with ‘Dre’
The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. The Atlanta Voice accompanied him in his mayoral SUV, at his office in City Hall,
Photo by Kerri Phox/ The Atlanta Voice
Metro
U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams steps down as chairwoman of Democratic Party of Georgia
‘I’m in the movie of Atlanta and I want to see what’s next’
BY DONNELL SUGGS
The 61st Mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, is now caught up on the Hulu original series Paradise, a political thriller starring award-winning actor Sterling K. Brown. Having heard great things about it, Dickens wanted to see it for himself
“I watched eight episodes on Sunday, and now I’m caught up," Dickens told The Atlanta Voice when the Mayor offered its journalist unprecedented access to his day-long schedule.
Starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, The Atlanta Voice spent nearly eight hours with the Mayor as he moved across the city. From outside the entrance to City Hall, to Buckhead and the Atlanta Press Club, to the westside and the city’s largest park, Dickens’s time was accounted for minute by minute. All in all, he ate and drank little, hugged a dozen people, shook countless hands, received numerous text messages from constituents, responded to several emails, made an overdue phone call, and attended five public events
It was just another day in the life of the Mayor of Atlanta. Just another day in a man’s life many still refer to as ‘Dre.’
“I’m grateful that I still have the energy and capacity to do this work,” Dickens said between bites of a salad from the back of a black SUV.
Asked if this was the job he thought it would be, Dickens said, “After I was a city council member for eight years, this is about 90% of what I thought the job would be. So the work part of the job, the making decisions about hiring and firing, making decisions about money and direction of certain initiatives, the goals, and the strategies, are what I thought the job should be.”
Leaning back in his seat, Dickens touched on the fact that he has been one of the more accessible mayors in recent history. A common phrase to describe his first four years in office is that “he’s everywhere.”
“I didn’t actually know how much accessibility people are growing fond of,” he said. “When I was watching mayors of the past, I never called them. I just saw them and said hi. I never thought about calling the mayor.”
Without saying who the message was from, Dickens read a portion of a text from a local small business owner. This person was reaching out to say they needed some advice and maybe a bit of help with the project they were working on.
“Please, please call me back,” he read.
“Inevitably, he is going to say, ‘I just want to talk to you,’ said Dickens.
Even though he wouldn’t eat again for hours and only managed a few sips from a bottle of water between appointments, Dick-
ens was positive about the hectic life of Atlanta’s commander-in-chief. That includes the phone calls to constituents.
“I might as well just pick up the phone and call him,” Dickens said.
Like so many others he needed to make that day, that call would have to wait. There was business to attend to.
11:07 a.m. - Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is one of Dickens’ heroes and inspirations. He has been extremely vocal about how he spent a lot of time in their home as a young man and a close friend of her son. Dickens often tells the story of the time as a teenager when he told Franklin he wanted to grow up to be the mayor of Atlanta.
On Thursday morning, during a street naming ceremony for Franklin, the first female Mayor of Atlanta, he retold the story,
See DICKENS on page 8
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (above, seated in the black SUV he uses to get around the city) is currently campaigning for a second term. He often uses the term “in my next term” during public speeches and private conversations. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Dickens (right) speaks with a developer on the construction site of The Proctor, a residential project located next door to K&K Soul Food on Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy. The visit to the construction site was his fourth public appearance of the day. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Mother of Modern Atlanta: Honoring Atlanta’s First Female Mayor
BY LAURA NWOGU
Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Clarke Franklin was honored with a street sign and park on Thursday.
A portion of Central Avenue was renamed Shirley Clarke Franklin Boulevard S.W., and Westside Reservoir Park was renamed Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, stamping the legacy of the first female mayor of Atlanta and the first Black woman to serve as mayor of a major Southern city.
“I learned a long time ago, you don’t do the work for the accolades or the recognition. You do the work because you love the work, because you love the people and because you're taken by a vision,” Franklin said to the hundreds gathered at the intersection of Shirley Clarke Franklin Boulevard S.W. and Trinity Avenue, near City Hall, to celebrate Franklin and her accomplishments.
“I love you, Shirley,” a man in the audience continuously yelled under the white canopy that stood under the dedicated Shirley Clarke Franklin Boulevard S.W. This sentiment carried the ceremonies, with warm remarks from Mayor Andre Dickens and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, WSB-TV News Anchors Fred Blankenship and Karyn Greer, members of the Shirley Clarke Franklin Commission, Atlanta City Council, family and friends, and other Atlanta leaders.
“Her service has been exemplary. Her resolution has been commanding, and her love for all Atlantans has been inspiring,” said Robert Franklin Jr, the 10th president of Morehouse College and a member of the Shirley Clarke Franklin Commission. “May all who tread here learn of her great contributions and become better citizens. May all who travel here feel her contagious spirit of humility, service and community building. May the wings of the phoenix now spread wide over this boulevard and transform this
familiar path into sacred ground.”
The landmarks are a testament to Elected in 2001, Franklin served as the 58th Mayor of Atlanta for two terms. In 2005, TIME Magazine named her one of the five best big city mayors in the U.S. Amongst her many achievements, a significant focus during her time as mayor was the transformation of the city’s sewer system that had been in a state of emergency and violated the Federal Clean Water Act. She implemented the Clean Water Atlanta initiative, an
act that affectionately led to her being dubbed the “sewer mayor” and led to the launch of the Atlanta BeltLine and the acquisition of the Westside Reservoir Park. This former quarry now serves as a regional park and emergency drinking water reservoir.
Now, the park is named in her honor to signify her efforts to elevate the city’s infrastructure. Before being elected mayor, she served as Atlanta’s second Commissioner of Cultural Affairs and launched the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport Public Art Program,
and the city’s art grant program. Beyond her time as mayor, Franklin has served as a leader in education, youth development and public arts.
“We knew that women could lead this city with recognition, with ambition, and that ambition and service could work in tandem. That we could be humble servants and gifts of God and fruit of trees that go from seeds we planted that we may never see, and that is what you've done for this city,” said Georgia State Rep. Inga Willis. “But like the garden that sits in your front yard, it grows for us in perpetuity.”
Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin (center) had a street named in her honor in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Former Atlanta Mayor and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young during the street dedication to former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Thursday, March 27, 2025. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Westside Park will forever be known as Shirley Clarke Franklin Park. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
“A People Without
Heard”— J.Lowell Ware
A Voice Cannot Be
Appropriation vs. Appreciation: Respecting Style, Beauty of Black Women
BY RESHONDA TATE
From cornrows to hoop earrings, Black women’s influence on fashion and beauty is undeniable. These trends, steeped in cultural heritage, have transcended time and geography, leaving a lasting mark worldwide.
Yet, time and again, these same styles—rooted in the stories and struggles of Black women—are appropriated, taken and displayed on non-Black bodies. In contrast, Black women are ridiculed or even penalized for wearing them. It’s a paradox that speaks volumes about how Black culture is simultaneously revered and disregarded.
Appropriation v. Appreciation
Cultural appropriation and appreciation can go hand in hand, but there’s a fine line between the two. Appropriation occurs when elements of Black culture—styles, language, art—are co-opted without acknowledgment of their origins, history or the people who created them. Appreciation, on the other hand, is rooted in respect and recognition. It’s about acknowledging and honoring the legacy behind these cultural markers.
The double standards at play here are glaring. Consider, for example, how non-Black women are lauded for wearing braids, pumping collagen into their lips to make them bigger or even tanning their skin darker, all in an attempt to emulate aesthetics tied to Black culture.
Yet, when Black women wear these same styles, they’re often met with scorn or told their appearance is “unprofessional” or “unpolished.” The irony is clear: the very traits that are praised when adopted by non-Black women are dismissed when worn by the women who have historically and culturally owned them.
The Other Side of the Coin
Of course, white women can argue that we’re displaying our cultural appropriation when we have 20-inch yaky, or bleach blonde hair. When Black women wear straight weaves or wigs to fit into a Eurocentric standard of beauty, it’s often viewed as a matter of personal choice.
But let’s be real: This “choice” is often shaped by the unrelenting pressure to conform, assimilate and align with mainstream beauty standards that have historically sidelined Black features. I spent 20 years as a television news anchor/reporter. Braids were automatically deemed unprofessional. And anything other than silky straight was deemed “too ethnic.”
Thankfully, that’s changed SOMEWHAT with forward-thinking media outlets, but the preference remains for straight hair over kinky curls. Even for light skin over darker tones (yes, we’re STILL having that debate) which reflects the deeply ingrained racism and colorism that
shape our society. These styles are often seen as more “acceptable” in the workplace or in social spaces—an unfortunate reality Black women must navigate daily.
On the other side of the coin, sometimes, it ain’t that deep. It isn’t about appropriating white culture. Many Black women prefer straightened hair because caring for natural hair is time-consuming and A LOT of work (kudos to the sisters who do it on the regular).
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
The economic and social consequences of cultural appropriation are profound. When Black culture is commodified, it is typically done without crediting the creators or communities who gave birth to these trends.
Fashion and beauty brands profit immensely from elements of Black culture while failing to include Black creators in their stories. This cycle erases the contributions of Black women, reducing them to mere sources of inspiration rather than innovators in their own right. The toll this takes is not just financial but emotional. It’s disheartening to see cultural markers stripped of their history and repackaged as mere trends, with no acknowledgment of the trauma, resilience and beauty from which they sprang.
So, what does true appreciation look like? For one, it involves understanding that Black culture is not a trend to be worn conveniently. True appreciation means engaging with Black culture in a way that honors its history and significance.
It means giving credit where it’s due and acknowledging the women who have pushed boundaries in the fashion and beauty industries, often against the backdrop of systemic discrimination. Non-Black people can appreciate Black culture by learning its origins and contrib -
uting to conversations that uplift Black creators rather than perpetuating a cycle of exploitation.
Fashion brands and beauty industries can do more than profit from Black culture—they can support Black artists, designers and influencers, ensuring that their contributions are recognized and valued.
Shifting the Conversation
Cultural appropriation is not simply a matter of “borrowing” style. It’s about power dynamics—the power to commodify, profit and erase. If we want to move from appropriation to appreciation, we must shift the conversation from tokenism to genuine respect. That means moving beyond performative gestures that celebrate Black culture without understanding it.
True appreciation requires acknowledgment, accountability and action—recognizing the origins of Black cultural expression, crediting its creators and ensuring Black voices have ownership and influence over the trends they set.
Appreciation looks like an investment in Black creatives, not just admiration of their work. It means buying from Black designers, crediting Black innovators, hiring Black talent and uplifting Black-owned brands rather than simply mimicking their aesthetics. It’s about engaging with the culture in a way that honors its roots, rather than stripping it of meaning for mass consumption.
It’s time to stop treating Black culture as a trend and start honoring it as a legacy. The beauty and style Black women bring to the world are not for sale—they are a birthright, a history, a story of resilience and innovation. Let’s rethink what it means to truly appreciate Black culture, and in doing so, begin to heal the harm that appropriation has caused.
FOUNDED May 11, 1966 FOUNDER/EDITOR
Ed Clayton Immortalis Memoria
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J. Lowell Ware Immortalis Memoria
The Atlanta Voice honors the life of J. Lowell Ware.
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Black women’s styles are appropriated, not appreciated. It’s time to respect their cultural legacy.
Spiritually Speaking: Targeted
BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON
The Atlanta Voice
If you agree with me that life is indeed a wonderful spectacular journey, then traveling its many paths as a professed and confessed Christian can be and often is a hazardous adventure. Choosing the path that Jesus walked is by no means easy, and to do it publicly is, at times, tantamount to putting a bull’s eye on your back. I’ve used that analogy before about celebrating your faith and thereby giving the devil an easy target in a crowd, on a bus, in your marriage, or on your job. Satan will put these things and all of your so-called faith to the ultimate test. I have come to believe that as long as you’re not doing anything to attract the devil’s attention, more than likely you won’t. If you buy into the premise that life is somehow a random series of events and challenges, that how you live your life is insignificant in the cosmos. There are no consequences to your actions, then realize Satan is just fine with the prospect of you winding up in hell.
In God’s game, it’s never over until you take your last breath.
He has no reason to seek you out. Do you remember the movie Dead Man Walking? The title seems to make my point better than I can. However, if you begin to pay attention to God’s Word, listen to Jesus’ teaching, and attempt to abide by scripture, please understand the devil is intent on wreaking havoc on your world. You see, he, like the Lord, is in this thing for keeps. Most of us cannot understand this because there is little in the physical realm that we are willing to put it all on the line for. Some of you can remember the first time, as a kid, you played marbles maybe for keeps and lost. Maybe it was cards for money or a sports bet, or perhaps you gave away your heart and got burned. That sinking feel-
“YOUR VOICE”
ing was enough to avoid playing for keeps in life and, to some degree, in love. Please realize the devil only knows one way to play. He plays to win and your soul is the prize. It’s his Super Bowl. That’s what makes God’s mercy and grace so extraordinary.
In God’s game, it’s never over until you take your last breath. You see, God’s got next. He is the originator of this game and the creator of its rules. He’s fixed things in our favor. All we have to do is read His rule book. You can never foul out as long as you’re playing by His rules. You can keep on playing. As long as you’re moving through the game of life with an eye on Christ, an ear for the Word, and a heart stuck on others, you win. But as long as
you let the devil convince you it’s a lost cause, no fun, and you can’t win, he wins because you wind up simply thinking it’s not worth your time and effort and stop playing for keeps. Not playing God’s game is playing Satan’s game. Playing Satan’s game is like expecting to win in Vegas. You might win a game or two. But over time, you cannot beat the house. The odds are against you. Soon, you’ll get on a plane and wonder where all the good times and money went. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather dance with the One thing that ‘brung’ me. May God bless and keep you always.
This column is from James Washington’s Spiritually Speaking: Reflections for and from a New Christian. You can purchase this enlightening book on Amazon and start your journey toward spiritual enlightenment.
What would you want to say to Chris Louis, the 24-year father in Augusta, Ga. who was arrested for leaving his three children (ages 10, 6, and 1) at McDonalds while attending a job interview?
TINA OWENS
Atlanta
"Was that job that serious for you to leave your kids in McDonald's, not knowing anyone of that nature that works in McDonalds? What were you thinking? Really, that job was that important to leave your three kids? Not at all."
JOSEPH BROWN
Alpharetta
"First of all, he should have never left the child. He's 24 years old he should know the law and you don't leave a oneyear-old child alone at a McDonald's. That's just not acceptable and then if he had to leave the child he should've left him with a family member. It takes a village and if he didn't have anybody in his village to watch them then he shouldn't have left them in the first place."
ALEXANDRIA WISE Atlanta
"We admire you for trying. We understand. I could see if he was, you know, going to run a play or something like that or doing something illegal, but he was going to a job interview so that he could provide for his family. So in a sense, I don't think he did anything wrong. That's just me."
ERIC RICHARDSON South
Fulton
"What I would say to that young man who left his kids at McDonald's for a job interview: first of all, he could have asked McDonald's if it was okay. He could have looked to the community, church, daycare, just anybody. Letting them know what he was trying to do, and I'm pretty sure somebody in the neighborhood might have helped."
KIMBERLY SIMMS
Atlanta
"My response to the young brother would be, the first thing I would do is give him a hug and tell him that, man, I don't think he was being abusive. I'm sorry that he didn't even have to go through what he's going through now. And it does nothing but show me that he loved his children. He probably had great intentions.
Compiled by Vincent Christie
Education
Black Students Are the Future of Journalism Spelman College hosts HBCU Game Jam
BY NOAH WASHINGTON
Spelman College continues its mission to increase diversity in the video game industry with its third annual HBCU Game Jam, an event to introduce Black students to game development and foster industry connections.
According to a recent International Game Developers Association survey, Black professionals make up only 5% of the gaming workforce. To address this disparity, Spelman is hosting a weekend-long event from March 28-30, 2025, to provide students with hands-on game development experience and industry mentorship.
This year marks a milestone for the event, as it is entirely student-led by an eight-person student team. Among this team is Denae Troupe, a senior computer science major at Spelman who transferred from Sarah Lawrence College to join Spelman’s Innovation Lab.
“I wrote my transfer application about the Innovation Lab because when I was looking at schools, I knew I wanted to get into game development,” Troupe said. “It was really important to me that they had a strong program.”
Her participation has also yielded tangible results: Upon graduation, Troupe will join Maxis Studio as a gameplay engineer, bringing her passion and expertise to the gaming industry.
The event kicked off on March 28 with an inaugural day-long conference. This will be followed by a 24-hour hackathon, during which students collaborate in four teams to create video games.
Nia Brunson, a senior computer science major and one of the event’s co-chairs, has witnessed the Innovation Lab’s growth firsthand, from participating in her early years at Spelman to helping organize it.
“The Innovation Lab started off so small, and it was an amazing space then,” Brunson said. “Now, with this new dedicated space, students have even more opportunities to learn and create. The school and the team deserve this, and I think they’ll do amazing things for Spelman and the entire HBCU community.”
Having participated in the Game Jam during her sophomore and junior years, Brunson is excited to be involved in the organizational side of things.
“I love that the Game Jam welcomes people without prior game development experience. Over 50% of our applicants are new to gaming,” Brunson said. “That’s why we’re holding workshops on asset creation, using Unity, and providing mentorship—so everyone feels supported.”
“One challenge in previous years was that workshops and networking events happened during the actual Game Jam, taking
time away from development,” Bronson explained. “So, this year, we separated those activities into a standalone conference day.”
"Over half of the students have never made a video game before," said Jaycee Holmes, a professor of interactive media and co-director of the Spelman Innovation Lab. "We want them to realize what they're capable of and understand there's a welcoming gaming industry eager for their voices."
The Game Jam is expected to include participants from approximately nine HBCUs. Major companies like Zynga, Microsoft, Unity, Boeing, and CodeHouse sponsor the event and offer industry-sponsored prizes.
Bronson expressed excitement and nerves about the official kickoff, set for March 29 at 10 a.m. “This is my first time organizing something like this, so I’m eager to see how everything comes together.”
The Game Jam weekend will occur at Spelman College’s Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation and the Arts and the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library.
Participating in past Game Jams has been a valuable experience for Troupe, helping her sharpen her skills and work collaboratively under pressure.
“I’m a big advocate for game jams and hackathons because they allow you to assess your skills and work on something you're proud of.”
Students gathered at a table for HBCU Game Jam on Friday, March 28, 2025. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Danae Troup (left) and Nia Brunson (right) are two student co-chairs for the third annual HBCU Game Jam, which took place at Spelman College this week. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Designer of Your Destiny: 2025 Disney Dreamers Academy concludes 18th year
BY ISAIAH SINGLETON
The 18th Disney Dreamers Academy is officially over!
After a 4-day riveting all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World, the new 2025 dreamers enjoyed their time in the magical universe.
The Disney Dreamers Academy is a mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort that inspires and empowers 100 high school students from diverse communities to pursue their career dreams.
Ten Atlanta-area dreamers were among the 100 Disney Dreamers who had the time of their lives. Dreamers also had opportunities to speak with this year’s “DREAMbassador,” Tyler James Williams, from ABC’s hit show Abbott Elementary.
Throughout the program, Dreamers were able to participate in various activities such as a welcome rally, the Magic Kingdom Parade, empowerment sessions, a career expose/rotations, a “Pitch Your Power” workshop, the “Be 100 Makeover and Confidence Fashion Show with Motivational Speaker Lisa Nichols and Creative Director and Stylist Jerome Lamaar.
All of the events were made to uplift, encourage, and empower the young minds of the dreamers to develop their already budding talent. Dreamers also had many opportunities to explore Disney’s parks, such as Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom.
The four-day event concluded with an emotional commencement ceremony with just about everyone in happy tears. The room was full of joy and powerful emotions.
Williams said he may not be a teacher in real life, just on TV, but he knows the power of mentorship and the connection of people who see the spark in the dreamers and want them to grow.
“You’re all going to go out into the world and make big, incredible strides, and it’s been so cool to watch how your paths are already taking shape,” he said. “You meet people over time who pour and contribute to you. You’ve had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people this weekend, and each of them has touched your story.”
Nichols said not to let one chapter define the rest of your chapters in life.
“I realized when I was on government assistance and getting food stamps, it was simply a comma. Don’t put a period where God put a comma,” she said. “That next chapter, we talk about storytelling. Your chapter four might have been difficult, and your chapter five might have been filled with financial or emotional woes, but baby, you still have the pen in your hand.”
A freshman at Berkmar High School in Stone Mountain, Kylan Robinson said his favorite events were the empowerment hour and the welcome rally because he loved the band on stage.
“I enjoyed the band because the sound was incredible,” he said.
In 2017, he lost his father to gun violence, which inspired him to launch his first business, Swag Ky Bow Ties, becoming the youngest CEO in Little Rock.
Robinson’s goal is to rebrand to incorporate advocacy for gun violence awareness. He hopes to use
his many talents (basketball, acting, gaming, entrepreneurship, cooking, and more) to create an enterprise with purpose.
Ciara Whimbush, a senior at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, said that on day three, she was still in shock about the entire experience, but it had been nothing short of awesome and exceeded her expectations.
“The fact that we’re only one day three of five is so crazy, knowing there’s so much still in store for us,” she said. “I’m excited to see what lies ahead, not just for the dreamers but also for the chaperones, reps, and everyone involved.”
Tiyanna Shaheed-Merriweather, a junior at Uptopian Academy for the Arts High School in Morrow, hopes this experience will build her confidence further.
“I don’t like speaking too much, but I hope it regains my confidence and allows me to further my career and figure out what I want to actual-
ly do with my career,” she said.
For advice, Whimbush said to take a chance on yourself and apply.
“You are in control of your own destiny and fate. If you have a great story to tell or passion, don’t count yourself out before you even try,” she said.
Chandra Whimbush, Ciara Whimbush’s mother, said she is “completely amazed, blown away, blessed, and grateful.”
“I cried when I found out Ciara was accepted into the Disney Dreamers Academy,” she said. “We opened the letter, and I just cried because I knew how much she wanted this and how much her dad and I wanted this for her.”
She also said the importance of the Disney Dreamers Academy for her is that Ciara learns more about
herself and delves more into what she really wants to do and who she wants to become.
“She’s my baby, and so for her to make inroads into where she wants to go, I’m looking forward to what will come out of this for her,” she said. “I’m hoping she walks away with some really good nuggets of learning and understanding and has met some dynamic people.”
Whimbush advises other parents to encourage their children to apply for this program to be open and let them explore themselves.
She said she did not know Disney Dreamers before Ciara told her about it, and now she’s going home to tell other parents to investigate this opportunity.
“I would tell them to step out of their comfort zones and try this opportunity because it may look like a long shot, but nothing is a long shot. All things are possible,” she said. “I would tell them to look at this opportunity and other things that the kids can do. It can open a whole new world for them and their children.”
Chasity Rolland, a sophomore at Luella High School from Locust Grove, said she really enjoyed Disney Dreamers and connecting with people from different states.
“It’s different schools, different cultures, and we’ve all had a great time,” she said.
Alonnah Copeland, senior at Blackstone Academy in Atlanta, said the career workshops were her biggest takeaways from the event because there was a lot of inspiration given to the Dreamers.
“I was in the Law group for the career workshops, and the lady taught us how to get into and pass law school. We did a little mock trial and icebreaker where we had to figure out different things about different people. She helped me a lot, and I want to go into law because of the workshop,” she said.
Rihana Tape, a senior and fulltime double-enrolled at Clayton State from Stockbridge, said her advice to anyone who may want to apply but feels like it’s a long shot is to apply regardless because she didn’t think she’d get in.
“You can get in; you can do it. Just be yourself; even if you don’t get in, there are always opportunities for my underclassmen. You can still apply the next year,” she said. “It’s been an amazing experience.”
Ten Georgia Dreamers were selected to take part in the 18th annual Disney Dreamers Academy this year. Photo provided by Disney
Ciara Whimbush, a North Cobb High School senior. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
DICKENS
Continued from page 2
joking at the end that he didn’t think she would become mayor before him.
“It is truly an honor to honor the one and only Shirley Franklin,” said Dickens while standing on a podium in front of Franklin, former Atlanta Mayor and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, and dozens others.
“We’re going to celebrate Shirley Franklin all day today,” he said.
Moments earlier, while standing in his office in City Hall, Dickens, his security, and several staffers were preparing to make their way to the corner of what was once known as Central Avenue but will forever be called Shirley C. Franklin Blvd. Dickens lit up when he spoke about giving Franklin “her flowers” and why it’s important.
“It stirs my heart just thinking about how much her guidance has raised me,” he said. “My hero has been with me throughout the entire journey.”
12:05 p.m. - From speaking freely about his mentor to taking questions from Atlanta Journal-Constitution city hall reporter Riley Bunch, Dickens was on the move again. His to-do list for this day was just beginning.
“The positive side of availability is that you get to hear it from all sides,” said Dickens as the SUV pulled up to one of the gleaming towers of glass and steel that make up the Buckhead skyline. Dickens had a scheduled speaking engagement with the Atlanta Press Club at the prestigious Buckhead Club.
Before leaving downtown, two salads and water bottles were waiting for him in the SUV. He barely had time to touch either as the SUV moved through traffic, which was the only way the mayor’s car could. Think of a presidential motorcade with just one car and fewer people inside.
When asked if he enjoys engaging with the media at events like this, Dickens said it is part of the job.
“The mood of the media shifts so much now. You never know what you’re going to get,” he said.
Following a brief introduction, Dickens, who obliged two separate selfie requests within minutes of taking his seat at the table marked “Reserved for Speakers,” took to the stage to take questions from Bunch.
The topics of discussion ranged from the Atlanta Beltline to public safety and the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the summer of 2026.
“We will have eight matches take place here in Atlanta. That’s like hosting a Super Bowl every time,” Dickens explained. “We do big well.”
Two participants were given the opportunity to ask Dickens questions, one of which was about the plans to improve the city’s south side. An older woman asked him why there was so much interest in improving the south side when other issues in sections of the city also needed fixing. She read her question off of her cellphone.
“I
“I am set up physically, mentally, and spiritually to do this job.”
ANDRE DICKENS MAYOR OF ATLANTA
“I’m trying to solve a multi-generational problem of the southside getting things last,” he said, followed by a small round of applause.
1:25 p.m. - The pavilion at Westside Park, the city’s largest green space, was decorated for a party. Franklin was being honored again, this time with the renaming of the park to Shirley Clarke Franklin Park.
“You don’t know how many times you have to give people their flowers, so go on and give it to them,” Dickens said, honoring Franklin twice on the same day while on the way to the park.
There are two Andre Dickens on this trip. There’s Andre Dickens, who easily transitions from telling old stories about growing up in Atlanta to speaking about his motivations for wanting a second mayoral term. Then there’s the Andre Dickens
“Same guy, different hats, and different emotions,” Dickens said. “The Shirley Franklin dedications are an honor, and that does my heart good. For some of the other stuff, that’s when the CEO has to come out. I have
to stand before people and answer questions that will be interpreted in a number of ways.”
3:00 p.m. - A man looking down on the site of The Proctor, a residential project in the early stages of construction, yelled out to Dickens, “Yo Dre, what’s up, man.”
Kimario Smith, the co-owner of K&K Soul Food, which has been located a few feet away from The Proctor site on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway for four decades, wanted to get Dickens’ attention.
“Hey, Mario,” the Mayor yelled back and waved in his direction as he continued his site tour.
“That’s my guy, they are third-generation business owners,” Dickens said. “We need our legacy Black businesses to stay alive. If we don’t support them, then they go under, and it becomes townhomes for rich people.”
According to City Hall data, Atlanta has 508 licensed legacy businesses, which employ some 11,000 people.
A scheduled construction site tour required hard hats and the boots Dickens keeps in the back of the SUV. You never know when you
have to walk over some Georgia red clay soil. Positioned on Oliver Street, the residential project has a total development cost of $54.3 million and has a Black-owned developer. There are plans to set aside affordable units at The Proctor for Atlanta Housing tenant-based housing choice voucher participants.
The parking lot at The Proctor will be large enough to accommodate congregants from Prayer of Faith Church-God-Christ next door. Pastor Leenois, Sr., joined Dickens on the tour with the developer.
Back in the SUV, Dickens was asked if he ever got tired and if these daily schedules and topics like the necessity of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center ever got to him.
“No, I never get tired. I get frustrated. I get to the point where I want to take a minute, rest my eyes sometimes, but I never get tired,” he said.
Dickens looked at his phone, out of the window, and back at his phone.
“I am deeply interested in everything that goes on in Atlanta, he said. “It’s my city, and I’m in the movie of Atlanta. I want to see what’s next.”
4:01 p.m. - On the way back to City Hall to take a virtual meeting with his staff on a new initiative to help legacy business owners and prepare for an in-person regularly scheduled meeting with Atlanta Police Department Chief Darin Schierbaum.
As public as the Mayor has been about his
See DICKENS on page 9
am deeply interested in everything that goes on in Atlanta,” Dickens said. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Athletes Foot and Adidas celebrate Atlanta’s 404 DAY
BY NOAH WASHINGTON
The 404 Collective, a group of four Black-owned businesses, is celebrating Atlanta’s own personal holiday, 404 Day, with events that highlight the city’s culture, including a new Adidas collaboration with The Athlete’s Foot.
The collective, composed of Butter ATL, Atlanta Influences Everything, Finish First Marketing Agency, and the Trap Music Museum, was first formed in 2022 after years of informal partnerships. Butter ATL and Atlanta Influences Everything organized their first 404 Day celebration in 2020, and later expanded to include the other two organizations to create a unified initiative.
“We were all doing work individually, but we saw an opportunity to come together and create something bigger than what we could achieve alone,” said Brandon Butler, founder and CEO of Butter ATL.
The group has collaborated with the city of Atlanta on several initiatives, including this year’s 404 Parade. Scheduled for Saturday, March 5, the parade will begin at Peachtree Center MARTA Station at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Ralph McGill Boulevard and proceed south through the hotel district before concluding at Underground Atlanta. More than 3,000 people and 60 to 70 organizations are expected to participate.
But a cornerstone of the celebration is the release of a limited-edition Adidas Superstar sneaker in partnership with The Athlete’s Foot. The shoe, designed with input from the 404 Collective, features black nubuck suede, black snakeskin leather stripes, red heel tabs, and gold accents. Additional design elements include an “ATL” emblem, maps of Atlanta Police Department patrol zones on the insole, and peach logos on the tongues. Accessories include a “404 Day!” license plate hangtag and a lace lock resembling gold teeth engraved with “ATL.”
Sneakers have long been a major part of Atlanta’s culture, serving as a form of self-expression for creatives, entertainers, and influencers. “It’s one of the ways that we
and raised in Atlanta and
next,” he said. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
DICKENS
Continued from page 8
love and respect for his mother, Sylvia Dickens, his daughter Bailey, his alma mater, Georgia Tech, and his believed hometown, Atlanta, Dickens is very private about his personal life.
During the ride back to City Hall he took a private phone call, one of the few he had found time to take during the day.
Asked how he manages to have a personal life with the kind of daily schedule he keeps, Dickens said he knew what he was getting into when he decided to run for office in 2020.
“I am set up physically, mentally, and spiritually to do this job,” he said.
can express ourselves,” said William “Bam” Sparks, co-founder of the Trap Music Museum.
This is the first time the 404 Collective has led a sneaker collaboration. Previous 404 Day sneakers have been released by brands like Nike and the Atlanta Hawks, but this marks the first time a brand has partnered directly with the organizers of the holiday.
The project began when Adidas approached The Athlete’s Foot to spearhead a 404 Day sneaker, with the retailer serving as the lead distributor. Darius Billings, vice president of marketing and community engagement at The Athlete’s Foot, saw an opportunity to involve the 404 Collective to ensure the design authentically represented Atlanta. “We collaborated many times, met with Adidas’ product and material teams, and created something that truly reflects the city,” Billings said.
Adidas launched the project to collaborate with local influencers and ensure cultural authenticity in its designs. According to Butler, the 404 Collective was heavily involved in the design process, selecting fabrics and colors to represent Atlanta.
Sparks emphasized that the collaboration reflects a broader goal of demonstrating the power of working together. “We all bring a certain impact to the city, and that’s why we formed the collective in the first place,” he said. “This level of collaboration can be repeated, and we’re showing how to move the culture forward.”
Billings hopes this collaboration sets the stage for future projects that further engage the community. “When we collaborate, it’s about truly involving the community,” he said. “Adidas came to the people actually putting 404 Day together, and that made all the difference in creating something special.”
The sneaker will be available starting April 2 at four metro Atlanta Athlete’s Foot locations, followed by a wider release on April 4.
“We wanted to create something that truly reflects Atlanta’s culture,” Butler said. “This shoe is a celebration of everything that makes this city special.”
These days, he often ends his public statements with “in my next term” or “during my next term.” Currently campaigning for a second term, Dickens has no public opponent at the moment. Despite there being calls for changes in leadership in Atlanta, there is only one man standing in the arena as of April 1, 2025. However, there’s plenty of time before the filing deadline on August 21, 2025 and Election Day, November 4, 2025. The mayor’s day ended with him receiving an award from Communities in Schools, a local non-profit organization that helps atrisk students. He had been awake since 5:45 a.m. and out of the house and in the gym at 7:45 a.m. He wouldn’t get home till 9 p.m.
“The challenge is that there is only one Thursday at 7 pm,” Dickens said.
Born
educated at Georgia Tech, Dickens often tells the story of dreaming of one day becoming the mayor of his hometown. “It’s my city, and I’m in the movie of Atlanta, and I want to see what’s
A pair of 404 Day limited-edition Adidas Superstar sneakers for the annual special occasion.
Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
A large crowd gathered at The Athletes Foot location on Monroe Drive to celebrate the release of the 404 Day Adidas shelltoes. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Food
Raising Cane’s opens new location in Henry County
Everything is blessed at Irie Mon Cafe
BY LAURA NWOGU
“Irie Mon” is a term meaning “everything is cool” or “everything is blessed” in Jamaican Patois, and that’s exactly the feeling Christoper and Payton Williams, the team behind Irie Mon Cafe, want to extend to Atlanta through its food.
“Irie Mon is a term of endearment in Jamaica, and that's what we offer here. Food through irie mon, through endearment,” Christopher said.
Since the father-daughter duo opened their flagship restaurant in 2017 — an 800-square-foot spot at 1800 Peachtree Rd. that serves takeout— the brand has rapidly grown as a staple for Caribbean fare in Atlanta. They now operate 7 locations in Atlanta, including in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the West End, and Politan Row in Colony Square, and are in-demand vendors for charity events and popular events in the city, such as Rum Pum Brunch and One Musicfest. Roaming around the city, it’s likely that you’ll find one of their food trucks parked somewhere serving up hot dishes of bold flavors or that you’ve ordered from their restaurant on a food delivery app.
From classics such as brown stew oxtail, ackee and saltfish, and red beans and rice to fusion dishes such as rasta pasta, the Williams’ are determined to bring authentic flavors and spices directly from Jamaica to the city.
“We are the best Jamaican restaurant in Atlanta. We are here representing the culture to the fullest. We're going to stay authentic because we can't water this thing down. They know authentic food once they walk in,” Christopher said.
The day usually begins in the early hours of the morning when the grill, located outside of its flagship location, is fired up and ready to pump out pounds of jerk chicken for its other locations as well DoorDash and Uber Eats. It’s a fast-growing business that has them cooking 100 pounds of rice and 200 pounds of oxtail at a time and 15 tons of chicken a month.
But the rapid growth that has hit its peak in the last two years began 50 years ago in Faith’s Pen, a humble corridor of roadside shops between Ocho Rios and Kingston.
Sitting in their new lounge-style restaurant right next door to their flagship location, Christopher was reminiscent as he recalled his mother waking up at 3 a.m. to walk for miles to buy fresh produce such as corn, yam and oranges for her shop, Ms. Schurry’s Spot. He said he would sit by her side and help her roast corn, watching as she became known for her fresh food and flavorful dishes. Years later, Ms. Shurry — as she is affectionately known — began selling curry goat, a staple
Jamaican dish that allowed her to worm her way into the hearts of hundreds of travelers and locals who stopped by her shop, including reggae pioneer Bob Marley.
That same curry goat recipe, along with many others she cultivated, is now used at Irie Mon, thanks to Ms. Schurry’s help in curating the menu in its beginning phase.
“All walks of life, all the upper echelon of Jamaica, know my mom. That evolved into a restaurant where she started selling oxtail, jerk chicken and everything else,” Christopher said. “Every time my mother comes, she's so proud. She's such a humble lady, but she's so proud of what we have achieved.
Even at her little roadside shop there, she'll tell people, ‘Oh, I have a restaurant in Atlanta, Irie Mon Cafe.”
Her legacy is honored with a portrait displayed in the bar and lounge. What started as a quaint market on the streets of Jamaica, run by a mother with her son’s help, has evolved into a franchise more than 1,000 miles away in Atlanta run by that same son and his child. However, working alongside her father wasn’t initially in the cards for Payton. She was attending nursing school in 2020 when she learned her father had been diagnosed with stage-three gastric cancer. She said it was a “turning point”
for her and that his fight to beat cancer inspired her.
“I saw that life is short,” Payton said. “I didn't go to school for this; neither did he. So I learned from him, I learned from the community, I learned from Atlanta, I learned from the customers and everybody that I interact with.”
For Christopher and Payton, family is everything, and they try to incorporate as many family members as possible into the business. Great customer service is also a driving force for the business. Those sentiments of family and customers first have translated into success, with a spot as one of the top 50 fastest-selling restaurants on Uber Eats in Atlanta and hopes to continue expanding, Christopher said.
“It's amazing to see a third generation that's still involved in this thing that started 50 years ago. We didn't know it was going to come to this, but we definitely put our best foot forward. We want to have the best representation of Jamaica,” Christopher said. “Because of that, we just go above and beyond for our clients. We go above and beyond for the community and our employees, who are the backbone that keeps us going. We're really happy, and we're really proud to call this our home and our community.”
Christoper and Payton Williams, the team behind Irie Mon Cafe. Photos by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Business ONLINE
‘Black Men Smile’ sees surge in support
Streaming service connects incarcerated individuals to funerals
BY NOAH WASHINGTON
When Rolando Nooks, 47, couldn't FaceTime his incarcerated brother during their grandmother's funeral in 2017, a lightbulb went off.
"If I’m having this problem, how many other people are having that problem?" Nooks recalled asking himself.
The answer led him to create Compassionate Reprieve, a company specifically focused on streaming funeral services to people in prison.
Nooks, a Jamaica-born technology professional with a Master's degree in information technology from the University of Phoenix, had already begun live-streaming funerals to distant family members after helping his wife, Genia, view their father's funeral service in Jamaica via FaceTime after she missed her flight.
But his brother's inability to watch their grandmother's funeral expanded Nooks' vision. After researching whether any company provided such a service to inmates, he found
none. When COVID-19 hit, demand for regular funeral streaming grew substantially, prompting more research into adapting his service specifically for incarcerated individuals.
According to company data provided by Compassionate Reprieve, the average cost to transport an inmate to a funeral is approximately $3,500 and requires multiple officers for security.
"We remove the risks," Nooks explained. "There's no risk of public safety where an inmate could possibly plan to escape."
The company officially launched its services in late 2024 and is currently operating in Georgia and California. The multi-person operation uses adaptable technology since prison facilities have varying equipment — some use tablets, others have different systems.
"There's no two correctional facilities that are identical," Nooks said.
The process begins when family members complete a form on the company's website, then there is coordination with the funeral
home and prison facility, creating a private portal that meets the specific technological requirements of the institution.
"One thing you got to know about the Department of Justice or the correction facilities is there's no two correctional facilities that are identical," Nooks said. "If they don't have tablets, we'll supply the tablets. If they don't have the necessary know-how, we'll provide training for the staff internally."
Privacy is paramount for many families. Nooks described a recent case where a family didn't want the funeral home to know their son was incarcerated, requiring additional discretion.
While currently focused on funerals, Nooks indicated interest in eventually expanding to other life events like weddings and births, though such services aren't yet approved under current policies.
Maintaining family connections appears increasingly important in correctional settings. According to Compassionate Reprieve,
approximately 37% of inmates have been diagnosed with mental illnesses, and studies suggest maintaining family connections can significantly reduce the national recidivism rate of 43.5%.
For Nooks, success isn't measured primarily by profit. According to the Sentencing Project, approximately 2.7 million children have a parent who is incarcerated. Enabling inmates to participate in significant family events, even virtually, helps maintain family stability and emotional well-being for these children and their families while potentially reducing feelings of isolation and depression among inmates.".
"If I can change one person's life, then I believe I've done my job here," he said. "Everything is transactional. And if we could get back to tapping into the human side of our interaction, that's really the word I'd like for us to get out there."
To learn more visit https://compassionatereprieve.org/
Community
Walt Disney World announces new experiences coming this summer
Ts Madison opens re-entry home for formerly incarcerated Black trans
BY ISAIAH SINGLETON
In honor of Trans Day of Visibility, the Atlanta community celebrates the grand opening of the Ts Madison Starter House, a new Sisterhood Alliance for Freedom and Equality (SAFE) reentry home for formerly incarcerated transgender women.
The Ts Madison Starter House is a groundbreaking housing and empowerment initiative led by media mogul and community advocate Ts Madison.
The Ts Madison starter house is more than a brick and mortar, it’s a testament to the unwavering commitment to the trans community, Madison says.
Rooted in her lived experience as a Black Trans woman who navigated homelessness and survival sex work, this visionary program represents a new standard of care, designed by and for Black Trans women.
Reentry housing is desperately needed across America, with 2.5 million women are released from jails and prisons facing countless barriers to reentry.
Formerly incarcerated LGBTQ+ individuals face compounded challenges as their unique healthcare needs and experiences of discrimination intersect with existing barriers to reentry, making it even more difficult to rebuild their lives after incarceration.
Sexual minorities are incarcerated at a rate three times higher than that of the US adult population, and transgender people are also incarcerated at disproportionate rates, with Black transgender women incarcerated at approximately 10 times the rate of the general population incarceration rate.
Lack of access to housing is a primary driver of recidivism. The Ts Madison Starter House is a member of A New Way of Life’s SAFE Housing Network, an international collective of 30+ organizations dedicated to offering reentry services to formerly incarcerated people.
For LGBTQ+ people, particularly those living with HIV, many existing reentry policies and programs remain out of reach or worse, perpetuate harm through exclusion, stigma, or lack of cultural competency. Across the country, trans
people experience disproportionate rates of housing instability, a trend rooted in society’s vilification of trans people.
Black trans people experience this discrimination most acutely (PDF), with an unemployment rate of 20 percent (four times that of the general population) and a poverty rate of 38 percent (three times that of the general population).
“In the face of erasure, we still find solutions. They are trying to erase Black trans and nonbinary individuals throughout the country, the 1%. It really isn’t about us, but they’re just starting with us,”
Trans activist and actress Monroe Alise said. “In this time, we must come together. stand together and be more visible than ever.”
Black trans women are among the most marginalized and criminalized people in our society,” said Susan Burton, founder of A New Way of Life, CNN Hero, and a 2023 NBC News Inspiring America honoree.
Madison discussed her emotional return to her old home, now a transitional house for transgender women, emphasizing the importance of giving back to the community.
The new facility welcomes up to
four women returning to the community following their incarceration. Also, this program is made possible through a powerful partnership with NAESM, Inc., one of the oldest Black-led HIV/AIDS service organizations in the South.
Providing support to formerly incarcerated individuals as they return to their communities is essential for meeting basic needs and lowering the risk of recidivism.
Madison said she’s a “sea of emotions” after hearing everyone give speeches during the event on what she meant to them in their lives during the grand opening of the starter house. She also said she was apprehensive at first because she’s not renting a house to a family, it’s becoming a transitional home.
“There’s going to be many souls, many bodies coming in and out. Like I was asking myself, ‘do I really want this?’ And after hearing what I meant to people’s lives, I was like, ‘there’s nothing else I would do’”, Madison said.
The importance of giving back to the black and brown LGBTQ+ community, Madison says, is knowing you can never lose your crown.
“RuPaul remains the Queen because she passes her crown, you will never lose your crown because
you give. You will never lose your crown because you pass it. You’ll always have your crown,” she said.
“A true Queen or Queens always crowns another, that is the joy of knowing your legacy, your presence, and your being will forever be passed on forever and you’ll never be forgotten.
When it comes to public scrutiny, being told no, and personal struggles, Madison doesn’t shy away from being herself. For advice to others, she says you only need one yes and to not be discouraged because that one yes will come.
Additionally, with the current threat of erasure of the LGBTQ+ community, specifically for Black and brown Trans people, Madison says the current administration is “white Christian nationalists who have been secretly, openly, and easily maneuvering through and using fear mongering.
“The current administration are white Christina nationalists who have been using us as pawns. Standing on God that means something different from them, that God means to us, but has used our connection to God as people of color, to abuse us,” she said. “Everybody working, getting paid.
She said it may look like it’s
working in our favor now, but all the great crumble that shall happen when the cookie finish baking,” she said.
Additionally, many trans people often have hard relationships with their parents and Madison says although her and her mom are very close now, it wasn’t always like that.
“My mother had to understand I was willing to walk away completely from her and everything else to find me. My mother had to know there was nobody more important than me and nobody was more important than my peace of mind,” she said.
Madison said once she collected her peace of mind, then they could get back to the importance of their relationship. However, she said she had to find herself first because she wasn’t going to be in this world like a tornado or a world where she’s going through it trying to figure out what’s going to appease someone.
“It can’t happen like that”, she said.
For advice to other Black and brown Trans men and women, Madison says you don’t have to be liked and to love yourself.
“You love yourself first and everything else will fall in place,” she said. “It’s not going to be easy, but you don’t have to be liked, just love yourself. That’s the most important thing.”
As far as what’s next for the Ts Madison Starter House Project, she says when God gives her another big wave of greatness, which is coming very soon, her new house will become the next starter house.
“I bought a $1.2 million house and I’ll be buying a $3.2 million house and will be giving the girls and that’ll be the intermediate house,” she said.
Furthermore, Madison says she needs people to donate to the Ts Madison Starter House Project because this isn’t government funded.
“I need y'all to donate to this project because this isn’t funded by anyone but us. This is by us, for us, and this is why we need us,” she said.
To donate to the Ts Madison Starter House Project, visit https:// naesminc.org/ts-madison-starter-house/.
Media Mogul and community advocate Ts Madison unveils the Ts Madison Starter House Project, which acts as a re-entry home for formerly incarcerated transgender women. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Community
The Unhoused: What Does Love Mean?
BY JAZMINE BRAZIER
Under the overpass at the corner of Pryor Street and Rawson Ave lies an unhoused encampment. Tents create a community of housing for hundreds of individuals and families. The wheezing of cars overhead and driving past creates a sound of heavy traffic, occasionally honking. As the team walks over, you see an aluminum cloth drift into the air and land on top of drivers as they head toward Central Avenue. This aluminum cloth is a community emergency thermal blanket that has floated away from someone's belongings. There are hundreds of these encampments in the City of Atlanta as the visual representation of the thousands of people, our fellow community members, friends, family, mothers, fathers, children, and neighbors in the city who are unhoused or facing housing insecurity.
Unhoused individuals are often underserved, overlooked, undermined, and unloved. Today, we ask our community members what "Love" means to them. Love is such a strong, powerful word with infinite definitions. Bell Hooks, American author and social activist, stated in her book, "All About Love," "If our society had a commonly held understanding of the meaning of love, the act of loving would not be mystifying." In our conversations, we hear the stories of the "acts" of love that are in movement daily: affection, appreciation, support, grief, and more.
Durrell was the first person I had the pleasure of speaking with. When we arrived, he Lonnie and Mr. Benard, an older gentleman, were sitting and talking in front of their tent. When we asked," What does love mean to you?" Durrell initiated our journey on the definition of love in their personal and worldly views. He shared his truth and dedication to God, stating that his mission in life is to spread love wherever he can, praying daily and asking God for his needs.
"Love is a powerful force, so is wisdom" was one of the first things he stated.
Durrell was recently released from prison and is hurt that he can not continue those relationships he created there. With the love he has for other people who are still in prison, he is frustrated that he can not continue to support them, write to them, or even check on them as all possibilities of communication have been severed.
"Can I speak on somebody's behalf, they not dead, they are still alive. They need life,” Durrell said. “When you speak to them, if you write a letter, you send money, something, you give life. They are dying there. It's a whole nother world there. I lost myself there. I thank Lord Jesus I'm outside."
His faith and words of wisdom were genuinely enlightening and humbling. He expressed so much gratitude for his situation and the community/ family he has made.
"That's everybody's journey is to find out what love is and how they express it to themselves and externally."
Durrell’s friend and roommate Lonnie said, ”I need love because I love myself, cuz if I don't love myself, how can I afford to love anybody else. "
Lonnie shared the story of the love of his mother. "A mother's love." He continued to share his eternal gratitude for his mother, stating, "She could have aborted me" and “she loved me for 37 years".
He told stories of how growing up, he
didn't even feel "poor" or understand that his family had less than others because his mother gave him everything he needed. "Not your grandmother, aunt, or daddy could love you like a mother loves her child."
During our conversation, Lonnie asked Durrell, "Do you love me?" Durrell replied just as energetically as he had been sharing golden nuggets of knowledge before: "YEA, I love you, man!"
Ms. Terra, or "Mama," as they call her, sits resting in her chair in the sun beside her tent. When asked what love means to her, she said, "Love is a spiritual thing for me because it comes from the heart.
“When you love someone genuinely, it comes from the heart. Love is having an understanding of someone. “
“I have three children and lost two parents, and that love is still there. When you love someone, you love them, cherish them, and make sure they are safe because you love them, and it comes from the heart.”
Ms. Terra shared with me that she lost her son last week.
"I'm brokenhearted. My son died,” she said. “I had a heart attack because my heart was so broken. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move forward... and that's love.”
She continued, “I am in tears because it's hard to explain that there's so much to love. I just want the best for them, and if I'm not around them, I pray all the time to make sure they are safe. That was the hardest thing. I try to stay around other people, so I am not alone.”
The Atlanta Voice shared these stories to foster empathy in those who might pass by on their way to work. People can donate toiletries and essentials or offer a helping hand rather than turning a blind eye when they have the chance to make a difference.
Like all of us, they have a name, a story, a voice, and a right to be protected.
Share your story:
• How can you show love today to our unhoused community members?
• How has another unhoused brethren or community member shown love to you?
Ms. Terra, or “Mama,” (above) as they call her, sits resting in her chair in the sun beside her tent. Photo by The Atlanta Voice
Lonnie (above) said, ”I need love because I love myself, cuz if I don’t love myself, how can I afford to love anybody else.” Photo by The Atlanta Voice
Morehouse-Clark Atlanta Baseball Rivalry
A re-energized Atlanta United prepares for a new-look FC Dallas
BY DONNELL SUGGS
Following the 4-3 victory over NYCFC last Saturday, the Atlanta United locker room was awash in good vibes. The music was blaring and players were high-fiving and dancing in front of their lockers. The win was the first victory since the home opener in late February.
“Wins are important, they can really help turn the confidence of the team around,” Jay Fortune, who came into the game as a sub for Bartosz Slisz at halftime, said after the match. “We need to enjoy the win, but at the same time, we need to get it behind us. Take the good, take the bad, and put that together into building a good week of training to be ready to go into the game next week.”
Up next for Atlanta United is FC Dallas, a team they are slightly familiar with after playing them in a rain-soaked preseason match in Marietta back in February.
FC Dallas comes into the match on a winning note as well following a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City last Saturday. That victory took place at home in Frisco at Toyota Stadium, but Saturday night will be back at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the second of three consecutive home matches for Atlanta United. Lucho Acosta has scored three goals in six starts for Dallas, including a goal against Sporting Kansas City last Saturday.
Following training on Tuesday, Atlanta United defender Stian Gregersen acknowledged that he and his backline mates will be keeping a close eye out for Acosta.
to perform in front of them and get the win is a great feeling,” Fortune said. “I just can’t wait to see what happens again next week.”
“We will be watching him more and we have to be careful about their transition,” Gregersen said. “Tomorrow we will prepare for that game.”
Fortune believes there is an advantage to not just winning, but playing well at The
Benz. There were 42,518 people at the NYCFC match last week. Fortune said playing well will keep them coming back.
“Playing in front of this crowd is amazing. We have the best fanbase in the league, best stadium that we have, and being able
Asked about having given up so many goals at home this season, Gregersen joked that he expects Atlanta United to win 1-0 some of the time rather than 4-3 like last week.
“We can’t score four goals every game, but we have to tighten it up,” Gregersen said. “We have to find a balance.”
Francisco X Rivera is breaking new ground with the Atlanta Braves
BY DONNELL SUGGS
The Atlanta Braves will be able to reach an entirely new audience this season, and it’s not just with star players like Michale Harris II, Ronald Acuna, Jr. Ozzie Albies, and Marcell Ozuna, for example.
Television play-by-play veteran Francisco X. Rivera is the team’s new Spanish language announcer for television partner FanDuel Sports Network. Rivera sat down with The Atlanta Voice during media day to speak about his journey from his native Mexico City to calling Braves games for a huge audience of baseball fans.
According to data from the United States Census Bureau, Georgia has a Hispanic population of over 1.1 million.
Rivera, his wife Ailed, and their cat Stewie are settling in Atlanta as the season has just begun, and Rivera is in his first week at work. The Riveras moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles and Francisco's working for the Atlanta Braves and FanDuel Sports Network has been a full-circle moment in many ways.
Rivera first visited Atlanta while working as a sideline reporter during the 2013 Gold Cup. Atlanta was one of the
13 host cities for the tournament, and the matches were played at the Georgia Dome. During his time off from work, Rivera remembers walking around the city and enjoying his visit.
Little did he know he would be back sooner than he could have imagined.
"The city grew on me," he said. "I remember saying I wanted to come back."
In 2019, Rivera was back in Atlanta, this time to cover the Super Bowl as a broadcaster. He remembers seeing the site that would be home to the current site for one-half of the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals and the 2028 Super Bowl, Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
"It was a special time," he said of that Super Bowl week. "That was the foundation."
Fast forward six years, and Atlanta is now home.
“I want to be here for the long haul,” Rivera said.
Despite broadcasting baseball being his job and primary professional responsibility, Rivera is a versatile broadcaster who previously called Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Major League.
“I want to be here for the long haul,” Atlanta Braves Spanish language broadcaster Francisco X. Rivera told The Atlanta Voice. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta United defender Stian Gregersen (above, following training on Tuesday) said there needs to be a balance between the team’s scoring and it’s defensive efforts. “We have to find a balance,” he said. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta United midfielder Ajani Fortune dribbles during the match against the New York City FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Photo by Mitch Martin/Atlanta United
www.theatlantavoice.com • April 4 - 10, 2025
OPPORTUNITIES
Senior Data Engineer w/Greensky Management Company LLC in Atlanta, GA. Telecommuting permitted. Identify, dsgn, & implement internal process improvements: automating manual processes, optimizing data delivery, re-dsgn’g infrastructure for greater scalability, etc. Req’s: Master’s deg (U.S. or foreign equiv) in Comp Info. Systs, IT, Comp Sci, Comp Engg, Electrical Engg or rel. field & 3 yrs of exp in job offered or rel. role OR Bach deg (U.S. or foreign equiv) in Comp Info. Systs, IT, Comp Sci, Comp Engg, Electrical Engg or rel. field & 5 yrs of exp in job offered or in rel. role. Travel req’d up to 10% of time. Job Code: 8638566. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS: Apply at greensky.com. Select “About” tab & click on “Careers.” NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. ©2006-2024 GreenSky, LLC. All rights reserved. GreenSky is an equal opportunity employer & will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law
NODEJS DEVELOPR, SOFT. DESIGNR
NodeJS Developr, Soft. Designr (Atlanta GA) - Globant IT Servcs Corp.: Serve as Tech Lead resp for ensur’g the dlivery of SW dvlpmt prjects & that tech rsources are used efficntly. Direct the dvlpmt team, ovrsee the dvlpmt of hgh-lvl prduct specs & optimze the SW dlivery pipeline for efficnc/reliablty. Note: Wrk at client’s site in Atlanta GA. Reqs: Bs. Computr Systms Eng’g, SW Eng’g or US eqvlt + 2yrs/exp in job or as Devlpr/SW Dsignr or a clsly rltd occptn resp for dvlp’g/dsign’g SW systm of SW dvlpmt prjects. Altrnativly, emplyr accpts 4yrs/exp in job or above statd occptns. Must have at least 2yrs/exp dvlp’g/dsign’g & implmt’g SW prgrams, test’g/evaluat’g new prgrams, lead’g dvlpmt team/s & manag’g multple prjects. Must have exp apply’ Agile SW dvlpmt methdlgies/tools, SW archtctur princpls, dsign pattrns & practices & utilz’g NodeJS, Typescript, Python, Cloud Comput’g, APIs & GraphQL. Resumes: na_hr@globant.com, Ref: Job#000102.
Subcontracting Opportunity:
Proposal for Operation & Maintenance Services - Fulton County Wastewater Facilities and Pump Stations in the North Fulton Service Area Veolia, North America’s leading O&M services contractor, is seeking firms for a subcontractor opportunity on our team in area of Landscaping services and Instrumentation and Controls Systems Engineer services. For additional information on the specifications for this role, and to submit a statement of interest, contact: frank.crehan@veolia.com (Telephone: 813/983-2815)
FULTON COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed Bids for 25ITB1365542B-PS Archival Digitization Services for Ryan White will be accepted by the Department of Purchasing & Contract Compliance, online through the Web Grants System via BidNet Direct at https:// www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncountyga.gov on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. All Bids submitted must be received electronically no later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) time on the stated due date.
Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia (“County”) is requesting approximately 130,000 negative and 90,000 photographs to be scanned off-site and then returned with scanned files.
The detailed scope of work and technical specifications are outlined in the Scope of Work of this bid document. General instructions, specifications and supporting documents for this project can be downloaded through BidNet Direct free of charge at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty
Fee: N/A
Sr. QA Automation Engineer, (Mobile Testing- IOS/Android) (multiple positions), US Bank, Atlanta, GA to dsgn, dvlp, & build automation framework using Cypress automation tool & maintain web driver IO framework. Pos reqs a Master’s deg in CS, IT Mgmt, Computer Engg, or rltd field & 2 yrs of exp as a Computer Sys Engineer/ Architect or in a rltd occupation. Exp must incl 2 yrs of exp w/ each of the following: Agile, HTML5, JAVA, Java VBA langs, JQuery, JSON, J2EE, Object Oriented Anlss & Dsgn, RESTful Webservices, SCRUM, sys & app tstng, SQL. Teams may work from home & the office. Pay Range: $83,533.00 - $144,400. Apply online https://careers.usbank.com/global/en or email recruiting. excellence@usbank.com, incl job req 2025-0002767 in subject line.
Bid Bond: N/A
Contract Term: : One Time Procurement
Pre-Bid Conference: will be held online via a Web conference on Thursday, April 17th , 2025 at 10:00 A.M. to provide proposer(s) with information regarding this project and address any questions. Join Zoom Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/s/94444919684?pwd=0ZSJEaZy7uxuJ6Fai5695hhTWCnoYp.1 Meeting ID: 944 4491 9684
Passcode: 616579
Phone one-tap: +14702509358,,94444919684#,,,,*616579# US (Atlanta) +14703812552,,94444919684#,,,,*616579# US (Atlanta
If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Phyllis Stewart, APA, MBA, CPPB at (404) 612-4215 or email Phyllis.Stewart@fultoncountyga.gov
Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.
FULTON COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT FOR RFP
Sealed RFP’S for 25RFP343702B-PS FY25RFP For RW & Ending the HIV Epidemic for Ryan White will be accepted by the Department of Purchasing & Contract Compliance, online through the Web Grants System via BidNet Direct at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncountyga.gov on Friday, May 02, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. All Bids submitted must be received electronically no later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) time on the stated due date. Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia (“County”) is seeking proposals from qualified service providers from Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, or Walton Counties to provide core medical and support services for low-income Persons Living with HIV (PLWH) in the 20-county Atlanta Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) via Ryan White Part A (RWPA) grant and from Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties for Persons Living with HIV (PLWH) regardless of income via the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) grant The detailed scope of work and technical specifications are outlined in the Scope of Work of this bid document. General instructions, specifications and supporting documents for this project can be downloaded through BidNet Direct free of charge at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty
Fee: N/A
Bid Bond: N/A
Contract Term: RWPA/MAI/EHE shall begin upon approval by the Board of Commissioners. RWPA/MAI term shall end absolutely and without further obligation on the part of the County on the 29th day of February 2028. EHE term shall end absolutely and without further obligation on the part of the County on the 28th day of February 2030.
Pre-Proposal Conference: will be held online via a Web conference on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. to provide proposer(s) with information regarding this project and address any questions. Join Zoom Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/98665498822?pwd=NplBPeJR2vemaVoZBphecgd7OO9QGf Meeting ID: 986 6549 8822 Passcode: 719110
Phone: one-tap: +14702509358,,98665498822#,,,,*719110#US(Atlanta) +14703812552,,98665498822#,,,,*719110# US (Atlanta
If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Phyllis Stewart, APA, MBA, CPPB at (404) 612-4215 or email Phyllis.Stewart@fultoncountyga.gov
Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.
