Category: Guest Column

In his 1957 speech, ‘Give Us the Ballot,’ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “In this juncture of our nation’s history, there is an urgent need for dedicated and courageous leadership.” We, as a city and nation, are at such a juncture. We are imploring that the Atlanta City Council be a part of a […]

All year, we look forward to the summer months to take a break and make plans with family and friends. But these days, it’s not uncommon to be attached to our smartphones, checking email, or keeping up with what you may be missing back at the office.   As we navigate our work-life balance, sometimes disconnecting […]

School turnaround is not a swift undertaking. On average, it’s estimated that it takes 10-20 years to see positive, lasting change in education.  But every student deserves an excellent education. Now. That’s why it’s imperative that we find an effective, scalable model for turning around Atlanta’s historically underperforming schools. Now.  Several years ago, Atlanta Public […]

The recent SCOTUS decision to ban the consideration of race in higher education admissions is part of a fundamental cultural confrontation in the country. The teams are clear. The arguments are old. Progressive versus conservative.  In a reductionist world, the progressive side is in search of a reimagined America, one closer to a more perfect […]

People have no idea how difficult it is for wheelchairs to navigate the streets and sidewalks. My friend, Josh Rowan, is the first person to take the time to see just how horrific it is for wheelchairs to navigate streets and sidewalks. Josh has made my life easier more times than I care to admit.  I was […]

The Atlanta Preservation Center hosted elementary-aged campers and students from the City of Refuge in collaboration with a number of community and preservation partners each summer for a week of fun. Our camp is based out of the L.P. Grant Mansion (APC headquarters), where we learn about the importance of historic preservation at the oldest […]

Close your eyes and imagine. What if, by no fault of your own – nothing you did, you were denied access because an immovable barrier is blocking you… in front of your house, your job, your school, your car, a public park, or a recreation facility? What if someone was rude to you because they […]

Georgia is well known for its variety of outstanding attributes. With a temperate climate and a strong workforce, it offers an appealing place to live and do business, which are just two reasons the state’s forestry industry is thriving.  Georgia is the number one forestry state in the nation, boasting 24.3 million acres of forestland […]

The leadership of the Georgia House and Senate now exercise complete control of what gets a vote. Issues that may be popular with the voters often fail to even get a vote in committee, much less on the floor. If a bill gets to the floor for a vote, amendments are severely restricted, and there […]

Atlanta has a math problem.  There’s a massive shortage of workers in the metro Atlanta area with the specific skills employers need. Despite the opportunity, there aren’t enough students pursuing skills-based careers to become electricians, respiratory therapists, bookkeepers, IT support specialists and more. These jobs are in-demand, pay above the median salary and don’t require a […]

According to the latest report on the State of Senior Hunger from Feeding America, Georgia is ranked 9th in the number of food insecure seniors in the nation, meaning 1 in 12 seniors do not know how they will purchase their next balanced meal.  In our Congress today, there are impending budget cuts to food […]

Atlanta cherishes its parks — and for good reason. They are a big part of what makes this city so livable and enjoyable. But have you ever wondered how those open spaces came to be? Dare we ask? Do we have the curiosity, courage and humanity to probe beneath the play spaces and dig deeper, […]

Former President & CEO of the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce, Jerry Bartels, passed away at 91 years old on May 8, 2023, at Tranquility Hospice, in Marietta, Ga. It was a high honor for me to have been asked to give the Eulogy on his business career at a Celebration of Life held for […]

This Memorial Day, it is appropriate to remember Lt. General Hal Moore and his wife Julie, for whom the Columbus, Ga., Army base was renamed earlier this month to honor their individual achievements and highlight the importance of families to military readiness.  Documents supporting the name change to Fort Moore said the couple “exemplify America’s […]

There’s a $1 billion shortfall looming in the More MARTA Atlanta transit expansion program, and it’s not because of rising construction costs and galloping inflation. It’s mostly of MARTA’s own creation by what they are choosing to fund with these limited dollars.  But there is time to correct this problem and change priorities and assure […]

The gaze of the Marine platoon leader is calm and direct. It’s 1953, and the Korean War is raging halfway around the world. The 19-year-old Marine and his buddies at Parris Island, South Carolina, face an uncertain future. That young man was Bob Kerr, a founding director of the South ForkConservancy. Although he celebrated his […]