The film and television production industry has brought billions of economic dollars into Georgia. The current writers and actors strikes taking place across the country will have an immediate impact on Georgians that work in the industry.
BY DONNELL SUGGS
The unmistakable voice of “The Nanny” filled the room, but this was no sitcom episode or Lifetime made-for-TV movie. With nearly 100 people inside the IATSE Local 479 meeting room and an equal number of people inside an overflow room in the back, award-winning actress Fran Drescher addressed the crowd via Zoom. For more than 20 minutes Drescher, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artist (SAG-AFTRA) President, spoke about the current TV/theatrical/streaming strike that has been taking place across the country and about what the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) has been unwilling to budge on during recent negotiations.
“You can’t negotiate an old contract for a new business model,” explained Drescher, who referred to the strike as a “global labor movement.”
“This is a very dynamic time and I knew this was going to be a seminal negotiation,” added Drescher. “It’s a very different business model and there comes a time when you realize you are being marginalized.”
The strike between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP began Friday, July 14 and according to SAG-AFTRA Atlanta Local President Eric Goins, who is also a member of the negotiating committee, this is just the beginning. “When I say union, you say strong,” Goins yelled into a microphone. “When I say Unon, you say power.”
“This is a labor movement,” said Goins. “This isn’t an entertainment movement.”
The entertainment industry in Atlanta would not have warranted rooms full of union members, supporters, and actors and union leaders 20 years ago. Then came the film tax credit and from that point on the movie and television makers of the world, and the many thousands of people that help make movie magic possible in front of and behind the camera, flocked to Atlanta to take advantage of a major financial incentive.
The Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act allows for refundable tax credits to be given to studios and filmmakers that play their trade in Georgia. The tax credit was created to bolster the Georgia film industry and it succeeded ten fold. The Georgia film industry employs thou -
sands of people; actors, directors, writers, dancers, lighting crews, stunt crews, craft services (food), and security, to name a few. The explosion of the Georgia film industry has brought billions of financial investment to the state, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
SAG-AFTRA leadership has been clear that increases in wages for working actors and performers are necessary in order to continue working on the many television shows and movies that dominate streaming services and movie theaters worldwide. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan
Crabtree-Ireland also made an appearance via Zoom following Drescher. He stressed that the membership remained solidified, especially early in the strike. “They know our strength is in our unity,” he said. “Don’t let them trick us into starting to fight with each other because no one in this union is the enemy.”
About more than just the faces you recognize on film and TV
Actors that make millions of dollars for their roles in your favorite movies and television series might not be in a room at a Local entertainment union on a Monday night. Then again former Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner was there on the front row. The strike affects all levels of talent regardless of their paychecks and bank accounts.
“The strike is not just about every wellknown performer. It is about every background actor who uses their talents to bring depth to every performance,” said Dacia James-Lewis, a director, choreographer and SAG-AFTRA member who has worked on films such as “Dreamgirls” and “Coming 2 America,” to name a few. “I am proud of us for standing strong in solidarity. We are not here by choice, we are here by force. I stand here as a performer who
Caribbean Jerk Crab Legs and Complimentary Lemon Drops!
Atlanta loves a seafood boil. A recently opened seafood restaurant is garnering local and national attention with unique seafood sauces and co-ownership by a Grammy award-winning rapper.
Atlanta rapper Lil Baby and restaurateur Chad Dillon have created a stir on the city's restaurant scene with the opening of their restaurant, the Seafood Menu Restaurant and Lounge. Located at 880 MLK Jr. Dr., SW, the restaurant sits next door to the Atlanta University Center and in the backyard of Lil Baby’s alma mater Booker T. Washington High School.
The menu boasts steamed and fried seafood selections including lobster, snow crab, catfish, and tilapia. Each steamed seafood combo is served with corn and potatoes, and each fried seafood combo is served with seasoned french fries. The combos have at a fairly affordable price point. The menu’s Combo 1 includes snow crab, shrimp, corn, and potatoes for only $17.99. A 2 piece fish and fries combo is sold for only $13.99.
While these seafood selections can be found at seafood restaurants across the city, the price of these platters are unbeatable, and the menu offers an undeniably unique list of butter sauces from lemon zest (lemon pepper) to sweet chili to honey hot.
Dillon spoke with The Atlanta Voice and shared that his favorite sauce on the menu is the Caribbean jerk butter sauce paired with a steamed seafood platter. He also championed the sauce as one of the restaurant’s most popular.
The restaurant offers customers the option of being served carryout style or enjoy a dine-in lounge experience in the rear of the restaurant. The dining area had a perfectly
lit warm ambiance that gave the restaurant a semi-luxurious feel. The restaurant speakers bumped today’s greatest hits of hip hop including tracks from Lil Baby’s discography.
During The Atlanta Voice’s visit, we tried the steamed snow crab platters and fried catfish and shrimp platters with lemon zest, honey hot, and sweet chili sauces. Dine-in customers are offered complimentary lemon drops upon seating. Flavor
options include the traditional lemon or an added fruit flavor like strawberry, blueberry, or peach. The restaurant is also preparing the release of frozen flavored lemonades on the menu. After an approximate 30-minute wait, our seafood arrived on our table. The food was deliciously hot and steamy. I enjoyed my steamed seafood combo with lemon pepper sauce accompanied with a side of honey hot butter sauce. The variety of sauces dramatically changes each bite. The jerk sauce instantly travels you to the Caribbean. The lemon zest sauce is Atlanta as can be. And the honey hot butter sauce is the perfect sweet heat combination and my personal favorite sauce. Needless to say, I enjoyed my meal. However, the seafood could have been fresher and prepared better to avoid crab meat stuck inside the shell. The dining experience would have been perfect if I didn’t have to spend so much time fishing for crab meat. My team members who tried the fried seafood platters fully championed their meals. Their only recommendations were for the restaurant to add more season salt on the fries which is an easy fix.
The restaurant’s affordable price points and unique delicious, flavor options are highly honorable mentions that give all the more reason for Atlanta visitors and natives to try the Seafood Menu Restaurant and Lounge.
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crosses over into several categories.”
Some of the most watched and highest-grossing films of the past decade have been filmed in Georgia. A large portion of the “Black Panther” was filmed at Bouckaert Farm in Chattahoochee Hills. The “Ant Man and the Wasp” series was filmed largely in Buckhead and downtown and the popular television series “Stranger Things” was filmed at a studio south of Atlanta.
The final season of “Stranger Things” has been on hold due to the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) strike that began on May 2. A lot of the writers and crew on that show live in Atlanta.
Actress Michelle Hurd had recently done some work in Atlanta and showered the city’s acting community for always making her feel at home. Hurd is current-
ly serving as National Vice President of SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local.
A member of SAG-AFTRA, Hurd showed her solidarity to the strike efforts and to IATSE Local 479, an entertainment labor union that allowed SAG-AFTRA to use its hall for the meeting Monday night via Zoom.
“We are the working class actors. We are the labor and we are on the right side of history,” she said. “I’m fighting to make sure we have that respect, that common courtesy.”
Hurd, best known for television series roles as Raffi Musiker on “Star Trek: Picard” and Ellen “Shepherd” Briggs on “Blindspot,” spoke about the need for equity on the hair and makeup side of the business. She shared stories of having to get to set hours earlier than her call time because there aren't always hairdressers that fully understand how to do Black hair.
Other actors were in attendance and spoke in support of the union and the strike. Many spoke of standing with the strike no matter how long it takes. The
office park where the rally took place remained crowded long after the rally ended. The film and television industry brought
many people to Atlanta for work and now that work is on hold.
The New York Times has uncovered that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has a network of connections to wealth and opulent vacations that extend beyond his association with billionaire businessman and controversial figure Harlan Crow, known for his affinity for Nazi memorabilia.
According to the report, Thomas has exploited his ties with affluent individuals he met through the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, a prestigious scholarship organization, for personal gain, benefiting himself and his wife, Virginia.
Thanks to their Horatio Alger connections, the Thomases have gained exclusive invitations to extravagant vacations, lavish parties, and coveted VIP access to sporting events.
Moreover, the association has facilitated encounters for Thomas with prominent figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Ed McMahon, as witnessed during a lavish three-day birthday celebration in Montana for billionaire industrialist Dennis Washington.
However, Thomas’ involvement with the Horatio Alger Association extends beyond luxury trips.
Notably, the contacts he made through this association, including Washington and investor David Sokol, formerly of Berkshire Hathaway, played a role in financing a documentary that portrayed him as a hero following the release of an HBO movie that depicted Anita Hill’s sexual harassment allegations during his confirmation hearings.
The Sokol family further extended their generosity by hosting the Thomases at their Montana ranch and waterfront estate in Florida.
The New York Times discovered that Thomas had not disclosed many of the benefits and gifts he had received from his wealthy and well-connected allies, and he declined to provide the paper with any clarification regarding this matter.
Initially, at the start of his tenure on the Supreme Court, Thomas dutifully reported various personal gifts he re-
ceived, such as private flights, cigars, and clothing.
However, after The Los Angeles Times scrutinized his disclosures in 2004, Thomas ceased reporting certain gifts and advantages he received to the court.
A recent investigation by ProPublica in 2023 exposed Thomas’ close relationship with Harlan Crow, a GOP megadonor with a disturbing collection of Nazi memorabilia and Hitler paintings.
Crow had treated Thomas to trips on his private jet and yacht, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, and even purchased a residence where Thomas’ mother resided. Additionally, Crow financed the tuition of Thomas’ nephew, who was under the care of the Thomases.
In response to the revelation of his relationship with Crow, Thomas defended his lack of honesty by claiming that “colleagues and others in the judiciary” had advised him that he did not need to disclose trips of a “personal hospitality” nature from friends.
Thomas’ acceptance of benefits granted him access to exclusive places he might not have otherwise frequented, and he also extended unusual access to the Horatio Alger Association by hosting their induction ceremony for new members in the Supreme Court’s courtroom.
The Times highlights this as an extraordinary privilege granted to an outside group. The newspaper’s examination of fundraising records revealed that the association uses this unique access to raise money for events and scholarships.
In an acknowledgment of the significance of the Horatio Alger Association in his life, Thomas expressed, “The Horatio Alger Association has been a home to Virginia and me.”
Upon receiving the association’s highest honor in 2010, he made these remarks, further stating that the association had enabled him to witness his dreams come true.
If his dreams revolved around undisclosed extravagant vacations and exclusive privileges, then he appears to have achieved them.
The Supreme Court recently updated its disclosure regulations, mandating that justices report private jet travel and complimentary stays at hotels and resorts.
However, an exception exists for “personal hospitality,” encompassing food, accommodations, or entertainment unrelated to official business.
As the layers of Clarence Thomas’ connections to wealth and luxury are gradually peeled back, questions arise about the integrity and transparency of one of the nation’s highest judicial authorities.
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May 11, 1966
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Ed Clayton Immortalis Memoria
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J. Lowell Ware Immortalis Memoria
The Atlanta Voice honors the life of J. Lowell Ware.
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Janis Ware jlware@theatlantavoice.com
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James A. Washington jaws@theatlantavoice.com
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Donnell Suggs editor@theatlantavoice.com
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“Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.”
— Ola JosephAP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
You know God has a history of using people in the strangest ways. Or is it that He uses the strangest people to carry out His divine will?
After all, isn’t it The Bible which lets us know that those who feel quite strange about it, are chosen by God to carry out heavenly tasks here on earth?
Moses was a murderer. Paul (Saul) killed a few Jesus lovers in his time. Rahab was a ho and Jacob was, well, y’all know all about Jacob’s shortcomings. And David, I ain’t going to even talk about this guy.
The point is that God uses the least of us (by our definition) to carry out His plans in spite of what we think we’re capable of or what we think we’re worthy of.
I mean most of the prophets were reluctant participants at best as implementers and vehicles of God’s message to His people and those around them.
As a matter of fact, most wanted nothing to do with their assignments because they didn’t think anyone would listen, they weren’t worthy or someone else was better suited for the challenge.
Whatever the reason, we should
all be mindful that the Hand of God is at work where He deems it will do the most good, regardless of what we think. Anyone and everyone is a candidate for greatness in the eyes of the, including you and yes, including even me.
I used to think that only those called to preach had the gift of ministry. Try telling that to anyone who has accepted Christ who has accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and watch how quickly they get corrected. I know I did or was.
Slowly and reluctantly, I’ve accepted we all have a ministry according to the gifts given to us by God. Neither economic status, academic achievement or social standing means anything if God says ‘tag’ it’s your turn to do His bidding, carry His message or simply let others see Him in you.
One thing is for certain. You can-
not refuse to hear Him, when God comes knocking. Just ask Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah or Jeremiah. More importantly, ask yourself as I have lately, what are you reluctant to do in the name of God? Only you know if you’re in denial.
Only you know if you’re trying to convince God to choose someone else.
The question is how long will it take you to realize that eventually, as have so many others, you’re going to do what God is telling you to? I think you might want to get to that conclusion before God stops asking and starts telling. God is apt to stop asking and abandon you altogether and accept your no as a final answer.
The prospect of that gives a whole new meaning to “When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die.’ and you do not warn him from his evil ways in order to save his
life, that wicked man will die for his sins and I will hold you accountable for his blood.” (Ezekiel 3:18)
I now believe that the measure of your life and mine is how we respond to God’s call and not how hard we work even if we judge that work as beneficial to others.
According to what we’re called to do. The question then is how do we know when God is the one doing the talking? I believe God doesn’t confuse us. I also believe He’s talking all the time.
The key for us is to make a conscious and deliberate effort to listen and hear Him. That requires persistence and prayer. Combined, listening then becomes habitual.
All I’m trying to say is I’m trying each and every day to hear God. In doing so, I’m obligated to share with you that maybe my calling and my job is to accept as a blessing this platform, use it as but another wonderful conduit for God’s will and continue to say loudly and publicly that Jesus is Lord. And if you also believe this, then you probably better tell somebody.
May God bless and keep you always.
“I do believe Donald Trump will beat some of the charges against him. I think he will have a slap on the wrist. I do think something will happen but I don’t think it will be to a degree of what it should be. And I don’t believe he will be the Republican nominee. ”
“I think it’s a great possibility that he could be re-elected. Right now it all comes down to a bunch of money. People are steadily coming and saying ‘oh he’s dropping off, we are not going to see him anymore.’ There are plenty of people that want him right there. Will he beat the rap? Nah, he ain’t going to beat the rap and they are still going to make President.”
“With all of the people going after Donald Trump, I still think he is going to be the Republican nominee with his biggest competitor being Ron Desantis. He will have some financial things imposed upon him but as far as any jail time, I don’t think so.”
“I don’t know much about what is going on other than what my grandparents have told me from what they see in the news because I really don’t watch the news that much. But I do think, by the way America is set up, that Trump is going to get away with what he’s doing more so than other people would. Do I think he would be the President again? I wouldn’t be surprised. For this upcoming election? No. But maybe later on, down the line.”
“The point is that God uses the least of us (by our definition) to carry out His plans in spite of what we think we’re capable of or what we think we’re worthy of.”
BY JAMES A. WASHINGTONThe Atlanta Voice
“YOUR VOICE”
‘How strange do you think you are?’Sheree Oats Atlanta Jada Phillips Atlanta Myles Ibanze Atlanta Larry Gilliam Atlanta Compiled by Vincent Christie
According to a July 10th court filing in Fulton County Superior Court, Ryan Wilson, CEO and Co-Founder of The Gathering Spot, has claimed Greenwood, Inc. has breached “their fiduciary duties owed to certain shareholders.” Additionally, Wilson’s lawsuit claims Greenwood, led by Dr. Paul Q. Judge and Ryan Glover, also participated in a fraudulent transfer and receipt of funds in order to avoid payment of a contractual debt owed by Greenwood to those same shareholders.
On July 15th, it was announced that TGS co-founder T’Keel “TK” Petersen would be leaving the company and his role as Chief Operating Officer. Soon thereafter, Greenwood announced the hiring of Mike McCloskey as its Chief Financial Officer. Those moves set off a firestorm which consisted of criticism, questions, and members announcing cancellations on social media.
How did we arrive here?
May 25, 2020, George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis. In October 2020, Glover, Judge, Jesse Williams, Ambassador Andrew Young plus rapper and entrepreneur Michael “Killer Mike” Render formed Greenwood, Inc. which is a financial technology and digital banking platform created to address the banking needs of Black and Latino communities. Their plan was to fashion Greenwood as the superior and culturally relevant Blackowned bank.
Additionally, Greenwood closed $40 million of Series A funding from six of the seven largest U.S. banks and the top two payment technology companies: Truist, Bank of America, PNC, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Mastercard, and Visa. Greenwood provides debit card services and savings accounts. However, Greenwood’s customer accounts are held by Coastal Community Bank and insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000.
On May 10, 2022, Greenwood, Inc., acquired ownership of The Gathering Spot, a private membership network that provides access to an exclusive network of professionals, creatives and entrepreneurs, curated experiences, exclusive content and networking opportunities for Black professionals. At the time, the announcement purported a partnership between the two companies even though this was an mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transaction.
In February 2023, Wilson filed a lawsuit alleging Greenwood committed, “intentional misconduct to breach its purchase agreement,” thus breaking its contract.
Greenwood then filed a countersuit in June 2023 alleging TGS’s “own bad conduct that perpetuated the alleged breach -
es that they complain of now.” In a written statement, Glover said the TGS location in Los Angeles was not profitable. Glover claimed Greenwood paid more than $40 million to TGS in an effort to finalize the acquisition, according to reporting by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
However, Wilson asserted in the subsequent July 10th court filing that Glover informed Wilson that “based on business financial performance across all of our business units, no one will receive 2022 bonus payments.” This was not true, as Defendants fully intended to pay themselves.
Next, TGS alleged Greenwood missed several deadlines for payments owed to TGS shareholders (which include Valor Ventures, Cameron J. Newton Enterprises and JAAD Capital) and has refused to make them. According to the lawsuit, Wilson also says that Greenwood’s failures to pay stem from financial issues and predicts the company will soon become insolvent.
What are the next steps?
The ultimate goal of this lawsuit is Wilson and Petersen regaining ownership of The Gathering Spot, independent of Greenwood.
Ryan Glover, Paul Judge, T’Keel Petersen, and Ryan Wilson have not responded to requests for comment on this story.
Did you know you may be eligible to receive free, in-person testing and vaccines without insurance?*
By Jamal Downer, PharmD, Walgreens Pharmacy Manager
Despite the end of the federal public health emergency, COVID-19 is still present, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic communities. That’s why it’s crucial to keep protecting ourselves and our loved ones.
Your local Walgreens pharmacist is committed to keeping you safe and healthy, providing reliable services in testing and vaccines.
Testing remains essential for the diagnosis and containment of COVID-19. Walgreens offers in-person rapid tests as well as at-home tests. Uninsured patients may be eligible for a free in-person test.* If you do have insurance and questions about your coverage, you can reach out to your individual provider.
Testing can determine if you are infected, even if you have no symptoms, and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by informing those who test positive for an infection, so they may isolate to prevent spreading to others.
If you do test positive, talk to your pharmacists about treatment options. Oral antivirals are available to qualifying patients at your local pharmacy to aid recovery. With convenient pickup and delivery options, getting the care you need has never been easier.
Vaccines are also available at no cost and have been proven to be the most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus. You can receive multiple vaccines, including those for shingles and pneumonia, at your local pharmacy, saving you time and ensuring you’re up to date on the recommended immunizations in a single visit.
Your Walgreens pharmacist is committed to providing access to necessary testing and vaccine services, restoring health to our communities.
Visit walgreens.com/findcare/services, use the Walgreens app or call 1-800-WALGREENS to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatments.
At Walgreens, getting tested is easy and quick. Here’s how our COVID-19 testing works:
• Choose a location and time for your COVID-19 test.
• Complete a brief questionnaire.
• At the time of your appointment, go to the pharmacy drive-thru or follow signs to the store’s designated testing area inside the store. Wear a mask if entering the store to ensure the safety and health of fellow patients.
• Show your confirmation email, a valid state ID or driver’s license, and an insurance card or voucher, if applicable.
• Perform the nasal swab yourself under the direction of a pharmacy team member.
• Receive an email with a secure link to test results.
The annual struggle for many families this time of year is preparing the children in the household to return to school. For those that are in single-parent households, low income households, or just those coming from homes where financial literacy isn’t emphasized, the process it takes to best prepare their child for school can be turbulent.
Many, if not all, families are aware of the prices that come along with this season: new backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils, calculators, organizers, the list goes on. This past weekend, on July 15th, the Atlanta Hawks Foundation and Chase Bank, recognized these hardships and collaborated to host a back-to-school event at the Summerhill Community Center.
The event featured attractions whole families could enjoy, including games, Atlanta Hawks mascot Harry the Hawk, and an opportunity to meet Hall-of-famer and former Hawks star Dominique Wilkins, who showed up to sign autographs and take pictures with young fans.
Aside from all the wonderful attractions the event had to offer, Chase Bank and Dominique Wilkins' real purpose that day was to promote financial literacy among students and their parents. There were also additional speakers, informational fliers, and even a financial literacy workshop that focussed on saving, investing, and managing money.
Representatives from Chase Bank distributed a thousand free backpacks filled with school supplies and sheets on how to maintain financial health for any and all students and families who came by. The event is part of a multi-year partnership between Chase Bank and the Hawks.
"Some of the pillars that the Atlanta Hawks have are being able to give back to the community and really being true to Atlanta. We align with those priorities as well." said Chase Bank’s Atlanta Community Manager Matilda Lambert.
According to Lambert, the Summerhill location is an investment that Chase has made to support the community and increase financial health knowledge.
"We have a community room where we host workshops, and we invite the community and our nonprofit partners, civic organizations here in the city, to be able to have access to and use that space as well,” Lambert explained.
Wilkins is also familiar with the importance of financial literacy and giving back, having grown up in a financial literacy-chal-
lenged community in rural North Carolina. For him, this event was not a publicity stunt but rather a genuine desire to generate more opportunities for his community.
"The only way to succeed in this world,
especially in today's world, you have to become financially savvy and make sure that you give yourself an opportunity to thrive in life and create different careers for yourself,” said Wilkins. “So financial literacy goes hand
in hand."
Wilkins has used his platform as a player to put him in a better position to give back, not only from a school or financial standpoint but also when it comes to health and healthcare.
The relationship between the Hawks Foundation and Chase Bank and their value of giving back to the community goes even further than the back-to-school event, as they have teamed up with Good Sports to create ‘Project Rebound,’ which provides basketball equipment and offers health clinics to youth in Atlanta.
Breakthrough Atlanta, a nonprofit organization, is currently holding its six-week signature summer program, which is a component of its six-year, tuition-free, year-round program that provides a pathway to college for hundreds of underserved middle and high school students each year.
The nonprofit has a dual mission to increase academic opportunity for underserved students and to develop the next generation of teachers.
Aspects of the program include life-changing educational opportunities that have helped thousands of students achieve their dreams for over 25 years, innovative project-based-learning including a peerto-peer math tutoring initiative, and a student-teaching-students model which attracts future educators.
The Lovett School, which hosts Breakthrough’s summer program, launched Breakthrough Atlanta in 1996, paving the way for thousands of underserved students to realize their dreams.
That solid foundation, and Lovett’s ongoing partnership, enabled Breakthrough Atlanta to become a self-sustaining nonprofit organization that continues to expand its life-changing educational opportunities for students to succeed in college and beyond.
CEO of Breakthrough Atlanta Monique Shields said the purpose of the summer program pursues a dual mission.
“We help to place initiative-taking underserved students on a path to college enrollment and success and we work to inspire college students to become educators. Where it all starts and comes together is in our summer program,” Shields said.
Having been with Breakthrough as the CEO since 2018, Shields said because she has always worked with and served youth, and went through a fellowship experience like Breakthrough’s, she knows the “transformational power” that fellowships can have for young adults in terms of preparing them for their careers.
“I think our dual mission is vitally important right now, it always has been, but because of doubts around whether college is worth it and doubts around going into teaching as a career, I think Breakthrough’s mission is very vital now,” she said.
Rising 7th grader Tacarlee Wilson started her very first summer with Breakthrough this year and she said she “really likes the program”.
“I think the Breakthrough Atlanta Summer Program is fun and educational and it’s good for me because I get extra practice,” Wilson said. “My favorite part has been my ELA class because we’re learning about different
poems and other things. I really love poems and I created one in class about PTSD.”
One thing Wilson said she has learned so far in the program is Distributive Property in math, Haikus in ELA, and how to filter water in STEM.
The program, Wilson said, is helping her prepare for seventh grade.
“The program is helping me prepare because there are a lot of things that I’m not sure what I want to do once I get into the seventh grade, so it helps me think about what the next grade will be like,” she said.
Wilson also gave advice for kids who might be interested in the program.
“When you come into the program, be yourself and if you need any help or anything, just ask somebody because they are open to anything and they don’t judge. This place is safe,” she said.
Additionally, the students are in the program with Breakthrough Atlanta for six years, according to Shields.
“They start in the summer before their seventh-grade year and in the summers, they participate in a six-week summer learning program where we focus on making sure they maintain and build their English, Language, and Arts (ELA) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM),” she said.
The program, Shields said, also introduces scholars to college students who are partic-
ipating in Breakthrough Atlanta’s teaching fellowship program.
“Those college students are their teachers in the summer, not only are they teaching them in those subjects I mentioned, but they’re also serving as peer role models and helping our middle schoolers be able to see what they could be in just a few years when they enter college. It’s a neat summer program and an incredibly special experience. We’ve been doing this since 1996, so 27 years now,” she said.
Additionally, Breakthrough Atlanta recently partnered with 40 Mustard Seeds Foundation, a non-profit started several years ago by teenager Gabrielle Tobin with the mission of providing essential tools and tutoring for middle school students.
Now a rising high school senior, Tobin is leading a team of high school volunteers to implement an innovative math initiative with 7th graders attending Breakthrough's six-week summer program. This team will be tutoring Breakthrough students while also helping them to create peer-to-peer math tutoring videos that will be posted online.
“It’s a great partnership and again, our motto as an organization is ‘students instructing students’ and through this partnership, we can engage an even younger group of students to instruct other students, who will then teach their peers. It’s just a win-win for all the young people that participate in
Breakthrough,” Shields said.
The Teaching Fellowship Program
More than 50 college students from across the U.S., aspiring educators called Teaching Fellows, have been trained to teach and mentor Breakthrough scholars this summer in math, science, writing, and more.
These college students serve as relatable mentors and role models while gaining leadership and classroom experience. Amid a nationwide teacher shortage, this teaching fellowship, which is offered in partnership with AmeriCorps, is more important than ever in cultivating a new and diverse generation of teachers.
According to the Pew Research Center, in 2019-20, the most recent year with available data, colleges and universities conferred 85,057 bachelor’s degrees in education, about four percent of the more than two million total degrees issued that year.
“For our teaching fellows, it’s a tough environment because only four percent of college students right now are indicating that they’re interested in becoming teachers,” Shields said. “We are fortunate to be a part of a national movement called ‘The Breakthrough Collaborative’, where there are 24 Breakthrough affiliates across the United
Continued from page 9
States. Through our national organization, we’re partnered with more than 200 colleges and universities.”
According to Shields, they pair the teaching fellows with actual teachers who mentor them throughout the summer and help to develop lessons, deliver instructions, and build all their skills in becoming teachers. The program is also incentivized with a stipend, according to Shields.
“It’s a paid fellowship and we’re a part of the AmeriCorps program and so our teaching fellows, once they complete their summer service, receive money they can use to help pay for college, room/board, fees, and to repay federal student loans,” she said.
Returning teaching fellow and recent graduate of Tuskegee University, Jaila Mason said when she first came to Breakthrough, it was a “really great experience”.
“I taught eighth-grade STEM, and I was very nervous about teaching middle school because I wanted to teach younger kids, but middle school was great,” Mason said. “I feel that Breakthrough, even before the kids come, teaches us a lot even in the two weeks of orientation, which is rigorous but it’s exciting and we do a lot of professional development about how to be a teacher and how to work with kids.”
As an Atlanta native, Mason said being able to make an impact on her own community that she loves, is especially important to her. Additionally, Mason said she returned for another semester as a teaching fellow because she not only made close friends at Breakthrough, but also wanted to continue to have influence on children in middle school.
“Middle school is a challenging time for most kids, and they need a lot of nurturing and to get it from other students who are older than them, it’s impactful.
For advice to upcoming teaching fellows and anyone who is interested in education, Mason said “it’s okay to make mistakes.”
“When you’re in orientation or beyond, I love to research stuff, so I research several topics like how to do different things. Use a lot of outside resources to help you and put
yourself first. Coming into work every day, sometimes it can get hard and if you put so much pressure on yourself and don’t take time for self-care, you’ll burn out,” she said.
Breakthrough Atlanta continuing to pursue their dual mission
Breakthrough Atlanta continues to pursue its dual mission and inspire the next generation of teachers despite debates about whether college is worth it financially due to families becoming more cautious about taking out loans.
“Even in this climate where there’s a lot of controversy and talks about whether getting a college degree is worth the financial investment, there are a lot of parents and students who still dream of going to college,” Shields said.
Breakthrough Atlanta, Shields said, is continuing to push through and increase academic opportunity for underserved students.
“We recruit students to join our six-year college preparatory program and we find there’s a lot of interest, we receive more applications for families than we can accept students into the program. That’s because
what we offer is special,” she said.
Outside of the summer program, Breakthrough Atlanta provides year-round support for all six years that students are in the program. Throughout their Breakthrough journey, Shields said, students are matched up with teaching fellows, working closely with staff including college counselors who not only focuses on building their academic skills, but also helps them go into the community and across the state to visit colleges, receive tutoring, and test prep opportunities.
“Their parents are going to join us on financial aid planning, starting when they’re kids enter their freshman year of high school so that families can really understand how paying for college works and where the opportunities for scholarships are and how to avoid taking out loans while finding that dream school,” she said.
As of right now, Shields said, Breakthrough Atlanta is in a “great and exciting phase”.
“We’re preparing to be a fully independent nonprofit. When we started back in 1996, we were hosted as a program within the Lovett School, and it was always our plan to become
an independent nonprofit, so we are taking the steps to do that,” she said. “When we complete the process, we’ll be able to expand our operations to serve more students and to engage more college students throughout the metro Atlanta area and throughout the state, so that’s where we’re going, and we’re really excited about that.”
Additionally, Shields said this year they had a few exciting partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for their teaching fellowship recruitment, which is a part of their national teaching fellowship initiative.
“It’s important because we know many public-school students in America are children of color and we want to make sure they have role models in the classroom they can relate to and see themselves becoming, so we have a great cohort of almost 50 teaching fellows and majority of whom are coming from HBCUs like Spelman, Clark Atlanta, Howard, Fort Valley State. So, we have many strong HBCU partnerships, and I see that continuing for our teaching fellow outreach,” she said.
For more information, visit https://breakthroughatlanta.org/.
The Atlanta BeltLine announced that construction on the first segment of its Northeast Trail will begin next month.
Measuring just under a mile in length, Segment One of the trail will run from Westminster Drive to Monroe Drive in
Midtown, bordering Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to the east.
Consisting of three major segments, the Northeast Trail will connect the already constructed Eastside Trail to the Lindburgh MARTA station, once completed. Segments
Two and Three and a series of connector trails will connect Ansley Mall, Peachtree
Creek, city streets, greenways and other avenues of transportation to the rest of the trail.
According to the BeltLine’s website, only one section of the Northeast Trail’s second segment is complete, stretching from Ansley Mall to the Buford Spring Connector.
Though unpaved, Segment One of the Northeast Trail has remained open to visi-
tors, but will close to the public for the duration of construction.
The BeltLine will host a groundbreaking ceremony on August 4 at Park Tavern commemorating the new phase of development. Construction on the trail is scheduled to begin the following week, and is expected to wrap up in the fall of 2024.
BY ISAIAH SINGLETON
Founder Jairus Morris started SUPLMNT company after discovering the product category and realizing no one in his circle owned any insulated water bottles, despite the existence of many major brands in the space.
“Growing up in the inner city no one taught me, or my peers, the importance of drinking water and staying hydrated,” Morris said. “In most of our households, high-sugar drinks such as Kool-Aid and soda were our only source of hydration. It wasn’t until later in life that I realized the health issues plaguing my family and friends had major roots in poor diet and hydration.”
SUPLMNT is more than just a water bottle, said Morris. Additionally, brands Snipes and Adidas have partnered with SUPLMNT to join their recent Juneteenth community initiative, bridging the community within its Brooklyn and Baltimore stores.
The business is also committed to investing 10% of net sales into bottles and resources for its give-back program, administered through our established 501c3 non-profit.
Morris also said the program will provide free single-wall water bottles and educational materials about the importance of hydration to youth groups and sports programs in Black communities.
Morris spoke to the Atlanta Voice about SUPLMNT and what people can expect from this new Black-owned brand.
For more information, visit https://suplmnt.com/.
The Atlanta Voice: Why did you decide to create SUPLMNT?
Jarius Morris: I created SUPLMNT because I saw that none of the major brands geared their product toward urban culture. There was no brand that was intentional about reaching or resonating with my culture. There were so many people within my circle and demographic that had never even heard of any insulated water bottle brand or the science behind the vacuum-insulated tech. So, I decided to be the 1st premium Black-owned insulated water bottle brand that created a community and experience around our water bottles that the culture would want to be a part of and resonate with.
AV: How did you produce the name?
JM: Water is the body's most important supplement, and SUPLMNT main mission is to spread awareness on the importance of drinking water in our urban communities, so I wanted our name to completely embody that mission.
AV: Was there a moment that inspired you to start the business?
JM: Realizing there are incredible products out there that aren’t targeting Black
people. The vacuum-insulated water bottle industry focused on outdoor activities and sustainability. While we love both things, we noticed that the same technology in a bottle for everyday use with a brand focused on hydration can have a greater impact.
AV: Is there a mentor/person in your life that inspires/inspired you as a business owner? Who?
JM: I would say originally my mom inspired me. Single Black woman of 5 kids and she ALWAYS had the ambitious spirit and hustle just to make ends meet for me and my siblings. So, understanding struggle and constantly figuring out ways to overcome it gave me that grit that I use today.
AV: What are your business goals for the remainder of the year?
JM: Maximize the impact of our business while aggressively expanding our product line.
AV: Where do you see SUPLMNT in five years?
JM: Today it is easy to compare us to other vacuum-insulated water bottle brands. In the future, it will be difficult to compare us to them. We will be focused on bringing great products to an underserved audience, maintaining premium quality while remaining affordable.
AV: What is something you have learned about yourself as a business owner since starting SUPLMNT?
JM: I have learned that to succeed in this business or anything in life you must believe in yourself more than anyone. I would say the next important thing would be staying consistent, success doesn't happen overnight, everything takes time.
AV: What advice do you have for future business owners taking the plunge?
JM: I always say your job is your first investor, do not just quit and use your salary to fuel your business. I would say make sure you are mentally ready to do everything it takes to make your business work, which being logistics, customer service, product development, marketing, social media management, and the list goes on. Having some type of savings account would also help a ton so you can focus more on your business and make sound decisions not based on trying to make money quickly.
In the aftermath of the legal battle between the Biden Administration and the Supreme Court, Georgia student loan borrowers, on average, are among some of the most indebted student loan borrowers in the country.
According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Georgia borrowers have accumulated the second-highest amount of student debt per borrower out of all 50 states, with each borrower estimated to owe an average of $41,826.
Excluding the District of Columbia, the state is only bested by Maryland, whose borrowers owe an average balance of $42,543.
Georgia is home to more than 1,600,000 indebted borrowers, falling short of only seven other states, all of which outnumber Georgia in total population, according to the U.S. Census. The state’s borrower delinquency rate falls at just under 10%.
The Supreme Court ruled to strike down President Biden’s long-standing student debt forgiveness plan in June, dismissing
The Wine and Culture Festival, a multi-day wine festival calling attention to the lack of diversity across various stages of the wine industry, will return to Atlanta for the third time in the event’s five-year history.
Hosted annually by The Hue Society, a global organization advocating for racial inclusion within the industry, Wine and Culture Fest will extend its schedule of events to last a full week for the first time since its inception, offering a list of activities suited for a wide range of wine enthusiasts, from complete beginners to seasoned professionals in the field.
Tahiirah Habibi, founder of The Hue Society and the Wine and Culture Festival, said this year’s event features a diverse span of experiences for guests to get involved in, including educational sessions, mental health and wellness gatherings and other social functions.
“There’s so many different options, and I really wanted to create a full, well-rounded experience, because [the Black community is] not a monolith,” Habibi said. “I just really wanted to try and tap into the incredible culture that we have here in Atlanta and make sure that people at least saw something that they could relate to during the week…”
Some of the event’s most notable activities
will take place on the final days of the festival. A masterclass, panel and other learning experiences are scheduled for Friday and Saturday afternoons at the Thompson Hotel. The Hue Society will also host food and wine tasting sessions at Underground Atlanta on Friday and Saturday evenings, which will include a feast featuring different varieties of rice dishes paired with complementing wines on the second day. The festival will wrap up on Sunday with a morning awards show and brunch followed by a rooftop lounge event to close out the week.
Habibi said guests should expect to feel comfortable at the many stages of the festival, regardless of their race, cultural background or experience with wine. The aim of the festival coincides with the mission of The Hue Society: to create a space for Black, brown and Indigenous people to learn about and bond over the intricacies of wine without having to sacrifice aspects of their culture or demeanor to feel accepted.
“There’s no expectation that you need to code-switch or assimilate,” Habibi said. “I just wanted to create luxury experiences for us through our lens, because we deserve that.”
This year's festival will run from Monday, July 24 through Sunday, July 30. Find the full schedule and individual tickets and bundles for each event on the Wine and Culture Festival’s official website.
the program as unconstitutional. If implemented, the initiative would have erased up to $20,000 of outstanding student debt for approved applicants, eliminating approximately $430 million worth of debt on a national scale.
Since the ruling, the Biden Administration has announced an alternative solution to assist borrowers in the short term, finalizing a repayment plan allowing for smaller monthly payments, and a separate initiative from the Department of Education offering extended forgiveness to borrowers skipping or making partial payments for up to 12 months.
The United States’ roughly 43 million active borrowers owe approximately $1.7 trillion in student debt as of the first quarter of this year, according to the Education Data Initiative.
After undergoing a three-year pause initially set in motion by the pandemic, student loan payments are scheduled to resume this October. Interest will begin to accrue on outstanding debt on September 1.
The residential real estate market is booming in metro Atlanta and downtown Atlanta continues to be one of the hottest targets.
A groundbreaking, well, more like a demolition ceremony, took place on the third floor of one the city's oldest office buildings Thursday, July 13. The 125-yearold, 10-story Grant Building, which was purchased in a joint venture between Wolfe Investments, a Texas-based real estate investment company, and Bluelofts, a national redevelopment company, in December 2022, will become a massive residential property.
The price Wolfe Investments and BlueLofts paid for the building was undisclosed. Downtown properties have paled in comparison to the land prices in Midtown, for example. The last listed price was $7.9 million in 2019, according to Fulton County property records.
The project is expected to bring 165 multifamily units to downtown's Fairlie Poplar Historic District, which is located less than a halfmile from the Historic Sweet Auburn District. Downtown has seen steady residential growth over the past decade, but the Grant Building project is breaking new ground in a dilapidated part of town or on a dirt lot. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
"Not much dirt to move on this project," said Kenny Wolfe, owner of Wolfe Investments. With the building having national register status there can only be a certain amount of construction and demolition that takes place.
Ike Bams, the co-founder and partner (along with John Williams) with BlueLofts said his
company realized the growth of downtown Atlanta and said of redeveloping the office building into a residential property, "this is our niche."
"We wanted to redevelop this building into housing so we bought it," Bams said. "We are excited about the look and the feel of this project. Instead of empty office buildings downtown we can have housing downtown."
This project is not to be confused with an "affordable housing" project. The multifamily units will be Class A units, which mean they will be renting for market value. The average rent for an apartment in Atlanta is $1,846, according to data from RentCafe.com, an online residential search website.
Both Wolfe and Bams say they believe the
residential project will work downtown partly because of the cache the building brings and its location and proximity to all that downtown Atlanta offers.
"We are firm believers in downtown Atlanta's growth," said Wolfe. "We are also big believers in adaptive reuse."
BlueLofts and Wolfe Investments had previously partnered up on purchasing the nearby property at 41 Marietta Street for the same purpose.
Bush Construction, a Davenport, Iowa-based design, development and construction company will handle construction on the project. Bush Construction project superintendent Kevin Mericle was on hand for the occasion.
Helen Zaver, Colliers Atlanta Senior Vice President, was the broker that handled the sale of the building to BlueLofts. Zaver also believes The Grant Building will serve renters well as a multifamily project.
"Beautiful historic buildings such as The
Grant Building are one of a kind and with a major adaptive reuse such as what Bluelofts is planning here, will bring life back to the property as well as the area," said Zaver.
Upon completion the yet-to-be-named project will include a number of amenities, including a club house, fitness center, business center, private spa and ground level retail space.
Metro Atlanta's population, which is now over 6.1 million residents, has increased by nearly 2% every year since 2019 according to data provided by Macrotrends.net. The need for more housing, whether affordable or not, will continue to drive investors to the city and downtown is no exception.
"We need more housing downtown," reasoned Bams. "This is a good solution to bring more people downtown."
Downtown Atlanta will play host to a number of national and international sporting events within the next couple years, including the College Football National Championship Game in 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.
The South Fulton Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the South Fulton community’s access to art and culture, was selected to receive a Bridge Grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts, an organization supporting arts programs, artists and local governments statewide through research, networking and opportunities for funding.
Bridge Grants are one of six awards offered by the GCA throughout the year, assisting arts organizations in need of financial backing following the pandemic. Chosen applicants will receive grants ranging from $12,000 to $50,000 to benefit their programs, a total that varies depending on each non-
profit’s budget. The South Fulton Institute was one of 162 organizations selected from around the state to receive a Bridge Grant for the fiscal year 2024.
The Georgia Council for the Arts’ executive director, Tina Lilly, said in a statement that investing in small-scale cultural and artistic programs benefits Georgia’s communities as a whole by increasing tourism, improving local economies and encouraging participation and camaraderie among residents.
“These vital funds bring life into communities all across the state. Music, theatre, dance and visual art attract tourists, bring community members together, teach children self-confidence, revitalize downtowns
and more,” Lilly said. “Through this program, GCA is able to support vibrant communities where people want to live and businesses want to locate.”
Jennifer Bauer-Lyons, executive director of the South Fulton Institute, said the organization plans to use funding from the grant to expand two of its projects that expose the community to various outlets of creativity.
“This grant will help continue to grow our Courageous Conversations internal programming and our partner program, Create,” Bauer-Lyons said. “Both of these signature programs work to bring accessible arts programs to the South Fulton community through play readings, short films and many
other mediums.”
Create and Courageous Conversations are two collaboration-based projects that promote the fostering of relationships between artists in the South Fulton community, helping the SFI accomplish its mission of offering free and high-quality artistic resources to residents who may not be able to access them otherwise.
“We are grateful for the continued support of the Georgia Council for the Arts,” Bauer-Lyons said. “Not only for the financial support, but also for the true partnership in providing resources to help with the sustainability of arts organizations across the entire state.”
Atlanta United passed the 500,000 home attendance mark during the match against Orlando Saturday night. That mark leaves Atlanta comfortably at the top of the Major League Soccer attendance list heading into the All-Star break.
Atlanta is more than 100,000 fans ahead of second and third place Charlotte FC and Seattle Sounders. Two well followed clubs that also share stadiums with National Football League teams.
The team came into the game averaging 45,218 fans per home game, according to data provided by Soccerstadiumdigest.com, the highest per game average in Major League Soccer (MLS).
The attendance for the Orlando match was 43,576, according to Atlanta United's communications staff. No team in MLS averages more than 35,000 fans per game.
Home Sweet Home
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has been home sweet home for Atlanta United this season. Coming into the match against rival Orlando City, United is 7-4-1 on their home turf this season. With home matches against rival Nashville (8-22 at home), Cincinnati (holders of the best home field record in Major League Soccer at 10-1-0) and Miami coming up within the next couple weeks remaining tough to defeat at home will be crucial to
locking up a playoff spot.
United's strong play at home had been good for 24 of their 35 total points this season. Orlando City was a point behind in the standings with 34 points coming into Saturday's match before defeating Atlanta 2-1 Saturday night.
Guess who's coming to dinner:
Deportivo Cruz Azul will visit Atlan -
ta later this month. The match against the popular Mexican club will take place Saturday, July 29.
The best player on Earth will be making his Mercedes-Benz Stadium debut Saturday, September 16. Lionel Messi
and Inter Miami FC will face Atlanta late in the regular season, bringing not only Messi to Atlanta, but former United star Josef Martinez back to familiar territory. Tickets for the match should fetch a pretty penny, particularly closer to match day. There might not be a more anticipated match this season following the news that Messi signed with Miami.
On July 9, the 2023 MLB Draft commenced and concluded on July 11. In 20 rounds consisting of 614 draft picks, three players from Historical Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) were drafted.
Right-handed pitcher Nolan Santos from Bethune-Cookman University was the first player drafted from an HBCU this year. Santos was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 7th round.
Xavier Meachem from North Carolina A&T, also a right-handed pitcher, was drafted in the 10th round by the Miami Marlins.
Delaware State University second baseman Trey Paige was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 17th round.
Following this draft, MLB has seen an increase in HBCU players drafted since 2021. During that year's draft right-handed pitcher Kamron Fields from Texas Southern University was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2oth round as the 611th pick. Field was the sole HBCU player drafted that year.
In 2022, two players from HBCUs were drafted. Outfielder Jonathan Thomas from Texas Southern University was drafted by the Washington Nationals, and catcher John Garcia from Grambling State was drafted by the Houston Astros. Both players were selected during the 19th round.
What is being done to get more HBCU players drafted?
HBCU baseball players are getting more exposure from showcases where players get a chance to compete in front of MLB scouts. Also, players are being seen by the masses whether that be from the Institutions’ own media productions, social media or through National media coverage.
This year the Inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic took place on July 7, during the MLB All-Star Week at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA. The event was headed by Ken Griffey Jr, the MLB, and the MLB Players Association Youth Development Foundation (MLBPA).
50 players from Division I HBCUs were invited to play, and each player represented one of the 17 HBCUs in attendance. The game was broadcasted Nationally on MLB Network. Minority Baseball Prospects (MBP) is also
doing work to get HBCU players exposure. Every year MBP invites the best players from across all HBCUs to compete in a player showcase, home run derby, and All-Star game. Former MLB players in the MLBPA are involved in the efforts of MBP as well, including former Atlanta Braves pitcher Marvin Freeman who attended Jackson State University and Braves outfielder Marquis Grissom who played at Florida A & M University. That group includes former MLB catcher and Grambling State University Hall of Famer Lenny Webster.
Though the number of HBCU players being drafted is small, it is increasing due to the work of the MLBPA, MBP, and other programs looking to get HBCU players drafted.
Georgia is out of peaches. Here’s why, and how locals are coping.BY DENNIS MALCOLM BYRON AKA ALE SHARPTON
An affordable head turner geared towards sports car enthusiasts who yearn for optimal control via a stick shift, the 2023 Toyota Supra should be strongly considered. With the base price for this two-door demon going for under $44K, the reviewed 3.0 Premium MT version for about $10K more still doesn’t break the bank considering everything it has to offer.
Boasting a turbocharged, 3.0-liter six-cylinder heart pumping out 382 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque, drivers will truly get to optimally experience the output with Supra’s debut of what “MT” stands for: Manual Transmission. Toyota finally answered the high demand for the stick option, and it did not disappoint; the 0-60 mph thrust takes 4.2 seconds, and the rear sport differential, adaptive suspension, and responsive handling for even the tightest corners collectively enhance the thrill.
The exterior of this two-seater is equally stunning, with Brembo brakes (red brake calipers in the front and rear), and 19-inch aluminum “Frozen Gunmetal Gray” wheels encased in road-gripping Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires made this model’s “Nitro Yel-
low” pop even more.
Inside amenities include an 8.8-inch touchscreen; full-color head up display (which is perfect to keep an eye on speed); Supra Connect technology; Hill Start Assist Control; Apple CarPlay compatibility; wireless charging; leather interior; sport pedals; leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel; and a head-nod inducing 12-speaker
JBL sound system to keep the party going in the cockpit. The optional carbon fiber mirror caps ($925), and Driver Assist Package (cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, and parking sensors totaling $1,195) come highly recommended.
All in all, the fifth generation of the Supra flawlessly maintains the brand’s luster and gets the most bang for the buck, with the
manual transmission providing even more enticement for thrill seekers in 2023.
Fuel Economy: 19 city/27 highway/21 combined.
Price: Base price is $55.650; $58,865 as reviewed plus delivery, handling, and processing.
For more information, visit Toyota.com.
HD Supply, Inc. seeks Manager, IT Internal Audit for Atlanta, GA office. Req Master’s or equiv in Comp Sci, Technology Mgmnt or rel field + 3 yrs wrk experience. Will also accept Bachelor’s or equiv in Comp Sci, Technology Mgmnt or rel field + 5 yrs wrk experience. Duties include dvlp & manage audit projects for info systems. For complete reqs/duties & to apply visit http://hdsupply.jobs/ Job ID R23002888
Sr. Coordntr, Sales Spport (Atlanta, GA): Prpare rate quotatns, bid pckags, cntrcts & amndmnts for currnt & ptntial cstomrs of lgistcs cmpny.
Reqs: Bach or equiv in Indstrial Engnrng or rel & 1 yr of
GENERAL COUNSELS NA (Atlanta, GA): Provide legal counsel and advice regarding business activ- ities in the region, including drafting sales contracts, litigation management, ethics and compliance, risk exposure and execution on strategic regional initiatives. Provide accurate, relevant, and timely counsel on a variety of legal issues actively or potentially influencing the business. Less than 5% occasional travel required for meetings in Israel and Europe. Mail resumes to Tosca Ltd., Attn: Thomasina Kennedy, Chief Human Resources Officer, 1175 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 1900, Atlanta, GA 30361. Reference job number #SG700664.