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Tag: Atlanta Public Schools

  • Former Atlanta Board of Education chair Erika Mitchell talks legacy, future

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    Outgoing Atlanta Board of Education Chair Erika Mitchell is stepping down from her position, but she is not retiring; instead, she is transitioning back into her previous role.

    The Atlanta Board of Education recently swore in Jessica D. Johnson (At-Large, Seat 9) as the new chair and Dr. Ken Zeff (District 3) as vice chair. 

    Since being elected to the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education in 2018, Mitchell has appeared as a prominent public servant, actively engaging as a Board Member and emphasizing the importance of parent and community engagement. 

    Mitchell spearheaded significant initiatives, including introducing District 5’s electronic newsletter, establishing community partnerships, advocating for the district’s Planetarium renovation, and repurposing vacant school buildings into community centers.

    Mitchell’s leadership extends to policy development, where she played a pivotal role in crafting the school district’s first policies on Literacy, Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Trauma-Informed Practices, and Restorative Justice Practices. She also co-authored the Atlanta Public Schools Equity Policy.

    The Atlanta Voice sat down with Mitchell at the HIVE in Buckhead to talk about her legacy, the look to the future, and more.

    Erika Mitchell, Atlanta, Georgia, Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta Voice: Why did you decide to step down? Why now?

    Erika Mitchell: It wasn’t a matter of why I wanted to leave, but it was more so that you have new board members coming on. A lot of people want a shot at the board chair. A lot of people want a shot at a position and a title, and a lot of times they don’t know what comes with that. There’s a lot of work. People might say, ‘Oh, you made it look easy,’ but it’s because I did the work. As the board chair, you always have a target on your back because it’s always someone standing in the corner wanting to be the board chair, and that’s just what it is. I took advantage of the first two years, but it doesn’t mean that I will not be the board chair in the future. Right now, the dynamics of the board have changed, where you have eager and new ambition board members who want a shot at leadership.

    AV: You’re not retiring, just simply transitioning back into your old position, so talk to me about why you even took this position in the first place.

    EM: Back in 2023, we had a lot of uncertainty about our district leadership, and there were four board members who came to me and asked me if I would run for chair. My take on it was, you need to talk to the current chair, and we need to figure out what our plan is moving forward. I don’t like to get political, and I said, ‘If you want me to be the chair, you must get me the votes,’ because I’m not going out there doing it myself.’ The reason is because I have respect for the person who was the chair. We didn’t agree on everything, but I wasn’t going to do another person that way, and I don’t think that’s how you know you go into leadership. You must have conversations up front. I don’t feel like you do things behind people’s backs that does not help with the trust issue. 

    EM: For me, it was going into this space where all the work in seminars and workshops I’ve been in just put into practice. This was the first success I had as board chair, but not limited to the 11% pay raise that we were able to do for our teachers and paraprofessionals. I think if you invest in your staff, your staff will invest in your students. We were able to get an 11% pay raise to help with teacher retention, to make sure we keep qualified teachers for the district. The graduation rate did go up that year, and every year it’s going to increase.

    AV: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?

    EM: When I think about the work that I’ve done, it has been student-focused and centered. I look at the gains that we were able to make with literacy, numeracy, and closing the gaps. I look at the pay raises, which is great, and then we gave another 10% pay raise to our frontline workers, nutrition staff, custodial workers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, we must invest in our staff. Also, the Honorary Diploma is one of the many policies that I offer, but this one is more centered around what I see at graduations and some of the tragedies that have struck our district. When I think about the parents who walk across the stage to receive the empty diploma folder for their student who tragically lost their life through gun violence, it affects my spirit.

    EM: I recall watching one of the parents just crying and crying, and all they had was an empty diploma folder. How could we honor the student? The honorary diplomas were a way to acknowledge and honor the student. When you honor people like parents, that’s what it means to care and be intentional about how you serve. That’s one of the policies I’m very most proud of, not limited to literacy or restorative justice, but all the things I’ve done. I also look at the partnerships that I’m helping them bring into the district, like the World Cup partnership. In a few minutes, I’ll be headed downtown to meet with U.S. Soccer and FIFA to figure out how we’re going to make sure our students are included in this World Cup experience and not excluded. That’s especially important to me.

    AV: As the former chair, where do you want to see the Atlanta Board of Education in the future?

    EM: I want to see us get people on the board that really want to do the work. A lot of times, they use the board as a stepping stone to go to various positions. The work is around the future generation. If this future generation is receiving the quality education they need, and we’re running something, you can see a notable change in the city by the type of students reproduced that go into the workforce, that’s a job well done. If we have quality board members who really want to do the work, you will start to see that change. I have remarkably high hopes for the new chair. In the future, I see the board stabilizing a superintendent who could have a six-to-eight-year tenure. We have not had that in a long time, and that’s the success of the district, when you were able to retain and keep a superintendent who’s doing the work.

    EM: I would also like to see the board members receive a compensation increase. Last year, we were recommended by the Atlanta Compensation Commission for a $70,000 raise. We were the only entity that didn’t take the full raise, but then we do the most work. If you can invest in your district, you can invest in your board members, because if you invest in your board members, you can keep good board members, because you got to think about a lot of times they’re going to other jobs because they got to make a living.

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    Isaiah Singleton

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  • Controlling the Scores 

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    Standardized testing has long been framed as a neutral measure of achievement. Yet, its origins in white supremacy reveal that it was designed to privilege white, middle-class norms while excluding others. For Black students in under-resourced schools, the consequences are especially severe. These assessments misrepresent their abilities, deny access to advanced programs, and contribute to cycles of exclusion and punishment that mirror the criminal justice system. Testing corporations and reform advocates wield hidden power by profiting from these systems and defining achievement without community input, and, most sharply, standardized testing exerts invisible power by shaping students’ beliefs about intelligence and worth, embedding deficit narratives in their consciousness. 

    Since the development of high-stakes standardized testing policies under the No Child Left Behind Act, federal agencies, testing corporations, and school administrators have gained disproportionate power over public education—using test scores to control curriculum, discipline, and school funding. This power structure not only reinforces racial hierarchies embedded in test design but also criminalizes academic failure, contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline by disproportionately excluding and punishing Black students in under-resourced schools.

    Policymakers and organizations that impose testing requirements wield the most visible form of power in standardized testing. Standardized tests were created to maintain racial hierarchies, as Strauss (2021) demonstrates by tracing their roots to white supremacist ideology. She illustrates how bias was ingrained in the basic framework of American education when standardized assessments were developed to support white, middle-class values. Through accountability laws like No Child Left Behind, which influence curriculum and school financing, policymakers continue to impose these biased instruments. This is a form of visible power: Black students are disproportionately harmed by institutions that require testing as a policy, criminalizing academic failure. Schools that are deemed to be “failing” are subject to staff turnover, closures, and heightened surveillance, which destabilizes communities and perpetuates inequality.

    Dunbar Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia, is a victim of school closure. As part of the district’s efforts to close a $100 million budget deficit, the area has been targeted for closure. Atlanta Public Schools has suggested closing Dunbar along with other schools that serve primarily Black students, despite a 33 percent rise in enrollment and considerable community resistance. Families argue that the closure would be devastating for the neighborhood, depriving it of a critical resource and putting kids into overcrowded schools farther away. This closure is justified by enrollment figures and accountability indicators, which are frequently linked to performance on standardized tests. This case demonstrates how policymakers use test scores and budgetary constraints to control which schools survive and which are sacrificed. These closures exacerbate the injustices already present in the school-to-prison pipeline for Black youth by reinforcing instability, dislocation, and exclusion.

    The companies that create, administer, and profit from standardized testing wield secret power that extends beyond legislators. Standardized tests, according to Taylor and Lee (1987), misrepresent the talents of African American students by neglecting language and cultural diversity. Testing companies like Pearson, Educational Testing Service (ETS), McGraw-Hill, and Houghton Mifflin define intelligence, favoring dominant communication standards while disregarding Black students’ cultural practices. This exposes hidden power. Exam sales and administration generate enormous profits for these firms. In addition, Pearson has won contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to administer college-readiness and state exams, dominating the U.S. testing market. Test fees, study materials, and scoring services are significant sources of income for ETS, the organization that creates and administers the SAT and GRE. Ninety-six percent of state-level tests are written by four companies: Harcourt Educational Measurement, CTB McGraw-Hill, Riverside Publishing, and NCS Pearson (PBS, 2001). Companies spent at least $20 million on lobbying to obtain contracts and favorable legislation, and the testing boom driven by Common Core and No Child Left Behind generated nearly $2 billion yearly business (PR Watch, 2015). 

    These influential individuals promote injustice and deficit narratives by misclassifying Black students and preventing them from enrolling in advanced programs. Black children’s exclusion from educational opportunities is not accidental; rather, it is profitable. Policymakers gain power by using test results to support reforms and closures, while corporations benefit from test sales, repair programs, and preparation materials. The school-to-prison pipeline also supports economic exploitation, as jails benefit from a regular influx of young people and political leaders consolidate power through “tough on crime” rhetoric. In this way, the psychological injury to pupils directly translates into material advantage for those in power. According to Mallett (2015), test results are used as a weapon to support harsh policies and school closings, which destabilize Black communities and schools. When taken together, these sources demonstrate how policy agendas and corporate profit combine to maintain inequality.

    The psychological and ideological impacts of standardized testing on Black students are the most harmful, invisible form of power. Taylor and Lee (1987) emphasize the psychological injury caused by linguistic bias, and USC Scribe (2022) links this harm to criminal prosecution and exclusion. The psychological toll is immense. Repeated exposure to low exam scores fosters anxiety, depression, and disengagement from school. Students frequently experience a sense of learned helplessness because they believe that, no matter how hard they work, a biased system will judge them as failures. Reduced motivation, increased dropout rates, and vulnerability to harsh punishment might result from this internalized inferiority. According to USC Scribe (2022), Black children who perform poorly on tests are frequently excluded, suspended, and eventually come into contact with the juvenile criminal system. In this sense, by instilling deficit narratives in Black children’s minds, standardized testing actively creates failure rather than merely measuring accomplishment. 

    Additionally, standardized testing promotes a competitive worldview that conceals structural injustices in addition to individual disengagement. Black students are informed that their shortcomings are personal rather than systemic, which upholds racial hierarchies and justifies exclusion. This ideological strength ensures the internalization of deficit narratives, shaping identity and long-term outcomes. Students’ conduct, academic engagement, and motivation to fight exclusion are all impacted when they start to perceive themselves as less capable. Black children are more likely to experience punitive discipline and eventually come into contact with the legal system as a result of the severe psychological and ideological toll. This illustrates the invisible power: when their talents are misrepresented, students internalize failure and shame, disengage from school, and accept exclusion as a given. Standardized testing is significant because it not only misrepresents talent but also molds identity and self-worth, instilling deficit narratives in children’s minds and perpetuating structural injustices. 

    Standardized testing interacts with severe discipline systems rather than existing in a vacuum. According to Mallett (2015), low test scores are often used as an excuse for zero-tolerance policies and school closures, which force teachers and children in underprivileged communities to relocate, as seen in Dunbar Elementary. Black kids are disproportionately affected by these “improvements” because they are more likely to attend underfunded schools and experience severe disciplinary actions. As a result, students are forced into surveillance and control systems, and intellectual struggle is criminalized. According to Mallett’s (2015) findings, the combination of punitive policies and standardized testing results in a real, tangible school-to-prison pipeline. Black kids are disproportionately drawn into juvenile justice systems due to institutional injustices that are perpetuated by testing and punishment rather than innate flaws.

    The USC Scribe article (2022) gives a vivid picture of how standardized testing leads to the school-to-prison pipeline for Black youth. It defines individuals in the court system and school officials as visible powerholders who uphold rules that link discipline to academic achievement. These policies disproportionately impact black children; test-related academic tracking increases the likelihood that they will be penalized, expelled, or reported to the police. Black kids are frequently depicted as disruptive or underachieving, which shapes public image and policy without responsibility. The hidden power in the racism assumptions ingrained in testing and discipline practices causes students to internalize these narratives; they become disengaged from school and come to terms with their eventual exclusion, which gives rise to invisible power.

    Standardized testing employs three different forms of power: visible, concealed, and invisible. Students internalize stories of failure when their talents are exaggerated, corporations profit from their widespread use, and policymakers compel inaccurate assessments through accountability regulations. These factors cooperate to sustain the school-to-prison pipeline by criminalizing intellectual struggle and upholding racial inequities. Instead of serving as a path to opportunity, education has evolved into a system of exclusion and punishment. Dunbar Elementary serves as a reminder of how these factors come together in actual communities, where financial constraints and accountability measures pose a threat to the closure of Black families’ roots. Overall, the broader implication is that, to affirm Black kids’ identities, transfer authority to communities, and prioritize justice over surveillance, deconstructing this system requires reconsidering evaluation. We can only start the process of ending the school-to-prison pipeline and establishing an educational system founded on justice and compassion by opposing the racism logic of standardized testing and the corporate profits that support it. Schools can become places of equity, compassion, and opportunity rather than exclusion and punishment when visible, hidden, and invisible power are addressed simultaneously.

    This article is one of a series of articles with the support provided by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to Word In Black, a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media outlets across the country.

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    Kaelyn A. Dorsey

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  • ‘No Dunbar, No Peace’: APS holds school community meeting at Dunbar Elementary School amid concerns

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    Parental concerns skyrocketed after a repurpose proposal surfaced about turning Dunbar into an early childhood center, which would mean current students would have to attend another school. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    Atlanta Public Schools (APS) announced they would be holding school community meetings to garner feedback from staff, parents, and community members about the latest APS Forward 2040 refined scenarios.

    Families in Atlanta’s Mechanicsville neighborhood Paul L. Dunbar Elementary School is more than classrooms. Parents described the school as a lifeline, offering after-school programs and resources they rely on to maintain a work and family life.

    During the meeting, parents voiced their concerns and chanted “No Dunbar, No Peace”.

    The concerns skyrocketed after a repurpose proposal surfaced about turning Dunbar into an early childhood center, which would mean current students would have to attend another school.

    Parent Janet Barnett, who works more than 40 hours a week, said the change would become very disruptive.

    “Truthfully, I’d have to wake up twice as early to make my child move twice as fast,” she said. “It’s just a lot of going on.”

    Barnett said her child’s after-school programs make it possible for her to keep working to provide for her family, and she is concerned those efforts would vanish if the school is repurposed.

    APS said the change is still only a proposal, which is part of its APS Forward 2040 plan. Additionally, APS released a series of “refined scenarios” for its long-range plan, APS Forward 2040.

    Scenarios will continue to change and evolve as APS listens to families and communities before making any recommendations to the Board of Education as a first read in November. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    These refined scenarios are the “product of data, analysis, and thousands of voices from our community,” according to APS. The refined scenarios reflect the district’s ongoing effort to balance enrollment, expand access to academic programs, and reinvest in schools that have historically been overlooked.  

    APS officials said “nothing is final” as they continue to collect public feedback.

    Another parent, Yasmine Garner, said she’s devastated because the elementary school has done so much for the community.

    “It’s very unfortunate if this comes to fruition because this school has done so much for our community that it would be sad to see it go away,” she said.

    Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    Scenarios will continue to change and evolve as APS listens to families and communities before making any recommendations to the Board of Education as a first read in November.

    Additionally, APS said it has received over 6,500 survey responses, collected hours of community feedback, and received comments through the website.

    Refined scenarios included as of Wednesday, Oct. 8:

    ·      Repurpose Dunbar for community good

    ·      Repurpose Toomer Annex and redistribute 3 Georgia Pre-K classes

    ·      Realign boundaries for Benteen, BAMO, Dunbar, and Parkside

    ·      Jackson HS addition – Timeline: Fall 2029

    ·      King Middle School Addition

    The benefits, according to APS, include:

    ·      Possible professional learning space/admin, Early Childhood Education, Sheltering Arms

    ·      More efficient enrollment leads to deeper program offerings

    ·      Investment at Jackson High School: $70-90 million (ESPLOST dependent); boundary remains the same

    ·      Investment at King Middle School: $15 million (ESPLOST dependent); boundary remains the same

    Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    One of the biggest concerns for parents is transportation to other schools, with 86% of Dunbar students having to walk to get to school or to attend the after-school care program next door at The Dunbar Center.

    The school stated that it already offers an early childhood education program. One of the biggest concerns for parents is transportation to other schools. According to APS officials, they will provide transportation to other schools; however, parents still question what would happen if their child missed the bus and the parent didn’t have a car.

    Additionally, APS stated some of its buildings, including Dunbar, are underutilized, with not enough students to fill them. Dunbar currently has a capacity of 450 students, and only around 300 students are enrolled for this school year.

    Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    However, President of the Mechanicsville Civic Association David Holder expects enrollment to increase.

    “We’re looking at probably 400 new single-family market-rate homes in the neighborhood, and not telling how many families that’s going to bring into the neighborhood,” Holder said.

    The plan is not final and the school board will take up the first reading of the plan next month. If approved, it’ll be implemented in 2027.

    To review the refined scenarios, visit https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/aps2040

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    Isaiah Singleton

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  • ‘Just pick up a book’: Falcons Bijan Robinson hosts book fair at The Benz for thousands of area students

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    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    According to data from the Georgia Council on Literacy, third and fourth-grade reading levels within the state are below 70%, with 68% of fourth-graders and 62% of third-graders not reading at a proficient level. Access to reading materials, during the school year and during the multiple holiday breaks and summers, can help raise those levels. 

    Books as far as the eye could see were on display on Tuesday morning as the Bijan Reads book fair took place on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium playing surface. An initiative from the Bijan Robinson Foundation, Bijan Reads is attempting to make a positive impact on reading through fun events like the book fair taking place on Tuesday.

    Robinson, who admitted that he had issues with enjoying reading as a kid, said he was looking forward to hearing the kids’ stories about what they enjoy about reading. A native of Tuscon, Arizona, he told The Atlanta Voice that one day he realized he shouldn’t care what anyone else thought about how he reads, he just wanted to start doing it more.

    “I knew I was trying to better myself and I didn’t care who judged me,” Robinson, dressed in a black “Bijan Reads” t-shirt and matching sweats, said during a press gathering before the book fair began. 

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    His advice to a kid struggling with reading is simple: “Just pick up a book,” he said. “Just pick up a hardcover book, or any book. You have to start somewhere.” 

    Students from area elementary schools such as Boyd, Kimberly, Perkerson, Continental Colony, Garden Hills, Tuskegee Airmen Global Academy, Toomer, and Brandon, were jumping off of school buses and heading into Mercedes-Benz Stadium to hear Robinson talk about the importance of reading. 

    Robinson said the event was life-changing for him and that he hopes it changes the lives of the kids who were attending. 

    “I have such a big heart for kids,” he said. “I believe God put me on this Earth to inspire kids.” 

    Copies of “Be You” by Peter H. Reynolds were distributed to the kids. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Along with sponsors like Scholastic, Atlanta Public Schools, the Alliance Theater, and the Rollins Center for Language & Learning, the Bijan Reads book fair allowed the elementary school students to get out of the classroom for a few hours and head downtown to hear from one of the city’s most popular professional athletes. 

    Through three games this season, Robinson has rushed for 239 yards on 47 carries and has 14 receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons, 1-2 this season, will host the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon. The stands will be packed for the second home game of the season, but on Tuesday, the stands were packed with students waiting to get bags filled with books. 

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Dozens of volunteers, also wearing Bijan Reads t-shirts, lime green ones to better be seen for assistance amongst the thousands of kids and teachers, were packing clear bags with Clifford the Big Red Dog books, books from the Captain Underpants series, and copies of “Be You” by Peter H. Reynolds. The book fair bags will also include pencils, pens, stickers, and copies of Bijan Reads literacy guide. 

    “It changed my life,” said Robinson of reading. “This moment is bigger than everything.”

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

     

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Remembering Dr. Alyce M. Ware: A legacy of love, faith, and lifelong learning

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    The Atlanta community pauses to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Alyce Martin Ware, who passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. She was the beloved wife of the late J. Lowell Ware, co-founder of The Atlanta Voice, and the devoted mother of Publisher Janis L. Ware and Dr. Rhonda Ware.

    Dr. Alyce Martin Ware Credit: Ware Family

    A woman of extraordinary grace, compassion, and resilience, Dr. Ware devoted her life to nurturing her family, uplifting those around her, and serving as a source of wisdom and strength to all who knew her.

    A Life Dedicated to Education

    Education was both her calling and her gift. Dr. Ware taught in DeKalb County Schools and Atlanta Public Schoolsfor more than 40 years, shaping generations of students with her patience, knowledge, and care. She served as a homebound instructor, bringing education into the homes of children who were unable to attend school due to illness or other circumstances, ensuring that every child had the opportunity to learn.

    Her academic journey reflected her lifelong commitment to excellence. She graduated from Alabama A&M University in 1951 with a degree in English, earned a Master’s degree from Columbia University, and later achieved her Doctorate in Education from Atlanta University—a testament to her determination and passion for learning.

    Leadership and Service

    Beyond the classroom, Dr. Ware was a committed leader whose service extended across civic, professional, and faith-based organizations. She held numerous offices throughout her life, including:

    • National President, National Association of Media Women
    • President, Atlanta Chapter of Media Women
    • President, Homebound/Hospital Association
    • President, Summech Development Corporation, Inc.
    • Secretary and Public Relations Chairperson, Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
    • Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC)

    Her leadership in these organizations reflected her deep commitment to education, media, community development, and faith.

    A Legacy of Love and Faith

    Her warmth was matched only by her unwavering faith and lifelong devotion to community. To her children, she was a guiding light whose love shaped their paths and inspired their own leadership and service. To friends and neighbors, she was a steady presence of kindness, generosity, and encouragement—someone whose words and actions left a lasting imprint.

    Dr. Ware’s impact extends far beyond her immediate family. As the matriarch of a family devoted to truth, service, and community empowerment, her legacy of love, dignity, and perseverance will continue to live on in the many lives she touched and in the institution she helped strengthen.

    The Atlanta Voice family extends its deepest sympathies and prayers to Rhonda, Janis, and the entire Ware family. Dr. Alyce Ware’s memory will remain a blessing, and her spirit will continue to guide and inspire all who were fortunate to know her.

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  • Atlanta City Councilmember Overstreet announces plans to run for City Council presidency

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    Overstreet (center) is a native of Atlanta and an alumnus of Atlanta Public Schools. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    In a press conference on the steps of City Hall, Atlanta City Councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet announced she is running for City Council president. Overstrteet, an Atlanta native, represents District 11.

    “I am so excited to be your next president in Atlanta because I am exactly what the city needs right now,” she said. “We’re doing the work and I’ll be the only one on the ballot that is ready. Ready is important in the city of Atlanta. Our mayor said he needs a partner ready to go on day one and that’s me.”

    A supporter of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens on the steps of Atlanta city Hall on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    The qualifying period for mayoral candidates in Atlanta is Aug. 19-22. However, individuals raising funds to run for office are required to declare their candidacy earlier. As of now, seven candidates had officially declared their intention to run, including Andre Dickens (incumbent), Helmut Domagalski, Kalema Jackson, Marcus Lamar, Eddie Meredith, Walter Reeves, and Larmetria Trammell.

    Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has also formally qualified to seek a second term as Mayor of the City of Atlanta. Dickens said he filed his official paperwork at the City of Atlanta Municipal Clerk’s Office.

    The next Atlanta mayoral election is scheduled for Nov. 4. If necessary, a run-off election will be held on Dec. 2.

    Born and raised in Stockbridge, GA, Isaiah always knew he wanted to become a voice for the voiceless. He graduated from Savannah State University in 2019, and since then, he’s worked for The Marietta Daily…

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    Isaiah Singleton

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  • Atlanta Victim Assistance celebrates 40 years of service

    Atlanta Victim Assistance celebrates 40 years of service

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     Atlanta Victim Assistance (AVA), a 40-year-old nonprofit that provides services to victims of crime throughout Atlanta, is holding a clothing/food/toiletries donation drive in June for the people AVA serves who have found themselves with limited resources who have been forced to leave their homes, or who have lost access to their personal belongings following a crime. Photo courtesy of Atlanta Victim Assistance

    Atlanta Victim Assistance (AVA), a 40-year-old nonprofit that provides services to victims of crime throughout Atlanta, is holding a clothing/food/toiletries donation drive in June for the people AVA serves who have found themselves with limited resources who have been forced to leave their homes, or who have lost access to their personal belongings following a crime.

    This year, AVA celebrates 40 years of helping crime victims become victors with its transformative programs and services, including AVA’s Closet & Food Pantry.

    The pantry is designated for the thousands of crime victims AVA serves each year as a safe place to help them regain essential belongings after experiencing the devastating impacts of crime.

    Executive Director Shontel Brunson-Wright said their primary mission is to deliver services and resources to victims of crime.

    “Often, when victims are leaving their homes due to a crime, they don’t have the necessities they need,” she said. “We notice this and how high prices are for everything today.”

    Through its 40-year history, more than 150,000 crime victims and their families have received AVA’s help.

    According to Brunson-Wright, AVA has unique and integrated partnerships with the Atlanta Police Department, Atlanta Municipal Court, Atlanta Public Schools, and more, which enable individuals and families to receive critical services as soon as possible after a crime.

    Unlike other crime assistance organizations, when crimes are committed against people, AVA offers support to victims and witnesses regardless of the offender’s arrest status. For these victims, AVA is often the only organization connecting them with resources and helping them cope, grieve, and move forward with their lives.

    Brunson-Wright said past victims have come to AVA saying they need extra help, whether with food insecurities or simply household needs. AVA’s closet also includes suits and prom dress

    “We cater to all people. We have something for men, women, and children,” she said.

    Brunson-Wright also said the drive and closet don’t only apply to June; it’s a 12-month yearly event. According to Brunson-Wright, it’s a newer initiative, and the closet opened in November 2023. According to Brunson-Wright, it’s a newer initiative, and the closet opened in November 2023.

    “We are just at the point where more and more survivors are using it, and we just need to keep it stocked,” she said. “When we first unveiled our closet, we didn’t make a big advertisement when we stocked it the first time with some of our partners.”

    Additionally, she said the most phenomenal part about this time is celebrating 40 years of service and being an agency that’s been ingrained and entangled in Atlanta. Another part of their mission is AVA.

    “We continue to do this good work and continue to give survivors new avenues for resources and just simply meeting people where they are,” she said.

    However, Brunson-Wright said their mission is also to do it with dignity and respect, which is why the closet was created. As AVA is housed in the municipal court, they had office space on the first floor, which wasn’t “the best place to have an office due to a past flooding issue.”

    Brunson-Wright asked the courts if the office was still deemed an AVA space. Once they confirmed it was, she shared the idea of having storage there instead, but not in the traditional way.

    Photo courtesy of Atlanta Victim Assistance

    “I wanted it to have a boutique feel,” she said. “All because I thought a lot about the portion of our mission that talked about dignity. We wanted some of our survivors to be able to walk through the door and do everything I would do if I were going to Macy’s to shop.”

    She said she wanted survivors to browse the racks, look at accessories, and have their things folded and placed in shopping bags.

    “You leave with a little bit more dignity because sometimes it’s hard to ask,” she said.

    Working at AVA from 2011 to 2012 as Deputy Director, Brunson-Wright said she feels proud to celebrate 40 years of carrying out their mission. She was selected two years ago to be the leader of AVA.

    “I did this with a lot of pride, but it became a labor of love for me many years ago.

    Also, she said their advocates are typically first responders to the victims of a crime. So, although law enforcement may arrive at the scene, there are times when AVA accompanies the police.

    “When you think about someone who has experienced trauma or crises, imagine how frightening and how easy it is to be or feel alone,” she said. “We’re the ones that are going to make that first follow-up contact with the victims.”

    For the future, Brunson-Wright said AVA’s Community Unit will be coming soon, serving the community more broadly but more from a prevention perspective. They also will have a mobile unit rolling the Atlanta streets this summer.

    “Look out, Atlanta, there’s so much more that we’re going to do because we want to serve people, and I think the pandemic was a great example of showing us how much we need each other,” she said.

    Furthermore, Brunson-Wright said AVA will continue to be there for victims and give them exactly what they need.

    “AVA has been around for 40 years, and we have many, many decades to go, and we’re going to keep doing it as long as there’s crime in our city,” she said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to do so.”

    The pantry is in the Atlanta Municipal Court Building; however, the closet is not open to the public; rather, it’s designated as a safe place to help those AVA serves.

    For more details and information, visit www.atlantava.org/closet.

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  • Mechanicsville residents oppose homeless housing initiative, cite lack of consultation and safety concerns

    Mechanicsville residents oppose homeless housing initiative, cite lack of consultation and safety concerns

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    Residents of Mechanicsville are deeply concerned and frustrated by the city’s recent decision to introduce a 100-unit homeless housing initiative within their community. This initiative, aimed at addressing homelessness, has sparked significant discontent among residents who feel their voices have been ignored. The City of Atlanta has swapped land with Atlanta Public Schools at 405 Cooper Street in Mechanicsville for land in the Old Fourth Ward for this project. The legislation is being presented today, May 29, 2024, in the finance committee room at 1:30 pm.

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The introduction of the 100-unit homeless housing project has raised several valid concerns among community members. While the importance of addressing homelessness is acknowledged, the chosen location for these units is contentious. Residents are troubled by the proximity of these homes to residential areas, Dunbar Elementary School, Rosa Burney Park, Sheltering Arms Child Day Care, and a significant number of registered sex offenders within a one-mile radius of the Dunbar neighborhood center. They believe that the city’s decision, made without proper consultation or transparency, neglects their well-being. Mechanicsville already has at least 50% of its housing designated as affordable, including public voucher housing. The community is urging the city and the mayor to distribute such initiatives more evenly across Atlanta.

    Photo By Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The influx of homeless individuals has led to harassment incidents, with residents reporting that people have attempted to gain access to their homes. There is a perception that the city has disregarded the safety and stability of the Mechanicsville community. The Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) process, established by the city of Atlanta to ensure shared visions, mutual respect, transparency, communication, and shared decision-making, appears to have been overlooked.

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    Staff Report

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