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.
A packed house full of family members, friends, elected officials, and residents all gathered for a swearing-in ceremony for the new mayor of Stockbridge, Jayden Williams (above). Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
A new year, a new mayor for the city of Stockbridge has finally come. 2026 marks a new era for the city of Stockbridge.
A packed house full of family members, friends, elected officials, and residents all gathered for a swearing-in ceremony for the new mayor, Jayden Williams, in Stockbridge.
Williams was also sworn in alongside newly elected City Councilwoman Lakeisha Gantt, representing District 1, and Councilman Antwan Cloud, representing District 2.
Following winning the mayoral race against a two-time incumbent in November, Jayden Williams, 22, officially became the youngest mayor ever in Stockbridge.
Williams is also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Clark Atlanta University. Following his election, Williams said his victory reflects a desire for change among Stockbridge residents.
Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
The swearing-in marks the start of a new term focused on growth, inclusivity, and addressing the needs of a changing community, according to city officials.
“Today isn’t about me, but it’s about all of us. It’s about what happens when a community decides to believe and decides to do the work that is needed to back that belief,” Williams said. “We’ve knocked on doors, we’ve prayed, we’ve sent messages, but most importantly, you all have challenged me. You didn’t vote for the person, you voted for the promise.”
That promise he says, is being “all in for Stockbridge.”
“I’m all in for Stockbridge, all in for our neighborhoods, all in for our districts and all in for our people,” he said. “The future of Stockbridge will be built on transparency, physical responsibility, opportunity, and collaboration. The vision is not abstract, it’s intentional. We’re here to help build Stockbridge to higher heights.”
Williams says this is why economic development and economic innovation is going to be their administration’s front and center priority because “a city cannot rise if its people are locked out of opportunities.”
“We are committed to building clear paths to good jobs, supporting small businesses, and aligning education with the real demands of today’s economy, especially in healthcare, logistics industries, and the sectors that are driving our region,” he said. “It is why youth opportunities and community learning will be a priority because when we invest early and coordinate what already exists and truly listen to our young people, we change the outcomes of a lifetime.”
Williams told the crowd he wants to build exposure and safe spaces where youth can learn, grow, and see themselves in the future of the city, which is why housing and holistic wellbeing is going to be addressed. He said building safe and stable homes are the foundation of healthy families and strong neighborhoods, which includes aligning housing with access to health care, mental health support, transportation, and the quality-of-life services.
“We’ve got to also support the city as well. It’s why public safety and infrastructure matter because safety is not just about response, it is about prevention, not just enforcement, but trust,” he said. “It means modern infrastructure, coordinated services, well-lit streets, reliable utilities, and partnerships that ensure growth is smart, reliable, and every resident feels safe, seen, and supported.”
Additionally, he said they will strengthen neighborhoods, promote responsible growth, support small businesses, invest in the youth, and respect the elders because the process that leaves behind is all the process Stockbridge needs.
“No part of this city will be left behind under my administration, and that is my promise. We are facing some challenges, financial pressures, growth decisions, and in some places, trust can also be an appointment where we must rebuild it,” he said. “There are things that aren’t always going to go right, but there are also things that always will not be ignored. There are things we confront together because leadership is not pretending everything is perfect. Leadership is showing up anyway and doing the work.”
Furthermore, Williams quoted Shirley Chisholm saying, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, bring a folding chair,” and to this, Williams says Stockbridge did something different.
“We didn’t just bring the folding chair, we gathered the wood, we built the table, and now together, we’re going to make sure that table is strong enough, wide enough and welcoming enough for everyone,” he said. “This is our city. This is our moment, and together, we are all in for Stockbridge.
MARTA Interim GM/CEO Jonathan Hunt (above) said his main goals as interim general manager are to increase ridership and improve the customer experience. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will replace its entire fare collection system over the next six months, with a goal of spring 2026 for implementation and customer transition.
The system will keep the popular Breeze name, but fare media and fare collection equipment, including Breeze cards and tickets, faregates and validators, Breeze vending machines, and the mobile app, will be updated and modernized, along with fareboxes in later project phases.
MARTA Interim GM/CEO Jonathan Hunt said, as he mentioned before, his main goals as interim general manager are to increase ridership and improve the customer experience.
“The way to do that is by delivering safe, clean, and reliable service through routine excellence every day,” he said. “I want to continue beating the drum to ensure customers, partners, and stakeholders know MARTA is committed to these goals and committed to a customer-centered focus. The Better Breeze equipment marks a crucial step towards those goals.”
Hunt says the next generation of modern Breeze fare collection systems is easier, more flexible, and a more secure way to pay for service.
“It is a complete modernization of our entire system and fare gates and validators,” he said. “We have new ticketing vending machines, a new app, and newly designed Breeze cards. The state of technology has changed, and our customers have changed, and MARTA needs to meet our customers where they are.”
The system will keep the popular Breeze name, but fare media and fare collection equipment, including Breeze cards and tickets, faregates and validators, Breeze vending machines, and the mobile app, will be updated and modernized, along with fareboxes in later project phases. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Between now and April 2026, Hunt says MARTA will continue the installation of hardware and software for the new system. Their first installation took place at Lindbergh MARTA Station, where MARTA officials displayed a preview of what the new system would look like. Currently, they are working on installation at the Doraville MARTA Station.
“The construction schedule has been developed to keep access to MARTA riders with the current Breeze system while installing the new one. You will see new equipment at rail stations in the coming months, but it won’t be ready for use yet,” he said. “You will still use your current Breeze card until we do the rollout in April 2026.”
Hunt says it’s great to keep fares unchanged for years, but not an entire fare collection system.
“MARTA is implementing some incredible projects and initiatives next year ahead of the World Cup, including new trains, a new bus network with on-demand transit zones, a new bus rapid transit line, and a new On the Go app and MARTA website,” he said. “We need to ensure our Breeze system is aligned with these once-in-a-generation improvements and ready for the future.”
Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
In April 2026, according to Hunt, MARTA will have both systems up and operational to begin transitioning our customers from the old Breeze system to a better Breeze System and ensure everyone is ready in April when the launch occurs at the end of the month.
“Right now, we’re focused on getting everything installed. The new fare gates in red will be harder to tamper with and damage. They can be checked and adjusted remotely,” he said. “We want to be World Cup ready.”
MARTA Board Chair Jennifer Ide said they are thrilled to see an important project turn into a reality.
“The modernization of the Breeze System is part of the largest transformation in MARTA history,” she said. “By next Spring, MARTA will have a Veteran Care System as well as a completely redesigned bus network that prioritizes frequency and includes 12 on demand transit zones at first in our region.”
Additionally, MARTA will also have brand new trains on the track with open gateways and an officer on every train. MARTA will be launching a new app and website offering a more unified and user-friendly digital experience.
“MARTA will begin service of the region’s first-class rapid transit line from Summer Hill to Downtown, and while we put the deadline for these projects by the World Cup Series next year, including the veteran system, care benefits, and the overall improvements to the customer experience will last well beyond the World Cup and decades beyond,” she said. “This system is a true game changer for everyday rides, occasional riders, and visitors to our region.”
With the new app and system, patrons will be able to use the open payment option which is a more secure, safe, and enjoyable customer experience.
Here is what customers will enjoy with the Better Breeze system:
· New Equipment: New, contactless fare payment equipment that takes the guesswork out of where to tap. We are replacing faregates and fareboxes, validators, and Breeze vending machines systemwide. The Better Breeze faregates are harder to tamper with or damage. They can be checked and adjusted remotely, reducing incidents of fare evasion, resulting in a safer, more secure transit system and a better experience for everyone.
· New Payment Feature: Open payment where you can tap your bank card, smartphone, or mobile wallet to pay for your ride. Fare stays $2.50 for a one-way trip.
· New App: An updated app which customers will need to download and create a new account where they can buy fare.
· New Cards: New physical cards with a cool design (think orange!) and continued options of multi-day and monthly passes. Information on getting your new Breeze card will be shared in the spring.
Customers should continue using the existing Breeze mobile app, fare media, and equipment.
Access to all rail stations will be kept and there will be a monthlong period in spring 2026 for customers to transition from the current Breeze system to the Better Breeze system.
Information on ongoing fare equipment installation and instructions on how and when to transition to the new fare system will be shared in the coming months and into next spring.
The Atlanta Voice has stood as a pillar of truth, empowerment, and advocacy in Metro Atlanta for six decades. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we invite you to invest in independent journalism that serves YOU. Every dollar fuels our mission to keep our stories alive.
HRC President Kelley Robinson is collaborating with local LBGTQ+ leadership and advocates to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and raise the alarms for much needed organization and policy change in a wider effort to bring equality to every corner of the country.
Through coordinated initiatives, the American Dreams tour looks to push back against the unprecedented wave of attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, from bans on gender-affirming care and curriculum censorship to anti-trans legislation and HIV funding cuts.
The tour has made stops thus far in red-state cities where LGBTQ+ individuals are facing the most hostility, but where hope shines through the hate.
This included an Atlanta stop which coincidentally coincides with the Atlanta Pride Festival weekend. Robinson joined alongside a pioneer in the Black Trans community, activist, and actress, TS Madison, sat down for an intimate kitchen table conversation about the importance of HIV prevention, care, and PrEP.
Photo by Isaiag Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
The kitchen table conversation was held at Ts Madison’s Starter House, a home for formerly incarcerated transgender women.
Robinson said as the fight for equality marches forward, the American Dreams Tour aims to up light the important message that there isn’t just one American dream, but there are many.
“The American dream has never belonged to just one kind of person. It has been built by people who dared to demand more, by women who marched, by workers who organized by Black folks who bled for Freedom, and by LGBTQ+ people who refused to disappear,” Robinson said. “Every time this country has tried to erase us, and we rebuilt something bigger with our stories, our truth, and our refusal to be silent.”
Ts Madison says you have been on the wrong side of history, encouraging the erasure of Trans women.
“Every time issues like this come up when you try to eliminate and erase people, they do it. They’re doing it to trans people now, they did it to people living with HIV and AIDS, they did it to gay people and black women,” she said. “We know we got on the right side, and that’s why what we do is important.”
Also, the Fiscal Year 2026 budget released by the Trump administration, which maintains funding for existing domestic HIV care, treatment, and PrEP programs, cuts HIV prevention and surveillance at the CDC, housing, and other programs, amounting to cuts of over $1.5 billion.
Some of the conversation between Robinson and Ts Madison centered on the Trump administration’s policies targeting HIV funding, trans identity, and the broader implications for marginalized communities.
“They are only worried about power. They are not worried about anybody’s safety. They’re only worried about them being in power and their children’s children being in power,” TS Madison said.
The tour also coincides with the launch of HRC’s “One Million Voices for Equality,” a nationwide campaign to engage one million LGBTQ+ people and allies. Among the planned stops, each stop features training by HRC Foundation’s Voices for Equality storytelling program to help people harness their private experiences as tools for change.
Robinson reiterated that the Trump administration is taking the American people’s tax dollars and using them to bail out billionaires and the governments of other countries, taking away access to health care that people look for.
“$3 billion has been cut from HIV prevention care, from mental health services, from the 988 hotlines,” she said. “We’ve got to see what’s happening and know that it’s not just about policies and numbers. It’s about the impacts that we’re starting to see right now and today in our communities, from Atlanta to Chicago, and everywhere in between, the real enemy is our government.”
She also says the problem isn’t in your neighborhoods, and you can do something about the real problem by not putting certain people in power.
Additionally, Ts Madison says the starter house is extremely important because the girls who step inside the house must be themselves and love themselves.
“In this house, you must tell the girls that you are trans. We want you to live completely aloud because we want you to stand in resilience,” she said. “Do not fall into this place of you have to hide now, I need to be safe. You got to resist and the only way you’re going to get through anything is in numbers and resisting stuff by saying no, we’re not going to let that happen.”
With the current climate and the attempted erasure of black successful transgender people like Ts Madison, she says the Trump administration and anyone who opposes basic human rights are going to have a fight on their hands.
“They are going to have a fight on their hands because I am a girl who knows how to unify people, and I know how to unify by being real and by telling people to fight and not lay down because the only thing that’s laying down is the floor and you can walk all over the floor,” she said. “You got to be a thick wall.”
“It’s our job to protect our people. They’re coming after Black women, especially black Trans women, and we must see it for what it is. They are attacking our power and our community,” Robinson said. “There is a place for healing and for accountability, but we must stand up and not allow the wrongdoings take place. We have a voice.”
Madison and Robinson criticize the administration’s tactics, suggesting they aim to distract and divide people of color by scapegoating trans individuals.
Also, Robinson emphasizes the importance of unity, resistance, and visibility for trans and Black individuals, advocating for active engagement and accountability from elected officials. The conversation concludes with a call to instill hope and strength in the community.
Overall, this conversation about the importance of fighting back for LGBTQ+ rights are instilled in the hope of people, Ts Madison says.
The importance of this conversation, she says, is for the LGBTQ+ community to fight back against hate and instill awareness that things and laws are changing.
“If you watch TV long enough, you will be extremely afraid. I remember when he first got in office, and I was so afraid at first thinking I needed to get an SRS surgery so I could blend, but then I shook it and told myself I am who I am,” Madison said. “You don’t need to chop it off to get through because they’ll get you with a hole. What we need to do is stand in who we are and rally the truth and line the hands up to build a forceful wall against them.”
She also says some people might be silent or “stealthy” but that might only be safe momentarily.
“Being open, loud, and in color, and being strong brings numbers, builds walls, keeps things right, and that’s what matters,” she said.
Ts Madison says she would like the Trans community to understand their importance and that their existence is a part of activism and ethics.
“Do not be afraid to exist. Don’t let what you see on TV make you fearful. Do not fear. If you want to live in stealth, that’s great, but the more we speak out about us being trans, there’s power in immunity,” she said. “Go after your dreams. You are a gift to your families, and a prayer was answered.”
The American Dreams tour is a bold, nationwide initiative to spotlight LGBTQ+ resilience, resistance, and joy.
HRC President Kelley Robinson is collaborating with local LBGTQ+ leadership and advocates to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and raise the alarms for much needed organization and policy change in a wider effort to bring equality to every corner of the country.
Through coordinated initiatives, the American Dreams tour looks to push back against the unprecedented wave of attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, from bans on gender-affirming care and curriculum censorship to anti-trans legislation and HIV funding cuts.
The tour has made stops thus far in red-state cities where LGBTQ+ individuals are facing the most hostility, but where hope shines through the hate.
This included an Atlanta stop which coincidentally co-inside with the Atlanta Pride Festival weekend. Robinson joined alongside a pioneer in the Black Trans community, activist, and actress, TS Madison, sat down for an intimate kitchen table conversation about the importance of HIV prevention, care, and PrEP.
The kitchen table conversation was held at Ts Madison’s Starter House, a home for formerly incarcerated transgender women.
Robinson said as the fight for equality marches forward, the American Dreams Tour aims to up light the important message that there isn’t just one American dream, but there are many.
“The American dream has never belonged to just one kind of person. It has been built by people who dared to demand more, by women who marched, by workers who organized by Black folks who bled for Freedom, and by LGBTQ+ people who refused to disappear,” Robinson said. “Every time this country has tried to erase us, and we rebuilt something bigger with our stories, our truth, and our refusal to be silent.”
Ts Madison says you have been on the wrong side of history, encouraging the erasure of Trans women.
“Every time issues like this come up when you try to eliminate and erase people, they do it. They’re doing it to trans people now, they did it to people living with HIV and AIDS, they did it to gay people and black women,” she said. “We know we got on the right side, and that’s why what we do is important.”
Also, the Fiscal Year 2026 budget released by the Trump administration, which maintains funding for existing domestic HIV care, treatment, and PrEP programs, cuts HIV prevention and surveillance at the CDC, housing, and other programs, amounting to cuts of over $1.5 billion.
Some of the conversation between Robinson and Ts Madison centered on the Trump administration’s policies targeting HIV funding, trans identity, and the broader implications for marginalized communities.
“They are only worried about power. They are not worried about anybody’s safety. They’re only worried about them being in power and their children’s children being in power,” TS Madison said.
The tour also coincides with the launch of HRC’s “One Million Voices for Equality,” a nationwide campaign to engage one million LGBTQ+ people and allies. Among the planned stops, each stop features training by HRC Foundation’s Voices for Equality storytelling program to help people harness their private experiences as tools for change.
Robinson reiterated that the Trump administration is taking the American people’s tax dollars and using them to bail out billionaires and the governments of other countries, taking away access to health care that people look for.
“$3 billion has been cut from HIV prevention care, from mental health services, from the 988 hotlines,” she said. “We’ve got to see what’s happening and know that it’s not just about policies and numbers. It’s about the impacts that we’re starting to see right now and today in our communities, from Atlanta to Chicago, and everywhere in between, the real enemy is our government.”
She also says the problem isn’t in your neighborhoods, and you can do something about the real problem by not putting certain people in power.
Additionally, Ts Madison says the starter house is extremely important because the girls who step inside the house must be themselves and love themselves.
“In this house, you must tell the girls that you are trans. We want you to live completely aloud because we want you to stand in resilience,” she said. “Do not fall into this place of you have to hide now, I need to be safe. You got to resist and the only way you’re going to get through anything is in numbers and resisting stuff by saying no, we’re not going to let that happen.”
With the current climate and the attempted erasure of black successful transgender people like Ts Madison, she says the Trump administration and anyone who opposes basic human rights are going to have a fight on their hands.
“They are going to have a fight on their hands because I am a girl who knows how to unify people, and I know how to unify by being real and by telling people to fight and not lay down because the only thing that’s laying down is the floor and you can walk all over the floor,” she said. “You got to be a thick wall.”
“It’s our job to protect our people. They’re coming after Black women, especially black Trans women, and we must see it for what it is. They are attacking our power and our community,” Robinson said. “There is a place for healing and for accountability, but we must stand up and not allow the wrongdoings take place. We have a voice.”
Madison and Robinson criticize the administration’s tactics, suggesting they aim to distract and divide people of color by scapegoating trans individuals.
Also, Robinson emphasizes the importance of unity, resistance, and visibility for trans and Black individuals, advocating for active engagement and accountability from elected officials. The conversation concludes with a call to instill hope and strength in the community.
Overall, this conversation about the importance of fighting back for LGBTQ+ rights are instilled in the hope of people, Ts Madison says.
The importance of this conversation, she says, is for the LGBTQ+ community to fight back against hate and instill awareness that things and laws are changing.
“If you watch TV long enough, you will be extremely afraid. I remember when he first got in office, and I was so afraid at first thinking I needed to get an SRS surgery so I could blend, but then I shook it and told myself I am who I am,” Madison said. “You don’t need to chop it off to get through because they’ll get you with a hole. What we need to do is stand in who we are and rally the truth and line the hands up to build a forceful wall against them.”
She also says some people might be silent or “stealthy,” but that might only be safe momentarily.
“Being open, loud, and in color, and being strong brings numbers, builds walls, keeps things right, and that’s what matters,” she said.
Ts Madison says she would like the Trans community to understand their importance and that their existence is a part of activism and ethics.
“Do not be afraid to exist. Don’t let what you see on TV make you fearful. Do not fear. If you want to live in stealth, that’s great, but the more we speak out about us being trans, there’s power in immunity,” she said. “Go after your dreams. You are a gift to your families, and a prayer was answered.”
Fred A. Toomer Elementary School is the newest Atlanta Public School to have its students in the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation 2025 comprehensive eye health care mobile clinic program.
The program is geared to address the growing need for vision care services for children in some of the most populated counties in Georgia, made possible through the Sight For Kids program, co-founded by Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and Johnson & Johnson.
In coordination with the current Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation’s school-based screening programming, the Sight For Kids program serves Fulton, Chatham, Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties, aiming to provide vision screenings to 10,000 students in more than 50 schools over the course of our two-year partnership, which began in 2024.
Georgia is one of three states in North America where Sight For Kids has expanded to address the growing need for vision care services.
Through this initiative, the organizations will ensure Georgia youth have access to vital vision exams. Many children need corrective lenses, such as glasses, for sharp vision.
In fact, in Georgia, 30-40 percent of elementary-age school children experience unaddressed vision needs.
Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Additionally, 52 Georgia counties currently have limited or no access to eye care, and 30% of Georgia counties lack access to eye care services. Sufficient vision is critical for students in preventing emotional, social, and psychological issues, as well as educational problems.
The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation provides vision services through education, detection, prevention, and treatment, and works with organizations across Georgia to transform comprehensive vision care for children.
The Executive Director of Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Beth Ehrhardt, said the elementary school has 60% or more free and reduced lunches, and that is their focus this year.
“We’re also serving all the students, and this school has over 400 students that will screen today,” she said. “We are looking forward to having the children be able to get their exams and, glasses. It’s exciting to be able to see how students can go from barely being able to see the board in the front of the classroom or read a book and realizing they really do need help because children never know what they don’t know.”
Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Ehrhardt also said doing this work and giving back to students is very crucial to their education.
“Georgia has a very high incidence or low incidents in terms of literacy and we’re finding that because children can’t see, they can’t read, so we want to increase that literacy rate by increasing the vision,” she said.
Former president of Lions Clubs International Jim Ervin said it’s a team effort with Johnson & Johnson and
“We’re all here as a team to be able to give these kids the opportunity for better vision,” he said. “We want to screen those kids, and if they have any challenges or any needs, we take them in for further examination.”
Ervin also says they provide eyeglasses for the students because it’s important for them to be successful in life.
“They have to be able to see so they can read, write, and function in their own way,” he said. “We’re very proud to be a part of that.”
Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
School Business Manager at Fred A. Toomer Elementary School, Katie Clark, said she’s been a teacher and instructional coach in the past; her son goes to kindergarten at the school, so being a community hub is crucial for their school.
“We have tried hard in the last 10 years or so to make this one community and be able to be a resource for anything a parent needs, whether it’s academic-related or not, we want to be able to help provide services that will help our students be their best every day,” she said.
Clark also said they are grateful and honored to be able to do this program with Lions House and Johnson & Johnson so they can remove barriers for learning.
“Our main job is to remove any barriers that might keep a kid from being their absolute best every day and vision is one that many, especially our younger kids and parents, don’t even realize those are barriers to learning,” she said.
Twanna House, student health & wellness coordinator for Atlanta Public Schools, said this program is a great opportunity for their students to receive vision screenings and the support they need.
“This partnership with the Georgia Alliance has been very impactful because these days, students spend so much time on technology and on the Chromebooks, on cellphones, and it’s messing with their vision,” she said.
House says she has two daughters in middle school, and they both wear glasses as well.
“We’re finding that up to 40% of the students need glasses, so I enjoy being a part of this partnership to be able to witness this and provide support to our families and our students,” she said.
President and CEO of 3Keys, Inc., Scott Walker said residents, many of whom have experienced homelessness, deserve nothing less than the highest quality of care and support. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Renovations are set to begin this week on the historic O’Hern House, a 76-unit apartment building that serves formerly homeless individuals with permanent supportive housing.
O’Hern House serves residents typically diagnosed with dual challenges of severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) and substance use disorders (SUDs).
The rehab will ensure the longevity and preservation of these critical affordable housing units in the heart of Atlanta, in the Historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood. Residents have recently moved to another apartment complex and are slated to return in the fall of 2026.
The rehab project timeline is expected to take 12 months to complete.
President and CEO of 3Keys, Inc., Scott Walker said residents, many of whom have experienced homelessness, deserve nothing less than the highest quality of care and support.
O’Hern House serves residents typically diagnosed with dual challenges of severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) and substance use disorders (SUDs). Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
“The renovation of O’Hern House will make giving our residents the highest quality of care and support possible,” he said. “Through our mission-driven approach, 3Keys provides permanent supportive housing to those often considered the ‘hardest to serve.’ We are deeply grateful to our partners for joining us in this work to ensure our neighbors have the dignity, stability, and opportunities they all deserve.”
The renovation will include a complete reconfiguration of the first level, a refresh of residential rooms, and new fixtures and furniture throughout the building. HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and lighting systems will be upgraded with an eye towards energy efficiency. This will result in significant savings on power and water utility bills.
All on-site amenities will be upgraded, including the full-service industrial kitchen that provides three meals per day for the residents and the lounges and laundry rooms on the third and fourth floors.
Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
More on-site features include an elevator, a game room, a library, and a community space for residents to engage in activities.
Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari said O’Hern House has been a lifeline in the community for decades, and with the upcoming renovations, it recommits itself to decades more.
“Atlanta’s commitment to permanent supportive housing cannot be a passing moment; it has to be a lasting covenant. The team behind O’Hern House understands this responsibility, and this is yet another example of its promise,” she said.
Plans have been underway for more than a year and a half, with several partners collaborating on the plan to rehab the existing building:
· Development Partner: Quest CDC
· Architect: James Thomas Designs, LLC (Jim Viviano)
· Construction Project Manager: Carla Cooper
· Owner: The 3Keys, Inc.
· Support Service Provider: Community Friendship, Inc.
Additionally, 3Keys manages 477 permanent supportive housing units across six properties, where residents receive wraparound, individualized support on their paths to stability.
Through this holistic model, staff and partners offer a wide range of essential services, including case management, service coordination, peer support, life skills training, counseling, benefits help, transportation, food support, and referrals to local community providers. By combining affordable housing with healthcare and customized services, 3Keys helps residents overcome barriers and build a foundation for long-term success.
The impact is clear: 3Keys consistently supports a housing stability rate of 85% or higher, exceeding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) national benchmark of 80%.
With the renovation of O’Hern House, 3Keys is positioned to expand this impact, ensuring even more individuals have access to the housing, care, and resources they need to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence.
Three years have passed since the tragic death of Amber Nicole Thurman, a Georgia mother. A year has passed since Candi Miller, also a mother, lost her life. Both women lost their lives due to Georgia’s extreme abortion ban.
Amber’s mother, Shannette Williams, and Candi’s sister, Turiya Tomlin-Randall, joined alongside Free&Just, community members, and local leaders for a vigil at Free & Just’s mural in Atlanta to mark the third anniversary of Amber’s passing and demand justice for all those impacted by abortion bans.
Details included in reports from Georgia’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, which investigates pregnancy-related deaths in the state, confirm both women’s deaths were preventable and the result of limited access to prompt medical care.
Williams only learned of the details of her daughter’s passing after ProPublica’s investigation surfaced previously withheld information. In response to ProPublica’s reporting, officials in Georgia dismissed all members of the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, which investigates the deaths of pregnant women across the state.
Instead of working to keep Georgia women safe or addressing the state’s alarmingly high maternal mortality rate among Black women, Georgia health authorities are being called out for circling the wagons and attempting to make it more difficult to understand how and why pregnant women across Georgia are suffering poor pregnancy outcomes and even preventable deaths.
Abortion bans are killing women across the country, and instead of working to expand access to care, Trump and extremists in Congress have jammed through dangerous cuts that will strip millions of people from health care, leaving more lives at risk.
Williams also says her grief turned into a fight when she learned the truth about her daughter’s death.
“The discovery of what happened to Amber is what made my grief turn into a fight, not to harm, but an advocacy for rights,” she said.
Amber Nicole Thurman’s mother, Shannette Williams (in yellow), and Candi Miller’s sister, Turiya Tomlin-Randall (left), joined alongside Free&Just, community members, and local leaders for a vigil at Free & Just’s mural in Atlanta to mark the third anniversary of Amber’s passing and demand justice for all those impacted by abortion bans. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Williams says she is at a loss for words and has mixed emotions, but it doesn’t stop the fight.
“I am just taken by the fact that I must go to the cemetery to visit my baby. Amber’s death was preventable, and the fact that I hear crickets now, considering the President and Vice President acknowledged her death was preventable. Yet, they are not doing anything to save the other women,” she said.
She adds that the Trump administration is trying to strip women of everything that could save them. Williams also says her daughter Amber was affected as other women are being affected now, and that it’s her earthly purpose, goal, and breath she takes to make sure she fights for justice for Amber and all the other women who have been affected or lost their lives.
“Bringing other women together by my strength empowers me to keep going. I don’t have a ‘give up’ bone in my body because our family has suffered a tremendous loss,” she said. “When my grandson expresses how much he misses his mom and breaks out in tears, and we cannot console him… do you know what it means to be a grandmother to go to all lengths and measures to ensure her grandchildren are happy? I can’t quit.”
She also said this is what happens when the community allows politicians to have a voice and sends a message to Georgia politicians and the Trump administration to “get the h—out of our business.”
“Can anyone tell me, as a man, what I’m going through at this point? The relationship between me and my physician has been tainted because I don’t trust them anymore, and that’s a profession I’ve been in over half my life,” she said.
With experience in the healthcare field, Williams says she, without a doubt, knows women may have the same symptoms, but each woman is different, and their body is not the same.
“We don’t even trust the people that took the oath to say, ‘we’re not going to do any harm, but we’ll do whatever it takes to save lives,’ that statement has been tainted,” she said.
Tomlin-Randall said she doesn’t go a day without thinking about her sister, and, unfortunately, she and Shannette had to meet under these circumstances.
“Meeting Shannette has been one of the greatest blessings I’ve had because she gave me courage to come forward on behalf of Candi. Who would be if I wasn’t her voice?” she said. “Adriana, Candice, Amber, and all of the other women we don’t know about, no one should have to do this.”
She continues saying Candi’s name was not a talking point, and not just a memory, because when everyone stopped saying their names, their loved ones had to wake up every day facing it.
“The biggest loss is for her children who would never get to see their mother again, especially her then-three-year-old, who was in the bed with her when she passed because she was too afraid to go to the hospital because Georgia law said if she took an abortion pill, she would be in prison,” she said. “It’s unthinkable, and the worst part is I didn’t even know for a, almost two years, year and a half the real cause of her death; Clayton County waited almost six months to give me an autopsy, to make it make sense.”
Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Senator Jon Ossoff also made an appearance to speak a few words and said it’s hard to believe it’s been three years since the death of Amber. He also said he has reflected on parenthood over the last few months as he and his wife introduced their second child, a baby girl, into the world recently.
“You pour everything into your child. There is nothing more precious in your life, there’s no relationship or possession that can rival the irreplaceable value of a child,” he said. “To lose a child in an unnecessary death because of decisions made by selfish, foolish politicians, it’s a burden that both Shannette and Turiya have borne with such tremendous grace, strength, and tenacity.”
He also says to both Shannette and Turiya, the community, himself, people across the country and state are determined to do whatever they can to support them as they continue to bear their losses.
Additionally, Williams says she wants to bombard the Trump administration and the Supreme Court because they are the ones responsible for overturning Roe V. Wade.
“Why aren’t we in their faces? Why is it so hard to get to them? Half of my family is ripped apart because my daughter is gone, and we were once a strong, solid family,” she said. “I’m beyond standing on the podium, I want to see politicians face to face. I want to see change now.”
As for advice, Williams says she wants every mother who is experiencing loss and thinks they do not have a voice, or has just buriedd thinks their child is forgotten, to muster the strength to make the world remember thei their child, anr child.
“You must muster up the strength to make the world remember your child. We went through nine months of connection and how old your child is before death,” she said. “Why would you quit? Why would you not fight? Why would you let your child’s name and memories be forgotten and buried with them? You must fight as a mother, it’s what we do.”
Furthermore, Williams said this fight is not just about her and her family, but she stands on the strength of God to bring change for every woman.
“A ‘no’ to me doesn’t mean a thing. Looking at what’s going on at the White House, I could care less because my God is the President and he made a promise and he will not break his promise,” she said. “Together we stand, and we will get through it, and we’re going to get change.”
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.
Related
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…
More by Isaiah Singleton
