Category: Sections

By Maria Saporta

The Walton Family Foundation is announcing that in 2012, it invested nearly $29 million to help start up 111 new charter schools across the country.

In Atlanta, the Walton Foundation has invested in more than 20 charter schools through its Public Charter Grant program since 1997. In the last two years, the foundation has invested nearly $1.5 million to support the launch of seven charters schools in Atlanta.

The Walton Foundation also announced that it has invested a total $312.9 million in charter schools since 1997, supporting the creation of 1,437 schools during that same period, according to a press release.

By Maria Saporta

It’s no accident that Atlanta is the largest base of operations for the Interfaith Youth Core and its leadership institutes.

Eboo Patel, founder and president of the Interfaith Youth Core, told members of the Rotary Club of Atlanta on Monday that “Atlanta’s golden son” — Martin Luther King Jr. was a “great interfaith hero.” Yes, he was a Baptist minister, but he based much of the Civil Rights movement on the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu who believed in non-violence, justice and harmony.

By Maria Saporta

The Nature Conservancy — Georgia unveiled a New Year’s present Thursday when it announced that it has purchased 6,277 acres along the Altamaha River in Wayne County.

The tract, known as Boyles Island, has been on the Nature Conservancy’s “wish list” for decades, according to the press release issued by conservation organization.

By Maria Saporta

After serving as a high-ranking member in the campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama, Tharon Johnson is joining McKenna Long & Aldridge (MLA) as a managing director of its National Government Affairs practice working in the law firm’s Atlanta and Washington, D.C. offices.

Most recently, Johnson served as the National Southern Regional Director for the 2012 Obama for America Presidential Campaign.

But Johnson is no stranger to Atlanta and Georgia politics.

By Maria Saporta

Long-time economic development professional Maceo Rogers is back in Atlanta.

Rogers has just been hired to be president of the Development Authority of Fulton County by the agency’s board.

For the past two years, Rogers has been executive director of the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority.

Before that, Rogers served in a couple of different roles for the DeKalb County Office of Economic Development — first as deputy director and then as interim director.

By Maria Saporta

Gary Stokan stood at the back of an Omni Hotel ballroom Monday morning as dignitaries celebrated the announcement that the ground-breaking for the new College Football Hall of Fame would happen on Jan. 28, 2013.

It’s been a long day in coming for a project that has had a series of starts and stops. But now it’s all hands on go for one of Atlanta’s newest attractions, which is expected to open by Aug. 29, 2014 — just in time for the college football season.

By Maria Saporta

An amazing array of leaders and followers paid homage to Jesse Hill Jr. Friday at his memorial service at Big Bethel AME Church on Auburn Avenue.

Hill, 86, passed away on Monday, Dec. 17 after a long illness.

But Friday’s memorial service demonstrated that Hill’s contributions to Atlanta, Georgia and the nation will continue to live on.

By Maria Saporta

One of the longest-serving mayors in metro Atlanta is stepping down Jan. 7, 2013.

Bill Floyd, mayor of the City of Decatur, has submitted a letter of resignation from his city commission seat early next year. Floyd was elected to the commission in November, 1991. He served as mayor pro-tem from 1994 to 1997; and he has served as Decatur’s mayor since 1999.

“I have been offered the chance to pursue different professional opportunities that will require a significant amount of my time and attention,“ Floyd said. “Decatur is a wonderfully unique community and it has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the City Commission and to be mayor.”

By Maria Saporta

The presidents of two private Georgia universities are rallying their colleagues to take a stand on gun safety legislation.

Lawrence Schall, president of Oglethorpe University; and Elizabeth Kiss, president of Agnes Scott; have just released a letter co-signed by more than 160 college and university presidents from around the country.

Schall began the effort a few days ago, and he was joined shortly thereafter by Kiss.

By Maria Saporta

Work is progressing on the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, even if it’s not physically apparent on the site.

On Tuesday morning, Doug Shipman, CEO of the Atlanta-based Center, presented a sneak peak of how the exhibitions will be displayed when the Center opens in the spring of 2014.

The official ground-breaking for the Center took place in late June, but almost nothing has happened on the site since then. A grassy hill bordered by green construction fencing outlines the site, which is positioned on the same block as the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.

By Maria Saporta

Updated with memorial service information (see below)

One of Atlanta’s most influential business leaders — Jesse Hill Jr. — passed away Monday morning.

Hill, 86. was the retired CEO of the Atlanta Life Insurance Co. for decades. During his leadership, Atlanta Life became the largest black-owned life insurance company in the nation.

Hill also was one of a handful African-American businessmen who helped set the non-confrontational tone of race relations in the Atlanta business community.