Trust for Public Land, City of Atlanta open first public access point to Chattahoochee
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined Trust for Public Land (TPL) for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of Atlanta’s first public access point to the Chattahoochee River — Standing Peachtree Greenspace.
The Dec. 2 event unveiled an accessible kayak launch, a fully accessible path to the river, woodland restoration and upgrades to the access road on site.
“We are ecstatic to present Atlanta’s first public access point to the Chattahoochee River, and grateful for the opportunity to help Mayor Dickens fulfill his promise to open the river to the public,” said George Dusenbury, Georgia State Director at Trust for Public Land. “This tremendous milestone is a testament to the value of public and non-profit collaboration, and we are extremely grateful for the many groups that have come together to make the outdoor recreation experience more accessible and attractive to visitors.”
The Standing Peachtree site will serve as the northernmost site of the Chattahoochee Camp+Paddle Trail. This trail offers an opportunity to explore 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River over a three-night, four-day itinerary. The journey begins at Peachtree Creek in North Atlanta and ends at McIntosh Reserve in Carroll County.
— Derek Prall
Report: DeKalb County Schools reaffirms lead-free water in schools, facilities
A report from environmental consulting firm Atlanta Environmental Management revealed that the public drinking water system in all buildings, including schools, centers, and other facilities within the DeKalb County School District (DCSD), is free of lead pipes.
The report released last month says the school district is within the federally mandated inventory and found no lead pipes within the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management’s infrastructure. It was conducted in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Revisions and the guidelines of Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division.
“We sincerely thank the DeKalb County Government and the Department of Watershed Management for their clear dedication to providing safe, contaminant-free water,” said Devon Horton, superintendent for DCSD. “Their rigorous testing and advanced filtration technology ensure our schools’ water supply exceeds strict safety standards. DCSD remains committed to offering healthy learning environments by guaranteeing access to clean drinking water across all our schools and properties.”
While not mandatory, DCSD stated they proactively test and replace drinking sources like water fountains, especially
in buildings constructed before the 1990s. Once a school meets EPA standards, lead should not be present unless it originates from a water treatment plant.
Click here to read the full report.
— Allison Joyner
Dates for Atlanta Dogwood Festival announced
Coming again to Piedmont Park, the 89th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival offers three days of fine art, live entertainment, children’s activities and culinary diversity to kick off the best season of the year.
This year’s festival will be held from April 11 to 13.
The city’s largest and longest-running fine arts festival and the third oldest in the country, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a long-standing tradition that has evolved during its nearly nine-decade history to better serve the city, community and attendees.
— Derek Prall
Hapeville Depot Museum announces new public historian
The Hapeville Depot Museum, a historic train depot turned history museum, has appointed Nedra Deadwyler as its public historian. In her new role, Deadwyler will focus on community-centered history and programming to foster deeper connections between the museum and the public.
With a career rooted in social work, cultural preservation and creative leadership, Deadwyler brings a wealth of experience and a unique approach to the museum, emphasizing equitable processes that center community voices through defining and shaping stories of place.
She is the founder and principal of Civil Bikes, an organization dedicated to heritage tours, bike education and advocacy for mobility justice and accessibility. Through initiatives such as youth bike camps and public engagement programs, Civil Bikes transforms how people connect with history and the urban landscape.
Deadwyler also launched Save Your Spaces, a skill-sharing platform empowering individuals to lead preservation projects in their communities.
— Derek Prall
Award-winning film director joins Spelman’s documentary filmmaking department as director
Spelman College’s new Director of Documentary Filmmaking, Shola Lynch, will join the Department of Art and Visual Culture as a Diana King Endowed Professor of film, filmmaking, television, and related media.
Lynch is an award-winning filmmaker who has recently served as curator of the Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division of the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture for over 10 years. She is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hosts the annual Academy Awards.
Best known for her feature documentary “FREE ANGELA and All Political Prisoners,” received an honorable mention at the Tribeca Film Festival and won an NAACP Image Award, and is also the winner of the Peabody Award for her documentary “CHISHOLM ‘72: Unbought and Unbossed.”
In a statement, the school said it is excited to have Lynch as a new faculty member and knows that her research and teachings will have a deep impact on the community of documentarians that it fosters.
— Allison Joyner
TEDxAtlanta 2025 announces first wave of speakers
TEDxAtlanta is coming back to Atlanta early 2025 with the theme ‘The Future We Create.’ On Feb. 28, 2025 at Center Stage in Midtown, the day-long event will feature leaders focused on building a sustainable future.
The organization released its first round of speakers for the event on Nov. 24. Speakers include local leaders around the city:
- James Marlow, president of Southface Energy Institute
- Jeff Hilimire, author and entrepreneur
- Sandeep Ahuja, co-founder and CEO of cove.tool
- Walt Brown, organizational and workplace collaboration expert
- Ana Tardio, bridge builder and cultural adaptation expert
- Tia Robinson, sustainable fashion advocate and founder of Vertical Activewear
TEDxAtlanta is 100 percent volunteer-run and is the Atlanta-local TED affiliate, one of more than 2500 across the world. In 2009, when it held its first TED event under the name TEDxPeachtree, it was one of the first 25 TED events ever held.
Tickets for TEDxAtlanta 2025 start at $120 for the single standard package.
— Mark Lannaman
NETHERWORLD returns one last night of the year for true Halloween fans
On Saturday, Dec. 14, the world-famous NETHERWORLD Haunted House is reopening for a special one-day-only event for true Halloween enthusiasts.
The event will take participants on a behind the scenes guided tour of the haunted house that tricks and treats attendees every year around Halloween. The “Lights On Tour” experience will turn the effects off, lights on, and allow visitors to see what goes into making the spooky experience each year.
“It’s the one opportunity we offer that gives true haunted house fanatics, and those who love scary sights as much as we do, an expansive look at everything that goes into the production of this legendary attraction,” said Ben Armstrong,co-creator of NETHERWORLD in a press release. “It really gives those who love the Halloween season one more taste of their favorite time of year.”
Tickets are $125 per person, with the tours lasting approximately 75 minutes.
— Mark Lannaman
Covenant House Georgia raises over $880,000 during annual Sleep Out event
Covenant House Georgia’s annual Sleep Out: Executive Edition fundraiser raised over $880,000 to help support their mission of providing shelter, care, and essential services to youth experiencing homelessness.
The event featured a compassionate group of sleepers who gave up the comfort of their beds for one night to raise awareness and funds for youth homelessness in Atlanta.
“This event provides a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength of the young people who face homelessness and unimaginable challenges,” said Ed Welsh, Chief People Officer for Ovme. “Sleep Out is more than just spending a night outside – it’s about standing in solidarity with youth who often feel invisible, listening to their stories, and being part of a community that believes in their potential.”
Fundraising continues until Dec. 31.
Click here to find out how you can donate.
— Allison Joyner
Atlanta Opera receives leadership gift from Blank Foundation
The Atlanta Opera recently announced a $27.5 million leadership gift from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to the Opera’s comprehensive campaign, naming the future permanent home of this acclaimed cultural institution, the Molly Blank Center for Opera.
The Molly Blank Center for Opera will be constructed on Woodward Way in Atlanta and feature state-of-the-art facilities including a 200-seat recital hall, rehearsal spaces, administrative offices, and gardens, fostering a thriving hub for music, arts, and community engagement. Renovating and expanding the historic Bobby Jones Clubhouse that opened in 1941, this landmark project reflects the Opera’s commitment to growing its deep connection with the Atlanta community and enhancing the city’s rich cultural landscape. Construction is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2027.
“My mother, an artist herself, believed in the power of the arts to bring joy and healing. As a sculptor and dancer, she loved attending concerts, theater, and opera in Atlanta and New York,” says Arthur Blank, renowned entrepreneur, co-founder of The Home Depot, and philanthropist. “My brother Michael and I are proud to carry on her passion for the arts, and we know she would be honored to see her name alongside one of the country’s top opera companies. We’re excited to support the new multidisciplinary center on the Atlanta Beltline and the Molly Blank Discoveries Series, bringing opera to new audiences. I can’t think of a more perfect way to honor her legacy.”
— Derek Prall
Emory, 21st Century Leaders offer leadership certification for high school students
The youth leadership program 21st Century Leaders (21CL) and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School recently leveraged a 20-year partnership to present an opportunity for high school students to earn a leadership certificate from the business school through a capstone project focused on social enterprise and entrepreneurship.
The participants will use 21CL’s Leadership Connect online platform, where they will engage with gamified lessons that they complete at their own pace. They will earn points and unlock rewards as they develop their leadership skills in an online community and “level up their leadership.”
Cohorts beginning now and in Apr. 2025, students will work with assigned MBA volunteers to develop a social enterprise and business pitch together, which will be presented at the end of the school year.
“This is an extremely exciting time not just for 21st Century Leaders as an organization, but also for our students who are receiving an experience and education in entrepreneurship and leadership from an international-ranked MBA program — as high school students,” Kate Hewitt, Executive Director for 21st Century Leaders, said. “Our partnership with Goizueta Business School has unlocked potential and opened doors for thousands of students over the last two decades, but this certificate and curriculum has the power to take students to a whole new level of opportunity, success and careers.”
Click here to find out how to apply.
— Allison Joyner
‘Brasserie Margot’ coming to the Four Seasons
The Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta will soon open its latest culinary addition, Brasserie Margot.
Designed to engage guests with approachable, modern French cuisine and cocktails, this intimate brasserie blends innovative culinary techniques, a mid-century aesthetic, and exceptional service in the heart of Midtown Atlanta.
“Brasserie Margot brings the charm and refinement of a modern Parisian brasserie to life, infused with Atlanta’s ever-evolving energy,” said Nancy Chacon, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta. “Our aim is to create a welcoming space where locals and visitors alike can gather and feel at home while enjoying incredible food, drinks, and service—a true destination for memorable dining.”
At the helm of the kitchen is Executive Chef Jon Novak, whose experience spans globally renowned kitchens, including Michelin-starred destinations and critically acclaimed Tiny Lou’s in Atlanta. At the heart of his approach is working closely with trusted local purveyors and producers to source fresh, seasonal and distinctive ingredients that shape the menu.
“I like to think I bring a certain color and mix to the menu — a blend of a worldly traveler’s perspective with a deep respect for traditional French cooking. You’ll find dishes that might look classic on paper, but when they arrive, there’s a 360-degree flip — a modern elevation that still holds true to the essence of these traditional specialties,” Novak said, “It’s all about surprising diners in ways they didn’t see coming.”
— Derek Prall
Cobb County Business Bootcamp offers services and courses for free to local minority-owned businesses
Since a team of experienced business leaders officially launched Cobb County Business Bootcamp (CCBB) in March, nearly 150 small businesses joined the new organization focused on helping Cobb-based minority-owned small business owners.
CCBB exists to support these owners at all stages of their enterprise, from evolving their idea to securing launch funds, from solving complex questions of marketing, sales, operations or finance to determining when to expand or sell.
“I recommended The CCBB to a few fellow business owners and encouraged them to join,” said Jodi Holtz, founder of Cobb-based Happy Helper Organizing. “Their team is really helpful, and the website tips and roundtables were beneficial.”
Courses around people management — i.e., hiring, onboarding, development and training — leadership and a course titled “Is entrepreneurship for you?” are for small business owners. The experienced CCBB team provides free tools, knowledge and Done With You consulting services providing support to write a successful business story. They also offer weekly webinars on topics such as financial literacy, marketing tips and website reviews.
“We assembled a range of seasoned experts, each with a proven record, who created an A-to-Z business program with DIY online courses, live workshops, peer-to-peer roundtables and done-with-you consulting services,” said CCBB President Brian Kramer. “Our commitment is to provide minority small business owners much needed support to not only survive but also thrive and grow.”
— Derek Prall
