Swim. Survive. Thrive.
SwemKids teaches and instructs nearly 1,000 students a week, according to the organization’s CEO, Trish Miller. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
SwemKids is Atlanta’s largest Black-owned swim school
By ISAIAH SINGLETON
Black children aged 10-14 drown at nearly four times the rate of white children. The disparity is even more pronounced in swimming pools, where Black children in the 10-14 age group drown at 7.6 times the rate of white children, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | CDC (.gov)
Black children ages 5-9 drown at more than twice the rate of white children, and those aged 10-14 drown at nearly four times the rate, according to the CDC.
CEO Trish Miller created SwemKids, Atlanta’s largest black-owned swim school, after a near-tragic story.
On a college trip in 1996, a group of friends found out Miller could not swim, so they decided they were going to teach her. However, not really thinking, Miller jumped into the dep end of the pool after her lesson, ended up panicking in the water.
Thankfully, she was rescued.
With a background in public health, Miller says she began to examine the statistics that affected certain communities, and she wanted to do something about it while also conquering her own journey in the water.
“I wrote a small grant and
self-funded some students to be transported during the school day for swimming lessons. While they were taking swimming lessons, I took swimming lessons with them.
I wanted to get them to their first lap, and we really grew from there,” she said.
Eight years later, SwemKids celebrates about 1,000 students a week in their waters.
“We have nine different locations that we serve around the city, and the work has grown beautifully, more than I ever expected,” she said.
Additionally, with a focus on aquatics, SwemKids creates opportunities for people to find their space and their heart in the water. They offer, in addition to learning to swim, water aerobics, certifications for people to be lifeguards, water safety instructors, water safety focused workshops each month, CPR and First Aid certifications.
Miller says they pride themselves on celebrating their swimmers’ first lap and it’s a crucial piece of the work they do at SwemKids. They also have an “Adult Swem” program where they ensure they provide opportunities and spaces where adults feel welcome and celebrated in their waters as well.
“When you see and hear events where adults are drowning, we unfortunately lose a lot of them to water and drowning, so it just reminds us all how critical these skills are,” she said.
Also, Miller says she produced the name “SwemKids” after looking
at the background and history of why the statistics around certain communities are high in drowning or lack of swimming ability.
“Much of it stems from the voyage from the main continent over to the Americas, so swim is Afrikaans for swim, and it’s to pay respect and honor to those that came before us, and just taking note, this is why we do this work,” she said. “Every time we see this word, it’s a reminder”.
Celebrating eight years of SwemKids, Miller says she feels immense pride because it wasn’t work, she saw herself doing as she was on a focused path at first.
“I’m going to get emotional, but I didn’t start out seeing myself doing this type of work. I have degrees from a lot of different schools, and I wanted something that was more mission-driven and allowed me to show impact in communities that I’m a part of,” she said. “I didn’t know I’d find my heart in the water.”
The water, Miller says, is a spiritual place in many ways and to have a chance to journey people through it and help them to see a space where it’s a part of their DNA, it’s an honor and gives her so much pride.
In the future, Miller says she sees
SwemKids in “world domination” and being in a place where they’re able to expand even with nine locations in eight years alone.
“Us being able to open nine separate locations in the metro Atlanta area shows, to me, a testament to the need of the work we do. It shows there is a real need for our services,” she said. “I want to do everything I can to make sure we move beyond the metro area, beyond Georgia, into communities that really need this too.”
SwemKids is a year-round swim school, so they focus on helping everyone to understand it’s better to learn off-season and display that progress during the peak season.
“We beef up our education around this time of year to recruit people to be able to come in during our fall and winter seasons,” she said. “Our pools are warm.”
Miller encourages everyone to learn how to swim by “doing it scared.” Opening SwemKids as a single parent with not a lot of money and a will to not fail, Miller says she was able to weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I weathered COVID with a swimming school that primarily dealt with face-to-face contact of people, and that was the scariest thing I’d ever done,” she said. “I had just left my good ole’ government job and COVID hit, and I was sitting at home looking at grown people bills, and that, for me, showed how resilient you really can be when you don’t have a choice.”
She also says sometimes pushing through the scary part is what’s needed to get you to the other side. Statistics show, according to Miller, most businesses fail within a few years.
“This happens only if you believe it, but if you believe in your own ability and create those opportunities for yourself,” she said. “You really can do whatever it is that you want to do.”
“I would like for people to take the time to learn. Find a loved one and go with them. If you have children who do not know how to swim, now’s the time to get them in the water, and we would love for you to select us to be able to do that,” she said.
For more information on SwemKids, visit https://www.swemkids.com.
“Us being able to open nine separate locations in the metro Atlanta area shows, to me, a testament to the need for the work we do,” Miller (above with SwemKids students) said. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
A public health professional, CEO Trish Miller (above) created SwemKids, Atlanta’s largest black-owned swim school, after a near-tragic story.
Young Thug speaks with at-risk students about what not to do
By DONNELL SUGGS
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. – The 2025-2026 academic year is beginning again and for many Georgia students the classes and homework assignments aren’t the hardest part of being a student. At Skyview High School, the students are often on their last go-round with school, and anything positive to kick off the school year would be a good sight. Enter: Jeffery Williams.
Walking into a small anti-room at the back of the building, Williams, 33, was accompanied by his attorney Brian Steel and some security. Wearing a white tank top, blue shorts, a hat, and black-framed glasses, he immediately took a seat at the front of the room and began taking questions. He was at Skyview to talk to kids about what road not to take.
A Grammy-nominated rapper and cultural influences on millions of people around the world, he has an interesting story to tell.
“I’m a superstar. My words mean something, but I have to do the right thing with them. People listen to me,” Williams said.
Williams told the students, parents, and school faculty in attendance that he believed it is good for him to talk directly to students before they get in trouble like he was in. Williams had to get judicial permission in order to be in Fulton County on Friday. He wants the students to think about how they act and be careful who they spend their time with.
“Gangs and guns, I think that’s lame. I wish I had someone like me to talk to me about
that when I was in school,” Williams said.
Brought up on RICO charges back in 2022, Williams, most commonly known by his rap moniker Young Thug, was facing decades in prison. On the first morning of August, Young Thug was talking to young people about what not to do, so they don’t end up in the legal and life-altering predicament he was most recently involved in.
His message seemed clear: I messed up and I don’t ever want to go through that again.
“I feel like violence is not the thing. It’s corny, it’s not the thing to do,” Williams said. Gangs, it’s just not cool. I’m glad I have the opportunity for y’all to hear me say it.”
Asked what he thought it means for Williams to come to Skyview High School to talk to the students, parents, and faculty, the morning’s MC, Greg Clay, the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services and a board member at SkyView High School, said Williams was speaking to young people that have had similar academic situations from his.
“He is a former young person that went to an alternative school, so to speak to these students is important,” Clay said. “I think it’s inspirational and it speaks a lot to the opportunity we all have to becoming better and the commitment we all have to becoming better.”
During the visit, which lasted just under an hour, Williams shared stories from his scholastic past, and what he regrets from his past and present.
Williams, who said his biggest regret was dropping out of high school, took photos with students and answered more questions after the event was done. Kris Buchanan, a former student at Skyview and an admitted Young Thug super-fan, said he was excited when he learned The Atlanta-born rapper was coming to his former school.
“It put a smile on my face,” Buchanan, 19, said. “I’m just glad, because he could be out making $500,000 at a concert somewhere, and he’s hear to speak to us.”
Demetrius Sims, 18, is also a fan of Williams’ music and said he couldn’t believe he was here at Skyview.
“It feels great. He’s one of my idols,” Sims, who sat in the front row, said. “It’s a blessing to finally meet him.”
Wearing a black hood over his head and black jeans, Alijah Reed, 17, was inside the room an hour before Williams arrived. A student at Skyview, Reed said he often listens to Williams’ music before and after school.
“I feel like Young Thug’s music speaks to me,” Reed, a resident of Atlanta, said. “I think it’s cool that he’s coming here today. When he raps, it’s like you can feel it.”
Williams has children, and said he talks to
them, including a 14-year-old son, about what he believes is right, he mentioned talking to God a number of times while at Skyview, and shared that he had plenty of private conversations with God during his incarceration.
“The impact that I have in Atlanta, I can only help if y’all listen, but you’ve got to listen,” Williams said. “The plan that God has got for you, you have to have sense in order to listen to it.”
Clay said there have been talks about working with Williams in the future.
The grandmother of a student at Skyview wanted to use her opportunity to ask Williams a question to thank him for showing up on a Friday. She was seated next to her granddaughter who is a student at Skyview.
“I know Young Thug from TV, but now I can say I’ve seen you in person,” she said. “Thank you for coming here today.”
Jeffrey Williams, more commonly known as young Thug (above), visited students at Skyview High School on Friday, August 1, 2025. He talked to them about ignoring the call to join gangs, or use guns, and to be better students. “My words mean something, but I have to do the right thing with them,” he said. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Jeffery Williams (center) took questions from students at Skyview High School in College Park on Friday, August 1, 2025. “I want to inspire others in another way, Williams said. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Voices
Give People What They Need to Fight for Racial Justice
By TIFFANy MANUEL
As the Trump administration wages war on our democratic institutions and social safety net, many of us who have fought for civil rights feel a life-or-death urgency to defend DEI and policies that advance health, racial equity, and democracy. And we know we must not give up on making the case for healing and repair.
But in a country where many people have long refused to talk about race, let alone our nation’s racist past and present policies, we’ve got to be strategic — especially in the face of an administration that lies, obfuscates, and erases the past.
If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, you know that takeoff is not instantaneous; the aircraft doesn’t just leap into the sky when the engines start. Instead, there is a process, a sequence of events that must unfold in order for a plane to achieve liftoff.
Helping people understand racial justice and the need for repair is like that, too.
I’ve studied decades of social science research and spent many years coaching leaders on how people think about race and what helps evolve their thinking. I’ve worked in communities where people are ready, even eager, to talk about the racist legacies of slavery and more recent policies like redlining — and to embrace solutions.
I’ve also been in places where I’ve said “equity” and community leaders have leaned over and whispered, “We can’t use that word here.”
You can’t use the same tactics in every place or with every group of people. But we have to keep talking about race and increasing people’s understanding of what justice entails if we’re ever going to get to a future in which all Americans can thrive.
Don’t Get Stuck on Labels
Imagine you’re teaching literature to students with vastly different reading levels. For the class to succeed, you must assess each student’s starting point and tailor your teaching accordingly.
The same is true for our conversations about race — whether at work, our kids’ soccer games, or school board and city council meetings. In some rooms, diving directly into a discussion about race will cause backlash. In others, failing to name it explicitly will lose the room.
Race-based discrimination in America is built on a history that is often untaught and misunderstood. Learning about race is much like learning a new language or playing a musical instrument: It takes time, practice, and patience. Despite the urgency we feel to make change now, we must create opportunities for others to learn and allow time for their understanding to develop.
We also have to avoid getting stuck on labels. The ways we describe racial inequities or responses to them — including “structural racism,” “DEI,” and other terms — can sometimes be barriers to effective conversations. Labels carry different cultural meanings across the
Credi: iStock.com/gonzalo mateos
country, making it challenging to find universally accepted terminology.
A good tactic is to acknowledge the different ways people talk about injustice. Let’s say we’re talking about unequal access to resources or opportunities in education, housing, employment, transportation, or another aspect of life. We can point out that some may call that “unfair,” some may call it “discriminatory,” and some might say it’s straight-up “racist.”
We may not all agree on what to call it, but we can ask people to agree not to take it into our shared future. We can urge them to move beyond arguing about what to call injustice and instead do something about it.
Stages of Takeoff
But how do we get people from one point on the spectrum of understanding to another? I’ve seen firsthand that there are four stages to getting people to think differently about race, similar to an airplane’s progress down the runway.
First, we get people to “pull away from the gate.” We do this by simply naming race. By talking about how no matter where we come from — our background, race, or economic status — we all deserve to live in communities with great schools. We all deserve a decent place to live and the ability to build a good life for ourselves and our families, no matter our job, race, age, or identity.
Then, over time, we can get people to “taxi down the runway” — or get a little further in their understanding of race in America. We do this by naming the gaps in opportunity that people of color experience and talking about what those gaps cost all of us. How, when we fail to create equitable systems that benefit everyone,
we exacerbate social, economic, and racial inequalities, and we also sap the energy, prosperity, health, and well-being of all Americans.
Next, we get people to “accelerate down the runway”—get them excited for change. We do this by making the case for racial equity and equipping them with knowledge about the systems we seek to change. We share powerful examples of ordinary people who have done extraordinary things to shift the trajectory of our nation, from abolition to the Civil Rights era to today.
The final stage of takeoff is when the plane leaves the ground. In the racial runway metaphor, this is when conversations about justice expand beyond policy reforms and into discussions of repair, redress, and the creation of an equitable future.
This stage requires us to ask: What does justice actually look like? What does it mean to repair the harms of racial exclusion and economic exploitation? How do we move beyond incremental progress and toward a new reality where equity is not just an aspiration, but a lived experience for all? How do we advance the reparations that have been too long in coming?
Too often, conversations about racial justice stop short of tackling redress and repair. People may be willing to acknowledge injustice but unwilling to embrace the full breadth of what it takes to correct it. But if we have done the work to get people to this point, taking off is inevitable.
Tiffany Manuel serves as president and CEO of TheCaseMade, an organization dedicated to helping leaders inspire public support to address challenging issues. She is also a board member of The Redress Movement, which focuses on assisting communities in addressing racial segregation.
FOUNDED
May 11, 1966
FOUNDER/EDITOR
Ed Clayton
Immortalis Memoria
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
J. Lowell Ware
Immortalis Memoria
The Atlanta Voice honors the life of J. Lowell Ware.
PUBLISHER
Janis Ware
PRESIDENT/
GENERAL MANAGER
James A. Washington 2018-2024
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We can move people from ignoring or denying the importance of race toward acknowledging the need for racial justice and repair. Photo
Spiritually Speaking: Get Out Of Your Own Way
BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON
The Atlanta Voice
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 says, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given to me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My Grace is sufficient for you; my power is made perfect in weakness. ‘Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ”Talk about powerful stuff! Some things in the bible reverberate repeatedly, and we still don’t get it for some strange reason. We can’t seem to incorporate them into our daily lives. Paul lets us know in the scripture above that there is indeed a reason to accept our shortcomings, flaws, and faults with the basic understanding that it is at these times that God will invariably show up and then proceed to show out. Can you imagine experiencing the ‘perfect’ power of the Lord? It’s as easy as looking in the mirror and assessing who you truly are in relation to who
Can you imagine experiencing the ‘perfect’ power of the Lord?
you should strive to be. The proper description should be that you are who you are only in relationship to God. If you know and accept yourself as a child of God, then you must also be a man or woman of God. The only thing standing in your way is you. If the truth be told, you know you can’t do it alone. You and I need help, and that help comes from only one source. It’s the perfect source, so be prepared to have some difficulty accepting the consequences. The consequence is recognizing a divine purpose in your particular set of weaknesses. Most of us would rather reject the notion of our sinful existence as just that, sinful. This text says our job is to revel in it through thorough spiritual recognition so that God can take over and do His miraculous thing. When you get a
hand from the Lord to overcome your addiction, your pride, your vanity, your physical weaknesses, you get so much more than you bargained for. According to this, you also get Christ’s power to work with. Isn’t that something? No wonder Paul continues by saying, ‘That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” By itself, you might wonder how Paul comes up with that conclusion. But when taken in the context of the entire passage, isn’t it true that out of your most impossible situation, when you give your life to Him who loves you more than you love yourself, God’s perfect power rescues you. How many testimonies does it take for you and me to give God the praise He
deserves for accomplishing through all of our frailties that we cannot do for ourselves? All I’m trying to say is stop fighting yourself. Stop denying your insecurities and your passions. Accept them and give them over to the Lord. Then step back and watch God do His thing with your life. Be careful, though. When God moves in, the magic happens, and it takes you, all of you, good and bad, to let go and finally let God. SOMETIMES, He does get impatient. 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 Black Women Want: 10 Things We’re Manifesting Beyond Romance
By RASHONDA TATE
When it comes to Black women and our desires, the world often tries to box us into one narrative: waiting on love. But here’s the real tea — while love is beautiful, it’s not the only thing on our vision boards.
We’re dreaming bigger, bolder and beyond anybody’s expectations. From career glow-ups to generational wealth and, yes, even uninterrupted naps, Black women are manifesting lives full of purpose and pleasure.
Here are 10 things Black women are manifesting right now — no wedding ring required.
1. Career elevation and creative freedom
We’re not just clocking in; we’re cashing out, building empires and leading with authenticity. Whether climbing the corporate ladder, launching that dream business or pivoting to passion projects, Black women are claiming seats at the table—and building new tables when necessary.
2. Generational wealth and land ownership
Gone are the days of “just getting by.” We’re focused on securing assets, buying land, investing smart and leaving something solid behind. It’s about breaking cycles of scarcity and building legacies our grandbabies can stand on.
3. Deep, unshakeable sisterhood
True friendship and community hit different when they’re rooted in trust, support and shared joy. We’re manifesting spaces where we can be vulnerable, celebrated and held — no judgment, just love.
4. Travel and global experiences
We want passports stamped, horizons
expanded and memories made beyond our backyards. Whether it’s a solo trip to Ghana or a girls’ getaway to Tulum, travel is therapy, education and liberation all in one.
5. Mental and physical wellness
Rest is not a reward; it’s a right. We’re prioritizing therapy, yoga, spiritual healing and regular checkups — because our health
deserves top billing, not the leftovers.
6. Creative expression and storytelling
From poetry to painting to podcasting, Black women are telling our own stories and reclaiming our narratives. Art isn’t just a hobby; it’s a healing tool and a form of resistance.
7. Political and community power
We’re organizing, voting, running for office and creating movements. The goal? To make sure our communities thrive and our voices echo far beyond election season.
8. Financial independence and literacy
We’re done playing small with our coins. Black women are learning about stocks, crypto, trusts and all the things that build real freedom. Financial literacy is becoming a love language.
9. Spiritual growth and alignment
Whether it’s prayer, meditation, ancestral work or all of the above, we’re manifesting a life that feels aligned with purpose and spirit. The goal is to feel whole from the inside out.
10. Uninterrupted naps and soft life living
Listen — we want naps without guilt, soft mornings without alarms and leisure without explanation. We’re embracing softness as a radical act and reclaiming joy as a birthright.
Choosing rest, freedom, and abundance, Black women are rewriting what fulfillment looks like today. Photo Credit: yuri Arcurs peopleimages.com
From Zone 4 to Canada’s Favorite Dish: Atlanta’s Poutine King
By TABIUS McCOy Report for America Corp
Acompact, bright red food truck sits at the end of the parking lot, and if the color doesn’t catch your attention, the smell just might. The aroma of seasoned meats, hot gravy, and grease blend so perfectly, like the smell of grandma’s southern Sunday dinner. The smell is inviting and comforting. Except this isn’t necessarily southern cuisine. It’s actually Canadian.
As you take a peep through the small serving window in the truck, you quickly spot Tony Jackson stirring a pot of gravy while looking to his left to check on the fries he just dropped in the grease. Jackson looks at ease, with a serene smile on his face, which is rather surprising for someone operating on maybe three hours of sleep from a long night at the truck the night before.
On his right elbow is a gray, wornout brace.
“The brace comes from all the pots of gravy I’ve stirred,” he says with a straight face, with no follow-up laugh, emphasizing he’s actually serious in his statement.
“They say it takes about 10,000
hours to master something. I’ve put in like 20,30,40 thousand-something hours doing this,” Jackson said.
But Jackson might be downplaying the number of hours he’s spent perfecting it.
This Canadian poutine dish has been part of Jackson’s life since he was a young boy. He grew up observing the making, tasting, and internalizing the art of poutine. His love for the dish emerged well before he had long lines of customers, well before he was making the dish for a living, and even long before he became the owner of the first — and only — poutine eatery in the Southeast.
His history and backstory with poutine go way back
Just a kid from Atlanta
Although today Jackson serves up highly reviewed, authentic Canadian poutine on the daily, life actually began for him over 500 miles away from Canada. Jackson, who is of Somalian descent, was born and raised in the city of Atlanta — Zone 4, to be exact.
Everything from the Crawford Long Hospital (now Emory University Midtown) printed on his birth certificate to his childhood neighborhood, Campbellton Road, and his
undergraduate degree from Morehouse College are living proof of his Atlanta roots.
“I think Atlanta helped raise me,” said Jackson.
Which might initially confuse some — including myself — given the fact that Jackson is wearing a bright red bucket hat with the letters “C-A-N-A-D-A” stitched on the side and owns a Canadian food truck.
An
Atlanta native making Canadian cuisine?
When customers learn that Jackson is the founder of Pat’s Poutine, they almost always ask, “So wait… how’d the idea of poutine come about?” It’s a question driven by initial confusion.
Jackson often chuckles as he’s heard the question more than a few times, but he doesn’t get tired of explaining the backstory.
“Both sides of my family lived in Canada in back in the ’80s,” he explains.
“I would go back and forth to Canada growing up and even as an adult. So Canada’s been part of my life.”
Poutine was something Jackson grew up eating around family on a regular basis, rather it was at gatherings or just a regular school night.
“Poutine is the national dish of Canada. It’s served everywhere,” Jackson said. “Poutine to Canada is like what hot wings are to Atlanta.”
A statement many Atlanta natives would understand.
Simple, but not simple to perfect.
Poutine consists of three main ingredients: fried white potatoes, cheese curds and gravy.
Despite how simple the dish might seem, the work that goes into perfecting it is not necessarily simple.
Fortunately for Jackson, his mother entrusted him with her signature poutine recipe. It was only right for him to name the truck after his mother.
She didn’t necessarily know how much of a hit it would be at first, explained Jackson, as the dish was mainly just made for his siblings and family.
Despite having the blueprint to success, Jackson would spend years mastering the technique and art of poutine-making before selling it to the public.
He would spend hours tasting batches of gravy, checking for consistency and even mastering the technique of double-frying the fries.
“So I’m not necessarily, as you’d find, a chef of all foods, you know — I just know this dish. I know what I know. I can see the gravy boil in the pot and know if it’s right. You know what I’m saying?” Jackson said.
“I like to say, I’m a master at poutine.”
Photo By Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Photo By Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Dungeon Family, Future, Doechii, Kehlani, and more set to headline the 2025 One Musicfest
By LAURA NWOGU
One Musicfest, the Southeast’s largest annual urban progressive music festival, announced its 2025 lineup on Monday, and the celebration of Black culture and music is back and bigger.
The two-day Atlanta festival will return to Piedmont Park, a change that comes after the festival was held at Central Park in 2024. One Musicfest is known for its focus on showing love to on-the-rise and legendary acts, giving festival goers a taste of a range of popular R&B and Hip-Hop acts.
This year’s star-studded lineup includes Atlanta’s The Dungeon Family, Future, Jagged Edge, and Ludacris. The Dungeon Family will pay tribute to member Rico Wade, who died in April 2024. The Roots are set to headline with feature performances from Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, and Havoc of Mobb Deep. The hip-hop acts also include Doechii, live from the swamp, and Boosie, who’s always ready to set it off. After dropping their first album since 2009 in July, Clipse is planning to make a comeback to the festival stage at OMF.
POUTINE
Continued from page 6
Finally Dialed In
Despite being a master at poutine, Jackson has had a long journey getting to where he is now.
At 43 years old, this isn’t Jackson’s first go-round at owning a business.
“I’m old. I’ve lived like five lives,” he said jokingly.
But Jackson has had his hand in a wide range of careers: from owning a commercial cleaning business for 10 years, to being a well-known nightlife promoter in Dubai, and even working for the City of Atlanta as a public relations manager for former Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves. Jackson has done a lot.
But in 2017, he decided to take the first step in starting Pat’s Poutine and applied for a business license. He admits there were many initial logistics he didn’t know about, being that this was his first food truck — such as getting a certificate and applying for a commissary.
Jackson was determined. He knew the concept would be a hit.
“This was the first thing I really dialed in on.”
It All Started from a Prius
Despite applying for a business
license in 2017, it still took him some time to get the ball rolling.
“Around that time, my son was born… and I also was just pondering on how I wanted to effectively do this,” said Jackson.
Fast forward to 2020, Pat’s Poutine would finally make its introduction to the city of Atlanta.
But… it wouldn’t be the type of introduction one might see of the business today.
The bright red truck… that wasn’t necessarily in existence when Jackson first served customers in 2020.
“We would set up our whole tent out of a Prius. Imagine a Prius pulling up to a festival and then popping out a whole tent set-up. I’m talking about 10-by-10-foot tents, tables, generators — all this stuff,” Jackson said through laughter.
Many of the business’s first two years were spent driving around to various events in the Atlanta area, setting up shop at festivals, community events, you name it. It was a small team: Jackson, his wife and a neighborhood friend, making poutine with a small fryer and a sprinkle of love.
“We really just got out there. We were action-oriented, and you’re gonna make the mistakes,” Jackson said.
Many of his early days were spent handing out business cards to
anyone he came in contact with, urging them to try out his food truck.
Jackson admits Pat’s has definitely had its share of ups and downs.
“There were many times we were discouraged, many times when we didn’t have the funds, but you just get up and do what you’ve got.”
When the business first obtained the food truck, they dealt with issues like kitchen fires, car wrecks and broken equipment.
“It’s all part of the game,” Jackson said. “Yeah, man, it’s funny, bro. I really feel like you’re not moving in this thing if at times you’re not unsure.”
Still at It
It’s about 94 degrees outside on a Tuesday afternoon in Atlanta. The heat inside Pat’s Poutine truck feels nearly double that. The only breeze of air comes when Jackson briefly opens the fridge to grab some cheese curds.
Tony Jackson isn’t phased by the heat. He actually has a smile on his face as he exits the food truck and walks the Chevron parking lot handing out buy-one-get-onefree coupons and business cards to people.
“Come check out the food truck,” Jackson said proudly.
The same way Jackson started building his clientele nearly five years ago, he’s doing it the same
R&B is alive and well with scheduled performances from Kehlani, Leon Thomas, FLO and Odeal, all of whom are coming off a hot year full of singles, EPs, and albums. Jazmine Sullivan and her serending voice are also headliners, and One Musicfest plans to take it back to the 2000s with an R&B set featuring Lloyd, Ray J, Bobby V, and Sammie, and Pleasure P. D-Nice is scheduled to host a set featuring last year’s headliner, Ari Lennox, Case, Carl Thomas and Tweet.
And it’s not a OneMusic festival without a Greg Street set. The Atlanta DJ’s set will include Plies, Trick Daddy, Project Pat, Trinidad James, Rich Kidz, with more surprises in store. The year of the cowboy continues with performances by 803 Fresh with Cupid, who are the creators of the viral country song “Boots on the Ground,” Tonio Armani, Mike Clark Jr. and DJ Smooth. A set named Southern Ladies will feature Rasheeda, Kentheman, Flippa T and “I’m So ATL” rapper Bankroll Ni. Up-and-coming rappers Ray Vaughn and Yakiyn round out the lineup.
Presale tickets for OMF are on sale now at onemusicfest.com.
way now.
“It’s good to go out and talk to the people,” he said.
Except now, the goal isn’t solely to get the name out in Atlanta, as thousands are aware of the name.
The goal is to spread the name on a global and national scale.
“We’re in a food truck now, but this is going to be a franchise soon.”
Jackson also has plans to push forward the company’s nonprofit
component, Pat’s Promise, which focuses on raising autism awareness and donating to children with special needs.
The future is bright for Atlanta’s poutine master.
“Step right up,” says Jackson, greeting a returning customer approaching the truck. With a warm smile, he continues to serve the dish he loves, connecting with his city one plate at a time.
One Music fest, the annual two-day festival, founded by Jason “J” Carter, is returning to Piedmont Park this year. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Photo By Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Fashion
SCAD graduate Torren Thomas displays hip-hop-inspired bridal collection
By ISAIAH SINGLETON
Stockbridge-native Torren Thomas turned heads at the SCAD Fashion 2025 Show with a unique hip-hop bridal collection titled “Real Love,” which blended street style with high fashion.
She says Real Love was inspired by the iconic Mary J. Blige and Hip-Hop culture. Growing up, Thomas’ family exposed her to hip-hop at an early age, so this was her way of showing her appreciation for the culture.
“I have an extreme love for hip-hop culture and music; it’s been engrossed in my life,” she said. “I have a pet bearded dragon named Ramo, who I named after one of the characters from Beach Street, which is a popular hip-hop movie.”
She also says hip-hop culture is prevalent in her everyday life and wanted to honor it and highlight her love for bridal wear.
The “Real Love” collection incorporates bridal wear with track suits and jerseys with gold embroidery, with different titles of hiphop songs that Thomas enjoys.
Additionally, Thomas said she recalls feeling “exhilarated and slightly nervous” while reflecting on the fashion show.
“The feelings I had in the moment were just first-time senior creations walking down the runway, it’s a little nerve-wracking, but I was so excited,” Thomas said. “I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time, my jaws were hurting by the end of the night from smiling, it was such an amazing experience.”
Also, Thomas said she cried tears of joy
Community
when she found out her collection would be in the show. Thomas says she was in the middle of one of her classes when the results came out. She had to leave the classroom and call her parents to tell them the great news.
“They were very happy,” she said.
Thomas’ fashion journey, she says, began at the early ages between three and four.
“I’ve always been interested in fashion, but around that age, my mom got me this Barbie book of careers because I was always obsessed with Barbie,” she said. “I started flipping through the book and came across the fashion design page and Barbie was draping fabric on the mannequin, and instantly I knew I wanted to do fashion design.”
Thomas says she never really looked back after that because ever since, she has been honing her skills, getting classes, going to
fashion camps, and enrolling in SCAD. She also said her parents have been incredibly supportive of her goals and dreams.
“They put me in so many programs and fashion workshops here in Atlanta, and I did that for several years. I even got the opportunity to go back and instruct students in that program as well,” she said.
Throughout the process, Thomas says she has learned a lot about herself, including being more creative, able to get random ideas out of nowhere and work them out, and able to apply that creativity to other aspects of her life as well, like problem solving
“I’m able to make the random ideas work somehow, and I feel if I weren’t doing fashion, I wouldn’t know that about myself,” she said.
Additionally, Thomas got her bachelor’s in May at SCAD and will be going back for her master’s in the fall.
“I’m debating between writing and luxury brand management, but I’m leaning more towards writing because I have a love for fashion journalism. I’m also on the job hunt, looking to get into the fashion industry,” she said.
SCAD, she said, taught her to think creatively.
“I have always thought outside the box, but coming to SCAD really introduced me to a whole new way of thinking, and I’m forever grateful for that. I’ve grown tremendously during my time here and have created things, including the Real Love collection,” she said.
When people see her designs, Thomas says
21 Savage Hosts 9th Annual Back-to-School Drive
By TABIUS McCOy Report for America Corp
On Sunday, August 3, 21 Savage, along with his Leading By Example Foundation and Momma Flystyle hosted the ninth annual Issa Back to School drive.
“He’s homegrown, he is our own, straight out of 285 and Glenwood,” said Hank Johnson, U.S. representative for Georgia’s 4th Congressional District, in regards to what Grammy-winning rapper 21 Savage means to the community of DeKalb County. The event served thousands of DeKalb County school students and surrounding counties as they
prepare to start the first day of school Monday, Aug. 4.
This school year, many parents across the nation are concerned about the impact tariffs will have on the rising cost of school supplies. With the implementation of Liberation Day Tariffs in April of this year, all imported goods, no matter the country, were hit with a 10% universal tariff.
“Oh, it’s huge, because prices are going up all across the country due to Trump’s tariffs and other policies. And so everything is more expensive, but income remains the same,” said U.S. Representative Johnson.
The event was responsible for providing students with bookbags filled with school supplies, shoes, food, haircut and braiding services, school uniforms, and skin care products.
“It was nice of him to do this because he didn’t have to,” said Tasha Lewis, a parent in attendance.
“We just wanna make sure we take some type of load off for these parents so they’re not worried about sending their children to school and spending their last,” 21 Savage’s manager, Justin Williams, told The Atlanta Voice.
The Leading By Example
she wants people to take a sense of innovation from them.
“I want all my designs to be something nobody has ever seen or thought of before,” she said. “I want to make people think and wonder how I produced a particular concept in my head. I want people to enjoy my collection and ponder what led to the creation of my designs.”
Thomas also says some of her favorite designers include Marc Jacobs, Dutch Fashion Designer Iris Van Herpen, and Mugler.
As far as advice, Thomas says to stay true to your vision because the industry is tough.
“I know with fashion a lot of times, it’s trend-focused, but you’re going to get a lot of enjoyment and fulfillment by staying true to who you are as a designer,” she said. “Make sure your design DNA is injected in everything you do and have fun with it.”
Thomas’s end goal is to have her own fashion bridal line, which will incorporate streetwear as well. She is also into fashion journalism and would love to start her own fashion magazine one day.
“I also love museums and would like to try becoming a museum curator too,” she said. “I used to think I had to choose one path, but I’m at a point where I just want to do it all.”
Furthermore, Thomas thanks everyone at SCAD who has supported her, specifically her professor, Maria Korovilas.
“All the professors and the entire staff at SCAD Fash have supported me through my journey her,e so I just want to thank them,” she said.
Foundation was founded in 2018 by Savage to encourage the youth to understand the basics of managing money, opening bank accounts, and saving for college by partnering with prominent financial literacy organizations. The organization has held many events and granted scholarships to students as well. The back-to-school drive featured sponsors from DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, Walmart, Prime Hydration, Live Nation, Adidas, and Goodwipes.
On Sunday, August 3, 21 Savage, along with his Leading By Example Foundation and Momma Flystyle hosted the ninth annual Issa Back to School drive. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Photo provided by SCAD
One Contemporary Gallery opens first solo exhibition featuring Brill Adium
By NOAH WASHINGTON
“This is more like a mixtape, so enjoy the music,” Atlanta-based artist Brill Adium told visitors Friday evening as they moved through the solo exhibition, “Finding My Rhythm”, a collection of mixed-media works that skip between themes like tracks on a playlist.
On Friday, July 25, One Contemporary Gallery opened its first solo exhibition, showcasing the work of Adium.
“I want people to question the art,” Adium told the attending crowd. “I make art for people to have a dialogue with their neighbor, because now it goes to a solution. I want to form a solution. In this world, we have a lot of problems that need to be addressed, and
curiosity starts with these pieces.”
Gallery owner Faron Manuel said he first encountered Adium’s work about a year and a half ago and was drawn to the artist’s socially aware approach and unique techniques incorporating woodwork and assemblage.
“I thought he had something really interesting to say. Manuel said that he was “ socially aware, “ he said, a lot of emotion in his painting, and a lot of interesting techniques like woodwork and his unique painting style and working with assemblage,” Manuel said. “I just thought he had a really good story to tell.”
The exhibition title emerged organically from conversations between Manuel and the artist. “He said, ‘You know, I don’t really think of this as a cohesive body of work. The last couple of years, I really just
been finding my rhythm,’” Manuel recalled. “And it was just in conversation. And sometimes when I hear things like that, it just expresses the concept the right way, and I was like, ‘No, let’s use that.’”
Adium, 34, who moved to Atlanta four years ago from Orlando, described the exhibition as resembling a mixtape rather than a cohesive body of work. Originally from Andalusia, Alabama, he moved to Orlando in fifth grade before eventually settling in Atlanta around 2021.
“You know, when you think of a mixtape, it’s not really a fleshedout idea, it’s just ideas,” Adium explained. “Some people will say, ‘Damn, I love these songs.’ And then from that, maybe three songs make the album. So that’s what this is.”
Adium has been creating since childhood, finding solace in drawing during frequent trips to his room as a young boy. “My mom used to send me to my room a lot, so that’s where I found that time,” he said. “I also understood being in my room was therapeutic when I was drawing.”
Adium emphasized his identity as a full creative rather than just a painter. All the wooden frames in the show were built by the artist himself, showcasing his woodworking abilities alongside his painting skills. “I don’t want to just be looked at as a painter. I want to be looked at somebody that can execute ideas,” he said.
Adium highlighted one piece in particular, a work about the 1963 Birmingham church bombing that killed four young girls. “That’s the one that I really want people to hone in on,” Adium said. “That’s a real moment that touched me. When I finished that piece, they spoke with me. Those girls in that painting spoke to me. So for me, at that moment, it made me realize why we do art.”
One Contemporary Gallery, located at 395 Edgewood Ave SE, opened more than six months ago in January and has focused on presenting diverse artists through both group and solo exhibitions. Manuel said the Edgewood community has embraced the gallery, with Liberty Baptist Church providing free parking for events.
“We felt really welcomed by the Edgewood community,” Manuel
said. “They really love the idea of an art gallery being here. So for the majority of our events, we present them with free parking downtown in Atlanta, which is basically unheard of, and a lot of people from the community come out. Some have become patrons
and buy art and support the work that we do.”
Adium encouraged other creatives to pursue their ideas. “If you’re creative, or if you got an idea, if you got a dream, you know, just push through with it,” he said. “Execute. That’s all I want people to do.”
No More Starving Artists, Acrylic On Canvas. Photo by Noah Washington/ The Atlanta Voice
Four Little Girls, Pencil, Watercolor, Color Pencil, Acrylic On Canvas, Salvaged Wood Frame. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
On Friday, July 25, One Contemporary Gallery opened its first solo exhibition, showcasing the work of Adium. Photo by Noah Washington/ The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta United on the road in Montreal and Colorado
By DONNELL SUGGS
The latter half of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season is here, and for Atlanta United, the matches that are left to play may be more concerning next season than they are this season.
The Five Stripes, winners of their final Leagues Cup match, 4-1 over Atlas on Wednesday night, are currently embedded in a stretch where they have not won an MLS match in nearly two months (May 28). That said, they have been even worse on the road this season. Atlanta United, 4-911 overall, is 0-3-8 on the road this season, with the three draws coming at Austin, D.C., and Toronto. Only Austin FC (9-6-8 overall) has a winning record among the
three teams that allowed Atlanta United to leave their grounds with a point.
Next up for manager first-year Atlanta United Ronny Deila, team captain Miguel Almiron (three goals and four assists in 22 matches this season), the team’s leading goal scorer Emmanuel Latte Lath (seven goals in 23 matches), and arguably the team’s best player Alexey Miranchuk (four goals and three assists in 24 matches), are road matches at CF Montreal on Saturday, Augu. 9, and in Commerce City, Colorado, at the Colorado Rapids on the following Saturday, Aug. 16.
One of Atlanta’s four victories came against Montreal in the season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Latte Lath scored two of his team’s three goals during the 3-2
victory. This rematch will be one of the few times the Five Stripes are favored over an opponent on the road. The game in Colorado
will be the one and only time Atlanta United will play in the Centennial State. The Rapids are ninth in the Western Conference
standings, which leaves them in playoff position, a point behind Real Salt Lake.
The most recent road match was in Orlando at Inter&Co Stadium against Liga MX club Pumas. The 3-1 loss, which does not count towards the team’s already anemic road record, included Atlanta’s only goal, an own-goal by Keylor Navas of Pumas in the 35th minute of the match.
Help might be on the way in the form of an English midfielder from the Championship. Steven Alzate, who most recently played for Hull City in the country’s second division, was announced as the latest addition to the club. Hull City finished seventh in the championship and ended the 2024-2025 campaign with a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on May 25. Alzate played in 22 of 29 games that season, so his healthy legs might be what Atlanta United needs to close this season on a good note.
What’s
Next:
Atlanta United will return home to host Toronto on Sunday, August 24, before ending the month of August with a short road trip to Tennessee to face Nashville SC on Saturday, August 30. Nashville and Atlanta United played to a 1-1 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on May 3.
On the Road Again: Atlanta United are on the road at CF Montreal on Saturday, Aug. 9, and in Commerce City, Colorado, at the Colorado Rapids on the following Saturday, Aug. 16. Photo by Mitch Martin/Atlanta United
Atlanta United players pose for a photo before the Leagues Cup match against the Necaxa at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Wednesday July 30, 2025. Photo by Matthew Dingle/Atlanta United
Street Lines: 2025 Nissan Armada PRO-4X
By DENNIS MALCOLM ByRON AKA ALE SHARPTON
When it comes to full-size SUVs that fit up to eight people, they can get a little cumbersome when it comes to agility, handling, visibility, and other driving challenges. Thankfully, that doesn’t go for this completely redesigned 2025 Armada. Presented in the PRO-4X version with Intelligent 4WD, I enjoyed how nimble it was for its size combined with the confidence to take on virtually any road condition with the enhanced traction while occupants got pampered in upscale comfort.
One of the standouts of the 2025 Armada is flexing a more powerful engine. Under the hood, the PRO-4X is equipped with a potent 3.5-liter twin turbo V6 engine that pumps 425 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft of torque. Utilizing a ninespeed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control, the drive is smooth with aggressive
acceleration, along with a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds complete with hill start assist. For those who are looking for hands-off capability, the ProPILOT Assist 2.1 is there for a relaxing freeway-driving session.
Visually, the PRO-4X trim exudes attitude, which is a good thing. It rides on 20-inch PRO-4X alloy wheels encased in rugged all-terrain tires, teamed up with black painted mirrors, roof rails, and skid plates. The more boxy body and 2.1 extra inches above standard height delivers a little more welcomed intimidation, while the signature LED headlamps balance things out with a futuristic look to boost the cool factor.
Inside gets even more applause. The leather appointments throughout the cabin including quilted seats with red lava stitching set the tone for passenger pampering. Technology is front and center, thanks to a 14.3inch color touchscreen display with
navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The Google and Alexa capacities thanks to Nissan Connect paired with Armada’s personal WiFi make virtually every source availability accounted for. Audio enthusiasts will appreciate the Klipsch 12-speaker premium sound system
bumping 600 watts of power, while rear seat passengers enjoy the comfort of rear climate control including ventilated seats and six USB-C charging ports.
Safety and driver assistance continues to be a priority with Nissan.
The 2025 Armada PRO-4X includes Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite:
CLASSIFIEDS
intelligent forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and a rear sonar system to name a few stress relievers. Additional upgrades include trailer sway control, front and rear parking sensors, and an Intelligent around view monitor for tight spots and trail navigation. The panoramic moonroof and hands-free power liftgate further supplement the Armada’s poshness. With its rugged styling, commanding stance, and feature-stacked cabin, the 2025 Nissan Armada PRO-4X is one large SUV deserving a very strong consideration.
Fuel Economy: 15 city/18 highway/16 combined
Price: The 2025 Nissan reviewed is $73,740 and $80,445 as reviewed with all Pro-4X amenities and destination charges.
For more information, visit Nissan.com.
SENIOR (62+)
Spacious 1-Bedroom Affordable! Rent Based on Annual Income Amenities, Great Location, and Convenient to Marta Please call for detailed information (404) 586-9098
for The Fifty-Five, located at 2855 East Point Street, East Point, GA
BIDS DUE: August 19, 2025, at 2:00pm
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.
SOFTWARE ENGINEER II
Software Engineer II w/ GREENSKY MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC in Atlanta, GA. Telecommuting permitted. Contribute toward dsgn’g, dvlpng, & supporting frameworks for our test infrastructure & providing test & test automation expertise to our dvlpmt teams. Ensure all tests are executed & give regular feedback to team on status of quality. Req’s : Bach deg (U.S. or foreign equiv) in Comp Sci, Softw Eng’g, IT, or rel. field. 4 yrs of exp in job offered or rel. role. Job Code: 8862794. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS: Apply at greensky.com. Select “About” tab & click on “Careers.” NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. ©2006-2025 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,
Photo courtesy of Nissan
Lois | Actual patient
