For more than 20 years, one of Atlanta’s most notable civil rights venues has sat vacant – waiting for new life. It’s hard to overstate the role Paschal’s has played in Atlanta’s civil rights movement. Two brothers, Robert Paschal and James Paschal, began operating as a sandwich spot in 1947. Then, in 1959, the two […]
Author Archives: Maria Saporta
Maria Saporta, executive editor, is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. From 2008 to 2020, she wrote weekly columns and news stories for the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Prior to that, she spent 27 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, becoming its business columnist in 1991. Maria received her Master’s degree in urban studies from Georgia State and her Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. Maria was born in Atlanta to European parents and has two young adult children. She launched SaportaReport in February 2009.
Posted inColumns
Atlanta Opera: Melding history with future; art with nature
The Atlanta Opera broke ground Monday afternoon on the Molly Blank Center for Opera and the Arts at the historic Bobby Jones Golf Course Clubhouse along Woodward Way in Buckhead. The project celebrates Atlanta’s history with the renovation of the Bobby Jones Clubhouse, designed in a neoclassical style, which opened in 1941. On the back […]
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James Marlow of Southface stepping down; Nathan Bessette named interim
The Southface Institute, a nonprofit leader in green building technology and innovation, is undergoing a leadership transition. The board has named Nathan Bessette as interim executive director for the next two years. Bessette has spent nearly six years at Southface, most recently serving as vice president of technical services. After four years as executive director, […]
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New study says Georgia can lead in brain health innovation
Georgia can dominate as a hub for brain health and neuroscience. That’s according to an extensive nine-month-long study conducted by the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) and Deloitte. The study examined the academic and research assets that currently exist in Georgia, how the state compares to other states and how Georgia can move forward to leverage […]
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AJC’s Andrew Morse: ‘This is difficult news for all of us’
Only 33 days ago, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) quit printing the newspaper. Then on Feb. 3 at 6:01 p.m., AJC Publisher Andrew Morse sent a message to all employees saying that 15 percent of the workforce was being eliminated. People who would be losing their jobs would receive a call by 7 p.m. If they […]
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Raj Chetty: Transforming communities key to improving economic mobility
Place matters. So says Raj Chetty, the economic mobility guru of Harvard University. Chetty’s Opportunity Insights just released a comprehensive study on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOPE VI program — a model that was first designed and developed in Atlanta by Egbert Perry, the chairman and founder of the Integral Group, […]
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Grady Hospital’s John Haupert accepts Georgian of the Year honor
Georgia Trend, at its 100 Most Influential luncheon Jan. 29 at the Georgia Aquarium, highlighted John Haupert, president and CEO of Grady Health System, for his contributions in strengthening the leading trauma hospital in the state. The Georgia Trend luncheon is one of the most important gatherings of the year, when top leaders in the […]
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Bill Foege (1936-2026) – a light that shined brightly on Atlanta and the world
Atlanta lost a giant of a man with the passing of Dr. William “Bill” Foege, someone whose life was dedicated to improving the global health and quality of life of everyone. Foege literally was a shining light in Atlanta, Georgia, the nation and the world. We have Foege (pronounced FAY-ghee) to thank for the eradication […]
Posted inMaria's Metro
Mayor Andre Dickens open to revisiting decision on Beltline rail
Now is an opportune moment to take a fresh look at putting rail on the Beltline’s Eastside trail. The case to move forward with rail on the Eastside trail is as strong as ever. It is the one corridor that makes the most sense for transit, given the density of development on the Eastside. It […]
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ARC’s Anna Roach on economic mobility: ‘It is time for action’
Momentum is building to address metro Atlanta’s dismal ranking of 50th out of 50 cities when it comes to economic mobility. On Jan. 13, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation invited Harvard Professor Raj Chetty to come to Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium to talk about his research on economic mobility, with a focus on the […]
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Georgia Chamber leadership — from railroads to car manufacturing
For the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, 2026 will be a year to focus on manufacturing and workforce preparedness. Overlay that with the 2026 elections — a mega political year when most of the key statewide offices will turn over, with several constitutional officers running for higher office. Stuart Countess, president of Kia Georgia, said that […]
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Raj Chetty to Atlanta: connect people to opportunity to improve economic mobility
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation invited Harvard University researcher Raj Chetty, a guru of economic mobility, to Atlanta on Jan. 13 to share his insights on why Atlanta ranked dead last among the major cities in the United States. The Blank Foundation convened an influential group of business and civic leaders, government and nonprofit […]
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Vision for Midtown Jewish cultural center lives on
Key local leaders remain dedicated to developing an intown Jewish cultural center that would include the Breman museum and other cultural offerings, such as the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. The future of an intown Jewish cultural center came into question when the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta moved its offices from Spring Street in Midtown to Sandy […]
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Mayor Andre Dickens: ‘We will close the book on a tale of two cities’
During his second inauguration, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens looked back at where the city was during his first inauguration — held outdoors at Georgia Tech’s Grant Field on a blustery, cold day. “Four years ago, Atlanta faced a test unlike any that we had seen before,” Dickens told hundreds of people gathered Jan. 5 at […]
Posted inMaria's Metro
Woodruff Foundation invests a record $4 million in Park Pride
For Park Pride, equity is not a dirty word. Quite the opposite. With backing from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and several other major foundations, Park Pride has been doubling down on making grants in Atlanta’s historically disinvested communities. Park Pride, founded the same year as the Piedmont Park Conservancy, celebrated its 35th anniversary last […]
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Atlanta Mayor Dickens envisions Downtown as a vibrant transit hub
Imagine Downtown Atlanta as fulfilling its historic legacy as a hub for local, regional and intercity transit. This is not just wishful thinking. In the past month, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens shared his desire for Amtrak to move its Atlanta station from the Brookwood Station to Downtown Atlanta — preferably as part of the Centennial […]
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Atlanta legend Ingrid Saunders Jones turning 80
The grand dame of Atlanta corporate philanthropy, Ingrid Saunders Jones, was celebrated Sunday afternoon at the special event space Flourish. The original, smaller venue was scrapped because so many people wanted to honor her. Saunders Jones spent 31 years at the Coca-Cola Co., culminating as senior vice president of global community connections and as president […]
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Monterio Bass: ‘I’ve been living on newspapers for so long’
The relationship one has with a newspaper delivery person combines anonymity and regularity. Every day, someone you don’t know delivers a paper to your front door, giving you a printed window to our town and our world. On Jan. 1, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution will cease printing the newspaper. That means the people who have been […]
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Billy Payne to get top honors at CAP’s annual meeting in March
Three local business leaders will be honored at the joint 2026 annual luncheon meeting of Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) on March 11 at the Georgia Aquarium. Every year, CAP/ADID pays tribute to people and institutions that have had a major impact on Downtown. The prestigious Dan & Tally […]
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Educational findings in metro Atlanta show much room for improvement
The just-released annual State of Education in Metro Atlanta report showed disappointing results in third-grade literacy and postsecondary enrollment and completion. But the report, conducted by the unique nonprofit Learn4Life, spotlighted programs that are having success. Learn4Life is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit that is a collaboration of the big four entities that have a regional mandate. […]
