Grove Park Heroes event to honor Pinky Cole Hayes
The Grove Park Foundation will hold its second annual signature awards event on Thursday, March 28, at 6 p.m. at the Delta SKY360 Lounge at the Mercedes Benz Stadium.
The Grove Park Heroes event will honor Pinky Cole Hayes as the recipient of the 2024 Icon Award. Hayes, the founder and driving force behind Slutty Vegan, a plant-based restaurant chain in Atlanta, serves as a beacon for aspiring entrepreneurs. She was recognized on the “Time 100 Next List” for individuals with an outsized influence on American culture thanks to her philanthropy and impact on women’s and minority entrepreneurship.
“The Grove Park Heroes Awards is a cherished event dedicated to honoring outstanding leaders within our resilient and historic community,” said Gavin McGuire, executive director of the Grove Park Foundation.
McGuire went on to say the event will celebrate the vital role Grove Park plays in the growth, development, and legacy of the City of Atlanta. It also will recognize remarkable contributions in business, education, community development, and service by expressing gratitude to the “exceptional contributors and catalysts” shaping our community’s future.
“It is an honor to be recognized by the Grove Park Foundation with the Icon Award,” Hayes said in a release. “Philanthropy and giving back to my community are a part of my DNA, and supporting and encouraging entrepreneurs is my passion. I am so fortunate to have the chance to help people from all walks of life and inspire them to tap into their full potential.”
Click here for more information.
— Maria Saporta
FCS announces school closure due to construction of new building
The Fulton County Board of Education announces the closure of S.L. Lewis Elementary School to build a replacement building.
The announcement came during a regularly scheduled meeting. Earlier this week, the board informed that students currently enrolled will be relocated, which will be determined by the Zone 1 and Zone 2 Elementary Consolidation and Attendance Zone Redistricting plan for this school year.
The new school is slated to open in Aug. 2026.
— Allison Joyner
Study reveals Atlanta is 8th most financially distressed city in America
Financial website WalletHub released its recent report on the Financial Distressed Cities in the U.S.
With inflation making it more difficult for Americans to keep up with payments on their loans and lines of credit, most are experiencing financial difficulties.
Atlanta received the overall eighth most distressed ranking, scoring high in the “loans” search interest index and high in the change in the share of people with accounts in distress from Q4 2023 versus Q4 2022.
Click here to read the full report.
— Allison Joyner
Fox Theatre announces Revival Benefit Concert, featuring The Indigo Girls, Charlie Starr with Benji Shanks of Blackberry Smoke on April 28
The Fox Theatre announced today its annual benefit concert Revival, featuring headliner The Indigo Girls and special guests Charlie Starr with Benji Shanks of Blackberry Smoke will take place on Sunday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by Atlanta native and famed musician Kevn Kinney of Drivin n Cryin, the Fox Theatre’s Revival benefit concert will raise money to preserve and restore Georgia’s historic theaters and expand its education and community outreach arm through multiple live auctions.
“We’re thrilled to announce that Revival will feature the renowned artists The Indigo Girls and Charlie Starr with Benji Shanks of Blackberry Smoke,” said Leigh Burns, Director of the Fox Theatre’s community partnerships program. “This annual benefit is all about celebrating our state’s rich theater and music culture, bringing together fans and supporters in Atlanta for a memorable evening of performances and meaningful fundraising.”
This musical event is inspired by the power of storytelling and the role theaters play in bringing communities together. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, Feb. 23 and can be purchased by visiting foxtheatre.org or by calling 855-285-8499.
— Derek Prall
Clayton County Schools announce random searches as part of safety protocols
Earlier this week, Clayton County Public School announced they would be performing random school searches to continue to have a safe learning environment for their students.
Superintendent Anthony Smith mentioned that the search is being conducted due to recent safety concerns throughout Metro Atlanta.
“It is important that we remind our families and communities that they play an essential role in supporting our efforts to keep our campuses free zones,” Smith said. “The five behaviors norms – weapons-free, violence-free, drug-free, bully-free and gang-free – are non-negotiables for our school system.”
The school system said that this comprehensive effort to support and enhance the work accomplished to secure a culture of safety in its schools is designed to guide the district as it moves into the second semester toward spring break and the end of the school year.
— Allison Joyner
The Atlanta Science Festival features more than 150 events in March
The Atlanta Science Festival, a celebration of all things science and one of the largest of its kind in the country, will return March 9 to 23. Curious kids and adults can explore more than 150 interactive and educational events, providing an opportunity to learn from experts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“The Atlanta Science Festival aims to bring the community together through their shared love for science,” says Meisa Salaita, co-founder and co-executive director of Science ATL, the engineers of Atlanta Science Festival. “Through these events, we hope to inspire and empower the next generation to pursue their dreams.”
Atlanta Science Festival events include coding, astronomy, nature walks, science/art mashups, and much more. These happenings provide an opportunity to explore science and experience its wonder first hand. Many events are free, while some require a nominal fee.
Click here for more information.
— Derek Prall
AUC schools awarded $14 million grant to transform the research enterprise
Yesterday, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College — within the Atlanta University System (AUC) — were awarded a $14 million comprehensive grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diversity (GRANTED) initiative.
$20 million was awarded to eight institutions for the initiative, transforming research support access, particularly for emerging research and minority-serving colleges and universities.
“By strategically supporting collaborations like the AUC, we are committed to creating a transformative hub, setting the standard for equity and diversity in the national research landscape,” said Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of NSF.
The AUC-GRANTED program is a collaborative approach to transforming the research enterprise through a shared support model for collective impact and synergistic effect.
The project will focus on augmenting the knowledge management and exchange of research leadership in the AUC, enhancing research development and strengthening research administration within the institutions.
— Allison Joyner
New Birth celebrates grand opening of the African Textile Museum with “The Cameroonian Experience”
On Saturday, Feb. 24, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will unveil its grand opening of the African Textile Museum with “The Cameroonian Experience” exhibit.
The museum, located within the New Birth campus in Stonecrest, will feature African textiles and artifacts to showcase the national historic and modern textiles of the Republic of Cameroon.
“Our incredible legacy dates back centuries and is uniquely woven in an amazing tapestry of our legacy, culture, fashion and art,” said Queen Ahneva Hilson, founder of the African Textile Museum. “In curating this experience, I wanted to capture the essence of a significant piece of Black history that is often lost, overlooked or underappreciated here in America. What better time to celebrate our undeniable talents and history than by highlighting historic and modern textiles and fashions from five regions of Cameroon.”
The festivities begin at 1 p.m. with a special naming ceremony, ribbon cutting, and museum tours.
— Allison Joyner
