JINYA Ramen Bar has officially opened its doors in Roswell, marking the brand’s eighth Atlanta-area location and its ninth in Georgia. Located at 1013 Alpharetta Street, this expansion brings the popular ramen destination closer to the heart of North Fulton—just minutes away from Historic Downtown Roswell and the Chattahoochee River.
Photo by Jazmine Brazier/The Atlanta Voice
I recently had the chance to visit JINYA for lunch, and I have to say—the ramen lived up to every bit of the hype. The broth was rich and savory, simmered to perfection, and the noodles had that perfect bite that makes a bowl of ramen truly memorable. It was the kind of meal that leaves you both satisfied and already thinking about your next visit.
The new restaurant offers not only its signature slow-simmered ramen but also a variety of Japanese small plates, making it an ideal spot for a cozy lunch, a casual night out, or a gathering with friends.
“Bringing JINYA to Roswell marks an exciting step in our journey as we expand throughout Georgia,” said Tomo Takahashi, Founder and CEO of JINYA Ramen Bar. “We’re thrilled to welcome the Roswell community and share our passion for authentic Japanese ramen.”
Photo by Jazmine Brazier/The Atlanta Voice
The Roswell location features a warm, inviting atmosphere that fits right into the neighborhood’s vibrant dining scene. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the JINYA experience, it’s an elevated take on ramen that’s well worth the trip.
Guests can enjoy JINYA Ramen Bar in Roswell Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Atlanta Voice maintains full authority over editorial content to protect journalistic and business interests. We ensure a clear separation between news coverage decisions and revenue sources. Accepting financial support does not imply endorsement of donors or their products, services, or viewpoints. While we welcome contributions, grants, and sponsorships to support our work, our editorial decisions remain independent and unaltered by donor support. We may accept paid sponsored content from advertisers for specific subjects, but we maintain editorial control over such coverage. The Atlanta Voice retains the right to review, change, or modify editorial content, and does not permit unauthorized distribution of such material. When applicable, we disclose our donors and stakeholders in an editor’s note or within the report.
The Atlanta Voice opened its doors to the community for a joyful Midday Open House, marking six decades of storytelling, advocacy, and community connection. The celebration was more than an anniversary—it was a vibrant reflection of the publication’s mission to inform, uplift, and empower Metro Atlanta.
Throughout the afternoon, guests enjoyed a lively drop-in experience that blended nostalgia with forward-thinking energy. From guided peeks into current initiatives to sneak previews of what’s launching next, visitors got a firsthand look at how The Atlanta Voice continues to evolve while staying true to its roots.
WAREhouse Studio buzzed with conversation as longtime supporters, community partners, and new friends mingled with The Atlanta Voice staff. Laughter and stories filled the air as attendees shared memories of the publication’s impact and envisioned the next 60 years together.
“This milestone isn’t just about where we’ve been—it’s about where we’re headed,” said Publisher Janis Ware. “The Atlanta Voice has always been about amplifying the voices of our community, and that mission continues stronger than ever.”
Special Guests & Honors
We were deeply honored to welcome Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who stopped by to share reflections and gratitude for The Atlanta Voice’s legacy of truth-telling and community service. His words inspired the crowd and reminded everyone how local journalism continues to shape the future of our city.
We also extend heartfelt thanks to Fulton County Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington Jr., who presented an official proclamation recognizing The Atlanta Voice’s 60 years of excellence and enduring service to Metro Atlanta.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our 60th Anniversary Partners
This milestone moment wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of our anniversary partners: Centennial Yards, DeKalb County, Anthem Health, Invest Atlanta, and INSPR Media. Your belief in our mission helps power the stories that move Atlanta forward.
The power of social media, and in particular TikTok, has brought many people notoriety and infamy, depending on the video’s subject. For former Tri-State Defender reporter Dalisia Ballinger, a viral TikTok video in which she explained how comfortable she has become in her Memphis neighborhood ever since the United States National Guard set up shop in town last week.
A screenshot of the viral TikTok post that started it all. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
During the video, which is titled, “I feel safe…thank you Trump”, Ballinger, whose TikTok account is under Deedee Manning, said, “Some of ya’ll might get mad at me, and at this point, I don’t give a damn. I will say thank you to Trump for bringing these National Guards and doing what they are doing in Memphis.”
During an interview on Wednesday afternoon, Ballinger, 38, told The Atlanta Voice that her life changed five days ago when that video hit social media. Earlier this week, she was fired from her job, which she began as a freelancer and later as a full-time reporter for the 74-year-old Black newspaper in 2017.
Ballinger was invited to go on Fox News to discuss her TikTok video. That invite, mixed with the viral video, just made things worse.
“I spoke with my editor, because of course, she found out about the video, and she gave me her opinion on why she didn’t feel that I should do any interviews, and if I do any interviews, I could no longer work for the Tri-State Defender,” Ballinger said.
That editor, Stephanie R. Jones, notified Ballinger the day after another TikTok post about the negative comments she had been receiving, that she no longer had to report to the assignments she had planned for this week. She was fired effective immediately.
To put the amount of reaction Ballinger’s original “thank you, Trump” video has received, numbers must be used. Nearly 80,000 likes, 5,500 comments, and more than 5,500 people saved the video.
Ballinger has been through rough times before, including being homeless, but the past 72 hours have been something she never imagined, Ballinger said.
“I’ve been for the people. I lived in these communities and I served these communities,” she said. “I have always been 100% for the people, and I know that I have an impactful voice.”
A mother of two, Ballinger continues to say the streets of Memphis are safer since the National Guard arrived, and she’s not backing down.
“I still feel good about it,” she said. “I’m able to hear the birds chirp.”
An education reporter, along with other beats, Ballinger found peace in the Black newspaper in town. She said she was proud to tell stories about her neighbors and friends.
“That beat means so much to me,” said Ballinger of her work within the city’s school system. “Just being with the kids, and being in the community.”
Living in the community she covered, Ballinger had a unique perspective as a homeowner, parent, and journalist. Now, she doesn’t have a job.
“My point of view is different, because I live in the community. It’s not a joke. In the community that I live in, every day there were gunshots,” Ballinger explained. It became normal for me.”
Weeks after late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel had his career put on hold for speaking his mind, Ballinger, on a much less popular but equally important scale, is going through a similar hardship.
“I believe what the problem was that I said, ‘Thanks Trump’,” she said. “I think people’s hate for Trump overshadowed the message.”
Ballinger said she is ready to get back to work, telling stories about her fellow Memphians for her fellow Memphians.
“This was off-duty, the Tri-State Defender wasn’t involved, but my eyes are open. I’m dropping more content , it’s taking off and people are hearing what I’m saying. I’m not a Republican or a democrat. I’m not a rightie or a leftie. I’m an American citizen and I see things for what they are.”
Former Atlanta Police Department officer Kalema Jackson visited WAREhouse Studios on the campus of The Atlanta Voice to discuss his campaign for mayor. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Former Atlanta Police Department officer Kalema Jackson wants to be the next mayor of Atlanta, and he is not allowing the fact that he doesn’t know how to do that to stop him.
Jackson is one of three men running against the current Atlanta Mayor, Andre Dickens. Last week, he participated in the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young debate series. The debates, which were not televised live but aired on YouTube and WABE, were Jackson’s first opportunity to speak to Fulton County voters. He was nervous and hesitated to listen to or watch a replay. His mother texted him and let him know he did well.
“That’s when I decided to take a look, and I gave myself a B-,” Jackson said with a laugh.
Jackson has not allowed his lack of political experience to keep him from believing he can run the city. He believes his time on the street as a police officer helped him understand what the people of Atlanta need from its leaders. Jackson served the city for 13 years, most in Zone 3, and wants to return to continue his service, this time from City Hall, he said.
“I want to do right by the city,” said Jackson, 50, who is unmarried and without children. “I am proud of my career as a police officer. I wanted to make a contribution to this community, and I want to do it again.”
Jackson, 50, has no prior political experience, but believes he can win this election. “I want to do right by the city,” he said. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Jackson was born and raised in Dothan, Alabama, and moved to Atlanta in 1996 to attend college. He recalled that the city he encountered when he arrived had changed for better and worse. After graduating from art school, Jackson saw an Atlanta Police Department recruitment advertisement in the newspaper and decided to see what it was about.
In 2002, Jackson completed his Atlanta Police Department academy training and joined the force. For the next 13 years, he patrolled the streets and cemented relationships, not with major players in the halls of City Hall, but with people who live, work, and play within the communities of Atlanta.
When asked if he misses working as a police officer, Jackson, who retired in 2015, said, “Kind of.”
“I am proud that the community would call on me, and I’m proud that I had that type of impact,” Jackson said. “I took every case and call seriously.”
Voting turnout for the mayoral elections in Fulton County has routinely been low. Just under 50% of the nearly 900,000 registered voters participated in the 2024 general election, so turnout was low among Atlantans, too. Jackson believes voters want a candidate whom they can be excited about.
“I have been watching the progress of the current administration, and I think I can do a better job,” said Jackson. “I feel I have a lot to offer.”
Jackson told The Atlanta Voice that he wants to bring more development to the city’s southside and provide more job fairs for residents.
“Have companies there that are actually hiring,” Jackson said of the job fairs.
The underdog mayoral candidate has done little campaigning, with only three weeks until Election Day, November 4. Asked what his campaign plans are, Jackson said it was to get out amongst the people more.
“I’d like to get a little more exposure, get more support, because I want to just do right for the people,” he said.
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.”
The Atlanta Voice maintains full authority over editorial content to protect journalistic and business interests. We ensure a clear separation between news coverage decisions and revenue sources. Accepting financial support does not imply endorsement of donors or their products, services, or viewpoints. While we welcome contributions, grants, and sponsorships to support our work, our editorial decisions remain independent and unaltered by donor support. We may accept paid sponsored content from advertisers for specific subjects, but we maintain editorial control over such coverage. The Atlanta Voice retains the right to review, change, or modify editorial content, and does not permit unauthorized distribution of such material. When applicable, we disclose our donors and stakeholders in an editor’s note or within the report.
The Atlanta Voice publisher Janis Ware (above) during the 2025 Salute to Legacy luncheon. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
Surrounded by local community members and business leaders on the rooftop of Roosevelt Hall, The Atlanta Voice publisher Janis Ware was honored at the City of Atlanta’s Salute to Legacy luncheon on Tuesday afternoon. The event recognized longstanding local businesses that have helped shape the cultural and economic fabric of Atlanta for the past 30 years. Under the helm of Ware and her dedication to innovation and community impact, The Atlanta Voice has stood the test of time in its mission to be a voice for the people, since it was co-founded by her father, J. Lowell Ware, in 1966.
“I’m excited and thrilled to be recognized as a legacy business. It’s not easy to make it 30 years, and it’s even more of an accomplishment to get to 60,” Ware said.
The event was the brainchild of Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development authority. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who also serves as chair of the Invest Atlanta board, attended the luncheon and recognized the adaptability and resilience of many of Atlanta’s small business owners. Dickens emphasized the importance of celebrating these legacy businesses that have contributed to Atlanta becoming the “city that influences everything.”
“Legacy businesses are pillars and economic anchors for the community, and we can’t be a city of opportunity for all if we don’t uplift our legacy businesses. You all provide consistent jobs for our residents…. These businesses have mentored generations of entrepreneurs and reinvested in our local economy, whether it is boom or bust, recession or pandemic, or any other thing — 30 years you have endured,” Dickens said.
“Your longevity brings economic stability to our neighborhoods, and this is especially important in times of uncertainty. Your businesses represent the living history of Atlanta, each one of you telling a story of your own and a collective, shared journey that we all have. To stay in business for 30 years or more takes resilience, innovation, and deep connection to the community.”
The Atlanta Local Legacy Program comprises over 400 businesses. Those who are a part of the program are included in an online registry that allows interested customers to find and patronize their establishments, and are qualified to apply for improvement grants aimed at sustaining vital businesses within the community.
Twenty businesses were inaugural recipients of the local legacy program celebration, including The Atlanta Voice, Busy Bee Cafe, Atlanta Human Performance Center, The Beautiful Restaurant, Georgia Justice Project and Mr. Everything Cafe, to name a few. Each business was awarded the first edition of the Atlanta Legacy Coin, a commemorative gift that Invest Atlanta President Eloisa Klementich said will continue the legacy of telling the stories of important organizations and events in the city.
“Longevity in business is not just about profit. It’s about purpose. It’s about people. It’s about preservation,” Klementich said. “You [legacy businesses] have helped to build and inspire the foundation we all stand on, and we continue to light the way forward. Here’s to the next 30 years.”
Moore’s “My Big Red Machine” is available in paperback and hardcover. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Major League Baseball’s postseason has begun, and for the teams and fan bases involved, there will be a chance to win a World Series title. One of those teams involved was the Cincinnati Reds; decades ago, in the 1970s, that franchise was one of the perennial favorites to win championships.
That team, nicknamed The Big Red Machine for its efficiency and power, had fans all over the country. One of those fans was sports writer and author Terence Moore. During Moore’s youth and later as a young reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer, he had the unique opportunity to get close to the stars of The Big Red Machine, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey, Sr., Tony Perez, and, of course, Pete Rose.
Moore visited The Atlanta Voice to discuss his inspiration for his latest book, “My Big Red Machine,” walking the thin line between fandom and journalism, and his lifelong love for baseball.
The Atlanta Voice: Good morning, Terence. Is this your first time inside The Atlanta Voice office?
Terence Moore: Yeah, I can feel the history as we sit here right now. You can feel the history of the people that this paper represented through the years and decades. Black publications were so huge to the Civil Rights Movement in general, but particularly here in Atlanta.
AV: How long have you been thinking about writing this book? I know you grew up in Cincinnati and had worked at one of the local daily newspapers. This book must have been special to report on.
TM: It’s been forever. I would tell people different stories, and they would say that I needed to write about it. The Big Red Machine is the greatest team in baseball; that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. The Reds of the 1970s won more games than anybody in baseball in that decade. And in 1975 and 1976, they won back-to-back world championships. This is the 50th anniversary of the first of those back-to-back championships. I figured the timing is perfect.
Moore said, “My Big Red Machine” is about more than baseball. “It’s sort of a memoir about me as a young person idolizing this team and having another goal in life: becoming a journalist. It’s an interesting journey,” Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
AV: But this book is about more than baseball, correct?
TM: The thing that I am very proud of about this book is that people are shocked that it’s not just a baseball book. It’s not just about The Big Red Machine; it’s not just about sports. It’s sort of a memoir about me as a young person idolizing this team, and also having another goal in life: becoming a journalist. It’s an interesting journey.
AV: If you had to describe this book in a sentence, what would that sentence be?
TM: It’s a riveting tale with great storytelling. The storytelling gives the reader the journey of not only my life, but the life of anybody who was passionate about anything in his or her life. And then having it come to fruition.
AV: How did it feel to be telling parts of your life, family, and career in this book? You have done this in your previous books, like in The Real Hank Aaron, but this went deeper.
TM: It was an out-of-body experience. After I wrote this book, and then I read the proof, I was like, ‘Who wrote this?’ It was the strangest thing. There were passages that I know I obviously remember writing, and then there were other passages that I was like, ‘This was unbelievable.’
Moore revealed that the entire project came together -from start to publication- in 13 months. “Somehow I was able to get this done,” he said.
AV: On page 63 in chapter 3, you vividly describe the smells inside the old Crosley Field on your first visit with your family. The recall of the many personal and professional moments was so interesting. How did you remember so much detail?
TM: A lot of people ask me that. Even before I was a reporter, I was a reporter. I’m very much my mother’s son; she never threw away anything. I save everything. It’s just unbelievable the stuff that I’ve saved through the years.
One of the things I teach my journalism students is the big three: reporting, interviewing, and angles. It’s a must in anything that you do.
AV: In the book, you describe writing the first story ever on Ken Griffey, Jr. in the Cincinnati Enquirer in July 1978. Did you see anything special about the boy that told you he would become a future Baseball Hall of Fame inductee?
TM: I’m at Riverfront Stadium in the summer of 1978, my first year of working at the Cincinnati Enquirer. One of the groundskeepers came up to me and told me I should do a story on Ken Griffey. I told him I had written tons of stories on Ken Griffey, and he said no, not the father, the son. I said ‘How old is he?’ and he said he’s eight years old. I said, ‘Ok.’
Moore said that when he finally decided to look into how good Ken Griffey, Jr. really was, he was astounded that the groundskeeper’s tip was spot on. “He was the greatest eight-year-old kid I ever saw,” Moore said.
AV: What do you want readers to come away with from reading “My Big Red Machine”?
TM: I want them to understand that you can bring stories alive through a lot of circumstances, situations, and experiences. That’s what I try to do. I try to bring stories alive by using myself as a vehicle to show different aspects of life. Because we can all relate to journeys, we can all relate to the journey of being a young person and having a fixation and passion for something. For me, it just happened to be this baseball team, this Big Red Machine. The greatest baseball team of all time.
The Atlanta Voice maintains full authority over editorial content to protect journalistic and business interests. We ensure a clear separation between news coverage decisions and revenue sources. Accepting financial support does not imply endorsement of donors or their products, services, or viewpoints. While we welcome contributions, grants, and sponsorships to support our work, our editorial decisions remain independent and unaltered by donor support. We may accept paid sponsored content from advertisers for specific subjects, but we maintain editorial control over such coverage. The Atlanta Voice retains the right to review, change, or modify editorial content, and does not permit unauthorized distribution of such material. When applicable, we disclose our donors and stakeholders in an editor’s note or within the report.
Baby Nayla antelope at the Little Crooked Creek Safari, a 23-acre interactive animal sanctuary tucked into the Lawrenceburg countryside. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
LAWRENCEBURG, KY. — It felt truly like fall in the windy, warm climate of Kentucky.
For those currently living in Atlanta who want to get away from the humidity, heat, or even the bipolar weather that the fall months bring, Kentucky is the right place.
The Atlanta Voice explored what Kentucky offers visitors.
Beginning in Lawrenceburg, the first destination was Little Crooked Creek Safari, a 23-acre interactive animal sanctuary tucked into the countryside. The facility, owned by Eric Swisher, invites arms-length engagement with sloths, capybaras, baby zebras, camels, and more. Visitors traverse the grounds to feed and pet the animals.
While some tours only offer passive observation, Little Crooked Creek emphasizes education. Guests receive not only the experience of being eye to eye with exotic species, such as the baby Nyala antelope from Africa, but also context on how those animals originated and adapted to their environments.
Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
After the safari, the group visited downtown Lawrenceburg, to look at the local establishments. At Southern Olive, owner Robert Gresham poured tastings from a collection of some 75 oils and vinegars, such as the Tuscan herb olive and the coconut white balsamic, to name a few. “My goal is to find things that make folks’ lives a little bit better,” Gresham said, explaining how flavor and small pleasures guide his business philosophy.
Dinner followed at Columbian Corner, a cozy, family-run restaurant known locally for its warm service and authentic Colombian menu.
Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
The night ended at the Wild Turkey Visitors Center, where the group gathered around a fire pit overlooking bourbon barrels under the night sky. Cocktails made with Wild Turkey accompanied a storytelling session led by Jeff Waldridge, the local ghost historian and paranormal guide. He shared legends tied to Lawrenceburg’s Haunted Hotel and courthouse, recounting ghost tours he hosts through the fall season.
The Atlanta Voice maintains full authority over editorial content to protect journalistic and business interests. We ensure a clear separation between news coverage decisions and revenue sources. Accepting financial support does not imply endorsement of donors or their products, services, or viewpoints. While we welcome contributions, grants, and sponsorships to support our work, our editorial decisions remain independent and unaltered by donor support. We may accept paid sponsored content from advertisers for specific subjects, but we maintain editorial control over such coverage. The Atlanta Voice retains the right to review, change, or modify editorial content, and does not permit unauthorized distribution of such material. When applicable, we disclose our donors and stakeholders in an editor’s note or within the report.
“On day one as governor, I’ll sign an executive order that allows doctors to practice medicine with pregnant women without the fear of prosecution. Secondly, I’ll introduce legislation that repeals the six-week ban and returns us to Roe v Wade. That’s my promise and I’m sticking to it,” said Duncan (left) during his interview at The Atlanta Voice on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan came to The Atlanta Voice for the first time on Monday, Sept. 21,to discuss his campaign for governor. Duncan is one of nearly a dozen candidates who have launched campaigns this year. Last week, Duncan visited a Black-owned small business in what looked like a concerted effort to speak directly to Black voters. A former Republican, Duncan, is running as a Democrat and believes there’s a place for a governor who appeals to both sides.
“I do have a track record of working across the aisle,” he said. “I want to turn chaos into conversations.”
The Atlanta Voice: Good morning, Mr. Duncan, and welcome to WAREHOUSE Studios on the campus of The Atlanta Voice. Let’s get right to it. Why did you decide to run for governor?
Geoff Duncan: I really feel like Georgia’s best days are in front of us and I want to lead all Georgians to those better days. In my role as Lieutenant Governor I saw how important the job as governor can be. I really feel there’s an opportunity to prioritize folks in the state that need it the most.
Duncan listed affordable child care, unemployment, and housing cost, and healthcare as issues he plans to tackle during his campaign.
AV: Any other issues taking place in Georgia that you believe should be addressed on the campaign trail going forward?
GD: Quite honestly, we have a Donald Trump crisis, too. This guy has leaned into our state in such a negative way. Not only trying to steal the 2020 [presidential election], but now he’s essentially putting rural hospitals in a crisis. We have a Donald Trump crisis, and I am willing to stand up and push back.
Photo By Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
AV: Does your experience as Lt. Governor give you an advantage over your opponents in this race?
GD: Absolutely. I learned a lot as Lt. Governor. In the four years that I was in office, we went through a pandemic, which was unbelievable for everybody ….I don’t even know what to refer to the pandemic as. We woke up one day, and there was 10 percent unemployment. We also had to navigate the difficult realities of civil unrest and the horrific murder of Ahmaud Arbery, amongst others. And we had to deal with the 2020 election trying to be stolen by a sitting President. I learned a lot about leadership. I learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about Georgians, and that’s really what’s led me on this journey. I think most Georgians just want somebody to lead their state that stays focused on the issues that matter most.
AV: What are some of those issues?
GD: Being able to allow folks to raise their kids in safe communities, being able to have access to quality education and quality healthcare, the ability to find a high-paying quality job. Those are the things we want to stay focused on. Too often in politics, folks are staying focused on the fringe issues because it’s a hyper-partisan environment.
If Georgians want to elect somebody who’s going to be hyper-partisan and call names, then they are not going to vote for me. If they want a consistent leader who shows up to work every day focused on the issues that matter, I think we have a good shot to win this.
Duncan was clear that he believes current Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has been good for the state. “He is doing a good job of leading our state forward. Our economy continues to grow. I think he handled COVID extremely well, and I was glad to work alongside him and the Legislature on a number of the COVID relief actions. But there’s more work to be done in the state.”
AV: What do you believe you can bring to the governor’s office that the other candidates cannot?
GD: I have been behind the curtain, and I realize how important the job of governor is. You get to write the first draft of the budget. You get to prioritize what is going to be nearly $40 billion, understanding how those agencies work, and understanding what dollars are effective and what dollars don’t seem to be effective. You get to prioritize what’s going on in the Legislature as the chief negotiator between constituencies.
And it’s not just Democrats versus Republicans at the Legislature. There are a lot of constituencies, rural and urban, and others, where you have to broker deals. The governor has to play a significant role. You put all that together, and the job of governor is important, and I feel like I have got a really good head start on understanding how that operates.
AV: Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, State Rep. Jason Esteves, and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond are also running to represent the Democratic Party in this race. All have high levels of name recognition with Democratic voters in two of Georgia’s largest counties, Fulton and DeKalb counties, respectively. Do you believe your level of name recognition will help you as well?
GD: I think more important than name recognition is my platform. I think my platform meets the needs, meets those individuals, meets those counties where they are.
AV: Please explain.
GD: I know I keep talking about affordability, but it’s a reality folks are facing. There are folks who are going to read this who are scared about just paying rent next month. They are worried about being able to afford groceries when they go to the store. My platform is laser-focused on meeting folks where they are at.
I think amongst Democrats, my name ID is high because I have been willing to stand up to Donald Trump, even when it wasn’t politically popular.
Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan (above, left, at The Black Coffee Co. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025) and current Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger have joined the long list of Democrats and Republicans running for the state’s top spot. Photo by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta Voice
AV: Was the visit to The Black Coffee Company an attempt to begin reaching out to the Black voter base in Atlanta?
GD: One of my areas of focus has been on the Black community, for sure. Such an important part of the election, but more importantly, part of the state. The importance is to learn perspective, to understand what people need, where people’s hearts are at, and where their concerns are at.
On Sunday, Duncan and his wife attended service at Allen Temple AME Church, one of the city’s oldest Black church communities.
AV: Why do you believe Democratic voters should trust you? Why should they believe you have similar Democratic values now?
GD: Those are great questions. Two parts: One is that I do have a track record of working across the aisle on an overwhelming majority of the issues. Two, some Republicans want to point fingers and call me names, saying ‘Geoff Duncan has lost his mind’. I haven’t lost my mind, I found my heart. I want to love my neighbor, that’s my mission each and every day. I want to look for ways to use the state of Georgia as that vehicle for us to love our neighbors.
Duncan, 50, married and a father of three, admitted that he “got guns and abortion wrong” as a “young Republican legislator.”
“I fell into that trap of thinking the NRA and other groups had people’s best interests at heart. They don’t,” he said.
He added, “I was wrong to think a room full of legislators knew better than millions of women in this state. I have taken the time to talk to them, hear their horrific stories, and tough circumstances in situations. I believe they deserve the right to choose and day one as governor, “I’ll sign an executive order that allows doctors to practice medicine with pregnant women without the fear of prosecution. Secondly, I’ll introduce legislation that repeals the six-week ban and returns us to Roe v Wade.
From the outside, Eagle Rock Skyland Studios looks like any other industrial warehouse on the edge of town. Inside, however, the cavernous space transforms into a polished Los Angeles law office, a judge’s chamber, and the tangled emotional landscape of Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt. On this particular Saturday, music blasted between takes, crew members hustled across the floor, and a script rework or two slipped into the pages; this was the rhythm of a show in full swing.
With Reasonable Doubt filming in Georgia, Richmond (right) found himself playing on home turf. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
The Atlanta Voice spent the day with Ryan Richmond, 46, an Atlanta-based screenwriter for the Kerry Washington–produced TV drama Reasonable Doubt. On set alongside him was showrunner Raamla Mohamed, a veteran writer best known for her work on Scandal. At the center of the bustling production was Richmond, whose Atlanta roots make him something of an outlier in an industry pipeline that essentially runs through Los Angeles and New York. With Reasonable Doubt filming in Georgia, Richmond has found himself playing on home turf.
“When you find good talent, you don’t let it go to waste,” he said, smiling at the unlikeliness of his position.
Richmond didn’t come to television on the above-the-line side the usual way. He began his career behind the camera doing below-the-line work as a director of photography, which gave him a strong sense of how production flows. Writing episodic television, however, is new territory, one that has expanded his role from page to set.
“As the writer, the goal is to protect the creative vision,” he explained. “The showrunner can’t be everywhere at once, so we’re here to make sure every department has the information they need. You want each episode to have its own flavor, but it still has to fit within the story, like chapters in a book.”
“As the writer, the goal is to protect the creative vision,” Richmond (right) explained. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
That sense of consistency was important this day, as Episode 7, directed by Anton Cropper and guided by a script Richmond brought to set, came to life. It is a flashback-heavy chapter, one of the show’s signatures. “It’s not a whole dedicated flashback episode,” Richmond said, “but it’s peppered in so you get a sense of the history between Jax, her mom, and her dad. You see how it all came about.”
Even though the story takes place in Los Angeles, much of Reasonable Doubt is filmed in Georgia. The indoor scenes, courtrooms, homes, offices – can be built anywhere. The trick is making Atlanta stand in convincingly for LA. “Atlanta is great because you can get looks that pass for LA,” Richmond said. “We still do exterior work in LA to ground it, but here you can cleverly pull off other cities. It’s always a little bit of faking.”
Even though Atlanta has become a powerhouse for film production, one piece of the industry often missing from the city is the sacred writers’ room, a long-running complaint within the local film community. Richmond managed to break through during the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtual writers’ rooms opened the door for talent outside Los Angeles and New York. For Atlanta writers, it was a rare win, though not without challenges. As the only Atlanta-based voice in the Reasonable Doubt writers’ room, Richmond navigated a space still firmly anchored on the coasts.
For him, that mix of authenticity and illusion mirrors his own journey. An Atlanta-based writer with national credits, he’s carving out space in a system that seldom makes room for Southern voices. And yet, here he is, guiding a multimillion-dollar Hulu production, fielding questions from directors, and ensuring every beat of dialogue stays true to the story.
As cameras rolled on the flashback sequence, Richmond stood just off set, script in hand, answering a quiet question from a crew member. It’s not glamorous, as Showtime’s Californication or Apple TV’s The Studio might make it seem. You are up early and often leave late but it’s essential. Ensuring the words on the page survive the translation to the screen. On this Saturday, as Atlanta once again doubled for Los Angeles, Richmond’s presence was both an anomaly and an advantage.
“It takes on a life of its own once it’s on its feet,” he said. “That’s the magic of it.”
The new season of Reasonable Doubt debuts on Hulu on September 18.
The Atlanta Voice maintains full authority over editorial content to protect journalistic and business interests. We ensure a clear separation between news coverage decisions and revenue sources. Accepting financial support does not imply endorsement of donors or their products, services, or viewpoints. While we welcome contributions, grants, and sponsorships to support our work, our editorial decisions remain independent and unaltered by donor support. We may accept paid sponsored content from advertisers for specific subjects, but we maintain editorial control over such coverage. The Atlanta Voice retains the right to review, change, or modify editorial content, and does not permit unauthorized distribution of such material. When applicable, we disclose our donors and stakeholders in an editor’s note or within the report.
The Atlanta Voice maintains full authority over editorial content to protect journalistic and business interests. We ensure a clear separation between news coverage decisions and revenue sources. Accepting financial support does not imply endorsement of donors or their products, services, or viewpoints. While we welcome contributions, grants, and sponsorships to support our work, our editorial decisions remain independent and unaltered by donor support. We may accept paid sponsored content from advertisers for specific subjects, but we maintain editorial control over such coverage. The Atlanta Voice retains the right to review, change, or modify editorial content, and does not permit unauthorized distribution of such material. When applicable, we disclose our donors and stakeholders in an editor’s note or within the report.
Carter Sr. (above) was the founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel and a professor of religion since 1979. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
For nearly half a century, the Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr. has stood at the heart of Morehouse College’s spiritual and intellectual life. Now, the founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel & professor is preparing to close one chapter of his storied career.
Carter, 76, announced he will retire from his deanship on June 30, 2026, after 47 years at the historically Black men’s college. His tenure, which began on July 1, 1979, when he was appointed by then-President Hugh Gloster, makes him one of the longest-serving leaders in Morehouse history.
“This is my 46th year, and I will retire from the deanship June 30, 2026,” Carter said in an interview with The Atlanta Voice. “I will maintain my professorship and go on sabbatical for one year, which will complete 47 years with Morehouse College.”
Carter (above) was selected unanimously from a pool of 500 candidates. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
From Dawson to Morehouse: Transforming the Chapel
Born in Dawson, Georgia, Carter’s journey to the ministry started early. His mother later told him that his grandmother had prayed over him as an infant, asking God to “make this boy a preacher.” Carter didn’t learn of that prayer until after earning his doctorate at Boston University School of Theology.
“I was wrestling with my calling from ninth through twelfth grade, and finally announcing it publicly my senior year, as something just between me and God,” he recalled. “So when I heard my mother say that, it stunned me.”
Before coming to Morehouse, Carter served as acting director of the Martin Luther King Jr. African American Cultural Center at Boston University while completing his doctorate. Though some doubted he could lead the Morehouse chapel without being an alumnus, Carter was selected unanimously from a pool of 500 candidates.
One of his earliest acts was persuading the Board of Trustees to rename Memorial Chapel as the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. Carter said he didn’t want to preside over “a museum for battles that are no longer being fought.” The board eventually approved the change unanimously.
Over the next four decades, Carter led the chapel’s evolution into a hub for global ethics, peacebuilding, and interfaith dialogue. He launched the Chapel Assistants Pre-Seminarians Program, widely regarded as a top feeder program for divinity schools nationwide. He also introduced initiatives like the Gandhi–King–Ikeda awards and the Community Builders Prizes, which brought international leaders to Morehouse’s campus.
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
The chapel itself transformed under Carter’s leadership, both physically and philosophically. Beyond renaming the building for Martin Luther King Jr., he oversaw the installation of historic stone tablets on its facade, salvaged from a King monument at Boston University. Carter recalled being present when the monument was first dedicated: “The President himself dedicated it, and I was in the crowd. When he finished delivering his speech, he stepped from behind the podium, and walked three rows back, and handed me his speech, and said, ‘You’re the only one here who will appreciate this.’”
Years later, when Boston University renovated the monument with marble and gold lettering, the original stones were offered to Morehouse. Carter accepted them, seeing their arrival as divine confirmation of his calling to remain at the college. The chapel’s Thurman Tower also houses a time capsule with artifacts spanning thousands of years of African and world history, further grounding the space in a global legacy.
Praise from Morehouse Leadership: A Lasting Legacy
Carter’s influence has stretched well beyond the campus gates. Generations of Morehouse students trained under his mentorship have gone on to leadership in churches, seminaries, and public life. Recruiters from divinity schools, he said, often prefer Morehouse graduates because they “rise to the top of the class all over the nation.”
In moments of national crisis, major media outlets have sought out Morehouse pastors and alumni, a testament to the chapel’s reach under his stewardship.
Still, Carter’s path was not without challenges. In his 19th year, he nearly resigned, facing a crisis of faith, telling his wife Marva that he felt “burnt out” and “lonely.” A weeklong trip that included preaching in Los Angeles restored his sense of purpose.
“When I landed in Atlanta, everything said, you’re home,” he remembered.
Preparing for the Next Chapter: A Scholar’s Passion
Away from the pulpit, Carter is known as a voracious reader and collector of books, boasting what he believes to be the largest personal library of any Morehouse faculty member. His love of knowledge began as a child, flipping through books he couldn’t yet read but sensed contained “secrets, answers to the problems of the world.”
His passion for education also connects him to the roots of Morehouse. Carter has written about the college’s founder, William Jefferson White, a journalist who risked his life by opening clandestine schools for enslaved people before establishing what became Morehouse in 1867.
“There’s a reason why during slavery there were laws on the books against teaching enslaved Africans to read,” Carter said. “And there’s a reason why the founder of Morehouse College was considered the greatest Black journalist of his era.”
Morehouse College plans an international search for Carter’s successor, chaired by trustee and alumnus Rev. Dr. Delman Coates, Class of 1995. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Carter’s career has spanned multiple eras in Morehouse history, from Gloster to the present. His work helped redefine the chapel not only as a place of worship but as a platform for leadership, service, and global vision.
As the college begins its search for a new chapel dean, Carter is looking ahead to a sabbatical and a slower pace. But he said the affirmation he has received since announcing his retirement has been both humbling and reassuring.
The college plans an international search for his successor, chaired by trustee and alumnus Rev. Dr. Delman Coates, Class of 1995.
Since announcing his retirement, Carter said his life has changed. Visitors from around the world have come to see him, offering thanks and reflections on his legacy.
“Since July 1, my life has not been the same,” he said. “They’ve been telling me that I did it. And then the strange thing is, they’re saying nobody else could have done this, but you’ve done it.”
Amazon hosted its inaugural Future Innovator Summit at the ATL2 Robotics Facility in Stone Mountain on Friday morning. Over 50 Atlanta-area college students got the opportunity to hear from Amazon leadership, tour the state-of-the-art robotics facility, and participate in student programming geared toward preparing the next generation of leaders in operations and logistics.
The summit featured a panel with Amazon leadership, including Sandy Gordon, the global vice president of employee experience and relations; Tony Vozzolo, the ATL2 director of operations and general manager; and Kawanne Clark, senior HR manager at ATL2. 11Alive News anchor Faith Jessie moderated the discussion. The future engineers, business leaders, founders, and creatives gained insight into the skills Amazon seeks in young talent, and what it’s like to be on the front line of operations.
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
“Have grit. Be hungry. Be customer-obsessed. Look at our leadership principles around here. That’s all we’re looking for,” Vozzolo advised. “What we’re looking for is, do you care? Do you take care of your team? You take care of your people? Are you hungry? You want to go out there and innovate and explore.”
Gordon also discussed her experience rising in the ranks as a woman in the STEM field, sharing that she would often be the only woman in the room when she started. She noted that in Amazon’s operations, women represent 49.2% of the workforce, nearly half. According to the World Economic Forum, women comprised only 28.2% of the STEM global workforce in 2024.
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
“This is a space where it may not seem conventional wisdom to take a STEM background and come into the operations, but it’s not just that it’s a place for you to come and grow; it is a place for you to thrive if you’re a female,” Gordon said. “When you’re able to come into an environment where there are other women as leaders, you can see what you can do.”
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
Lauryn Carter, a senior industrial engineering major at Georgia Tech, is the first in her family to go to college. She said student-focused events like the Future Innovator Summit allow her to connect with like-minded students and gain experience and insight into her future career.
“Being a future innovator as a first-generation student means setting the pathway for my family. Being from a small town, there are not really any opportunities there, so just branching out and really exploring opportunities and networking to build those connections is very important to me.”
A former employee at The Athens Voice, a long-since closed newspaper within The Voice Network, Thurmond (above, inside the conference room at The Atlanta Voice) was hired right out of Paine College to work for The Atlanta Voice’s founder, J. Lowell Ware, the father of the paper’s current publisher, Janis Ware. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Former DeKalb County CEO and 2026 Georgia gubernatorial candidate Michael Thurmond visited The Atlanta Voice on Monday, Sept. 2, to discuss why he believes he should be the Democratic nominee next November. A former employee at The Athens Voice, a now-closed newspaper that was part of The Voice News Network, Thurmond was hired right out of Paine College to work for The Atlanta Voice’s founder and current publisher’s father, J. Lowell Ware. He calls himself a “newspaper man” and has warm memories of working in the newspaper industry for a Black-owned and operated publication.
Thurmond, however, left the journalism field for local and statewide politics and found success as a Georgia State Representative and Georgia Commissioner of Labor. Now he wants to make a run for the state’s top spot.
“This is beyond party politics,” Thurmond said.
The Atlanta Voice: Good morning, Mr. Thurmond, and welcome to WAREHOUSE Studios on the campus of The Atlanta Voice. Let’s get right to it. Why did you decide to run for governor?
Michael Thurmond: We are at a pivotal moment in the history of our state and of our nation. At this moment in time, we need leadership that can push back against some of the more damaging aspects of the new federalization in the Big Beautiful Bill.
AV: Can you elaborate on that?
MT: Here in Georgia, if we have the right governor, not one Georgian will have to lose his or her Medicaid. If we have the right governor with the right type of leadership, not one Georgian who deserves it and is eligible will have to lose their SNAP benefits. If we have the right leadership, we will not go back, but I think we can achieve a level of greatness that we have dreamed about but have not been able to grasp.
AV: And you believe you can provide the “right leadership” you’re speaking of?
MT: I believe so. I believe my background, not my promises, but my performances have prepared me for this unprecedented challenge that we face. My entire life experience has prepared me for this historic moment.
Thurmond said the fact that he has led successful transformations of both public and private agencies is something voters should consider an asset. “I’ve not been afraid to innovate and create new solutions to old problems,” he said.
MT: This is more than a political campaign. If we see this through the prism of traditional politics, then I think you’re missing the moment. I think this is about the future of Georgia and the future of our nation. We now must stand in the gap to protect progress and how we define America.
AV: What do you believe you can bring to the office of the governor that the other candidates cannot?
MT: Georgia is not the worst-performing state in the nation. However, I do believe we are underperforming in many areas. I will continue to work hard to protect and advance Georgia’s ranking as the number one state to do business. Where we have fallen down is in ensuring that families have the resources and opportunities needed to fulfill their goals and ambitions.
If we can be number one in business, we ought to be number one in terms of being a safe place for a woman to give birth to her child. We should be number one in protecting our senior citizens. We ought to have the number one best public school system in America.
AV: You have been campaigning for several weeks now. What has that looked and felt like?
MT: My natural political habitat is the state of Georgia.I have done 80 different events and listening tours around the state of Georgia over the last year and a half. I wanted to go out and actually listen before I announced.
We had a packed house in Lumpkin County. I was thrilled that so many people came together for a common desire.
Before Thurmond left the office, he talked about being willing to go anywhere voters were. He said having strong ties in Atlanta and DeKalb County wouldn’t be enough to get the job done.
“We can’t win this with just Black voters,” Thurmond said. “It has to be a coalition of the willing.”
The Atlanta Voice maintains full authority over editorial content to protect journalistic and business interests. We ensure a clear separation between news coverage decisions and revenue sources. Accepting financial support does not imply endorsement of donors or their products, services, or viewpoints. While we welcome contributions, grants, and sponsorships to support our work, our editorial decisions remain independent and unaltered by donor support. We may accept paid sponsored content from advertisers for specific subjects, but we maintain editorial control over such coverage. The Atlanta Voice retains the right to review, change, or modify editorial content, and does not permit unauthorized distribution of such material. When applicable, we disclose our donors and stakeholders in an editor’s note or within the report.
