The Abigails

✨ Thank You to Our March Speaker CoCo ✨

A heartfelt thank you to Coco Guthrie-Papy for joining The Abigails Speaker Series for her inspiring presentation, “From Advocacy to Action: Turning Passion into Progress.”

Coco shared powerful insights about what it takes to build communities where justice and opportunity are the rule, not the exception. Drawing on her work with Mary’s Place: Sexual Assault Center of the Coastal Empire, as well as her advocacy for criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, and community mobilization, she challenged us to consider how passion can be transformed into meaningful, lasting change.

Her emphasis on relationship-building, civic engagement, and empowering women to lead in their communities was both motivating and thought-provoking.

Thank you, Coco, for reminding us that progress begins when individuals step forward, work together, and turn advocacy into action.

We are grateful to all the Abigails and guests who joined us for this engaging conversation.

⏳✨ Join Us This Thursday: Coco Guthrie-Papy ✨⏳

This Thursday at 3:15 p.m., we welcome Coco Guthrie-Papy for a powerful and thought-provoking discussion on turning advocacy into lasting impact.
From supporting survivors at Mary’s Place to advancing criminal and juvenile justice reform at the Georgia General Assembly, Coco’s work bridges grassroots organizing and public policy. Her experience spans restorative justice practices, civic engagement, and mobilizing communities — especially women — to create meaningful change.
This conversation will explore:
🔹 The real challenges of social activism
🔹 How relationships drive sustainable progress
🔹 Ways individuals can transform passion into purposeful action
🔹 Why civic engagement matters now more than ever
📍 Messiah Lutheran Church
🕒 3:15 p.m. check-in
Come ready to listen, learn, and be inspired.
All Abigails and guests are welcome.

Join us 📣✨ From Advocacy to Action: Coco Guthrie-Papy ✨📣
🗓 Thursday, March 19
🕒 3:15 p.m.
📍 Messiah Lutheran Church
What does it truly take to build communities where justice and opportunity are the rule, not the exception?
Join us for an empowering conversation with Coco Guthrie-Papy, Program Developer at Mary’s Place: Sexual Assault Center of the Coastal Empire.
Coco began her work as a volunteer advocate and has since supported initiatives focused on restorative justice, reproductive rights and care access, public policy, and programs assisting incarcerated individuals. As Director of Public Policy and Communications at Deep Center, she served as a lobbyist at the Georgia General Assembly, advancing legislation to reduce punitive policies and strengthen the social safety net.
Her work centers on relationship-building, civic engagement, and mobilizing communities — especially women — through local efforts like Emergent Savannah and national movements such as the Women’s March.
🌱 How does passion become policy?
🤝 How does advocacy become action?
💬 How can each of us make a meaningful impact?
All Abigails and guests welcome.

✨ A Powerful Afternoon of Reflection & Progress ✨

On February 12, in celebration of Black History Month, we were honored to welcome Dr. Otis S. Johnson, who shared powerful reflections from his life — from growing up in Savannah during Jim Crow to serving as Savannah’s second Black mayor.

The program was thoughtfully moderated by Lizann Roberts, former Executive Director of the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition.

As a young boy, Dr. Johnson knew the discrimination he witnessed was wrong. His stories reminded us of both the challenges and the meaningful progress that have shaped our nation and our city.

We were especially proud to recognize the renaming of the Savannah Cultural Arts Center to the Otis S. Johnson, Ph.D. Cultural Arts Center — a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy.

The afternoon concluded with a well-deserved standing ovation. 👏

Thank you to all who joined us. We look forward to seeing all Abigails and guests at our March meeting!

Dr. Otis S. Johnson: A Trailblazer in Civil Rights and Leadership

We have an extraordinary event in February! Join us on February 12 at 3:30 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church to hear Dr. Otis S. Johnson, educator, activist, and former mayor of Savannah. We encourage everyone to secure their spot and be part of this remarkable event you won’t want to miss! ✨

All Abigails members and their guests are welcome.

https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/10/despite-a-146-billion-surplus-state-leaders-say-they-cant-bail-out-snap/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TodaysTop5(TT5)&utm_content=6389749

Despite a $14.6 billion surplus, state leaders say they can’t bail out SNAP The federal government says the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will run out of money Nov. 1. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says there is nothing the state can do.

https://georgiarecorder.com/briefs/federal-food-aid-for-over-one-million-georgians-to-stop-nov-1-because-of-shutdown/?emci=bc4154e7-f9b0-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&emdi=fea3b5dd-34b3-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&ceid=327039

Federal food aid for over one million Georgians to stop Nov. 1 because of shutdown • Georgia Recorder The federal government informed Georgia that it lacks funds for November SNAP food benefits for one in 10 state residents.

https://thecurrentga.org/2025/10/25/chatham-county-absentee-ballots-go-missing-in-mail/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sunday%20Solutions%20--%20Oct.%2026%2C%202025&utm_source=a869d97c8b&utm_source=All+-+The+Current&utm_campaign=997d95b602-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_10_24_08_43&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-997d95b602-360262826

Chatham County absentee ballots go missing in mail - The Current Chatham County's voter registration office is working to remedy a 'technical error' that caused some absentee ballots to go missing in the mail, adding to the pressure to restrict mail-in voting.

https://georgiarecorder.com/2025/10/23/state-election-panel-recommends-ending-no-excuse-absentee-voting-in-georgia/?emci=d576f59f-d2b0-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&emdi=2b78fc87-a2b1-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&ceid=327039

SEB recommends ending no-excuse absentee voting in Georgia • Georgia Recorder The State Election Board will officially recommend that Georgia lawmakers end no-excuse absentee voting when they reconvene in January.

https://thecurrentga.org/2025/10/21/floridan-aquifer-shows-recovery-after-international-paper-ceases-operations/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Coast%20Watch%20Oct.%2022%2C%202025&utm_source=a869d97c8b&utm_source=All+-+The+Current&utm_campaign=3f9ce93693-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_10_20_09_39&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-3f9ce93693-360262826

Floridan aquifer shows recovery after International Paper ceases operations - The Current The Floridan aquifer in Savannah rose approximately 2 feet after International Paper shut down production at its nearby mill, which is permitted to withdraw 12.2 million gallons of water a day from the aquifer.

https://georgiarecorder.com/briefs/georgia-makes-strides-on-emissions-while-growing-economy/?emci=28a4a5eb-c6a5-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&emdi=6c0c218a-34a8-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&ceid=327039

Georgia makes strides on emissions while growing economy • Georgia Recorder This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WABE and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. Georgia has cut its greenhouse gas emissions per person nearly in half in the last 20 years, mostly by replacing coal power plants with natural gas and solar. But the state stil...