By LAURA NWOGU
As a runner sped by Kevin Randolph on the Atlanta BeltLine, the 61-year-old rollerblader held out his hand for a high five with a broad smile. It was one of many he’d given in 20 minutes. He pointed out that it had been a while since he’d seen that particular runner on the multi-use trail. A woman rolled by on a bicycle and received her celebratory high five from Randolph. “Can you believe she’s 78?” he said. Another man walked by and gasped.
“You’re TikTok Kevin. You’re a legend.”
Randolph, also known as “BeltLine Kevin,” has become a popular fixture on the Atlanta BeltLine. Spotting him is like finding treasure, but maybe less inconspicuous. You’ll likely hear Randolph before you see him as he belts out a wide range of pop tunes such as “Party in the U.S.A.” and engages in impromptu duets and conversation with people walking, running or biking on the trail.
It’s rare to run into him without rollerblades on his feet and a pair of his iconic red Beats headphones fit snugly on his ears. When The Atlanta Voice met up with Randolph one Monday afternoon, he wore a t-shirt that read “Celebrate Love” and donned rollerblades with rainbow laces.
It encapsulates everything Randolph has become to the city — a beloved source of infectious positivity and light. From lists naming him as one of the best things on the BeltLine to being a must-complete task on scavenger hunts, Randolph has been putting a smile on the faces of locals and tourists for nearly a decade. That light has now earned him a mural on the Eastside Trail near Old Fourth Ward, painted by artist Matthew Jerome Simpson. “I couldn’t believe it. I thought that was awesome. You know, I’m like, why me?” Randolph said of the mural that depicts him surrounded by purple rollerblades, smiling with
his headphones wrapped around his neck.
Randolph realized he was becoming popular on social media when people started telling him he needed to create an account. His confusion grew as he never intended to become a figure of sorts; he just wanted to encourage unity among others. It wasn’t until a TikTok video by @VicBlends, a barber and podcast host, went viral in early 2024 that “BeltLine Kevin” started gaining traction, especially with younger people who regularly take videos of and with him as he passes them on the trail.
Randolph has become a friend to all, and it’s a journey the Westside, Chicago, native said he never imagined.
Years before he was gliding up and down the city’s trail morning and night, Randolph’s focus was on acing his chemistry tests in school, staying out of trouble, and away from the influence of gangs in his hometown neighborhood. When he graduated from high school, he found himself at a loss for what his next steps would be. Though he was smart, his options were limited; Randolph shared that his parents didn’t have enough money to send him to a prestigious school and didn’t push him to attend college.
He ultimately decided to join the Navy to further his education and later taught advanced electrical courses on submarines. After he left the Navy, he moved to Atlanta in 1997. He began teaching English and Spanish in Metro Atlanta middle schools and math and computers at The Art of Institute of Atlanta before it shut down.
“Most people don’t know I’m intelligent. I have a bachelor’s in computer science, a master’s in math, and a real estate license. They just think I’m out here singing ‘Party in the U.S.A.’ I don’t, say, ‘Hey, I’m smart.’ I know I am, so I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. But a lot of people assume incorrectly. I’m pretty much fluent in Spanish and know a
lot of German.”
Amid his educational endeavors, entertainment and fitness were always at the forefront. He sang in a gay men’s choir in the ‘90s, did gymnastics and ran half-marathons until arthritis in his knees forced him to give up running and pick up the skates.
Now a retiree, Randolph said he can skate for hours along the trail without getting tired, his voice, energy and joy rarely waning. Where does that joy come from? His gratitude for life and love of people.
“I’ve always been a performer, and it makes me happy to see other people happy. I don’t want to see other people miserable.
“I had a really bad illness in 2007 and almost died, so I’m just happy to be here. I’m thankful that God has me still here and able to greet people, but you just never know what people are going through. That’s my thing. Even when I’m not happy, I come out here and I get happy because I put smiles on people’s faces. One couple was following me, and they said, ‘You should have seen how many people were smiling once you went by,’ and it makes me feel good. I don’t do it for vanity’s sake.”
Randolph believes there’s so much more that needs to be done in the world to enact change and promote unity, and he
hopes the visibility the new mural gives him can help him continue promoting his brand of happiness.
“Everybody wants to feel needed. My whole life, I knew I was different, and it doesn’t bother me, because I’ve never wanted to be like everybody else. I’ve always been unique.”
By ISAIAH SINGLETON
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors, General Manager, and CEO Collie Greenwood jointly announced Mr. Greenwood’s early retirement.
Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen was named acting GM/CEO.
Mr. Greenwood joined MARTA in July 2019 as Chief of Bus Operations and Urban Planning, advanced to Deputy General Manager of Operations in 2021, and was named GM/ CEO in January 2022.
Mr. Greenwood is a Canadian citizen and was recently notified that his Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) is forthcoming after the end of his Employment Authorization Document (EAD or work permit) this summer.
Upon the end of his work permit on June 18, 2025, and out of an abundance of caution, Mr. Greenwood ceased working, personally notified all MARTA board members and executive leadership individually, and signed a delegation of authority to Ms. Allen. Mr.
Greenwood’s Canadian visa is valid, and he stays in this country legally awaiting the imminent delivery of his Green Card.
The immigration process is extensive and has had an impact on Mr. Greenwood’s personal and professional progress.
These challenges have been resolved with Mr. Greenwood’s decision, and the MARTA family supports him.
“My wife and I have decided this is a good opportunity to take an early retirement and spend more time with our family and friends,” Greenwood said. “I do want to thank the board, the executive leadership team, and everyone at MARTA for their support and their continued work to improve and grow transit service in this region.”
Under Mr. Greenwood’s leadership, MARTA achieved the highest AAA bond rating during a difficult financial time and has advanced the largest improvement and expansion program in its history, including construction of the region’s first bus rapid transit line, a systemwide rail station rehabilitation project, and an entire fleet of new railcars.
Mr. Greenwood’s innovative ideas and
commitment to transit equity, sustainability, and customer service helped earn MARTA the North America 2024 Outstanding Public Transportation System award from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
“Collie came to MARTA with a tremendous knowledge of transit and an innovative mind
and has led the Authority through some challenges and great successes,” MARTA Board Chair Jennifer Ide said. “My fellow board members and I are thankful for his leadership and wish him and his family the best.”
The Board of Directors will convene a committee to begin the search for a General Manager and CEO.
By KENNEDy SAMUEL DTU Intern
Built in 1951, the original Phillis Wheatley YWCA was a beacon of civic and social engagement for Black Atlantans through the 1970s. After closing in 2015, much of its programming, typical early learning, mentoring, and wellness offerings disappeared from the community. Today, with over 50% of Westside households living under the poverty line and more than 60% headed by women, the need for accessible services has never been greater.
After a decade, the historic Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA is on the verge of a triumphant return, thanks to a successfully completed $19.5 million campaign led by YWCA Greater Atlanta. The “Collaboration in Action” fundraising effort reached its full goal this spring, allowing the organization to begin transforming the 22,000-square-foot landmark into a vibrant hub for women, girls, and families of Atlanta’s Westside.
The YWCA announced the milestone during its annual Salute to Women of Achievement luncheon at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis on May 8, where nearly $450,000 was raised to support ongoing YWCA programs.
President and CEO Danita V. Knight expressed deep gratitude
toward community leaders, donors, and strategic partners for making this long-anticipated revival possible.
“We are honored to stand in this moment alongside women on the Westside who for too long have not been fully seen, nor heard,” she stated.
As part of the revitalization of the
historic Phyllis Wheatley YWCA on Atlanta’s Westside, insightful focus groups and “social circles” were held to directly engage women from the community. These conversations revealed a unified vision: the need for subsidized early childhood education, onsite clinic services, digital literacy training, and adaptable, multi-use spaces. These community-driven priorities have been thoughtfully integrated into the building’s renovation plans.
The reimagined facility will feature an expanded Early Learning Academy serving up to 85 children, Empowerment classrooms, a flexible, multipurpose community space, and serve as headquarters for direct services tailored to women and families.
More than a building, the restored Phyllis Wheatley YWCA will reclaim its role as both a vital service hub and a civic and social gathering space, just as it was originally intended in the 1950s.
In collaboration with strategic
partners, including CHRIS 180, Families First, Morehouse School of Medicine, and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, YWCA Greater Atlanta will deliver wraparound services to support the health, education, and empowerment of Westside women, girls, and their families.
Construction is underway, with the facility expected to reopen in spring 2026 at its original location on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Once reopened, the Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA will stand not only as a restored architectural gem but as a living testament to community resilience, equity, and empowerment.
As Atlanta’s Westside evolves, this revitalization underscores a powerful lesson: meaningful change happens when communities speak, leaders listen, and resources are mobilized together. The return of the Phillis Wheatley YWCA is more than a building’s revival; it’s an affirmation of purpose, place, and possibility.
By MUSTAFA ALI
They try to erase us. Again.
Erase the stories, the elders, the recipes handed down on index cards stained with soul. Erase the baby with thick curls chasing cousins through the grass. Erase the uncle who grills with one hand and carries history in the other. Erase the gospel laugh of an auntie who remembers when remembering was survival. Erase us.
And yet — every July, every hot August weekend, under tents and tall trees and skies heavy with sun, we gather.
A Black family reunion is not just a picnic. It is a resistance. It is a political act dressed in matching T-shirts. It is a living archive with potato salad. It is where our future is fortified with laughter, collards, and truth. And in this particular American season — where Trump’s policies cast long, bitter shadows across our neighborhoods, and the machinery of forgetting speeds up — we need these reunions more than ever.
Because what’s being attacked is more than policy. It’s our presence. This administration doesn’t come with burning crosses or snarling dogs — at least not always. It comes with budget cuts and book bans. It comes with Medicaid slashed and cultural programs gutted. It comes with voting rights stripped and DEI offices dismantled. It comes with the quiet violence of redistricting and the loud indifference to Black pain. It comes with a smile and a signature. It comes in the name of “freedom,” though freedom for whom remains the question echoing through every gutted school and shuttered clinic.
In that erasure, they hope we forget. That’s the trick. Forget who we are. Forget where we’ve been. Forget that we are more than statistics or soundbites. That we come from people who held on when there was nothing to hold but each other.
And that’s why we pull up folding chairs on the same plot of land where Big Mama used to plant tomatoes. That’s why we chant the roll call of ancestors before passing the corn on the cob. That’s why we tell our children stories they’ll one day tell theirs — about the cousin
who marched, about the auntie who taught in a one-room schoolhouse, about the brother who built a business from nothing but grit and grace.
Black family reunions are memories made flesh. And in a time when textbooks dare to rename slavery as “involuntary relocation,” when history itself is put on trial, we have to be the living proof. We have to pass down more than heirlooms — we must pass down the fire.
Reunions remind us that we’re not alone. In the face of policies that divide and devastate, they are our stitching. They bind scattered families — Georgia to Detroit, Watts to Wilmington. They turn kinfolk into community and make space for grief to dance beside joy. They let the great-grandchild touch the hand of the oldest living relative and say, “I see you.” In a country trained to look away, we look at each other—fully, fiercely, and with love.
There’s resilience in that.
Resilience in the uncle who prays over the meal with a voice trembling from all he’s seen. In
the cousin who brings flyers for her grassroots org. In the kids who line-dance, like freedom ain’t just a metaphor. In the laughter that cuts through the heat like a choir’s first note. These moments don’t make the news, but they make us.
Trump can cut programs, but he can’t cut memory. He can fire federal workers and roll back protections, but he can’t roll back the rhythm in our bones. He can threaten, scapegoat, and silence — but every reunion is a rebuttal. A sermon. A celebration. A sanctuary.
In the midst of environmental rollbacks that poison our air and neglect our neighborhoods, in the face of storms and floods that disproportionately strike our homes, reunions teach us how to rebuild. Not just homes, but hope. Not just families, but futures.
Yes, we mourn. Yes, we rage. But we also gather.
We remember not just what was taken — but what was never surrendered.
We revitalize — through music, hugs, photo albums, spades games that last until midnight, the smell
of sweetgrass, the sight of brown hands held tight.
We resist the erasure with our very breath.
If you want to know how we survive — look here.
Not in press conferences. Not in polling places. But in the places where love and legacy collide.
Where we wear shirts with the faces of those long gone and speak their names like prayers.
Where we remind each other: We come from people who made a way out of no way.
Where we don’t just survive — we multiply.
So, to every Black family planning a reunion this summer: know that your gathering is sacred. Know that your meal is a protest. That your playlist is policy. That your gathering under shade trees is the gathering of nations.
And to the architects of erasure — know this: You will not silence us.
We are the reunion.
We are the remembering. We are the resilience.
And we are not going anywhere.
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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BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON
The Atlanta Voice
Faith and death are inextricably linked in the lives of all Christians. Death particularly holds a special place. Fundamental in this regard is that one must die spiritually and be reborn in the reality that Jesus overcame death, died on the cross, and rose again for mankind to access eternal life. This whole life-death-death-life thing can be confusing, which is where faith comes in. Faith requires an understanding and then behavior that is consistent with that understanding. Physical life and death are but part of a process, one element of overall spiritual eternity. To some, this can be quite confusing, and an impossible barrier to overcome for those without faith. For those who claim faith in the reality of Christ Jesus, facts are based on faith, not sight. That’s why the events and happenings in the faith-based existence of Christians can distort the events and happenings in the real world. Death is one of those distortions. To the believer, death is life on many different levels. Death is neither the beginning nor the end of anything, but the continuation of an existence that has always been here. Faith, which comes upon everyone at different times and in different ways,
For all things, the answer never changes, and the truth never wavers.
demands action. If you believe that when you turn on a light switch, electricity will power the light bulb and light will illuminate a room, then your expectation (rooted in faith) is different from someone who has no faith in electricity.
If you have faith in God, your view of death differs from that of someone who doesn’t. It doesn’t make the transition any easier because real physical death is an unknown adventure. Now I’m only bringing all this up because I’ve had to reexamine my faith as it relates to death or the thought of death recently. I am not at an age where I’m likely to hear about the death of someone older and perhaps younger than me. I also have to deal with the likelihood that older relatives have little time left in the physical realm. It has given me pause to ponder my mortality in the face of a faith that should embrace my immortality. We are supposed to walk by faith and not by sight.
To do so honestly demands a perspective that recognizes a yet-to-be-experienced
consciousness that was the foundation of the life of Jesus Christ. The achievement of salvation and eternal life requires faith and subsequent actions today. Therefore, I must begin my quest anew every day. I must accept my faith anew every day. I must continue my journey anew every day. I have no choice. Faith demands that the notion of my death not deter me from the path of trying to live my life according to the principles put forth by the teachings of Jesus Christ. Some of that starts with a faith based on the knowledge that death is merely a by-product of the process of eternal life. What we go through every day, including pain and suffering, is essential to completing the eternal life cycle. Faith, therefore, will be tested every day. Once established, I believe much of our perspective is assured. The faithful operate by a different set of facts. Through faith, we believe all things are possible because God can do anything. That includes overcoming death. Hence, death is God’s business, and so is life. Faith allows us to
put it all in His hands, so therefore my death, as is the death of my loved ones, is a step closer to God. In many cultures of the world, death is looked upon as a cause for celebration. This is or certainly should be the case with Christians.“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will throw some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:10-11. For all things, the answer never changes, and the truth never wavers. May God bless you 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.
By REV. DOROTHy S. BOULWARE
Word In Black
Every specialist must read and understand the manual of one’s trade. It is the same with believers. They must read and understand the manual that guides their lives. It is an understatement to say the King James Version of the Bible, for decades the Bible of choice, is one of the most difficult to understand. The “thees” and “thous” alone are a singular trap to clarity. And the bottom line is that the goal is understanding the scriptures rather than giving up out of frustration.
Thankfully, in recent years, many newer versions of the Bible have been created through years of study and collaboration of scholars who not only understand the struggle but also provide a truer version of the original. For example, Romans 4:4-5
Romans 4:4-5 King James Version (KJV): “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Romans 4:4-5 New International Version (NIV): “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”
Romans 4:4-5 English Standard Version (ESV): “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,”
Romans 4:4-5 The Message (MSG): “If you’re a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don’t call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it’s something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-todo-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.”
Start With the NIV
Bryan Beverly is an ordained deacon who’s taught the Bible since 1983 and suggests, first of all, “that new believers take it slow and easy for at least a year with the NIV and just focus on maturing in Christ (and not get caught up in the competition to be “deep;” just read the Bible to become familiar with Christ.”
Beverly recommends the NIV because “it has a good balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought textual renderings. Moreover, it is manageable for new believers across ages and stages of life — children, youth and adults.”
Beverly also says it is assumed that:
• a new believer also has some type of guide for
With so many versions of the Bible out there, which one should a new reader choose?These pastors shared their recommendations. Photo Credit: iStock.com/Joseph Thomas Photography
reading the bible;
• has been oriented on the difference between reading texts for personal devotion versus knowing the texts well enough to lead someone else to Christ, teach, or preach;
• has someone in the home, community, or in the church available to discuss what has been read (like Philip the Ethiopian eunuch on his chariot in Acts 8: 26-40).
The Creators Classroom suggested choosing “Bibles that remain very close to the original manuscripts and don’t water down Christian beliefs, yet are fairly easy to read are the ones that use thought-for-thought translation or phraseby-phrase.” It recommends:
Carla Debnam, executive director, The Renaissance Center, suggested the New Living Translation and the Contemporary English Version for easy reading and understanding.
Rev. Clarinda Burston-White, pastor of Miracle Church, says she loves the “English Standard Version because of its simplicity without losing the effectiveness and relativity of the scripture. A new Christian can easily understand, identify and apply what they just read to their daily lives.”
Bishop Robbin Blackwell, an executive and leadership coach, interjected the need for translations in their native tongue for new believers in this country, but for English speakers, she offered the NLT or the ESV as did Bishop Antoine McClurkin, pastor of The Hill. Rev. Gregory Perkins, pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church, is partial to the Holman Christian Standard Bible.
Asking several pastors and leaders on Facebook yielded the following responses. Some like Larry Owens say they’re partial to the KJV because “I was raised on this version and I like the language and wording of the scriptures.”
By LAURA NWOGU
On July 17, tens of thousands of people nationwide participated in “Good Trouble Lives On” rallies to protest President Trump and his administration and honor the late civil rights leader and Atlanta congressman John Lewis. In Atlanta, leaders and protesters gathered under the “Hero” mural at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Jesse Hill Jr., ready to carry forward his legacy of “Good Trouble” on the fifth anniversary of his death. They marched together toward the King Center, where the national day of nonviolent action was met with bold signage, calls to action, and a block party with the goal of turning remembrance into resistance. Surrounded by passionate protestors, local civil rights leaders held a press conference to discuss pressing national issues such as immigration, the recently passed tax and spending cut bill, and the firing of thousands of federal workers.
Speakers included Helen Butler, executive director of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda; Andrea Young, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Georgia; Fredrick Ingram, a member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Mawuli Davis, an attorney at Davis Bozeman Johnson Law; and Kimberly King, a member of the League of Women Voters Atlanta/Fulton and AFT
Young spoke to the crowd of over a hundred people, calling for dissent against injustice.
“In one of the last public statements, John Lewis urged us, ‘Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life, I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and non-violence, is the more excellent way. Now it is your time to help freedom ring,” Young quoted.
“Non-violent social action is powerful. You can transform this country. Marches and demonstrations like this call attention to the attack on our democracy, and by our presence, we speak truth to power. By our presence, we say we dissent. When the Trump government kidnaps our neighbors, we dissent. When the Trump government demands voter lists kept by the states, we dissent. When the Trump-led congress takes food and health care away from our children, our seniors and our disabled citizens, we dissent. When the Trump government tries to revoke
birthright citizenship, we dissent.”
The crowd followed Young in a chant calling for dissent, adding to one of the many galvanizing statements that moved the crowd to start some “necessary trouble.” The speakers also discussed the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling to allow the gutting of the Department of Education.
Fredrick Ingram, a member of the American Federation of Teachers, traveled from Washington, D.C., to join the Atlanta rally. He urged people to keep the energy and momentum of fighting injustice alive.
“They’re trying to dumb down a generation
of citizens. They’re trying to dumb down this country so that they can implement all kinds of foolishness around us. And we’ve got to be smarter than that. There was a time in this country where it was illegal to teach a person who looked like me, to teach a person who looked like you. Women could not be educated in this country. We are not going back,” Ingram said.
“John Lewis urges us to find some good trouble. I believe brother Lewis was on to something when he talked about trouble, because in my church, they say trouble don’t last always.”
By DONNELL SUGGS
The old saying goes, “Home is where the heart is.” For many Americans, their homes are where everything in their lives rests: families, history, future, and finances. The personal and spiritual value of one’s home is immeasurable. However, the financial value tends to fluctuate depending on who you are and where your home is located.
For many Black families, the financial value of their homes has been devalued. A recent Brookings study broke down the bias toward Black-owned homes, their valuations, and the racial bias pointed directly towards Black neighborhoods. Metro Atlanta has many such neighborhoods.
Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock, whose church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, is located in the Sweet Auburn District, where Black homeownership remains strong generations after segregation forced families to move, live, and thrive there, wants to do something about how Black-owned homes are appraised.
“Home valuations are a critical part of the mortgage lending process and ensuring families can build generational wealth through
homeownership,” Warnock told The Atlanta Voice during a recent interview. “But we know appraisals do not always protect or benefit everyone equally, particularly Black people and communities of color.”
Earlier this year, Warnock introduced a legislative package that addressed housing affordability and availability across the country. Today, Warnock and five other Senators introduced new legislation that will address appraisal biases in both home buying and home selling. That legislation will undoubtedly have an immediate impact on Black homeowners and future homeowners.
“My legislation is an important next step in helping Georgia families and all Americans realize the full value of their homes,” he said. “It empowers Georgians with more data and tools to fight bias that would lower their homes’ values. It is no silver bullet, and more work must be done, but it is an important step forward in helping families build generational wealth through homeownership.”
Warnock says the goal of the legislation, the Appraisal Modernization Act, is to fight appraisal bias in the country, especially in Georgia. The act can educate Georgians with data that will hopefully increase transparency while empowering consumers.
“Several studies have identified a clear relationship between lower valuations and Black neighborhoods and revealed overt references to race in appraisals,” Warnock said. “One study found that homes in majority-Black neighborhoods are around two times more likely to be undervalued than homes in majority-white neighborhoods. And another report shows racial inequality in appraised values has increased 75% over the last decade.”
Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Andy
By NOAH WASHINGTON
More than a decade after the JOBS Act revolutionized startup funding, equity crowdfunding platforms are enabling ordinary Americans to invest in private companies that were once accessible only to wealthy, accredited investors.
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or “JOBS act”, signed into law by President Barack Obama on April 5, 2012, fundamentally transformed how startups and small businesses could raise capital by allowing non-accredited investors to purchase equity stakes through regulated crowdfunding platforms.
Under the previous system, only accredited investors, those with annual incomes exceeding $200,000 or net worth above $1 million, could participate in private securities offerings. The JOBS Act’s Title III provisions, implemented in 2016, opened these opportunities to retail investors with investment limits based on income and net worth.
One company that chose to seek funding outside the normal Venture Capital, “VC” structure is Culture Wireless. Based in Atlanta, the Black-owned telecommunications
company launched an equity crowdfunding campaign in June 2025, offering community members the opportunity to purchase up to 10% equity with a minimum investment of $100 through the platform WeFunder.
“It’s already difficult enough to get funding from the traditional route, whether that’s through venture capital or just going through the banks in general,” said William “Bam” Sparks, Culture Wireless’ chief marketing officer. “So we wanted to switch it up. I feel like this gives us an opportunity to build generational wealth within our community.”
Unlike donation-based crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe, where contributors receive no financial return, equity crowdfunding allows investors to purchase actual ownership stakes in companies. Participants receive securities that may appreciate in value or generate returns through dividends, acquisitions, or public offerings. This difference transforms crowdfunding from charitable giving into regulated securities transactions, requiring companies to provide detailed financial disclosures and comply with federal securities laws. Equity crowdfunding websites include: https://www.wefunder.com https://www.startengine.com
Kim (D-New Jersey), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) have co-sponsored the Appraisal Modernization Act.
“For most Americans, the largest driver of wealth is their home. This makes it important to have accurate, unbiased home valuations, and that is why I am proud to champion this legislation to level the playing field and put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Georgians,” Warnock said.
The legislation is also being endorsed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, National Fair Housing Alliance, National Association of Mortgage Brokers, the NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., and the National Action Network (NAN).
The legislation is personal to Warnock, a native of Savannah.
“Housing is a personal issue for me, I’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be for hardworking people to build generational wealth through homeownership,” Warnock said. “My parents were no strangers to hard work, and despite the fact that my parents worked hard every day, they weren’t able to buy a home and build generational wealth until much later in their lives.”
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The JOBS Act required the Securities and Exchange Commission to establish regulatory frameworks ensuring investor protections while reducing compliance burdens for smaller companies.
Traditional venture capital firms often focus on trending sectors like artificial intelligence and biotech, potentially overlooking companies in established industries. Equity crowdfunding provides an alternative path for entrepreneurs who struggle to access conventional funding sources.
“Traditional VC funds are difficult because they typically invest off of buzz words or what’s the trendy thing right now,” Sparks said.
The democratization of startup investment has created new opportunities for underserved communities to participate in wealth creation. Previously, minority entrepreneurs and investors faced additional barriers accessing both funding and investment opportunities in the startup ecosystem.
Equity crowdfunding also enables companies to build customer loyalty by transforming users into stakeholders. Investors often become advocates for the businesses they support, potentially driving customer
acquisition and brand awareness.
The JOBS Act’s impact extends beyond individual transactions. By reducing regulatory barriers while maintaining investor protections, the legislation has fostered innovation in capital formation and expanded access to entrepreneurial opportunities across diverse communities.
“This gives us an opportunity to build generational wealth within our community, taking the equity crowdfunding angle gives our people not just the opportunity to have ownership in a tech company, but also ownership in something that you use every day,” said Sparks.
By NOAH WASHINGTON
There is only one word to describe Marvel Studios’ latest superhero entry, “Fantastic Four: First Steps”: Fun. The film’s retro-futuristic charm was brought to Atlantic Station on Wednesday, July 23, as “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” held its Atlanta premiere ahead of its nationwide release.
The film, set against a vibrant 1960s-inspired backdrop, introduces Marvel’s First Family to theaters nationwide Friday. Pedro Pascal portrays Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic alongside Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing.
Director Matt Shakman, no stranger to period pieces, having directed episodes of AMC’s “Mad Men” and the Marvel series “WandaVision,” helmed the family-oriented action-adventure. The film follows the already in-universe established superhero team balancing their roles as heroes with family bonds while defending Earth from Galactus, a planet-devouring cosmic entity portrayed by Ralph Ineson. Julia Garner stars as Shalla-Bal, Galactus’ seemingly all-powerful herald.
Attendees of the Atlanta Station screening were given a Fantastic Four-inspired lunch pail, viewfinder, poster, and baseball cap.
The Fantastic Four first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1961, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. The team became known as Marvel’s “First Family” and helped launch the Marvel Universe, introducing concepts like cosmic threats and complex family dynamics that would define superhero storytelling for generations. The characters were among Marvel’s earliest successes, paving the way for Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers.
The film marks the fourth attempt at bringing the Fantastic Four to the big screen, following Roger Corman’s unreleased 1994 version, Tim Story’s two films in 2005 and 2007, and Josh Trank’s critically panned 2015 reboot. After Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, Marvel Studios regained the film rights to the characters. This version distinguishes itself by skipping the team’s origin story and beginning four years
after they gained their powers. The film draws heavy inspiration from the optimistic space-age aesthetic of the 1960s, when the original comics were created during the height of the Space Race.
Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles round out the supporting cast in the film produced by Kevin Feige and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Grant Curtis, and Tim Lewis. Jon Watts, fresh off directing the successful Spider-Man trilogy for the studio, was originally tapped to helm the project in December 2020. However, Watts stepped down in April 2022, citing burnout from superhero filmmaking after dealing with COVID-19 protocols during “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and choosing to take a break from the genre.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is the opening film of Phase Six in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The characters will appear in the upcoming crossover films Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
By DENNIS MALCOLM ByRON AKA ALE SHARPTON
The anticipation for the launch of the all-new 2026 Honda Passport coming in three primary trims—RTL, TrailSport and TrailSport Elite— was evident with how many heads turned when I navigated through Atlanta’s streets and highways. Highly touted by the automaker as “…the most rugged, off-road capable Honda SUV ever,” my TrailSport trim’s welcomed brawn was enhanced by its bold front fascia, blacked-out grille, an aluminum front scuff plate, exposed recovery hooks, exclusive 18-inch wheels wrapped in imposing all-terrain tires, LED fog lights, and the recommended Platinum White exterior. Ultimately, whether it’s an urban setting or taking on mountain
trails, the TrailSport catches eyes.
Addressing the heart, Honda maintains its trusted 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Combined with the i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheeldrive system, this setup makes everything from rocks to mud, gravel, and rocky uphill climbs an afterthought. The TrailSport sits on a specially tuned suspension that increases articulation and ride comfort, making it feel both stable on highways and nimble over the most uneven paths, complete with 5,000-pound towing capacity. As for driving modes, there are six: Normal, Econ, Sport, Tow, Trail, and Snow. Although you wouldn’t want to taunt Mother Nature, you could with this Passport’s adaptability. Inside, the cabin balances practicality with racing-inspired
TrailSport branding stitched into the leather-trimmed seats and orange contrast accents that energize the interior; this hue is also matched with the interior lighting for an elevated visual effect. The panoramic moonroof enhances the cabin’s spaciousness, plus the rear seats that recline for passenger comfort and a rear cargo area that’s flat and wide enough to accommodate whatever cargo needs to be hauled. The underfloor storage in the trunk is a thoughtful addition for keeping everything from muddy gear separated to simply hiding valuable items.
Technology in the 2026 Passport TrailSport receives an upgrade with a new 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a vibrant 12.3-inch touchscreen with a multi-view rear camera, and optimal connectivity including wireless Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto. Drivers will appreciate the Honda Sensing suite of safety technologies, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert to name a few. Tri-climate zones, a 115-volt outlet, and a nine-speaker sound system also keep passengers entertained. Overall, the 2026 Passport TrailSport bridges the gap between daily commuter SUV needs and taking on any terrain during family
excursions. And trust me, it looks good doing it. The wait is over; Honda successfully lets us know the future is here, whether we want to go rugged or practical. They have us covered with this SUV.
Fuel Economy: 18 city/23 highway/20 combined
Price: The 2026 2026 Passport TrailSport is $48,450 MSRP. (The Platinum White paint is optional $455) For more information, visit Automobiles.honda.com.
By ISAIAH SINGLETON
The National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler joined Georgia labor leaders and local workers for a “Workers Over Billionaires” rally at the IBEW Local 613 Union Hall as the AFL-CIO’s “It’s Better in a Union: Fighting for Freedom, Fairness & Security” nationwide bus tour hits Atlanta.
On all levels of government, Georgians are seeing attacks on working people’s basic rights, union jobs, and the social programs they all rely on, all in the name of putting even more in the pockets of greedy CEOs.
Workers are the backbone of Georgia and the country, and they gathered for this rally to demand that lawmakers prioritize working families over billionaires.
The national bus tour highlights how workers across the country are joining together to demand the freedom to organize a union, protections for essential social programs, and dignity for all working people.
Shuler criticizes the exorbitant salaries of CEOs like Delta, contrasting them with the hard work and low pay of frontline workers.
“Does it make sense to anyone in this room that the CEO of Delta makes $27 million a year to sit in that corner office in the air conditioning while baggage handlers and flight attendants and mechanics sweat their asses off,” she asked. “It makes no sense. They are the ones doing the actual work to make the company succeed.”
She also mentions Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ wealth and the poor conditions of Amazon workers.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of
Atlanta Voice
worker power, freedom to unionize, fairness in profit sharing, and job security. They highlight success stories like the Bluebird workers in North Valley who formed a union for better conditions and the UAW’s efforts to secure good union jobs in the electric vehicle industry. The speaker calls on all workers to join the fight for freedom, fairness, and security.
“Bezos is sending his wife into outer space while workers at his Amazon factory down the road here in Atlanta are throwing off their backs and peeing in bottles because they’re so overworked and underpaid,” she said. “Does
that make any sense? They have rigged the game and have millions of dollars and special interests. They have politicians like Donald Trump who just handed them another tax cut.”
Shuler also says they seek fairness in the context of getting their fair share of the profits they are creating like their Teamsters siblings at Local 728.
“Just pay us what we deserve. We are talking about fairness and the basic right that we all have a job that will be there for us and not get exported to the lowest bidder overseas,” she said. “Freedom, fairness, and security: those are the three
things every worker here in Georgia deserves.”
President of Georgia AFL-CIO Yvonne Brooks said Atlanta and all the states represented do not run because of billionaires.
“We run because the workers are doing the work, if the workers weren’t there, it wouldn’t happen. This would be nothing when you clock into your shifts, you are creating wealth for these billionaires, and we deserve to share it, but a lot of lawmakers have forgotten about us and only thinking of themselves,” Brooks said.
Brooks also says the bus tour has been making stops to uplift the voice of workers and demand the end of the attack on their jobs, social programs, and union contracts.
“We will not stay silent, and we will not back down. It’s about time Georgia workers and all the workers in the southern region got freedom, fairness, and security that we are owed, and we refuse to back down. We are not backing down,” she said.
Local worker Teresa “TK” Kennard has worked for Waffle House for over 16 years, while seeing minor changes over the years, she says workers need to be paid more. She says she’s seen coworkers staying in motels, sleeping in their small cars while these corporations are paying them $3 an hour.
“We’re getting paid $3 an hour while these bastards are making $10,000 an hour, and they have nothing to do, not realizing without what we do as your workers, you wouldn’t be able to make $10,000 a year,” she said. You wouldn’t be able to own the yachts and condominiums and take trips to Europe. Everybody deserves to be paid more and this is ours.”
By DONNELL SUGGS
Media day for the upcoming TOUR Championship, a flagship event for the PGA Tour that will take place from August 20-25 at East Lake Golf Club, took place on Monday. The greens at the East Atlanta-based club looked tournament-ready as a shotgun start to a round of 18 began just after 8:30 a.m. Thirty of the top players in the world, including world number one Scott Scheffler, will make their way to Atlanta to compete for the championship.
The history of the East Lake community and places like East Lake Meadows and Villages of East Lake goes back a long way and can be complicated in parts. The East Lake Golf Club, routinely named one of the top five golf courses in the state of Georgia by Golf Magazine, is in the center of the community, but has not always been a part of the once majority Black neighborhood.
People like East Lake Foundation President and CEO Ilham Askia are working to change not only that public perception but also what East Lake Golf Club means to the community surrounding it. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the East Lake Foundation’s founding. When asked what the 30 years mean to her,
Askia said it means the foundation’s legacy continues and needs to continue.
“Three decades of transformative work continue. It says that legacy is important, and we are continuing to innovate and provide services for families in the East Lake community and greater Atlanta community,” Askia, who is also a co-founder of Gideon’s Promise, an Atlanta-based criminal justice reform organization, said.
Askia, a Buffalo, New York native who moved to Georgia just over 20 years ago, said the purpose of the East Lake Foundation is to ensure the voices of the families who live, work, and attend school in the East Lake community are amplified.
“We wake up every day thinking about equity, about the legacy residents, and about how we can best support low-income families to help with economic mobility,” Askia said. “If that is our job and role as an organization, we will always exist, because there will always be new families, and there will always be a next generation.”
Askia said inclusivity is a core value for the foundation. She used the term “resident-centered” as a description of the work being done to no longer deny access to the financial opportunities that are possible at East Lake Golf Club. Those opportunities don’t always include playing golf or being a caddy for a golfer or a group setting out for 18 holes. The security team at the front gate of East Lake Golf Club on Monday morning included a Black man and a woman. The staff in the kitchen at East Lake Golf Club is entirely made up of Black and brown men and women. These are jobs that feed families. Some of whom are located in East Lake.
“Our primary focus is our families, and why this whole community transformed in the first place,” Askia said. “People were historically denied access to opportunity, and we want to make sure they receive opportunity, and help them define success for themselves.”
The TOUR Championship recently announced a $7.2 million contribution to local nonprofits in 2024, nearly half a million more than in 2023, according to TOUR Championship Vice President and Executive Director Alex Urban.
One of the projects that the East Lake Foundation and Atlanta Land Trust collaborated on is the Trust at East Lake, a 40-unit development of townhouses created to provide adequate housing opportunities to lower-income residents of the neighborhood.
According to Askia, seven of the eight homes that have been built are currently occupied.
The project broke ground in March 2023 and is expected to be completed by spring 2026, just in time for the FIFA World Cup. Residents of the Villages of East Lake apartments will get a first shot at procuring the two-bedroom and three-bedroom townhomes.
These are just some of the ways the foundation is working to keep East Lake’s community involved and invested.
With one of the biggest professional golf tournaments in the country taking place in Atlanta (not to be confused with the one that takes place in Augusta every spring), East Lake Foundation partners with the TOUR Championship to gift a number of grounds tickets for the tournament to local residents. The tickets allow for two children aged 15 and under to enter for free with an adult.
“We have been working really hard with the TOUR Championship and our other partners across the community is to really market that,” Askia said.
Golf-related entertainment and experiences aside, the foundation is making educational efforts that are changing the way the community views East Lake Golf Club.
A culinary arts program featuring students from Drew Charter School, which is located on
Eva Davis Drive in the heart of the East Lake community, brings them into the kitchen at the golf club and prepares them for careers in the hospitality industry.
“We did our second cohort this year; they just graduated with a certification in culinary arts,” Askia said. “Some of our students are caddies here, and they have interned here. These are children who live in the community.”
Askia said the leadership teams at the East Lake Golf Club and the East Lake Foundation have been “intentional about finding moments in time to open it up to everyone.”
There is also the “Run for East Lake” 5K and a legacy luncheon, where seniors came to the club to tour it and learn more about what kind of community-focused work takes place at East Lake Golf Club.
“If we can constantly communicate to everyone who lives here, that without the generous support of the TOUR Championship, the East Lake Foundation would not be able to do what it is doing,” Askia said. “We still need support, but the East Lake Foundation is still working hard on what I call “soft skill investments”: financial health and well-being, community wellness, and mental health. That’s our next iteration of our work.”
By NOAH WASHINGTON
The steady thump of hip-hop beats mixed with the rustling of backpacks being stuffed with school supplies as Grammy-winning rapper Lecrae Devaughn Moore transformed his album listening party session into a community mission on Monday, July 21.
Moore hosted a back-to-school backpack drive at City Takers headquarters in Atlanta, combining the preview of his 10th studio album “Reconstruction” with hands-on community service for local students heading back to school.
The event at City Takers’ 15,000-square-foot facility brought together volunteers to assemble 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies for students on Atlanta’s west side who would otherwise start the school year empty-handed.
“I wanted people, when they experienced this album, to know this is for them,” Moore said. “This ain’t a Lecrae story. This is our story of reconstruction, and let’s do some reconstruction of the city right now.
Attendees received an exclusive preview of Moore’s upcoming album, which features collaborations with T.I., Killer Mike, Fridayy, Jon Bellion, and Jackie Hill Perry. Volunteers listened to the first five songs off the 19-song album. Between each track, Moore discussed what inspired the song and his spiritual journey as a Christian-based hip-hop artist, as well as his battle with addiction.
Following the listening session, attendees moved to packing stations where they were assigned specific items to pack into each backpack while listening to the rest of the album.
The partnership speaks to both organizations’ commitment to community transformation. City Takers founder Scott Free, who has operated the nonprofit for 15 years, said the collaboration emerged naturally from their shared mission to serve Atlanta’s underserved communities.
“Me and Lecrae have known each other for a long time,” Free said. “His heart is he just wants to impact people and see lives transformed, just like me. We’ve been talking about doing something together that impacts the streets, that impacts the neighborhood, that impacts the city.”
Free’s journey to community
leadership began 25 years ago when he moved to Atlanta from Miami. He described fleeing personal troubles before experiencing what he called a life-changing religious encounter six months after arriving in the city.
“I was in a U-haul truck with a guy sharing his testimony,” Free recalled. “I had this vision of every time God saved my life physically, and at the end I heard the Father speak to me say, ‘Scott, I’ve been pursuing you since you were 12.’ From that moment, everything changed.”
After serving his home church faithfully for 10 years, Free founded City Takers to bridge what he saw as a disconnect between traditional church culture and the communities that needed support most.
“I felt more comfortable serving outside the walls of the church because of who I used to be,” Free said. “The Lord was sending me back into the darkest places in the city to preach the gospel.”
City Takers operates as a ministry focused on year-round community outreach. The organization’s
building remains open daily, hosting various programs throughout the week.
“We believe that the church is a seven-day thing, not a two-hour thing on Sundays,” Free said. “We consider ourselves a missional church movement.”
The backpack drive represents one of several annual initiatives. City Takers also organizes “Boxes of Love,” providing Thanksgiving meals to families; operates a Christmas toy store where parents shop for free; and runs “Socktober,” distributing socks to homeless individuals living under bridges throughout October.
Free emphasized authenticity as central to City Takers’ approach, noting it as one of the organization’s core values.
“The world is looking for something real, something raw,” Free said. “They want to know the truth. People are looking for truth, peace, and love, and the church should be the number one place that gives all three.”
The backpacks will be distributed Saturday at Cascade Family Skating this Saturday July 26.
By LAURA NWOGU
Twenty-five-year-old Atlanta native Walter Peeler sustained burns to over 75% of his body after a workplace accident in 2022, which forced him to undergo amputations to both of his legs and his left hand. Peeler spent eight months inpatient at the Shepherd Center and is still doing outpatient therapy to this day, a process he called long, tedious and needed, but now that resilience, hope and confidence he kept are now on display for many to see in a gallery titled “Portraits of Hope.”
“They nominated me because they thought that I was someone who symbolized a portrait of hope,” Peeler said. “It’s definitely cool and surreal that so many people are supporting.”
Since 1975, the Shepherd Center has transformed the lives of people experiencing traumatic prognoses such as spinal cord and brain injuries through rehabilitation and a lasting mission of healing, possibility and purpose. The “Portraits of Hope” gallery features intimate portraits and self-reflection videos taken by local emerging photographers. Sarah Howell, the gallery’s producer, said they focused on hiring photographers who were women and people of color.
As a Shepherd Center patient and someone who has worked with the Atlanta photography community, Howell understood firsthand the power of photography and how it could highlight strength and hope. When the idea came to mind, she called up friends in her creative circle, took it to the Shepherd Center, who
loved it, and the gallery was born.
“When you have been through something that changes how your body moves or operates, it really affects your sense of identity and self. And I wanted to find a way to sort of bridge that using photography to highlight for folks who are new to Shepherd, who are coming in and having this experience, that it’s going to be okay. There’s life at the other end, and it’s joyful, and it’s full of love and humor and strength,” Howell said. “No one likes a picture of themselves, but when they see what their portrait means to other people, they understand how their strength, how their resilience, how their struggle is inspiring, and the fact that they can give hope to others is a gift that they know they’re passing on.”
Patients, family, friends and Shepherd Center staff gathered in the lobby of the nonprofit to take in the grand opening of the gallery event featuring portraits of people in wheelchairs, holding walkers, or those with less visible disabilities. But one thing that was the same and always present were the smiles lighting up their faces. The gallery will remain at the Shepherd Center for a week before traveling to other spots in Atlanta. It will then return to the Shepherd Center permanently. Howell hopes that they’ll be able to bring in fresh portraits of patients every year. When people visit the gallery, Peeler said he hopes they’re able to take away some inspiration.
“It’s not over, and it is not done. You can get more from just being here, just sitting in the hospital.”
By DONNELL SUGGS
The Atlanta Braves are 2-4 in their last six games and 14 games out of first place in the National League East. The Braves most recently lost two of three to the San Francisco Giants, including a 9-0 loss on Wednesday afternoon. Days earlier, the Braves lost a three-game series to the New York Yankees. Both series were played at Truist Park, and most of the games were sellouts. Those Braves fans might not have much to celebrate these days, but the resurgence of Southside native and centerfielder Michael Harris II has been a bright spot in a rough week.
Harris II is batting nearly .300
over the past seven games. For many everyday players, reaching the .300 mark for a week of play isn’t a milestone worth recognition. For Harris II, whose batting average dipped ever so closely to the Mendoza line, this past week of play is worth discussing in print, online, and social media.
During the past week, Harris II has had two two-hit games: at St. Louis right before the All-Star break and on Tuesday against the Giants.
Braves manager Brian Snitker was asked about Harris’ two-hit game against the Giants on July 22, and his having hit in seven of the last eight games. Snitker said, “Hopefully he stays with it,” and “He’s trying and making adjustments.”
A day later, Harris went 1-4 against the Giants.
The power numbers, which were never too high, are down this year (Harris II only has seven home runs in 370 at-bats), but Harris’s better play of late has yielded the opportunity to see more pitches, which can result in more home runs. The only home run Harris hit during the month of July came against the
Yankees on July 19.
There is still so much more room for improvement at the plate for Harris II. There was a time this season that Harris II was leading the team in RBI. That was two months into the season, and Braves All-Star first baseman Matt Olson had yet to go on the two-month tear that he went on to solidify a spot in the All-Star Game at Truist Park. Harris
(46 RBI) has only had 5 RBI in his last 30 games, while striking out 24 times in that span. During the week of quality play in question, Harris only drove in two teammates. That has to improve in order for Harris II to have a better season.
The defense the Braves get from Harris II in centerfield is worth the headaches he has been giving them at the plate this season. During the series against the Yankees and Giants, Harris II made catches that kept runs off the board several times. With the Braves’ pitching struggling while Chris Sale and AJ Smith-Shawver work their way back to the team from their respective injuries, Harris belongs in the Braves’ lineup playing defense behind whoever is starting for Atlanta.
Atlanta is playing in Arlington against the Texas Rangers over the weekend before playing three games in Kansas City against the Royals and two games against the Cincinnati Reds. The third of those games against the Reds will take place at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The first-ever MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol is scheduled for Saturday, August 2 (7 p.m. first pitch), and if you’re going to play a baseball game at a race track that seats 165,000 people, you’d better have a heck of a centerfielder. Michael Harris II couldn’t be playing better at a better time.
By STAN WASHINGTON
This past spring, I was fortunate enough to explore a section of the country that had never crossed my mind and probably not yours, either - Western Kentucky.
Living in a landlocked city - Atlanta all my life, I like a beach trip as much as anyone. Now that I am a more mature traveler, the sandy beaches of Florida, the Bahamas, Mexico and Jamaica don’t have the same lure as it did when I was in my 20s and 30s. I don’t recommend this as a trip for small children or teenagers or even 20-somethings.
The beauty of this vast country of ours is there are literally thousands of interesting places that are calling you to come explore, and many of them are located in the southeast which are a few hours away by car or train.
There were two major takeaways for me on this small city tour, One: You don’t have to restrict yourself to large metropolitan areas to find some really good dining options. Two: You can find some big surprises in these small cities.
The Itinerary
My fellow travel writers and I flew into the Muhammad Ali Airport in Louisville, KY and boarded a van for the drive to Madisonville for the night. Fortunately, we flew out before the massive Kentucky Derby crowd was scheduled to arrive.
Our stops included: Central City, Purple Toad Winery, Flood Walls, Quilt Week Convention, Paducah; Madisonville, Mahr Park Arboretum, Henderson, John James Audubon State Park, Farmer and Frenchman Winery & Cafe, Robards, KY
Probably most people outside the state aren’t familiar with Western Kentucky other than Louisville. The region has a rich musical history, scenic river landscapes, charming small cities, arts districts, southern hospitality and a plethora of good eats and drinks.
Central City: Where the Music Never Ends
A stop in Central City’s Muhlenberg County Music Museum & Motorsports Museum (200 N 1st St. 270-754-9603) took me back to my childhood in the 1960s. One of my favorite rock groups from the 60s was The Everly Brothers who were introduced to most of America through Dick Clark’s TV dance show “American Bandstand”. I loved the harmonizing of the two brothers and it was a delight to be in their hometown. Country singer Merle Travis is also a native. The town celebrates its heritage with events like the annual Labor Day Weekend Cruise-In, which evolved from the Everly Brothers Homecoming. Walk through a connecting door and you will find yourself looking at some vintage cars and race cars. Visitors can also delve into local history at the Kentucky Women’s Hall of Fame, Inc. within the Central City Public Library, or enjoy a stroll
or bike ride along the scenic Muhlenberg County Rail Trail, a paved path following an old railway route, perfect for a peaceful outdoor escape.
Paducah: A UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art
I’ve heard of Paducah before but in what context escapes me. The city lies at the junction of two rivers the Ohio and Tennessee. Historically, the city is known for being totally submerged during the Great Flood of 1937. Some 27,000 people had to be evacuated. The water level reached a historic 60 feet resulting in $22 million in damages. The next month city leaders petitioned Congress to build the flood walls.
But these aren’t just any flood walls. The Floodwall Murals (100 Broadway St) tell the history of the city and its people through 60 life-sized murals. These are works of arts which should be expected since Paducah is a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art and is located in the Lower Town Arts District where the artistic spirit thrives through galleries and studios.
Paducah is also known for its National Quilt Museum which we didn’t get to visit but we were treated to an event at its convention center which was just as amazing - Quilt Week sponsored by the American Quilt Society. These weren’t quilts that you pull out the closet on a cold winter night. These were quilts you hang on the wall like art. Many of these quilts took months to complete. Awards were given out to the best of the best.
We enjoyed a pizza lunch at Paducah Beer Werks (301 N. 4th St, 270-933.1265) where we sampled a variety of their pies. I’m not a big pizza lover but I did go back three times for slices. The casual restaurant also features an award-winning craft beer.
Kentucky is known for bourbon but now craft beer and wine wants a share of the beverage spotlight. Among our food stops included Henderson Brewing Co. (737 2nd St. Henderson), Holly J’s Grill, 113 N 1st St., Central City, 270-757-2544 and Brothers Bar-B-Que (1055 N. Main St. #6, Madisonville, 270-821-1222); Cap & Cork, 104 N. Water St., Henderson, KY)
I sampled more craft beer and bourbon during this trip than I have in my entire life. The
sacrifices I make for our readers.
If your preference is wine then make a stop at the Purple Toad Winery (4275 Old US Hwy 45 s; 270-554-0010) a family-run business for a guided tour and tasting. I can assure you will find something there you like. Since our visit they have added a new line of fruit whiskey selections. Their products are distributed through eight states, but the nearest spot to metro Atlanta is in Columbus, GA.
Madisonville: Outdoor Adventure and Cultural Delights
If there was one place during our visit that I wished we could have spent more time at it was Mahr Park Arboretum, a 265 acre nature beauty in Madisonville in the heart of Hopkins County. The park was gifted to the city of Madisonville by Dr. Merle and Glema Mahr in 2009. It officially became a city park in October 2016. The park offers a variety of activities like boating, walking trails, fishing, dog park, disc golf course, pavilions for picnics, company retreats and weddings. During the summer they show movies under the stars. For those seeking indoor entertainment, the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts provides a diverse array of performing and visual arts.
Henderson: Riverfront Retreat and Avian Wonders
If you have an even mild interest in birds, you must stop at the John James Audubon State Park ( 3100 US-41, Henderson 270-826-2247) located on the banks of the Ohio River. The park is home to the world’s largest display of Audubon originals and artifacts within the Audubon Museum and Nature Center. Visitors can enjoy miles of hiking trails, serene camping, golf, fishing, and birdwatching, truly immersing themselves in the natural beauty that inspired Audubon’s masterpieces. John James Audubon was a renowned artist and ornithologist. His family’s story is just
as fascinating as the different variety of birds he studied.
Come to Henderson in mid-June and you can experience the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival. This free festival draws performers and visitors from all across the country. The festival is a celebration of the life and legacy of Henderson resident and “Father of the Blues,” William Christopher Handy.
A Taste of the Countryside: Farmer and Frenchman Winery & Cafe
Just a short drive from Henderson, in Robards, KY, lies the enchanting Farmer and Frenchman Winery & Cafe (12522 US 41, 270-748-1856).This small farm vineyard and event venue offers a unique blend of French and Italian-inspired cuisine made with local Kentucky ingredients, all set within an idyllic vineyard. Guests can enjoy wine tastings, savor artisanal pizzas and pastas, and even stay in one of their charming, solar-powered cabins with 360-degree views of farmland and woods. It’s the perfect spot to unwind, indulge, and experience the agricultural beauty of the area. The place feels like someone plucked it out of the California Wine Country and transported it to Kentucky.
The mature African American traveler will want to know more about Kentucky’s Black heritage beyond the greatest heavyweight boxing champion of all time - Muhammad Ali. The Kentucky Department of Tourism has developed in cooperation with six counties the Kentucky Black Trailblazers. Visitors can use their mobile devices to experience holograms of Kentucky historical figures at more than six sites across the region. Visitors can explore the First Black Baptist Church in Elizabethtown or learn about Henry Bibb, a leading abolitionist for freedom, in Oldham County. Check out the different sites before you go at: www.kentuckyblacktrailblazers.com. For other parts of the state check out the African American Heritage Trail on the state’s tourism website.
We spent our last night at a good old fashioned bed & breakfast, the L&N (327 N. Main St., Henderson, 270 -577-1985) situated right next to the elevated train tracks. We had a nice breakfast there before heading back to the airport. Two thumbs up for the property and for the owners.
Who knew Western Kentucky had so much to offer?
For more tourism information: www.kentuckytourism.com
Floor and Décor seeks Sr Mgr. Info Technology for Atlanta, GA office. Req. Master’s or equiv in comp sci, supply chain mgmnt, mgmnt info systems or closely rel field & 5 yrs wrk exp in offered or similar position. Duties incl end-to-end regression testing for all production deployments. May telecommute from anywhere in US. To apply visit: https://bit.ly/SrMagrIT
Feb 1879 – Apr 1960 Atlanta-based poet activist, mail
and boarding house manager If you have any information please contact David at david@preserveatlanta.com The Atlanta Preservation Center wishes to honor the Jenkins family and needs your help!
RFP for The Fifty-Five, located at 2855 East Point Street, East Point, GA
BIDS DUE: August 19, 2025, at 2:00pm
PRE-BID MEETING will be held on site on July 24, 2025, at 10:00 am
PLANS: Hard Copies of plans available upon request and at subcontractor’s expense from A1 BluePrint, (404) 524-8881 or a1blue.com OR for a link contact Linda at Lstache@gormanusa.com. Contact Info: Linda Stache, Gorman & Company, Phone: 608-835-5177, Fax: 608-835-3667
CERTIFICATIONS: SBE / MBE / WBE / EBE / DBE / VBE Please note: This is a prevailing wage rate project.
FULTON COUNTY - ADVERTISEMENT FOR RFP
Sealed RFP’s for 25RFP06272025K-DB for O&M Services for Wastewater Facilities & Pump Stations in the North-Fulton Service Area the Department of Public Works will be accepted by the Fulton County Department of Purchasing & Contract Compliance, online via Bidnet Direct,https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty. All Bids must be submitted no later than 11:00 a.m., local (Eastern) time on Monday, August 25, 2025.
Bid Bond: N/A
Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia “County” is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide complete operation and maintenance for Fulton County facilities consisting of Water Reclamation Facilities (WRF) and Pumping Stations serving North Fulton County. Services will be twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week, and fifty-two (52) weeks per year. The Contractor shall provide all labor, materials, supplies, chemicals, fuel, vehicles, services, administration, reporting, monitoring, and other necessary items or services. The Contractor shall be required to assume full responsibility for the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of the facilities in compliance with all applicable Federal and State Laws and County rules and regulations. These requirements are further discussed in more detail throughout the RFP and contract.
General instructions, specifications and/or plans for this project can be downloaded electronically free of charge at https://www.bidnetdirect. com/georgia/fultoncounty.
Fee: This document and supporting documents can be downloaded on the BidNet Website https://www.bidnetdirect.com/ georgia/fultoncounty.
Term of Contract: The initial term of the O&M Contract shall be five (5) years beginning on the Commencement Date, established with the issuance of a Notice to Proceed, and ending on the fifth anniversary of the Commencement date, with one (1), five (5) year renewal option upon approval of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, unless earlier terminated as provided for in the O&M Contract. The O&M Contract may be renewed by the County, at its sole discretion, under the same terms and conditions of the original Contract. The County may exercise its option to renew the O&M Contract by delivering written notice of the intent to renew to the Contractor 180 days prior to the expiration date of the initial five (5) year term of the Contract.
PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE: Tuesday, July 29th, 2025 00 A.M.
Pre-Proposal Conference will be held in person Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Time: 10:00 A.M.
Location: Johns Creek Environmental Campus 8100 Holcomb Bridge Rd., Alpharetta, GA 30022
The County will conduct Facility Tours of the Water Reclamation Facilities. The Facility Tours are mandatory. Details about the facility tour date(s) and time(s) are provided below. Visitors showing up outside of these times will be turned away. Those participating in site visits will need to provide their own transportation. All attendees are to notify the Purchasing Department Contact identified in section 1.9 of this RFP of their intention to attend the facility tours. All visitors must be accompanied to and through the facilities
Locations, Date and Times
Johns Creek Environmental Campus - July 29, 2025, 11:00 AM Big Creek WRF - July 29, 2025, 2:00 PM Little River WRF July 30, 2025, 9:00 AM
Pump Stations
Stations 1-14 on July 31, 2025, 9:00 AM Stations 15-28 and potable water stations, July 30, 2025, 11:00 AM
The July 30th pump station tour will leave from Little River while the July 31st pump station tour will meet at Big Creek and then proceed to the pump stations
All of these facilities are active wastewater facilities, and Big Creek will have active construction onsite. The Visitors shall be prepared with appropriate PPE (safety shoes, hard hats, protective eyewear, and safety vest. Many of the pump stations are in residential subdivisions or may otherwise have little parking available.
If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Darlene A. Banks, CAPA at (404) 612-7879 or by e-mail at darlene.banks@ fultoncountyga.gov Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.
