Publisher Janis L. Ware honored with 2025 NNPA Lifetime Achievement Award
Atlanta family rebuilds hope after wrongful FBI house raid
BY ISAIAH SINGLETON
Imagine one morning you’re jolted from bed and awoken by a flashbang grenade exploding in your living room. One early morning in 2017, this was the reality for Atlanta family Trina Martin, her son Gabe, and her then partner, Toi Cliatt.
Fearing the home was being robbed, Cliatt pulled Trina into the bedroom closet and reached for his legally-owned shotgun. Just as he was about to grab it, an FBI agent barged in, threw him to the ground, and began interrogating him and Trina. All the while, Gabe (seven years old at the time of the incident) was separated from his mother as officers stormed into his bedroom with guns drawn.
When Cliatt told the agents his address, it dawned on them they had raided the wrong house. The FBI had a warrant, however, for a house with a different address number on a different street.
After realizing their mistake, the FBI agents quickly left and raided the correct house. Afterward, one of the agents returned, apologized, and gave Cliatt his supervisor’s business card to discuss paying for the damage.
He then called the number on the card, but it quickly became clear the federal government did not plan to help. Also, despite the trauma inflicted on the innocent family, the government refused to cover costs.
With no other way to recover for these injuries, Trina decided to file a lawsuit under the Federal Torts Claims Act (FTCA) and pursued more aid from the Institute for Justice (IJ). This in turn, made the IJ ask the U.S. Supreme Court to revive their lawsuit for accountability, which has been thrown out by the lower courts.
After nearly eight years, the U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to hear their case to reconsider whether their suit under FTCA should be allowed to move forward. The Atlanta Voice spoke with Trina and Gabe (who is now 14 years old) to talk about the situation, the importance of accountability, fighting back, and trauma.
The Atlanta Voice: Do you still have PTSD from the FBI house raid in 2017?
Trina Martin: Yes. I felt like your home is your sanctuary, your safety net. I don't feel that anymore. Anything can happen. I felt like at one point in time when I'm in my own home, I'm safe and if something were to happen and I contacted local authorities, I'm safe. However, now I have no faith in law enforcement. I keep surveillance on my home to this day before I go to bed throughout the night. I wake up in the morning, I'm constantly checking my windows, checking to make sure my doors are locked.
Gabe Martin: Back then, I wanted to be a police officer around that age, but after the incident, I didn't want to become one because I thought they were used for the wrong things. I always ask my mom whenever a situation happens do we have to call the police, or what's going to happen next when the police get here? I don't really feel safe around officers.
TM: It took a lot of adjustment and therapy to try to navigate through life again. We’ve been trying to find ways to live all over again, because at that moment, our lives were abruptly interrupted.
AV: When you realized, the federal government wasn’t going to offer any compensation or aid after the raid, how did that feel?
TM: When they dismissed our case, it was a blow to the heart. There are no words to even express Isaiah because it was a low blow. I'm a veteran and I’ve served and protected this country; you expect the same thing. I expected to be protected and receive a resolution. I expect for the government to hold themselves accountable. This was complete negligence, and for them to sweep it underneath the rug and act as if we're not victims, it’s a low blow.
AV: Have you all heard anything from the FBI about an apology?
TM: The only time we received an apology was that morning when they realized they were at the wrong address. It was like they became human and snapped back to reality. It was like they were robots until after the realization hit them. It's been a lot of not taking accountability and sweeping underneath the rug as if nothing ever happened. There has not been an apology since that night.
AV: Do you all feel safer where you live now?
TM: I don't feel safe anywhere I go. We always must check our surroundings and make sure places are secured, but even when it’s secured, or when I thought it was secure at our old house, they just knocked down the door and all the security went with it.
GB: I don’t feel safer, to be honest. It’s like a replay every day. I remember hiding underneath my blanket because I was terrified. I think about the situation a lot because my life could’ve been taken, like I wouldn’t be here talking to you right now. I will never forget the automatic rifles pointed in my face and all the smoke that was in the house, all
the flash bangs, it's a constant replay.
AV: With the U.S. Supreme Court willing to hear your case, what do you hope to gain?
TM: I hope to get a favorable outcome out of this and hope to be awarded whatever the Supreme Court or justice system feels as though the highest award should be. We’re seeking restitution because it's not just in 2017, the moment it happened, this is ongoing. My son was seven years old at that time and you never know when there's going to be a trigger point. He has his whole life ahead of him, and I want an outcome that will give him some type of peace, feeling heard, and feel like justice was made. I'm looking for the Supreme Court to make the right decision in our favor and we’re going to be grateful regardless. I feel incredibly grateful and honored they are willing to hear our case because it's a major milestone, not just for me, but for others that may have been affected by a related situation. I see this as an opportunity for justice and positive change and I remain hopeful for a favorable outcome.
Editor’s Note: This interview was condensed for length. The full version can be read on TheAtlantaVoice.com
In 2017 the Federal Bureau of Investigation wrongfully raided the home of Trina Martin and her son Gabe. After nearly eight years, the U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to look into their case. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Worth a thousand words: Smyre honored with portrait in Georgia State Capitol
BY LAURA NWOGU
Former Georgia Rep. Calvin Smyre has achieved many firsts and milestones in his career: he was the first African-American to hold the position of administrative floor leader, the first African American chairman of the Democratic Party's state legislative caucus, the first African American elected official from Georgia to be elected to the Democratic National Committee and the longest-serving member of the Georgia Legislature.
Now, Smyre’s portrait is one of only seven African American portraits hanging in the Georgia State Capitol. Friends, family, former Georgia governors Roy Barnes and Sonny Perdue and lawmakers who had served with Smyre sat under the gold dome on Tuesday for the unveiling of the portrait and to honor the Columbus, Georgia, lawmaker and his lasting legacy.
Elected in 1975, Smyre was the last of his freshman class to leave the halls of the Capitol when he retired in 2022. Nearly 50 years later, an imposing portrait of Smyre, painted by Columbus artist Steven Têtte, sits right at the entrance of the House chamber on the third floor.
“Mere words cannot adequately express my feelings right now. What is about to happen in a few minutes is overwhelming, and I am deeply honored,” Smyre said to the audience. “What a way to end the ride.”
Lawmakers at the unveiling ceremony lauded Smyre for bridging gaps across political divides, being a mentor and creating unity within the House and Senate to create a better quality of life for Georgians.
“If you want to know the true character of a person, give them power. Calvin used his power to build bridges,” Rep. Billy Mitchell said.
The portrait is only one representation of his stamped legacy. The impact of his contributions resonates beyond the Capitol building. Smyre authored the legislation making Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday a state holiday and the legislation creating the now-demolished Georgia Dome, former home of the Atlanta Falcons. He was also the co-sponsor of House Bill 16, the legislation that created a new Georgia State Flag.
From advising the presidential campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Al Gore to serving as a community organizer in his hometown of Columbus, those closest to him made sure to give Smyre his flowers during the ceremony.
“Calvin often said, you make your living by what you get. You make your life by what you give. Calvin D. Smyre has given so much for so many for so long. This generation and generations to come will view the portrait hanging in this Capitol that will recognize the tremendous service and sacrifice of Calvin Smyre, the ‘dean’ of his house,” Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. said.
Elected in 1975, Smyre was the last of his freshman class to leave the halls of the Capitol when he retired in 2022. Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice
Former Georgia rep. Calvin Smyre’s portrait (above) is one of only seven African American portraits hanging in the Georgia State Capitol. Photo by Itor N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”— Jackie Robinson
How Closeted Racist Memorabilia Continues to Fuel Generational Racism
BY MELANIE N. LATSON
As Donald Trump’s second inauguration looms ahead on Jan. 20, I am reminded of a troubling experience my realtor husband had a few months ago while visiting a client for an in-home consultation. To my surprise, while he was on this visit, I received a video displaying shaky footage of a 360-degree view of the client’s bathroom covered from counter to ceiling in racist blackface memorabilia. From watermelons to sambos to mammies, this space easily rivaled the extensive collection within the walls of the Jim Crow Museum. Almost as disturbing as the memorabilia was the irony that this client was willing to work with a Black professional while proudly owning and displaying these items. My husband stood in that bathroom facing a conundrum Black Americans so often face — so much progress, yet so far to go. In today’s times right in Metro Atlanta, a Black man found himself deep within the outlandish imagination of a racist white man, the most dangerous place for any person of color to be. In Jordan Peele fashion, after quickly documenting, he knew it was time to get out!
As an Atlanta native, raised in the Black Mecca of Civil Rights and being a grandchild of community activists, I have had a front-row seat to the growth of a thriving, Black-majority metropolitan area, but I also know all too well the regressive past of the sundown towns surrounding it. I have had the safety of living in community with Black judges, doctors, and teachers, yet the fear of dwelling in the deep South where our hospitals, schools, and libraries are often adorned with the names of white supremacists of yore. The Jim Crow Museum urges that to truly use “objects of intolerance to teach tolerance,” we must, as a society, continuously witness, understand, and heal. What my husband saw that day has led me to wonder if much of America is stuck at simply witnessing with no care to understand or heal. As my husband walked out of the bathroom that Wednesday, he noticed something very different: the many pictures of the homeowners’ grandchildren throughout the home. When he
told me about this, I thought back to memories of my grandparents’ house: the savory aroma of soul food and hallways lined with pictures of family, friends, and good times. However, the grandchildren of these homeowners were learning a far different lesson, taking in the unsavory, pungent aroma of white supremacy. Without saying much, they are teaching their grandchildren a mouthful by this choice of peculiar home decor. As an educator who has taught from the Bay Area to the shores of Georgia on a small island, I have passionately planted social justice as a pillar of my teaching to ensure that my students did not just learn how to read and write, but also how to show compassion, respect, civically engage, and lead in their community. As I thought about the grandkids that visit this house of horror, my heart ached as I questioned if the work I had done with my students was enough for them to boldly advocate, activate, and disrupt injustice when they witness it throughout life, even if it is within their own family. I wondered what these grandchildren thought about the
objects and how they translated those ideas to the people of color they see in the world.
While I created my classroom to be an inclusive safe haven, I vividly remember the racial tensions among my students that showed up all too often in their community. I remember when a Black student shared that he saw his best friend (a Latinx male) at a neighborhood playground over the weekend. He then expressed his sadness and frustration in overhearing his friend’s parents say that they could not play together because he was Black. I also remember when a white student invited everyone to her birthday party except for the few Black students in our class. While I used this as a teachable moment to discuss inclusion with my students, my frustration was more with the parents who created this situation than the kids who were collateral damage in a situation that they could not fully digest. Racism, you see, is like a nefarious virus that spreads and spreads, never seen yet always felt. I cringe at the vicious attack on conversations about race in U.S. classrooms through the never-ending anti-critical race theory
bans because little do these legislators know that the kiddos are the ones who are longing to discuss their confusion, sadness, and anger about the scary “R word.” Contrary to ignorant beliefs, we, the ”woke teachers,” have no desire to indoctrinate, but a commitment to affirm, educate, and liberate all of our students. While Black and Brown kids have never had the privilege to not know, in a particular way, the white kids have always known, too. Throughout history, they knew when they watched their parents yell racist vitriol at Black people, they knew when they could never bring their Black friend over for a play date, and they knew when they witnessed injustice with no explanation other than the question of race at hand.
In a Trump-era America, where the quiet parts are often screamed for all to hear, we must no longer pretend that our kids are too fragile to digest the topic of racial injustice. To be clear, not every white child with racist grandparents will become racist; many will push back and disrupt injustice, but let us not make it hard for them to do so. Initiatives like Project 2025 have plans to erase all of the ugly parts of American history and replace it with lies that will leave our youth miseducated and ill-equipped to become civically engaged change-makers in our world. Parents, now is not the time to assume your kids are learning everything in school. It is your time to shine and introduce your children to culturally inclusive literature and discussions. While we can’t change who is in the White House, we can change what conversations we do and do not allow in our communities. Our fight is in our voice. Let us not be quiet about the things that matter most. While they yell the racist parts out loud, let us mute their lies with bold and undying truth that disrupts inequity and fuels racial justice.
Melanie N. Latson is a Public Voices fellow on Racial Justice in Early Childhood with the OpEd Project in partnership with the National Black Child Development Institute. She is the Founder and CEO of March on, Kid!, a youth social justice collective. She is also a Doctoral student in Education Policy and Leadership at the American University.
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We must no longer pretend that our kids are too fragile to digest the topic of racial injustice. Image by David Pilgrim
SEE ME FOR WHO I REALLY AM S
BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON
The Atlanta Voice
cripture says that your life should be lived in such a way that those around you can see Jesus in you.“In the same way, let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16. Now that sounds good but what does it mean? The only explanation that works for me is the one that talks about service;working, in the name of God.
It would be ludicrous to think anyone can live a perfect spiritual life. But here again, it is reasonable to expect that it shouldn’t take a cross-examination by a district attorney to see and understand where a person is coming from. The man whoprofesses to love Jesus shouldn’t feel okay about cheating on his wife. The man who claims Christ as his Lord and Savior can’t be content living a life of crime. The Lord can’t be your leader, and you find ways to rationalize illicit sex, lies, and satanic rock and roll. We all do it, but at some point in your supposed walk with God, again, your behavior, obedience, principles, and integrity must shine through. Perfection is
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all things will be given you as well
impossible, but serious effort is not only possible, it’s mandatory. It is indeed necessary to give it your best shot each and every single day. You will fall short, but it shouldn’t be due to a lack of effort. I forget who said if you try, you might fail. But if you don’t try, you are guaranteed to fail. God, you see, requires effort; consistent and serious effort in an attempt to live up to the Jesus model.
Forgive me for a moment if I testify about what I know to be true. My bible says the closer we come to Jesus’ standards, the more we experience the blessings of God. And why wouldn’t we? After all, Jesus had already put his footprints in the snow. The path to righteousness is clear. The goal is simply to be in the right relationship with God.“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all things will be given you as well.” Matthew 6:33.This seeking, to me, has always meant working in some capacity. Jesus said, “As
“YOUR VOICE”
long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me.” John 9:4. Now, I don’t proclaim to be anywhere near Jesus’ pedigree, but I am not opposed to working for what I want. I’ve done it all my life. You probably have too.
So the important question is, how hard are you willing to work, knowing that your very soul is at stake? Just what are you willing to do to let the world know you are a man or woman of Christ?
The good news of the gospel makes it clear that this is easy, if not ridiculously easy. Love God and love your neighbor. Please remember that in this context, love is, as I’ve come to define it, a verb. Do enough so that the Jesus in me meets up with the Jesus in you. Rather, do something that another person can’t mistake for anything else but kindness from above. Help somebody. For me, I’m asking God to walk with me in an effort to witness. I don’t exactly have that down in any natural way yet. I’m find-
ing that it’s not something that you can study. But it is something that’s learned and triggered by the recognition that somebody needs to hear a word from God. At that particular moment however, God might just have chosen you to deliver that word. So open your mouth and speak. To me, this work that I’m trying to be focused on is recognized by letting go and letting God use me to uplift the soul of another human being. I’m trying to be up to the task. For those of you who are used to this, you know it is a very humbling experience. But,“…If a man will not work, he shall not eat… And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10- 13. That’s it really. Get up and get busy.
May God bless and your effort 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 are your thoughts on the Trump election interference case and Fani Willis’ efforts to overturn her disqualification?
Atlanta
“Do I believe that Trump should be indicted for the crimes he has committed? Absolutely. I believe that he needs to be some form of justice for it. And do I believe that Fani Willis needs to be on a campaign for it? That I'm not entirely sure. I'm a little bit indifferent. I'm also not as educated on the matter as I should be. However, I know her powerhouse, and she's also very pro-induct Trump. So, I can't say because I'm a biased source, but I believe that he does need to face some form of justice for the crimes that he has either committed or incited.”
Atlanta
“I believe that Fani Willis should be allowed to return once to the case. The reason is that I don't agree with the reason why she was dismissed from the case. I think that she's qualified enough to be able to handle that case. I also believe the case should go forward when he is out of office. I think they should be able to proceed with filing charges against him.”
Atlanta
“I believe that Fani Willis should be able to participate in this case. I don't believe that her relationships should impact her ability to represent. And I believe that the case should go on and that Trump should be indicted and tried.”
Atlanta
“I feel like she's wasting her time. She's already lost. At this point, I feel like she's embarrassing herself. If you're going for the President of the United States, which has not been done before, you should be squeaky clean. She didn't do that. So, she needs to let this man be President. We have more things to deal with. This man has a job, and I think it's petty and unnecessary.”
Compiled by Vincent Christie
JORDAN JACKSON
BARINA HERRING
JORDAN MARTIN
NOBELLA POWELL
Hurricane Helene Application Deadline Ends in February
Family Life Missionary Baptist Church hosts memorial service for President Carter
BY ISAIAH SINGLETON
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. - On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Family Life Missionary Baptist Church held a memorial service for the late 39th President Jimmy Carter who passed away in December.
The Fayetteville community, adults, and kids-alike came out to honor Carter’s life and legacy with worship and praise. Family Life curated this event as a commemorative service celebrating the life and legacy of President Carter, focusing on his achievements as the Governor of Georgia, his four-year presidency, and his humanitarian work in his post-presidency.
“A Legacy of Compassion and Justice,” was a heartfelt service which included heartfelt tributes highlighting his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and global humanitarian efforts. There were scripture readings and reflections on his life of service. The Family Life music ministry provided inspiring music to uplift and unite the community as they honored his memory.
The event featured a variety of speakers, including clergy and church members who all viewed Carter’s legacy in high regard.
The event also featured performances for the Young Warriors Band, the Family Life Music Ministry (featuring God’s Gurls, the all-female band), Rev. Darien Brooks as the vocalist warrior, Rev. Taj B. delivering gospel rap, and the Heavenly HORNS.
Additionally, the service included video presentations such as “Growing Up”, where the video put the viewer in the shoes of being born during the time Carter was born. Other presentations included “Great Quotes” from President Carter and “End Racism”.
Trunae A. Green, a deaconess and music director at Family Life Missionary Baptist, said President Carter's remarkable journey of leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to humanity has left an indelible mark on the nation and the world, from his integrity as a public servant to his enduring advocacy for peace, justice, and human dignity.
“President Jimmy Carter has exemplified what it means to lead with moral courage and a compassionate heart,” she said. “Today, we reflect on his many achievements, his dedication to promoting democracy and human rights, his tireless efforts to combat poverty and disease, and his lifelong work through the Carter Center to advance peace and build hope in communities near and far.”
This commemorative service, she says, is a moment to honor not just a president, but a human humanitarian whose integrity and
vision inspired society to be better citizens of the world
“As we celebrate his life and legacy, let us also commit to caring for the values he
so steadfastly upheld. Let us now turn our hearts to this occasion with gratitude and respect as we remember and honor a truly remarkable man,” she said.
Pastor Bishop Dr. A.T. Lands said everyone who has occupied the big seat in the White House, came from many backgrounds, but Carter brought something special, Hope.
“President Carter brought so much hope, and it was during perilous times when he was president. They charged him with a lot of things that I don't think was his fault as it relates to the economy, but he held fast,” he said. “He kept his integrity, and I think we can learn a lot, not just this church, but this local community and this country.
Many of the evening’s speakers said Carter’s leadership in the United States exemplifies a man of deep faith and unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and peace.
“Through his leadership in the U.S. and abroad, President Carter worked tirelessly to improve the plight of oppressed people and communities, including Black Americans, and advocated for a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect,” Lands said.
To close out the night, there was also a discussion of Carter’s global health initiatives, which highlighted his achievements, and humanitarian efforts including The Carter Center.
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Family Life Missionary Baptist Church held a memorial service for the late 39th President Jimmy Carter who passed away in December 2024 at the age of 100. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
The event also featured performances by the Young Warriors Band, the Family Life Music Ministry (featuring God’s Gurls, the all-female band), Rev. Darien Brooks as the vocalist warrior (above), Rev. Taj B. delivering gospel rap, and the Heavenly HORNS. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
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Kendrick Lamar adds SZA as special guest for Super Bowl halftime show
Shalom Obiago Bridges The Diaspora with Christmas in Lagos
BY NOAH WASHINGTON
For Shalom Obiago, bridging the gap in the diaspora has always been a calling. HGe said starring as the romantic lead, Elo, in Amazon’s Christmas in Lagos (2024) was a pivotal experience. The film marked a milestone in Obiago’s acting career and brought him closer to his Nigerian roots and his broader vision for storytelling.
“Returning to Nigeria to showcase my work was deeply personal and professionally fulfilling,” Obiago told The Atlanta Voice during a recent interview.
Reflecting on his career, he noted the evolution of his approach. “As an actor, so much of the process is out of your control. You audition, take what comes, and hope for the best. But I decided to curate the career I wanted—not just as an actor but as a storyteller, writer, and producer.”
This shift was intentional, born from a desire to embrace his heritage and engage in projects that resonated deeply with him. Obiago, who previously appeared in shows like Atlanta and later landed a recurring role on Starz’s BMF, saw Christmas in Lagos as an opportunity. Released on December 20, 2023, the film held special meaning for Obiago as it premiered just days before his father’s passing anniversary.
“My father, Sam Obiago, was an actor himself, and losing him was devastating,” Obiago shared. “After he died, I dreamed of creating something connecting me to my roots. Christmas in Lagos became the realization of that dream.” Obiago recalled immersing himself in the vibrant culture of Lagos during the festive season, attending weddings, concerts, and events, “I was out everywhere, painting the town red,” he said with a laugh.
The project’s backstory adds an extra layer of depth. Obiago recounted how sharing his personal story of loss and his journey to reconnect with Nigeria captured attention, including that of a key figure in the film’s production, director and producer Jadesola Osiberu, “After I told my story about my dad and my desire to come home, it caught a lot of people’s attention, including her,” he explained.
Obiago described his serendipitous connection with the film’s casting director that changed his career trajectory: “She’s not even big on social media—she rarely checks her DMs. But somehow, she caught wind of my piece about my dad,” he shared. “We connected around July 2023, and it was just the right time. We hit it off immediately, talking about our backgrounds and shared passions. She later asked for my WhatsApp number, and we continued the conversation. Eventually, she told me she was casting for this film and thought I’d be perfect for the role”.
The timeline unfolded organically. Obiago began reading for the role in late August 2023 amidst Amazon’s final project greenlighting. Production kicked off in late January 2024, wrapped by March, followed by post-production and ADR sessions during the summer. “It was a whirlwind,” he said, “but everything fell into place.”
For Obiago, Christmas in Lagos was not
just a film—but a full-circle moment. As the son of the late Nollywood legend Sam Obiago, Obiago has intentionally forged his path in the industry, “Most people don’t even know I’m his son unless I tell them,” he said. “Our relationship was unique, and working on this film deepened my connection to my culture and craft,” Obiago continued.
The film also stands as a monument to
cross-cultural storytelling. “Christmas in Lagos represents a merging of worlds—actors from Nigeria, the U.S., and the U.K.—and challenges perceptions of Nollywood,” Obiago explained, “It’s about breaking barriers and showing what’s possible when we collaborate globally,” Obiago shared.
Many viewers resonated with Obiago’s portrayal of a Nigerian American returning home for Christmas. “I’ve had people from Texas, the U.K., and beyond tell me how much it meant to see themselves represented,” he said. “It’s humbling to know my work can inspire others and offer a sense of belonging.”
As Obiago looks to the future, he sees himself as a vessel for telling even deeper narratives, “This film is just one way to explore the Nigerian-American experience,” he said. “There’s so much to tell about navigating our dual identities—whether during the holidays or beyond.”
He ended with a heartfelt acknowledgement taking the time to acknowledge his supporting players, “Thank you to everyone who shows love, support, and encouragement for creating more work like this. And a special thank you to Jade, who gave me the wind beneath my wings to return home, soar, and embrace what comes next.”
For Shalom Obiago, Christmas in Lagos is more than a film, it's a homecoming.
For Obiago (above), Christmas in Lagos was not just a film—but a full-circle moment. As the son of the late Nollywood legend Sam Obiago, Obiago has intentionally forged his own path in the film industry. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
For Shalom Obiago (above), said starring as the romantic lead, Elo, in Amazon’s Christmas in Lagos was a pivotal experience. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Neurofit360 ATL pushes boundaries on traditional rehabilitation
So You Want To Be A Falcons Cheerleader
BY DONNELL SUGGS
This is part one of a two-part series on what it takes to become an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader. The Atlanta Voice was allowed access to the workouts and some of the decision-making processes behind the big day, audition day.
The line outside of a season ticket holder entrance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium stretched back into the parking lot. It was Saturday morning, and the Atlanta Falcons season had been over for weeks and housemate Atlanta United’s season wasn’t scheduled to begin for another couple weeks. Atlanta was fresh from a cold front that brought snow twice in less than two weeks, so the morning temperature was below 30 degrees when just over 90 women made their way from their warm cars to the security line to sign in. Today was the first day of a journey for some, a rude awakening for others, and the end of the road for others. Still, it was the day of the Falcons cheerleaders’ prep class.
The prep classes are part of a series of choreographed workouts that give the participants a better idea of what it takes to become an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader. The classes, which take place in person like they did on Saturday, January 25, and virtually, also allow the Falcons Director of Cheerleading, Chato Hendrix, and the team’s choreographer, Jakene Ashford, to see the potential crop of new cheerleaders up close before the actual auditions take place in March.
Long before audition tapes have to be submitted on March 16, final auditions take place on Sunday, April 13, and Monday, April 14, and there are prep classes. “This is about continuing the legacy and finding the newest group of Falcons cheerleaders,” said Hendrix, who has been involved with the team since she became a Falcons cheerleader in 1998. She began her career as the team’s director in 2017. A graduate and former cheerleader at Florida A&M University, Hendrix, a high school counselor in her non-cheerleading life, Hendrix came to Atlanta to attend Clark Atlanta University for grad school before she took a gap year and decided to try cheerleading again. She’s been involved ever since.
She still remembers her first season in red and black. “I had the privilege of cheering in the Super Bowl,” she said. “And in 2018, I got to coach in it, so it was good seeing it from the other side.”
Hendrix described the job of a Falcons cheerleader as more than just what happens on game days. She said the cheerleaders have to not only perform but also help make an impact on the community as representatives of the Falcons brand.
“We’re always looking for professional individuals in their careers,” Hendrix said.
Cheerleading is 90% representation amongst the
continuing the legacy and finding the
The team currently has a number of professionals and graduate students, including an anesthesiologist, veterinary assistant, owner of an IT company, real estate agent, medical sales assistant, and a fitness studio manager, who tried out for the team eight times before finally making the team.
“If you love to perform, if you love to dance, you just don’t stop dancing when you graduate from college and get a great job,” Hendrix said. “To be able to do both is amazing.”
Once a Falcons Cheerleader, Always a Falcons Cheerleader
When it was Joyce McNally’s turn to speak to the participants, she warned them that she might cry. McNally, the manager at BODY ROCK, a fitness studio in downtown Roswell, thought back to her first prep class. She also thought back to the times she was in their shoes. Time after time after time, trying out to be a Falcons cheerleader before getting the news that she didn’t make the squad. Eight times, to be exact. On Saturday, McNally was putting the finishing touches on her personal journey.
“She’s finishing her journey strong,” Hendrix said of McNally.
group
and
community
10% Sunday gameday, says Chato Hendrix, the team’s coach. “This is about
newest
of Falcons cheerleaders,” she said. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
The first prep class for anyone looking to become an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. The classes were held in-person and virtually, with more than 140 people taking part in the process. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
CHEERLEADERS
Continued from page 8
McNally, a petite strawberry blonde with bright eyes, recently finished her last season with the team and was retiring, but not without showing up to the first prep class of the offseason to encourage anyone else who had become a Falcons cheerleader on their list of goals for 2025 and beyond.
“Once a Falcons cheerleader, always a Falcons cheerleader,” said McNally with a smile. Asked how she feels about watching a room full of women take that initial step in becoming a Falcons cheerleader, McNally said she enjoyed being on the other side. “Just getting to see them work to reach their goal is exciting,” she said.
There would be several times McNally wiped tears from her eyes during the prep class. The road to running out of the tunnel at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sundays is moist with tears.
“My favorite part of this journey has been being able to pour into the rookies,” McNally said. There were plenty of potential rookies in the room watching her as she finished speaking and handed the microphone back to Hendrix. With McNally’s retirement, there’s a spot open on the team that needs to be filled. Last year, there were 36 cheerleaders on the squad. Hendrix said they want around the same number on the roster this year.
Something Greater Than Myself
137 women and a man ready themselves as Ashford and Hendrix explained what they were looking for during the first prep class. The big screen behind her, normally showing Falcons football highlights and Atlanta United in-game replays depending on the season taking place, was broken down into dozens of boxes of videos. Think about what a Zoom meeting looks like, but this time, everyone is in leggings and athletic tops, and that’s how it looks. Ninety-four women and one man spread out across the room, while another 43 participants made themselves
comfortable at home, in dance studios, and wherever they could find space. Ashford, the team choreographer, has been with the franchise for the past 24 years, having been a cheerleader herself before transitioning to the choreography side.
“I remember the amount of courage and vulnerability it took to step out of my box and follow my dream of being a part of something greater than myself,” Ashford, a former Tennessee Titans cheerleader before she joined the Falcons, said.
Participants in the first prep class, which is not mandatory but feels like it is because not only is the coaching staff watching, but
so are the veteran members of the team, who go through stretching exercises, drills, and routines. The returning cheerleaders led the drills on Saturday, some having just completed their rookie seasons while others were just done with their sixth, seventh, and eighth seasons as Falcons cheerleaders.
During the class, women of all shapes, sizes, and dance backgrounds ran across the floor, leaped, rolled, and performed pirouettes to blaring music.
“This is what really prepares you for the audition,” Hendrix told The Atlanta Voice. “We always say that being a part of this program is the icing on the cake,” Hendrix said. “Who
they are in their professional lives and as individuals make up who they are. Being an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader is that added flare.”
During the prep class, Ashford, whose first season as a Falcons cheerleader was in 2001, made her way around the room to observe the participants.
“I believe they can take away a sense of pride for investing in themselves to achieve a goal many only dream of, but never take the initiative to make it a reality,” Ashford said of the process. “It’s also an opportunity to know what areas they need to improve upon to feel fully prepared to audition.”
The one-hour class allowed several participants to stand out. A woman wearing the number 288 on her shorts looked to be getting the attention of the coaches during the class. Another participant in a neon green top did not seem to slow down from the start to the finish of the class. They all will have an opportunity to work on what they have learned during the next four prep classes, which will be held virtually on Feb. 1, Feb. 25, and March 15, when audition registration opens.
“In the audition process, everyone starts at ground zero,” Hendrix said. “I truly believe everything happens for a reason. There are a lot of life lessons on the journey of becoming an Atlanta Falcons cheerleader.”
“The audition process can be daunting with the amount of physical and mental preparation, but the excitement about the possibility of living your dreams makes it all worth it,” Ashford said.
Cheerleading is 90% representation amongst the community and 10% Sunday gameday, says Chato Hendrix, the team’s coach (center in black jacket). “This is about continuing the legacy and finding the newest group of Falcons cheerleaders,” she said. Photo by Kerri Phox/The
Atlanta Voice
Veteran Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders were there to help teach the routines to the prep class participants. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Participants of all shapes, races, and experience levels took part in the initial prep class on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. There will be four more prep classes taking place in Feb. and March before the final auditions take place on April 13-14. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
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Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks makes move to new Marietta St. location
Awa Diagne opens braiding shop in South Fulton amid permit battles
BY ISAIAH SINGLETON
Awa Diagne was on the verge of opening her braiding shop, Awa Hair, in South Fulton when the city council denied her permit just to shield a nearby salon from competition.
Rather than let her American dream fade away, Diagne filed a lawsuit with the Institute for Justice (IJ) in August. Recently, a judge ruled the city improperly denied her the permit and was ordered to issue her the permit.
Diagne immigrated from Senegal over 30 years ago in search of a better life. Since then, she married, raised six children, and supported her family by braiding hair.
In 2021, Awa moved to South Fulton with her family but intended to continue running her shop in downtown Atlanta, however, tragedy struck. The day after she moved into her house, her husband was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
He never came home.
Without her husband, Diagne could no longer run her business in downtown Atlanta. As the sole provider for her family, she said she needed to work, so quitting wasn’t a choice. She decided to open a new hair braiding business in South Fulton right by her home and her daughters’ school.
Diagne said she went to work, found a storefront to lease and checked every box along the way. The last hurdle was getting approval from the South Fulton City Council. It should have been easy.
After all, the planning and zoning commissions had already recommended Diagne be approved.
However, the Council voted against her, saying she would provide “too much competition” to another salon. At one point, a councilwoman said that it was “not fair” the local salon should “have to compete” with Diagne, and another councilwoman argued the Council should deny her because “we don’t want any business to suffer any losses due to an oversaturation.”
The ruling rejects the city’s attempt to favor one business over another. The Council’s actions “run contrary to Georgia’s long history of constitutional jurisprudence that entitles Georgians to pursue a lawful occupation of their choosing free from unreasonable government interference.”
This case extends IJ’s landmark ruling from 2023 to the context of zoning, where officials often believe that they enjoy unlimited discretion to violate the right to earn a living and property rights. This latest victory in IJ’s Zoning Justice Project reminds them they do not.
Diagne says she feels “so happy and grateful to God” for her shop opening finally after
so many trials and tribulations. She also says when she was denied permits, she felt desperate and wasn’t fully comprehensive about what was happening.
“I am so grateful that I’m going to be allowed to open my braiding shop,” Diagne said. “It wasn’t easy to keep believing in my American dream, but I’m happy that I kept going, stood up for what is right, and won.”
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert C.I. McBurney ruled the City Council abused its discretion when it denied Awa’s permit. The judge found the “only evidence” in the record for denying her permit was the Council’s desire to protect the profits of a po -
litically favored salon.
Citing a landmark 2023 IJ case, the judge explained this desire is not a constitutional reason for infringing “on one’s ability to engage in a lawful business.”
“[This] ruling affirms that economic liberty is alive and well in Georgia,” IJ Senior Attorney Renée Flaherty said. “Last year, the Supreme Court of Georgia held that protecting one business from competition from another is not a legitimate reason to infringe on the right to earn a living. The City of South Fulton has been held accountable for ignoring the Court’s clear message.”
Additionally, Diagne says her children are
“extremely happy” to see their mom finally open her braiding shop after everything. She also said throughout losing her husband and originally being denied permits, she felt lost.
“My husband and I came to America for a better life and to have kids so we could put them in a good school, raise them like everyone else,” she said. “Everything was fine until my husband passed, it was very hard for me.”
Throughout this process, Diagne says she learned what it truly took to be a single mother and the importance in standing up for oneself.
“If my husband was here at that time, he would’ve been the support I needed. Raising six kids on your own can be a lot. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I needed to care for them and survive,” she said.
She also said she wanted to fight because the city council had “done her wrong.”
“I had to fight this because I already had the business, I spent money on it, and I was trying to survive as a single mother,” she said. “I wasn’t trying to harm anyone, I just wanted to open my business so I could care for my children.”
In the face of adversity, Diagne tells other business owners to do the right thing and fight for their dreams.
“If you open a business and they ask you for your papers or whatever, go ahead and do it, but if they do you wrong, you have to stand up and fight for your business, it’s your dream and it’s worth fighting for,” she said. As far as business goals for 2025, Diagne says she wants to make the money she lost back due to not being able to work last year.
“I have a lot of support from the community and I’m trying to regain all the money I spent because I lost a lot of money last year. I wasn’t working; I was trying to survive, so this year is about rebuilding,” she said.
In five to 10 years, Diagne says her braiding shop will be prosperous despite its chaotic beginnings.
“My braiding shop is a gift from God and it’s going to be a lot of things coming in the next five to 10 years,” she said.
Braiding hair, Diagne says, is a gift she’s been cultivating since she was noticeably young.
“I love to braid hair and have been doing it since I was very young, it’s my gift,” she said.
Diagne says thank you to the community and all the support she received in making her dream to open her braiding shop a reality.
“Everything in life happens for a reason, but sometimes you must do good to have good. It wasn’t right for them to do me wrong like that, but it’s what made me fight, not just for myself, but for my kids,” she said. “I’m also fighting for other people who are trying to open a business."
Awa Hair is located at Butternut Place, South Fulton.
Awa Diagne (above) was on the verge of opening her braiding shop, Awa Hair in South Fulton when the City Council denied her permit just to shield a nearby salon from competition. Photo courtesy of Awa Hair
Diagne (above) immigrated from Senegal over 30 years ago in search of a better life. Since then, she married, raised six children, and supported her family by braiding hair. Photo courtesy of Awa Hair
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Trump’s Actions on DEI Are an Attack on Black America
BY KEITH BOYKIN
Donald Trump has issued a new memorandum to carry out his Inauguration Day executive order eliminating federal DEIA programs, by placing DEI employees on federal leave.
DEIA stands for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and Trump’s action rescinds President Biden’s executive order from 2021, which sought to make the federal government “a model” for effective DEIA.
Trump’s order inaccurately describes DEIA as “radical,” “illegal,” and “immoral discrimination.” So let’s look at what the federal government’s DEI programs actually do.
Federal DEI programs set goals in 8 different areas.
1. Data collection, to give us a better understanding of who is and isn’t in the federal workforce
2. Paid Internships, which provide valuable opportunities and experience for people from underserved communities
3. Recruitment, so that the government doesn’t just hire the usual suspects but posts job announcements in places where other people can see them,
4. Professional development, so that once people are hired they can continue to expand their skills and become better workers,
5. Fair treatment of people with disabilities, so that they can get a job and find appropriate accommodations,
6. LGBT fairness, so that spouses and families of LGBT employees get the same benefits as other families do,
7. Pay equity, to review government policies, hiring, and salaries to make sure that women and people of color aren’t being paid less to do the same jobs, and
8. Opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, to review barriers so that qualified job applicants who have served their time get a fair shot to get a job.
These are not radical, illegal, or immoral ideas. These are calls to the highest principles of America, with the stated goal that “all employees are treated with dignity and respect.”
America’s Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 announced to the world that “all men are created equal,” but for the next 200 years, millions of Americans remained second-class citizens.
Black people were legally segregated, denied jobs, housing, and the right to vote until the late 1960s. Women couldn’t get a credit card in their own name until 1974. People with disabilities were locked out of the workplace until 1990. And gay and lesbian couples couldn’t marry the people they loved until just 10 years ago. Most of those changes happened in my lifetime.
What DEI policies do is acknowledge our history to create a fairer and more inclusive workplace that benefits everyone. I’m not sure Trump knows any of that history, but I do know that his actions are designed to be an attack on Black America. That’s why he also revoked Executive Order 11246 on affir-
mative action, which has been in place since 1965 in the civil rights era.
There’s a reason for this.
Black people were the least supportive racial or ethnic group for Donald Trump. We make up about 13.7% percent of the U.S. population but account for nearly 19% of federal workers. Nearly 400,000 Black people now work for the federal government. Trump’s DEI attack fits with his larger plans to move federal jobs out of Washington, D.C., and slash the federal workforce, which would leave thousands of Black peopleunemployed. All of this would constitute the most
significant attack on Black public workers since Woodrow Wilson segregated the federal workforce in 1913.
Black people are overrepresented in the federal government because historically that was the one place where we did not face employment discrimination. I would not be here without federal DEI programs. My grandmother worked for HUD for 30 years in St. Louis, Missouri. My mom worked for the Department of Defense at the Sharpe Army Depot in Stockton, California, and Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. This is personal to me.
But the impact of Trump’s attack will be felt
far beyond the federal workforce. The federal government influences the private workforce by dictating rules for federal contractors and serving as a model for best practices for private employers. And some corporations are already rolling back their DEI initiatives. Because of Trump’s actions, not only will Black federal employees lose their jobs, but Black people in private companies will be laid off. After spending his 2024 campaign scaring Black people with racist lies that immigrants are taking “Black jobs,” Trump will end up being the one to take their jobs.
By closing DEI offices, ordering the government to delete all websites about diversity, pardoning the January 6 insurrectionists, and paying restitution to (presumably) white people he calls victims of DEI, Trump is launching a radical campaign to promote white victimhood and erase America’s true racial history.
I have no hope that “moderate Republicans” or misinformed celebrities performing for Trump will use their influence to help Black Americans, people of color, or other groups that are targeted by these mean-spirited policies. These clout chasers seem only to aspire to personal adjacency to power.
So we must educate our own people, fight in the courts, the boardrooms, and the media when we can, and in the streets when we must, and resist his efforts to erase us as powerfully and constructively as we can.
“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues and what’s at stake for Black America.
Because of Trump’s actions, not only will Black federal employees lose their jobs, but Black people in private companies will be laid off. Photo
By Julia Beverly/The Atlanta Voice
Trump supporters Connie Lee (left) and Jeanette Scott outside Hilton Chicago. Photo by Lentheus Chaney/The Atlanta Voice
How to Help Black Wildfire Survivors in Altadena and L.A.
SVS launches Highway to Health campaign to educate public about vascular disease
BY CLAYTON GUTZMORE
The Society of Vascular Surgeons (SVS) assembles 4000 surgeons worldwide. This organization is launching one of its largest projects to date: The Highway to Health campaign. This program will educate people about symptoms and risk factors associated with vascular disease and encourage them to start conversations with their doctors about including a vascular surgeon in their care team. Through this program, SVS wants to normalize vascular surgeons coming in early during medical situations so that more prevention happens than treatment.
"We hope to educate the public about the signs and symptoms of developing vascular diseases. We can institute simple early intervention methods in the beginning stage of a disease before major complications happen," said Dr. Yazan Duwari, SVS member and chief of vascular surgery at Emory University.
The Highway to Health Campaign began in December 2024. This three-year initiative will provide tools and resources to inform the general public about vascular diseases. Survey results on the perception of vascular disease sparked the SVS to do this project. The material revealed that Nearly 1 in 3 Americans have not heard of any of the most common vascular diseases, like peripheral and carotid artery disease. The results also indicated that more than 8 in 10 people are not familiar with the role of vascular surgeons. A vascular surgeon is a medical professional that focuses on the body's circulation system. Their main concern is how well blood flows to all parts of their body. They usually step in when situations are in a terrible stage. The campaign will close the public's knowledge gaps and make vascular surgeons feel less severe and accessible.
"It is a challenge to not sound too scary for patients. Our goal as vascular surgeons is to avoid surgical procedures interrupting the patient's lifestyle as much as possible," said Dr. Duwari.
The Strong Vessel Score is the most informative piece in collecting resources from the Highway to Health campaign. The strong vessel score is a tool the SVS created to determine if people are at risk for vascular disease. It is a checklist of five items that tell where one stands and if they should get checked out. The checklist includes being 65 and older, having diabetes, having high blood pressure, having high cholesterol, and using tobacco products. Having two or more items means being at high risk of getting a vascular disease. Dr. Willaim Shutze is the secretary for the SVS. He explains that the blood vessels wear and tear as we age. Eventually, we get one of the items on the checklist, but the material in the Highway to Health campaign will allow people to get ahead of the problem before it grows.
"We are trying to fill a gap and empower our patients to have a better way to do their assessments. They can go into their primary care provider already armed with this information," said Dr. Shutze.
"The strong vessel score will allow people to ask their primary care provider if they should see a vascular specialist. This gives people the chance to get in front of the problem instead of it getting in front of them," said Dr. Shutze.
The Highway to Health initiative is the SVS's biggest project. It is the organization's first interaction with the community at this significant level. Other activities SVS has previously done are advocating for healthcare access for everyone and supporting smaller clinics and hospitals.
Dr. Duwayri says smaller clinics and surgery centers close due to financial constraints. These constraints are caused by insurance not covering every vascular issue. When these situations happen, the sick and medical professionals suffer.
"We advocate for insurance coverage of various interventions. These are necessary to prevent small medical centers from closing because of financial pressures. Ensuring that all healthcare facilities, regardless of size, can exist so they can provide the care needed for the patients close to them," said Dr. Duwayri.
The Highway to Health initiative is designed for people to become more informed on vascular disease. The more informed everyone is, the more preventative stories can happen. What is next for SVS and the program is encouraging local surgeons to share the campaign with their patients. In the Fall, SVS will strategize how to incorporate its message to health systems and hospital leaders so they understand the importance of early detection of vascular disease. The SVS believes the Highway to Health campaign can be the first step toward changing how the public deals with vascular disease.
Photo Screenshot. Courtesy of vascular.org
Real Estate
U.S. Soccer Training Center is closer to April 2026 completion date
BY DONNELL SUGGS
FAYETTEVILLE, GA. - A pair of Home Depot employees wearing matching orange construction helmets and aprons walked over to the steel beam and began to sign. More followed them over and began to sign their names and inscribe short messages, while others took selfies and recorded videos. Moments later when everyone was safely out of harm's way the beam was lifted by a crane and put into place by the crew of Atlanta-based construction company Brasfield & Gorrie.
Located in Fayetteville on a 200-acre plot of land surrounded by farms and winding two-lane roads, the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center will be the headquarters for this country’s 27 soccer clubs, including the men’s and women’s national teams, and all of the youth teams associated with the national level. The beam is now part of a 200,000-square-foot support building on the property.
Nine months after the ground was broken
on “The Blank” (my nickname for the training facility, not theirs), the ground is graded, steel is going up, and roads are being paved. According to a six-month look ahead distributed by Brasfield & Gorrie, field construction is scheduled to begin in February, and the structure of the indoor practice facility will begin in April.
During a Tuesday, Jan. 28, press briefing on the construction advancements, U.S. Soccer Chief Financial Officer Chelle Adams said the facility is scheduled to open in April 2026. Since the ground was broken in 2024 the goal was to get the facility open before the start of World Cup 2026. The city of Atlanta and Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be the host site for several matches throughout the quad-annual tournament, including one of the semifinal matches on Wed., July 15, 2026. Having a training facility less than an hour from downtown Atlanta could be a huge advantage for the United States Men’s National Team or depending on what country is playing in the
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semifinals, an advantage for an ally country looking for a place to train.
The facility will have 12 outdoor fields, an
indoor field, meeting spaces, multiple locker rooms, dining rooms, and breakout rooms, according to Adams, who along with the U.S. Soccer Chief Commercial Officer David Wright, U.S. Soccer Extended National Team Player of the year Jacob Crumley, a 27-yearold native of Fortson, Georgia and member of the U.S. Male Cerebral Palsy team, and Home Depot Sr. Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Molly Battin addressed the media.
During the press conference, Wright announced that Home Depot and U.S. Soccer agreed to a partnership deal.
“We are in this moment of time for our sport. It’s a transitional moment for our sport,” Wright said. “This is definitely a moment in time we all should embrace.”
“We’re excited to be on this journey and transformational moment,” Battin said.
The Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center is located at 910 Veterans Pkwy.
The Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center (above) is located in Fayetteville (Ga.) and is scheduled to open in April 2026, months before the start of World Cup 2026.
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Did You Set Financial Goals for 2025? Here’s
How to Stay on
Track
100 high school students chosen for Disney Dreamers Academy
BY STAFF REPORT
100 high school students from across the country will head to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in March to take the next step in chasing their biggest dreams, such as developing cutting-edge technology, addressing food insecurity, and even designing the next great Disney attraction.
These ambitious teens make up the new 2025 class of Disney Dreamers Academy, a popular mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort designed to inspire and empower students from diverse communities by encouraging them to explore limitless possibilities and turn their dreams into reality.
After surprising students in Houston and Atlanta with their selection earlier this week, Walt Disney World released the remaining students’ names today.
At the multi-day program at Walt Disney World, March 26-30, 2025, Disney Dreamers will connect with business leaders, Disney executives, celebrities, and educators through workshops and seminars created to inspire and accelerate their career aspirations. They’ll explore diverse career fields, develop essential skills such as communication, leadership, and networking, and enjoy the magic and wonder of Walt Disney World, which continues to elevate
the guest experience through ongoing investments in new attractions, entertainment, and more.
“We are thrilled to spark new possibilities and provide these future leaders with the tools they need to chase their dreams,” said Walt Disney World Ambassador Shannon Smith-Conrad. “After 18 years of hosting Disney Dreamers Academy, we continue to be inspired by these teens and their incredible accomplishments.”
Each year, the Disney Dreamers are selected from thousands of applicants who answer essay questions about their personal stories and dreams for the future. The selected students, plus a parent or guardian, enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World.
Since 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy, an important part of Walt Disney World’s commitment to supporting diverse communities, has inspired more than 1,700 students from across the country by fueling their dreams and showing them a world of possibilities. Graduates of the program have become storytellers, artists, engineers, innovators, journalists, and more, and many have transitioned into mentors to the Disney Dreamers who follow them.
The full list of selected students is available at www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com
Rep. Imani Barnes introduces Healthy Start Act for school lunches
BY ITORO N. UMONTUEN
Georgia State Representative Imani Barnes introduces a bill that provides funds offering healthy school lunches at no cost to students. Titled the ‘Healthy Start Act’, the bill would allow for students to receive reduced-price meals under federal and state guidelines.
“Introducing House Bill 60, the Healthy Start Act, is a critical step toward ensuring that every student in our public schools has access to the nutritious meals they need to succeed academically,” said Rep. Barnes. “By providing funding to cover the cost of meals for eligible students, we are investing in the health and future of our children. I look forward to partnering with my colleagues to advance this meaningful legislation through the legislative process.”
HB 60 allows the Georgia State Board of Education to determine the amount of state funds needed to provide a no-cost, statewide school lunch program for students. Students must be eligible under federal and state guidelines. According to the Georgia House Budget and Research Office, 64% of students in Georgia were free and reduced-price eligible in Fiscal Year 2024. However, the percentage can vary by district.
The Fiscal Year 2025 budget includes $6.3 million in state general funds to provide breakfast to 32,243 students and lunch to 63,792 students. That equates to more than 5.8 million breakfast meals and nearly 11.5 million lunches throughout the school year.
Barnes is not new to this work
Previously, Barnes introduced legislation in 2023 and 2024 that would have provided free breakfast and lunch programs for all public school students in Georgia. Currently, families at or below 130% of the federal poverty line can receive free lunch. Families between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty line can receive a reduced-price lunch. Within these guidelines, a family with three children must earn less than $32,318 in order to receive free lunches. At the end of the 2024 Legislative Session, The Georgia State Board of Education stepped in by approving $6.3 million in federal funds to the line-item in the bill.
Representative Imani Barnes, a Democrat from Tucker, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022. Barnes currently serves on the Higher Education, Public and Community Health and Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committees.
High school student Owen Osborne, an aspiring pediatric allergist and immunologist, was surprised on January 15, 2025, at his school in Sharpsburg, GA, with the news that he is one of 100 students selected for this year’s Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in March. (Christian Thompson)
Georgia State Representative Imani Barnes, D-Tucker, appears during Day 26 of the Georgia Legislative session on Monday, February 26, 2024 inside the Georgia State Capitol. Photo
Atlanta Voice
The College Football Playoff National Championship game heads to Vegas in 2027
Atlanta United’s second preseason match takes place Saturday
BY DONNELL SUGGS
CHATTANOOGA, TN - Atlanta United’s 2025 season began with a preseason match against Chattanooga FC on Davenport Field at Finley Stadium. The yardage markings from the most recent University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs game were still visible on the field when the match kicked off at 3 pm. Whether the pitch was picture-perfect or not, Chattanooga came to play and won 2-1.
Up next for Atlanta is a meeting with the Birmingham Legion on Feb. 1 at 4:30 p.m. The second preseason match of the season will come after what could be seen as an uninspirational loss. The match will be a big one for the USL Championship side as Atlanta United brings a lot of fans and expectations. The match will be played downtown at Protective Stadium.
In Chattanooga on Saturday, children played in the grass above and behind the goal while other fans watched from the mezzanine level of the stadium. The match was big for the MLS Next franchise, and the fans came out in droves to see it. The Atlanta United supporters were there too in large numbers, but not playing indoors on a day like this - the high was 49 degrees, the low 29 degrees- made for an interesting experience for Atlanta United fans, who are used to the indoors of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
On a brisk Saturday afternoon in the “Scenic City,” the Five Stripes got back into
action for the first time since losing in Orlando’s Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs. The match began slowly, like most preseason matches do. Chattanooga FC, which has played Atlanta United well in the past, nearly scored the game’s first goal of the match in the 29th minute before Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan picked up his first save of the match. There was anoth -
er serious attempt at breaking the match open when a Chattanooga shot attempt flew well over Guzan’s head a few minutes later. On the Atlanta side of the ledger, forward Jamal Thiare was inches away from a goal of his own when his header missed just before halftime.
During the break Guzan spoke to the media about what he had seen during the
first half. Only playing a half of soccer, Guzan said there were a couple of plays in the back that he felt would probably go unnoticed but he felt were good signs. Backup goalkeeper Josh Cohen started the second half and Guzan said he wanted to see all of his teammates do well.
“As a group we want to build on the last two weeks, we want to build on the principles of what we have been talking about,” Guzan said. “For him it’s no different than the guys in front of him.”
The team exchanged goals early in the second half when Tyrik Wynn connected a header off a Saba Lobjanidze corner kick. Minutes later Chattanooga tied the match at one all when Jesus Ibarra scored on a solo run downfield.
Chattanooga, no doubt inspired by the game-tying goal, gained a 2-1 advantage in the 87th minute. There was still time for a game-tying goal for Atlanta as Edwin Mosquera and Efrain Morales each had good looks at the Chattanooga goal that were saved.
Younger Atlanta players like Dominik Chong Qui, a defender for Atlanta United 2, got a chance to play with the regulars. Players like Wynn, Qui, Luke Brennan, Ajay Fortune, and Noah Cobb, to name a few, will be the future of the club.
The match in Birmingham is another opportunity to get on the pitch before the season begins at home against Montreal on Feb. 22.
Atlanta United, pictured on their training pitch on Tuesday, Jan. 29, plays its second preseason match in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Photo by Kerri Phox/Atlanta United
Atlanta United striker Cayman Togashi (above) spoke to the media with the assistance of a translator for the first time after training on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Asked if he knows anything about the Atlanta United fan base’s passion, Togashi told The Atlanta Voice he watched film of games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and is looking forward to playing there. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
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Jones’ debut novel is not just a love
Street Lines: 2025 Buick Enclave Avenir
To get things started, I saw a few of the Buicks introduced in 2024 and have been truly impressed with their new vision going forward into this year, and beyond. This all-new 2025 Buick Enclave Avenir combines luxury, cutting-edge technology, and evident priority to futuristic styling shows this automaker is not holding back. Categorized in the midsize SUV segment, anyone driving or riding in this new automobile will proudly notice the head turning the Avenir generates followed by the wonderment Buick used in past ad campaigns. Yes, it is a Buick!
The exterior is a successful fusion of muscular, yet sleek, complete with a low-mounted grille boasting a sophisticated mesh design to set off the perception of opulence. My review model was presented in a highly recommended “Moonstone Gray” sitting on 22-inch alloy wheels with a pearl nickel finish. The automaker carefully simplified the logo in 2022 to honor 120 years and open the door to their developing electric line of cars, which was a good move; the updated badge loses the circle, yet preserves the three thinner shields. This embellishment makes the Avenir even more elegant. Completing the elegance, there are also roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, and animation generated by both the front and back lights to greet passengers when they ap-
proach the car.
Under the hood, the Avenir flexes a 2.5-liter turbo engine with 8-speed transmission that maxes out at 328 horsepower and 326 lb.ft. of torque and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The power is more than adequate, while still delivering a decent 27 miles per gallon on highway excursions.
Inside, I was welcomed by multicolor ambient interior lighting I could customize, which would lead to literally highlighting the spacious seven-passenger cabin.
The seats—presented in cool gray leather—come heated and ventilated, plus the front row gets fourway lumbar support and massage options. The steering wheel also comes with a heated option, plus tri-zone automatic climate control. More pampering includes wireless charging, and a 16-speaker Bose audio system complete with stainless-steel grilles inside the doors. Tech gets a thumbs up as well, with Wi-Fi, wireless charging, and numerous safety features. The HD Surround vision, traffic sign rec-
ognition, driver attention assist, enhanced intersection automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, rear pedestrian alert, blind zone steering assist, a rear camera washer, and OnStar collectively boost confidence for those behind the wheel. The optional Super Cruise Package ($3,730) is truly a game-changer, introducing handsfree driving assistance, enhanced automatic parking, and a rear camera mirror.
With its premium features, family-friendly amenities, and state-
of-the-art safety system, the 2025 Enclave Avenir is undoubtedly a standout in its class. For those seeking a midsize SUV that blends luxury and practicality, the Enclave Avenir is one of the brilliant highlights of Buick’s promising future.
Fuel Economy: 19 city/25 highway/21 combined
Price: The 2025 Buick Enclave Avenir is $58,00 MSRP, and $63,125 including the Super Cruise Package and destination charges.
For more information, visit Buick.com.
Photo courtesy of Buick