Atlanta’s small businesses know a thing or two about building trust. Every day, Atlanta’s local business owners earn the confidence of customers, employees, and neighbors through a commitment to consistency, transparency, and quality. Maintaining that commitment depends on rules that are clear and applied fairly. Entrepreneurs invest, hire, and grow because they believe contracts will […]
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
The magic of the World Cup has come to Atlanta
On June 15, Atlanta hosted its first ever FIFA World Cup game. While the game ended scoreless, it provided one of the most stunning upsets in World Cup history, as Cape Verde, the smallest country by land area and the second least populated country to ever qualify, stopped tournament favorites Spain from scoring. After the […]
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How Atlanta could combat climate-driven flash flooding
On May 20, a storm cell hit Atlanta, causing catastrophic flooding and extreme traffic congestion. With inches of water covering much of the Downtown Connector, commuters became stranded, and local waterways were filled with polluted runoff that killed an unprecedented number of fish. With many climate experts warning that flash flooding will only continue to […]
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Atlanta and AI-powered surveillance
Public safety is a top priority for the Buckhead Coalition, a private, non-profit corporation created to improve the well-being of Buckhead’s residents and businesses. Atlanta Police Department’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) surveillance initiative ConnectAtlanta is a vital part of the Buckhead Coalition’s public safety mission. “We are very supportive of Connect Atlanta and APD’s work on […]
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Ke’Nekt Cooperative to host Atlanta’s Chief Cultural Officer
On almost every first and third Thursday of the month, the Ke’nekt Cooperative hosts “Connected Mornings” at their location off Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard. With conversations focused on economic mobility and community resilience, attendees can grab a cup of coffee and speak with local leaders. On May 7, Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, an assistant professor of Africana […]
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CHAPTER 4 // South Downtown Facelift Focuses on Local Biz
Games of Atlanta’s Legacy (GOAL) is a special journalism project through the Atlanta Way 2.0 Future of Journalism Initiative led by Atlanta journalist Floyd Hall. To deepen public understanding of Downtown Atlanta’s cultural, business, transit, and community infrastructure—past, present, and future—particularly in the context of major global events such as the 1996 Olympics and 2026 World Cup, […]
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CHAPTER 3 // Sounds from Soccer in the Streets
Games of Atlanta’s Legacy (GOAL) is a special journalism project through the Atlanta Way 2.0 Future of Journalism Initiative led by Atlanta journalist Floyd Hall. To deepen public understanding of Downtown Atlanta’s cultural, business, transit, and community infrastructure—past, present, and future—particularly in the context of major global events such as the 1996 Olympics and 2026 World Cup, […]
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Local residents express concern about Atlanta’s water infrastructure
Climate change is increasing the intensity of flash flooding in Atlanta. While the city has taken measures to mitigate the issue, residents in one watershed say not enough is being done. City Government’s Efforts One blueprint for saving Atlanta from drowning has been around for over 20 years. In 2001, following years of public input, […]
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CHAPTER 2 // My First Rapid A-Line Ride
Games of Atlanta’s Legacy (GOAL) is a special journalism project through the Atlanta Way 2.0 Future of Journalism Initiative led by Atlanta journalist Floyd Hall. To deepen public understanding of Downtown Atlanta’s cultural, business, transit, and community infrastructure—past, present, and future—particularly in the context of major global events such as the 1996 Olympics and 2026 World Cup, […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
CHAPTER 1 (The intersection) // A 404 Day Essay
Games of Atlanta’s Legacy (GOAL) is a special journalism project through the Atlanta Way 2.0 Future of Journalism Initiative led by Atlanta journalist Floyd Hall. To deepen public understanding of Downtown Atlanta’s cultural, business, transit, and community infrastructure—past, present, and future—particularly in the context of major global events such as the 1996 Olympics and 2026 World Cup, […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
As the 250th Arrives, Civic Season Looks to the Next Generation
By Atlanta History Center 2026 brought a frequent question to us at Atlanta History Center: what are you doing for America 250’s birthday? How do we think Atlanta should commemorate the semi-quincentennial? Atlanta History Center has been thinking about this for quite some time — before any America 250 events were planned. This year is not just an opportunity to think about […]
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Sustainability & Atlanta’s data center boom
Earlier this month, a QTS-built data center in Fayette County was draining an additional 30 million gallons of water for months without penalty. Headlines like this constantly pop up across the country, leaving people unsure about the impact of data centers on their communities. With a strong plurality of Georgia voters (47 percent) opposing the […]
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The State of Everything
A somber tone permeated the second annual “State of Everything” convening by Neighborhood Nexus on April 28 at the Junior League of Atlanta. In a room filled with leaders from the nonprofit sector, there was a broad consensus on the need to look for solutions because there’s still much work to be done to address […]
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The work behind a more welcoming Atlanta
Atlanta Way 2.0 is exploring how we can create a more welcoming city.
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America’s Promise Atlanta Alliance brings knowledge sharing, collective action to local youth development sector
Atlanta native Jasmine Burton believes youth development nonprofits can serve young people better if they do it together. As the Atlanta Executive Director of America’s Promise Alliance, a national coalition of youth-serving organizations, Burton is working to get Atlanta’s youth development community “rowing in the same direction.” America’s Promise Alliance (APA) was formed in 1997 […]
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The World Cup is coming to Atlanta. Floyd Hall is taking a deeper look.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws closer, local headlines ponder Atlanta’s “readiness” for the eight matches the city is hosting in June and July. MARTA makes hasty improvements to transportation infrastructure before the arrival of 300,000 tourists for the games. Businesses brace for impact. Floyd Hall is reading those same headlines. He, too, wonders […]
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Forging Pathways: What the Room Got Right
By Ché Watkins, Executive Director, Braven Atlanta Atlanta ranks 50th out of 50 major metro areas for upward economic mobility. Mike Carnathan of Neighborhood Nexus put that number on the table early — and it didn’t leave the room. It shouldn’t. That stat, drawn from Harvard’s Opportunity Insights research, is the clearest indictment of the […]
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‘Citizens Revival’ screening sparks conversations about hope, democracy, civic participation
Civically-minded Atlantans gathered at the Tara Theatre March 5 for a Director’s Cut screening and discussion of “Citizens Revival.” Several Atlanta organizations tabled in the Tara lobby before and after the screening, including the Asian American Advocacy Fund, Georgia Muslim Voter Project, Better Ballot Georgia and Atlanta Way 2.0. The event was the seventh public […]
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Regenerative Youth Summit cultivates cross-disciplinary climate action
What do art and climate activism have in common? It’s probably more than you think. That’s the opinion of the organizers of the Regenerative Youth Summit: Environmental Activism as Art. The Regenerative Youth Summit is hosted by Roots Down, an urban sustainability solutions company, and its nonprofit counterpart GreenHive, which champions youth leadership in climate […]
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Activator Profile: Melody Harclerode envisions elevated future for design in Atlanta
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 […]
