Atlanta once had a beautiful train station. Not like Midtown MARTA Station with its large, colorful bird statues, nor Five Points station with its vibrant exterior mural. The now-demolished Terminal Station had a regal Beaux-Arts facade, accented by two ornate towers. Completed in 1905, the structure looked almost European, a striking contrast to the architecture […]
Category: Atlanta Way 2.0
Atlanta Way 2.0’s columns showcase original reporting, commentary, and collaborative insights at the intersection of journalism and civic engagement in Atlanta. Through our Journalism Internship and Fellowship Program, emerging reporters explore how storytelling can strengthen community ties, illuminate local challenges, and advance collective problem-solving across the region.
In addition, we feature columns from partner organizations whose missions align with Atlanta Way 2.0—highlighting collaborative projects, cross-sector initiatives, and innovative approaches to community leadership.
Rooted in the historic concept of The Atlanta Way—a civic tradition where business and community leaders worked together to solve problems—the Atlanta Way 2.0 reimagines this legacy for today. Our nonprofit elevates efforts that reflect a more inclusive, connected, and community-driven model of civic leadership, bringing together voices from across sectors and backgrounds to advance the greater good.
Explore columns that capture how Atlanta’s leaders, residents, and emerging journalists are working collectively to shape a stronger, more equitable future for our region.
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
‘Invert the burden’: ARCHI advocates for systemic change at second annual State of Metro Atlanta Health
Since its creation over a decade ago, Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement (ARCHI) has convened over 130 metro Atlanta organizations for discussion and collaboration on improving health outcomes. On Nov. 14, nearly 300 attendees packed the Decatur Conference Center for an update on the State of Metro Atlanta Health in the wake of a […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Shopping small, building big: How the Atlanta Beltline supports economic mobility
On Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, the Atlanta Beltline invites everyone to celebrate Small Business Saturday, founded by American Express, at the Atlanta Beltline Marketplace locations and support an ecosystem of programs designed to advance economic mobility through community collaboration. Small Business Saturday, the national movement encouraging people to “shop small,” takes on special meaning along […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
It takes a village: Reimagining schools as anchors of hope and opportunity
ICS, a school that serves more than 500 students from families representing over 60 nationalities and 31 languages, is leading a bold transformation. In 2025, ICS became the first elementary school in Metro Atlanta, and possibly in the entire state of Georgia, to fully embrace the Community School Model.
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Partners in Change advances economic mobility through coaching, self-empowerment
When Destiny Quarterman-Johnson saw how Partners in Change (PIC) had transformed her friend’s life, she knew she wanted in on the action. A year later, at Quarterman-Johnson’s graduation from the program on Nov. 8, she spoke on a panel before an audience of her peers, coaches and other supporters. “Being in college, being in your […]
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 […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
National Center for Civil and Human Rights honors expansion with dazzling ceremony
Civil rights champions, thought leaders and supporters of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights gathered Downtown on Tuesday, Nov. 4 to mark the Center’s renovations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. If the anticipation of the Center’s reopening wasn’t exciting enough, it was also, coincidentally, Election Day. Many attendees had passed through polling places that […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Downtown native plants initiative sows seeds of community
The Downtown Native Plants & Wellness Initiative is working to revitalize Atlanta’s urban center—one blossom at a time. The movement is about more than plants. It aims to develop peer leadership and build community as neighbors work together to revitalize Downtown. The Downtown Native Plants & Wellness Initiative was selected to present at the first […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
CompassionCon 2025: A living ecosystem of compassion comes to life in Decatur
On Sunday, Oct. 26, at Legacy Park, hundreds of Atlantans gathered for CompassionCon, the annual outdoor celebration hosted by Compassionate Atlanta. Blending the spirit of a festival with the depth of a community conference. The event offered an immersive experience designed to show how compassion can transform systems, relationships and communities. Atlanta Way 2.0 joined […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Grove Park Heroes Awards recognize community leaders working to shape the neighborhood’s future
All sectors of the Grove Park community — from corporate to government to nonprofit — gathered at the Delta Sky360 Club at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 14 to recognize the residents who had made a difference in the neighborhood. The third annual Grove Park Heroes Awards, hosted by the Grove Park Foundation, recognized community leaders […]
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 inAtlanta Way 2.0
The Future of Healing: How an AI-Powered Mobile Wellness Clinic Will Transform Access to Care
by CEO, I Will Survive, Inc. Anisa Palmer, MPA Atlanta has always been a city that builds bridges where barriers once stood. At I Will Survive, Inc., we’re building one on wheels. Our new AI-Powered Mobile Wellness Clinic is more than a vehicle—it’s a promise to bring health access, technology, and compassion directly to families […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
What’s the deal with economic mobility? And why does Atlanta rank last?
By Oli Turner, Atlanta Way 2.0 Journalism Fellow In Atlanta, leaders and concerned citizens are uniting over a troubling statistic. Atlanta ranks 50th out of 50 U.S. metropolitan areas in upward economic mobility, according to a 2024 study by Harvard Economics professor Raj Chetty. If that strikes you as grim, it is—but Atlantans may find […]
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 inAtlanta Way 2.0
We Are Here To Save Us
By Shaun Mosley & Taylor Kostal-Bergmann, Civic Tech Atlanta Every time we look around, it feels like a new problem. Extreme heats. Rent through the roof. Enduring legacies of systemic barriers. Explicit cruelty. Overt racism. It’s an absolute mess! And who can help clean this up? Us. You and I. And we’ll start by meeting […]
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 inAtlanta Way 2.0
Importance of small theaters and arts centers in Atlanta
Local arts leaders believe Atlanta needs to help communities preserve their cultural offerings. Theater and live performances are in danger of losing popularity with the rising trend of streaming services. Today, many people prefer to stay home rather than going out for entertainment. Larger venues exist, such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., or […]
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
From campus to community: How a new generation builds belonging
Throughout my college education, I’m learning that college isn’t only about the books. Some places transform people, and college is one of those places. A college campus can serve many purposes — a place for education, a place where relationships form and a place where life-changing events occur. A college campus is also a place […]
