Former President Jimmy Carter to receive Dayton Literary Peace Prize
As he is about to turn 100, former President Jimmy Carter learned he would be receiving another Peace Prize on Nov. 9.
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation has announced its 2024, and the former president will receive the prestigious Ambassador Richard C. Holbrook Distinguished Achievement Award. His grandson, Jason Carter, will be interviewed live on stage in Dayton on the night of the award ceremony.
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honors writers whose work demonstrates the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice and global understanding, according to the release announcing the 2024 winners.
“Jimmy Carter has dedicated his life to the pursuit of peace and human rights,” said Nicholas A. Raines, executive director of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation. “As the author of thirty-two books and the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize — to name just a few of his many, many accomplishments — there is perhaps no other single person in history who better represents ‘the power of the written words to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding’ than President Carter.” When informed that his grandfather would be receiving the award, Jason Carter said, “Throughout his long and remarkable life, President Jimmy Carter has had many passions. Two of his most enduring interests have been a devotion to literature and a near-constant pursuit of a peaceful resolution to conflict.”
The other winners include “Prophet Song” by Paul Lynch (Grove Press) as the winner of the 2024 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Fiction; and “Built from the Fire” by Victor Luckerson (Random House) as the winner of the 2024 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Nonfiction.
Kevin Riley, the retired editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, serves on the board of trustees of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation.
— Maria Saporta
Agnes Scott ranked most innovative by ‘U.S. News and World Report’ for seventh year in a row
Women’s liberal arts college Agnes Scott placed high in several categories in the “2025 Best Colleges” report by U.S. News and World Report, including “most innovative.”
For the seventh year in a row, Agnes Scott has received the prestigious honor and had notable acknowledgments, such as third place in “First-Year Experiences” and “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” fourth in “Social Mobility,” and sixth for Study Abroad.
“Agnes Scott College takes a holistic approach to the student experience,” says Leocadia Zak, president of Agnes Scott. “We combine an outstanding academic experience, appreciation for culture and diversity, internship and study abroad opportunities and an outstanding alumnae/i network to support student success. Innovation, academic excellence and the student experience are always at the forefront of what we do.”
— Allison Joyner
Heroes, Saints & Legends recognizes Renee Glover, Susan and Glenn Warren
Wesley Woods celebrated its 70th birthday (founded by Rev. Candler Budd in 1953) by hosting the 35th annual Heroes, Saints & Legends gala at Flourish on Sept. 19.
The event is the top annual fundraiser for the Wesley Woods Foundation, which serves 1,800 elderly residents with an average age of 81 in a dozen communities around the state. Seventy-five percent of the residents require financial assistance.
The Heroes, Saints & Legends honors people for their lifetime of leadership, service and philanthropy.
This year, three people were honored: Renee Glover, the longtime leader of the Atlanta Housing Authority, and Susan and Glenn Warren, who have been longtime advocates for Wesley Woods.
“My heart is just filled with joy,” Glover said upon receiving the honor. “This room feels like a big hug, so I’m hugging you back.”
Among the people in the audience were former honorees: Veronica Biggins, Lyn and Bob Turknett, Jack Hardin, Lillian Budd Darden, Egbert Perry, Ingrid Saunders Jones, Monica Pearson and Felker Ward.
In her remarks, Glover spoke of how all human beings are related.
“We all come from the same people,” said Glover, who also chairs the board of trustees for Ebenezer Baptist Church. “If we get together, there’s nothing we can’t do. Let’s just continue building community together and doing great things. When we work together, we win.”
— Maria Saporta
AIDS Walk Atlanta postponed due to Hurricane Helene
Out of an abundance of caution, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has postponed its annual AIDS Walk Atlanta Music Festival and 5k Run, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, at Piedmont Park.
This announcement comes after Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Georgia in anticipation of significant property damage and preventing residents from being injured.
No word on a new date, but event organizers encourage everyone to continue raising funds toward their $1 million goal of supporting 14 locally based non-profit organizations working to address metro Atlanta’s growing HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Click here for updates.
— Allison Joyner
City Schools of Decatur now second in Georgia for SAT scores
On Tuesday, the City Schools of Decatur announced that the grading class of 2024 earned the second-highest average SAT score among 182 schools in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Education.
The school system earned an average score of 1169, outpacing the metro and national averages among other 12th graders.
“The entire school community celebrates this accomplishment for our 2024 graduates, whose achievements reflect the district’s commitment to academic excellence and college readiness,” said Dr. Gyimah Whitaker, Superintendent of City Schools of Decatur.
The Georgia Department of Education also reported that Georgia public school students outperformed their counterparts in the nation’s public schools on the SAT for the seventh year in a row — specifically, Georgia public school students recorded a mean score of 1030, 35 points higher than the national average for public-school students.
— Allison Joyner
Spelman ranked first for best HBCU by ‘U.S. News and World Report’ for 18th consecutive year
This week, U.S. News and World Report released its annual “2025 Best Colleges” report, which honored Spelman College in the Best Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCU).
For the 18th year in a row, Spelaman has been on the top of the magazine’s list for this and other top-performing categories, including “Social Mobility,” which is seen as a primary measure for understanding the return on investment for college students’ families, and the top 40 for “Best Liberal Arts” institutions.
“We are honored to be recognized among the nation’s top colleges by U.S. News and World Report,” said Helene D. Gayle, president of Spelman College. “This recognition reflects our strong tradition of attracting exceptional students, outstanding faculty, dedicated staff and strong leadership. We take pride in being the No. 1 HBCU for the 18th consecutive year and ranking among the top 40 liberal arts institutions. Additionally, we are particularly proud of our commitment to enhancing social mobility for our students and their families, as well as our achievements in various academic program rankings.”
Other key rankings received by the HBCU include No. 8 in Learning Communities, No. 16 in Most Innovative Schools — National Liberal Arts Colleges, and No. 30 in Best Undergraduate Teaching for a national liberal arts college.
— Allison Joyner
GRA welcomes Solomon Ofori-Acquah as head of sickle cell initiative
The Georgia Research Alliance has named its first-ever African American Eminent Scholar – Dr. Solomon Ofori-Acquah.
He began serving as the Calvin Smyre GRA Eminent Scholar Chair, leading the Georgia Solve Sickle Cell Initiative earlier this month.
The GRA Eminent Scholar appointment and the Sickle Cell Initiative is a collaboration between the Morehouse School of Medicine, Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
It has taken a few years to formalize the partnership, a process that Morehouse School of Medicine President Valerie Montgomery Rice called “challenging.” But she added that “we got it right” at the end. “We now have a model of how we can do this again,” she said about the collaboration.
Donna Hyland, president and CEO of Children’s Healthcare, said it was significant for Georgia to have Ofori-Acquah in place.
“Children’s treats the largest number of sickle cell anemia patients in the nation by two,” Hyland said. “There is much hope. This collaboration has extraordinary opportunities.”
In some ways, it is a coming home for Ofori-Acquah. From 2007 to 2013, he served as assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory, during which time he founded and led the university’s Center for Endothelial Biology, a research effort that explored cells in the inside lining of blood vessels, lymph vessels and heart.
Most recently, Ofori-Acquah was director of two research enterprises, both of which he started: the West African Genetic Medicine Center at the University of Ghana and the Center for Translational and International Hematology at the University of Pittsburgh.
Although Ofori-Acquah is GRA’s first African American eminent scholar, Melissa Davis of the Morehouse School of Medicine is a Distinguished Investigator who was the first African American member of the GRA Academy.
At the Sept. 25 board meeting of the Georgia Research Alliance, three other new eminent scholars were announced – all headed for the University of Georgia. The three new scholars are Scott Jackson, a renowned plant genetics researcher; Dr. Nathan Lewis, a molecular biologist; and Yana Zavros, a physiologist and translational scientist specializing in molecular medicine.
GRA now has a total of 73 eminent scholars and nine distinguished investigators in its Academy.
— Maria Saporta
Oglethorpe University celebrates inauguration of President Kathryn McClymond in historic week of events
Oglethorpe University celebrated the inauguration of Kathryn McClymond as its 18th president and first female president Sept. 18-20. The series of events included a community leaders’ breakfast, faculty panel on the liberal arts, an ecological service project at Oglethorpe Creek, the formal investiture ceremony and luncheon on the historic quad.
McClymond’s inaugural address provided the community with insight into her vision for the university becoming known as “Atlanta’s premier undergraduate learning experience” by the time it reaches its bicentennial in 2035.
“I have spent over 25 years in higher education because I believe that a life spent that way, a life dedicated to assuring opportunities for others, is the most meaningful life I could lead,” McClymond said in her speech at the Conant Performing Arts Center on the Oglethorpe campus. “At this moment in my career — and at this moment in local, national, and global history — I can’t imagine a better place to do this work than at Oglethorpe University.”
The Oglethorpe Board of Trustees tapped McClymond as interim president in May 2023 after the departure of then-president Nick Ladany. She moved from provost into the interim role until the Board voted to name her the 18th president at its meeting in November 2023.
The Community Partners Breakfast included business, non-profit, educational and governmental leaders from the Atlanta community and featured a fireside chat between McClymond and Cheryl Watson-Harris, president and executive director of Achieve Atlanta, a non-profit dedicated to helping Atlanta Public Schools students achieve post-secondary credentials.
“Thank you for your friendship and your partnership with Achieve Atlanta,” Watson-Harris said. “I look forward to many years of providing access to excellent education for the students of this city together with you.”
— Derek Prall
Party on the PATH Returns Oct. 6
Livable Buckhead will be hosting an evening of live music, food and fun on Sunday, Oct. 6 as Party on the PATH celebrates PATH400 and Livable Buckhead’s programs aimed at making Buckhead an even better place to live, work and play.
The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m., and hundreds are expected to gather at Eclipse di Luna — where PATH400 enters Miami Circle — for an evening featuring Spanish-style tapas, Sangria and dancing to the sounds of 3rd Stream Big Band, which performs a mix of Rock, Soul and R&B.
“Livable Buckhead’s work is all about creating connections in Buckhead, which PATH400 exemplifies perfectly,” said Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead. “Party on the PATH celebrates and supports our work — and it’s a great time! Amazing food, fun and a vibrant outdoor experience make this an evening not to be missed.”
General admission tickets for Party on the PATH are $65 each and include tapas and two drink tickets. VIP tickets are $85 each and include a pre-event cocktail hour, open bar and a swag bag. Tickets can be purchased here and proceeds from the event support Livable Buckhead, a nonprofit organization working to ensure the long-term viability and prosperity of the Buckhead community.
— Derek Prall
City of South Fulton Approves $257 Million FY25 Budget
The City of South Fulton City Council has unanimously approved a $257,488,718 budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), marking the largest financial investment in the city’s seven-year history. The budget has been balanced with no increase in millage rate and is centered on addressing both the immediate needs of the city and preparing for its future growth. With the City of South Fulton experiencing tremendous growth, the FY25 budget tackles long-standing maintenance issues while laying the groundwork for an ambitious future. It builds on several initiatives launched in FY24, focusing on enhancing infrastructure and quality of life for residents.
“The City of South Fulton’s budget has increased $53 million without increasing property taxes, thanks to continuous service and safety improvements by our indefatigable staff and City Manager, whose investments of our reserves have alone yielded over $9 million,” praised Mayor khalid.
“The Fiscal Year 2025 budget includes investments in public safety, quality-of-life improvements for residents, infrastructure improvements, and support for the city’s incredible workforce. For the first time, the city is funding the first year of a five (5) year capital improvement program that includes the initial funding for major city facilities,” said Sharon D. Subadan, City Manager. “The community will see the impacts of these investments as we move towards implementation. I am grateful to the Mayor and Council for their support and collaboration on this year’s budget process in pursuit of a bright future for the City of South Fulton.”
Key investments include pedestrian safety improvements, community beautification projects, increased park maintenance staff, and youth development programs, such as a Saturday School Program staffed by certified teachers. Additional funds have been allocated to overall city improvements, including parks and grounds maintenance, to ensure the city’s public spaces are well-maintained and serve the community effectively.
“Our city is experiencing growth, which is evident in the budget priorities that align with our strategic plan,” said Helen Z. Willis, City of South Fulton District 3 Councilwoman. “I am eager to enhance municipal services in FY25 and to advance our city through progressive leadership.”
— Derek Prall
Atlanta History Center to unveil new children’s experience
The Atlanta History Center will unveil a dynamic children’s experience in its Goizueta Gallery in January 2025.
The Goizueta Children’s Experience, a 5,000-square-foot immersive and interactive exhibition, embodies the Center’s vision of becoming Atlanta’s go-to destination for families. Designed to captivate and inspire young minds, the groundbreaking exhibit allows families to explore, play, and learn through themes that blend history, culture, and innovation, with an entirely new theme introduced each year. The first theme, “Our Great Big City,” will celebrate the vibrant history, people, arts, and culture that define Atlanta. This is the first of several exciting transformations before the Atlanta History Center’s Centennial Anniversary in 2026.
“Our new children’s experience is more than just a play space — it’s a groundbreaking gateway to discovering Atlanta’s rich history in a way that sparks curiosity and invites families to connect, explore, and learn together,” said Sheffield Hale, President and CEO of the Atlanta History Center. “There is nothing like this in Atlanta, and we believe it is groundbreaking nationwide to have a permanent exhibition space that rotates its themes annually.”
Highlights of the 2025 Children’s Experience Include:
- Time Machine Climber: Embark on a journey through time on a colossal climber where kids can ascend to new heights, control a time dial for sensory surprises, and explore history-themed games. The climber also includes an illuminated Dance Party Zone, providing an engaging and playful learning adventure.
- Mini Fox Theatre: A dynamic stage where young imaginations take center stage. With ambient lighting and velvet drapery, the Mini Fox Theatre and Mighty Mo Organ create an intimate setting for storytelling and performance, encouraging kids to engage with the arts.
- The Varsity’s Silly Scent Station: This quirky station transports visitors back in time by mimicking the front seat dashboard of a 1930s car. As kids press dashboard buttons, diner-inspired scents waft from the car vents, offering an immersive and fun experience reminiscent of Atlanta’s iconic drive-ins, like The Varsity.
- Tiny Toddler Town: Inspired by Atlanta’s vibrant neighborhoods, this cozy area is designed for little explorers (ages 1-3). Surrounded by plush, skyline-inspired elements, the space offers a safe environment for crawling, playing, and exploration.
- Creator Hub: A vibrant space with hands-on activities perfect for school groups, young learners, and their caregivers. It encourages creativity and collaboration in an environment designed for imaginative expression.
“We aim to create a space that not only delights but educates, sparking wonder and curiosity in every child,” said Shatavia Elder, vice president of education at the Atlanta History Center. “Aligned with Georgia Standards for education, the Children’s Experience combines open-ended play with thoughtfully curated activities and evolving annual themes, ensuring each visit is not just fun but also meaningful. Our goal is to provide fresh, memorable moments that resonate with kids and adults alike, inspiring joy, learning and a deeper connection to our shared history.”
— Derek Prall
The Hambidge Center announces 29th annual Hambidge Art Auction and Masquerade
The 29th Annual Hambidge Art Auction and Masquerade will take place on Oct. 26, from 7 to 10 p.m., in the Atrium at Uptown Atlanta. They invite everyone to enjoy an evening of creative glamor at Atlanta’s most-talked-about art event, surrounded by incredible artwork and unique performances.
This year’s Masquerade will feature a parade of creative masks and inspired attire, in addition to performances including an on-site installation by Shanequa Gay; a movement performance by Jimmy Joyner; spirited New Orleans second line music by Groovemasters Brass Band; and rhythms & chants by Thump.
The online Silent Auction features over 200 works by emerging and established artists from across the U.S., including Marina Abramović, Lonnie Holly and Michi Meko. There will be over two hundred $100 fixed-price works of art up for grabs. To preview and bid on the artwork, and/or to buy tickets, visit HambidgeAuction.org, Oct. 12 through Oct. 26, 10 p.m.
The artwork will be available to view in person by appointment Oct. 13 through 26 with a public Opening Artist Reception on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. VIP benefits include access to the VIP lounge, early online access to the $100 Works of Art section, exclusive VIP events like the VIP Party on Oct. 24, and more. The Art Auction proceeds benefit Hambidge’s creative residency program which hosts more than 160 talented artists, writers, musicians, dancers and chefs each year. In addition to providing operating funds, the Auction directly supports participating artists with up to 40 percent of auction sales.
In preparation for the Masquerade, Hambidge is exploring the many ways to create a mask by hosting a series of free artist-led Mask-Making Fun Labs around Atlanta. Click here to learn more.
— Derek Prall
DeKalb Entertainment Commission and One Musicfest launch internship program
The DeKalb Entertainment Commission (DEC) recently announced a new partnership with ONE Musicfest (OMF) to launch an Internship and Job Shadowing Program.
This initiative offers aspiring music industry professionals a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience and mentorship while working on the Southeast’s largest two-day urban music festival.
This 3-month program, hosted by Sol Fusion, offers seven internship positions across various departments, including festival management and operations, festival partnerships, festival promotions, marketing, OMF app and website, productions and vendors as well as social media. Interns will gain practical experience in planning and executing a major music festival, with the added benefit of compensation.
Interns will work closely with seasoned industry professionals who will offer mentorship and support throughout the program. They have opportunities to network with artists, event organizers, and fellow interns, building crucial industry connections. The experience and skills gained during this internship will significantly boost their resumes and career prospects.
Applicants for the program must be a resident of DeKalb County, currently enrolled in a relevant degree program or be recent graduates with a strong passion for music and festival industries. Selected interns are expected to demonstrate excellent attendance and punctuality and must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or provide two referrals from administrators or professors.
“We are excited to partner with the DeKalb Entertainment Commission on this program and look forward to welcoming interns with fresh ideas and energy,” said Jay Carter, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of ONE Musicfest. “I am a product of DeKalb County School District so it’s a tremendous honor to give back to the community and the next generation of young creatives in a positive way with these internships.”
— Derek Prall
