The Atlanta Voice070723 E-Edition

Metro

Unbanked: Wells Fargo and Operation HOPE Are Making a Difference in Underserved Communities Around the Country

BY DONNELL SUGGS

On a Friday morning in Atlanta’s West End neighborhood a Wells Fargo bank branch was buzzing with activity. Many regular customers and non-account holders alike made their way into the bank to make transactions or stop by the two exterior ATMs to do their business.

For many people the bank can be a safe financial place where their money is working for them and their families, and for so many others locked out of the banking world, it can be a much different space. For the unbanked, people without a mainstream bank account, for example, a trip to the bank can be overwhelming and, in some cases, expensive and even intimidating.

Inside the Wells Fargo branch on the corner of Lee Street and Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. is a HOPE Inside center.

Wells Fargo bank and Atlanta-based non-profit organization Operation HOPE have teamed up through the Banking Inclusion Initiative to introduce HOPE Inside centers, which aim to help make banking better and more inclusive for everyone. The two organizations have worked together for decades, and that relationship has helped get the Banking Inclusion Initiative off to a strong start.

This Banking Inclusion Initiative is Wells Fargo’s 10-year commitment to help more people who are unbanked gain access to affordable, mainstream bank accounts, with a focus on removing barriers to financial inclusion for Black and African American, Hispanic and Native American households – communities that have institutionally and systematically been ignored.

Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans account for more than half of the 5.9 million unbanked U.S. households and 18.7 million underbanked households in the country, according to FDIC data provided to The Atlanta Voice by Wells Fargo. The majority of the HOPE Inside centers are in more urban city centers, but there has been a move to get centers in more rural areas, Wells Fargo Executive Vice President, Head of Banking Inclusion

Darlene Goins told The Atlanta Voice.

There are Wells Fargo HOPE Inside centers within 11 select markets that are strategically placed to serve underserved and unbanked communities. The HOPE Inside centers are located in Atlanta, including Stone Mountain and West End, Houston, Minneapolis, Newark, Oakland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Harlem and most recently, Gallup,

New Mexico. Native Americans make up 47% of the city’s population, according to the latest census data.

“Over the next several months we are going to be expanding into more rural areas,” Goins said. Goins has been with Wells Fargo for nearly eight years. “We actually looked at the demographics of each of the markets to determine where we would work with Operation HOPE to put a HOPE Inside center in our branches.”

The companies looked at areas of the country with large concentrations of unbanked and underserved communities with the greatest need, such as the Atlanta area. The HOPE Inside center in Stone Mountain was introduced in 2022. The West End Wells Fargo branch, for example, is surrounded by African, Muslim and Black American businesses. “We looked at areas with large percentages of unbanked or underbanked individuals,” Goins added.

“Coming out of the pandemic we saw that communities of color were disproportionately impacted on all levels, so we felt it was important for us as one of the largest community banks in the country to build on existing efforts and really work to make a difference in helping people who historically have had difficulty getting ahead.”

The HOPE Inside coaches will seek to empower community members with free financial education and guidance, such as helping them improve their credit scores. This financial education can help reduce the fees that so many unbanked and underbanked households incur from high-cost alternatives such as check cashing, payday loans, title loans and ATM fees that can quickly add up. “Being able to make banking more inclusive can have an immediate positive financial impact,” says Goins.

Wells Fargo had also been in a business relationship with Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), having invested in 13 MDIs such as Citizens Trust Bank, which has branches in Castleberry Hill and on the Westside, for example. “Citizens Trust Bank customers can use our Wells Fargo ATMs without paying fees from Wells Fargo as well,” Goins said.

The same goes for Greenwood Bank and MoCaFi customers, according to Goins. Wells Fargo has over 11,000 ATMs within its network.

“A fully functioning society is ultimately a community that is thriving. A thriving community is a place where people are investing, building, and expanding economically,” said Operation HOPE Financial coach Jaimelle Harden, who is based at the Stone Mountain branch.

There is also an educational advantage to the HOPE Inside centers. The financial education and guidance that customers can get via their bank is also provided to HOPE Inside clients. “We knew it was something we couldn’t

tackle alone, it was going to take collaboration with trusted organizations that can bring the unique voices of the communities that they serve to the table and really work with us to foster that economic advancement for diverse communities,” Goins said of collaboration with Operation HOPE.

Harden, a financial wellbeing coach, believes understanding customer’s financial needs on a more personal basis can help them reach financial goals much better.

“I create an action plan that starts with budgeting, access to tools to enhance their savings, and a blueprint for establishing or rebuilding their credit,” Harden said. “Through strategic alliances and partnerships in the community, I can connect my clients with representatives who can help get them in position for a home loan, help them start a business, and prepare for retirement.” HOPE

Inside is a free service available to the community. You do not have to be a Wells Fargo customer to take advantage. The Stone Mountain HOPE Inside center is located at 6063 Memorial Dr, Stone Mountain, GA 30083 and the West End HOPE Inside center is located at 612 Lee St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Financial Journey is a unique series focused on financial education and opportunities. These stories have been created through a strategic partnership between Wells Fargo and Word In Black.

Wells Fargo and Operation HOPE have teamed up to bridge the gap between the unbanked and traditional bank account holders. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

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National

The Atlanta Voice won 3 first place awards, five total, at this year’s NNPA convention

BY STAFF REPORT

The Atlanta Voice followed last year's seven awards by winning five total awards at this year's National Newspaper Publisher Association (NNPA) awards. The annual convention took place in Nashville (last year's awards took place in New Orleans), with the awards ceremony taking place Thursday, June 29.

Among the five awards, the Voice staff managed to win another three first place awards for a consecutive year. The first place victories ranged in coverage from youth-focussed to politics.

FIRST PLACE

The Facebook Campaign coverage for Senator Raphael Warnock's visit to The Atlanta Voice studios where he met with publishers from The Voice, Mundo Now and the Georgia Asian Times.

FIRST PLACE

The Emory O. Jackson award for health coverage for Donnell Suggs' series of stories on the closing of Atlanta Medical Center was also the best in its category.

FIRST PLACE

Youth and Children coverage from Madgie Robinson, who wrote a feature story on the Dynamite Dance Factory, a Black owned business in Kennesaw, led the field.

THIRD PLACE

The third place award was for original photography of Election Central coverage of the most recent senatorial campaign between Warnock and Walker. Photographers Umontuen and Julia Beverly were responsible for the coverage.

SECOND PLACE

The Voice was also awarded a second place award for its video campaign on the one and only debate between Senator Warnock and his Republican competitor Herschel Walker in Savannah. Itoro N. Umontuen handled the video production and editing on that project.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Voices

If Discrimination Had a Yearbook, SCOTUS Would Win ‘Most Likely to Succeed’

BY PATRICK WASHINGTON

We live in interesting times.

Not necessarily good times, but definitely interesting ones.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in universities, and for my home state of Texas, that is not good at all. The court’s ruling will change admissions practices nationwide, and at Texas’ only large public university that considers race — the University of Texas at Austin.

What’s most interesting to me is how this came about and how the same old tactics of grievance over facts were used to great effect. It’s actually despicable how the court is now a political arm and plays the partisan politics game so shamelessly.

Especially seeing as how Clarence Thomas, the only Black male member — who is also seemingly on the payroll of Harlan Crow — owes his career to affirmative action.

t’s not surprising, however, that John Roberts, the conservative judge that won’t comment on the scandals within the court (all of which are right-leaning) — has in the past previewed this moment with his opinions on, let’s say, the Voting Rights Act. Roberts seems to have some unsubstantiated faith in the white majority to do the right thing. It’s laughable and sad at the same damn time.

So for my state, Texas — which is known for denying slavery happened, denying immigration to asylum seekers, not believing in climate change while we all burn up in the now Sahara Desert-level heat, stripping women of autonomy, supporting weapons of war, and honestly too much to name — this is just another failure and regression of progress for the state and its citizens.

Before the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action, UT Austin had a 10% rule, which made it automatic that graduating high

school seniors in the top 10% of their class could attend the school.

Now, I have no hope that that rule will be in effect for too much longer.

This rule was the “safeguard” against historic exclusionary practices — practices that had been somewhat eroded due to the success of the Civil Rights Movement.

Now, since any mini Karen with a social media account can claim discrimination and get national news coverage, and apparently support from the Supreme Court, this doesn’t bode well for the future of Black students.

I am not a betting man, but I would bet good money that next on the chopping block is the 10% rule. I’m sure some upper middle class white family will claim that, somehow, their average child is being discriminated against, and it will be out the window. With our corrupt political “leadership,” and I’m sure the backing of some

Daughters of the Confederacy-esque group, they can and will push ending the 10% policy through the system as soon as possible — not to mention furthering the potential defunding of diverse campuses in the state.

The glaring issue to me is how this will affect where, or even if, students apply to college and how those colleges will accept them. We are not far removed from the days of Jim Crow. Its subtle influence over modern behavior and attitudes is still very present in Texas. Don’t believe me? Ask Houston how that school district is doing right now.

A crack in progress can bring back the deluge of discrimination that Texas has been so well known for. Not to mention the ripple effect this can potentially have on post-graduates’ ability to move into the workforce. Most, if not all, industries and fields of labor are just as in need of some regulation

or standard to help maintain an equitable workplace and hiring practices.

As we know, the type of name you have can lead to your resume being dismissed without cause. Derailing the diversity at this level would probably mean justification for continuing the practice.

I only hope that there is a silver lining here somewhere. Maybe HBCUs will have the resurgence that we’ve been hoping for. Maybe… but with the brazen efforts of rightwing extremists and Jim Crow nostalgia, our already underfunded HBCUs are under enormous pressure, and support on any level is stripped, as well.

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but this ain’t good for anyone.

Patrick Washington is the second-generation CEO and publisher of The Dallas Weekly, which has been serving the Black community of the 4th largest metroplex in the nation since 1954.

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“I just believe if we could view the cross as a symbol of our eternal life after death, then maybe we could look upon death a little differently than we currently do.”

— Jeese Owens

The Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action lets “any mini Karen with a social media account” claim discrimination and strip rights from Black folks.Photograph courtesy of Zhixiao Jiang/Flickr

BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON

Atlanta Voice

Pardon me, God’s promise has me energized P

ardon me, God’s promise has me energized For some reason, the phrase ‘rejuvenated in the spirit’ is resonating with me right now. My reference point, however, is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, if you can believe that.

I have been revisiting Christ’s last experience on earth and was struck by the fact that God’s Christ had to be excited, if not relieved to be going home.

I mean, think about it this way: He humbled himself by putting on human skin to fulfill the new covenant under which we all now live.

Now, some of y’all might think I’m being a little sacrilegious here, but I promise you I am not.

After the beatings, stabbing, thorns, and nails, after praying to not have to go through the save the world ordeal and that father forgives them they don’t get it, I am sure Jesus was ready to get up out of here. Job well done! Mission ac-

complished!

Let’s go be God again. What a rush! Can you imagine the celebration in heaven at the return of this Son?

Now if you remember before He left, He spent a little more time hanging out, letting folk see touch and feel His redemption of us.

I can’t help but sense His expectancy of being a member of the Godhead again, as He continued to fulfill His calling.

I know many of you can attest to a special feeling at knowing you’re going ‘home’ for Thanksgiving, Christmas, family reunions and other infrequent anniversaries and celebrations which bring sheer joy just at the thought of seeing loved

ones soon.

There are many families waiting at airports today for servicemen and women returning from war.

There are children about to burst with unbridled enthusiasm because they know in a few minutes, mommy or daddy will be coming down that runway right there.

That anticipation is what I am describing as ‘rejuvenated in the spirit.’

I just believe if we could view the cross as a symbol of our eternal life after death, then maybe we could look upon death a little differently than we currently do.

I mean, really? If you call yourself a believer, then that’s what this is all about.

The party for Christ had to be incredible. If the truth be told, that party is still going on and everybody is anticipating when you walk through the door.

That’s what Jesus thought again.

I find it illuminating that after death, Christ walked among us without the disfigured body on the cross, except for enough to make believers out of the doubting Thomases.

That’s proof that when you get to the party, you too will be perfect in your form and perfect in your reception. This may not be a typical column but, based on the cross event, you too are transformed from ‘glory unto glory.’

If you can feel what I feel today, then you understand being rejuvenated. I am because He is. I will because He fulfilled the Word and I’ll see you when you get there.

I just know that’s a welcome to look forward to.

May God bless and keep you always.

Atlanta pioneer Marvin Arrington, Sr. dead at 82

BY DONNELL SUGGS

Atlanta pioneer and distinguished public servant Marvin Arrington, Sr. transitioned Wednesday, according to his family. Arrington was 82 years old. The Atlanta native is famously known for breaking the color barrier as one of the first two Black students admitted into Emory University Law School in 1965, along with former federal Judge Clarence Cooper. Arrington would go on to have a long legal career, serve on the city’s Board of Alderman which was the city’s representative body before converting to City Council, and was later appointed to the Fulton County Superior Court by then Governor Roy Barnes in 2002.

During his long career of public service Arrington spent nearly two decades as Atlanta City Council president.

Arrington represented Atlanta from the very beginning of his life, attending high school at Henry McNeal Turner High School before matriculating to what was then known as Clark College (Clark Atlanta University) on a football scholarship.

Following news of Arrington’s pass-

ing, a statement from Atlanta City Council read in part, “The Atlanta City Council mourns the passing of Marvin S. Arrington Sr., a man of exceptional leadership who served as both Council president and a Fulton County Superior Court judge. He excelled in both roles and always demonstrated a strong commitment to public service. Judge Arrington’s life serves as an inspiration to the community.

“The city and metro region lost a giant today,” said Adelin Gasana, director of “Bo Legs, Marvin Arrington Sr., An Atlanta Story ,” a documentary on Arrington, Sr.’s life and times. “His life and work is a testament to how much we can give back and take part in building our community. I was fortunate to be asked to document his story on film. It was a rewarding and inspiring journey that I will always cherish.”

Arrington was also an influential part of the team that helped bring the Summer Olympic Games to Atlanta in 1990. Atlanta remains the last American city to host a Summer Olympic Games in 1996.

Arrington is survived by his son, Marvin Arrington, Jr., his daughter, Michelle Arrington and ex-wife Marilyn Arrington.

“I just believe if we could view the cross as a symbol of our eternal life after death, then maybe we could look upon death a little differently than we currently do.”

The

Atlanta pioneer and distinguished public servant Marvin Arrington, Sr. transitioned Wednesday, according to his family. Arrington was 82 years old. Photo by Boyd Lewis/The Atlanta Voice

ONLINE

What Does the End of Affirmative Action Mean for Black Students?

The US Supreme Court slashed Affirmative Action: How did we get here and what are the next steps?

BY ITORO N. UMONTUEN

NEW ORLEANS — Chief Justice

John Roberts characterized affirmative action as ‘highly objectionable’ during his time as a lawyer with President Ronald Reagan’s administration in a response to the Fifty States Project in a January 1983 memo. In this case, Roberts believed the United States Government should not engage in freedom fighting regarding gender discrimination.

Roberts’s views were part of the majority decision forty years later when the High Court ruled 6-3 in favor of slashing the racebased admissions standards at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“The Harvard and UNC admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the equal protection clause,” Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote for the majority in the case of Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. “Both programs lack sufficiently focused and measurable objectives warranting the use of race, unavoidably employ race in a negative manner, involve racial stereotyping and lack meaningful endpoints.”

Roberts went on to say, “In other words, the student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual — not on the basis of race. Many universities have for too long done just the opposite.”

Vice President Harris denounces SCOTUS’s decision

During the Global Black Economic Forum at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans, Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the decision by the Supreme Court. As an audience looked on, Vice President Harris instructed attendees to read Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s decision, dissenting against the majority. In a dialogue along with Thasunda Brown Duckett—President and CEO of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA)—Harris said Justice Brown Jackson’s dissent was “brilliant.” Harris went on to say:

“The disappointment is because this is now a moment where the court has not fully understood the importance of ‘equal opportunity’ for the people of our country. And it is in so very many ways a denial of opportunity. And it is a complete misnomer to suggest this is about colorblind, when in fact, it is about being blind to history.

Being blind to data. Being blind to empirical evidence about disparities. Being blind to the strength that diversity brings to classrooms, to boardrooms. I think that there is no question, there’s so much work to do. And the President spoke so eloquently earlier today about this. Our administration will use all the tools in our power to continue to applaud policies that understand the importance and the significance and the strength of diversity in all of those places.”

A renaissance for HBCUs?

The original question that was argued by the Supreme Court was: May institutions of higher education use race as a factor in admissions? If so, does Harvard College’s race-conscious admissions process violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said in the dissent, “deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.”

“And having so detached itself from this country’s actual past and present experiences, the court has now been lured into interfering with the crucial work that UNC and other institutions of higher learning are doing to solve America’s real-world problems,” Justice Brown Jackson continued.

“No one benefits from ignorance. Although formal race linked legal barriers are gone, race still matters to the lived experiences of all Americans in innumerable ways, and today’s ruling makes things worse, not

better.”

While the decision will likely lead to a more Whiter student population at the Public White Institutions, would the Historically Black Colleges and Universities experience a potential renaissance with a surge of enrollment? But first, the Supreme Court’s decision will impact not just Black students, but Asian-American and Pacific Islander students, Latino students seeking to attend the state-funded Public White Institutions of higher learning. The decision by the conservative majority now creates an unfettered runway for an university’s admissions board to consider the sons or daughters of alumni (referred to as legacies), the wealthy, and the well-connected over a minority student that meets and/or surpasses the academic criterion needed to gain acceptance.

“Affirmative Action in higher education has been a tool to remedy past and current racial discrimination in higher education is not a new thing,” said Melanie L. Campbell, President and CEO of The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. “And so to see that go down, knowing that those decisions can impact people’s lives for decades.”

The median income for Black households was $48,297, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By comparison, the median income for white households was $74,262 — a difference of $25,965, or 35%.

“I look at our young leaders and I will say as a proud HBCU graduate, they’re not hav-

ing it,” Harris said. But the strength of our nation has been a commitment to the expansion of rights and freedoms. And I’m going to paraphrase Coretta Scott King. She famously said, "The fight for equality, the fight for freedom, fight for justice, the fight for civil rights must be fought and won with each generation.”

To that end, a president at a prominent HBCU believes the Supreme Court’s decision “unintentionally but intentionally” tried to turn back parts of time as far as African-Americans and other minorities receiving a quality education.

George T. French, Jr. has served as the President of Clark Atlanta University since September 2019. Previously, he was the president of Miles College from 2006 through 2019. French Jr. believes the Supreme Court inadvertently heightened the importance of Black colleges and Universities.

“Because you have those who aspired to PWIs, we assure you that we have everything needed for your success within the HBCU community,” French Jr. said. “So while we’re disappointed we also understand that it’s an opportunity for Historically Black Colleges to continue to exhibit black excellence, even inclusive of those denied opportunities.”

There are 107 HBCUs in the United States and President French advocated for the Atlanta University Center’s position to best receive and nurture the influx of Black and ethnic minority students that would inextricably enroll to an HBCU rather than to a top state-supported or private majority White university.

“So I want to be clear on my statement here: The lynchpin is, I say that HBCUs can offer everything, but I know in the realest truth, practically that’s not true. If I want to study any of the neurosciences now, and I have my school in mind; my kids can’t come to Clark, Spelman, Morehouse, or Howard. They can’t come to get that.”

French Jr. added the HBCUs at-large need additional funding to expand existing programs to make sure that these students will have the same opportunities. He called for increased federal funding in order to bridge the gap between programs offered at PWIs and offered at HBCUs due to a lack of capacity. More applications to HBCUs will undoubtedly result in greater federal financing and funding for the state-supported and land-grant HBCUs.

“We are so powerful as a collective, but we want and must guide the conversation and be part of the voice on a national level, not Atlanta,” French Jr. continued.

Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris speaks during the Global Black Economic Forum during the 2023 ESSENCE Festival of Culture on June 29, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Photo By Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

US Department of Transportation grants $25 million to extend BeltLine Northeast Trail

BY JANELLE WARD

The U.S. Department of Transportation selected the City of Atlanta and the BeltLine to receive one of its RAISE discretionary grants this year, distributing $25 million to aid the expansion of the city’s loop of multiuse trails.

The BeltLine intends to use this funding to further develop its Northeast Trail, connecting the Lindburgh Center MARTA station to nearby regional trails and other parts of the BeltLine via 2.2 miles of added trail pathways. This addition to the Northeast Trail will also optimize transportation across Lindburgh and surrounding neighborhoods, as it’s the only location in metro Atlanta where regional walking trails intersect with state roads, highways, rail and bus routes and an interstate, according

to a BeltLine press release.

Atlanta BeltLine president and CEO Clyde Higgs said the assistance from the DOT and political leaders like Rep. Nikema Williams and Sens. Ossoff and Warnock will help the BeltLine achieve its goal of connecting Atlanta’s neighborhoods at a faster rate, improving the city’s housing and labor conditions in the process.

“With the incredible support of the USDOT and our congressional delegation, we’re creating a city that allows people to move within it, creating new access points that lead to jobs, housing and activities,” Higgs said. “The BeltLine is creating a vibrant public space and a more equitable city for Atlantans by ensuring mobility and access for all who live and work near the corridor. The construction of the Northeast Trail network is a crucial part of this

vision.”

The BeltLine faced stiff competition from hundreds of infrastructure projects in need of funding located across the country. According to the DOT, grant applications this year exceeded the department’s finite amount of available funding, with requested support from prospects adding up to a total of $15 billion. The BeltLine was one of 162 projects chosen by the DOT to receive a portion of the RAISE program’s $2.26 billion worth of infrastructure funding.

The grant will constitute about a third of the BeltLine’s total cost of $70.7 million.

The DOT’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, or RAISE for short, is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aiming to improve the condition of existing infrastructure around

the United States. Department of Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said the RAISE program benefits communities of all sizes by enhancing their local economies and developing them into safer, more equitable places to live and work.

“Using the funds in President Biden’s infrastructure law, we are helping communities in every state across the country realize their visions for new infrastructure projects,” Buttigieg said. “This round of RAISE grants is helping create a new generation of good-paying jobs in rural and urban communities alike, with projects whose benefits will include improving safety, fighting climate change, advancing equity, strengthening our supply chain and more.”

Construction on the new section of the Northeast Trail is slated to begin in early 2025.

Building Community: LGBTQ+ locally owned, operated meal prep company PLN opens in Atlanta

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

Project LeanNation, PLN, a community-focused meal prep company, recently opened in Inman Park, behind LadyBird and the Beltline.

Owned by two intown locals, Shane Lucas and Sam Stowell, they are excited to introduce the city to convenient, affordable, meal-prep to supplement healthy living and embrace the community we live in. With frozen-fresh meals and over 24 menu-options on a seasonally rotating menu, PLN fuels the community by providing in-store consultations to optimize individual meal plans that are calorie-specific to each member and support the local community through outreach beyond just food.

To supplement a healthy approach to meal prep, PLN offers a protein shake bar, protein balls, and Inbody Scanner for members to come in each week for support and connectedness. They also offer grab & go, individual meals, for patrons to pick up a few meals at a time.

PLN differs from other meal prep or meal service kits in that it has brick and mortar stores all over the country. That community aspect is something that initially drew Stowell and Lucas to the business and made them consider opening their own store. Lucas said that while PLN functions as a meal prep service, the store provides an extra layer of togetherness.

As a thank you, Lucas and Stowell are giving the Atlanta Voice readers a promo code for the month of July. Use “ATLVOICE30” for $30 off.

PLN is located at Highland Walk, 701 Highland Ave, Suite 1, Atlanta.

For more information or to view the menu, visit https://projectleannation.com/ or their Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ projectleannation/.

PLN, Business goals, & Community

Lucas and Stowell spoke with the Atlanta Voice to express their excitement about opening their brand-new location, business goals, and what “community” means to them.

The Atlanta Voice (AV): How are you guys feeling about having the new location of PLN open finally?

Shane Lucas (SL): We are super excited. It’s been a journey. Sam and I are two new business dudes trying to figure out how to open something we think is a really cool concept and have a personal experience with. We are very excited to finally be opening because we don’t have much experience with things like permitting and working with the city so that’s a big hurdle for us to get through and this was just us figuring out how to work with the city and do the permitting and all these things. So now that we’re finally open, it’s like we can see a light that is so bright right now and we’re so excited that people can come into the store now.

AV: How did this idea to bring PLN to At-

lanta come about?

Sam Stowell (SS): Shane is originally from Charlotte, and they have had a PLxN there for a while now and Shane was a member with them starting back in 2017. I started to visit Charlotte a lot during the pandemic and began bringing all their meals down because I really enjoyed eating them and started realizing after bringing cases full of meals back to Atlanta with me, we didn’t have anything like that in Atlanta to fill that need. We have a few meal prep places in town, but nothing as accessible as PLN, the prices are great, and the inclusivity of having a community-feel. Our members really love coming in, grabbing a shake, checking in with us, and using the body scanner to check their progress. It makes it an all-in-one meal prep program

AV: You both have spoken a lot about community. What does community mean to you and the brand?

that goes more than just meals, it also goes for community based as well, and I think we were missing that in Atlanta for such a community city.

SL: To add to what Sam said, PLN is bigger than just the food. We really do our best to try and drive the community. Not only getting to know all our members, doing check-ins to see what our goals are, how we assist people, and our biggest focus is to be a community driver where we want to work with other fitness brands and create cool concepts and bigger ideas of connecting different gyms together to do fun things. We are working on trying to host a couple of workouts at different gyms and come back to PLN for shakes. This came about maybe a little selfishly, but I knew and believed that this is going to be successful.

SS: I’ve lived in Atlanta all my life and I felt like we’ve always had this great sense of community. It has grown so much in the past six or seven years. The feeling of community is still there because there’s so many new people always coming in, which is great, but then they have a harder jumping off point to get involved in that community aspect. Community to me is just a comradery of people that can be able to have similar wants for where they live and the community they have. They can network and feed off each other for ideas to better themselves and better the collective fold, which is great. It’s being able to have a group around you that all want to empower each other and naturally feed off each other and their goals.

SL: For me, community means creating a safe space for people to come. Safe space means for people who have true goals to shift their physicality in certain ways whether it be to eat healthier, gain more muscle, or whatever their goals are, we want to be a safe environment for them and a vibe. We want that safe space so they can come in and be exactly who they are, let their hair down, say what they want to say, and really be the person you are. Even the brand itself focuses on who they work with as a company. We truly believe in that. For us, it’s the safe space, the vibe, and really creating that fun environment to come and hang out.

AV: What are your business goals for the remainder of the year?

SL: For me, where the big business picture lands is to obviously be successful. We want to create a successful experience for the business and as a community. I see the vision being bigger than just meal prep, I see the brand being a connector. My background is in fitness and there’s so many great fitness brands in Atlanta and I want to be able to connect them together. For example, I would like to host a cool pop-up experience at Piedmont Park where we would bring different gyms and all these different walks of life of ways that people want to work out and mesh it together. Put a DJ out there, people doing burpees, yoga, and all these things. We want to use our platform to bring that sense of community outside of our walls into Atlanta itself.

SS: For me, I want to build that brand awareness in a year. It's already fun being able to be here for the past week and hearing people say, ‘oh my gosh, my friend told me about this, and I wanted to try this’. The natural growth is great and it’s really fun to see people get excited about your products. It’s one thing to have a dream and then it’s another to put it to pen and paper and have other people see the value in it. In a year, it’ll be even cooler to see brand awareness in the city and see where it can go.

AV: As new business owners, what kind of advice would you give to future business owners who might want to take the plunge?

SS: Someone once told me, who owns two small businesses, during this process you’re going to have moments where you’re like, ‘Wait why am I doing this, like what are we doing, what is going on, and are we on the right path?’ In those moments, you just keep going and pulling through and putting in the work. It sounds simplistic but if you weren’t tied to the company directly, say it was just a job, you can just quit, but when you have a business, you can’t walk away and say you’re done. The best advice for me is to just keep going and take it day-by-day. I think a lot of moments, I included, get tied into one thing going wrong and make it all about your day, week, or month. Either you can’t fix it or in this waiting period and you let it put a cloud over your demeanor. At the end of the day, it’s going to work out. Rolling with that hope and focusing on those small wins helps tremendously when starting a business to know that not everything will always be perfect.

SL: Go for it. At the end of the day, if your gut says yes, then do it. Ask for help if you need it, whether it be your business partner or friends, whoever it is. Ask for support because someone will help. My last piece of advice would be to go above and beyond meaning don’t wait for something to be done unless it needs to be waited for. Be active, make your calls, be ahead of the curve, think ahead, and really be all in, in the process. Take on and absorb the role that the success of the business is based on your effort and what you put into it.

A premier hospitality collective of 100% plant-based restaurants, PLANTA is thrilled to bring its innovative plant-based cuisine to Atlanta for the first time. Photo courtesy of PLANTA

Jamestown’s Signal House opens for pre-leasing in Old Fourth Ward

BY JANELLE WARD

Property management company Jamestown announced last week that Signal House, an apartment community designated for active seniors in Old Fourth Ward, is open for pre-leasing.

The 162-unit residential high-rise is one of three multi-level facilities making up Ponce City Market’s second phase of development, an over 700,000-square-foot expansion project anticipated to bring more than 550 longterm jobs to the area.

Black Business Profile: CreativeLee DeeSigned

BY JANELLE WARD

Lee-Ann Davidson is the owner of CreativeLee DeeSigned, a jewelry company selling custom-made pieces inspired by Davidson’s heritage, creativity and love for articulating what makes her unique. A former accountant and immigrant from the Caribbean island of Grenada, Davidson dropped her 9-to-5 job in early 2022 to focus on starting and expanding her business full-time. Davidson first developed an interest in designing jewelry as a kid, and as a mother of twins and a twin herself, Davidson relies on her craft to express her individuality. The company, named after Davidson and her sister, Dee-Ann, has a goal of creating and selling pieces that aren’t just eye-catching, but also harbor sentimental value. To do so, on top of selling jewelry she designs herself, Davidson also allows her customers to preserve their own treasured memories into accessories by encasing them in resin upon request through her “customer-to-artist” operation.

The Atlanta Voice spoke with Lee-Ann about her venture, how she became involved with jewelry-making in the first place, giving back to her community and what it means to operate a small business in place of manning a corporate job.

Atlanta Voice: How did you learn to preserve flowers into jewelry, and what made you want to start your own small business selling them?

Lee-Ann Davidson: As an immigrant, I moved here from the Caribbean — Grenada. I was always creative — using old things to make new. As a kid, I would ask my mom for her old jewelry, break them apart, and put them [back] together. Because I’m a twin, I always liked to be an individual and show my individuality. So, this is my individuality on display.

AV: When did you start this business?

LD: I started this on February 22, 2022, after I gave up my corporate job as an accountant. I decided to follow my passion as a creator and artist, and here we are today.

AV: What influenced you to ditch your corporate job and pursue this as a fulltime [venture]?

LD: I think the feedback from my customers — that they’re so in love with what I make and it’s different, and it’s individual, and it makes them stand out in a crowd — I think that's what keeps me going. And it doesn’t feel like work a day in my life.

AV: What are some long-term goals that you have for your business?

LD: My long-term goals are to give 10% of my profit back to my community. Anyone trying to start a business, I help them with marketing tools, like business cards, signs, and I get them at a discounted price. I use 10% of my profit to [acquire resources].

AV: What advice do you have for anyone who’s sick of working their corporate job, wants to finally jump ship and start their own thing, but might be scared to for financial reasons?

LD: Don’t stop right away. Make sure you have a cushion that you can fall back on. But once you put all of your energy into something that you love, that energy is going to come back to you, and you won’t miss your 9-to-5 a day in your life.

Lee-Ann sells merchandise on CreativeLee DeeSigned's website and in person at the weekly Saturday Market events hosted by Artists & Fleas inside Ponce City Market. Keep up with her business further on Facebook and TikTok.

“We believe there is unmet demand for an intown, tech-enabled community living experience tailored to a more sophisticated audience,” said Jamestown president Michael Phillips in a statement. “Interwoven with the broader Ponce City Market community and amenities, Signal House will be a community within a community organized around wellness, culinary and other lifestyle programming and made effortless by intuitive tech.”

The complex’s website displays 18 floor plans ranging in size from 664 square feet to just over 1,600 square feet. Units range from

one to three bedrooms and feature technological amenities like smartphone-controlled door locks and thermostats.

Residents of Signal House will be able to use the same phone application to make rental payments, book dry cleaning, maintenance and housekeeping services, schedule ride-sharing appointments and receive alerts for upcoming community-organized events.

The building’s common amenities include an upper-level swimming pool terrace, a multipurpose fitness center with an adjoining outdoor workout space and a rooftop designed for grilling and dining.

In addition to being located within walking distance of Ponce City Market’s main campus, Signal House also faces the BeltLine, and will include 3,300 square feet of trail-facing retail space.

Once Phase 2 is completed, Ponce City Market is anticipated to house approximately 100 businesses, feature over 800 private residences and employ more than 5,750 workers.

Signal House is expected to open for moveins this September.

Signal House is expected to open for move-ins this September. Photo by Janelle Ward/The Atlanta Voice

Lee-Ann Davidson, a former accountant and immigrant from the Caribbean island of Grenada, left her 9-to-5 job in early 2022 to focus on starting and expanding her business full-time.

Photo by Janelle Ward/The Atlanta Voice

Atlanta’s small business community expected to see continued pressure amid inflation, labor shortage

BY JANELLE WARD

Despite looming inflation and the lingering threat of an economic recession, Atlanta’s small business community remains on the rise as small business owners work to navigate entrepreneurship in the aftermath of increased competition and limited resources.

As Atlanta continues to morph into a hotspot for large corporations aiming to establish a physical presence in the Southeast, the city also becomes increasingly favorable for small-scale businesses looking to find a place in the local economy.

According to a survey conducted by Truist Financial Corporation, which recorded

small business owners’ actions and stances on their pursuits and the state of the U.S. economy, owners are experiencing increased concerns in operating their businesses, as prices continue to climb and the national labor shortage presses on.

The survey compared localized results to national findings, discovering that a higher percentage of Atlanta-based entrepreneurs felt their business conditions improved over the past year, with 64% of the city’s surveyed business owners citing a positive change within their workplace, while just 52% of small business owners on a national scale reported similar remarks.

However, the same percentage of Atlanta-based entrepreneurs also reported expe -

riencing feelings of stress induced by the workload and pressures of managing business operations, compared to just over half of small business owners nationwide.

On a national scale, the survey states that small business owners are most concerned about three economically-focused factors: inflation, rising costs and general economic uncertainty.

Financial setbacks from the pandemic years and beyond have forced entrepreneurs to make changes to their business models in order to attract and retain employees. According to Truist’s survey, an increase in wages, benefits and the added option to work remotely are three of the most popular incentives now offered by

employers to encourage their staff to continue working for them. Small business owners will likely have to make permanent adjustments to their individualized workplace cultures in order to maintain worker satisfaction.

“What we’ve seen from both the survey and through our conversations with small business owners is that the remote work environment is here to stay,” said Scott Stearsman, Truist’s head of small business. “So, we’ve seen a big focus on small business owners creating flexibility in work schedules and [implementing] remote work capabilities.”

See LABOR on page 11

Atlanta-based entrepreneurs felt their business conditions improved over the past year, with 64% of the city’s surveyed business owners citing a positive change within their workplace, while just 52% of small business owners on a national scale reported similar remarks. Photo by Janelle Ward/The Atlanta Voice

LABOR

Continued from page 10

Though, finding and maintaining reliable labor continue to serve as struggles for business owners locally and nationally. Katie Saez, Georgia regional president at Truist, said that while the city’s economic growth since emerging from the pandemic’s shutdown is impressive, it hasn’t been consistent, with some small businesses flourishing to the point of operating at full capacity, while others still struggle to find employees.

“I think the business-client community has done a really great job at adjusting to the evolving needs of their consumer base and their client base, and are in a pretty good position out of COVID,” Saez said. “And now we’re staring at this new realm of uncertainty. Are we in a recession? Are we going into a recession? What’s that going to mean for the small business community, and how can we be ready to adjust to it? I’ll tell you though, the Atlanta community has shown great resilience.”

In spite of this fluctuation in growth, Saez said Atlanta’s combination of available economic resources and skilled talent still makes the city an ideal setting for small business owners to find their footing and establish profitable ventures.

“There’s so much opportunity for small businesses [in Atlanta],” Saez said. “We continue to see great economic development across the state, and Atlanta is really a hub for a lot of that.”

However, Atlanta’s key ingredient for smaller-scale economic progression, may also serve as a direct contributor to small business owners’ reported enhanced stress and unstable work-life balance. Saez said Atlanta’s economy, which encourages increased entrepreneurship among residents, in turn fosters competition between already exist-

ing small businesses, forcing all business owners to work harder to turn a profit.

“Winning new clients due to growth and positive economic conditions is attainable, but losing clients to the great competition is equally challenging,” Saez said. “It’s a very competitive market because there’s a lot of development and new businesses, and that, I think, adds to the stress of owning and managing a business here.”

The mass creation of jobs that occurs when corporations establish headquarters and new offices in the metro Atlanta area also generates competition among small-scale business owners in terms of hiring and retaining workers and generating revenue. Though, Saez said the expansion of large companies across greater Atlanta could benefit small businesses, as well, highlighting the need for privately-owned retailers, restaurants and other ventures to exist alongside them.

“Opportunity creates opportunity,” Saez said. “And I think anytime a company, large or small, chooses to call Georgia home for either their headquarters or an expansion of their business, it’s going to create opportunity for other organizations or businesses, as well.”

September

October

“So, we’ve seen a big focus on small business owners creating flexibility in work schedules and [implementing] remote work capabilities,” said Scott Stearsman, Truist’s head of Small Business.

Community How can Atlantans be better educated on climate issues?

BY DONNELL SUGGS

The climate will remain a bedrock issue for all political candidates going forward. It will also be at the forefront of many discussions when everything from jobs to the future of this planet are top mind. How can Atlantans, particularly Black Atlantans, do a better job of being informed about the climate? Well, it can't hurt to ask an expert on such things.

White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi was in Atlanta recently and took time to talk to The Atlanta Voice and answer a few questions about climate change and how we can better understand it.

The Atlanta Voice: Mr. Zaidi, my first question is both simple and yet complex. How can we do a better job of staying informed about the climate?

Ali Zaidi: Here are three things. The first is I think we have to help people understand how dramatic the impacts are on their day to day lives. We often think about climate

change as this far off thing. I think we need more folks helping people understand how dramatic and transformational it is in people's lives right now. Helping connect the dots, not just to environmental issues, but to public health matters.

AV: A good example of that could be heat. Am I right?

AZ: The United States had a racist housing policy, redlining. The communities that were historically redlined are literally hotter today because there's more pavement and fewer trees. So as climate change happens those communities are impacted disproportionately. Folks have to understand that context as they hear us talk about things like President Biden's historic push to plant trees in those communities to improve their resistance to the heat.

AV: There are numerous opportunities for

the overall economy tied to climate change as well. What are some of those that Atlantans should be better educated on?

AZ: Today our Department of Energy is putting out a jobs report in the clean energy space that shows that we have created 300,000 jobs just in the last year in the energy sector. The energy sector is booming. I don't think folks understand, green jobs are blue collar jobs. You don't need a four-year degree to tap into the economic opportunity represented by the clean energy boom.

AV: Can you give me an example of the kind of jobs you are speaking of in order to better clarify your point?

AZ: These are jobs that electricians are doing, they're going to help us rewire the country. These are the jobs that pipe fitters and plumbers are doing that will help us do the critical infrastructure that will help us har-

ness the opportunity from things like clean hydrogen. There are jobs in this opportunity and we have to make people understand that they can get those jobs.

AV: Is there something everyday people can do to have a positive effect on the climate?

AZ: This is something that everybody can take advantage of and here's what that looks like. When you're swapping out your HVAC system, we now have rebates and tax incentives to knock the price of that down 30%, maybe 50% or more depending on your income level. People have more choices today than ever before to cut their costs.

You can make a difference in the choices that you make. For a long time we've asked people to pay a premium to go green, but now you don't have to pay a premium. Now you don't have to pay a premium, you're actually going to save money by going green.

The New Battery Belt: Bidenomics means more jobs for working class says Sec. of Energy

BY DONNELL SUGGS

President Joseph R. Biden was in Chicago Wednesday, June 28 to deliver an address on his economic plan, which is more popularly known as “Bidenomics.” The three-pillar plan, according to Biden, is to grow the country’s economy from the middle out and bottom up by making public investments, empowering middle class workers and assisting small businesses.

The Biden administration has created 13 million jobs in just two and a half years. On the eve of another presidential election campaign, the greatest legacy of Bidenomics and the Biden administration just might be having lowered the national unemployment rate to a historic low of 3.4% for the first time in 54 years. The current unemployment rate in Atlanta was hovering just above 3% as of May, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

One of the keys to Bidenomics will be jobs: creating jobs, sustaining jobs and making job opportunities more plentiful in cities like Atlanta. United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm spoke with The Atlanta Voice following her visit to Georgia Tech Wednesday morning. While on campus Granholm met with Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens and learned more about how the city and the region are preparing for all of the clean energy jobs coming to Georgia.

“For decades manufacturing jobs were leaving this country and we did nothing about it,” said Granholm, the former Governor of Michigan. “What this president has done has intervened to make sure we’re doing the manufactur-

ing, the whole thing, all supply chains, particularly in this clean energy economy. For me, that’s music to my ears.”

As governor Granholm worked to keep automobile manufacturing companies in Michigan because of the number of jobs those businesses offered. “It didn’t work because we didn’t have the incentives to be able to compete globally,” said Granholm. “This effort at bringing back manufac -

turing and building out this clean energy economy is going to create a million jobs per year.”

The jobs will be able to be filled by everyday Americans, according to Granholm who added that 75% of the jobs will not require a four-year college degree.

“These are good paying jobs,” she said. “The south is the new battery belt.”

United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm (left, in blazer) and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi (right, in suit) visited Atlanta earlier this week. Photo courtesy of The White House

Atlanta Hawks Hosts 2023 Community Court Tour presented by QuikTrip

BY NOAH WASHINGTON

The Atlanta Hawks surprised 150 kids with pop-up basketball drills and a special appearance by Hawks player, Jalen Johnson, at the Grant Park Recreation Center. The event was part of their 2023 Community Court Tour presented by QuikTrip, “Just seeing these kids and how excited they are to see me and their reaction with the questions they ask. I was once these kids and they have the same type of questions I had. It’s funny how things come full circle,” Johnson told The Atlanta Voice.

The event featured various activations from some of the team's global partners, which included Microsoft supporting a S.T.E.M activation where children built their own heart-rate monitor bands to track their movement.

Aisha Jefferson, corporate communications manager at QuikTrip, was present at today’s event which brought in a full circle mo -

ment as she was a camper herself in the very same summer program at the Grant Park Recreation Center.

“It is a breath of fresh air, when I walk through the door and have been a camper here it is cool. Being back here in Atlanta is just

amazing, it warms my heart,” Jefferson told The Atlanta Voice.

Also, in attendance for the event was Jon Babul, Vice President of

Community Impact and Basketball Programs for the Atlanta Hawks.

“It’s very gratifying being out in the community with our partners QuikTrip and Microsoft. This summer- in June and July, we are going to impact 1500+ youth around the sport of Basketball with some S.T.E.M education and teaching kids how they can apply sport and science to a future career,” Babul told The Atlanta Voice.

In addition, in collaboration with Goodr Mobile Grocery Store, each kid was able to take home a bag of groceries directly from the Goodr van.

“When we first started the conversation about a partnership with the Hawks the community aspect is what really resonated with us and our employees. It is about providing a great opportunity for these kids to experience something amazing and to have that opportunity to grow and succeed is a part of our mission,” said Lauren Sherry, community relations manager at QuikTrip.

The Atlanta Hawks surprised 150 kids with pop-up basketball drills and a special appearance by Hawks player, Jalen Johnson, Thursday, June 29. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

“Great performance”: Atlanta United back home, win 2-0 over Philadelphia

BY DONNELL SUGGS

Atlanta United returned to Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sunday afternoon and defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-0 in front of 43,527. In the process United won it’s 8th game of the season (8-5-8 overall) and moved a point ahead of Philadelphia in the standings in the process.

“It was a great performance individually and collectively,” said United manager Gonzalo Pineda after the match. Pineda credited Philadelphia for being a good team.

“Today we were on the ball, but very good overall,” said Pineda. “We were just solid.”

The home match follows a 4-0 loss to New York Red Bull Saturday, June 24. Currently 6th in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference standings, Atlanta United wouldn’t be home for long as they only have two home matches during the month of July. The next being Saturday, July 15 against rival Orlando FC.

Home cooking

Atlanta got started early Sunday, drawing a free kick right outside the Philadelphia goal. Moments later midfielder Thiago Almada (left), one of the frontrunners for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, missed a free kick, but immediately scored an unassisted goal on the rebound from the same distance. The goal was his eighth of the season to go along with his team high nine assists.

Atlanta kept the pressure on through the first half, manufacturing a number of quality scoring opportunities.

Team leader in goals scored, Giorgos Giak-

oumakis, nearly made it 2-0 in favor of United before his shot was saved in the 23rd minute. He would leave the game in the 29th minute with an injury. Walking off on his own pow-

er, he was replaced by Miguel Berry. Atlanta would go on to dominate possession during the first half of the match, including the five-minute extra time that was tacked on.

Brooks Lennon put Atlanta ahead 2-0 with a strike in the 78th minute. The goal was Lennon’s second of the season.

The bright side

On the bright side there will be two home matches during the month of August. Atlanta United will host rival Nashville FC Saturday, August 26 before returning to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to host Cincinnati four days later on Wednesday, August 30.

Multiple All-Stars

Both Almada and Giakoumakis were selected to the Major League Soccer All-Star team. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19 against English Premier League side Arsenal.

All 21 for number 22

Atlanta United defender Juan Jose Purata has played in and started all 21 games this season. He is the only member of the team to have done so.

Asked what Purata means to the team, Pineda said, “Since he arrived he has been very consistent. He’s always the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. He’s a guy that is very, very committed to the cause.”

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Atlanta United forward Thiago Almada celebrates with his fists raised high after scoring a goal during a Major League Soccer match against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

Lifestyle

BY ITORO N. UMONTUEN

NEW ORLEANS — Rapper, producer, and head of So So Def Records, Jermaine Dupri orchestrated a southern homage to Hip-Hop last night inside the Caesars Superdome during night two of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture! Dupri had help from Gucci Mane, Lil Jon, Ludacris, T.I., and Dem Franchize Boyz as the capacity crowd sung and rapped along with them!

While it was an ode to Southern Hip-Hop, it was an uniquely Atlanta experience!

Earlier in the evening, Coco Jones opened the night as she brought the energy and fun to the evening’s proceedings. Coming off of winning the Best New Artist Award during last Sunday’s BET Awards 2023, Jones recently announced a 16city tour. Even though Atlanta was not listed on the initial announcement, Jones said this is the first leg of her tour.

Next, Ice Cube headlined a West Coast set which paid homage to hop-hop! He had help from Lady of Rage, JJ Fad, YoYo, Ice-T, DJ Quik and E-40! Lastly, Cube performed most of his hits including “It Was a Good Day.”

Monica opened her stage set with a preamble by New Orleans’s own Big Freedia. She also included a call from currently

incarcerated rapper B.G. as she showed love to her favorite city besides Atlanta. After Jermaine Dupri led the dirty south portion of the program, Jill Scott blessed the stage with her soul and passion!

Lastly, Missy Elliott, the first female in Hip-Hop to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, had an elaborate stage show, performed among the crowd and had everyone dancing and partying late into the night!

Jermaine Dupri performs onstage during Day Two of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ at the Caesars Superdome on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photos By Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

Atlanta native, R&B singer Monica.

Multi-time Grammy Award winner Lauren Hill.

Atlanta’s own T.I.

(left to right) Martica “Fat” and Tobe Nwigwe.

Atlanta native, actor and rapper Ludacris.

Eshe Ukweli Howard University

Solomon Hayes Morehouse College

Brielle Smith Howard University

Fellow

Antonio

Jada Tullos Alabama

University

Janiya Pearson Hampton University

Marketing Fellow