Category: Reporter’s Notebook

Hope Atlanta turns 125 years old with a bang One of Atlanta’s oldest nonprofits, Hope Atlanta, raised $1 million at its gala on Oct. 9 at Flourish — celebrating 125 years of helping people in need. Hope Atlanta, formerly known as Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta, was founded in 1900. Its history was on full […]

SCAD Savannah Film Festival announces 2025 lineup The Savannah College of Art and Design will host the 28th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1, featuring 167 films and a slate of industry panels, screenings and special events. The nation’s largest university-run film festival will showcase 56 narrative features, 15 documentary […]

United Way of Greater Atlanta turns 120 years old In 1905, a group of Atlanta business leaders formed Associated Charities to respond to the community’s needs after a devastating ice storm. Associated Charities, which later became known as the Community Chest, eventually became known as United Way.  The idea was to have one central entity […]

Heroes Saints & Legends and the Wesley Woods Foundation The Wesley Woods Foundation’s annual Heroes, Saints & Legends event at Flourish on Sept. 18 honored three longtime leaders in the Atlanta region. Doug Hooker, the former executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, was celebrated along with his wife, Patrise Perkins-Hooker, currently Atlanta’s city attorney. […]

Delta celebrates a ‘Century of Flight‘ Delta Air Lines packed the Fox Theatre Sept. 15 with the premiere of “A Century of Flight,” a documentary about the airline’s first 100 years. The premiere was followed by a conversation between the film’s director – Joshua Seftel, and Ed Bastian, Delta’s CEO. The surprisingly emotional documentary exposed […]

For Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera, it’s personal During his Institute Address on Sept. 4, Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera bemoaned the fact that there has been a 27 percent drop in international students at the university. “These declines are not unique to Georgia. It’s part of a national trend,” Cabrera said, adding that “international […]

High Museum of Art adds four new board members The High Museum of Art appointed four new members to its 44-person board of directors, and each will serve a three-year term overseeing the Southeast’s largest museum for visual art.  Robin Delmer, Katie Johnson, Kelly Layton and Hassan K. Smith will serve as the new board […]

Atlanta Pride announces first round of 2025 festival performers Atlanta Pride has announced the first slate of entertainment for its 2025 Festival, set for Oct. 11-12 at Piedmont Park. Headliners include Bob the Drag Queen, winner of season 8 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”; 2AM Ricky, a chart-topping artist recognized as the first Black trans man […]

Grant Park Summer Shade Festival announces 2025 music and entertainment lineup The Grant Park Conservancy has announced the music and entertainment lineup for the 23rd annual Summer Shade Festival, set for Aug. 23 to 24 in Atlanta’s oldest park. The free two-day event will feature performances across two stages, beginning with yoga on Saturday morning […]

Federal exemption ending for toll-free travel of alternative fuel vehicles in I-85 HOT lanes The State Road and Tollway Authority is advising Peach Pass customers that a federal exemption allowing certified alternative fuel vehicles, including electric vehicles, to travel toll-free in the Interstate 85 high occupancy toll lanes will end at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 29, […]

Summer Shade Festival returns to Grant Park The 23rd annual Summer Shade Festival will bring two days of free, family-friendly activities to Grant Park on Aug. 23 to 24. Presented by and benefiting the Grant Park Conservancy, the event will feature live music, an expanded artist and vintage market, children’s activities and a 5K run. […]

Explore Gwinnett awards $100K to support public art projects Explore Gwinnett has awarded $100,000 in grants through the inaugural round of the Gwinnett Creativity Fund’s Placemaking Grant, supporting eight projects that enhance public spaces across the county. The grant program, administered by Explore Gwinnett and funded by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, focuses on […]

Metro Chamber renewing lease at 191 Peachtree The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) is staying Downtown, renewing its lease at the 191 Peachtree Tower, where it has been since 2016. MAC moved to the 191 tower after it sold its headquarters building at Centennial Olympic Park, where it had been located since 1987. The building was […]

Frank Blake, former CEO of Home Depot, shares nuggets of wisdom Kathy Waller knew the speaker she wanted to kick off her year as president of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, Frank Blake. Waller worked closely with Blake when she joined the board of Delta Air Lines in 2015, when she was CFO of the […]

Billye Aaron and others to be honored at National Philanthropy Day Long-time civic leader Billye Aaron will be honored as the Philanthropist of the Year on Nov. 6 during the National Philanthropy Day’s “The Power of Community” luncheon at the Georgia Aquarium. Aaron has contributed to a host of civic organizations including the Morehouse School […]

Atlanta Pride names 2025 grand marshals honoring ‘Rooted in Resistance’ theme Atlanta Pride, the nation’s largest free Pride festival, announced its 2025 Grand Marshals, a diverse group reflecting this year’s theme, “Rooted in Resistance.” The honorees represent activism, cultural preservation and commitment to the LGBTQ+ community in Atlanta and beyond. “Our Grand Marshals showcase the […]

Dad’s Garage celebrates 30 years with special weekend events Dad’s Garage Theatre is marking its 30th anniversary with a series of events from July 24 to 26. The celebration starts with a free showcase featuring improv students and conservatory members. On Friday, the theatre will present a special edition of TheatreSports, a long-running improv competition […]

Atlanta Pride, Out On Film present “REEL RESISTANCE” event honoring southern LGBTQ+ history Atlanta Pride and Out On Film have partnered to present REEL RESISTANCE, a two-day event blending film, history and activism, taking place Aug. 1 and 2, 2025, at Agnes Scott College. The centerpiece is a restored screening of Andy Warhol’s Lonesome Cowboys, […]

Atlanta Pride announces “Rooted in Resistance” as 2025 festival theme Atlanta Pride has announced “Rooted in Resistance” as the official theme for the 2025 Atlanta Pride Festival, set for Oct. 11 and 12. The event will mark the 55th anniversary of the organization. Organizers say the theme reflects the LGBTQ+ community’s history of activism and […]

CNPC Launches Island Ford Trail Project, largest in group’s history The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy has launched the Island Ford Trail Project, the largest initiative in its history and the first phase in a multi-year effort to improve the 66-mile trail network at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The project is the first major implementation […]