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 featuring current and former performers. The weekend concludes with an improv jam on Saturday, followed by a birthday party for attendees to connect with the theatre community.
Dad’s Garage co-artistic director Jon Carr noted that the events are a way to recognize the theatre’s history and supporters since its founding. The theatre began in a warehouse in the Old Fourth Ward and has grown to become a notable comedy venue in the Southeast.
— Derek Prall
Pruzhansky, Chinn win Atlanta Opera’s 96-Hour Festival with ‘Rose, Tree’
Librettist Hai-Ting Chinn and composer Dina Pruzhansky are awarded the top prize in The Atlanta Opera’s 96-Hour Opera Festival 2025.
Composer Dina Pruzhansky and librettist Hai-Ting Chinn won the 2025 96-Hour Opera Festival, hosted by The Atlanta Opera, with their moving work “Rose, Tree (Rosenbaum and Li).” The 10-minute opera scene, set in 1967, tells the story of two mothers — a Holocaust survivor and a Chinese American woman — whose children are in an interracial relationship.
The piece was performed live June 21 at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College. Pruzhansky and Chinn will share a $10,000 prize and receive a commission to expand the scene into a full chamber opera.
The festival featured five new works developed over four days. “TransBliss™” by Rebecca and Rachel Gray was named runner-up, while “Desert Bloom” by Gillian Rae Perry and Mo Holmes won Audience Favorite.
The event also included the world premiere of “Steele Roots,” developed by last year’s winners, and was held in partnership with Morehouse College.
— Derek Prall
Road closures, new expo location announced for 2025 Peachtree Road Race
The Atlanta Track Club has released road closure and traffic plans ahead of the 56th running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race, taking place July 4. Tens of thousands are expected to take part in the multi-day event, with rolling street closures beginning as early as July 2.
A major change for 2025 includes the debut of the Peachtree Health & Fitness Expo at Lenox Square, moving from the Georgia World Congress Center. The new location puts the event in a walkable area with nearby dining, shopping and hotels.
Road closures begin at 12 a.m. July 2, with Peachtree Road closed between Lenox Parkway and Lenox Road. Additional closures are planned July 3 and 4.
Atlanta Police Department will assist with traffic management throughout the area. Event maps and a full list of closures are available on the Atlanta Track Club website.
— Derek Prall
Trust for Public Land acquires more than 21 acres at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield
Trust for Public Land has closed on the acquisition of 21.467 acres at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, a key Civil War site in the Southeast. The addition protects the land from residential development and preserves it for public use, historical education and conservation.
The property is now owned by the National Park Service. It maintains the area’s rural character and safeguards potential Civil War archaeological resources. The site includes a pond used during a March 2025 forest fire for helicopter water drops.
“In partnership with the National Park Service, we’re proud to protect this historic land for future generations,” said George Dusenbury, Georgia state director for Trust for Public Land.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield now covers 2,923 acres with 18 miles of trails. Past acquisitions by Trust for Public Land helped expand and preserve the park since the early 2000s.
— Derek Prall
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation awards $10 million grant to First Tee
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has awarded a $10 million grant to First Tee, reinforcing its long-standing partnership with the youth golf development organization. Since 1999, the foundation has contributed more than $25 million to First Tee.
The grant supports First Tee’s mission to expand access to golf and its character-building programs, which reach more than 3 million youth annually. The funding will strengthen curriculum for teenagers and provide grants to local First Tee chapters in PGA TOUR Superstore markets.
Arthur M. Blank, owner and chairman of the foundation and PGA TOUR Superstore, praised the organization’s impact on youth confidence and leadership skills. The grant also supports the Leadership Series and Leadership Summit programs for teens.
The foundation and First Tee celebrated the grant with a weeklong leadership event for 48 First Tee teens in Atlanta, featuring visits to PGA TOUR Superstore and sports facilities.
First Tee combines golf instruction with life skills training for youth ages 7 to 18. More information can be found here.
— Derek Prall
Blue Heron’s wellness series to return this August with free outdoor events
Blue Heron Nature Preserve’s annual Health and Wellness Month returns this August for its fifth season, offering free outdoor wellness programs each Saturday.
Local experts will lead these guided sessions within Blue Heron’s 30-acre urban greenspace. All events are held outdoors, and advance registration is recommended as workshops may fill quickly. RSVP and learn more here.
Schedule of events:
Aug. 2: Morning Yoga in the Woodlands
Start your month with a breath-centered yoga session in the forest. Slow down and attune to the rhythms of nature in this gentle, grounding practice.
Aug. 9: Birds of Blue Heron: A Guided Walk
A guided nature walk that invites you to observe your surroundings with clarity and calm. Discover and learn about local birds while practicing mindfulness.
Aug. 16: Healing Sounds in Nature
Immerse yourself in the healing sounds of singing bowls and calming frequencies during this restorative outdoor sound healing session.
Aug. 23: Herbs and Healing Plants: A Guided Walk
Stroll the Preserve with an experienced herbalist and learn to identify wild plants with traditional uses. Sample wild snacks and herbal teas along the way.
— Megan Anderson
H.O.P.E. Inc. named finalist for Nonprofit Leader Award
H.O.P.E. Inc., a Duluth nonprofit dedicated to empowering single parents to achieve educational and economic goals, is a finalist for the 2025 Bill Bolling Nonprofit Leader Award, part of the annual TechBridge Award Series.
Presented by TechBridge, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that supports other nonprofits with technology and data strategies, the award honors organizations demonstrating visionary leadership, innovation, and measurable impact advancing economic mobility for underrepresented communities.
The award is named after Bill Bolling, founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank and longtime equity advocate. It recognizes servant leadership and bold action toward systemic change.
“We are honored to be recognized among the finalists for this prestigious award,” said H.O.P.E. CEO Kenita Smith. “This nomination underscores the incredible progress our team and the families we serve are making every day.”
The 2025 award event will take place in Atlanta later this year.
— Derek Prall
Monday Night Brewing expands with ‘The Grove‘
Monday Night Brewing is expanding its West Midtown location with a new indoor-outdoor space called The Grove, opening in August. The Grove, located at 670 Trabert Ave., sits adjacent to the current taproom and directly on a new section of the Atlanta Beltline Northwest Trail.
The expansion includes a 7,400-square-foot taproom, 17,000 square feet of outdoor space with fire pits, and an amphitheater for live music. It will offer 30 taps featuring seasonal and exclusive beers, house-made pizzas, coffee and breakfast options.
Joel Iverson, co-founder, said The Grove will be a place to connect with friends and enjoy fresh beer and good vibes. The existing taproom will remain open for events and production.
The new Beltline segment connects Northside Drive and Howell Mill Road, enhancing access to The Grove.
A hiring fair is planned for July. Click here for more information.
— Derek Prall
Howard University Alumni Club of Atlanta honored with heartsaver hero award
The American Heart Association awarded the Heartsaver Hero Award to the Howard University Alumni Club of Atlanta and Amber Taylor for their response to a cardiac emergency at Westside Park.
In June 2024, Howard graduate A. Binford Carter suffered sudden cardiac arrest at the MEAC Nation Cookout. Club members and others performed CPR for 30 minutes until EMS arrived. Carter later died at the hospital.
In his memory, the club helped donate three automated external defibrillators to Westside Park. The club also formed a Health & Wellness Committee to provide CPR training and promote heart health awareness.
Erin White, club president, said, “This award reminds us how powerful community can be when we come together.”
The American Heart Association urges everyone to learn CPR to save lives. More information is available here.
— Derek Prall
Norfolk Southern awards over 100 scholarships to railroaders’ children
Norfolk Southern’s 2025 Thoroughbred Scholars program awarded 100 scholarships of up to $10,000 and three special scholarships of up to $40,000 to high school seniors and college students demonstrating academic excellence, leadership, and community service.
President and CEO Mark George said, “Building a better future begins with empowering the next generation.”
The three special scholarships went to Chandler Hoffman (STEM), Zion Fennell (HBCU), and Maggie Purgason (Community).
Since 2022, the program has awarded $4.48 million across 22 states. Click here to learn more.
— Derek Prall
CHRIS 180 adds eight new board members, announces leadership team
CHRIS 180, a nonprofit supporting the mental health of children, youth and families, has appointed eight new members to its board of directors and announced its elected board officers.
New board members bring expertise in finance, education, law, healthcare and corporate leadership:
- Mike Knox, senior vice president at PNC Bank
- Nicole Long, vice president of finance at Agnes Scott College
- Dawn Rhoden, senior vice president at Bank of America
Christine T. St.Clare, retired KPMG board member and audit partner - David Tetrick, partner at King & Spalding and incoming global chief human resources officer
Vasanne Tinsley, former interim superintendent of DeKalb County Schools
Board officers include Lori B. Chennault of Georgia-Pacific as chair, Deirdra Glover of Conserte Consulting as vice chair, Ana Amato of Protiviti as treasurer, and community volunteer Erika Montag as secretary.
President and CEO Cati Diamond Stone said the leadership team will help deepen the organization’s impact.
— Derek Prall
Purpose Built Schools Atlanta welcomes three new board members
Purpose Built Schools Atlanta has appointed Joshua Barber, Brittany Collins and Shannon Judd to its board of directors, strengthening its commitment to building thriving neighborhood schools.
Barber, president of the South Atlanta Civic League, brings more than 20 years of community leadership experience in Historic South Atlanta. Collins, executive director of the Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation, has led efforts to expand education and mental health access across Georgia. Judd, president of Integral Property Management, oversees a national real estate portfolio and offers expertise in affordable housing and operations.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joshua, Brittany and Shannon to our board,” said Mike Davis, CEO of Purpose Built Schools Atlanta. “Their diverse experiences and shared commitment to equitable education and community transformation will be critical as we continue our mission.”
Purpose Built Schools Atlanta partners with Atlanta Public Schools to operate three neighborhood schools in south Atlanta.
— Derek Prall
SEEA names new executive director
The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance has appointed John Silkey as its new executive director, effective July 7.
Silkey brings more than a decade of experience in clean energy, sustainability and organizational development. He previously chaired SEEA’s board and was principal at Headwaters Services, guiding clients on strategic planning and culture alignment.
“We are thrilled to welcome John to SEEA,” said Lauren Casentini, chair of SEEA’s board. “His knowledge, passion for equitable solutions and collaborative style make him the ideal leader.”
Silkey will relocate to Atlanta in August. He said energy efficiency remains “the lowest cost and most accessible tool” for addressing climate challenges and energy burden in the Southeast.
Silkey succeeds Aimee Skrzekut, who resigned in January after leading SEEA since 2021. Casentini praised Skrzekut’s impact and looked forward to the organization’s future.
— Derek Prall
Christian City invests in key leadership hires to accelerate growth
Christian City, a 60-year-old nonprofit with a 500-acre campus near Atlanta, announced two key leadership hires: Mark Sexton as Chief Operating Officer and Chaundra Luckett as Executive Director of Marketing and Communications.
President and CEO Keith Horton said their expertise will deepen Christian City’s mission. Sexton, a retired U.S. Army officer with 30 years of experience and personal ties to the organization, will oversee day-to-day operations and lead expansions in senior living, the THRIVE program, and the Graceland thrift store revitalization. These hires come as Christian City embarks on a year of growth and transformation.
“For generations, Christian City has been a beacon of hope, so I’m honored to join the team and further advance this crucial work,” said Sexton. “Having grown up connected to this community through my family, I have an intimate understanding of the mission at hand and the impact it has on residents’ lives. I look forward to working alongside Horton and the entire team to continue to expand Christian City’s reach.”
— Derek Prall
Thanks for bringing attention to this important part of greater Atlanta…the many non profits and their leaders.