ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The inaugural Soil and Soul Fest was held at Charles M. Sherrod Civil Rights Park in Albany on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Attendees and organizers alike say the event was a success at bringing the community together and bridging the gap between rural health and environmental health.

Aunquarius Brown-Reed is an organizer and the Resiliency Coordinator at SOWEGA Rising.

“We are holding this event to bring joy to our community. We are living in times where a lot of things are going on in our community and our country. Community-wise, we’ve had three back-to-back shootings and we wanted to bring joy to the area,” he said.

Brown-Reed told WALB that over 100 people attended the event. He said the most popular activity was trap zumba.

“One of the things that we love to dispel is the myth that there is nothing going on in Albany. And so when there is something going on in Albany, we like to come and support. We’ve been having a good time. My wife and I, we’re having a good time and we’ve eaten some good food, as well,” said Reginald Sweet, an attendee.

One of the vendors, Patrice Williams, with Helping Mamas, was providing free period products for women in need.

“It’s important because about 25% of students and women in the workforce do not have consistent access to period products,” she said. “So then it brings this phenomenon of period poverty, and I’m pretty sure that increases depending on the economic situation of your community, especially since we’re in rural southwest Georgia.”

Brown-Reed said they plan to host another event like this next year.

“So by the time we come around this time next year, we will have more vendors and exhibitors, not only from Albany, from across the country, especially our partners here at SOWEGA Rising,” he said.

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