The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 060923

June 9-15, 2023 • Vol. 58 Issue 5 • FREE

INSIDE

Homeownership Supplement - The Keys to Owning Your Own Home PAGE 7

AROUND TOWN

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Cop City 11, The People 4

| Page 2

Hundreds of people protest during an Atlanta City Council meeting regarding whether to approve public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center on Monday, June 5, 2023. Photo By Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

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Metro

ONLINE

Both big and small, Blackowned hotels in Georgia are slowly growing.

Read online at www.theatlantavoice.com

Stop Cop City movement has taken on many lives at this point

Atlanta Police Department officers look down on the crowd of protestors inside Atlanta City Hall Monday, June 5. Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

BY DONNELL SUGGS

A

tlanta City Hall was full of energy the morning of Monday, June 5, with hundreds of protestors, sign-wielders, flute players (yes, there were two ladies playing the flute) and people lining up to speak during the public comment section of that day’s city council meeting. A “Stop Cop City” rally took place that morning and brought people to the city’s seat of power to voice a myriad of concerns, some of which were even the construction of a police and fire training facility in DeKalb County, the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, otherwise known as “Cop City.”

Topics of discussion during a “Stop Cop City” protest that took place just after 11 a.m. ranged from affordable housing, education funding and the arts to mental health training, climate justice and the conditions at the Dekalb County jail. What began as a concern over the

Rev. James "Major" Woodall speaks during an Atlanta City Council meeting regarding a measure that would approve public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center on Monday, June 5, 2023. Photo By Itoro N. Umontuen/ The Atlanta Voice

Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, on Monday, turned into a pulpit for every issue that could fit into the atrium at City Hall.

Community Movement Builders organizer Keyanna Jones was one of the day's speakers. “We had to have people come out because we need to show people that we are not afraid. That no matter what the state of repression is, no matter how much they push back at us we are going to stand,” Jones said.

Asked whether all of the different movements and interests on display “Stop Cop City”, “Defend the forest”, “Black Lives Matter,” for example- had a place at the rally that morning Jones, an Atlanta native, said they did.

“I think this is the message. The message is that we are all together,” she said.

“So it doesn’t matter if your main vote is to change things, Black Lives matter, or I want to save the trees. Cop City affects all of us.”

See COPCITY on page 3

theatlantavoice.com • June 9-15, 2023 • Page 3

Metro

COPCITY Continued from page 2 The people have spoken and spoken and spoken Public comment went on for just over 14 hours between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning before the city council cast an 11-4 vote in favor of the training facility early Tuesday morning.

City Council President Doug Shipman said of the more than 300 citizens that gave their piece Monday/Tuesday, “Atlanta is unique in Georgia in the length of public comment that our rules allow and last night we extended to allow everyone to speak.”

“This is bigger than just one training facility,” said one of the more than 150 people that spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting just after 9 p.m. The public comments would continue until 11 p.m. as members of various City of Atlanta districts took the microphone and expressed their feelings on what is proposed as a $67 million public safety training center for the city’s police men and women and firemen and women. There is a planned $31 million for the facility and $36 million for a multiyear lease on the land.

A lot of the arguments being made by protestors prior to the start of the 1pm city

Hundreds of people protest during an Atlanta City Council meeting regarding whether to approve public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center on Monday, June 5, 2023. Photo

By Itoro N. Umontuen/ The Atlanta Voice

council meeting was about how much better the City of Atlanta could be spending the funds.

“What do we want to have safe housing or Cop City?,” Housing Justice League Executive Director Allison Johnson asked the crowd inside City Hall. She immediately rhetorically answered, “Safe housing and what we want today is to stop this crap.”

Protestors wore t-shirts that read “Vote”, “APF is a scam”, “Defend the Forest” and “Stop Cop City.” They chanted everything from “You can’t stop a revolution”, “This is what democracy looks like” and the ever popular “I believe that we will win.” Handdrawn signs with Rayshard Brooks’ photo and “Say their names” were waved around.

There were many messages brought to the floor Monday morning, but by 5:30 a.m. the next day the message was clear: City Council 11-4 in favor of going forward with funding the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.

“This is the people’s house today,” shouted Kamau Franklin, founder of Community Movement Builders, hours before the city council meeting began. “They call this the Black Mecca, but this is the Black sweatshop.”

Shipman added of the unprecedented amount of people at the meeting, “The turnout was extraordinary.”

Atlanta City Council Votes In Favor Of Cop City

BY KING WILLIAMS After a nearly 15-hour public comment session culminating in a 5:30 am vote, the Atlanta City Council, in an 11-4 vote, voted to allocate $30 million in city funds toward the completion of a new public safety center.

The nearly 15-hour public comment session was the second longest outside 2021’s initial public comment session. While the third largest, a 7-hour public comment session last month, was also on the same subject.

The training facility, famously dubbed ‘Cop City’ by residents and activists alike, has been at the center of controversy since its announcement in early 2021.

Since that vote, the city of Atlanta has seen a wave of new protests, pushback, and public engagement sessions that have been contentious.

At the heart of the contention are three larger topics: the first, a continuation of dubious business dealings by the city; the second, the environmental impact of this project; and third, the deal is seen as a good faith offering for positive re-engagement of the police after the summer of 2020.

That summer, officers walked off the job in what was known as ‘the Blue Flu.’ Then-members of APD also received two stipends for remaining on the force, and officers also saw no prosecution for the impact of not policing in 2020. That initial announcement of the police project was followed by a series of pushbacks regarding the lack of transparency in the project culminating in a contentious September 2021 vote in favor of the facility. In the wake

of that vote, the project has been delayed for two years due to a series of protests, including occupying the section of the South River Forest where the training facility is to be located.

That section of Atlanta, surrounded by unincorporated southwest DeKalb County had already had environmental concerns before the announcement. South DeKalb residents

and those who study the environment, such as Jackie Echols of the South River Watershed Alliance, are concerned the facility will contribute to the continual pollution in the area.

Echols presented during the public comment period. Echols has been vocal in attempting to get the city of Atlanta, APD, APF, and DeKalb County commissioners to

Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman presides during a meeting before a council vote over whether to approve public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center on Monday, June 5, 2023. Photo By Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

consider the issues of soil erosion and other pollutants being introduced to the majority black communities that already live there.

Other black leaders, including members of the NAACP, the Working Families Party, prominent black clergy members, and Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., have all come out against the project.

While US Senator Raphael Warnock has come out to voice his concerns over aspects of the project, including lack of transparency and labeling protestors as 'domestic terrorists.'

After a series of legal setbacks earlier this year, the site saw it finally get the go-ahead this April. ‘Cop City’s’ Monday vote saw the Atlanta City Council and City Hall be closed entirely to outside visitors due to the anticipated demand.

For the city council, the move represents a steady but growing schism between leadership and residents. Despite the unsubstantiated claims of people not from Atlanta against the facility, the 2021 and 2023 sessions have been heavily featured with Atlanta residents who opposed the site.

The continued opposition for Mayor Dickens and certain city council members supporting this project has led to a tarnishing reputation and continued frayed relationships with the police, lingering 3 years later. The 2023 vote echoed the 2021 vote as all Eastside council members, Antonio Lewis, Liliana Bakhtiari, and Keshia Waites, voted 'no.' In addition, one Westside member, Jason Dozier, voted against the project.

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Voices

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.”

— Chadwick Boseman

Where Does Your Right to Bear Arms End and Mine Begin?

BY HIRAM JACKSON

VOICE FOUNDED May 11, 1966

FOUNDER/EDITOR Ed Clayton

F

aced with the mounting number of tragedies in the wake of the unprecedented and recurrent acts of violence in every sector of the nation, what is particularly disturbing about this social psychosis is that the wanton disregard for life continues to proliferate.

The Gun Violence Archive tracked more than 647 mass shootings in 2022 and 690 in 2021. Mass shootings are defined — which in and of itself is tragic that there is a national threshold — requires a minimum of four people shot to qualify.

And in 2023, we are already on par to beat our own staggering and despicable record, with more than 280 mass shootings in only 150 days of the year.

But the real frustration is that while we decry these senseless tragedies when they happen and stain the social conscience, they end up being a sound bite that invariably ends with “we have to do something.”

We haven’t done much, and that “doing something” is basically an ambiguous declaration for more investigations, studies, and analyses of why 10 shoppers at a Buffalo grocery store were mowed down, or why nine churchgoers were killed in Charleston, South Carolina, by one wayward but armed teen, and why entirely too many children are killed in schools, and at parties and in the streets.

It goes without saying that this latest wave of violence and terrorism is seeded in an enriched climate of cruelty and hatred for Black, Brown, Asian, Jewish, and LGBTQ persons. But these deranged killers don’t discriminate.

They kill kids and students, parents and parishioners, the disabled and the disadvantaged.

Taking a deeper dive into the issues and incidents in our communities and shining a spotlight on the factors that contribute to

T H E AT L A N TA

Immortalis Memoria

PUBLISHER/EDITOR

J. Lowell Ware Immortalis Memoria The Atlanta Voice honors the life of J. Lowell Ware.

Despite over 280 mass shootings in just the first 150 days of 2023, the urgent call to action in the face of this escalating wave of violence remains largely unheeded across the United States. Credit: Illustration by Liz Courquet-Lesaulnier

the problem is a start, not a solution. Mass shootings, police-involved killings, and random acts of violence from rebels without a cause or conscience, are rooted in a distorted and dangerous need for power.

What’s absurd is that while an individual can carry out an act of what amounts to mass destruction, legislators charged with a duty to protect the public are unable or unwilling to effectively address and resolve to end these attacks on gender, race, color, and creed.

Stopping the violence is more than a matter of chronicling the incidents, studying the circumstances, and looking for explanations. The point is to get beyond the obligatory mourning period and mandate an end to the violence that is decimating communities and the country.

That well-meaning, but incredibly tired declaration that “something” has to be done is ambiguous

at best, and an empty sound bite for politicians and government officials to deflect attention from their lack of action regarding the barrage of assaults on their constituents and the American public.

Certainly, they are earnest in their grief. They just don’t feel bad enough to make assault rifles and handguns illegal and prohibit questionable persons from buying any guns at all.

And then the NRA flexes its muscle and money to influence legislation and block attempts to stop the indiscriminate licenses to purchase guns. That “right to bear arms” argument has become passe.

The text of the Second Amendment that gun advocates hold onto so dearly, actually reads: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

That was written before orga-

nized law enforcement agencies were established and during a time when a militia was necessary to protect Americans against foreign adversaries.

We live in an increasingly vitriolic climate with distorted notions of what is allowable under the law, whether it’s a police officer shooting an unarmed citizen, or vigilantes exercising some bloated sense of power.

But when those who have real power — the power to mandate a stop to violence — don’t respond to these horrific tragedies by enacting and enforcing stricter gun laws, they will have to bear much of the responsibility for the terrorism we are witnessing. And the anarchy we saw at the nation’s capital on Jan. 6, 2021, was just a preview of what’s to come.

Hiram Jackson is the CEO & Publisher of Real Times Media, which includes The Michigan Chronicle, a partner in the Word In Black collaborative

PUBLISHER Janis Ware jlware@theatlantavoice.com PRESIDENT/ GENERAL MANAGER James A. Washington jaws@theatlantavoice.com EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER Chia Suggs csuggs@theatlantavoice.com DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Martel Sharpe msharpe@theatlantavoice.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Donnell Suggs editor@theatlantavoice.com GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER Janelle Ward jward@theatlantavoice.com GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER Isaiah Singleton isingleton@theatlantavoice.com GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER Noah Washington nwashington@theatlantavoice.com MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL Itoro Umontuen iumontuen@theatlantavoice.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION 633 Pryor Street, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30312 Office: 404-524-6426 info@theatlantavoice.com

theatlantavoice.com • June 9-15, 2023 • Page 5

Voices SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING

Ever thought you would end up being picked for target practice

J

BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON

The Atlanta Voice

ust how hard is it to be a card carrying Christian these days?

I mean we’ve got card carrying Democrats and Republicans. You can get a membership card for every organization from the NAACP to the ACLU. The more I study the more I’m moved to realize that being a professed card carrying Christian, man or woman of faith, is, as I’ve said countless times, tantamount to putting a bull’s eye on your back and inviting an artillery barrage on your location.

Scripture tells us that accepting Jesus Christ as a way of life is never an easy task. Being crucified, thrown to the lions for fun and games, beheaded or ostracized were all very real possibilities for those who believed and then lived according to the Word of God. Is today so different?

Once you commit your life to Christ, isn’t it interesting the kind

The good news is we are not alone and never have been.

Living for God is a reality of human existence. of attention you attract.

“Be self controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

(—1 Peter 5:8-9) Looking around the world today, it is ludicrous not to recognize that religious persecution is still the number one cause of war and man’s inhumanity to man.

CNN will attest to the fact that people all over the planet are being systematically annihilated for the so called God they worship.

We sometimes take for granted the religious freedom we have in this country and I believe it has lulled us into a sense that being a Christian is easy.

Well, it’s not and never has been.

It’s empowering. It’s enlightening.

It’s eternal. But it is not easy.

The good news is we are not alone and never have been. Living for God is a reality of human existence.

Christians believe in life after physical death. We have some insight into what to expect.

Faith lets us know the difference between the physical and the eternal. Is it a wonder then, that belief in a deity who demands

love and appreciates mercy causes an adverse reaction from those who believe otherwise? Isn’t it a wonder that those who love Christ invite the wrath of Lucifer in all his forms?

That target on your back should be worn like a red badge of courage, because courage is what it’s going to take to first withstand the ridicule of the world and next the scorn of those who would tempt the weaknesses of your passions and addictions, let alone threaten your very life.

I continue to be moved by the acts of faith contained in the bible and those we see everyday, where a simple declaration that Christ is the Son of God is an invitation to certain and immediate harm and yes even death.

Let me at least acknowledge that there is a target on my back and thereby tell the world I’m easy to find.

May God bless and keep you always.

“YOUR VOICE”

Now that we have seen Black versions of Captain America, Little Mermaid and Spiderman among others, what are your thoughts or feelings on the reimagining of popular imaginary icons as characters of color?

LARRY DOUGLAS Union City

ELISHEVA PIERCE Atlanta

JEROME HAMBRICK Jonesboro

PATIENCE JONES Atlanta

“Honestly, I don’t care. I don’t own the rights to it. But I see the need for it. Some people feel these are hand-me-downs. You know, like, we don’t need a Black Spiderman, we don’t need a Black Captain America but at the end of the day these are creative figures. They are imaginary characters that are symbols of things. When we see different people, that are of different cultures, that have the same mantle, it actually brings more people together instead of causing division. That’s my opinion.”

“I think it’s a great thing.

I think representation really matters. It’s also showing a lot of colors of a lot of people.

I’ve seen a lot of racism go on about The Little Mermaid. I think it’s bringing some issues that we’ve had for a long time that were dormant to surface so that we can focus on healing more and healing our nation more. And I think we should continue to diversify characters, like, all of them.

Make them Black. ”

“My take is that we already have characters. I’m talking about Milestone [Comics].

We’ve got Blood Syndicate and Static Shock. We’ve Icon and Rocket. I mean we’ve got a whole bunch of Black characters already created that we could be using right now instead of switching what we have. I like that it’s getting more diverse but I say go back to the one we already have like Icon who is like the Black Superman but he’s stronger. We have so many characters we could be using. Static is like the Black Spiderman. Let’s see some more of those shows. Those are real comics that people actually enjoy reading. I know I did.

I’ve got a whole box of them and I love it.

I’d like to see more use of those.”

“I feel like it’s amazing that they are starting to represent more of us. I feel like the younger generation are always going to be influenced by what they watch on television so to see something that is a resemblance of them is going to empower them more. It’s really beautiful. I want it to keep going.”

Compiled by Vincent Christie at Tassilli’s Raw Reality Mystic Fair

Page 6 • June 9-15, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

Local

ONLINE

The 10 best Black-owned coffee shops in metro Atlanta.

Read online at www.theatlantavoice.com

Grameen America officials and representatives from partners Region Bank and Truist Foundation including Grameen America President/ CEO Andrea Jung and VISTA Equity Partner Robert Smith (center) cut the ribbon for the opening of the Atlanta office. Photo by Stan Washington/The Atlanta Voice

Major Nonprofit to Aid Women Entrepreneurs Opens Atlanta Office

BY STAN WASHINGTON

G

rameen America may not be a household name in Georgia, but it soon will be with the recent opening of its Atlanta office.

Grameen America is the fastest growing nonprofit microfinance organization in the United States.

Atlanta is the 25th U.S. city where the fund has set up operations.

The office is being funded through partnerships with The Studio@ Blue Meridian, Truist Foundation, Investor and philanthropist Robert F. Smith and Regions Bank which donated $1million.

Widely known as the richest African American, billionaire investor Smith gave the welcoming remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony which was held at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs in southwest Atlanta. The fund is still

searching for office space.

“This program is so important.

While 11.6% of the US. Population lives in poverty, that rate jumps to 18.8% for black women,” Smith said. “ And we all know that owning a business is one of the most efficient ways to produce generational wealth and escape the cyclical nature of poverty.”

Although black women in America continue to outpace black males when it comes to starting businesses, Smith adds: “But only one and a half percent of black women own a business. This is due partly to the barriers they must overcome to launch their ventures, including the fact that they are 20% less likely to be able to fund their business with bank loans, and typically, they receive less than 1% of annual venture capital invested.”

Smith is no stranger to Atlanta.

When he started his remarks he

joked it was “good to be back in the city of my graduation.” In 2019, Smith was the commencement speaker at Morehouse College and paid off the tuition debt of the 135th graduating class.

The founder, chairman and CEO of VISTA Equity Partners Smith has established a Student Freedom Initiative to enable thousands of young people to graduate from historically black colleges and universities free from the “shackles of debt.”

“Some of you may know black women owe 22% more on average than white women in student loan debt,” Smith said.

Atlanta is known for its strong women entrepreneur base, so it was a natural that the organization would eventually set up shop here.

The fund started making inroads into the metro area in June 2022.

In a release, Grameen Ameri-

ca stated it has “disbursed over $420,000 in affordable capital through 210 microloans to 169 financially underserved women of color living in the metro Atlanta area and surrounding communities. Thanks to this partnership, Grameen America will be able to expand its reach into the local community to support a greater number of under-resourced entrepreneurial women.

The new branch will also receive technical and other forms of assistance from local community partners, including The City of Atlanta’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, Startup Atlanta, Cathedral of Faith, and On the Rise Financial Center.”

“Atlanta has long been a leading hub for entrepreneurship and growth, and a city with a clear need for access to affordable capital and financial services among women

and especially Black women,” said Andrea Jung, President and CEO of Grameen America. “We’re proud to bring a variety of funding and technical assistance partners together to help connect women of color with financial services while positively impacting and sustaining their local communities.’

Several of the funded Black and Hispanic women business owners attended the ceremony.

Grameen America provides low-income women business owners with loan capital, financial education, asset- and credit-building, and peer support. Since 2008, Grameen America has reached more than 170,000 women living in underserved communities across the United States and recently achieved a record milestone of investing over $3 billion in capital to emerging entrepreneurs. The organization’s repayment rate is over 99% and its members have achieved an average credit score of 653 through participation in the program.

Jung pointed out in her remarks that the Atlanta area is a leading metro in the Southeast with significant growth over time. However, data shows that growth has not always been inclusive or equitable in reaching all members of the region.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 18.5% of people in Atlanta live in poverty, compared to just 12.8% of all Americans. The city, which is nearly 50% Black, also has the highest rate of income inequality of all large cities in the country. While Atlanta has one of the highest percentages of Black-owned businesses in the U.S., many entrepreneurs rely on personal wealth to start or build their businesses and have limited access to affordable capital.

(For more information on Grameen America and how to apply for a loan go to: www.grameenamerica.org)

theatlantavoice.com • June 9-15, 2023 • Page 7

Education

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VOICE theatlantavoice.com/support-our-publication/

Atlanta school board says it will oust its superintendent when her contract ends in 2024

BY JEFF AMY, ASSOCIATED PRESS

A

TLANTA (AP) – Atlanta school board members announced Friday that they’re getting rid of district Superintendent Lisa Herring when her contract ends next year.

Atlanta Public Schools Board Chair Eshé Collins, in a statement, didn’t explain why the board decided to not renew Herring’s contract after it ends June 30, 2024.

“So long as she is the superintendent, Dr. Herring and the board will continue the critical work that has begun, particularly the laser focus

on student achievement,” Collins said. “We are confident that, as the superintendent transitions and the board embarks on the search for the next transformational leader for APS, the work will continue uninterrupted, and APS will remain a great place for children.”

Herring had previously been superintendent of the Birmingham, Alabama, school district before she was hired in Atlanta in 2020.

She said in her own statement that board members had graded her work well, saying, “My desire to lead Atlanta with this work is still strong and present.”

“In December of 2022, I received my last performance evaluation,

and satisfactory feedback with emphasis on the focus of additional engagement and stronger communications efforts,” Herring said. “I have worked diligently to honor the work and expectations of our board and community.”

Superintendents who are not renewed in Georgia sometimes leave before their contracts end, with districts appointing interim leaders instead of keeping a lame duck in office.

A group calling itself Transparency Now had launched an online petition urging Herring’s ouster and calling on people to pressure school board members to not renew Herring’s contract. The group

cited low test scores, insufficient attention to students with disabilities and discipline problems among the reasons.

It was the same decision on another superintendent that led to Herring’s hiring. Board members decided in 2019 to get rid of Meria Carstarphen. She had been hired in 2014 in the wake of a test cheating scandal that led to a number of guilty pleas by teachers, as well as 11 that were convicted following a monthslong trial.

Carstarphen had wanted to stay, leading to an unsuccessful pressure campaign to retain her.

Herring was hired during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Atlanta

schools held virtual classes longer than most other Georgia school districts. Like other school systems, Atlanta has been trying to help students make up ground.

The 50,000-student Atlanta district is Georgia’s sixth largest school system and confronts the same inequalities as the city does.

Less than half of the city’s population is Black, compared to 72% of public school students in Atlanta.

And while overall income levels in the city are higher than Georgia as a whole, so are poverty levels, reflected in a school system where nearly three-quarters of children qualify for free or reduced price meals.

BUSINESS

MARTA Artbound unveils new mural “Flora Chroma” at Dunwoody station

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) public art program Artbound, in collaboration with the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCIDs), the City of Dunwoody, Dunwoody Development Authority, the Dunwoody Art Commission, and Living Walls, celebrates the unveiling of a mural by world renowned artist, DAAS, at Dunwoody rail station on the Red Line in DeKalb County.

“Flora Chroma” is located on the southern face of the parking deck at the station, facing Hammond Drive. At an impressive 2,500 square feet, the mural will be the largest in Dunwoody.

“This mural is a celebration of the power of color and the beau-

ty of nature, and it focuses on the Cherokee Rose and the Azalea. The object and point are to create a visual experience that is immersive and there’s an augmented reality component to this as well,” DAAS said.

Additionally, DAAS said the importance and significance of public art is the engagement which comes in “thought-provoking and emotional ways”.

“It not only sparks conversation but enhances our surroundings in aspects of everyday life. The greatest attribute of public art is its inclusive nature, embracing and benefiting everybody while contributing to overall wellbeing.

Thank you to everyone that played a role in contributing to this amazing mural,” DAAS said.

MARTA Dunwoody Station and MARTA Artbound unveils new mural, Flora Chroma, by world renowned artist, DAAS. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

“Building strong partnerships with the communities we serve is the cornerstone of our mission at Artbound,” said Art in Transit Director Katherine Dirga. “We are delighted to be able to bring color and vibrancy to this bustling corridor, and we hope it will enhance ev-

eryone’s experience of the streetscape.”

The mural was funded jointly

by MARTA, PCIDs, Dunwoody Development Authority, and City of Dunwoody with artist search and selection supported by Atlanta arts organization, Living Walls.

One percent of MARTA’s annual budget is allocated to enhance the ridership experience through visual and performance art. To learn more visit itsmarta.com.

To learn more about the artist DAAS and his work visit https:// www.artist-daas.com/bio.

Page 8 • June 9-15, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

Business

‘Black Planters’ hosts first in-person meet-up in Cumberland

BY JANELLE WARD

Neti Hamilton of Ezra’s Emerald, a company that provides uniquely tailored houseplants & houseplant services. Photo by Janelle Ward/The Atlanta Voice

P

lant vendors and enthusiasts alike gathered inside Atlanta’s ISO Studios on Saturday for the inaugural social for the Facebook group ‘Black Planters,’ a virtual collective of Black plant owners and lovers who exchange advice, conduct sales and hold general discussions about plants and gardening.

The event featured opportunities in commerce and education, bringing together small business owners, speakers and the public to buy, sell and learn about cultivating various types of greenery.

Ashley Nussman-Berry, founder of the Facebook community and organizer of Saturday’s event, said she created ‘Black Planters’ as a way to give Black horticulturalists an outlet to socialize and spread their knowledge to others. She started the group before the height of the pandemic and the period of civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, a time when Black people faced isolation and disregard from social groups of contrasting backgrounds.

Online communities for plant lovers are abundant across multiple social media platforms, but Nussman-Berry said ‘Black Planters’ creates a safe space for Black people harboring an interest in gardening, fostering a community that appreciates Black ideas and culture while supporting Black issues and matters of racial injustice, trends that she found weren’t as prevalent within mainstream, multiracial plant communities. “[Black members] were getting shut down over and over [inside mainstream virtual plant groups]. People’s posts were getting taken down, and it just wasn’t feeling very fair. We weren’t feeling heard,” Nussman-Berry said.

“So, I just decided that we were going to do something different and have a place where we can all just come together and be able to be ourselves.”

Since Nussman-Berry started the social media group in 2020, ‘Black Planters’ has accumulated nearly 45,000 members located around the world. Nussman-Berry said that a significant portion of the Facebook group’s members reside in the Atlanta area, which motivated her to choose the city as the location to host the first in-person social event. She said she’s eyeing other major American cities to host future events, before hopefully making her venture global.

“Right now, we are hoping to do New York next and I think Chicago,” Nussman-Berry said. “The bigger cities tend to be more predominantly Black, so that’s cool. That’s where a lot of our members [are located].”

Neti Hamilton, an environmental public health practitioner working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was one

Ashley Nussman-Berry, founder of the Facebook community and organizer of Saturday’s event, said she created ‘Black Planters’ as a way to give Black horticulturalists an outlet to socialize and spread their knowledge to others. Photo by Janelle Ward/The Atlanta Voice

of the event’s participating vendors. Her business, Ezra’s Emerald, is a plant marketplace and consultation service with a long-term goal of bringing about awareness and communal action to the climate crisis.

“I don’t just run a plant shop. I have the intention of cultivating the relationship between humans and their environment one house at a time to help address the climate change agenda,” Hamilton said. “So that’s what this shop is doing, not only [selling] plants, but kind of [proliferating] an idea of environmental conservation and preservation.”

Hamilton said her goal is to transform Ezra’s Emerald into a full-time pursuit, where she

can combine her interests in environmentalism and fostering community into one practice. She also said she aims to use her platform to give Black planters and environmentalists their flowers when it comes to developing actions and habits that benefit the planet.

“I feel like Black and brown people, we’ve been doing this. We just aren’t getting the credit for it,” Hamilton said. “So, to be able to highlight us and to bring us to a stage that’s deserving and showing and telling of enough of what we are doing [is important to me].”

Licensed cosmetologist Candas Nichole also set up a booth on Saturday, selling custom, hand-sculpted and -painted planters donning images of Black women and public figures.

She creates art and beauty products and other marketable accessories as a full-time entrepreneur.

“I am an artist all around,” Nichole said. “I [also] make jewelry and handbags. I make everything, and that’s something that I do fulltime.”

Nichole’s planters combine her many trades into one product, as she designs her figurines to wear makeup and a variety of natural and protective hairstyles. She said she aims to open a brick-and-mortar store in the future that provides a spa-like wellness experience for customers, that also allows them to take home merchandise that reminds them of their visit.

“Everything that I do is all about uplifting, motivating, inspiring [women],” Nichole said.

“I love men, too, but I love to see women happy and feeling free and feeling beautiful and empowered.”

In the future, Ashley Nussman-Berry plans to service the Black plant community in ways beyond hosting itinerant social events.

‘Black Planters’ is also part of Facebook’s Community Accelerator program, an initiative

from Meta that helps online collectives impact their communities by equipping leaders with connections, coaching and funding to be used to expand their outreach. Nussman-Berry contributed funds she received from the program to organize the social, and intends to use more of the funding to foster an interest in horticulture across Black youth, and to establish communal gardening spaces within Black communities nationwide.

“We need spaces where we can just be. We don’t have to censor ourselves and change who we are,” Nussman-Berry said. “It’s cool because we all come from similar backgrounds, and a lot of Black people in America have ancestors who were slaves, so it’s cool. It’s like reclaiming gardening and making it ours.”

Candas Nichole holds one of her signature planters. Photo by Janelle Ward/The Atlanta Voice

theatlantavoice.com • June 9-15, 2023 • Page 9

Business BUSINESS PROFILE

Black Business Profile: Raiyon Hunter

BY JANELLE WARD Raiyon Hunter, an Atlanta-based writer, director, producer and actress, joined the Children’s Theatre Company in May as the company’s casting director.

A New Orleans native, Hunter moved to Atlanta to study the arts, receiving her bachelor’s in theater at Spelman College.

She assumed the position with the CTC following a stint with Alliance Theatre, where she served as a Spelman Leadership Fellow, a highly-competitive, fulltime, two-year artistic position within the company. She’s also garnered career experience through The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

As casting director, Hunter will work with the company’s actors to cast roles in upcoming shows in the 2023-24 performance season, and assist in recruiting new talent for the theater. Hunter will also help manage the CTC’s Performing Apprentice program, an opportunity for young adult performers aged 19 and older to act alongside company talent and guest artists in future shows. The Atlanta Children’s Theatre Company introduces kids to the ins-and-outs of live performance through summer camps, after-school programs and workshop opportunities, serving as a stepping stone for many actors in the entertainment industry.

The Atlanta Voice spoke with Hunter about her background in theater, methods of self-expression and expectations for the future as she settles into her new role at the Children’s Theatre Company.

The Atlanta Voice: You initially found a home in theater at the age of five in your hometown of New Orleans, but migrated to Atlanta, attended Spelman and found work in the city's theater scene. How do the arts scenes differ in NOLA and Atlanta, and was it challenging to adapt to Atlanta's theater culture upon moving here?

Raiyon Hunter: New Orleans is a huge and vibrant city, but it doesn't have a big theater scene. Growing up, I went to one of the few Black Theatres, Anthony Bean Community Theatre, which introduced me to the world of professional stage performance. However, it was the only theater I had access to. While there are a couple of staple theaters in the city, most of the art scene in New Orleans revolves around visual art and music. But even with the lack of formalized theater, we still created performances, as the city itself is like a stage. When I moved

RAIYON HUNTER, an Atlanta-based writer, director, producer and actress, joined the Children’s Theatre Company in May as the company’s casting director. Photo courtesy of Jason Vail to Atlanta, I was shocked to see how ingrained theater culture was in the city.

It was overwhelmingly beautiful. I wanted to be a part of everything but didn't know where to begin. I'm grateful to my professors at Spelman and my mentors for guiding me and helping me navigate the theater scene in Atlanta.

AV: On top of your acting experience, you write, produce and direct your own projects, many of which revolve around your identity as a Black woman based in the American South. How do you incorporate your day-to-day experiences as a Black woman into the art you create both inside and outside the theater?

RH: I don't think I consciously try to incorporate my identity into my work because it's already ingrained in everything I do. I lead from my lived experience as a Black Southern Woman because that's what I know. Regardless of the project, my experiences are always at the forefront, shaping how I relate to the world. When I write my own work, the worlds I create are centered around the experiences of Black Southern Women.

Having spent my entire life in the South, it has birthed me, raised me, and shaped me into the woman I am today. Most of my characters are based on the dynamic

people I've encountered, many of whom have roots below the Mason-Dixon line.

There are a few quotes I will yell out any and all times and one of them is “The South got something to say.”

AV: What lessons did you learn working in casting at Alliance Theatre that you intend to carry with you to your new role at the Children's Theatre Company?

RH: I was blessed to learn under some dynamic leaders at the Alliance who left me with so much [wisdom], but if I had to emphasize one lesson it’s: Listen more than you speak. It wasn’t even something they had to say out loud, it was cemented in the culture of the theater. The artists and making sure their needs and concerns were heard and met was at the forefront of every conversation.

AV: What excites you most about being able to work predominantly with child actors on a regular basis in this new role, and ultimately help them tap into their creativity and interest in the arts?

RH: I love working with young performers because kids are inherently artists.

They are forever dreaming and discovery is within their DNA because the reality is they’re still discovering life. I think we all are at all times, but at some point in our growth, we feel like we have to have

everything figured out. We feel like we can’t be vulnerable and open when we’re confused or don’t know something.

That’s what makes [Theatre for Young Audiences] so magical. Many of the adult performers are inspired by the boldness and fearlessness of the young ones and they’re reminded to take leaps and dream again.

AV: Many students turn to live theatre for acceptance or self-expression. Why is theatre (and the arts in general) an important space for creators to explore their identities and tell stories that are important to their heritage and upbringing?

RH: Theatre is so ensemble-based and one of the few art forms where we get to feel a sense of togetherness even in silence. When we witness a performance that holds such deep meaning to someone's culture or heritage, we can really feel the impact of the piece, not just individually, but also collectively. Theatre has the power to be transformative. The presence of real live people on stage creates a deeper connection than what you would feel through a screen. Just like live music, theatre keeps us enthralled in the story, making it harder for us to disengage and fostering a shared experience that is truly profound.

AV: What are some personal long-term goals you have as a writer, producer, director and performer?

RH: To live. Seriously, I have a lot of things I’d like to accomplish in this industry. My dreams could probably fill up an ocean, but I can’t bring them to fruition without surviving and living first. An ultimate goal is to create a space specifically for coming-of-age pieces by and for BIPOC women, but in order to get there, there needs to be some serious change in how regional theatre operates and I’m excited to be a part of those conversations.

AV: What advice would you give a child who may be interested in the arts, but is afraid to take that initial leap to try it out for themselves?

RH: Do it for you. A lot of the hesitation we have when trying something new is fear of failure. Most of the time, the thought of failing in front of other people hurts more than the concept of failing in and of itself. The only person who has anything to lose by not doing it is you. One quote I continuously remind myself of is from Hana Sharif and it goes “I’m not motivated by fear, and I don’t let other people’s fear and anxieties move me either.”

Page 10 • June 9-15, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

Community

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Creative Soul Photography holds fashion show for new book, Crowned

BY DONNELL SUGGS A dozen beautiful Black children made their way from backstage to the front of a crowd inside Blue Mark Studios on Atlanta's westside. Dressed as princes and princes, angels and fairies, Cinderella, even cowboys and cowgirls, the children were living, breathing canvases, human art.

The artists, Regis and Kahran Bethencourt, the husband and wife duo behind Creative Soul Photography, a Black-owned studio that is creating stunning images of Black children. Commissioned by Disney, invited on national television and radio shows and featured in the pages of newspapers in Atlanta, Creative Soul Photography held a fashion show in honor of their latest book, "Crowned: Magical Folk and Fairytales from the Diaspora ''.

Having been released May 23, the book is full of images of Black children in both positive and empowering lights. Kahran once told The Atlanta Voice the idea of positively photographing Black youth

was more of a duty than a business plan.

“It’s important for us because we often see so many negative stereotypes of Black youth in the media and we really use our photography and our platform as a way to combat those negative stereotypes,”

she said. “These are the stories I feel are not being told, so we use our photography to showcase them.”

The show included a performance by young 12-year-old female rapper, Little Essence of HipHop. Her single, "I'm So Fire," had the crowd calling and responding to the music. A live DJ entertained the crowd in between performances.

At times the models were presented in pairs, one of which looked like twins. One princess wore a pink dress with a crown of what looked like candy and donuts. A prince strolled down the aisle dressed in red with a gold crown. Another prince, dressed in a green jacket with gold trim took his turn walking the catwalk. When he got towards the end of his walk, surrounded by people taking photographs, he turned and smiled. A prince in all of his glory.

Creative Soul Photography held a fashion show Saturday in honor of their new book, Crowned. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival to return for 11th year

BY JANELLE WARD

O

rganizers behind Juneteenth Atlanta, one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the country and the official Juneteenth celebration for the city, are bringing back festivities for the event’s 11th year.

Taking place the weekend preceding the observed holiday in Centennial Olympic Park, the three-day Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival will feature live performances, a 5K race, a natural hair show and the first-ever Historical Miss Juneteenth Georgia Pageant, along with a host of other activities encouraging unity, equality and justice for the African diaspora.

While the festival is free and open to the public, select events may call

for a registration fee.

Starting at noon on Saturday, June 17, this year’s parade will showcase a variety of floats, marching bands, dance teams and community organizations. The parade will begin at Liberty Plaza, across from the Capitol, and head northwest via Decatur, Marietta and Baker streets before ending on John Portman Boulevard, next to Centennial Olympic Park.

The parade will also be broadcast live on local television stations Peachtree TV and Atlanta News First, for those unable to attend the event in person.

The 5K Freedom Run will take place Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m., the route trekking past major landmarks in Downtown. Runners and walkers of all experience levels are encouraged to participate and cross the finish line in order to raise aware-

ness for social justice, judicial reform and other human rights-related issues. Registration costs $35 from now until the morning of the race.

Juneteenth Atlanta also calls for 5,000 African drummers from all over the globe to fill Downtown on Sunday, in an attempt to claim a world record for African drum circles.

Drummers are slated to surround the park and other major landmarks on the day of the record pursuit, and are also granted a chance to perform in Saturday’s parade.

Juneteenth weekend will shine a spotlight on Black-owned businesses, as well, supporting more than 400 vendors, artists and food trucks this year, according to the event’s website. Vendors are scheduled to operate each of the three days of the festival.

Organizers behind Juneteenth Atlanta, one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the country and the official Juneteenth celebration for the city, are bringing back festivities for the event’s 11th year. Photo courtesy ofJuneteenth Atlanta

theatlantavoice.com • June 9-15, 2023 • Page 11

Arts

Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse -A Thrilling Evolution of a Cultural Phenomenon

BY NOAH WASHINGTON Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse surges with visual inventiveness and vibrance, solidifying its status as a more-than-worthy follow-up to the 2018 cultural phenomenon, "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse."

This highly anticipated sequel surpasses its predecessor in every way, delivering an emotional rollercoaster ride filled with thrilling action and impactful character development. The film opens with the captivating return of Gwen Stacy (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), who takes on a deuteragonist role, providing deeper insight into her backstory.

This opening sequence introduces new characters Miguel O'Hara (voiced by Oscar Isaac) and Jessica Drew (voiced by Issa Rae), as they engage in an intense action scene against an alternate reality version of the notorious Spi-

der-Man villain, The Vulture.

The story swiftly transitions to Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), a more seasoned Spider-Man who is grappling with the weight of his responsibilities. Balancing school, his superhero alter ego, and maintaining a social life proves challenging, particularly as an Afro-Latino facing additional hurdles in the world. Miles' struggles become even more pronounced when he is thrust into the multiverse, pitted against his "enemy of the week," The Spot (voiced delightfully by Jason Schwartzman).

Across The Spider-Verse impressively explores Miles' growth as a hero, elevating his character to new heights.

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

These are the iconic words that resonate

across Spider-Man’s history. Shameik Moore's performance captures the subtlety of a teenager grappling with self-doubt and the pressures of living up to his potential and the responsibility that being Spider-Man brings.

The film masterfully delves into Miles' journey of self-discovery, showcasing his resilient spirit and his ability to overcome obstacles.

The supporting voice cast rises to the occasion, complementing the film's exceptional animation. Jake Johnson returns as Peter B. Parker, providing much-needed guidance to Miles, while also navigating his own journey as a new father. Daniel Kaluuya stands out as the self-assured Spider-Punk, whose inconsistent animation emphasizes the radical nature of the character infusing the character with a kickass anti-authoritarian charm.

One of the film's triumphs lies in its anima-

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Sealed bids for 23ITBC138578B-RT - Uniforms Footwear and Duty Gear for the Sealed proposals for 23RFP138733K-BKJ - Standby Professional Services advertising@theatlantavoice.com Fulton County Police Department, will be accepted by the Fulton County Defor Facilities Related Planning, Design, Engineering and Assessments - Archipartment of Purchasing & Contract Compliance electronically through BidNet tectural & Engineering Services for the Fulton County Real Estate and Asset Direct at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty, on Wednesday, Management Department, will be accepted by the Fulton County Department July 5, 2023. of Purchasing & Contract Compliance, electronically through Bidnet Direct at TO DONATE All bids submitted must be received noSCAN later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty, on Wednesday, July 12, time on the stated date.

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Proposal Bond: N/A Bid Bond: N/A Scope of Work: Fulton County Government (“County”) is seeking Proposals Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia (“County) To provide uniforms, footwear, from qualified and experienced vendors to provide Standby Professional Serand duty gear as outlined in this ITBC. vices for Architectural and Engineering Services in support of the Department RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE TODAY! In order to obtain complete information about this solicitation, please click the of Real Estate and Asset Management (DREAM) to establish one (1) or more link below where this document and supporting documents can be downloadstand-by contracts for each advertising@ group or discipline identified within this Request A 501.3C NONed, https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty. for Proposal (RFP) on an “astheatlantavoice.com needed-task assignment” basis for professional PROFIT NEWS advertising@theatlantavoice.com Fee: N/A services. The detailed scope of work and technical specifications are outlined ORGANIZATION www.TheAtlantaVoice.com/Donate Term of Contract: The Commencement Term of this Agreement shall begin on in the Scope of Work, Section 3 of this proposal document. In order to obtain the date of execution of the Agreement in the year 2023, the starting date, and complete information about this solicitation, please click the link below where shall end absolutely and without further obligation on the part of the County on this document and supporting documents can be downloaded, https://www. the 31st day of December, 2023 with 2 bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty.

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tion, which pushes the boundaries of creativity and visual storytelling. Building upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, Across the Spider-Verse takes full advantage of its technical prowess, offering audiences an immersive and awe-inspiring visual experience.

Every frame is a work of art, with intricate details and stylistic flourishes that enhance the storytelling. However, the film's relentless pace and focus on action occasionally overshadow the intricacies of its story. While the multiverse provides an exciting backdrop for Miles' growth, the plot can become convoluted and challenging to follow. Despite these shortcomings, the heart of the story shines through in the character-driven moments. The exploration of complex emotions and relationships, particularly between Miles and Gwen, showcases the film's ability to strike an emotional chord. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is a worthy successor to its predecessor, delivering an exhilarating and emotionally resonant cinematic experience. Its captivating animation, engaging performances, and relentless energy make it a must-watch for fans and newcomers alike. As Miles Morales continues to swing through the multiverse, audiences can anticipate a thrilling conclusion to this evolving saga to be concluded with next year's “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse”.

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FULTON COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSAL Sealed proposals for 23RFP060523B-EC - Fulton County Attorney Case Management System Project for the Fulton County Attorney Office Department, will be accepted by the Fulton County Department of Purchasing & Contract Compliance, electronically through Bidnet Direct at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/ georgia/fultoncounty, on Thursday, June 22, 2023, no later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) time on the stated date. Proposers names will be publicly read at 11:05 a.m., local time on the stated due date via zoom.

Proposal Bond: N/A Scope of Work: Fulton County Georgia (“County”) The County is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide consulting services for designing, developing and implementing a case management system. The selected contractor must be qualified in and experienced with case management system development. In order to obtain complete information about this solicitation, please go to the link below where this document and supporting documents can be downloaded, https://www.bidnetdirect.com/ georgia/fultoncounty.

Fee: N/A Term of Contract: The contract will commence as of the date indicated in the contract agreement and shall continue until December 31, 2023.

Renewal is based on service/maintenance agreement and placed on the County Annual Hardware and Software Maintenance and Support List starting January 1, 2024. A Pre-Proposal Conference, will be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., local time, to provide proposers with information regarding the project and to address any questions.

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https://zoom.us/s/99165521963 Or One tap mobile: +14703812552,,99165521963# US (Atlanta) +14702509358,,99165521963# US (Atlanta) Or join by phone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 470 381 2552 or +1 470 250 9358 or +1 646 518 9805 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 651 372 8299 or +1 786 635 1003 or +1 267 831 0333 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 720 928 9299 or +1 971 247 1195 or +1 206 337 9723 or +1 213 338 8477 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 602 753 0140 or +1 669 219 2599 or +1 669 900 9128 Webinar ID: 991 6552 1963 International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/aoPxzWRo Or an H.323/SIP room system: H.323: 162.255.37.11 (US West) 162.255.36.11 (US East) 115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai) 115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad) 213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands) 213.244.140.110 (Germany) 103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney) 103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne) 149.137.40.110 (Singapore) 64.211.144.160 (Brazil) 149.137.68.253 (Mexico) 69.174.57.160 (Canada Toronto) 65.39.152.160 (Canada Vancouver) 207.226.132.110 (Japan Tokyo) 149.137.24.110 (Japan Osaka) Webinar ID: 991 6552 1963 SIP: 99165521963@zoomcrc.com If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Elsa D. Castro, Chief Assistant Purchasing Agent at Email: elsa.castro@fultoncountyga. gov or phone 404-612-4216.

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Page 12 • June 9-15, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

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