Category: Guest Column

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Justin Cutler, and Invest Atlanta CEO Dr. Eloisa Klementich joined Historic Oakland Foundation leadership and Oakland Cemetery friends and supporters for the ceremonial groundbreaking of a new Oakland Cemetery Visitor Center just outside the historic Cemetery’s main gate. Some […]

I am an Israeli theatre and opera director based in Atlanta and working around the world. I am often asked how a crusty ex-medic in the Israeli Defense Force ends up in an art form that is so removed from conflict. The answer to this is complicated, so I usually reply by asking, “How much […]

September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month – a time to remember the tremendous impact of this inherited blood disorder on human suffering, particularly with regard to people of color. It brings together the sickle cell individual, caregiver, provider and advocacy community to highlight efforts to improve the quality of care, access and health disparity […]

This summer there’s been a steady stream of articles about American theaters in jeopardy, with headlines like “Theater Is in Freefall” (Washington Post) and “American Theater Is Imploding Before Our Eyes” (New York Times). Prestigious theaters around the country are pausing and terminating programs and laying off staff. Meanwhile, my theater company is booming. Out […]

Guy Millner has contributed much to our city as a successful businessperson, politician, and philanthropist. However, his influence is mostly below the surface — not readily obvious to the general observer — and this is because his well-established and loud voice for action hides his true servant leadership approach. So much of his work that […]

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 […]