Arthur M. Blank (above), owner of Atlanta United and the Atlanta Falcons, is now the owner of Atlanta’s NWSL club. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta has been awarded the 17th National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) franchise. The expansion was announced at an event on Tuesday evening featuring a night of entertainment, live performances, popcorn, hot cocoa, and empowering moments for female athletes of all ages who have led, competed, and inspired through sport. Presented by Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment, the celebration was a testament that when you “empower her,” you “Inspire all.”
Arthur M. Blank, owner of Atlanta United, the Atlanta Falcons, and now Atlanta’s NWSL club, said that he’s learned from the women in his life that true greatness comes from using your achievements to help others rise along the way.
“As we launch this new club, I’m deeply inspired by the opportunity to give young girls across Georgia, including my own granddaughters, the chance to see what’s possible by watching these world-class athletes right here in Atlanta, Georgia, our home,” Blank said. “It’s my hope that this club will ignite something powerful in everyone who watches, especially young people, and light a spark that says, ‘if they can do it, so can I.’ This is not just about seeing the athletes on the pitch. It’s about recognizing the dedication, the resilience, and the teamwork it takes to get there.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (above) was one of the special guests on hand for the celebration of the newly announced club. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Other featured speakers at the celebration included basketball analyst and ESPN reporter Andraya Carter, former Soccer in the Streets player Lauren Dubois, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and United States Soccer Federation President Cindy Parlow Cone.
“I will now get to watch female athletes chase their dreams on the pitch right here in the ATL. So somewhere in Atlanta, right now, could be the world’s next great soccer star who will come of age knowing she can train here, play here, and win right here in Atlanta,” Dickens said.
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
The announcement comes at a time when all eyes are on the city as it prepares to host eight 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, including a semifinal match. The continued investment in soccer, from Atlanta United FC to the incoming high-performance Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, shows that the sport and what it means to people is deeply appreciated. And with the boom of women’s sports from media coverage to financial investment, the club is another step forward in the success of the game.
Women’s sports are redefining what’s possible in the athletics business and culture,” ESPN reporter Andraya Carter (above) said. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
“I’ve been so lucky to have the best seats in the house to some of the most exciting women’s sports events, and it has been absolutely electrifying across the country. Women’s sports are redefining what’s possible in the athletics business and culture,” Carter said.
When the new team takes the pitch in 2028, Blank said the club will represent the next generation of leaders, change makers, and athletes, and that the spirit of its supporters will build a club that stands for “excellence and greatness.”
“Our NWSL players will be role models who embody excellence, determination, and the unshakable belief that anything is possible,” Blank said.
Killer Mike on stage during the Dungeon Family performance at One Music Fest 2025. Photo by Tabius Mccoy/The Atlanta Voice
The Dungeon Family took to the P&G stage on Saturday night, the first day of the annual two-day musical smorgasbord, One Music Fest. Atlanta’s premier concert brings artists from across all platforms and genres to the center of the city. But on many occasions, it also features the artists who made Atlanta one of America’s musical foundations. Enter: The Dungeon Family.
The Dungeon Family consists of artists that have sold millions of records during their careers. From the Goodie Mob, to OutKast, to Killer Mike, poet Big Rube, to the music collective’s founders: the late Rico Wade, Ray Muray, and singer/songwriter Sleepy Brown, the trio that made up Organized Noize.
Even for a fan of their music, one can be surprised by how much music that has come from the Dungeon Family. The collective has played a major part in how the world saw and continues to see Atlanta’s music.
Goodie Mob members Khujo (center, on bike) and CeeLo Green (far right) break down their verses from the song “Watch For the Hook.” Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens got the festivities started by introducing the Dungeon Family to a standing room only crowd that continued to grow as song after song blasted from the speakers on stage and the others positioned around the grounds.
“I looked up to these guys when I was in high school,” Dickens said.
Big Rube started the show with a poem, the same way he often started Dungeon Family projects. To Dungeon Family fans, his voice is as familiar as any member of the crew, including international superstars like Big Boi, Andre 3000, and CeeLo Green.
The musical selections began with Cool Breeze, one of the more unheralded members of the crew, rapping his verse off “Dirty South.” The song was one of the many hits off of Goodie Mob’s debut album, “Soul Food.”
Both Witch Doctor and Backbone, neither of which is a household name, also performed verses from their archives, and it was well received.
Big Gipp and CeeLo Green made appearances next, and performed their verses from the Goodie Mob sing, “They Don’t Dance No Mo.” CeeLo Green would spend a lot of time on stage on this night, having contributed to nearly all of the biggest and most popular songs. From “Git Up, Git Out” to “Cell Therapy”, CeeLo’s fingerprints are all over the music.
Sleepy Brown (above) is one of the founding members of Organized Noize, the foundation of the Dungeon Family. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Sleepy Brown sang both verses of the song, “I Can’t Wait” and that performance was accompanied by Big Boi, who had a rap verse on the song. Andre 3000 has a verse on the song as well, but alas, he wasn’t there.
3000’s absence was palpable, but it did not ruin what was a perfect performance if there is such a thing. Killer Mike, a local businessman and social activist, has played a major part in some big hits in his own right. His verse on Big Boi’s “Kill Jill” got everyone on their feet, and his verse on Bone Crusher’s “Never Scared” might have stolen the show if not for Goodie Mob performing “Soul Food” and CeeLo’s performance of “Crazy.”
Big Gipp (above) rapped his verse from “Black Ice” early in the Dungeon Family performance. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Shante’ Byron came to the park on day one with plans to enjoy as many performances as she could, but she did have a game plan for the two days.
“I want to see all of the shows, but Jazmine Sullivan is my highlight,” she said.
Byron was wearing a black “Cowboy Carter” tour hoodie.
“I also want to see Future, Wale, Ludacris, and OutKast. Everybody else is a plus,” she said.
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
The night included performances by Mary J. Blige, The Roots, Kehlani, and a closing set by Future, one of Atlanta’s most popular artists, but the evening belonged to the first family of Atlanta Hip-Hop, the Dungeon Family.
The surprise of day one would be the quality performance that was put on by the group, RSVP. The group is made up of R&B stars of yesteryear who somehow remain relevant: Bobby Valentino, Ray J, Pleasure P from the group Pretty Ricky, and Sammy, a former child star. The foursome interacted with the large crowd throughout their one-hour performance and was routinely applauded as each took over lead vocals when performing their respective songs. Ray J spent half of his performance off stage and inches from the crowd.
A view of some of the construction in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (above) poses for a photo on one of the outdoor spaces at The Mitchell, one of downtown Atlanta’s newest apartment buildings. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
There’s a lot going on downtown these days.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens stepped out onto a balcony at The Mitchell, one of the newest downtown apartment buildings, and took a look around at all that has taken place and continues to take place. Located across Centennial Olympic Park Drive from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, The Mitchell can be seen as the perfect example of what should be expected from downtown living going forward. Only a few feet away, Hotel Phoenix is still undergoing renovations, and just a few more feet away is COSM, a mixed-use entertainment venue located within Centennial Yards, which is also getting the construction treatment.
Dickens, currently two weeks away from a second election night and a potential second term as his hometown city’s mayor, likes what he sees. The mayor says the growth of the city of Atlanta can directly be connected to what its downtown looks and feels like.
“I’m excited about downtown. Full stop,” said Dickens. “I want to see downtown come back and be better than ever before. I want to have people living here, working here, and entertained here. Just gathering downtown.”
“Over the next two years, you’re going to see it all come together,” said Dickens (right) of the downtown projects taking place. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
One of the latest additions to the downtown scenery, The Mitchell, is a 304-unit, 300,000-square-foot, 19-story residential project. The building is part of the billion-dollar revitalization of what was once called ‘The Gulch,” and is now part of one of the country’s most ambitious urban renewal projects. With less than a year before thousands of visitors come to downtown Atlanta for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguably the most popular sporting event on the planet, everything looks a lot different from the last time there was a global sporting event in downtown Atlanta.
“Cities across America have been struggling because downtowns are struggling, and Atlanta has been finding a way to bring back downtown,” Dickens said. “We’re doing it with Centennial Yards, South Downtown, and the area around Underground and Five Points. Over the next two years, you’re going to see it all come together.”
Dickens attended the Atlanta Hawks season opener on Wednesday night. Games like these are what he described as reasons Atlanta’s downtown will continue to be a desired destination for the city’s residents and visitors. Photo by Dionnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The landscape of downtown Atlanta looks nothing like it did several decades ago, or even last year. On MLK, Jr. Drive, which was once full of Baptist and A.M.E. churches, now has towering apartment buildings popping out of the ground. The man behind the rooftops on The Mitchell and COSM, Evolve Contractors, a Black-owned commercial roofing and construction company, is Channing Baker, and he believes the timing couldn’t be better for all involved in the return of downtown.
“It feels incredible. It’s the best timing because of the opportunities that Atlanta has provided,” Baker, owner of Evolve Contractors, said. “So far, the feedback has been that we have outperformed expectations.”
Baker told The Atlanta Voice that the rooftop on COSM is “about 90% completed.”
And that’s good because, along with the FIFA World Cup, next year will be the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, which took place in Atlanta and several metro Atlanta counties, including Clayton, Hall, and Rockdale counties. The world came to see Atlanta as much more than a sleepy southern city, and the World Cup will further elevate the city’s international reputation alongside the busiest airport in the country, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Atlanta Fire Department Station 1 Assistant Fire Chief Dwayne Johnson (left) gives Dickens a tour of the station. Fire Station 1 is centrally located in the midst of all the change taking place downtown. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
On “Downtown Day”, Wednesday, Oct. 22, Dickens toured several sites, including Atlanta Fire Department Station 1, which serves downtown, including Castleberry Hill, and local businesses such as Wild Leap, a restaurant underneath the Steele Bridge. There, Dickens shook hands and held conversations with patrons. There are so many things to do downtown, including grabbing a meal before the Atlanta Hawks season opener against the visiting Toronto Raptors across the street at State Farm Arena.
Fire Station 1 is centrally located in the midst of all the change taking place downtown. Atlanta Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief for Station 1, Dwayne Johnson, said the growth means a lot to the city and its citizens, but it also means there is more of downtown to serve.
“There’s growth everywhere, and from a fire department perspective, that means we have our job cut out for us,” Johnson said. “With growth comes growth.”
Dickens welcomes the growth.
City of Atlanta Chief Communications Officer Allison Fouche’ wears a “I’m Downtown” sticker in honor of “Downtown Day.” Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
“I want this downtown to be one of the marquee downtowns in our nation,” said Dickens, who attended the Hawks game and received a loud ovation from the capacity crowd when he was shown on the big overhead screen. “I want it to be one of the top 10 downtowns in America that you can come to and get everything you need from a great home to a fantastic night on the town, and you can also work down here with the jobs, technology companies, and small businesses. So, I want it to work for everybody.”
Asked how far away this ambitious goal for downtown was from happening, Dickens said, “We are probably seven months from when people really see it, and about 24 months from when it’s like when everything will be done. I think we’re right on time with the revitalization.”
The new store is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and marks Lidl’s continued expansion across the Atlanta metro area, offering a curated mix of private-label goods, imported European specialties, and everyday household items. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
The line outside Lidl’s newest U.S. store stretched down Northside Drive on Wednesday morning, matched only by the excitement of shoppers eager to step inside. With croissants and coffee in hand, people gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the European grocer’s latest location at 1090 Northside Drive NW.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony began shortly after sunrise and drew a crowd that included residents, Georgia Tech students, and city officials. Among those present were Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and City Councilmember Dustin Hillis, who both emphasized the store’s significance for the surrounding community.
“I’m glad that Lidl chose West Midtown for us to have fresh food accessible to so many people and at great prices,” Dickens said. “We have an amazing staff. I’m excited to work with them and excited for this community.”
For Christian Readus, a Ph.D. student in chemistry at Georgia Tech (above), the new Lidl represents better alternatives that were not previously available. “I’m glad to see different students are taking advantage of how walking distance it is,” Readus said. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
The new store is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and marks Lidl’s continued expansion across the Atlanta metro area, offering a curated mix of private-label goods, imported European specialties, and everyday household items. Known for its efficient store layouts and rotating weekly deals, Lidl brings a model of affordability and freshness that has made it one of Europe’s most popular supermarket chains.
For store manager Shatara Jackson, the morning was a new milestone in her career. After five and a half years with Lidl, this was her first grand opening as a store manager.
“It’s amazing,” Jackson said. “Just to see everybody stand outside so early in the morning waiting to see what the store has to offer is everything.”
Jackson, who previously managed locations on Memorial Drive and Covington Highway, said she arrived at 4 a.m. to ensure the store was ready for customers. “We get trucks every single day with fresh produce and baked goods,” she said. “I’m just making sure that the focus is on the price points and the freshness of the store.”
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta City Councilmember Dustin Hillis, who represents District 9, said the opening marks an important addition to a rapidly growing corridor.
“Having neighborhood grocery stores is very important, especially to this area with so much mixed-use development,” Hillis said. “We have students from Georgia Tech nearby, and now people can not just drive to the grocery store, but they can walk or ride their bikes. As we focus on bringing more complete streets to the city and connecting neighborhoods to their commercial centers, people can put fresh food and produce on their tables.”
For Christian Readus, a Ph.D. student in chemistry at Georgia Tech, the new Lidl represents better alternatives that were not previously available. “I’m glad to see different students are taking advantage of how walking distance it is,” Readus said, “It’s really hard to get healthy options close by. We have Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s, but nobody wants to get that every day. So it’s good to go get some stuff and cook at home.”
Readus emphasized that convenience was the main draw. “I’m just excited that we have a grocery store so close that I can walk to,” Readus said. “Before, I had to go all the way to Kroger or Publix. Now I can meal prep and eat healthier; it’s very advantageous for my fitness goals.”
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Inside, customers explored aisles filled with freshly baked bread, imported cheeses, and other affordable favorites.
As Mayor Dickens cut the ribbon and before the crowd subsequently poured in, he spoke to the gathered community outside.
“Thank you all for choosing this area, and I’m excited to see all these customers,” Dickens said. “Let’s continue to really support this grocery store so they can be as successful as possible, so the community can be served.”
The new Lidl is located in West Midtown at 1090 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.
The Atlanta Voice opened its doors to the community for a joyful Midday Open House, marking six decades of storytelling, advocacy, and community connection. The celebration was more than an anniversary—it was a vibrant reflection of the publication’s mission to inform, uplift, and empower Metro Atlanta.
Throughout the afternoon, guests enjoyed a lively drop-in experience that blended nostalgia with forward-thinking energy. From guided peeks into current initiatives to sneak previews of what’s launching next, visitors got a firsthand look at how The Atlanta Voice continues to evolve while staying true to its roots.
WAREhouse Studio buzzed with conversation as longtime supporters, community partners, and new friends mingled with The Atlanta Voice staff. Laughter and stories filled the air as attendees shared memories of the publication’s impact and envisioned the next 60 years together.
“This milestone isn’t just about where we’ve been—it’s about where we’re headed,” said Publisher Janis Ware. “The Atlanta Voice has always been about amplifying the voices of our community, and that mission continues stronger than ever.”
Special Guests & Honors
We were deeply honored to welcome Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who stopped by to share reflections and gratitude for The Atlanta Voice’s legacy of truth-telling and community service. His words inspired the crowd and reminded everyone how local journalism continues to shape the future of our city.
We also extend heartfelt thanks to Fulton County Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington Jr., who presented an official proclamation recognizing The Atlanta Voice’s 60 years of excellence and enduring service to Metro Atlanta.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our 60th Anniversary Partners
This milestone moment wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of our anniversary partners: Centennial Yards, DeKalb County, Anthem Health, Invest Atlanta, and INSPR Media. Your belief in our mission helps power the stories that move Atlanta forward.
The Atlanta Voice publisher Janis Ware (above) during the 2025 Salute to Legacy luncheon. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
Surrounded by local community members and business leaders on the rooftop of Roosevelt Hall, The Atlanta Voice publisher Janis Ware was honored at the City of Atlanta’s Salute to Legacy luncheon on Tuesday afternoon. The event recognized longstanding local businesses that have helped shape the cultural and economic fabric of Atlanta for the past 30 years. Under the helm of Ware and her dedication to innovation and community impact, The Atlanta Voice has stood the test of time in its mission to be a voice for the people, since it was co-founded by her father, J. Lowell Ware, in 1966.
“I’m excited and thrilled to be recognized as a legacy business. It’s not easy to make it 30 years, and it’s even more of an accomplishment to get to 60,” Ware said.
The event was the brainchild of Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development authority. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who also serves as chair of the Invest Atlanta board, attended the luncheon and recognized the adaptability and resilience of many of Atlanta’s small business owners. Dickens emphasized the importance of celebrating these legacy businesses that have contributed to Atlanta becoming the “city that influences everything.”
“Legacy businesses are pillars and economic anchors for the community, and we can’t be a city of opportunity for all if we don’t uplift our legacy businesses. You all provide consistent jobs for our residents…. These businesses have mentored generations of entrepreneurs and reinvested in our local economy, whether it is boom or bust, recession or pandemic, or any other thing — 30 years you have endured,” Dickens said.
“Your longevity brings economic stability to our neighborhoods, and this is especially important in times of uncertainty. Your businesses represent the living history of Atlanta, each one of you telling a story of your own and a collective, shared journey that we all have. To stay in business for 30 years or more takes resilience, innovation, and deep connection to the community.”
The Atlanta Local Legacy Program comprises over 400 businesses. Those who are a part of the program are included in an online registry that allows interested customers to find and patronize their establishments, and are qualified to apply for improvement grants aimed at sustaining vital businesses within the community.
Twenty businesses were inaugural recipients of the local legacy program celebration, including The Atlanta Voice, Busy Bee Cafe, Atlanta Human Performance Center, The Beautiful Restaurant, Georgia Justice Project and Mr. Everything Cafe, to name a few. Each business was awarded the first edition of the Atlanta Legacy Coin, a commemorative gift that Invest Atlanta President Eloisa Klementich said will continue the legacy of telling the stories of important organizations and events in the city.
“Longevity in business is not just about profit. It’s about purpose. It’s about people. It’s about preservation,” Klementich said. “You [legacy businesses] have helped to build and inspire the foundation we all stand on, and we continue to light the way forward. Here’s to the next 30 years.”
A rendering of the Azalea Fresh Market on Peachtree Street. Rendering provided by City of Atlanta
There was no red ribbon outside the front door of the Azalea Fresh Market as political dignitaries and business leaders waited for the exact moment to begin the first tour of the store. The market is located at the corner of Peachtree St. and Edgewood Avenue, and directly across the street from Woodruff Park.
What was once a Walgreens with people sitting and sometimes lying outside is now supposed to be an answer to changing downtown Atlanta’s status as a food desert. The store resembles your average Publix, with clean floors, well-lit sections, fresh fruit and vegetables, and high-end candies, like Tony’s chocolate bars.
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Invest Atlanta President & CEO Dr. Eloisa Klementich, and Savi Provisions President Paul Nair attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“I want to revitalize Downtown,” Dickens said as he and others were given a tour of the first floor of the market by Nair, some of his family members, and staff. “This is our vision coming true.”
According to Nair, Azalea Fresh Market was designed by architects at the Savannah School of Art & Design (SCAD). The second floor, which was not part of the Mayor’s and media’s tour on Thursday morning, will have two restaurants. The second floor will be accessible via escalators and an elevator. The store will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
Asked about what could be done to prevent any security issues with the market being open till 10 p.m., Dickens said there will be plenty of eyes on the first supermarket in the Five Points area in decades.
“We are very well aware of the need to maintain safety and security. Businesses thrive when they don’t have the uncertainty of crime,” Dickens said. “We made a commitment to this location, to Savi, and to the residents and businesses of downtown, that we are going to make sure it is safe.”
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Dickens said there are cameras and security systems in place for added security. The 61st Mayor of Atlanta added that the Atlanta Police Department, Georgia State Police, and the Central Atlanta Progress Downtown Ambassadors are all routinely on the scene and will provide an extra layer of security.
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
“I think there’s a lot of eyes on this,” Dickens said. “So, when you have a lot of activity, the more shoppers you have, the more business that is going on, and that provides safety.”
During the tour at the back of the store, Dickens credited Nair for the prices of the protein powder. Dickens said he uses similar products and pays equal prices for them.
“We absolutely want to be cheaper than Walmart,” Nair told Dickens.
The Olympia Building, home of the large Coca-Cola clock on top of the building, in which Azalea Fresh Market is housed, has been a landmark for many years. The nearly 100-year-old building has been home to several businesses, including bank branches, and Tom Pitt’s Soda Fountain in the early 1900s.
Azalea Fresh Market is not a cheap solution to Downtown Atlanta being a food desert, but it is an answer.
“Y’all did it,” Dickens said to Nair and company. “We set the vision and y’all made it happen.”
Dozens of people gathered outside of Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta for the press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Partners for HOME CEO Cathryn Vassell, Georgia State University President Dr. M. Brian Blake, Frank Fernandez of Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, and members of the Atlanta City Council gathered on the corner of Peachtree Street near Woodruff Park for the special announcement.
The park, a regular stop for the city’s homeless and unhoused alike, was surrounded by Atlanta Police and people in suits and casual dress. New York City native and Atlanta resident Demetrius Overton wondered if it all meant anything.
“You don’t see a lot of these people around here any other time,” Overton, 38, said. “They preach that good song, but does anyone hear it.”
The Mayor was the first to speak and announced a major investment in the effort to combat what remains a major issue in Atlanta: homelessness. A public-private investment of $150 million will build hundreds of units for the city’s homeless.
“This is something that the city must take the lead on,” Dickens said during his remarks. He added that this would be the single largest investment in homelessness in the city’s history.
Dickens said this investment wouldn’t just be for short-term fixes for units, similar to what was created with The Melody project last year. It would be for the long haul.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
“We are here today to talk about something we all see and are touched about,” Dickens said.
The details of the million-dollar investment include multiple projects, according to renderings that were set up near where the Mayor and others spoke. According to Vassell, there are also plans to continue raising money for further investment.
“We must move like we have never moved before,” said Vassell, who said Partners for HOME have “rehoused” thousands of families over the past couple of years.
Following the event, Dickens (left) greeted a man who called out to him moments before the press conference began. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
“This is a crisis in our country, and until we get a hold of it, we will continue to see unhoused people coming into our community,” Vassell said.
The two projects, Waterworks and 405 Cooper Rapid Housing, will be located in underserved communities on the city’s Westside. According to Dickens, waterworks will consist of two buildings and 100 total units that are expected to break ground in the fall. 405 Cooper, located in Mechanicsville, will combine 70 for-sale townhomes with 100 units for the unhoused.
Fernandez, who said he saw people sleeping on the street on his walk over to Woodruff Park Tuesday morning, added, “This commitment says a lot about who we are as a city.”
The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta contributed $10 million to Partners for HOME for this project. According to its website, partners for HOME, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that was started in 2015, aims to bring together government, nonprofit, business, and community stakeholders to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring.
Vassell wants to raise another $43 million of private funds for the projects but added that this cannot just be a collaboration between these entities. Taking from the Mayor’s “Group project” slogan, Vassell said there also needs to be investment from county, state, and behavioral health organizations.
“This investment is courageous, ambitious, and audacious,” she said.
Gina Palmer, owner of She Salon, is flanked by Senator Jon Ossoff (right) and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, spoke of having to watch many of her friends close their small businesses during the Trump administration. “I have seen my friends close their businesses because they were struggling to get by,” Palmer said. “Because of the Biden-Harris administration we are making a comeback.” Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
With the 2024 presidential election just a little more than four months away surrogates for both the Biden-Harris administration and for former United States President Donald J. Trump are hitting the campaign trails throughout Georgia. For voters, Democratic and Republican, having respected political figures show their political cards can go a long way to steering certain voter blocks – seniors, small business owners, young voters, Black voters, for example- to the polls in November.
A sign on the wall inside Rocky’s barber shop. Photo by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta Voice
The voice coming over the speakerphone was a familiar one. Inside Rocky’s Barber shop on Piedmont Road in Buckhead and outside the door via a speaker that was set up to accommodate the dozens of media members that were there to cover a roundtable discussion with Trump surrogates and Black small business owners on Wednesday, June 26, former United States President Donald J. Trump began to speak.
“As you know I cut taxes and regulations more than any administration ever,” Trump said. He went on to say that during his time in office his administration say the lowest percentage of Black unemployment in history and they now “have great support from the Black community.”
That support was on display at the barbershop a day before the first presidential debate was set to take place in Midtown at McCamish Pavilion Thursday night. A roundtable discussion about Black voters supporting the Trump campaign was moderated by Republican Congressman Byron Donalds (FL) and attended by fellow Republican Congressman Wesley Hunt (TX), Dr. Ben Carson, the former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Trump, and a number of local Black small business owners. With media from across the country and the world (there were reporters representing media outlets from Spain and the UK in attendance), Donalds, a strong Trump supporter, kicked things off with a story about how both of his parents attended Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs) because “that’s all they had.”
Photo by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta Voice
“This is all about Black excellence and it’s not confined to one party,” Donalds said. “Black excellence is about everyone.”
The two-hour roundtable was one of the examples of how the Trump campaign is attempting to reach Black voters. During his time on speakerphone, Trump made a couple jokes and was asked about his idea of no longer having tips taxed for wage workers.
“I just came up with it,” he said. “Let the people earn what they earn. [The idea] has been so popular. Vote for Trump, no tax on tips.”
Republican National Committee spokesperson Henry Scavon told The Atlanta Voice that the Trump campaign now has “over a dozen fully staffed field offices in the state right now.” There have been offices opened in remote Georgia cities like Martinez and north Atlanta Republican strongholds like Alpharetta, according to Scavon. There were also offices opened in Fayette, Gwinnett, Cherokee, and Cobb counties, he says.
A number of events featuring Congressman Hunt and hosted by former ESPN host Sage Steele are scheduled for this week around metro Atlanta.
During a Small Business Owners for Biden-Harris event which took place at She Salon in Castleberry Hill on Tuesday, June 25, Senator Jon Ossoff, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Georgia State Senator Jason Esteves, along with several small business owners. One of those small business owners, Gina Palmer, the owner of She Salon and the event’s host, said she watched a lot of her fellow small business owners close their businesses during COVID. She blamed those closures on the ineptitude of the Trump administration.
“I have seen my friends close their businesses because they were struggling to get by,” Palmer said. “Because of the Biden-Harris administration we are making a comeback.”
Ossoff, who gave Palmer a hug after she was done speaking to the assembled media inside her small salon, added, “I am here to deliver a very simple message: We must reject Donald Trump’s comeback bid.”
Asked if he believes the small business voter block is one that the Biden-Harris should target, Ossoff said, “You are hearing first hand from small business owners here today just how much they appreciate competent leadership that’s focused not just on the most powerful companies and largest companies with the most lobbyist, but the main street businesses who were left behind during the former president’s botched Covid response and have been the center of this administration’s attention.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has been a staunch supporter of the Biden-Harris administration. “This type of leadership is making a difference on the ground in Atlanta,” said Dickens. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Dickens reiterated Ossoff’s statements and was very clear about how much he believes the Biden-Harris administration has had Georgia on their minds.
“As mayor I’ve seen first hand how the infrastructure bill has helped Atlanta,” said Dickens. Less than a month ago Atlantans had to deal with a major water main break in Midtown, downtown and on the southwest side. “This type of leadership is making a difference on the ground in Atlanta.”
On Saturday, June 22 seniors and veterans from Columbus, Georgia and the surrounding district gathered in a hotel conference room to hear Congressmen Sanford Bishop (D-Ga., 2nd District) and his good friend and colleague Jim Clyburn (D-SC, 6th District) talk about the importance of voting this election season.
Biden-Harris surrogates like Clyburn, a longtime colleague of Biden’s from his Congress days, and Bishop, who is in a race for his seat with Republican challenger
Nearly 155 million Americans voted during the previous presidential election. More than 75% of registered and active voters ages 65-74 voted in that election, according to data from the United States Census Bureau, making the senior voting block crucial to both candidates.
We’ve got a great story to tell,” said Clyburn about Democratic supporters and the party as a whole. “We should not be on the defensive, let’s go out and win this election.”
The 60th Mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, spoke at a Black Voters for Biden-Harris event on Saturday, June 1, 2024 in Decatur, Georgia. Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice
The Biden-Harris Administration recently kicked off a multi-city tour for its Black Voters for Biden-Harris voter outreach program. Standing in a parking lot outside of Twain’s Brewpub & Billiards in Decatur on a cool Saturday afternoon in early June, Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms took to a podium to speak to just under two dozen supporters about voting in November.
“This campaign isn’t taking a single Georgian for granted,” said Williams of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to reach Black voters, a crucial demographic to the campaign’s 2020 victory over then President Donald J. Trump. Williams called the Black Democratic block in Georgia, “the backbone of the Biden-Harris Administration.”
Voting down ballot doesn’t always get the same level of political support that a presidential campaign does. So it is not a surprise that midterm elections do not draw the voter turnout and overall general interest that a presidential election does. That said, the numbers in three of metro Atlanta’s most populated counties by Black people, Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties, were extremely low during last month’s midterm primary elections. The state of Georgia saw more than 514,000 ballots cast during those same midterm elections in May and less than 100,000 of those votes were cast in three of the seven largest counties in the state, according to data provided by the Georgia Secretary of State Office.
In Clayton County, which has nearly 177,000 active registered voters, according to Georgia Secretary of State data, only 13,443 voted in the primary. The Clayton County ballot included the race for county sheriff, which is now headed to a runoff between current Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen and Jeffrey Turner, the former Clayton County Board of Commissioners chairman.
In DeKalb County, the fourth largest county in the state, 34,214 active registered voters cast ballots during the midterms. DeKalb County has more than half a million active registered voters, according to Secretary of State data.
Fulton County, the largest county in the state of Georgia, boasts more than 751,000 active registered voters but only saw 53,001 make their way to the polling stations in May despite the sheriff’s race, which was won by a large margin by the incumbent, Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat, and democratic race for county district attorney, which was won by incumbent Fani Willis, on the ballot.
Runoff elections for primary and federal offices in Georgia will take place on Tuesday, June 18. Traditionally runoff elections see even less turnout than the primary election did. A prime example being the November 30, 2021 runoff election between Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Felicia Moore. Moore had received 41% of the general election vote in comparison to Dickens’ 23% before losing in the runoff, which saw much less voter involvement throughout Fulton County.
United States Representative Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, speaks during a press conference on Saturday, June 1, 2024 in Decatur, Georgia. Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice
Bottoms, who had been out of the national and local political limelight for a while, mentioned being “rusty” but ready to drum up support for the Biden-Harris administration. She spoke of being told that it would be political suicide to endorse Biden for president in 2020, but she felt then and now that he was the right person to lead the country.
“I believe it even more so, because we know the words of Maya Angelou, when someone who they are believe them,” said Bottoms in reference to Trump, who was recently convicted of 34 counts of election fraud in New York City.
Atlanta officials were slowly repressuring the city’s water system Saturday after corroding water pipes burst in downtown and Midtown, forcing many businesses and attractions to close and affecting water service in area homes.
The city was handing out cases of water and setting up portable toilets at several fire stations and first responders were checking high rise residences to see if the elderly or other vulnerable residents were OK.
“Water is a valuable, critical resource and cities can’t function and lives can’t function without it,” Mayor Andre Dickens said during a news conference Saturday. “It’s absolutely at the top of our list.”
The problems began Friday morning when water gushed into the street where three large water mains intersect downtown, causing water problems at two hospitals, a city jail, a county jail and local shelters. A separate break occurred later in Midtown, adding to the problem.
Officials were widely criticized for being slow to update citizens on the situation. The city and its water management department sent out an update after 8 p.m. Friday and waited more than 12 hours to update residents again. Dickens didn’t address the media until 2 p.m. Saturday and explained he was in Memphis when the problem began.
Someone in the affected area posted flyers around the neighborhood asking “Don’t have water?” and “Help us find our mayor.”
Dickens promised updates every two hours until the situation is resolved.
“Overnight, we did not do the best job of communicating. We could have done a better job over the past day, and for that, I apologize,” he said.
A boil-water order was still in effect Saturday for a large swath of metro Atlanta. Residents were asked to restrict water usage to allow the pressure in the system to rebuild.
“Certainly we understand the urgency of getting water service restored, but we also want to make sure we do it in a manner that does not cause any further regression of our work,” Atlanta Department of Watershed Management Commissioner Al Wiggins Jr. said during a Saturday news conference. “Any water utility, it’s a fragile setup.”
He said he hoped service would be fully restored Saturday, but he could not guarantee it.
Some attractions and businesses, including the Georgia Aquarium, remained closed Saturday.
“The city-wide water issue is still affecting the Aquarium and many others in the area. This is not affecting our animals, but it is affecting our guest areas like restrooms,” the aquarium posted on the social platform X.
The city urged people to check on elderly or sick neighbors and relatives.
“The entire City Government is mobilized to address this issue,” the water department said Friday.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s concert was moved from Friday to Sunday. She was also scheduled to perform at the State Farm Arena on Saturday. That performance was scheduled to go on as of Saturday morning, but was still questionable a few hours before it was supposed to begin.
“I’m extremely disappointed because I had a huge surprise for the Hotties tonight, but we will follow the Mayor’s protocol,” she posted on X. “Praying for the people who lost access to water due to this situation.”
Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat (center) with supporters at his election night watch party at Park Tavern Tuesday night. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Incumbent Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat was re-elected in what can be considered a landslide on Super Tuesday. As of 10 p.m., three hours after polls were closed in Georgia’s largest county, Labat was leading the other three candidates, Kirt Beasley, James “JT” Brown, and Joyce Farmer by more than 23,000 votes.
Labat earned nearly 40,000 votes while Farmer finished second overall with just under 17,000 votes. Both Beasley and Brown earned 11% of the vote with just over 8,000 votes each.
Asked how he feels about having been in such a comfortable lead with more than 60% of the votes having been counted earlier in the evening, Labat said he was “fortunate.”
“We worked really hard and were very intentional about what we wanted to do which is protect and serve our community.”
Asked what this victory meant to him, Labat said it was, “The opportunity for us to continue to serve the community.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (center) made a stop to Labat’s watch party Tuesday night. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens made his way into the watch party a few minutes after 9 p.m. after having spent some time at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ watch party. Willis won her primary election by 60,000-plus votes over Democratic challenger Christian Wise Smith. A supporter of Labat in the past, Dickens shook hands and hugged Labat and his wife Jacki. Labat’s daughter Maya arrived a few minutes earlier. She was following the election results on her phone. “On my way down here I heard it was 58%,” she said.
Fulton County Superior Court Clerk was won by the incumbent Che Alexander with 52% of the vote. Former Atlanta City Councilmember Keisha Waites finished with 33% of the vote.
The race for Fulton County Commissioner District 4 seat looks like it is headed to a run off between incumbent Natalie Hall and Georgia State University professor and lawyer Mo Ivory. The pair were stuck at 41% of the vote each well into the 11 o’clock hour on election night.
A Spelman College professor joined the “speak out” Wednesday morning. A trio of Morehouse faculty (not shown) also spoke out against the war in Gaza and President Biden’s upcoming visit to Morehouse on May 19. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
What was labeled as a student “speak out” and not a protest, took place on the campus of Morehouse College in front of the Walter E. Massey Leadership Center Wednesday morning.
Dozens of students from various universities and colleges within the largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) installation in the country took a stand against what has been taking place in the Middle East.
A number of Atlanta University Center (AUC) students took turns speaking out against the war in Palestine. There was also a member of Spelman College’s faculty that also spoke out against the violence in Gaza.
“We tell Biden to fuck off and don’t come to the AUC,” said one professor that did not give her name.
“We need a ceasefire now. No more lives need to be lost,” said Natalie, a Spelman College student who shared that her father was killed by police in January. “The AUC and the West End does not support genocide.”
Chants of “Listen to the students. The students are never wrong,” “Stop Cop City,” “Hands off Rafa” and “Free Palestine” filled the air in between students taking turns speaking out against everything, including United States President Jospeh R. Biden coming to Morehouse College to give the commencement speech at graduation later this month.
“We just don’t want our tax dollars used for war,” said student media liaison Malik P., a Morehouse rising senior. “Period.”
Morehouse College rising senior Malik P. spoke with the media before the “speak out” began. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Along with Morehouse College President David A. Thomas and Spelman College President Helene D. Gayle, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was also targets of chants during the speak out.
“No peace on Spelman land. No peace on Morehouse land. No peace on gentrified land.”
Miramar, Florida Mayor Wayne Messam (above, center) was one of several mayors that spoke to the media during the opening press conference of the African American Mayors Association conference in Atlanta on April 24, 2024. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
The mayor of Tracy, California, looked around the grand ballroom inside the Omni Atlanta Hotel and smiled. She was 2,200 miles away from the city she is leading, but felt right at home at the same time. “I love the connectivity,” said Nancy Young.
The first Black mayor and female mayor in the history of the northern California city of just under 100,000 residents, Young is no stranger to Atlanta, her son attended Morehouse College some years back, so she knew she was definitely returning to Atlanta for this special occasion. “And I have been talking to other mayors in California about coming to the conference too,” she said.
Asked what she is looking to accomplish while she is in town and among dozens of other Black mayors from cities both big (Atlanta, New York City, Memphis, and St. Louis, to name a few) and small (Palmetto, Georgia, Miramar, Florida, and Earle, Arkansas, pop. 1,800) Young said she wanted to learn more about how to get larger businesses to connect with and invest in smaller businesses. Tracy, located in San Joaquin County, is 60 miles east of major tech hub San Francisco and 60 miles west of agribusiness and food manufacturing giant Sacramento. Tracy’s population is just under 6% Black, according to the most recent U.S. Census data.
“I’m trying to find out new ideas and new ways to bring back home to our residents,” said Young, who is in the fourth year of her first term as mayor. She served the city council for a decade before running for mayor.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
The African American Mayors Association Conference (AAMA) is taking place in Atlanta this week at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park. Black mayors from across the country gathered in the heart of downtown Atlanta to exchange ideas, fellowship and in the words of Mount Vernon, New York Mayor and AAMA President Shawn Patterson Howard, to be in “the only place where you are going to see this collection of mayors.”
Some of the speakers at this year’s conference have been making national news, including Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, the first and only female mayor in the city’s history, were also on hand. Former Phoenix Suns star and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former AAMA president, was also in attendance.
The State of Our City opening press conference took place Wednesday, April 24 with current Patterson Howard, incoming AAMA President and Montgomery (AL) Mayor Steven Reed, Little Rock (AR) Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. and Miramar (FL) Mayor Wayne Messam all taking turns speaking on the behalves of American cities that are being led by Black men and women.
Montgomery (AL) Mayor Steven Reed. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Following the press conference, Palmetto (GA) Mayor Teresa Thomas-Smith, that city’s first Black and female leader, said she was at the conference to “tap into what my peers have already been doing around the country.”
Thomas-Smith, an Atlanta native and graduate of Benjamin E. Mays High School, was elected on Nov. 7, 2023 and said she brought Atlanta-style politics to that town of just over 5,000 residents for that election.
“I ran a campaign like I was running for governor,” she said.
The first Black and Black female mayor in the history of Jonesboro, Georgia was also in attendance Wednesday night. Dr. Donya L. Sartor, a longtime educator and former Jonesboro city council member, was elected on the same day as Thomas-Smith. This is her first AAMA and said it could not be taking place in a better location.
“It’s coming full-circle with Maynard Jackson being so pivotal,” Sartor explained. “With all of the different local and national elections coming up, this is an opportunity for all of us to fellowship and share ideas.”
Jackson’s time as the first Black mayor of Atlanta was an ever-present theme throughout the opening press conference and will be through the week, according to Patterson Howard.
“You can’t move into the future until you understand the past and how the foundation was laid,” she explained. “Atlanta is who it is because of his vision.”
Mount Vernon, New York Mayor and AAMA President Shawn Patterson Howard (above) said this is “the only place where you are going to see this collection of mayors.” Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Little Rock (AR) mayor Frank Scott, Jr. said he and his fellow mayors are in Atlanta to revive, reset and resurrect.
Montgomery (AL) Mayor Steven Reed said the purpose of the conference is to bring change to their respective cities. “It’s about working hard to bring about the types of change all of the residents of our cities want to see,” he said. “We are here today to reset.”
There were several panels planned for the four-day conference that will take place through Saturday that include discussion topics ranging from social policy and justice to protecting our democracy via civic engagement.
There is also a community town hall scheduled for Saturday morning inside the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College that will include former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and National Urban League President and former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial.
On Wednesday, Memphis Mayor Paul Young and St. Louis Mayor, Tishaura Jones, spoke about efforts to combat and reduce violence in their respective cities. Jones, who is in the third year of her first term as mayor, said homicides are down by 40%. She credited a three-pronged plan that is taking place in St. Louis: prevention, intervention and enforcement.
“We are not defunding the police, we are recruiting police,” Jones said.
Miramar (FL) Mayor Wayne Messam, one of the scheduled speakers for the opening press conference, spoke about how DEI has been used to disregard and disrespect certain Black mayors around America. “DEI is the new boogeyman and it’s impacting us all. As AAMA, we must stay vigilant and stay focussed.”
A video plays before Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens took the stage inside the Woodruff Arts Center on Monday, Mar. 25, 2024. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The auditorium inside the Woodruff Arts Center filled quickly after 8 a.m. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was going to give his annual State of the City Business Address. Coming out onto the stage to Usher’s “Yeah!”, Dickens immediately thanked the three former Atlanta mayors in attendance; Ambassador Andrew Young, Bill Campbell, and Shirley Franklin.
Dickens took a moment to thank the numerous government officials, City of Atlanta employees, his family and close friends. He also took time to thank the family of former Atlanta Mayor and legendary civil leader Maynard Jackson, the first Black mayor in the city’s history, who were also in attendance. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Jackson being elected.
“I’m blessed to have a talented group of people on my team,” Dickens said.
Governor Brian Kemp was not in attendance, but was also acknowledged by Dickens for his work leading the state.
“The state of our city is strong,” said Dickens at the beginning of his address. He listed a couple of reasons why he believes the city is in as good of fiscal and professional shape as it has ever been. Dickens listed the services provided to citizens, effective government, the city’s strong AA+ credit rating, and how there is a better relationship between the city and state governments.
He even had time to joke about the never-ending potholes blanketing the metro Atlanta area. Dickens said more than 23,000 potholes were filled during his time in office, including on DeKalb and Cascade avenues, and on West Paces Ferry Rd. All very busy streets, particularly during rush hour traffic and on weekends. This drew a massive amount of applause from the capacity crowd.
“All of these things are a testament to our city’s forward momentum,” Dickens said.
That forward momentum includes the reduction in violent crime which has continuously been highlighted by both the Mayor’s office and the Atlanta Police Department (APD). Dickens credited the creation of units like APD’s CARE unit and the nightlife division, which began in 2022.
Both housing and finding constructive things to do for and with the city’s youth have been bedrock’s of Dickens’ tenure as mayor. He asked a man named George to come to the stage. The former truck driver, who now needs a wheelchair to get around, fell on hard times following multiple strokes and wound up homeless. George now lives at The Melody, a community of shipping container homes that the City recently debuted as a part of a homelessness initiative. Dickens has a goal of having 20,000 units of affordable housing built and The Melody is one way to inch closer to that number.
“I’m thankful to say now George has a key to a place he can call home,” Dickens said. “We’re not done yet. We’re going to have some more Melodies across Atlanta.”
On the eve of an election year Dickens pulled out all of the stops during this year’s State of the City address. There are goals to build a MARTA station with rail and access to the Beltline on the Southside. Dickens also mentioned plans to build three infill MARTA stations throughout Atlanta. The mayor called MARTA “underutilized, in part because we don’t have enough stations located where our residents need them most.”
The diversity of the city was on full display with the morning’s invocation, prayer, and benediction being performed by Rabbi Peter Berg from The Temple, Rev. Dr. Dock Hollingsworth, Senior Pastor at Second Ponce De Leon Baptist Church, and Imam Plemon T. El-Amin of Atkanta Masjid of Al-Islam.
Prior to Dickens taking the stage, Woodruff Arts Center President and CEO Hala Moduelmog, Carol Tome’, UPS CEO & Atlanta Committee for Progress Chair, and The Coca-Cola Company Chairman & CEO James Quincey. A performance from a pair of spoken word artists from the Morehouse College Theatre Ensemble also took place during the event.
During Tome’s time behind the microphone, she echoed the Mayor’s “team project” ethos for the city. “We all have to have a role to play in the Mayor’s key initiatives,” she said.
Atlanta Metropolitan State College (AMSC) installed (Feb.16) its fifth and first female president Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers, Ph.D. during an investiture ceremony on the institution’s campus located on Metropolitan Parkway in Atlanta. Sellers was installed by University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue.
The program marked Thompson-Sellers first year in office. The Board of Regents named her as president on Feb. 1, 2023. The ceremony was attended by a host of educators, elected officials and community partners from around the region. Special presentations came from the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta City Council.
The ceremony also marks the 50th anniversary of the institution which began as the Atlanta Junior College, then Atlanta Metropolitan College to its current status of Atlanta Metropolitan State College.
During her address, Dr. Thompson-Sellers cited her first year accomplishments and announced the launch of the $1,974,000 scholarship campaign: “It Just Means More.”
Dr. Thompson-Sellers comes to her new position at the Atlanta institution with more than 30 years of experience in higher education. Most of her career has been spent in the University System of Georgia.
Thompson-Sellers earned her bachelor’s degree in physics from The University of the West Indies (Mona Campus, Jamaica), a master’s degree in telecommunications from Iona University, and a doctoral degree in instructional technology from Georgia State University. She also holds a graduate certificate in analytics from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining the Trailblazer family, Dr. Thompson-Sellers served as president of South Georgia State College (SGSC), where she established new initiatives to increase enrollment, reduce expenditures and enhance the college’s technology infrastructure.
Thompson-Sellers has served in an array of roles at Georgia State University as well as the former Georgia Perimeter College, now part of Georgia State University. She previously taught at her alma mater, Iona University in New Rochelle, New York.
She has received numerous awards and commendations, and is a 2024 recipient of the Paragon Award for New Presidents by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK). She recently completed her term as a board of trustee with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and currently serves on the board of trustees for Iona University, the ATL Airport Chamber, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Regional Educational Service Agency (Metro RESA).
Atlanta Metropolitan State College, an access institution of the University System of Georgia, educates students from diverse backgrounds by providing affordable, career-focused bachelor’s and associate degree programs. The college offers student-centered instruction, civic/community engagement, and quality services that lead to the success of its inter-generational 21st century graduates.
Love was in the air on Valentine’s Day as Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens officiated the marriages of a dozen couples at Piedmont Park.
Hosted by Marry We, dozens of couples got married in a ceremony at Greystone at Piedmont Park on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
During the wedding event, songs like “The Lady in My Life” by Micheal Jackson and “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston were covered beautifully by a talented saxophonist. There was a certain feeling of unity, love, and joy in the air during Valentine’s Day 2024.
The “Marry We” mass wedding ceremony is hosted by Southern Hospitality Event Group. Couples signed up online and paid $1,000 to participate in the ceremony. Couples also were invited to renew their wedding vows.
Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Marry We also invited professional dancers and performers to give a beautiful performance to open the wedding.
“It is an honor to join you all during this beautiful Valentine’s Day evening here at Piedmont Park,” Dickens said. “We are gathered together to celebrate the union of individuals and for some couples, a renewal of their vows who have made the decision to live their lives and walk into the unknown of the future together.”
Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Dickens also shared a passage from the novel, “The Amber Spyglass” by Phillip Pullman with couples. The passage talks about loving your partner forever no matter what happens in the future and even after death.
Couples took pictures, laughed, and enjoyed each other while taking in such a monumental day and time. Also, couples received packages which included a marriage license signed by Dickens, portraits, and a wedding gift.
Additionally, after the ceremony there was an indoor reception, catered by Dennis Dean Catering. The reception included dinner, dessert, music, and an open bar.
