AUSTIN – The invitation arrived on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the LINK delegation of 120 Atlanta leaders had arrived in the capital city of Texas.
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.
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LINK 2022 — fast-growing Austin experiencing growth pains
AUSTIN – “Welcome to the Wild, Wild West!” That was the opening comment from Cynthia Long, chair of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization in Austin (the equivalent to the Atlanta Regional Commission) to a group of about 120 metro Atlanta leaders visiting Austin for the three-day 2022 LINK trip.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Helene Gayle is looking ‘to bring Spelman to the world and the world to Spelman’
As the next president of Spelman College, Helene Gayle is boomeranging back to Atlanta – her on-again, off-again home for decades.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Metro Atlanta leaders headed to Austin on 2022 LINK trip
Metro Atlanta leaders are heading to Austin for the annual LINK trip on May 4 – only six months after going to Chicago to learn how other cities are coping with the same issues as we are.
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Covenant House Georgia unveils new apartments for homeless youth
The Covenant House Georgia will be able to serve more homeless youth thanks to a successful capital campaign that raised $10.l million – $400,000 more than the initial goal.
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Leadership Atlanta’s 2023 class to feature leaders in education
On the eve of its closing weekend retreat for the Class of 2022, Leadership Atlanta on Friday announced the 86 members of the Class of 2023.
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U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff: Atlanta BeltLine Southside trail getting $5 million boost
Slowly, but surely, the Atlanta BeltLine is securing the necessary funds to complete the Southside Trail – which will connect the Eastside Trail with the Westside Trail.
Posted inColumns
Family visit weaves views of greenspace, civil rights and hospitality
Sometimes having a fresh set of eyes on where you live helps you better appreciate what works and what’s lacking. For me, those fresh set of eyes belonged to my sister, Elena Saporta; and my niece, Lily Consuelo Saporta Tagiuri, who came to spend the better part of a week visiting Atlanta and Georgia.
Posted inColumns
Atlanta Dogwood Festival’s Brian Hill: ‘A real chance we won’t make it’
The Atlanta Dogwood Festival has welcomed Spring in the city for 86 years. But its future is in jeopardy after two years of the disruptive COVID pandemic and rising costs.
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Atlanta developer David Allman making a difference in Nicaragua
When Atlanta real estate developer David Allman turned 50, he pulled back from the day-to-day of his business to explore ways he could improve the lives of the world’s most impoverished.
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Andre Dickens at the State of the City: ‘My vision is moving Atlanta forward together’
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens bubbled over with energy Monday morning as he repeatedly chanted messages of unity and a city moving forward to tackle the big issues of safety, early childhood education, affordable housing, investment in infrastructure as well as parks, greenspace and sidewalks.
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Buckhead Coalition pays tribute to the late Sam Massell at annual meeting
The spirit of Sam Massell was alive and well at Wednesday’s annual meeting of the Buckhead Coalition.
Posted inColumns
Long-time community builder Robert Lupton shares views on philanthropy and business
Robert Lupton has spent 50 years of his life working as a community developer in Atlanta mostly with people who have the greatest needs.
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Planned Parenthood’s Staci Fox named CEO of Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute has named Staci Fox as its new president and CEO. She will begin her new job on April 25.
Posted inColumns
Anna Roach on metro Atlanta: ‘There’s something for everybody here’
For Anna Roach, being executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission is the job she dreamed of getting.
Posted inColumns
Eleanor Ringel predicts who will win Oscars on March 27
Whose turn is it this year? A few weeks ago, I would’ve leaned heavily toward “The Power of the Dog,” a film that’s easier to admire than love. But now entities like the Directors Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild and the Producers Guild of America have weighed in.
Posted inColumns
For his 90th birthday, let us honor Andrew Young by making Atlanta a city of peace
More than 1800 people attended Andrew Young’s 90th birthday gala at the Georgia World Congress Center Saturday night,
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Reggie McKnight announces Google partnership with friend, mentor Andrew Young
By Maria Saporta A bond was formed at first sight. Reginald “Reggie” McKnight, Google’s head of global social impact, described meeting former Mayor Andrew Young after moving to Atlanta about 18 months ago. “We hit it off on a personal and professional level,” McKnight said in an interview on Friday. “We made an immediate connection […]
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New leadership installed at the Atlanta Regional Commission
The Atlanta Regional Commission had its official transition of executive leadership Wednesday when it held its first in-person board meeting since the COVID pandemic.
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Interface names Laurel Hurd of Newell Brands as its new CEO
One of Georgia’s most environmentally-friendly companies – Interface Inc. – has selected a new president and CEO.
