A group of recently fired College Park employees are questioning not only the circumstances of their dismissals but also the city’s handling of vendor contracts and internal staffing decisions leading up to the terminations. Last Friday, SaportaReport met with five former city employees. Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, former city manager; Rose Stewart, former director of human […]
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Posted inPoverty & Equity
From Crisis to Hope: How Place-Based Strategies Can Reverse the Rise in Family Homelessness
Across the country, family homelessness is rising at an alarming rate. In 2024 alone, the number of people in families with children experiencing homelessness surged by 39%—the largest increase of any demographic group. Here in Atlanta, the number of families experiencing homelessness rose by 14%, even as chronic homelessness declined. These aren’t just numbers—they’re mothers […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
Homeownership is Liberation
By Rosalyn Merrick, President and CEO, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity I grew up celebrating Juneteenth as a little girl visiting my maternal grandmother’s hometown of Thomaston, a small town in middle Georgia with fewer than 10,000 residents. Each summer, my cousins and I made the return voyage to Granny’s neighborhood for a few days to enjoy […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Meet Park Pride’s Design Trio
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager As we all head into summer, Park Pride is also entering a new season! We are thrilled to announce a few changes to the way we do things. Teri Nye, who had previously served in Park Pride’s Park Visioning Program, has rejoined the organization after […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
College Park spokesman, crisis advisor resigns citing city hall turmoil
Bill Crane, a longtime political analyst and the crisis communications consultant for the city of College Park is stepping down from his role, citing internal conflicts and a shifting environment within the city government. Crane, who was hired in the summer of 2024, has submitted his resignation effective June 30. His firm, CSI Crane, which […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
‘Hear our voices’: What Gen Z wants from our city
I’ve been thinking a lot about change this summer — what it looks like, who drives it and how cities can listen better. As a Gen Z Atlantan and a graduate student in urban studies, I’ve spent time studying the systems that shape our cities. But I’ve also been talking to the people who live […]
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta’s tech scene has a big week with Atlanta Tech Week and Render ATL
The tech space in Atlanta, an evergrowing industry for the region anchored by dozens of colleges both in and around the city, saw enthusiasm for the growing space on full display last week. Atlanta Tech Week, which ran from June 8 through 13, wrapped up its programming on Friday for its third year filled with […]
Posted inHigher Education
Georgia State University Is Ensuring Tomorrow’s Workforce Is Career-Ready
At Georgia State University, instilling the skills and competencies that employers value is baked into its DNA. And just as Georgia State pioneered the tools and techniques that have made it a national leader in getting students from all backgrounds to graduation day at equal high rates, it’s also focused on ensuring those graduates are […]
Posted inColumns
‘Materialists’ can’t wring the romance out of the perils of modern dating
Toward the beginning of “Materialists,” Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a matchmaker for the New York City elite, sits with a colleague discussing the men and women of the NYC dating pool as though they were brands: is there a niche market for a particular woman, how does a man’s height affect his market value, etc. This […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
MARTA splits on single-tracking after concert delays
MARTA leaders are split on the transit authority’s single-tracking policies after a June 2 Shakira concert at State Farm Arena left fans packed on train platforms with unexpected delays and miscommunication. At a June 12 MARTA work session, board members and officials discussed the agency’s rules regarding planned single tracking, which is when trains run […]
Posted inColumns
With Enoch, AI touches religion
There has been a modern development in an ancient story.
Posted inGuest Column
Renewable energy: The key to strengthening U.S. energy security
The environmental benefits of renewable energy are well-established. Reducing hazardous pollutants gives us healthier water, land, and air. But the advantages of solar, wind, and geothermal resources also strengthen our energy security. The global geopolitical landscape dictates prices and availability of nonrenewable fuels, exposing the U.S. economy to price shocks and uncertainties. Even when sourced […]
Posted inReporter's Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Pride announces theme, Town Center bikeshare program, Douglas County land donation
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 […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Dreams Deferred: AmeriCorps Cuts and the Fight for College Access
By Damian Ramsey College wasn’t part of my original plan. Maybe I didn’t believe it was meant for someone like me. But people and programs changed that. They helped me see what was possible and guided me forward. One of those programs was the Bruce Wells Scholars Upward Bound Program at Clark University. Part of […]
Posted inSustainable Communities
Revitalizing Communities Through Resident Services
By Marjy Stagmeier, Founder and Board Chair, Star-C Programs When I first started offering resident services programs in my apartment communities, our actions were strongly embraced by the broader community. I think back to the year 2000 when we started an after-school program at Ashton Chase Apartments in southeast Atlanta, a 224-unit low-income property predominately […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Beltline ‘hopeful, working’ to keep grant funds amid federal cancellations
In the weeks since federal officials slashed a $9 million grant to bring WiFi to the Beltline, organizational leaders are “hopeful” while they work to keep a $25 million trail expansion grant from getting canceled. A $9 million “digital equity” grant was one of many to get cut by the Trump administration in May. The […]
Posted inColumns
Goodwill honors 781 graduates who overcame setbacks to build new careers
Goodwill of North Georgia is celebrating nearly 800 graduates of its career training and development program. A graduation ceremony, themed “Dive Deep into Success,” took place on Monday in the Ocean Ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium and marked a milestone for the graduates who’ve overcome personal and professional barriers, a statement said. Former NFL wide […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
City kicks off abandoned Atlanta Constitution building redo
On June 6 Mayor Andre Dickens and Invest Atlanta kicked off renovations on the latest neglected Downtown Atlanta site — the long-abandoned former Atlanta Constitution building. The $40.6 million dollar transformation will turn the historic building into “Folio House,” a combination of affordable housing and commercial space. It’s part of the city’s ongoing effort to revitalize […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Building Generational Wealth: How the Beltline is Making Homeownership Dreams Reality
June is National Home Ownership Month, and there’s never been a better time to celebrate the transformative power of homeownership in Atlanta. At the Atlanta Beltline, we’re not just building trails and parks; we’re building pathways to generational wealth and community stability that will benefit Atlantans for decades to come. The numbers tell an inspiring […]
Posted inColumns
After vote, Greene calls out the Big Beautiful winners
There was some inevitable blowback last week when U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she would have voted against the Big Beautiful Bill if she’d known some of the things that are in it. For once, her critics need to cut her a little slack.
