Brad Raffensberger, Gabe Sterling attract notice at Atlanta Rotary on Oct. 26
Normally, the Rotary Club of Atlanta holds a low-key lunch every Monday, but Oct. 26 was an exception.
Part of the reason?
The speakers were Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gabe Sterling, a former SOS deputy who is now a senior fellow of the Secure Democracy Foundation, in a conversation with Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander.
The other reason was timing. The conversation was held eight days before the midterm election, amid early voting, expected razor-thin key races and continued concerns about voter suppression and possible irregularities in the voting system.
Raffensperger and Sterling spoke in agonizing detail about how Georgia had one of the most secure election systems in the country, emphasizing that voting machines were secure, and votes would be counted accurately.
“I feel good about security,” said Raffensperger, adding that he felt everything would be “smooth and quiet’ on election day. “That’s the best election we can hope for. The biggest risk is that candidates will be disappointed.”
But what made this Rotary meeting most unusual was the turnout of media at the Loudermilk Conference Center downtown. Eight news outlets lined the back of a meeting room to hear the meeting conversation and ask questions of the speakers at the end of the meeting. Most Mondays, there’s almost no media present.
— Maria Saporta
Downtown Atlanta Inc. marks the change of leadership
The second annual Downtown Atlanta Day was marked by a combination of old and new.
A.J. Robinson, who has been president of Central Atlanta Progress (now Downtown Atlanta Inc.) for 23 years, will be retiring at the end of November. He will remain involved with the organization as the volunteer chair of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District.
At the “State of Downtown” breakfast on Oct. 28, Robinson made a point to welcome his successor – Kyle Waide, president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank – who he called a “special guest” in front of a full crowd at the Commerce Club.
After the breakfast, there was a full slate of events to celebrate Downtown Atlanta, including a ribbon-cutting at the WoodRUFF Dog Park and a celebration of 30 years of Downtown’s Ambassadors. The day (night) ended with a Locals Only Dance Party at MJQ at Underground Atlanta, which began at 11 p.m.
— Maria Saporta
Atlanta Youth Climate Action Fund is exploring the possibility of a new round of funding
The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience’s Youth Climate Action Fund is partnering with 21st Century Leaders to explore the possibility of microgrants for youth climate leaders.
If realized, youth leaders from ages 15 through 24 will be able to apply for microgrants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for innovative climate solutions. Applicants will need to partner with a nonprofit to receive the grants on the youth leader’s behalf.
Selected applicants will advance one or more of the nine key areas outlined in the City of Atlanta Climate Action Plan, “Climate Resilient ATL,” which are:
- Clean energy
- Net-zero emissions
- Accessible Fresh and Affordable Food
- Reduce Energy Burden
- Multimodal Transportation
- Stakeholder Engagement (Values)
- Extreme Heat
- Flood
- Drought
The city has previously implemented versions of the program, dating back to 2024. It is not yet known when these grants might come to fruition or how many will be given out, but the sample application says that all funds must be used by April 15, 2027, with a report following a month later.
— Maria Saporta
Fox Gives Awards $500,000 to Historic Georgia Theaters and Cultural Landmarks
Now in its 18th year, Fox Gives, the philanthropic arm of the Fox Theatre, announced 12 single-year grants totaling $500,000 for historic theaters and partner organizations in Georgia. The funding enables a range of projects to support important cultural assets and strengthen their operations.
Eight organizations will receive Preservation & Facilities Grants to engage community-wide participation and support for local preservation and facilities projects. Four grantees will receive Technical Services Grants, providing direct access to professional experts and resources to address specific organizational, operational and strategic needs.
Leigh Burns, director of community partnerships for Fox Gives, added, “Every historic theater and cultural landmark has a story to tell and a role to play in the life of its community. By supporting projects that range from critical building repairs to improved performance capabilities and long-term planning, we’re helping these organizations continue sharing the performing arts and Georgia’s unique heritage with audiences for many years to come.”
For more information about Fox Gives and a full list of grant recipients, visit foxtheatre.org.
— Megan Anderson
Minecraft comes to life at Pullman Yards
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, an in-person, interactive adventure based on one of the best-selling video games of all time, opens Nov. 20 at Pullman Yards.
The hour-long quest sends visitors through several of the game’s biomes on a mission to rescue a village under siege by zombies. Along the way, players collect resources, craft items, battle mobs and build structures to help the villagers.
The experience is built for Minecrafters of all ages, including first-timers, so no gaming expertise is required. Guests leave with a limited-edition half-zombie, half-villager cape, and a trading post stocked with apparel, toys and collectibles is open during experience hours.
Tickets start at $32 and are available now through Fever. Paid parking is available on site. More details, including the FAQ and visit-planning information, are on the Minecraft Experience website.
— Megan Anderson
Explore Gwinnett awards more than $99,000 in placemaking grants
Explore Gwinnett has awarded more than $99,000 in placemaking grants to eight projects that will bring new murals, public art and historic restoration work to communities across Gwinnett County.
The 2026-27 grants, made through the Gwinnett Creativity Fund, range from $7,300 to $19,000. The largest goes to the Southeastern Railway Museum to restore a baggage car. Art in Motion will receive $18,500 for a mural at Discovery Park in Lawrenceville.
“Placemaking is about giving people a reason to linger, look around and feel connected to where they are,” said Lisa Anders, Explore Gwinnett’s chief operating officer.
Other recipients are Gateway 85, for the ONE mural; the City of Suwanee Public Arts Commission, for the Better Buford Highway Project murals; the Gwinnett Place CID, for a public art plan; the Norcross Public Arts Commission, for a “White Squirrels” sculpture in Pinnacle Park; the Hudgens Center, to restore its Black Box Theatre; and the Lawrenceville Arts Commission, for traffic signal box wraps.
— Derek Prall
Monday Night Brewing wins seven medals and its fourth Triple Crown
Atlanta-based Monday Night Brewing has won seven medals at three of the beer industry’s top competitions this year, earning its fourth Triple Crown of Beer.
The Triple Crown recognizes breweries that medal at the Great American Beer Festival, the World Beer Cup and the U.S. Open Beer Championship in the same year. Monday Night clinched it this month when Madrigal, a Flanders-style oud bruin aged in sherry and port barrels, won gold for wood- and barrel-aged sour beer at the Great American Beer Festival.
The brewery also won two medals at the World Beer Cup and four at the U.S. Open, including a second gold for Madrigal and a gold for 7 Deadly Stouts, an imperial stout aged in seven different spirit barrels.
“Three competitions, three sets of judges, multiple beer styles, and our beers held up every time,” said Peter Kiley, Monday Night Brewing’s brewmaster and chief product officer.
— Derek Prall
Alliance Theatre names three to its leadership team
Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre has made three appointments to its leadership team, naming Rhavynn Drummer casting director, Tyler Ennis chief development officer and Amanda Watkins BOLD artistic producer.
Drummer and Ennis are new to the organization. Watkins was previously the Alliance’s associate producer and director of new works.
The three bring experience in Broadway, regional theater, film, television and arts philanthropy, and each has ties to Atlanta. The theater said the hires will help strengthen the donor relationships that fund its work, bring talent to its stages and support new works from development to production.
“Their leadership will help us invest more boldly in artists, deepen our relationships with our community, and create work that begins in Atlanta and resonates far beyond it,” said Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and Christopher Moses, the Alliance’s Jennings Hertz artistic directors.
— Derek Prall
Piedmont Oncology’s Luminaria gala raises $1.4 million
Piedmont Oncology’s second annual Luminaria gala raised more than $1.4 million to expand cancer research and cancer wellness programs across the Piedmont Healthcare system.
More than 450 people attended the Oct. 24 event at the St. Regis Atlanta, which was emceed by WSB-TV anchor Wendy Corona. The evening included a silent and live auction, presentations from physicians, a patient’s story and live music.
“Great cancer programs rely on community support,” said Dr. Walter J. “Wally” Curran Jr., Piedmont Oncology’s Whitaker endowed chief.
— Derek Prall
