Don’t skip voting! The last day to vote is Nov. 8. After that, the political ads are over — unless there are runoffs.
In the meantime, here’s a wrap of metro Atlanta happenings.
Morehouse cancels basketball tournament featuring Kayne West’s Donda Academy
Earlier this week, Morehouse College announced the cancellation of a basketball tournament featuring the Donda Academy basketball team, owned by rapper Kanye West and The Skill Factory.
In a statement the Historically Black College said that the decision was due to West’s recent anti-Semitic social media posts. The tournament was initially scheduled for Nov. 6 at the college’s Forbes Arena gymnasium.
“Throughout its history, Morehouse College, perhaps more than any other institution, has stood for social discourse which advances equity and healing, particularly in areas involving race, culture, and socio-economic disparities,” the statement read.
The all-male institution will still welcome students and families to visit the campus to learn more about how Morehouse prepares men of color for leadership and service by empowering them to be trustworthy and hold themselves accountable.
“We… cannot condone, in perception or implication, the recent divisive and unproductive statements by Ye, formerly known as Kanye West,” the statement concluded.
— Allison Joyner
Choate Construction raises half-million for cystic fibrosis research
Choate Construction Company recently raised $505,065 for cystic fibrosis research during its 13th annual Cars & ‘Q for the Cause fundraiser. The Oct. 22 car show featured unique and vintage cars with Atlanta Braves alumnus Sid Bream as a special guest. The half-million dollars will go to the Georgia Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CF Foundation).
Choate is one of the largest general contractors in the southeast. One office is in Atlanta.
One of the CF Foundation’s top fundraising events of the year, the car show and party event has raised a total of $3.13 million for life-saving research and treatments for people with cystic fibrosis. In total, the Choate team has raised more than $6 million for the CF Foundation. The Foundation leads the search for a cure for the disease and supports a wide range of research initiatives to address the disease from all angles.
— Hannah E. Jones
Atlanta kicks-off “faith-based affordable housing” initiative
Last weekend, the City of Atlanta and Atlanta First United Methodist Church (UMC) officials broke ground on a “faith-based affordable housing development” around the church’s 360 Peachtree Street property. The event also celebrated the church’s 175th anniversary.
To support affordable housing efforts, Atlanta First UMC plans to build a $140 million, 320-unit development. Eighty-five percent of the units will be priced affordably. According to Urbanize Atlanta, the property in question currently includes pay parking lots, an unused outbuilding and an education building.
During his campaign for mayor, Dickens emphasized the need to create and preserve affordable housing throughout the city. In February, he announced an initiative aiming to produce 1,000 affordable homes on land owned by churches, mosques and synagogues over the next five years.
To see more from the Oct. 30 groundbreaking event, scroll through the photo gallery below. Photos by Kelly Jordan.
— Hannah E Jones.
Morehouse Medicine selects head for Institute of Genomic Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine recently announced that Melissa Boneta Davis was selected as the first Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Distinguished Investigator. In this role, Davis will spearhead the Institute of Genomic Medicine.
GRA Distinguished Investigators are recruited to the state’s research universities to advance exploration in various fields with the Atlanta-based nonprofit coordinating research efforts between Georgia’s public and private sectors.
Most recently, Davis served several roles with New York’s Weill Cornell Medicine, including:
- Scientific Director of the International Center for the Study of Breast Cancer Subtypes
- Director of Health Equity for the Englander Institute of Precision Medicine
- Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology in the Department of Surgery
“I believe that the importance of diversity in genomics research cannot be
overstated, and I will work tirelessly to enhance the capacity of MSM to participate in these transformative investigations,” Davis wrote in a press release. “Minoritized populations have historically been underrepresented in the generation, analysis and application of genomic data and this has perpetuated health disparities. My goal is to ensure that MSM is at the leading edge of the technology and leadership of overcoming this bias and improving the limitations of precision medicine for underserved populations.”
— Hannah E. Jones
Lime to the Polls: Free rides to and from voting stations
From now until Election Day on Nov. 8, Lime is offering free rides to and from polling places on their electric scooters and e-bikes. Using code LIMETOTHEPOLLS2022, folks are eligible for two rides up to 30 minutes each, free of charge.
The electric transportation company has offered this service for previous elections but this year, it’s aiming to expand its reach by offering educational resources for riders and offering free rides throughout early voting in all eligible U.S. cities.
Click here for additional information about Lime’s free rides to the polls.
— Hannah E. Jones
Blank Foundation names two new senior program officers
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation recently appointed two senior program officers to its team. Natane Eaddy joined as senior program officer for Youth Development and Lisa Zook as senior officer of Effective Philanthropy. Eaddy began her role in October, with Zook starting this month.
As a member of the Youth Development team, Eaddy will help develop the program’s strategy, manage grants and develop relationships with nonprofit partners. On the Effective Philanthropy team, Zook will help provide the foundation’s program areas with tools and guidance for social good.
“[Eaddy and Zook] both bring tremendous experience, skills and wisdom to support the next chapter of our giving,” President Fay Twersky wrote in a press release.
— Hannah E. Jones
Two City Council members to join homelessness film discussion
Two Atlanta City Council members will join a Nov. 14 panel discussion and film screening about the city’s homelessness and housing policies.
The screening of the documentary series “No Address” is hosted by several housing rights groups. Panelists will include District 5 Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari and Post 3 At-Large Councilmember Keisha Sean Waites.
Directed by Caletta Harris, the series looks at homelessness in Atlanta and South Carolina. The Atlanta portion, released this year, focuses on the displacement of homeless people for the 1996 Summer Olympics and the controversial shuttering of the Peachtree-Pine shelter. Harris will join the panel along with representatives of the group Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative and others.
The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Georgia Beer Garden at 420 Edgewood Ave. in Sweet Auburn. It’s free, but reservations are required. For more details, see the Eventbrite ticketing page.
— John Ruch
East Point city councilman hosts town hall meeting addressing hospital closure
On Wednesday, Nov. 9, Joshua Butler, IV, Councilman for the city of East Point, will host a town hall meeting to discuss his plans to bring a hospital back to South Fulton County after the closure of Atlanta Medical Center South.
Everyone is welcome to attend the East Point City Hall meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
— Allison Joyner
