Atlanta Pride Committee announces 2024 festival theme
The Atlanta Pride Committee is excited to unveil the 2024 Atlanta Pride Festival theme: “United With Pride.” On Oct. 12 to 13, Atlantans are invited to celebrate diversity, strength and resilience at the Atlanta Pride Festival and Parade.
Committee representatives say the 2024 theme, “United With Pride,” captures the spirit of solidarity and empowerment within the LGBTQ+ community. For over fifty years, the Atlanta Pride Festival has stood for unity, rallying everyone to unite and ignite the flame of justice and equality. Committee representation says this year’s festival will be a vibrant celebration of our collective power and a demonstration of what it truly means to be united with pride.
In addition to the theme, the committee revealed the 2024 Atlanta Pride Festival logo, designed by local artist Ben Ackerley. Their design draws inspiration from the rainbow pride flag and the iconic triangle imagery reclaimed by LGBTQ+ activists in the 1970s.
Ackerley shared that they are “deeply honored to partner with Atlanta Pride to create the logo for Atlanta Pride 2024. I am so proud to have used my skills to celebrate and uplift the diversity and strength of our vibrant LGBTQIA+ community.”
— Derek Prall
Center for Puppetry Arts announces new season
Last month, the Center for Puppetry Arts announced its lineup for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
“Summer at the Center” is underway, with the “Down in Fraggle Rock” special exhibition running until Oct. 27, puppet camp beginning in June and July, and the new show “Sesame Street the Musical” showing until Aug. 24.
“The Ghastly Dreadfuls” will be making its return in October, “The Ninja Puppet Shenaniganza featuring Raymond vs. Raymond” in January and February and “Marooned! A Space Comedy” will perform in March of next year.
Click here to learn more.
— Allison Joyner
Nonprofit helping unhoused families announces new strategic plan, name
Last week, The Atlanta Children’s Shelter announced its new strategic plan for the next four years in addition to a new name — the Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter.
“Our new brand and strategic plan better reflect the needs of our clients today, and it demonstrates to our team members and supporters where we will go over the next four years,” said Cameron Turner, Executive Director of Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter.
The nonprofit will focus on four pillars in the future: family self-sufficiency, organizational excellence, funding and brand awareness.
“From the outside, it may seem as if we’re only adding one word to our name; however, it is important to update our name in order to bring clarity to our brand, align with our strategic vision and encourage community engagement to better serve children and families in the future,” Turner said.
— Allison Joyner
The Thank Me Later Foundation Receives Grant To Empower Black Families To Transfer Generational Wealth
The Thank Me Later Foundation (TMLF) recently announced a $25,000 grant from Bank of America that will support their Black Women Will initiative, which empowers Black families to transfer generational wealth and establish order through estate planning.
The grant will be used for TMLF’s educational programming and events, including the 4th annual Black Women Will Homecoming event to be held Nov. 16. The event will help 250 Black female homeowners in Georgia prepare to transfer more than $87 million worth of assets by completing their wills and healthcare directives in one day.
“Black families are working so hard to accumulate new wealth that we aren’t paying attention to what our family owns, even if it’s just our grandma’s house,” said Jini Thornton, CPA, and the Executive Director of TMLF. “Black Women Will is a part of the solution to this silent crisis that is preventing the Black community from transferring wealth.”
— Derek Prall
Clark Atlanta returns music education major after 20-year absence
On Monday, Clark Atlanta University (CAU) announced the relaunch of its Music Education major, which had been on hiatus since 2005.
The relaunch of the major will offer a comprehensive curriculum that integrates theory and practice, encompassing diverse musical traditions and pedagogical approaches.
The HBCU says that music has been a part of its identity, and the relaunch reaffirms its enduring commitment to fostering creativity, scholarship, and community engagement through the power of music.
“The belief at Clark Atlanta University is that every student deserves the opportunity to explore
their musical talents and pursue their passions,” said Charlene Gilbert, Provost at CAU. “The relaunch of the Music Education major underscores the University’s commitment to providing inclusive and innovative educational opportunities that empower students through music to achieve their dreams and make a positive impact in the world.”
Visit their website to learn more or apply.
— Allison Joyner
Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit announces new board chairman and members
Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School is proud to announce that Peter R. Hennessy (Chairman, Hennessy Automobile Company) has been named as the school’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Hennessy is a founding Board member and moves to the Chairman position after serving as the Board’s Vice Chair.
Mr. Hennessy succeeds founding Board member David P. Fitzgerald (Founder, Fitzco) who served as Chairman of the Board from 2021 to 2024. Mr. Fitzgerald will continue his support of the Board as a Chairman Emeritus. PJ Bain (CEO, PrimeRevenue) will serve the Board as Vice Chair.
The Board of Trustees also welcomes new members, including Michael Harrison (Senior Managing Director, Hines), Willie Hernandez (International General Counsel, The Coca-Cola Company), Barry McCarthy (President & CEO, Deluxe), Erica McGill (VP & Deputy General Counsel, Georgia Power), David O’Shea (Director of Advancement, Pinecrest Academy), Chris Tomlinson (Managing Director, Deloitte) and Aubrey Waddell (Chief Executive, Global Occupier Services, Cushman & Wakefield).
— Derek Prall
Albany State receives $17,000 donation from University System of Georgia Foundation
Last week, Albany State University received a scholarship award from the University System of Georgia Foundation (USGF) totaling over $17,000 to assist students with financial needs for the upcoming school year.
“We are honored to have such dedicated partners who share our vision of providing exceptional education opportunities to our students,” said Valerie Melton, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the ASU Foundation.
ASU says the scholarship award from USGF represents a commitment to student success.
— Allison Joyner
CHRIS 180 expands offerings at counseling center in DeKalb — adds medication-assisted treatment to address rise in opioid disorders
CHRIS 180, an Atlanta-based, trauma-informed behavioral health organization, has expanded the services at its counseling center in DeKalb County, adding services focused on medication assisted treatment (MAT) for patients with severe opioid disorders. The treatment includes help for those addicted to pain pills, heroin, fentanyl and Kratom.
The new MAT services at the CHRIS Counseling Center-Dekalb, located at 3103 Clairmont Road, will address the increased danger of synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. This is a pilot for a program that will potentially expand across metro Atlanta.
“The increased usage of synthetic opioids spotlights the need for treatment using medications, including Buprenorphine (Suboxone), Naloxone, and Vivitrol, that can treat these drug disorders,” said Laura Bowman, PhD, director of recovery services at CHRIS 180 and lead doctor at the Dekalb counseling center. “At the CHRIS Counseling Center-Dekalb, medication assisted treatment is combined with in-person support to assist with behaviors and emotions connected to substance misuse and addiction.”
The new MAT services do not include providing prescription drugs on-site. Patients are written a prescription and sent to a pharmacy for that medication to be filled. Medications are also not administered on-site.
This service is designed for patients who feel hopeless in their fight against their addiction. CHRIS 180 therapists aim to use their expertise to treat each patient with compassion and dignity, realizing that clients with severe opioid use disorder are often physically ill and experiencing mental health issues.
— Derek Prall
True Colors Theatre awarded $75,000 grant from National Endowment for the Arts
Last month, True Colors Theatre announced they have received a $75,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support its new play development program “The Drinking Gourd, Black Writers At Work” which is aimed at increasing plays being produced that are written by Black playwrights.
“So many aspects of our communities, such as cultural vitality, health and wellbeing, infrastructure and the economy, are advanced and improved through investments in art and design, and the National Endowment for the Arts is committed to ensure people across the country benefit,” said Dr. Mario Rosario Jackson, Chair of NEA.
The funds will go towards launching their pilot initiative by presenting readings of four new plays by regional theater companies in Houston, New York City, Minneapolis, Memphis and Tennessee.
“We could not have wished for a more dynamic group of playwrights to start the project,”
said Jamile Jude, Artistic Director for True Colors Theatre. “It is our hope to create a network of Black writers and theater companies that will serve as a long-term cohort to bring new plays by Black playwrights to the stage.”
For more information, click here.
— Allison Joyner
Spelman College hosts Black beauty ‘STEMinist’ lab Intensive
Spelman College is currently hosting its inaugural Black Beauty STEMinist Lab Intensive in collaboration with The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation.
The STEMinist Lab Intensive is a one-week program that aims to inspire Black women to pursue careers in the beauty and personal care sector. During the intensive, up to 34 students from 14 colleges and universities will formulate candles, serums, clarifying shampoos, beauty products and fragrances in Spelman’s laboratories throughout the week.
For each product they create, students have the opportunity to characterize the formulations and assess product stability. At the end of the intensive, the students will participate in a product development workshop that will guide them on how to take an idea from concept to market.
Through networking, education and conversations with industry leaders, the event is spotlighting the knowledge and expertise that Black women bring to product development in beauty, personal care and wellness to address industry disparities.
— Derek Prall
Editor’s Note: Information about the new services offered at the Chris 180 counseling center has been updated for clarity.
