Meet Kigwana Cherry: Curator of Pop-Up Awesomeness and Urban Farmer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kigwana Cherry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kigwana, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking is part of being and entrepreneur. One of my favorite quotes is by Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus: ” Take chances! Make mistakes! Get Messy! The other by Booker T. Washington: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as by the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed.” When I started Pop-Up Augusta!, I didn’t know how it would be received in Augusta comparison to big cities, but it was worth the try and the pay-off continues to grow. Did I have failures and obstacles? Of course, but I learned from them, regrouped and executed. COVID of course hit the entertainment industry hard, so instead of sulking I created with my friends. We started a livestream and audio backline business. With venues closed, I opened up my front yard for my band, The Lady & the Gents, to perform for the community which turned into a series Live On Your Lawn. Taking my green thumb and turning it into an urban farming consulting business Farmer Musician. From that one chance, I now assist in managing a local black farmer co-op, consulting for two community gardens, turned my backyard into an urban teaching farm, and working on expansion! I even have chickens and made my own calendar! #BlessingsOnBlessingsOnBlessings

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The entire concept (of destination unknown and hanging with people outside your established circle) is new to this area, so the largest obstacle we faced was getting people to understand exactly WHAT we were doing and WHY we the concept would work. Though there were news reports and media features, even our close friends were confused about exactly what to expect. The answer was simple: expect the unexpected… this will be a SENSORY event. We are constantly asked: “Who’s gonna be there? Where will we be? Who’s performing, cooking, etc…? The answer was always the same. “We can’t reveal that. You’ll just have to buy a ticket.” What sets us apart? Our Motto: Share a meal. Ignite conversation. Inspire change. Pop-Up Augusta! goes beyond entertainment. We didn’t just want to entertain. We made a direct effort to change this community. At the grassroots level, cities are changed by the individuals who inhabit them and the alliances they form. In effort to preserve guest experience we limit each group to a maximum of 30 guests. We seek to connect creatives and change-makers. Though we could accommodate larger groups we feel the need to preserve the opportunity for guests to network.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oooo! I do this all the time! 1. Downtown to see public art like the James Brown Mural and Statue. Hangout downtown munch on food from one of the local mom and pops. Dinner we’ll get bougie and go to the Pinnacle Club. We would hit Studio Neighborhood Bar during the week for Karaoke or Live Music on Wednesdays. If the weather is right, rent jet skis from Jet Ski Augusta. Definitely hit the Golden Blocks for the history buffs. Weekends we must do Beer Yoga at Savannah River Brewery. Brunch, set up a Mimosa Crawl to check out my favorite brunch spots like Toaste Event Bar, 5th and Finch, Southbound, and Bodega Ultima to name a few. Finally, end the week, chill out poolside at the crib, and plan for the next visit!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shoutout to my business partner Karen Gordon the Empress of Kool aka Augusta’s First Lady of Jazz. She was the incubator of pushing me to create Pop-Up Augusta! Karen has been a stalwart in the advocacy of not only Jazz music in Augusta, but also the progression of the socio-economic components of the city for over 15 years. She is my continued inspiration to keep pressing forward beyond obstacles to continue creating greatness in our city.

Website: www.popupaugusta.com

Instagram: @popupaugusta @farmermusician

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/popupaugusta