Hope Atlanta turns 125 years old with a bang
One of Atlanta’s oldest nonprofits, Hope Atlanta, raised $1 million at its gala on Oct. 9 at Flourish — celebrating 125 years of helping people in need.
Hope Atlanta, formerly known as Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta, was founded in 1900. Its history was on full display at the gala with panels tracing its history from its beginnings.
Not surprisingly, given that Atlanta was a hub of passenger trains, railroads played a major role when the nonprofit was founded. So, it was fitting that the 2025 Corporate Hero for Hope was Norfolk Southern, one of Atlanta’s Fortune 500 companies. Mark George, Norfolk Southern’s president and CEO, accepted the award.
Other honorees were: Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for Home, who received the Individual Hero for Hope award; and Crystal Hanlon, senior vice president and culture officer for the Home Depot, who received the Founder’s Award.
“For 125 years, our work has been poverty and homelessness,” said Julio Carrillo, who has been CEO of Hope Atlanta since June 2022. “For the next 125 years, Hope Atlanta will answer that call — building bridges of compassion and bridges of hope.”
— Maria Saporta
Katharine Kelley to lead the Buckhead Coalition and Buckhead CID
Longtime Atlanta leader Katharaine Kelley has been named the next CEO of the Buckhead Coalition and the Buckhead Community Improvement District.
Starting in January 2026, Kelley will succeed Jim Durrett, who has been president of the Buckhead Coalition since July 2020 and executive director of the Buckhead CID since September 2009.
Kelley, a Buckhead resident who grew up in the area, has worked for more than three decades in urban development and community leadership. She has held important civic roles, including serving as president and chair of the Rotary Club of Atlanta.
In this joint leadership role, Kelley will oversee collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening Buckhead’s infrastructure and quality of life, while cultivating strategic relationships with stakeholders across metro Atlanta to continue to position Buckhead as a thriving and welcoming community.
“I am thrilled to step into this leadership role with two organizations so committed to Buckhead’s progress and vitality,” said Kelley, who added that Buckhead is part of her DNA. “Buckhead is poised to play a great role in Atlanta’s future.”
Kelley, who will step down as president of Green Street Properties, has led the development of more than $2 billion of properties while serving in senior positions at Jamestown, Post Properties, Newport, and Green Street.
“We are excited to welcome Katharine as the new leader of the Buckhead Coalition,” said Jonathan Rodbell, chair of the Buckhead Coalition.
“Having worked closely with her over the years, I’ve seen firsthand her deep commitment to civic engagement and her impressive track record in urban development.”
— Maria Saporta
‘Scarecrows in the Garden’ on display at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Marking its 23rd year, Scarecrows in the Garden have returned to the Atlanta Botanical Garden for this Autumn and Halloween season.
The scarecrows went up on Oct. 1 and will be on display until Nov. 1, with the exception of Mondays. The display features scarecrows made by artists, businesses, schools and organizations alike.
One scarecrow in particular, “Zero Waste Textile Garden Goddess” from Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week, was created from reused textiles and highlights circularity in the holiday season ahead of Halloween, where single-use costumes can contribute to textile waste.
At the Great Pumpkin-Carving Festival on Oct. 23, the winning scarecrows for the People’s Choice Award will be announced. All garden visitors until Oct. 19 are eligible to vote.
— Mark Lannaman
History Center spotlights World War II women in uniform
The nearly 350,000 women who served the United States in uniform during World War II are the subject of an innovative exhibit that opened this week at the Atlanta History Center.
“Our War Too: Women in Service,” from the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, will be on exhibit at the center through September 2026.
Kimberly Guise, senior curator and director of curatorial services at the National WWII Museum said the exhibit brings together more than 200 artifacts from the museum’s collection, from crocheted dogtag covers to an evening gown made of parachute silk, to bring to life the experiences of women who served their country in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), the Navy’s WAVES, the Coast Guard’s SPARS, and the women pilots of the WASP.
This exhibit is a good example of the ways in which museums are dealing with the gradual passing of the generation that lived through World War II. Three women veterans who had served in the war as a driver, a nurse and a baker were interviewed in depth for an interactive display in which museum-goers can have a limited conversation with them. Two of the veterans have passed away since the interviews were filmed.
Many veterans have contributed scrapbooks from their time in service to the New Orleans museum. This exhibit consolidates many of these into a digital scrapbook that visitors can browse.
— Tom Baxter
Fox Theatre honored as 2025 theater of the year by entertainment buyers group
Atlanta’s Fox Theatre has been named Theater of the Year by the International Entertainment Buyers Association, recognizing its excellence in programming, hospitality and audience experience.
The award was presented during IEBA’s annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Lucy Lawler-Freas, the Fox Theatre’s director of programming, accepted the honor on behalf of the venue’s staff.
Founded in 1970, IEBA represents professionals across the live entertainment industry and annually recognizes standout venues, promoters and talent agencies for their achievements.
Fox Theatre President and CEO Allan Vella said the recognition reflects the dedication of the theatre’s employees, the loyalty of its patrons and the trust of artists who choose to perform there.
The award highlights venues that show leadership and innovation in live event production. The Fox was recognized for its diverse programming, guest experience and efforts to maintain its historic character while operating as a modern, independent nonprofit.
The theatre hosts more than 200 performances each year, including Broadway shows, concerts and community events. In 2024, it welcomed more than 600,000 guests and generated over $50 million in ticket sales.
— Derek Prall
Tiny Doors ATL to unveil first installation outside Atlanta on October 25
A new Tiny Doors ATL installation will debut October 25 along the Noonday Creek Trail in Kennesaw, marking the first of the miniature art pieces to appear outside Atlanta’s perimeter.
The piece will be the 35th in the Tiny Doors ATL series, created by artist Karen Anderson Singer. The unveiling event, hosted by Town Center Community in partnership with Cobb Travel & Tourism, will begin at 8:30 a.m. and include remarks from organizers, giveaways and a meet and greet with the artist.
The installation is part of Town Center Community’s ongoing effort to expand public art in local spaces. Six art pieces, including murals and sculptures, can now be found along a 2.8-mile stretch of the trail.
Singer, whose seven-inch doors reflect the character of their surroundings, said the Kennesaw piece was inspired by the area’s natural landscape and designed to encourage repeat visits.
Since 2014, Tiny Doors ATL has placed more than 30 installations across Atlanta, drawing millions of visitors to sites such as the Carter Presidential Center and Centennial Olympic Park. The event is free and open to the public, with parking available at 2965 Ring Road in Kennesaw.
— Derek Prall
Chattahoochee Nature Center launches “50 things to do” challenge ahead of 50th anniversary
The Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell is launching a new “50 Things to Do at Chattahoochee Nature Center” challenge to mark the start of its 50th anniversary celebration. The program begins this October during the annual Halloween Hikes event and continues through June 2026.
The challenge invites visitors to complete activities across four categories — Adventure, Artistic, Health and Wellness, and Flora and Fauna — highlighting ways to engage with nature through canoeing, hiking, art and wildlife experiences. Participants who finish 45 of the 50 listed activities can enter to win prizes, with winners announced monthly beginning in July 2026.
Chief Executive Officer Natasha Rice said the challenge offers an early opportunity for the community to celebrate five decades of connecting people with nature.
Founded in 1976, the nonprofit organization has grown from a 6.7-acre site to a 127-acre environmental learning center serving more than 150,000 visitors annually. Over the decades, the center has expanded trails, habitats and programs such as Camp Kingfisher, the Unity Garden and the Butterfly Encounter, while continuing its mission of conservation and education along the Chattahoochee River.
— Derek Prall
South Fulton council approves $4.1 million Old National Highway improvement project
The South Fulton City Council has approved the next phase of improvements along Old National Highway, advancing a $4.1 million project aimed at improving pedestrian safety, roadway conditions and multimodal access.
In a unanimous vote October 14, the council awarded a construction contract to SD&C for Phase 2 of the Old National Highway Sidewalk Project. The Georgia Department of Transportation will cover 80 percent of the cost, or about $3.2 million, with the city contributing the remaining $805,000.
The project will upgrade sidewalks, utilities and traffic flow along State Route 279 between Jonesboro Road and Flat Shoals Road. City officials said the effort marks a major milestone in long-planned infrastructure improvements.
Councilwoman Natasha Williams-Brown said the work fulfills a promise to provide safer streets and modern public spaces for residents. City Manager Sharon Subadan added that the project reflects the city’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure and mobility.
When complete, the improvements are expected to enhance safety, reduce congestion and improve access along one of South Fulton’s busiest corridors. Public Works Director Antonio Valenzuela said the upgrades will modernize the area and strengthen the city’s long-term growth.
— Derek Prall
Great article highlighting Atlanta history, honoring World War II women, and celebrating creative community events like Scarecrows in the Garden.