat and General K. Sadat spent their entire adult lives in war.

By virtue of their promotions near the end of the war, they were poised to be able to make major shifts in the war’s direction. The military effort, however, was terminated by the Americans just as they emerged in these leadership roles. The new leaders simply ran out of time.

While the outcome of the war and the implications of the U.S. withdrawal are grim, General Sami Sadat still has hope for Afghanistan for three reasons, in particular: (1) the Afghan people are against the Taliban, (2) the surrounding regions, such as Iran and Pakistan, are against the Taliban, and (3) Afghanistan, according to the panelists, will not allow or bring back corrupt politicians.

Thomas Kasza added a fourth hope, which was the absence of Americans. He noted that the presence of a perceived “Western Invader” provided life and ammunition (literally and figuratively) to the Taliban. The absence of the US may be, he hoped, “removing the fuel from the fire.”

This experience was humbling. Many Americans, including ourselves, are not aware of the realities of life under the Taliban today. Through this panel, we were better able to comprehend the present injustices and how United States legislation played a role in them.

Something that resonated with the entire group was a statement made by General Sami Sadat: “…We are alive. We have military training, we have soldiers, we have good friends in America, and we are combining everything we have to save our country.”

WAC’s Jahan Jafarpour wrapped up the evening, providing additional information about upcoming WAC events–which we hope to attend!

Dinner at Mary’z

In our typical LEAP fashion we try to dine at locations similar to our country of topic. Unfortunately we are unable to find traditional Afghan cuisine, but we did get to experience Lebanese food! There is an added layer of connection for the group Wednesday. Our own Olivia is half Lebanese, so naturally, questions regarding our dinner selections were directed towards her!

Mary’z offers a wide variety of new and great flavors. We started with that in mind, and ordered different dips and hummuses for the table. General Glaser noted that some of the best food he’s ever had was in the company of Afghan commanders. We were able to converse over dinner about the night’s event, and what we learned. Despite growing up during the war, much of the information was new to us.

Our meal selections ranged from Lebanese pita pockets, chicken and beef shawarmas, and beef kabob. We also ordered a variety of different sides, including more hummus, fafa beans, cauliflower, green beans, and baba gahanoush. We all enjoyed our selections, but we enjoyed the company more!

We were also eager to try their various types of Baklava, which proved to be interesting and rewarding!

On behalf of the LEAP Ambassadors, we thank WAC for continuing to host educational programs and allow us such opportunities as this.

We are also especially grateful to General David Glaser for joining us. It means a lot to have administrators support our efforts, and the presence of an expert on the Middle East and strategy added to our education immensely.

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