By Adam Betuel, Birds Georgia Twice each year, billions of birds take on the incredible journey of migration. Migrating primarily at night, the birds use our setting sun and stars as their guide, making occasional stops along the way to rest and refuel. The journey is long and difficult, and, in recent years, a threat […]
Category: Thought Leadership
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
The Power of Partnership: Bridging the Gap in Healthcare Access Through Public/Private Collaboration
In today’s volatile healthcare environment, access to quality care is at even greater risk—especially for the most vulnerable among us. Charitable healthcare providers across the U.S. are under intense pressure: facing funding cuts, uncertainty around Medicaid distributions, and surging demand from patients in crisis. As these providers fight to do more with less, organizations like […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Legacy in Full Color: YWCA Greater Atlanta’s New Mural Honors the Past, Inspires the Future
On September 4, YWCA Greater Atlanta hosted a powerful evening of reflection and celebration at its North Highland Avenue headquarters, unveiling Legacy in Full Color—a new mural honoring more than a century of women who have shaped both the association’s history and Atlanta’s civic life. Created by Atlanta muralist Lacey Longino, the artwork is a […]
Posted inHigher Education
Breakthrough Cancer Therapy Moves to Phase 2 Trials
A promising cancer therapy developed by Georgia State University researchers and biotech startup Da Zen Theranostics is taking a major step forward, entering Phase 2 clinical trials. The treatment, which harnesses targeted radiation to destroy tumors with precision, could mark a turning point in how cancer is treated — and in the lives of patients […]
Posted inFinancial Inclusion
Why Americans Can’t—And Shouldn’t—Lose Hope
Many Americans feel we are in a moment of darkness. The vast majority of citizens no longer trust that hard work pays off and belief in the American dream has hit a record low. But if you live long enough, you learn that history moves in cycles. Some seasons are bright, others are dark. Some leaders inspire, others […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Get ready for autumn adventures with Park Pride’s Park Picks: Fall Edition!
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager Welcome to Park Pride’s Park Picks: 2025 Fall Edition! As autumn grows nearer and the weather begins to cool (although, knowing Atlanta, this could be the infamous false fall!), this is a great time to plan a few park outings around the City of Atlanta […]
Posted inSmall Business
Rodney K. Strong on Atlanta’s Legacy of Inclusion and the Fight Ahead
Rodney K. Strong has spent more than four decades shaping how public agencies and private companies open doors for small and minority-owned businesses. This fall, the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) will honor him with its Blue Legend Award on September 19, 2025, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, recognizing a lifetime of work that […]
Posted inFinancial Inclusion
Closing the Gap in Black Homeownership
I was recently interviewed by ABC News’ Janai Norman to discuss troubling new data on Black homeownership. The Financial Times found that Black Americans are almost twice as likely to be turned away for mortgages as white applicants with the same income. LendingTree reported similar numbers—Black applicants nationwide are 1.7% more likely to be denied. The truth is, this […]
Posted inHigher Education
Alumnus Leaves Entire $100M Estate to Georgia Tech
A historic $100 million bequest from the late Georgia Tech alumnus John W. Durstine will forever transform the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. The landmark gift — the largest single gift in Tech’s history — will establish endowed chairs, professorships, and faculty awards, ensuring that the Institute continues to recruit, develop, and retain […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Mapping the Crisis: How Data Drive Opioid Intervention Strategies
On tough days, Kelly Pinzon is reminded of what her boss once explained to her. “This is the worst day of a person’s life, and we’re reading their story, and we’re honoring what happened with them.” As a data abstractor in the New Jersey Department of Health, it is Pinzon’s job to log data from […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Here’s a Way to Support Georgia’s Youngest Children—Attend GEEARS’ Annual Luncheon
GEEARS leads a movement—fueled by research and advocacy—to make our state the best place to raise a very young child. Yet in 2025, federal policy changes are weakening some supports for Georgia’s families, just when their needs are greater than ever. That means it’s time for all of us to join this movement. One way […]
Posted inFinancial Inclusion
20 Years After Hurricane Katrina: A Legacy of HOPE
August 29, 2005, is a date I will never forget. Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast with unimaginable force, leaving behind destruction, heartbreak, and indifference. It was one of the greatest tragedies of our time, and it exposed deep wounds in our nation. But it also called for action. Within days, Operation HOPE stepped in. […]
Posted inCorporate Community Impact
Leading with Purpose
By Susannah Darrow, Founding Partner – Purpose Possible When my partner, Laura Moody, and I first started Purpose Possible, our vision was clear: to power mission-driven organizations of all shapes and sizes to transform their communities. We’ve always believed that to truly serve others, you have to bake that ethos into every part of your […]
Posted inHigher Education
Ideas Festival Emory returns Oct. 18 with Rosanne Cash keynote
Ideas Festival Emory, the flagship event of Emory University’s Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement (CPSE), returns for a second year on Saturday, Oct. 18, with a keynote conversation with Rosanne Cash. Building on the success of the inaugural Ideas Festival Emory in September 2024, this year’s edition will share the wisdom of more than 30 scientists, scholars, musicians, […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
More Than a Job: My Calling with Atlanta Habitat
By Tia McCoy, Atlanta Habitat Director of Neighborhood Engagement For seven years, I’ve served as the Director of Neighborhood Engagement for Atlanta Habitat, building bridges between families, neighbors, and civic leaders in the communities where we build and preserve homes. On paper, it might sound like community liaison work. But in my heart, I know […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Women’s Health Is Everyone’s Responsibility
In communities across Atlanta, women are the backbone of families, neighborhoods, and workplaces. They lead, nurture, and advocate often without pause. But when it comes to their own health, too many women are forced to choose between caring for others and caring for themselves. That tradeoff is costing lives. Cardiovascular disease affects nearly half of […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Birds Georgia Announces 2025 Fall Flyway Festival: A Celebration of Birds, Native Plants, and Community
Each September, millions of migratory birds pass through Georgia on their journey south, relying on our state’s native plants for food, shelter, and rest. To highlight this important connection, Birds Georgia will host its annual Fall Flyway Festival, a month-long series of events designed to celebrate birds, native plants, and community. From guided nature walks […]
Posted inCorporate Community Impact
Small Business Leaders to Convene at 2025 Financial Summit in Atlanta
The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC), in partnership with the Small Business Alliance, will host the 2025 Financial Summit on Monday, September 15, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. “The Financial Summit is an important gathering for small business leaders in Georgia,” said Stacey Key, Chief Executive Officer and President of the GMSDC. […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
The Surprising Power of the Arts to Boost Literacy
By ArtsNOW Literacy is a challenge across metro Atlanta, but progress is possible. Newly released Georgia Milestones data from the 2024-2025 school year shows that only 38 percent of third-grade students in the region are reading proficiently, a 3-point decrease from last year. While this reality underscores the urgency of the work ahead, it also […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Letters from Leadership: Keeping the Promise of the Westside — Why the Westside TAD Matters
Early in July, the Fulton County Commission considered withdrawing from the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) — a move that would disrupt deeply affordable housing developments already underway in neighborhoods that played defining roles in the Civil Rights Movement. As I shared with the Commission, I live in Vine City. Every day, I see what […]
