A group of artists, organizers and community members gathered in Old 4th Ward on March 19 not just to talk, but to process. Hosted by Mark Kendall, founder of CoolCoolCool Productions, in partnership with the Radical Optimist Collective, the event, titled ATL Arts & Wellbeing Series: Radical Optimist Collective + CoolCoolCool, invited participants into 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.
Posted inLatest News
From rail line to green lifeline: Beltline arboretum grows across Atlanta
A two-decade partnership between Atlanta Beltline and Trees Atlanta marks a major milestone, as leaders, residents and volunteers gathered March 12 along the city’s Southwest Trail to recognize the continued growth of the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum. The press conference, held at Trees Atlanta’s headquarters along the Beltline corridor, brought together Clyde Higgs, president and CEO […]
Posted inGabi Hart
More than shelter: Why solving Atlanta’s housing crisis is so complex
On March 4 , housing leaders, developers, researchers and community advocates gathered at the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum to take stock of where the Atlanta region stands on affordability and,more importantly, what it will take to move forward. The conversation made one thing clear early on: Atlanta’s housing crisis is not driven by a single […]
Posted inGabi Hart
Russell Center forum connects Atlanta entrepreneurs to World Cup opportunities
Local entrepreneurs gathered Feb. 4 at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), a nonprofit hub that supports and connects small businesses and startups, to discuss how businesses can prepare for opportunities tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other major events coming to the city. The forum, titled “What’s the Play? A 2026 […]
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New Tulsa Welding School campus launches in Atlanta as demand for skilled trades grows
Tulsa Welding School (TWS) celebrated the grand opening of its newest campus in the greater Atlanta area on Friday, March 13, marking the school’s official expansion into Georgia and highlighting the growing demand for skilled trades workers across the region. The event brought together community leaders, employer partners, students and media to commemorate the launch […]
Posted inGabi Hart
Providing Shelter When Disaster Strikes: Airbnb.org’s Mission
When disasters force people from their homes, one of the most urgent needs is often the least visible: a safe place to stay. Long after alerts fade, families are still searching for shelter near work, school and community. That gap is where Airbnb.org operates. “Airbnb.org is here to help on your worst day,” said Christine […]
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Construction begins on historic Oakland City Warehouses along the Atlanta Beltline
Construction is now underway on Oakland Exchange, a mixed-use project in Southwest Atlanta that will preserve historic Cut Rate Box Co. warehouses while adding affordable housing and commercial space. The Atlanta Beltline and Atlanta-based infill developer Urban Realty Partners closed a public-private deal to bring the project to life. The development is located at 1088 […]
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Kamala Harris brings ‘107 Days’ book tour to Macon, reflects on power, community and what comes next
Former Vice President Kamala Harris brought her national “107 Days” book tour to Macon, Ga., on Feb. 11, offering a reflection on power, community and resilience during a wide-ranging conversation moderated by chef and restaurateur Mashama Bailey. The stop was part of a tour that began in New York City in September 2025 and is […]
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Two families, one system: How ICE Detention reshaped lives in Metro Atlanta
Mildred Pierre was driving her children to school one morning in January of 2025, when her car was suddenly boxed in. “There was a car that pinned me in the front,” she remembered. “They had their guns drawn.” Her then 4 and 6-year-old children were sitting in the backseat. “The kids were crying… they were […]
Posted inGabi Hart
Atlanta Association of Black Journalists swears in new board of directors as chapter marks 50 Years
The Atlanta Association of Black Journalists (AABJ) , one of the nation’s oldest and most influential organizations for Black media professionals, swore in its new board of directors Jan. 10 during a ceremony that underscored the chapter’s legacy and its relevance in a shifting media landscape. Founded as a local chapter of the National Association […]
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The Atlanta Dogwood Festival returns for 90th year, reclaiming its place in Atlanta’s art scene
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 […]
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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), […]
Posted inColumns
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 […]
Posted inColumns
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 […]
Posted inGabi Hart
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 […]
Posted inGabi Hart
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 […]
