By Neda Abghari, Curator & Art Consultant The power of art to provide hope, inspiration, reflection, and connection is undeniable. It is where we turn for solace, sometimes even escape, to simply feel. To sense more, to dream more, to dive into new realities, imagine new possibilities and reflect on those past. Art allows us […]
Author Archives: Midtown Alliance
Posted inThought Leadership
Turning Over a New Leaf: From Feeling Grateful to Living our Gratitude
By Rev. Tony Sundermeier, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta My regular run takes me from my home in Ansley Park to Piedmont Park, and then up 12th Street to Peachtree. Once I reach the Woodruff Arts Center and First Presbyterian Church, I head back home. The other day I was running on […]
Posted inThought Leadership
When We Look Back at this Moment, We’ll Remember How Local Collaboration Won the Day
By Brian Carr, Director of Marketing and Communications, Midtown Alliance While there’s no guarantee we’ll know the results immediately from one of the most pivotal presidential races in memory, it’s important to reflect on the history being made in Atlanta and across the state with regard to voter registration and turnout. New ventures between private […]
Posted inThought Leadership
The Team Keeping Midtown Green
By Ellie Hensley, Midtown Alliance If you’ve ever enjoyed a walk down a tree-lined Midtown sidewalk, used a trash or recycling bin at one of our intersections or enjoyed an afternoon day on a bench along Peachtree, you’ve enjoyed the work of one of our most important, and most overlooked, programs — Midtown Green. Because […]
Posted inThought Leadership
Demanding More from Midtown’s Streets and Sidewalks
By Ellie Hensley, Midtown Alliance The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed 30 years ago in an effort to equalize opportunities for people based on disability. The wide-ranging law covered areas from employment to transportation and public accommodations to access to state and local government programs. Midtown Alliance recognizes that while some progress has been […]
Posted inThought Leadership
Three Ways To Stay Connected To Midtown Atlanta Right Now
Featured Image: Midtown has installed sidewalk decals like a “Social Distancing Dance-Off” to provide with fun activities you can do with a friend while six feet apart. By Midtown Alliance It seems incredible, but as we wrap up summer and head into fall, we’re closing in on half a year that many of us have […]
Posted inThought Leadership
Can a Design Museum Change the World?
By Laura Flusche, Ph.D., Executive Director, MODA At the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), we define design as a process that inspires change, transforms lives, and makes the world a better place. This idea guides everything we do — from exhibitions to programs to summer camps — because we believe that design is one of […]
Posted inThought Leadership
Resilience During the Pandemic: The Center for Puppetry Arts Continues Its Storytelling Magic
By Beth Schiavo, Executive Director of the Center for Puppetry Arts On a daily basis before we closed our doors in March, I would grab my second cup of coffee and walk by our field trip cafeteria at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Peeking in, I would see tables filled with excited elementary school students […]
Posted inThought Leadership
Piedmont Park: The Green Heart is Still Beating
By Mark Banta, President and CEO, Piedmont Park Conservancy Walk through Piedmont Park on any given day and it seems to paint an almost perfect picture of the Atlantan spirit. Beautiful but unyielding it stood and served through the years and some of the toughest of times, fostering a spirit of community, culture and passion […]
Posted inThought Leadership
“Today, what actions can we take to make a difference?”
FeaturedPhoto: Peaceful protest in Midtown outside the Fox Theatre, June 2, 2020 / Credit: Shaddi Abusaid @shaddiabusaid By Kevin Green, President and CEO, Midtown Alliance The last 10 weeks seem surreal, as we’ve gone from ‘shelter-in-place’ orders to a nightly curfew due to civil protests. This past week has been a long and emotional one […]
Posted inThought Leadership
While You’ve Been Away: New Transportation Enhancements in Midtown
BY DAN HOURIGAN, MIDTOWN ALLIANCE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY Dear Midtown, We know many of you have been working from home for the past couple of months. Thanks for doing your part to flatten the curve. We’re looking forward to the time when we can see each other again on Peachtree Street, whenever that […]
Posted inThought Leadership
Tough Times, A Tougher Community: Acts of Kindness and Solidarity During COVID-19
By Ellie Hensley, Midtown Alliance While our team remains on the job to support essential city services like public safety, maintenance and infrastructure, we are excited to look up from our work lately and see acts of kindness and solidarity happening all around Midtown and our City. Here are a few: Several restaurants across the […]
Posted inThought Leadership
Mother Midtown
By Mark Toro, Midtown Alliance Board Chair and Chairman of the Board for North American Properties – Atlanta I have not given birth, but those close to me have. My wife and my two daughters have each given birth twice and, as is the case with every expectant father/grandfather, I felt the fear and helplessness inherent […]
Posted inThought Leadership
The New Way to Think About Streets and Plazas: Multi-Purpose, Multi-Functional
By Kevin Green, Midtown Alliance President and CEO Just two weeks ago, few people had even heard the term “social distancing.” Yet in a very quick turn of events, we now find this as our temporary ‘new normal.’ Since cities are made to bring people together and to seed social interaction, our current reality is […]
Posted inThought Leadership
Is Atlanta the Future of Innovation Districts?
By Bruce Katz* Over the past twenty years, U.S. cities have experienced a remarkable resurgence after decades of decline. From Boston and New York to Phoenix and Pittsburgh to Seattle and San Francisco, the growth has been centered in the cores of cities around advanced research institutions, innovative companies and talented workers. And this growth […]
Posted inViews From Peachtree
Goose Bumps, and a Glimpse into Our Future: Why You Need to Attend the 2020 Midtown Alliance Annual Meeting
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]By Brian Carr, Director of Marketing and Communications, Midtown Alliance Since the earliest days of organizing neighborhood leadership in Midtown Atlanta, one simple truth has endured: when you bring committed actors from all corners of the district together in a room, get them on the same page, and stretch their thinking, there’s no limit […]
Posted inThought Leadership, Views From Peachtree
Our 2020 Imperative: Breathing New Life into Public and Private Spaces
By Kevin Green, President and CEO, Midtown Alliance In successful cities, there’s a growing demand to create quality public spaces that foster a civic identity so when you’re there, you know you’re there. Places that make you stop, take note of your surroundings and appreciate the moment enough that you can look back on the […]
Posted inThought Leadership
Special Holiday Program Shines a Light on the Power of Placemaking
By Lauren Bohn, Project Manager, Urban Design at Midtown Alliance There’s something magical about experiencing the holidays in the heart of the city. Bustling sidewalks. Holiday performances. The recent Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade. Midtown Alliance is celebrating with a festive addition to Peachtree Street: hundreds of thousands of LED lights and an array […]
Posted inThought Leader
Untangling Homelessness: Thankful for Difference Makers on the Front Lines
By Ellie Hensley, Midtown Alliance A perennial issue in any urban district is homelessness. While nationally homelessness is trending upward and other cities have seen sharp increases in recent years, the City of Atlanta has seen a 25 percent decrease since 2015 (Partners for Home 2019 Point-In-Time Report, p10). Still, more work remains to be […]
Posted inThought Leader
How is Midtown Going to Handle All of this Growth?
By Kevin Green, President and CEO, Midtown Alliance One question we’re asked often is, “how is Midtown going to handle all of this growth?” It’s not a surprising question. We did the math recently and since 2000, the 1.2 square-mile ‘core’ of Midtown has seen the delivery of more than 80 major development projects. That’s […]
