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 * Latest News
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   * Maria’s Metro
   * Reporter’s Notebook
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   * John Ruch
   * Hannah Jones
   * Tom Baxter
   * Allison Joyner
   * Mark Lannaman
   * Megan Anderson
   * Eleanor Ringel Cater
   * View All
 * Media
   * Photo Picks
   * Seen in Atlanta
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 * Thought Leaders
   * Empowering Atlanta
   * Financial Inclusion
   * Global Health
   * Higher Education
   * Historic Westside
   * People, Places, Parks
   * Innovation Digest
   * Law and Public Policy
   * Metro Business
   * Money Matters
   * Poverty and Equity
   * Philanthropy
   * Securing Atlanta’s Future
   * Views From Peachtree
   * Sustainable Communities
   * Transit
 * About
   * Contributors
   * SaportaReport Team
   * Friends of Saporta Report
   * Thought Leadership
   * Corporate Sponsorship
   * About Us
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TYPE TO SEARCH



 * Latest News
 * Columns
   * Maria’s Metro
   * Reporter’s Notebook
   * Guest Columns
   * John Ruch
   * Hannah Jones
   * Tom Baxter
   * Allison Joyner
   * Mark Lannaman
   * Megan Anderson
   * Eleanor Ringel Cater
   * View All
 * Media
   * Photo Picks
   * Seen in Atlanta
   * Stories of Atlanta
   * View All
 * Thought Leaders
   * Empowering Atlanta
   * Financial Inclusion
   * Global Health
   * Higher Education
   * Historic Westside
   * People, Places, Parks
   * Innovation Digest
   * Law and Public Policy
   * Metro Business
   * Money Matters
   * Poverty and Equity
   * Philanthropy
   * Securing Atlanta’s Future
   * Views From Peachtree
   * Sustainable Communities
   * Transit
 * About
   * Contributors
   * SaportaReport Team
   * Friends of Saporta Report
   * Thought Leadership
   * Corporate Sponsorship
   * About Us
 * Sponsors
 * Subscribe
 * DONATE

 * Respected Voices
 * Latest news
 * Thought Leaders
 * Topics





LATEST NEWS


Latest news
MARTA board to create ethics body to review unexplained personnel issue
John Ruch January 12, 2023 4:00 pm

The MARTA Board of Directors will create an “advisory board of ethics” to review
an unexplained personnel issue.

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State Farm Arena celebrates record waste diversion in 2022, unveils new art
piece

In 2022, State Farm Arena diverted over 2.5 million pounds of waste ...


Rodney Bullard: Beloved Benefit will now be part of new entity – The Same House

The Beloved Benefit, championed by Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy, is shifting to a ...


Driver arrested for filming police claims to be journalist, considers lawsuit

The man controversially arrested while filming police from a car at Atlanta’s
...


Gov. Brian Kemp at Georgia Chamber breakfast says housing is economic
development issue

At Wednesday’s Eggs & Issues breakfast hosted by the Georgia Chamber of ...



View More Latest News


FEATURED COLUMNS




MARIA'S METRO


Columns, Maria's Metro
Southern Co. leadership moves continue smooth transition with several ‘firsts’
Maria Saporta January 9, 2023 6:39 pm

Southern Co. continued its tradition of smooth leadership transitions when it
announced that Chris Womack, CEO of Georgia Power, will succeed Tom Fanning as
CEO of the regional utility on ...

chat_bubble0 Comment visibility60 Views



GUEST COLUMNS


Columns, Guest Column
Women will serve in record-setting numbers for Georgia’s next legislative
session
Melita Easters January 8, 2023 10:00 am

By Guest Columnist MELITA EASTERS, executive director of Georgia WIN List, a
grassroots political action committee dedicated to recruiting, training,
supporting, electing, and re-electing Democratic women. As the Georgia General
...

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JOHN RUCH


Columns, John Ruch
A model airplane club defends the Atlanta forest, but is targeted by destructive
protests
John Ruch January 9, 2023 8:01 pm

As controversy over the “Defend the Atlanta Forest” protest movement escalates
into terrorism charges and civil liberties infringements, you’d be forgiven for
having no idea that a big piece of ...

chat_bubble8 Comments visibility103 Views



TOM BAXTER


Columns, Tom Baxter
In a dysfunctional family setting, Marjorie Taylor Greene prevails
Tom Baxter January 9, 2023 5:58 pm

Last week we got to see the U.S. House of Representatives not as two warring
factions of idealists — which is the way they pitch themselves to the suckers
they ...

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ELEANOR RINGEL CATER


Columns, Eleanor Ringel Cater
Beleaguered Golden Globes award show returns; Eleanor’s predictions
Eleanor Ringel January 9, 2023 10:41 am

The Golden Globes, the awards show whose ongoing mission is to make all the
other awards show seem respectable, is back.

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REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK


reporter's notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: HUB404 park gets $750K in federal funds, MLK Day events,
updates on local news publications
Hannah E. Jones January 5, 2023 3:30 pm

Happy New Year, Atlanta! The SaportaReport team is looking forward to another
year of keeping our readers up-to-date on the most important news around the
city and metro area. As ...

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HANNAH JONES


Hannah Jones
Fernbank brings two new nature films to its four-story big screen
Hannah E. Jones January 9, 2023 4:42 pm

“Fungi: Web of Life” and “Wings Over Water” explore the intricacies of the
natural world and its abundance of unique flora and fauna. 

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ALLISON JOYNER


Allison Joyner, Latest news
Water kiosk helps teens safely build entrepreneurial skills
Allison Joyner December 21, 2022 7:37 pm

Some applaud the so-called water boys for their drive, but their efforts
sometimes frustrate Atlanta residents, lawmakers, and drivers alike. By Allison
Joyner Youth nonprofit Helping Empower Youth (HEY!), with ...

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MARK LANNAMAN


Mark Lannaman
Atlanta Region Transit Link Authority calls for special board of directors
meeting
Mark Lannaman January 9, 2023 6:18 pm

The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) elected new executive director
Jannine Miller at a specially-called board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 5. ATL,
along with the State Road & Tollway Authority ...

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MEDIA

The replica watches sent to you is not to let you remember the time, but to let
you forget the passage of time.




SEEN IN ATLANTA


Looking back at 2022 in Atlanta – The First Quarter
Kelly Jordan January 2, 2023 3:53 pm

MARTA New Rail Cars Event – South Yard – College Park – Dec. 16, 2022
Kelly Jordan December 19, 2022 4:26 pm



PHOTO PICKS


Looking back at 2022 in Atlanta – The Second Quarter
Kelly Jordan January 9, 2023 6:14 pm

Peach Bowl Parade Retrospectives 
Kelly Jordan January 2, 2023 3:39 pm




STORIES OF ATLANTA


Defying Convention
Lance Russell January 8, 2023 6:16 pm

The Balloon Ride
Lance Russell January 2, 2023 4:55 pm





THOUGHT LEADERS

Sponsored Content



FEATURED THOUGHT LEADER


 * From One Transformational Year to Another Thought Leadership Views From
   Peachtree
   
   By Jim Durrett, President of Buckhead Coalition and Executive Director of
   Buckhead Community Improvement District By definition, the Buckhead CID is an
   improvement district. If that is the case, what did 2022 look like in terms
   of improvements made? Plus, what does 2023 have in store for additional
   improvements? As we ring in the new year and look back at the past year, 2022
   was a year of accomplishments in terms of both public safety and
   transportation infrastructure investment.  The two primary investments of
   time and money for public safety were the opening of the new West Village APD
   Zone 2 precinct and the creation of the Repeat Offender Tracking Unit office
   in downtown Atlanta. Since its opening in June, the new police precinct has
   been a welcomed new investment in the Buckhead Village area. With APD
   officers being able to work out of this precinct, more intimate and visible
   community policing takes place with a bicycle patrol unit headquartered here
   which helps to provide more accessible police coverage for this part of the
   CID. In March of 2022, The Repeat Offender Tracking Unit was stood up to
   address and identify those who continue to break the law and work to keep
   them from committing additional crimes. This tracking program combines
   resources and information from local, county and federal law enforcement
   agencies to increase safety for Metro Atlanta residents and visitors. We
   helped provide funding for the office lease and furniture after its creation
   was recommended by the Repeat Offender Commission, on which I serve.
   Furthermore, we continued to fund supplemental patrols which add an extra
   layer of safety for drivers and pedestrians as well as providing faster
   response times to calls within the community. In addition to these important
   and major public safety-focused improvements, investment in transportation
   infrastructure continues to be the primary focus of the Buckhead CID. After
   nearly 15 years, the transformation of Peachtree Road – the project that was
   the impetus for the creation of the Buckhead CID – is almost complete. The
   construction of the third and final phase from Maple Drive to Shadowlawn has
   a new raised median, new sidewalks and driveways, granite curbs, pedestrian
   lights and upgraded intersections. The final activities remaining are to pave
   the roadway, weather permitting, in early 2023, resulting in a ribbon cutting
   to celebrate the complete transformation that was the signature project
   investment when the Buckhead CID formed in 1999. Earlier stages of this
   project were completed for Phase I in 2007 and Phase II in 2010.  In 2016,
   the CID expanded into the village area of Buckhead. We completely redefined
   the experience for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians who live, work and
   frequent the shops and dining destinations in the area. The roadways of Cains
   Hill, Irby Avenue, Paces Ferry Place and E. Andrews Drive have all been
   transformed with new sidewalks, curbs, driveways, pedestrian lights,
   landscape beds and new paving. Roswell Road has all of these new amenities,
   and the last activity for it will be to pave the roadway, weather permitting,
   in early 2023. The Buckhead CID continues to consistently pay attention to
   and address the needs of the community by identifying deficiencies and fixing
   them quickly. We paved Stratford Road due to its dire state of repair from
   over three major development projects on this small section of roadway. We
   restriped E. Paces and W. Paces Ferry Road from Piedmont to E. Andrews
   Drive.  At the intersection of increasing safety and addressing
   infrastructure needs, we worked with GDOT to fix the lights on a very busy
   stretch of Lenox Road near Phipps Plaza and continue to invest in fixing
   broken street lighting within the boundary, because a well-lit community is a
   safer community. 2023 will be a year of construction and teeing up major
   projects for future construction. Kicking off the first construction project
   of the year, the Wieuca Road Roundabout project will break ground in early
   2023 at Phipps Boulevard and Wieuca Road. This will be the first multi-lane
   roundabout in Atlanta which will help improve traffic flow and pedestrian
   crosswalks. Next, the first section of the Lenox Road Complete Street project
   will begin construction work between Lenox Road from East Paces to Peachtree
   in the spring of 2023. Enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, traffic flow and
   overall appearance, this is the first of three parts which will provide major
   upgrades to Lenox Road’s pedestrian and bicycle safety and access. One of
   those upgrades includes an elevated pedestrian bridge at the Lenox Road/GA
   400 interchange which was announced along with a public meeting last
   September.  Finally, widening on Piedmont Road from Lenox Road to Peachtree
   Road will be the third project to be underway with construction in 2023. As a
   part of Piedmont Road Complete Street, the CID has plans to expand the
   roadway and sidewalks to accommodate traffic increases, add left turn lanes
   and increase pedestrian safety.  With these projects in varying stages of
   construction in 2023, the Buckhead CID will be working hard with the selected
   contractors to coordinate lane closures to minimize impacts to the motoring
   public.    While construction is set for later years, HUB404 is poised for
   significant progress in design and engineering to take this transformational
   cap park project from award-winning concept to plans for construction in the
   years ahead. Additionally, this nine-acre park atop GA 400 was recently
   awarded federal funds totaling $750,000 thanks to Congresswoman Nikema
   Williams who championed the appropriations bill for this innovative project. 
   The accomplishments of 2022 and plans for 2023 would not be possible without
   our partners including the City of Atlanta, Georgia DOT, MARTA and Livable
   Buckhead. We thank you for your support and wish everyone a happy new year! 
     This is sponsored content.




TRANSIT


 * MARTA Board Elects New Leadership, Board Members From Atlanta, Clayton Depart
   
   The MARTA board of directors recently recognized long-serving board members
   from Atlanta and Clayton County who stepped down or reached their end of
   their term and elected new board officers for 2023. Atlanta board members
   Robbie Ashe and Reginald Snyder announced at the December board meeting that
   they will be stepping down from the board, and Clayton County member Roberta
   Abdul-Salaam’s term is ending, effective in January. Ashe, a former chair,
   served on the board for 12 years, Ms. Abdul-Salaam for seven, and Snyder for
   two.  “MARTA would not be the system is it today without the leadership and
   passion of these board members,’ said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie
   Greenwood. “Their contributions are many, but I want to specifically mention
   the expansion of service into Clayton County and the More MARTA Atlanta
   referendum and expansion as highlights. They have selflessly invested
   thousands of hours into improving this agency and the service we deliver. We
   thank them for their commitment to public transportation and they will be
   missed.” The new Atlanta and Clayton board members will be welcomed at the
   January 2023 board meeting.  Also, beginning in the new year, Governor
   appointee Thomas Worthy will serve as board chair and Clayton County
   representative Katie Powers will serve as vice-chair. The 2023 MARTA Board
   Officers are as follows:  Thomas Worthy is elected Chair Katie Powers is
   elected as Vice-Chair Al Pond is elected as Secretary Rod Frierson is elected
   as Treasurer Rita Scott will serve as Immediate Past Chair The MARTA board of
   directors is comprised of 13 voting members representing Clayton, DeKalb, and
   Fulton counties and the City of Atlanta, as well as two ex-officio members
   from the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Regional
   Transportation Authority. The policy-setting board meets monthly to address
   challenges and opportunities facing the Authority, while exploring ways to
   innovate and expand the system.  Board calendars and meeting minutes can be
   found at MARTA (itsmarta.com).   This is sponsored content. 




POVERTY AND EQUITY


 * Where Is She Now?
   
   A few years back, after a rough childhood and early adulthood, I joined the
   Weaver Gardens Independent Living Program at Families First. Through that
   experience, I gained the support and the life skills I needed to thrive.
   Families First taught me practical life skills like how to open a bank
   account, get a car, and apply for my own apartment. And, they also helped me
   find my own inner strength and resilience. Building my resilience has allowed
   me to build the loving home that I want for my 4-year-old son, Maliki. Thanks
   to Families First, I’m also enrolled in college again, working toward
   my degree in clinical and forensic psychology. On weekends, I teach
   phlebotomy courses in a hospital – and I also started a business, a
   residential and commercial cleaning service! Families First showed me what
   stability looks like – and now, I have a mission to help other women and
   children move toward resilience, too. Will you help? Make Your Gift




METRO BUSINESS


 * Atlanta Small Businesses Receive $10,000 Grants in Recognition of Hispanic
   Heritage Month
   
   Representatives from the Metro Atlanta Chamber and the Hispanic Chamber of
   Commerce recently joined Fiserv, a leading global provider of payments and
   financial services technology with a significant presence in the Atlanta
   area, to present three Atlanta-area small businesses with $10,000 grants in
   recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month.  The business owners who received
   grants included: Joel Ferrer of Chef Joel Coco Cabana LLC, a restaurant
   delighting guests with unique cuisine, showcasing Chef Joel’s classically
   trained background and Cuban heritage. Vanessa Higgins of Clean Tu Casa, a
   cleaning, organizing and personal errand service company serving homes, small
   offices and short-term rentals in Metro Atlanta. Alejandra “Luz” Pelaez of UP
   Advertising, a multicultural advertising and digital marketing agency
   specializing in reaching the Hispanic market, ensuring companies communicate
   authentically. In interviews following the grant presentations, the
   recipients discussed the impact the grants will have on their businesses.
   Chef Ferrer highlighted plans to invest in upgraded technology, while Vanessa
   Higgins underscored that the grants will enable her to create jobs and
   Sebastian Uribe of UP Advertising noted an anticipated increase in sales.  
   The grants were awarded as part of the Fiserv Back2Business program, a $50
   million commitment to support minority-owned small businesses. In addition to
   grants, Back2Business connects diverse small businesses with critical
   resources, including complimentary small business coaching, leading
   technology solutions such as Clover and community partners. “We’re proud to
   celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by supporting these inspiring businesses
   and all the small businesses that play a crucial role in Atlanta’s economy,”
   said Vivian Greentree, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Corporate
   Citizenship at Fiserv. “Providing funding and resources to help small,
   diverse businesses thrive is a key tenet of the Back2Business program and
   it’s wonderful to see the impact this program has made in cities all over the
   country, and especially here in our own backyard in Atlanta.”  “It is an
   honor to partner with Fiserv and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to
   celebrate and support entrepreneurs in the Hispanic community during Hispanic
   Heritage Month,” said Alex Gonzalez, Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer
   at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “Through the Back2Business grants, Fiserv is
   providing access to capital and resources to help these three Hispanic-owned
   businesses grow and thrive.” In addition to facing difficult business
   conditions such as rising costs, supply chain challenges and labor shortages,
   Hispanic-owned small businesses have their own unique set of challenges.
   “Fiserv recognition and support of the Hispanic community, providing valuable
   grants and services at a critical time for small businesses through
   Back2Business, is key to assuring equitable opportunities for our community
   and to being seen as the vital force that we are for the economy and the
   great state of Georgia,” said Verónica Maldonado-Torres, President and CEO,
   Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “When one group thrives, we all thrive
   as a society, and that is our goal at the GHCC – to match businesses with the
   resources, tools and opportunities to inspire them and help them reimagine
   the next for their company.”  In addition to Atlanta, Fiserv has sponsored
   the Back2Business program in cities including New York, Milwaukee, Miami,
   Chicago, Detroit, Tulsa, Oakland, Washington. D.C. and Omaha. To date, Fiserv
   has presented nearly 1,500 grants to small businesses through the program.  
   This is sponsored content.




VIEWS FROM PEACHTREE


 * Transforming the North Ave. MARTA Plaza into Something Extraordinary
   
   By Ansley Whipple, Project Manager of Programming and Activation In Midtown,
   we believe that great public spaces are places people remember vividly and
   tell stories about. They are the places where serendipitous things happen,
   serving as central gathering places for public life. The North Avenue MARTA
   station plaza, an underused but centrally located space at Ponce de Leon and
   West Peachtree, has the potential to become a place for the community to get
   together and linger longer in Midtown. So, Midtown Alliance, MARTA Artbound
   and Project for Public Spaces (PPS) are teaming up to transform the plaza
   into something extraordinary in 2023. Midtown Alliance received a $40,000
   Community Placemaking Grant, from Project for Public Spaces funded by Niantic
   , to make improvements to this site by adding physical amenities, events and
   programming that will help make people want to spend time in this space. 
   Improvements have already started with some cosmetic updates—a new coat of
   cheerful yellow paint, permanent wood benches on the perimeter of the space,
   and giant self-watering blue planters with new landscaping. Last fall,
   Midtown Alliance collaborated with Project for Public Spaces on a series of
   workshops on-site to get input from key stakeholders that included MARTA
   riders, nearby residents, representatives from Georgia Tech, members of the
   arts community, and nearby offices, churches, and cultural institutions. In
   addition to the workshops, we also conducted one-on-one interviews with other
   nearby partners. We’re also currently fielding an online survey that asks
   what you’d like to do there, which has received 150+ responses and is still
   open for your feedback for another few weeks. During these workshops, we’ve
   learned the plaza needs clearer, more welcoming signage, shade, and more
   seating – and there is an opportunity to include public art on the surfaces
   of these new amenities. Activities most requested by the community include
   artisan or farmers markets and live music, and many people also expressed
   interest in a coffee cart or truck. There is the potential to form
   partnerships to program the plazas with local arts and cultural institutions
   and nearby office buildings. Midtown Alliance has connected with Atelier7—a
   local architectural design practice specialized in shipping container,
   modular systems, and pre-fab building systems—to explore designs for a
   performing arts stage design that could support these activities and more.
   We’re expected to have preliminary designs and begin fabrication this winter.
   We hope to begin public programming by the end of summer 2023, welcoming the
   community to events and to enjoy the new amenities. One reason the North
   Avenue MARTA station plaza is a challenging place to transform is that office
   workers in the area are slow to return and the cadence of hybrid work still
   seems unsettled. The area also suffers from a lack of ground floor
   activations in the surrounding buildings, which causes the pedestrian
   experience to feel cold and unfriendly.  However, we found through our
   workshops and meetings that the community is very open to a revitalization of
   this space, and they are willing to help do what they can to make this
   project as successful as it can be. The Tower Square renovations across the
   street from this space, led by CBRE, signal a renewed interest in the
   street-level activity of the area. We have assembled a fantastic group of
   organizations and people to work on and give input for this public space
   transformation project. We  are hopeful that the end result will be impactful
   and will reclaim this space for higher and better uses. Tell us how you’d
   like to see the plaza come to life by taking our brief survey. And make plans
   to come out and spend time there later this year!   This is sponsored
   content.




SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES





PEOPLE, PLACES, AND PARKS


 * A Small Step in a Huge Landscape
   
   The Nature Conservancy is one of the largest conservation organizations in
   the world, and we employ many different tools to accomplish our goals. We
   support the protection of endangered species, we rehabilitate and restore
   ecosystems, and we search for solutions to mitigate climate change. What may
   come as a surprise to some, however, is that one of the main tools in our
   conservation toolbox is purchasing, conserving, and transferring critical
   pieces of land.      For example, we recently transferred 2,424 acres of land
   located in north Georgia’s Dugdown Mountain Corridor to the State of Georgia
   on December 28, 2022. We originally purchased the property in February 2022
   and have been conducting ecological restoration including removing invasive
   species, applying prescribed fire and planting native shortleaf and longleaf
   pine on the property until the State, acting through the Georgia Department
   of Natural Resources (GDNR), could take ownership of the land.   GDNR
   currently manages the property for public access as a Wildlife Management
   Area (WMA), a designation which combines the benefits of conservation and
   recreation.  The Dugdown Mountain Corridor represents one of the most
   significant opportunities for multi-state, landscape level restoration of the
   montane longleaf ecosystem, a species at risk the world over. This initiative
   resulted from a vision of multiple partners to connect the 21,700-acre
   Paulding Forest and Sheffield Wildlife Management Areas in northwest Georgia
   with the 392,597-acre Talladega National Forest in northeast Alabama, a
   critical effort to improve connectivity within the southern end of the
   Appalachian mountains. TNC and partners have identified this area as a high
   priority for land protection because it serves both as a home for rare and
   unique species and a corridor through which species can travel as they
   respond and adapt to a changing climate.  This 2,424-acre acquisition is
   GDNR’s first within the Dugdown Corridor outside of the Paulding Forest and
   Sheffield WMAs, and the partnerships with TNC and other non-profits sets a
   precedent for future conservation in this region. The state-acquired property
   includes multiple streams and more than 2 miles of frontage on the Tallapoosa
   River. Threatened and endangered species, including the gray and Indiana bats
   and the fine-lined pocketbook mussel, find habitat on the property.  In
   addition to the ecological values resulting from protecting land, regional
   conservation in the Dugdown Corridor supports local communities by providing
   new economic opportunities, reducing climate related risk (such as
   catastrophic wildfires) and increasing access to recreational lands. As we
   face new, growing ecological crises every single year, it is more important
   than ever that we bring additional lands under protection. Reconnecting these
   landscapes will provide immeasurable conservation benefits and help create a
   thriving Georgia for decades to come.   This is sponsored content.




FINANCIAL INCLUSION


 * Wells Fargo brings “HOPE” and a financial coach inside a freshly redesigned
   Georgia branch
   
   By Debbie Fiddyment Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf and Operation
   HOPE chairman, founder and CEO John Hope Bryant cut the ribbon Wednesday on a
   newly redesigned Stone Mountain branch that focuses on resources for unbanked
   and underserved communities. The updated Stone Mountain Memorial branch in
   DeKalb County introduced a “HOPE Inside” center and financial coach who works
   for the Atlanta-based nonprofit Operation HOPE. The financial coach will seek
   to empower community members with financial education and guidance, such as
   helping them improve their credit scores. It’s Operation HOPE’s 200th “HOPE
   Inside” location and the first redesigned Wells Fargo branch in the U.S. to
   feature an Operation HOPE financial coach. It marks the beginning of the
   bank’s work to introduce “HOPE Inside” centers and coaches in 20 markets by
   the end 2023. The plan, part of Wells Fargo’s Banking Inclusion Initiative,
   also includes redesigning 100 branches in low- to moderate-income
   neighborhoods across the nation. It’s Scharf second visit to the Atlanta area
   this year after he earlier announced a $20 million donation to help diverse
   small businesses in the city. The Stone Mountain branch in DeKalb County was
   chosen because it’s in one of the most diverse and fastest-growing counties
   in Georgia. The urgency for financial stability is growing as residents from
   DeKalb County and metro Atlanta face rising inflation and greater economic
   challenges. According to the FDIC, about 5 percent of Atlanta metro area
   residents are unbanked, and the unbanked population is disproportionately
   Black and African American, Hispanic and Native American.   This is sponsored
   content.




GLOBAL HEALTH


 * Volunteers Play Critical Role in Helping to Improve Global Health Outcomes
   and Heal our Nation
   
   By Charles Redding, MedShare CEO & President MedShare exists to improve the
   quality of life of people and our planet. We do this by redirecting critical
   unused medical supplies and quality biomedical equipment to vulnerable
   healthcare systems in the US and around the world. In doing so, MedShare
   helps save lives by providing better access to quality health care for
   millions of underserved individuals in the world’s most marginalized
   communities. To fulfill our mission, three essential ingredients are required
   – funding, quality supplies & equipment, and volunteers.  When these three
   things come together, we can create what we fondly call MedShare Magic –
   making the impossible, possible. “Volunteers do not necessarily have the
   time; they just have the heart.”                             ~Elizabeth
   Andrew Of course, the value of volunteers is not unique to MedShare, nor is
   it measured simply by the hours they contribute. Key findings from the
   AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation 2019 Current Population Survey:
   Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement (by Laura Hanson Schlachter,
   Ph.D.) noted that volunteering and national service are cornerstones of
   democratic participation and civility in American society. Unpacking trends
   in civic behavior is a first step toward developing a comprehensive plan to
   unify the country in this moment of national reckoning. The report found that
   the national organization-based volunteering rate has remained stable over
   the past two decades. In 2019, an estimated 30 percent of Americans or 77.9
   million people reported they volunteered for an organization or association.
   Consistent with previous research, 2019 volunteering rates vary by
   demographic, socioeconomic, and family characteristics. Unpacking these
   patterns requires an intersectional approach that understands social
   inequalities like race, class, and gender as deeply intertwined.  People
   often hear me refer to our volunteers as the “heartbeat” of our
   organization.  Without them, like countless other nonprofits, we simply could
   not do the work that we do to improve health outcomes for underserved
   individuals and families around the world. MedShare was very fortunate to
   benefit from the dedicated service of nearly 20,000 volunteers each year
   prior to the pandemic, and even with the social distancing requirements in
   place after it began, countless volunteers continued to give their time to
   MedShare. The question I am most often asked regarding our volunteers is,
   “How do you attract so many volunteers and keep them engaged and coming back
   year after the year?”  We have found that the key is attracting the right
   volunteers and providing a meaningful and fulfilling experience. We
   understand that a successful volunteer experience inspires a sense of
   community and togetherness, while also being rewarding for the individual.
   This requires concise directions, clear expectations, and great coaching.
   While volunteers most often show up for causes that are meaningful to them,
   they must feel that they are truly making a difference. With this in mind,
   all MedShare volunteers are warmly welcomed and carefully guided through our
   volunteer process, ensuring they understand they are appreciated and an
   integral part of our mission. All volunteers are provided with an overview of
   our medical supply sorting process and safety protocols by our highly trained
   volunteer management team, which also shares impact stories so that
   volunteers understand the difference that they are making in the lives of
   others. As an added benefit, volunteers at MedShare have a great opportunity
   to learn about global health and our efforts to help battle social and
   economic inequalities.  Many corporations, civic groups, educational
   institutions and faith-based organizations support MedShare’s mission through
   their volunteer efforts. We always strive to recognize and utilize the unique
   talents of the individuals who volunteer with us, whether they work in the
   sorting room, provide operational assistance or leadership expertise as
   members of MedShare’s Board of Trustees. While our volunteers often tell us
   they are changed because of their experience with us, it is MedShare that is
   changed by the selfless acts of kindness and gifts of service we witness
   every day.  Here are some examples of the feedback we have received from
   volunteers: “When I pack a box of medical supplies, for those few precious
   moments I feel like I’m reaching out across the globe and helping improve the
   health care and well-being of some lovely, well-deserving person. It is a
   wonderful feeling. I am grateful that MedShare gives me the opportunity to
   help others.” “It makes me feel good to know I am helping people all over the
   world.” “After three hours of sorting or boxing medical supplies, I know I
   have made a difference for the well-being of someone in the world.” As we
   continue to build back our volunteer corps to pre-pandemic levels, we are
   inspired by the generosity and contributions of our core volunteers and the
   new groups that have chosen to help MedShare deliver on our mission.  Our
   heart is beating a little slower, but I look forward to the day that we will
   once again welcome our full complement of volunteers to help us create more
   MedShare Magic. How Can You Help? Please consider volunteering at your
   favorite charity or nonprofit organization. The upcoming Martin Luther King
   Jr. Day on January 16, 2123, is considered a National Day of Service and a
   great time to start! The MedShare volunteer management team is ready to help
   you or your volunteer group set up a great session of sorting medical
   supplies. Please check our website for the most current information on group
   sizes and hours of operation. To get started scheduling your session, visit
   http://www.medshare.org/volunteer. Southeast Warehouse and Distribution
   Center 3240 Clifton Springs Road Decatur, GA 30034 USA 770-323-5858 Northeast
   Region Volunteer and Collection Center 701 Penhorn Avenue, Unit #3 P.O. Box
   2075 Secaucus, NJ 07096 USA 201-866-6090 This is sponsored content.




ATLANTA REGION MATTERS





HISTORIC WESTSIDE


 * Supporting Economic Development on the Westside
   
   Westside Future Fund (WFF) is excited to be supporting thought leadership in
   the SaportaReport on Atlanta’s Historic Westside. At the October 15 Transform
   Westside Summit we announced the Westside Future Fund (WFF) PRI Program!  A
   program-related investment (PRI) is low-cost capital that not-for-profit
   organizations can use to spur community development. Thanks to charitable
   support from Truist and PNC banks, WFF will provide low-cost loans to small,
   minority-owned businesses based in or serving the Historic Westside.  This
   program builds on a pilot initially funded by AT&T and the Beloved Benefit. 
   Our goal is to mobilize people with current, historical, or aspirational ties
   to the community to organically support the Westside’s economic development. 
   The October 15 Transform Westside Summit highlighted the importance of
   economic empowerment of African American entrepreneurs with three special
   guest panelists – Courtney Smith from PNC Bank, Paul Wilson, Jr. from the
   Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), and Keitra Bates of
   Marddy’s Shared Kitchen and Marketplace.  A common theme from the panelists
   was the need for equity in access to capital for Black business owners. 
   Keitra Bates noted that white startups have access to $100,000 from family,
   on average, while for black startups, it’s only $11,000. In June 2020, PNC
   Bank announced its bold $1 billion commitment to playing a role in combatting
   racism and discrimination.  During the Summit, Courtney elaborated on PNC’s
   commitment to the Westside by helping end systemic racism by donating to WFF
   for program-related investments.  Keitra Bates is a recipient of a WFF PRI
   that she used to renovate and expand her shared kitchen.  Marddy’s focus is
   on economic inclusion, business development, and growth opportunities for
   local food entrepreneurs with their primary service groups of people of
   color, women, and other marginalized populations. With the help of RICE, the
   PRI recipients will have access to resources to innovate, grow, create jobs,
   and build wealth. Part business generator, innovation lab, and museum, RICE
   invests in African American entrepreneurs, strengthens businesses, and
   creates community. We have many miles to eliminate the wealth gap between
   white and black startups.  Thanks to our panelists and the organization they
   represent, we are making progress and hopefully serving as models for
   others!  Check out our newsletter to learn more about the October 15 Summit.
   This is sponsored content.




PHILANTHROPY


 * The Power of Public Policy
   
   By United Way of Greater Atlanta Communities thrive when every child,
   individual and family has the ability to thrive, but this requires
   policymakers, state leaders and the effort of advocates and stakeholders on
   all fronts. A comprehensive approach to public policy calls for us to be
   proactive in the lives of Georgia’s youngest, while aiding in building
   empowered families and neighborhoods.  In collaboration with Voices for
   Georgia’s Children, United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Public Policy Agenda
   advocates for good health, academic & career success and establishing stable
   homes so that Georgia youth have the opportunity to be their best selves. The
   work doesn’t just begin at home, but it starts at birth. Supporting and
   expanding programs for maternal health and early childhood education equips
   families to lay a strong foundation for their children’s future. Our policy
   prioritizes taking a holistic approach to K-12 education, acknowledging that
   mental health resources and individually centered instructional methods can
   aid in higher graduation rates and in students feeling more empowered to go
   after post-secondary education. Through the Child Well-Being Index and its
   data-driven outcomes, we know that we expand their horizons when we expand
   access to resources and funding for the communities in which they live. When
   communities are confident and cared for, it allows the same support to be
   poured back into Georgia’s children. Incentivizing affordable and safe
   housing while also investing in public health and community-oriented
   policing, brings us even closer to closing the gap and meeting more needs,
   before anyone has the opportunity to fall through. Together with Voices for
   Georgia’s Children, we know that positive and powerful policy is possible.
   Our outcome depends on a statewide effort to rally behind something bigger
   than policy—It’s the potential and future of Georgia. Click here to learn
   more about Voices for Georgia’s Children & United Way of Greater Atlanta’s
   2023 Public Policy Agenda.   This is sponsored content.




HIGHER EDUCATION


 * Emory Faculty Member and Students Preserve History of Atlanta Housing
   Projects
   
   Summary: Through archival research in the Rose Library and other Atlanta
   repositories, architectural historian Christina Crawford and her students
   have lifted up Atlanta’s role in the nation’s first two federally funded
   housing projects — work that culminated in Georgia Historical Society
   markers.  It was hard work, made more challenging by pandemic restrictions.
   But when establishing two Georgia Historical Society (GHS) markers
   crystallizes in a shout-out from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and his promise
   to do more to house Atlantans, it is all worthwhile. Christina E. Crawford,
   associate professor of modern and contemporary architecture in Emory College
   of Arts and Sciences and Masse-Martin NEH Professor of Art History, will
   remember Oct. 11, 2022 as the culmination of more than five years’ work with
   her students, university colleagues and community partners to bring overdue
   recognition to the first federally funded public housing in the nation:
   Techwood Homes (for white families) and University Homes (for Black families)
   — projects that were completed in Atlanta in 1936 and 1937, respectively. 
   Techwood Homes and University Homes, composed of low-slung brick apartment
   buildings set in shared green spaces, became models for New Deal housing
   projects following enactment of the National Housing Acts in the 1930s.
   Overshadowed by later projects in New York and Chicago, Atlanta’s University
   Homes and Techwood Homes nonetheless set the aesthetic language and planning
   logic for American public housing of the mid-20th century. Generations of
   families lived at both sites for more than 50 years.  Oct. 11 saw two
   historical markers unveiled — one for each of the two sites, with Mayor
   Dickens joining the celebration for University Homes. As he stood in front of
   Roosevelt Hall, which is all that remains from University Homes, the mayor
   noted: “We started this. The city of Atlanta began what is known as public
   housing. Soon a reimagined Roosevelt Hall space will be here. Our history
   does not have to be our destiny; sometimes it might set a path to change our
   destiny for the better.” Joining him were Atlanta City Council President Doug
   Shipman 95C and other city leaders, officials from the Atlanta Housing
   Authority and GHS, and members of Emory Libraries and the Michael C. Carlos
   Museum. It was a satisfying conclusion to what began as a pivot project to
   adjust to research limitations posed by the pandemic. Wanting to shine the
   spotlight on Atlanta for its part in public housing history, Crawford was one
   of 10 recipients of Getty/ACLS Postdoctoral Fellowships in the History of Art
   for 2020-21, chosen for work on the project “Atlanta Housing Interplay:
   Expanding the Interwar Housing Map.” She also received a research and
   development grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in Fine
   Arts and ongoing support from the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship
   (ECDS).  Courtney Chartier, then-head of research services in the Stuart A.
   Rose. Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, had suggested before the
   pandemic that the two housing sites  would be well suited to Georgia
   Historical Society markers. “Though I was intrigued, the process seemed a bit
   onerous,” says Crawford, “so I set that idea aside.” When research at the
   scale she hoped to undertake was short-circuited by shuttered archives and
   travel restrictions, Crawford began to think about the endeavor more
   seriously as a public history project. The project’s origin story Crawford
   wrote her dissertation on early Soviet architecture and planning,
   specifically worker housing, and published that research this year in the
   book “Spatial Revolution: Architecture and Planning in the Early Soviet
   Union.” When she came to Emory to give her job talk in 2016, she confesses to
   an awkward moment.  As Crawford presented a map she had created with
   important public housing projects worldwide from the 1920s and 1930s, a
   future Emory colleague asked, “Can you plot Atlanta on that map?” “I was
   totally flatfooted,” says Crawford. “I am well educated in 20th-century
   housing, and I just had no idea that the first two federally funded housing
   projects were here. And, when I came to the city, it became clear to me that
   Atlanta does not get the respect it is due from an architectural history
   standpoint.”  Resolving to correct the record, Crawford began investigating
   the Charles Forrest Palmer papers at the Rose Library, gifted to the
   university in 1969. Influential in shaping Atlanta public housing and then
   spring-boarding to shape housing policy nationally, Palmer garnered federal
   funding in 1933 for both “slum clearance” of the Techwood Flats neighborhood
   and to construct Techwood Homes, one of the first two projects in the U.S.
   built under the Public Works Administration (PWA). John Hope, president of
   the Atlanta University Center, simultaneously secured funding from the PWA
   for the development of University Homes, the other “first.”  As design for
   those sites began, Palmer traveled to Europe in 1934 and 1936 to investigate
   already completed public housing projects in Italy, Germany, Austria and even
   the Soviet Union. Palmer went on to become the first chair of the Atlanta
   Housing Authority, which he organized, and was also chosen by President
   Franklin D. Roosevelt to serve as defense housing coordinator for the
   National Defense Office for Emergency Management during World War II.
   Original maps, plans, booklets, photographs and films of European housing
   sites: all of it was at Crawford’s fingertips through the Palmer papers. “His
   papers are an absolute goldmine. First of all, he kept everything,” she says.
   And from her earliest days immersed in the Palmer papers, Crawford had the
   full support of Emory Libraries to take this further, to illuminate these
   chapters of city history. Indeed, Rose Library curators Randy Gue, Clint
   Fluker and the late Pellom McDaniels III mentored graduate students through
   research in the papers for a “Housing Atlanta” exhibition as part of the
   Public Humanities Graduate Seminar, taught in 2020 and 2022 by Emory College
   professors Benjamin Reiss (English), Tom Rogers (history) and Karen Stolley
   (Hispanic studies) as part of the Mellon-funded Public Humanities Seminar.
   For Jennifer Gunter King, director of the Rose Library, “Dr. Crawford and her
   students’ engagement with the Rose …




SECURING ATLANTA’S FUTURE


 * Widen the Support System for Our Youth Thriving, Perishing in Metro Atlanta
   
   By David Jernigan, President & CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
   FAMILY HOLDS CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR 12-YEAR-OLD KILLED NEAR ATLANTIC STATION
   15-YEAR-OLD GIRL SHOT TO DEATH AT CLAYTON COUNTY PARTY ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS
   APS’S STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL GIVES CALL TO ACTION DURING RALLY TO STOP GUN
   VIOLENCE With more than three dozen young lives claimed by gun violence
   across Metro Atlanta in 2022, recent headlines paint a dismal picture. Yet, I
   caution us not to lose hope. There are reasons to be optimistic about their
   great futures. OUR YOUTH ARE THRIVING. On Nov. 11, 2022, 17-year-old Elias
   Dennis, a junior at Elite Scholars Academy in Jonesboro, was named Boys &
   Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA)’s Youth of the Year (YOY) for his
   exemplary leadership. He will advance to the state-level YOY event in hopes
   to continue to regionals and nationals and be named Boys & Girls Clubs of
   America’s national teen spokesperson.  “My Club has been a safe haven for me
   to be myself,” said Elias, who has attended Boys & Girls Clubs after-school
   and summer programming since age 6.  “I have been given opportunities to try
   new things, expand my skills, and explore interests I didn’t know I had—all
   without being judged or ridiculed for being me. The staff have been essential
   with guiding, mentoring, and having positive conversations with me that I
   carry with me every day. As a kid, now teen, that could be seen as weird in
   the outside world, my Club has shown me my strengths and ways to improve my
   weaknesses. My Club hasn’t just been a place to go and have fun, it has also
   been a safe space where I can continue to evolve into a better person.” Elias
   was among 20 inspiring teens from Boys & Girls Club locations throughout
   Metro Atlanta who participated in the 2022-2023 Youth of the Year leadership
   development program. Themed “A Million Moments,” the culminating YOY
   celebration & gala on Nov. 11 was hosted by Emmy-winning journalist Monica
   Pearson, raised more than $1,040,000 for Atlanta area youth, featured a
   dynamic live performance from Grammy-nominated artist MAJOR. (with
   accompaniment from BGCMA’s youth choir), and spotlighted five YOY candidates
   who delivered speeches about their Club experiences and exemplary leadership
   skills. NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal also made a special appearance and
   spoke about the impact Boys & Girls Clubs had on his life. A Club in Henry
   County bears his name. We are so proud of all of our candidates, and excited
   to name Elias as our 2022-2023 Youth of the Year. It gives me such hope to
   see kids and teens like Elias with a strong vision toward the future using
   their voice to strengthen their communities and the world. Elias aspires to
   be a veterinarian and to own animal clinics. He credits his experience as a
   L.I.N.K. (Leaders in Nature’s Kingdom) member and camp counselor at BGCMA’s
   Camp Kiwanis with helping him realize his love for animals. Last summer, he
   made significant strides towards his career path after landing a paid
   internship at Banfield Pet Hospital, where he continues to work part-time. 
   “Our voices and our experiences are powerful, and they have unlimited
   potential,” Elias said shortly before being named Youth of the Year. “When
   you look at someone, you only see them in that moment. You don’t see the
   experiences, the struggles, the millions of little moments that led them on a
   journey to who they are.” OUR YOUTH ARE PERISHING. On Nov. 10, 2022—Less than
   24 hours before Elias was named Metro Atlanta’s Youth of the
   Year—17-year-old Jaynee Chavez, a junior at Towers High School in Decatur,
   was fatally shot when someone opened fire on her car in Dekalb County. Her
   life was one of more than three dozen young lives claimed by gun violence
   across Metro Atlanta in 2022.  Among the more recent heartbreaking tragedies
   are that of 12-year-old Zyion Charles and 15-year-old Cameron Jackson, who
   were fatally shot near Atlantic Station on Nov. 26. Four others under 18 were
   also injured. Police say the shooting happened after a group of young people
   were escorted off the Atlantic Station property for unruly behavior and
   violation of a 3:00 p.m. curfew.  Just one week prior to his death, Zyion’s
   mother Deerica Charles says she pleaded with authorities for resources to
   help her troubled pre-teen, stating she called police more than 30 times over
   the course of two years in her desperate attempt for assistance. At a
   separate press conference, Cameron’s mother Tiffany Smith says she had ample
   resources for her homeschooled son who was a dedicated boxer with dreams well
   within reach of going to the 2024 Olympics. “But the one thing that we were
   unable to deal with was the community, the environment, the city. And that
   right there is something that I am committed to transforming in Atlanta,”
   Smith said. “This is about all of our children.”  WIDENING SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT
   ARE CRITICAL. Indeed, the violence plaguing Metro Atlanta and the
   consequential rally call by community members for solutions is about all our
   children. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, we believe every child
   possesses power and potential and should have access to the resources and
   relationships they need to thrive.   Yet, a child born into poverty in
   Atlanta has a less than five percent chance of escaping those circumstances
   in their lifetime—among the lowest odds of economic mobility in the country.
   Many of our youth face a complex web of challenges throughout childhood and
   adolescence that creates significant opportunity gaps and limit their ability
   to reach their full potential. Of note, 78 percent of the youth and teens we
   serve are from families living at 200 percent or below the federal poverty
   level, and 78 percent live in single-parent homes.  In high-need communities
   across Metro Atlanta, BGCMA steps in to fill these gaps by providing access
   to safe places, connecting members with caring adult mentors, supporting
   healthy social-emotional development, and offering research-informed programs
   outside of school and …




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