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 […]
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 inGabi Hart
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 […]
Posted inGabi Hart
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 […]
Posted inGabi Hart
‘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 […]
Posted inGabi Hart
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 […]
Posted inGabi Hart
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 […]
Posted inGabi Hart
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.
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Autonomous cars are rolling through Atlanta, but are they ready for our streets?
Waymo has arrived in Atlanta. What is the experience like for riders and who is left out of consideration when autonomous vehicles are in the mix?
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Laughing with, not at: How two Atlanta creatives use comedy to spark civic connection
On Tuesday, June 10, more than 60 people packed into “Dad’s Garage Theatre “for a live taping of the “What’s Good, Atlanta?” podcast, a civic storytelling show that blends comedy, poetry and public interest. Produced by local creatives Mark Kendall and David Perdue (no relation to the former U.S. Senator from Georgia). The show brought […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
‘Hear our voices’: What Gen Z wants from our city
I’ve been thinking a lot about change this summer — what it looks like, who drives it and how cities can listen better. As a Gen Z Atlantan and a graduate student in urban studies, I’ve spent time studying the systems that shape our cities. But I’ve also been talking to the people who live […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0, Columns
Lessons from the past and present
This summer Atlanta Way 2.0 and SaportaReport are partnering on an initiative to strengthen the civic fabric of greater Atlanta through journalism. We have two amazing interns who will share their journey here in our weekly column. Here Gabriella Hart reflects on her first few weeks as an Atlanta Way 2.0 intern. Upon beginning this project […]
