After months of uncertainty, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is returning to Piedmont Park this spring, marking its 90th anniversary and reaffirming its role as one of the city’s most enduring cultural traditions. The 90th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival, presented by Associated Credit Union, will take place April 10 to 12, 2026. The return follows a […]
Author Archives: Gabi Hart
Hello, my name is Gabriella Hart. I am a contributor to SaportaReport after having spent the summer as an intern with Atlanta Way 2.0 and SaportaReport. I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree in Urban Studies at Georgia State University. Born and raised in Atlanta, I’ve always been curious about the forces shaping our city. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Colorado College, and my interests lie in city planning, infrastructure, equitable development, and social justice. I’m especially excited to explore the dynamic between old and new Atlanta, looking at how our city continues to grow and change, and what that means for the communities that call it home. In the future, I would like to work in urban planning or policy, helping cities grow in ways that are inclusive, thoughtful, and just.
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Outside Atlanta’s ICE office, protesters call attention to detention, deportation and dissent
On the evening of Jan. 23, protesters gathered outside the ICE Field Office downtown as part of a coordinated national action calling for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] practices and drawing attention to recent detentions and deportations. Among those in attendance was Georgia state Rep. Ruwa Romman, who said showing up alongside […]
Posted inGabi Hart
Viola Davis, Mónica Ramírez and Warrick Dunn answer Dr. King’s call at Beloved Community Awards
The 2026 MLK Jr. Beloved Community Awards unfolded not as a conventional awards ceremony, but as a call to conscience, one rooted in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring belief that love, when practiced with courage, can reshape society. “This is not just an award show,” said Dr. Bernice King, CEO of The King Center […]
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Tulsa Welding School opens Atlanta Campus amid growing interest in skilled trades
As college costs continue to rise, more young people are exploring alternative paths to the workforce. Across the country, Generation Z is increasingly turning to trade schools to gain hands-on skills and enter the job market sooner, a shift reflected in the opening of Tulsa Welding School’s new Atlanta Metro campus. Tulsa Welding School (TWS), […]
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More than a passing song: How ‘Beltline Kevin’ turns movement into connection
On any given day along the Atlanta Beltline, music often arrives before the man himself. Roller skates hum against the pavement, a voice cuts through the noise of foot traffic, and Kevin Randolph, better known to many as “Beltline Kevin”, moves past walkers, runners and cyclists, singing greetings and creating brief moments of connection. “It’s […]
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Monks’ 2,300-mile ‘Walk for Peace’ connects thousands in Decatur
After walking roughly 1,300 miles on foot, a group of 18 Buddhist monks traveling from The Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., stopped in Decatur on Dec. 30, drawing thousands to a peace gathering that blended spiritual reflection with civic engagement. The Georgia stop required a significant detour from […]
Posted inGabi Hart
New food security collaboration forms as hunger pressures grow in metro Atlanta
As food costs rise and safety nets strain under shifting federal benefits, thousands of families across metro Atlanta are being forced to make impossible choices between health, education and hunger. In response, The Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (The FDHA) has launched a new food security collaborative backed by a $150,000 initial investment aimed at strengthening coordination […]
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Atlanta has spoken, housing affordability ranks as our city’s most pressing issue
Housing affordability has risen to the top of the list of concerns for metro Atlanta residents, according to new findings from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey that were presented at the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum on Dec. 3. The survey reflects responses from more than 4,000 residents across the region’s 11 […]
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A night that finally saw them: Inside Father Figures, a celebration of men who matter
FatherWorks, The Gathering Spot, and the Ain’t No Manual Podcast brought Atlanta something long overdue on Nov. 20, a space where fathers and father figures could receive the recognition they deserve. Father Figures: A Celebration of Men Who Matter, gathered fathers, mentors, leaders, and community builders in a room that invited them to breathe, release, […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Comedy & Conversations brings humor and healing to Atlanta audience
Trigger Warning: This story includes discussion of suicide attempts and suicide loss. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988. Laughter and heavy emotion shared space Oct. 15, at Skewed Orbit on Auburn Avenue, as community members gathered for Comedy & Conversations, an event created […]
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After Home Park STR ban, Dozier pushes for enforcement first
On Aug. 18, the Atlanta City Council approved Ordinance 25-O-1249, a measure banning new short-term rentals in the Home Park neighborhood. The ordinance was passed with a 12-2 vote. The decision followed months of heated debate between residents who expressed that investor-owned Airbnbs were disrupting community life, and hosts who rely on rental income to […]
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Atlanta’s bridge builders: The story of the ISB
On Saturday Sept. 20, more than hundreds of people filled the ballroom of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis for the 2025 ISB Gala, a night devoted to faith, friendship and the bridges that hold Atlanta together. The event, hosted by ISB (Islamic Speakers Bureau) of Atlanta reflected nearly a quarter century of work bringing people of different […]
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‘You don’t need a pedigree’: DeKalb CEO and Clarkston mayor urge women to lead
During the Georgia Women Connect: Leadership and Civic Engagement Panel held Sept. 16 at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Clarkston Mayor Beverly Burks shared personal stories of resilience and service, urging women to take leadership roles across Georgia. Georgia Women Connect is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates […]
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Behind the numbers: Atlanta leaders sound the alarm on hidden homelessness
On Thursday Sept. 10, over 120 Atlantans gathered in- person for the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum. A mix of developers, nonprofit leaders, corporate representatives, and advocates met at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church to grapple with a stark reality: homelessness is rising, families are struggling, and the housing crisis is deepening. The event was moderated by […]
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From zoning to electric vehicles, SART lays out Atlanta’s climate to-do list
The Sept. 12 Sustainability in Action Roundtable (SART) hosted by Southface Institute drew more than 30 attendees, from city officials and nonprofit leaders to housing executives, mobility experts and even comedians. The morning’s theme, “Infrastructure in a Sustainable City,” spotlighted how Atlanta and the broader metro region are navigating the intersection of growth, climate action […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Laying the bricks of a new Atlanta Way
During the evening of Aug. 28, Atlanta Way 2.0 brought together community members for the Empowering Atlanta Way 2.0 Activators on Auburn Ave event, to reflect on the city’s past and lay a foundation of bricks for its future. Ann Cramer, board chair of Atlanta Way 2.0, opened the gathering at Constellations ATL, a shared […]
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Fresh start: Azalea Fresh Market opens downtown with vision for healthier Atlanta
Downtown Atlanta will soon have a new destination for fresh and healthy food. Azalea Fresh Market will open its doors Monday, Sept. 8, at 7 a.m. Azalea Fresh Market will be the city’s first municipal grocery store and a cornerstone of Mayor Andre Dickens’ commitment to expanding food access across the city. The store was […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Building up, Not pushing out: how OaksATL is revitalizing English Avenue
By: Gabi Hart In Atlanta, new development often comes with a cost: neighborhoods change, prices rise and longtime residents get pushed out. But in English Avenue, a community just west of downtown, OaksATL is transforming that narrative. This summer, my co-intern Asia and I took a tour of the neighborhood with Rue Gunter, OaksATL’s director […]
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta residents gather for mayor’s office townhall on future downtown development
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, more than 50 residents, city staff and community leaders filled St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for the August General Body Meeting of the Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association (ADNA), a special edition of Mayor Andre Dickens’ public town hall series focused on downtown and co-hosted with the mayor’s office. The featured speaker was […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
A city that leaves walkers behind: Why Atlanta’s sidewalks are still in crisis
Atlanta ranks among the most dangerous U.S. cities for pedestrians. For those of us walking Atlanta’s streets every day, that statistic isn’t surprising.
