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The True Citizen, Wednesday, June 9, 2021 — Page 15
AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC APPRECIATION MONTH
Local pianist plays from the heart
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The playground was deemed
a National Demonstration Site,
an award presented by Play-
Core for the city’s dedication in
promoting health and wellness,
especially amongst children.
“I want to thank the City
of Waynesboro for your out
standing commitment and
leadership,” said a PlayCore
spokesperson. “We believe
high-quality outdoor environ
ments play a critical role in pro
moting community health. It
was our honor to work closely
with the City of Waynesboro
in the planning process and
thoughtful implementation of
an evidence-based design to
support health and wellness
initiatives. The Sixth Street
Park exemplifies an outdoor
play and recreation destination
that has thoughtfully turned re
search into practice to promote
inclusive play and physical
activity.”
PlayCore's Center for Out
reach, Research & Education
recognizes communities across
North America as National
Demonstration Sites and com
mended Waynesboro for en
gaging stakeholders in the
planning process while provid
ing ways to gather data about
the site's impact on the commu
nity and ultimately enhancing
the user experiences through
unique programming oppor
tunities. Specifically, the park
before on many occasions, this
moment was different. It was
special,” he denoted. “Little
did I know that would be the
last time we would share music
together. This musical moment
we shared has continued to
help me through my struggles
of dealing with losing her.”
During the lows of life, mu
sic has a beauty to it that can
reframe perspective. Skinner
took advantage of that aspect
and uses music throughout
every mood in life.
“I really believe there is a
song for every moment and/
or situation of our daily lives,
whether good or bad/ happy or
sad, “he said.
Skinner also uses himself as a
tool to evangelize the beauty of
music. He has played for many
civic groups, church ministries
and other organizations of the
CSRA. He also volunteers with
the Burke County High School
gospel choir as their pianist. He
currently plays for three music
ministries in Burke County
and is the Minister of Music at
Antioch Rock Creek Baptist
Church as a member of the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
“I am proud of our communi
ty, and I look forward to many
more opportunities to serve the
amazing community of Burke
County,” he remarked.
David Skinner performs a hymn on his local church piano
Zero Turn Mowers & Repair Services!
JADA CURD
Student Contributor
June is African American
Music Appreciation Month.
The celebration was initi
ated as Black Music Month
by President Jimmy Carter in
1979. In 2009, the commemo
ration was given its current
name by President Barack
Obama. The earliest form of
black musical expression in
America emerged in spiritual
music. Now, Hip-Hop and rap
are musical traditions firmly
embedded in African Ameri
can culture. This month, the
True Citizen is honoring Burke
County citizens who are part
of the local African American
music scene.
David Skinner Sr. would not
be able to juggle the responsi
bilities of being a father, a son,
a brother, a coach, an employee
of the Burke County Board of
Education and just an overall
upstanding member of the
community if it was not for the
presence of music in his life.
Music has been an influential
part of his world since he was
a child. He recalls using music
to bond with his family and
express his creativity.
“We had an old upright piano
in our house when I was a
child, and I recall always at
tempting to play commercial
jingles and music that I heard
either on the television or the
radio on that old piano,” he
said. “My father was a mem
ber of a gospel quartet group
when I was about six years
old. He made me rehearse with
them (on the old piano) every
Thursday evening, despite the
fact that I had no idea what I
was doing.”
Following his musical in
trigue during childhood, he
continued to incorporate music
in all of his ventures. Music
has done the same for him. He
stands behind the concept that
people are connected through
music so it is easy to meet
and become acquainted with
all types of people within
the music world. He has wit
nessed through music that an
individual can travel to places
otherwise left unexplored.
Like many, music helped
Skinner get over the hurdles
that life placed in his path.
Skinner’s specific hurdle was
the passing of his sister. He
recalled prior to his loss he
had shared a moment with her.
They sang together while he
serenaded with the piano.
“Though we had done that
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Waynesboro’s Sixth Street
Park not only received an
upgraded playground, but the
city was recognized for its
commitment to outdoor play
and recreation.
Gravely Husqvama, Spartan, Echo,
Ego t Generac & DR Power
Equipment, Four Wheelers
City and community leaders recently gathered for the play
ground’s ribbon cutting ceremony.
was recognized for utilizing the
seven principles of inclusive
play where both physical and
social inclusion can occur to
the greatest extent possible.
“Moving beyond minimum ac
cessibility guidelines, this park
intentionally addresses the de
velopment of the whole child,
aligns with evidence-based
design principles of the whole
environment and benefits the
whole community by provid
ing a meaningful destination
for individuals of all ages and
abilities to play together,” the
spokesperson said. “A robust
and balanced assortment of
playground activities can be
found to support the physi
cal, social-emotional, sensory,
cognitive and communicative
needs of all children, includ
ing those with disabilities.
This outdoor play destination
incorporates six key elements
of play — balancing, brachiat-
ing, climbing, spinning, sliding
and swinging to promote fit
ness opportunities that support
national physical education
standards and efforts to combat
childhood obesity.”
225 Old Millen Highway
Waynesboro* Georgia 30830
www.tayloroutdoorequipment.com
(706)551-5094
Come Socialize With Us!
■
auction CO
"Great Deals...Great People...Great Fun!"
425 Highway 25 South
Millen. Georgia 30442
(478)401-5007
City of Waynesboro recognized
for commitment to recreation