Category: Guest Column

Hussein arrived in the U.S. in 2018, determined to start a new life after he and his family had to flee their home in Burma as refugees. Once in the Atlanta area, he dreamed of opening a home renovation business to support his family. Dahir and Fatima fled their native Syria due to the ongoing […]

This year WCLK Jazz 91.9 FM celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Atlanta Jazz Festival will honor the station and Atlanta’s fabulous community of jazz artists by presenting a special concert event WCLK AT 50: Featuring Lil John Roberts with an Atlanta All-Star Band on Friday, May 24 at 8 p.m. at Atlanta Symphony Hall.  Atlanta […]

Twin Pines’ “Demonstration” Mine will destroy more than 475 acres of wetlands and 412 linear feet of streams on Trail Ridge, and represents an existential threat to the Okefenokee Swamp. If the 773-acre mine is permitted, Twin Pines will likely seek to conduct further mining on more than 6,000 adjacent acres that the company currently owns. […]

In early January 2024, the Georgia Composite Medical Board hastily announced virtual prescribing restrictions, returning telehealth to the pre-pandemic era rules. Within 72 hours, however, the Board reversed its decision. Why? Because healthcare providers in the state, particularly psychiatrists, understand the critical need for solutions like telehealth and evidence-based technology to reduce barriers to care. […]

During a recent visit to the Agape Youth and Family Center in Northwest Atlanta, I observed a Sprouting Readers session conducted by Emory University’s Urban Health Initiative (UHI). Emory student volunteers from various disciplines, including Chemistry, Psychology, and Business, engaged with second and third grade children by reading to and with them. After reading, they […]

Project YouthFinLit (PYFL) is a student-led nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through financial empowerment. As an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we stand at the intersection of passion, education and global impact with a singular focus on spreading financial literacy among the youth worldwide.  What sets us apart is our unique student-led model. Driven by a team of motivated student […]

You likely have seen for yourself how dedicated Atlantans are to improving our city. Have you ever wondered why so many of our neighbors serve and support others? I have. Do you feel called to do likewise but want to ensure that your efforts are as meaningful and effective as they can be? I do. […]

April is recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as Minority Health Month, an observance that brings awareness to health disparities and encourages action through education, early detection and disease control. Part of this work includes raising awareness about the disproportionate health outcomes among people who belong to racial or ethnic minority groups. […]

If you were a regular reader of the comics pages inside any of the hundreds of newspapers across the country in the era of the nineteen fifties and sixties, you were no doubt aware of the antics of “Pogo.” The popular comic strip was created by the outrageously talented cartoonist Walt Kelly, who had a […]

In the heart of Atlanta, a city well-known for Black excellence and success, lies a stark contrast that mirrors a broader, national narrative: the tale of two cities. On one side, a flourishing, thriving metropolis pulsates with opportunity, affluence, and culture; on the other, a shadow of economic disparity looms over Black Atlantans — many […]

Last year, Georgia Works celebrated its 10th anniversary. It was a remarkable year that began with the launch of our first-ever capital campaign and ended with us reaching our campaign goal. Now, we’re poised to do more for the men we serve by breathing new life into a national historic landmark located in a renowned […]

We are in a healthcare crisis. We have more senior citizens, a rising cost of food and living, and a healthcare system that is unable to support the volume of patients and care needs. According to the 2021 U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia’s fastest-growing age group is the 65 and older population — increasing more than […]

When my great-great-grandfather Amos Giles Rhodes moved to Atlanta with less than $100 in his pocket, he had no idea the impact he would have on senior care that now spans 120 years.  Originally from Henderson, Ky., Rhodes came to Atlanta in 1875 while laying crossties for the L&N Railroad — a post-Reconstruction time when […]

Historic rehabilitation tax credits are directly responsible for the revitalization of many commercial buildings and historic homes in the State of Georgia each year. Aside from the intrinsic value of saving historic structures, the State of Georgia Residential and Commercial Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program (HRTC) brings significant economic value to the state economy. According […]

At a reception, prior to a lecture I recently gave at Raleigh’s North Carolina Museum of History, I found myself in an exchange not uncommon on such occasions. My interlocutor, a seasoned professional with a background in writing, was telling me that she had occasionally contemplated writing a book herself. But, upon further thought, she […]

Laken Riley, a bright and much-loved young woman, was brutally murdered last week. The devastation and heartbreak her family and loved ones are feeling is unimaginable, and we stand with them in seeking justice and the full weight of the law for those determined guilty of this heinous crime. Laken’s murder has had an expansive […]

As co-founder of the Clarkston Community Health Center (CCHC), a charitable health clinic working in the most diverse square mile in Georgia to provide access to healthcare to those who would otherwise have none, I was shocked to read that Forbes recently ranked Georgia 50th out of 50 states for healthcare. As the data show […]

A tree planted in 1888 at the founding of Georgia Tech soldiered over the Institute’s growth for a century and a half. Another tree, a century old, saw the comings and goings of collegians on UGA North Campus until it came down a few years ago. In a twist of happenstance and a grandmother’s love, […]

You may have seen a trailer or poster recently for George Clooney’s latest film, “The Boys in the Boat.” Based on the novel by Daniel James Brown, it tells the story of the 1936 US Olympic Rowing Team and their journey to gold. Like any good sports story, it demonstrates the power of grit and […]

As a vet, I always check to see if a business offers any benefits for military personnel. It’s not a requirement for me to shop there, but it’s nice to feel appreciated. And I can always tell when a program has been put in place to check a box versus show genuine appreciation. That said, […]