The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 022825

‘You Can’t Dreaming’Stop

Three of the four mayors gathered for a photo before the panel began on Wed., Feb. 26, 2025. Left to right: Locust Grove Mayor Carlos Greer, Jackson Mayor Carlos Duffey, and Union City Mayor Vince Williams. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Seasoned Saints: Mrs. Valena York Henderson

Meet the Mayors of Georgia, Black men edition

BY ISAIAH SINGELTON

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. - Communities gathered for a panel discussion event on Wednesday, February 26, where attendees had the opportunity to meet and interact with some of the most influential Black mayors in the state of Georgia.

The event took place at the McKenzie Office Park in College Park and featured a panel of four mayors: Carlos Duffey, the Mayor of Jackson; Carlos Greer, the Mayor of Locust Grove; Michael Owens, the Mayor of Mabelton; and Vince Williams, the Mayor of Union City. Evan Parker, the host of the panel discussion, stated that the purpose of the event was to facilitate conversations among mayors from southern Atlanta cities to encourage real estate investment in the Southside.

This gathering was part of the Southside meetup group under the Georgia organization that conducts monthly meetings. Last year, the group hosted eight Black female mayors, while this year’s panel highlighted four male mayors.

Parker emphasized the importance of representation and community building, especially in cities with significant Black populations, to foster economic development in the southern region of Atlanta. He also expressed hope that the event would provide the mayors with a platform to discuss issues affecting their cities, as they represent communities located in southern Atlanta.

“We have a room full of people that are either currently real estate investors or prospective real estate investors,” Parker said. “It’s people who are invested in the Southside of the city and I’m passionate about the development of the southern region of Atlanta.”

He also said the importance of hosting this event is representation, community building, and economic development.

Mayor Duffey said he wants people to know they have great trails, two great state parks, and a thriving community in Jackson.

“It's a great place to live, a great place to work and play,” he said. “Jackson will be 200 years old in 2026, and I’m the first Black Mayor elected in the city during our 200-year history, but it doesn’t stop there.”

Mayor Greer said Locust Grove is a small, yet booming city.

“We’re one of those cities that have a population that grows. Development has exploded over the last five to 10 years, and we’re continuing to grow,” Greer said. “We must invest in our youth as well.”

Mayor Williams said he hopes people understand what’s going on in the cities around them.

“Atlanta is a very big place, and it’s a growing place, and there’s a lot of different interesting things going on in the cities around us,” he said. “Having the time and the ability to speak with some of the people that are running these cities are very informative for all parties involved.”

Furthermore, topics during the event included housing affordability, incentives for developers/communities to come to the city, where they see their cities in 15 years, advice, and more.

Williams said affordable housing in any community is relative to each individual city. Union City, Williams said, was named Georgia’s fastest growing city in 2023 and named the nation’s fourth fastest growing sunburn.

“What’s affordable to me may not be affordable for someone else. We’re doing a mix of housing for all economic opportunities families have,” he said. “We have houses anywhere from $200,000 and up. We must make sure we have housing that fits and suits every economic stature.”

He also said it’s crucial to ensure they have apartments because not everyone wants to live in a house.

“We also need to make sure we deal with this housing crisis with homelessness because that is something all our communities shoulder,” he said. “It is not a crime to be homeless but it’s a crime to not help people who are suffering from this, and we have to invest in our communities.”

Duffey said workforce housing impacts all communities whether you're a doctor, a nurse, firefighter, or a police officer.

“In Jackson, we’re having to work on design infrastructure, and we can build all the homes we want to, but if you don’t

have the infrastructure to support what we’re building, it’s going to be a terrible problem,” Duffey said.

He said they are working on the investment of rebuilding water and sewer treatment plans.

Additionally, one of the incentives for developers and communities to come to Locust Grove, Greer says, is they don’t have city property tax.

“We haven’t had city property tax in over 40 years and that’s one of the reasons developers have come to the city,” he said.

For advice, Greer said to keep God first.

“God is the joy and strength of my life because without God, none of this would be possible,” he said. “Don't give up, whatever it is you desire to have, it's obtainable and work hard.”

Duffey said to love your family as a pastor, aim high, and stay focused as well.

“It's important to ensure every decision you make as a leader in your community, that you are led by God,” he said. "You also can’t stop dreaming because who knew I’d be a Mayor, let alone the Mayor of Jackson, GA”.

He also said it’s crucial for leaders to ensure the decisions they make; they pray about those decisions. “Often folks get into a tizzy about what’s happening in Washington, DC, but the most important government for us is our local government,” he said.

Furthermore, Owens said his advice for anyone is to believe in yourself and never stop dreaming.

“Being a new mayor in a new city, it’s a territory few people have taken, and this journey is unique. Every day, it’s something different and I’m stepping into uncharted territory,” he said. “Be true to yourself and believe in yourself.”

Seasoned Saints

Mrs. Valena York Henderson

The “Meet the Mayors”event took place at the McKenzie Office Park in College Park. “You also can’t stop dreaming because who knew I’d be a Mayor, let alone the Mayor of Jackson, Georgia,” said Jackson Mayor Carlos Duffey (second from right. Also pictutured is Mableton Mayor Michael Owens (furthest right. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Union City Mayor Vince Williams (center, with microphone) was elected mayor in 2013 after serving on the city council for six years. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

‘The State of Our City is Strong’, says Atlanta Mayor

BY DONNELL SUGGS

The annual State of the City address, which took place in the Woodruff Arts Center on Tuesday night, is labeled as a “business address”, but it came across as a love letter from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to the city.

“Since I was 16 years old I knew I wanted to be the mayor of Atlanta because I love this city and I love its people,” Dickens, an Atlanta native and Atlanta Public Schools alumnus, said.

The address, Dickens's fourth as the city's Mayor, began with acknowledging the former Atlanta Mayors in attendance, including Bill Campbell, city council members, which included current Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman, business executives, law enforcement leadership such as Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, Atlanta hip-hop pioneers T.I. and Killer Mike, and local dignitaries.

There was also recognition of the lives of former United States President and former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalyn Carter. Before Dickens began his address Rev. Sean B. Smith of New Horizon Baptist Church delivered the evening’s invocation and remarks were made by Atlanta Committee for Progress Chairman Michael Russell and Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey.

Russell, also the CEO of H.J. Russell & Co., spoke of Dickens’s “consistent presence and collaborative leadership style.”

The Russell family has been in business in Atlanta for decades, and Russell praised Dickens and his administration for continuing to champion Black-owned businesses and businesses in general.

“The future is bright and under his leadership, we will make positive strides,” Russell said. “I’ve seen the value of partnerships between our mayors and the business community. We look forward to continuing this journey.”

Several videos played on the auditorium's big screen before Dickens took the stage and during his address. They showed images and footage of Dickens on the ground in Atlanta serving the community. One particular video of the new Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, otherwise known as “Cop City”, was greeted with applause by the capacity crowd.

Quincey said he can’t wait to see where Dickens is going to take Atlanta.

“It’s no surprise that more than 150,000 businesses have chosen to be here,” Quincey, a native of the United Kingdom, said.

“It’s so important that we come together each year in the city that we live and work in. It really is exciting to see how Atlanta is evolving,” Quincey added.

When it was Dickens’s time to speak from the stage, he made it clear that he expects to be the city's Mayor after Election Day 2025.

During his address, Dickens doubled down on the claims that crime in Atlanta is down, adding that homicides are down 26% since 2022.

“If you had any doubt, Atlanta still influences everything,” Dickens said. “The state of our city is strong.”

The speech made mention of Atlanta having a AAA bond rating with Fitch, and all of the development taking place in often ignored neighborhoods like West End. The development of Downtown Atlanta and the fast-approaching World Cup 2026 were also mentioned during the address.

"Sometimes love looks like fighting for what you believe in," Dickens said.

He continued, "Love looks like taking care of our youth and our seniors. Love looks like affordable homes and good schools."

The annual State of the City address from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, his fourth, took place Tuesday night at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

“Sometimes love looks like fighting for what you believe in,” said Dickens during his address.

Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”— Maya Angelou

20 million predatory loans drained over $2.4 billion from consumers

BY CHARLENE CROWELL

New research from the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) finds that in just one year – 2022 – cashstrapped borrowers took out over 20 million predatory loans totaling nearly $8.6 billion. The triple-digit annual percentage rates (APRs) and high costs attached to these loans – whether payday, single-payment or installment loans – drained more than $2.4 billion in fees from low-income borrowers.

CRL’s Down the Drain, report provides an update on the effects of payday lending, including online and app-based lending, that remains dominant in low-wealth, largely Black and Latino neighborhoods. Many of these lenders use misleading advertising to lure working people into a cycle of repeat borrowing and growing fees that can leave them struggling for months to repay a debt that reduces each subsequent paycheck.

“Payday loans are designed to trap people in debt and this report shows the scale of the harm,” said report co-author Yasmin Farahi, CRL’s deputy director of state policy and senior policy counsel. “Predatory lending is a public policy choice. Congress and policymakers in states without common sense interest rate limits should enact these usury laws and the executive branch has a duty to enforce them – that is how to keep payday loan sharks at bay.”

Predatory high-cost lenders that offer loans with triple-digit APRs and high, often hidden fees, are trying to evade responsible interest rate limits that currently are in place in 20 states and the District of Columbia.

But these consumer-oriented reforms still leave 30 states where triple-digit interests rates remain legal, including Texas (662%), California (460%), Mississippi (572%), Alabama (456%), and Wisconsin (537%).

These abusive lenders often target working households and communities of color. A 2020 poll by CRL found that Black consumers were twice as likely as white consumers to live within a mile of either a payday lender or a pawnshop. The targeting of these communities can worsen longstanding racial economic disparities.

“Although payday loan fee volume declined early in the pandemic, the Down the Drain report shows a $200 million rebound from 2021 to 2022, reflecting increased strain on consumers’ finances,” said report co-author Lucia Constantine, senior researcher at CRL. “Especially considering changes in the market toward online and longer-term loans, storefront payday lenders in 2022 continued to drain a massive amount of wealth from people and communities with very little wealth.”

Among the report’s notable findings:

· Between 2021 and 2022, payday loan fee volume increased in California by 20%, Texas by 22%,

and Florida by 17%. All are bigger percent increases than the national fee volume experienced;

· States where payday lenders took in the highest fee volumes are: Texas at over $1.3 billion, Florida at over $252 million, California at over $224 million, Mississippi at over $149 million, and Michigan at over $78 million. Mississippi’s payday fee total, the fourth highest, is far out of proportion to its population size, which is the 35th largest; and

· In the only two states that collect and report statistics on online lending, the share of online payday lending increased from 2019 to 2022: in Alaska from 55% to 57% and in California from 25% to 49%.

“As national payday lenders have continued to close storefronts across the country, the market share of online payday lending has increased. By 2019, online lending accounted for 41% of single-payment payday loan volume nationally,” states the report.

“Beyond the impacts of the pandemic, the alternative financial services market has shifted online and expanded to include underregulated products like installment loans, earned wage advance, and buy now pay later”, the report continues. “’Rent-a-bank’ schemes, in which a non-bank company uses an out-of-state bank to offer loans that evade state usury caps, have also made payday lending more readily available, even in states with legal protections.”

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CRL update documents surge in online lending despite state reforms. Photo Submitted

Spiritually Speaking: One Man With Courage

BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON

The Atlanta Voice

Ihave often thought and, to some degree, concluded that Jesus was killed because He dared to stand up and speak truth to power. Their beliefs introduced him and many of His followers. They witnessed the ruling religious law of the day, although large and in charge, was corrupt and deserving of renunciation. I have a poster in my office stating, “One man with courage makes a majority.” Until now, I had never associated this powerful statement of fact with the life and death and life of Jesus Christ. But the courage of faith and the commitment to action based on that faith sometimes put you in a position of being alone. Have you ever found yourself so committed to a course of action entrenched in your thinking or steadfast in your belief that nothing could change your behavior or thinking? We should all be so fortunate at least once to know that we know.

Can you imagine that Christ was so sure, confident, and right that even unto death, He knew that He knew?

I guess the question then must be

I wish you the imagination of the saints and the faith of a mustard seed

asked: what do you know? What do your faith and courage allow you to be the majority of while numerically, you are in the minority? My point is pretty simple. At some point in your faith walk, you must walk absolutely alone. At some point, it will become necessary for you and me to take a position about friends and family that will alienate us just as Jesus’ stand alienated Him from the hierarchy of the church. We, too, will be called upon to take a position based solely on faith. Maybe it’s already happened to you, and I know it has happened to me. On that day you consciously decided to choose theLord instead of the world. You know that, you know.

People recognized in this world as having principles and integrity are honored for their stances on issues, even when they go against popular

opinion. The Bible teaches us that men and women of God who exemplify these same qualities are often victimized, ridiculed, and even killed. The Bible also lets us know that these are the exact people we should emulate. By their faith, these people are the examples of a life set apart.’ We’ve all heard the saying, and some have even said, ‘Stepping out on faith.’ Reality suggests this is a scary place to be. The beauty of this spiritual reality is God can’t show up until you step out. Our struggle with faith is the true recognition of its power. Without the absolute conviction of the inherent power of faith, we never get a chance to experience the Hand of God at work in our own lives.

It is the biggest fear we can have with the most devastating consequences: to believe that you know that you know

versus knowing that you know. I concede that the test is put on each of us daily. Do you believe or don’t you? If you do, prove it. Put some substance to the phrase.‘faith-based initiatives.’ Put some action and effort into the intent of the commitment. The truth is, we so easily sound like it’s a foregone conclusion when, in actuality, we shy away from the courage to stand alone and stand for God against the world. My understanding is that the first step is the hardest. But after that, the will of God takes over and takes us into a place we could never have imagined. From me to you, I wish you the imagination of the saints and the faith of a mustard seed.

May God bless and keep you always

This column is from James Washington’s Spiritually Speaking: Reflections for and from a New Christian. You can purchase this enlightening book on Amazon and start your journey toward spiritual enlightenment.

State of the County highlights growth of Fulton County

Georgia lawmakers push for free school meals

BY ITORO N. UMONTUEN

Georgia State Representative Imani Barnes, a Democrat from Tucker, continues to advocate for passage of House Bill 60. Barnes’s legislation would provide free meals for Georgia’s qualifying public school students.

According to FeedingAmerica.org, 461,000 children are struggling with food insecurity in Georgia. Plus, almost 47% of households currently receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have children.

“My legislation, HB 60, the Healthy Start Act would establish a legal requirement to provide nutritious school breakfast and school lunch to our most vulnerable children, while prioritizing the use of our Georgia Grown Agriculture,” Barnes said during a press conference Tuesday. “ The data speaks for itself. Consider the facts, hunger impacts academic performance. Skipping meals affects your cognitive function, and school meals provide student outcomes. When children eat breakfast at school, they perform better on important tests.”

Georgia State Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes, a Democrat from Lawrenceville, is introducing corresponding legislation in the Senate. She says as more families turn to food banks just to get by, every family that is food insecure must rely on the State’s help.

“Last month, Georgia leaders made the wrong choice for our state,” says Parkes. “The state chose to opt out of a national program that would have helped low income parents feed their kids over the summer. A program funded by the federal government that most other states said yes to. But Georgia said no. Georgia said no to helping more than 800,000 children get the food they need when school isn’t in session. Georgia said no to struggling parents who can’t afford eggs.”

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, a Republican from Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, criticized children for relying on free lunches in January.

“Before I was even 13 years old, I was picking berries in the field, before child labor laws that precluded that. I was a paperboy, and when I was in high school, I worked my entire way through,” McCormick said. “You’re telling me that kids who stay at home instead of going to work at Burger King, McDonald’s, during the summer, should stay at home and get their free lunch instead of going to work? I think we need to have a top-down review.”

CAU advocates for key issues facing the AUC and Georgia’s HBCUs inside the Gold Dome Georgia’s 2025 Legislative Session is nearing the halfway point, and the stakes are

being raised inside the State Capitol. Clark Atlanta University President Dr. George T. French led a Tuesday delegation to the Gold Dome to discuss several topics. Among the action items, they pushed lawmakers for more support of the CAU Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development Center.

“The state has traditionally supported it,” said French. “We’re looking for continued support of public safety on our campus. Those are the two primary areas that we would look for continued support from the government.”

Joining French and CAU at the State Capitol was the Interim President of Savannah State University, Cynthia Robinson Alexander. French said today was the most successful day at the Capitol they’ve had in years.

“We had our students speak to several representatives, including the House and Senators,” French explains. “Then, [Lieutenant Governor] Burt Jones presented me with a special proclamation and resolution

today along with State Senator Nan Orrock. It’s been a great day for my students to see how our government works and to see how we can influence policy.”

Democrats push for Medicaid expansion to address Georgia’s Black maternal mortality crisis

Georgia’s maternal mortality rates are nearly twice the national average. Tuesday, House Democrats once again championed Medicaid expansion in order to address this disturbing trend in the state.

“Because our state has refused to expand Medicaid, it leads to health care deserts,” says Dr. Jasmine Clark, a State Representative from Lilburn. “Hospitals are closing, and over half of our counties do not have OB-GYN or pediatricians. If Georgia were to expand Medicaid, approximately 229,000 women in the state would become eligible for coverage. Of those 229,000 women, 40% of them are likely Black women. That equates

to almost 100,000 Black women in the state of Georgia who would gain access to a doctor who would gain access to health care.”

In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control reported that the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births. That is twice the rate for Whites and three times the rates for Hispanics. Also, it is nearly four times the rates for Asian-American and Pacific Islander women. Plus, Black women also have the highest infant mortality rate, at 10.55 deaths per 1,000 live births.

“We will continue to put our emphasis back on the state to do the right thing by not only expanding Medicaid, but helping us reduce the number of black maternal deaths,” says State Representative Kim Schofield, a Democrat from Atlanta. “The time has long passed and we are begging. We’re now in a posture of ‘we are expecting you to do something,’ and we are expecting this state to do it now.”

Georgia State Representative Imani Barnes appears during a press conference on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 inside the Georgia State Capitol.

Photo By Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

Money ONLINE

MSNBC cancels Joy Reid’s evening show

The Hip Hop Museum and Chase Host Atlanta Pop-Up on Building and Legacy

BY LAURA NWOGU

Financial literacy and the legacy of hip-hop collided on Thursday when the incoming Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx and Chase partnered together to host a series of panels at the bank’s Summerhill Community Center. The panels focused on the intersection of hiphop, culture, and investment, with Thursday’s panel discussing building wealth & legacy.

The panel was hosted by Hot 107.9’s Fly Guy DC and featured comedian and content creator Funny Marco and Gene Johnson and Kelley Parker, the Atlanta-based real estate developers and educators who founded Construction Kings. The event also featured a presentation from Sydnee Scruggs, the vice president of investments at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. Between the three, the event was a masterclass on investing, saving, and building for the future.

“When it comes to generational wealth, it's not what you leave behind. Generational wealth is what you teach your kids while you're still here for them to be able to take it and continue to grow,” Kelley Parker said. "The education that you can instill right now, while you're still here, is what creates generational wealth,

Funny Marco shared that he’d bought a house with the help of the Construction Kings. He’s now working with them to diversify his portfolio and invest in other areas.

“It just feels good to actually do something with your money instead of doing stuff that you’ll regret. When you actually can see your money is better than just throwing it away,” Funny Marco said. “In the moment, you make money and you’re just so excited that you’re making it that you just want to buy things that make you excited. When you get older and you see your kids in the house that you bought, that's gonna be a different touch.”

The pop-up was just a hint at what The Hip Hop Museum has in store when it opens in 2026. The first-of-its-kind museum was founded by hip-hop pioneers Rocky Bucano, Kurtis Blow, Grandwizzard Theodore, Grandmaster Melle Mel, and Joe Conzo Jr. to celebrate and preserve hip-hop music, dance, art, and culture.

Atlanta artifacts provided by The Hip Hop

Museum dotted the intimate space in glass cases. One artifact on display was an embroidered Adidas satin jacket donated and worn by Grandmaster Dee of Whodini. Another was a 1985 flyer and free ticket coupon for the Hawks vs. Warriors games, which featured a halftime performer by Kurtis Blow and Whodini. The artifact description stated It was one of the earliest collaborations between hip-hop artists and major sports teams, setting the stage for future partnerships.

Financial literacy and the legacy of hip-hop collided on Thursday when the incoming Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx and Chase partnered together to host a series of panels at the bank’s Summerhill Community Center. Photos by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice

Community

Caring For Others launches ‘Rehoming Center’ for disaster victims

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

Caring For Others, a 501c3 with a mission of eradicating poverty, opened a Rehoming Center to provide brand new furniture, bedding, kitchen supplies, and other household goods to families that qualify via FEMA that have been impacted by the recent hurricanes, floods, California wildfires, and other recent natural disasters.

The new, dedicated Rehoming Center is located at Caring For Others headquarters in a warehouse on-site located at 3537 Browns Mill Rd SE #2.

This program is in tandem with the nonprofit’s “All Hands Mission” which provides support to those impacted by catastrophic disasters across the United States and overseas.

In October, Caring For Others hosted an “All Hands Mission” distribution providing more than $750,000 in merchandise to Augusta residents with assistance from The Convoy of Care, a partnership activated during disasters with NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives), Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol and other state law enforcement agencies along with WSB-TV (ABC affiliate) and the Georgia Motor Trucking Association.

However, there have been an increasing number of families struggling with bouncing back from the hurricanes, the CA fires, and other recent natural disasters; and Caring For Others sees there is clearly a need for ongoing support for those impacted, ultimately propelling the launching of the dedicated Rehoming Center.

The “All Hands Mission” is a coalition of local companies that aim to provide immediate aid, relief, and comfort to areas severely impacted by catastrophic natural disasters across the United States and overseas.

Caring For Others Founder and CEO Eslene Richmond-Shockley has been providing relief funds and supplies to those impacted by dozens of natural disasters over the last two decades.

“Our goal is to provide families with a kick-start to a new home with our Rehoming Center,” Shockley said. “We aim to provide the communities impacted by the recent natural disasters with the proper goods they need to start their journey of feeling at home again.”

The Rehoming Center is what Caring For Others calls its “third phase”, which is rebuilding and reforming. Phase one, or loss intervention, is when families lose everything in loss intervention and then the help comes in the second phase.

In the rehoming center, Shockley says

families go through, and to know their organization can lend a helping hand to put them back on their feet again is a blessed feeling.

“At Caring For Others, we are a poverty eradication organization all around the world, and we provide food, clothing, economic support, and for people who are going to work for the first time, we get them new clothing and suits,” she said.

Divine Drumglole, an Augusta resident and victim of Hurricane Helene, says she’s grateful to a friend who put her name on a list of people who have been displaced since Helene hit Augusta. However, she says people don’t realize how bad the hurricane impacted lives.

“My neighborhood was demolished, my house was gutted out, I have nowhere to live except with family, and I don’t think people realize how hard it hit us,” she said.

Drumglole also says she feels overwhelmed with how much care and intent Caring For Others have given her.

“I really am blessed, I feel I'm chosen to come in for the first seed of this business, the first seed of her [Shockley’s] vision, the lady that spoke to me when I walked in to know that she birthed this, and that I'm the first seed in this ground,” she said.

She also said she must be special, and God trusts her enough to bring her to a place where she can help bring a vision to pass. It’s deeper than her showing up for a TV or whatever else, Drumglole said, it’s about being a seat she’s been entrusted with to watch, water, and grow.

“I just thank Mrs. Shockley as a visionary. I thank God and everyone in this room to know I’m the first seed and many more will come,” she said. “It’s given me so much hope.”

Another family who felt the tragedy of Hurricane Helene, the Lamb family (Valerie, her husband Jeff, and their son Giovanni), were also told about Caring For Others by a friend. The Lamb family have also been living in a camper for the last five months.

“When the storm hit, we lost everything,” Valerie said. “We’re thinking how are we going to pay for it? We learned immediately that insurance companies have limits, and they can’t give you everything and it’s so high.”

She also said they’ve been getting their stuff at the Goodwill and Salvation Army, so when they got the call to bring a U-Haul to Atlanta to get their brand-new bedding, mattresses, clothes, and shoes, she was extremely excited and grateful.

“I feel blessed and thankful for God for taking care of the family. That’s the number one thing is the night of the hurricane, that’s all I wanted. I didn’t care about the trees, our lot, the home. There was so much damage in our neighborhood, but we were all safe,” Jeff said.

Overall, the Lamb family said they felt overwhelmed because it’s almost like a flashback.

“When you walk into your home and you see it crushed by 60 trees, you can’t get into your house, and you see there’s no garage, your car is crushed, your mom’s car is crushed, and then you have my dad who’s on an oxygen tank and a tree fell right across the house, thank God it didn’t take them,” Valerie said. “It’s really overwhelming to see it come full circle, it’s a blessing.”

families are entitled to get whatever it is they see whether it’s a bed, new mattress, dresser, nightstand, table chair, anything.

“They can get it absolutely, there’s no boundaries in that room because if it was me, I would have loved to be treated in that manner,” she says.

Personally, helping these families, Shockley says it makes her feel whole again when she sees the devastation and the lost the

“The things I’m getting today are brand new, like no one else has touched those things, it’s very touching, so they care more for me than a lot of people because you don’t get brand new things from people you don’t know,” she said. “They have to care with their whole heart, so I appreciate it.”

Although her home isn’t ready yet, Drumglole says she has hope to go back on her way home.

They also said even though they’re still building their house, they have a room so they can put stuff in it, just not the warmth yet.

“We would like to thank Caring For Others because if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have new shoes, and if it wasn’t for this place, we’d be looking at our credit cards thinking how we could afford all of these necessities,” Valerie said.

Caring For Others Founder and CEO Eslene Richmond-Shockley alongside two Hurricane Helene victims who were impacted by the storm in Augusta, Georgia. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/ The Atlanta Voice

Caring For Others, a 501c3 with a mission of eradicating poverty, opened a Rehoming Center to provide brand new furniture, bedding, kitchen supplies and other household goods to families that qualify via FEMA that have been impacted by the recent hurricanes, floods, California wildfires and other recent natural disasters. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

SEASONED SAINTS

Mr. Donald P. Tinsley: The Collector

BY DONNELL SUGGS

The artifacts and mementos of a long life can be seen all over the office of former automotive dealership owner and auto industry executive Donald P. Tinsley. Now living in metro Atlanta, the 87-year-old Tinsley pulled up a chair and pointed to a slip of paper in a frame on the east wall of his office. The paper, dated July 1927, was a pay slip of his late father’s work week at a coal company in Kentucky.

That nearly 100-year-old piece of history is just one of the conversation pieces Tinsley has around his office and his home. A child of a teacher, Tinsley enjoys talking about history and has a respect for memories.

“Time is very valuable,” Tinsley said. “I’ve got stuff everywhere in here.”

Tinsley and his wife Helen had two children, Don, Jr. and Melissa, during what continues to be a 68-year marriage. The pair married when they were 18 years old, respectively, on December 23, 1956 in Union County, Indiana.

“The only reason we got married at 18 was because in Indiana I couldn’t get married below the age of 18,” said Tinsley, who was born in Pineville, Kentucky in 1938.

The marriage certificate, which remains in the original binding and cover, is kept safe in a drawer in Tinsley’s office. He’s always been a collector, someone who understands that documents like marriage certificates, vintage family documents, and photos are instrumental to maintaining a family’s history.

“I can’t remember everything,” Tinsley jokes.

Asked what the secret to a long marriage is, Tinsley smiled.

“Love has to come in there, but love doesn’t carry you 68 years because you’re two individuals,” he said. “It takes patience and understanding.”

Long ago, the Tinsleys agreed to never go to bed angry, he said.

“We wouldn’t start another day without solving the problem we had, because we had them in 68 years,” Tinsley said. “It takes both sides.”

A lover of automobiles since he was a boy -Tinsley said he owned his first car at age 12. He bought it with the money he saved from shoveling snow and curing grass in the winter and summer. He hid the purchase from his parents and only shared his secret illegal purchase with his brother Bill, who was nine years older.

“I wouldn’t take it home because my parents were strict. I would park the car three blocks from the house and walk home,” Tinsley.

Donald and Bill Tinslet were always close despite the age difference and the brothers would continue that bond throughout their lives. They vacationed with their families in Hawaii on their birthday, which is on the same day, for example.

The brothers even owned a car dealership together in Redwood City, California. The Tinsley Buick-Opel dealership was a rarity, both in Redwood City and California as a whole. Asked

if he could have co-owned a car dealership of a major and popular brand like Buick in any other place other than California in the 1970’s, Tinsley was very clear with his answer.

“No. It had to be California,” he said. “

The auto industry was similar to many other businesses in America during the 1960’s, 1970’s, and even the 1980’s: racism often dictated who was given the opportunity to run a business. The Tinsley brothers were able to get the loans necessary to start a dealership because they had the backing of Buick, a major brand. Without it there was no way to get the business off the ground, says Tinsley.

General Motors, one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world, even made a film about Tinsley Buick-Opel because of how diverse the staff was there.

“We had Blacks, Koreans, Hispanics working as dealers and mechanics, it was the United Stations,” Tinsley jokes. “It had to be in California, that was the only way we could have had the diversity we had.”

Tinsley helped co-found the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) in 1980. The 501 (c) (3) Maryland-based organization was created to increase the number of minority-owned dealerships around the country. When Tinsley became the owner of

the Legacy Ford dealership in suburban Ohio, he broke ground as one of the automobile giant’s first Black dealership owners.

The Tinsleys count former NBA legend Bill Russell and PGA legends Lee Elder and Charlie Sifford, all long since passed, as family friends. Tinsley enjoyed playing golf for decades before multiple major surgeries and a battle and victory over bladder cancer, which took place when he was in his 70’s, slowed him down a bit.

These days he still enjoys family vacations to Lake Sardine in Tahoe National Forest.

The Tinsley family and by extension through marriage, the Cates family (Melissa married Edward Cates II), have been spending time at Lake Sardine for more than six decades, according to Tinsley.

“We took our son there when he was a month old, that’s how young he was the first time,” Tinsley said of the annual family trips to Lake Sardine.

Asked what the secret to a long life is, Tinsley first answered that he didn’t know. Then he thought some more. He no longer has back pain, heart issues, and is a cancer survivor.

“I probably feel better in the last two years than I have since I was 20 years old,” he said. “I guess the secret is to see a doctor when you don’t feel good.”

Donald P. Tinsley (above) in his metro Atlanta home, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Tinsley and his brother Don owned Tinsley Buick-Opel, the first Black-owned auto dealership in Redwood City, California. Tinsley spent decades breaking barriers in the automotive industry. Photo by Alex Cates/The Atlanta Voice

One of the many awards Tinsley received during his decades-long career in the automotive industry. Tinsley, a co-founding member of National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) in 1980. The 501 (c) (3) Maryland-based organization was created to increase the number of minority-owned dealerships around the country.

Photo by Alex Cates/The Atlanta Voice

Govenor Kemp wins support for his top legislation

“Who Better Than You?” explores self-confidence, self-belief

BY DONNELL SUGGS

Hollywood film producer Will Packer's new book, "Who Better Than You? The Art of Healthy Arrogance & Dreaming Big" is an exploration of self-belief and achieving one's goals. In the book, Packer shares personal stories of growth, wins, losses, and a certain 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl that didn't turn out so well.

Packer, who recently discussed "Who Better Than You?" on Good Morning America, took time to visit The Atlanta Voice office to further discuss the book with the paper's Editor-in-Chief Donnell Suggs.

A graduate of Florida A&M University, Packer is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, but calls Atlanta his "adopted home". Many of the movies Packer has produced and been involved in were filmed in Atlanta. During the interview, he also spoke about how the word "arrogance" needs to be re-categorized.

"We have to reclaim that word," Packer said.

The Atlanta Voice: What made you write "Who Better Than You?" in the first place?

Will Packer: Being in the game, I didn't realize until I started writing the book that I have been in it for almost three decades. Doing film and entertainment, I have learned so much from being around some of the most high-profile people in the world, but almost some of the most successful people in the world.

There are traits that they have that I have learned by navigating those worlds and working with some of those big personalities and egos that I believe are transferable whether you're in Hollywood, whether you're in a completely different industry, whether you're just looking to live a more fulfilled life. So, I wanted to write my book about that.

The Atlanta Voice: There are a bunch of stories in this book.

Will Packer: I said I wasn't going to write my book until I had a drive, a thrust, a story to tell. And I have a bunch of stories to tell.

AV: A storyteller telling stories. Feels appropriate.

WP: As a storyteller, I always try to figure out what's the purpose of the story? How can you have the narrative have an impact on people in a different way other than just telling a story just to tell it. By tying in lessons with things that I have learned, mistakes that I have made, things I have done right, things I have done wrong, I felt like I could now share with folks who come to me often and say will you do a masterclass.

This book is the master mentorship I wish I had.

AV: Why do you believe 2025 is the right time for a book like "Who Better Than You?"

WP: I think there has never been a bet-

ter time. We live in an unpredictable world. A world of uncertainty. A lot of people are doubting themselves. They are doubting their place in the world. They are doubting their value and you have systems and institutions that are systematically saying you don't have value.

There's never been a more important time for you to be steadfast in what your value

is, what you bring to the world, and the fact that you are unique and that there's nobody better than you to have the absolute highest levels of success.

AV: So everyone should believe, no matter where they come from they can be successful. No matter the field of choice?

WP: 100 percent. One of the things that is important for people to realize that I talk about in the book is it doesn't matter if you're somebody that's got a big personality, walks red carpets, has money, and has a famous last name, it doesn't matter. What matters is how you see yourself. The value that you have, that you perceive to have, and how you get others to perceive that same value in you. That's what matters.

I believe that there are things that you can do everyday to strengthen your own value system and your own confidence. You can strengthen it just like a muscle. The most important voice you are going to hear everyday is your own voice. Everyday I look at myself in the mirror and I tell myself how important I am, how prepared I am, how I have the skills that are necessary to meet whatever challenge that I am going to come across that day.

AV: That last part, why do you do that?

WP: I do that because my voice is the most important voice and I have to start off every day hearing it. I give my voice that weight. We all have insecurities and negative thoughts, but the most successful people walk into a room and realize this room is better because I am in it. You have to believe that and dou-

ble down on it.

AV: The phrase "Healthy Arrogance" is something I can relate to. What would you like for readers to come away with from your definition of healthy arrogance?

WP: Arrogance for a long time has been a negative thing. There is toxic arrogance, but that's not what we're talking about. We are talking about the belief that there's nobody more important than in that room. You have to believe that so clearly, so strongly, that it projects and becomes pervasive.

Packer shared a story about being a young film producer at FAMU (Class of '96) and how he and his partners believed their college film was so good that they invited everyone on campus to the premiere. They even invited Hollywood filmmakers. None of the filmmakers showed up, but the entire campus did.

WP: It was contagious because we believed in it so strongly. That's what I want people to do.

AV: In Chapter 2: Finish the Deal you say "It's an absolute must to keep your eye on the finish line". The fact that you used the Falcons' loss to the Patriots in the Super Bowl was a good example of not finishing the deal. What was your thought process behind using that as an example?

WP: It's painful. It was supposed to be painful. Oftentimes in life we celebrate too soon. It ain't over till it's over. Everybody has an example like that.

Packer shared another story about how successful the opening week of "Think Like A Man" was and how he underestimated how popular the movie would be in the box office.

WP: Don't think that you could be successful. Think that you can be the biggest version of success that is out there. I want people to have big, big dreams.

AV: You called Shayla Cowan (Producer and Chief of Staff at Will Packer Productions), your "secret weapon" in the book. How important is it for people to make sure to surround themselves with people who have their best interests at heart?

WP: You have to protect your energy. We all have a finite amount of energy that we can give. We are giving away too much of our energy to things that are not important, that are draining you, and not augmenting you. Surround yourself with people that are helping you achieve your goals. I surround myself with people who understand and have the same value system that I do.

AV: So it's not always going to be the daysones that are with you till the end?

WP: Yeah, because you're not on day one anymore. You've changed so your circle should change.

"Who Better Than You" is available wherever books are sold.

Don’t just think that you could be successful. Think that you can be the biggest version of success that is out there. I want people to have big, big dreams,” Packer said. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Will Packer’s new book, “Who Better Than You?” is available everywhere books are sold.

Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

Street Lines: 2025 Infiniti QX80 Sensory 4WD

BY DENNIS MALCOLM BYRON AKA ALE SHARPTON

For 2025, Infiniti made it official: We can have a big family and still ride in a posh head turner no parent will hesitate to drive. The rebirth of the Q80 flagship SUV has up to seven passengers riding like royalty. Period.

Coming in four trims, the QX80’s exterior has a framework based on fluidity and technology called Artistry in Motion, overseen by Japan’s heralded digital artist Kaoru Tanaka. Basically, the curves are in all the right places, making the body muscular, yet not imposing. Wrapped in a striking Grand Blue exterior, our review version rolled on 22-inch aluminum wheels, complemented with illuminated kick plates, roof rails, a panoramic moonroof, a motion-activated liftgate, blackout door pillars, and sophisticated LED lighting from the front to rear.

Stepping inside, riders are greeted to semi-aniline leather seating presented in sepia brown. The pampering sitting experience doesn’t stop there; the first and sec-

ond rows are heated and ventilated, with massaging functions for the front seats. The second-row captain’s chairs slide and recline electronically, so everyone feels like they are in first-class comfort. You want more? How about Infiniti implementing a biometric cooling system, where an infrared sensor detects passengers’ body temperatures and adjusts to make them even more comfortable? Yes, the future is here.

Adding to its upscale ambiance, I appreciated the Q80’s “open pore ash wood” trim, personalized ambient lighting with 64 color options to set the mood, and aforementioned panoramic moonroof to enhance the feel of roominess. The ears get treated to one of the best sound packages I have ever experienced; the 24-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere Audio System with what I saw in the television commercial: individual headrest speakers that give the driver the ability to answer calls without interrupting the music for everyone else. Staying with the technology, the QX80 Sensory is packed with state-of-the-art technology, including dual 14.3-inch monolith-style displays paired with a 9-inch lower

touchscreen with haptic feedback; Google built-in with Navigation and Alexa Built-in for virtually effortless connectivity; a frameless digital rearview mirror; ProPILOT Assist 1.1, Traffic Sign Recognition (which I always value to avoid tickets); and Head-Up Display (HUD) for enhanced driver assistance. Safety gets a thumb’s up as well, boasting Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, Rear Automatic Braking, and Trailer Blind Spot Warning for comprehensive safety coverage to name a few applications. Under the hood, the QX80 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine, delivering an impressive 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft

of torque. Paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and INFINITI All-Mode 4WD, this SUV provides a smooth, yet powerful driving experience fit for pretty much any terrain. To smooth things out, the dynamic digital suspension and electronic air suspension ensure a balanced and comfortable ride, while the 8,500lb. towing capacity makes any family excursion more adventurous.

Starting at $99,950 and reaching $108,065 with added features (ProPILOT Assist, Interior Lighting Package), and destination charges, the QX80 Sensory is a recommended investment if the bank account allows. While the fuel economy of 17 MPG combined might not be its strongest point, it’s a large vehicle that outweighs that drawback with all its luxurious amenities, advanced technology, and responsive performance. Ultimately, the Sensory is highly recommended for especially big families who will proudly hold their heads up high when seen entering and exiting this beast of a luxury SUV.

Fuel Economy: 16 city/19 highway/17 combined.

Price: $108,065 fully equipped with op tional packages.

For more information, visit Infinitiusa. com.

THANK YOU, GEORGIA!

Every time you play the Lottery, you’re helping our kids get one step closer to their dreams. For over 30 years, the Georgia Lottery has contributed more $29 billion to education.

On top of that, over 2.2 million HOPE scholars have gone to college, and more than 2.2 million four-year-olds have attended a Lottery-funded Pre-K Program. That’s a lot of students, so we’ll just say “Thank You, Georgia!” for all of them. say

Photo courtesy of Infiniti

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks moves to new Marietta St. location

BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS

Atlanta couple debuts tequila brand Reyalibre

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

Meet Erica Jones and Asiaa Karriem, owners of Reyalibre, a Black woman-owned tequila brand.

The brand is also LGBTQ+ owned and based in Atlanta. Carefully cultivated over the last five years, Reyalibre debuted in the Atlanta community six months ago.

“Reya” in Spanish means real or true, and “Libre” means free. Reyalibre, Karriem said, translates to giving you the freedom to enjoy the tequila neat, chilled, or mixed. She’s been a Spanish teacher in Atlanta for 12 years.

“We went through a huge list of name ideas, but we wanted to capture the spirit of who we were and wanted to capture the spirit of what we’re trying to do and Reyalibre did that for us,” Karriem said. “It’s making waves in the spirits industry.”

As a proudly crafted and award-winning tequila, Reyalibre is redefining premium tequila—rooted in tradition yet boldly innovative. Since launching, Reyalibre has gained recognition for its exceptional quality, smooth taste, and commitment to authenticity.

Beyond the bottle, this brand represents something bigger—a celebration of culture, entrepreneurship, and breaking barriers in an industry where Black women are significantly underrepresented.

The notes in the blanco include fresh herbs, Citrus, and light pepper. In the reposado, the couple says you’ll taste notes of caramel and vanilla, with a woodsy feel and bourbon adjacent.

Reyalibre, Karriem says, is different from any other tequila because they took the time to cultivate something special and took the burn off the tequila.

“We set out to fix the problem we had with tequila. We love tequila, but we didn’t like the burn, and some didn’t taste good,” she said. “We didn’t want to accept what’s out there and put money behind brands that didn’t suit our needs, so we created our own.”

They aerated the tequila to take the burn off the front and back end so people could taste the notes of the Agave plant itself. The plant takes seven years to mature when you’re making tequila, according to the couple of 15 years.

“After it takes seven years to mature, it's chopped down and baked for 40 hours. After this, it’s mashed down to get the agave nectar out, and we mix it with volcanic water and yeast,” they said.

Also, a Pride flag is on the back of the bottle, and the couple thought it would be essential to honor historically marginalized

communities. The intent is to celebrate these communities every day, not just on holidays like Pride Month, Black History Month, Women's History Month, and other celebratory occasions.

Karriem says the celebration and acknowledgment are all the time because these communities are always here.

“We’re so often taking whatever it is that’s given to us, and we don’t have to,” Karriem said. “I wanted to express elevated freedom for us, not just freedom from oppression, but a free-spirited life where we have time, freedom, and use our influence and power to speak to the industry. We deserve the best.”

One business goal they have for the year is to “take Atlanta by storm.” Karriem says Atlanta represents all types of communities, whether it’s BIPOC, queer, and many others.

“Atlanta represents all of the colors on the Pride flag; we’re influential, and I wanted to make sure that we take Atlanta by storm,” she said. “I want to ensure we’re at the airport in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in State Farm Arena.”

As a fellow Atlantean, Karriem says she wants the business in her city because it’s where she was born and raised. She also says Atlanta is the largest community for the LGBTQ+.

“This is my home, and anytime I travel anywhere in the world, there’s no better feeling that I feel when I’m on the plane and see my skyline; it always feels like home when I’m looking out the window,” she said. “I

want this to be Atlanta’s tequila.”

In five to ten years, the couple of fifteen years say they see Reyalibre having national distribution and liberating people to live life authentically on their terms.

“We want to make sure we’re on the bars across the country spreading the same message of freedom. We want to ensure Reyalibre isn’t just a tequila company, but a movement of freedom, for you to be able to choose and live how you want on your terms,” she said.

In six months of launching Reyalibre, the couple has deemed it an award-winning tequila for its expressions. Their Añejo won a gold award at the Latin World Spirits Awards in Mexico, and according to the couple, it isn’t even out in the market yet.

“The Añejo and a crystalline reposado should be out this year as well,” Erica said.

Karriem advises anyone looking to start their own tequila or spirit brand to “do it.”

“Figure out what it is you like. That’s what we did, all the market research, and don’t accept whatever is offered to you if it doesn’t suit your needs,” she said. “That’s in life and tequila. If you need help, ask.”

She also said they need more Black-owned spirits out in the world.

“It’s quite a few of us, but we need more because we are the largest spirits consumer,” she said.

Erica says being an entrepreneur for over 30 years, a DJ in the LGBTQ+ community, and the owner of the restaurant Wing Bar in the East Atlanta Village for 10 years has taught them not to be scared.

“Don’t be scared, and if you’re scared, face it because if you let that fear fuel you, you’ll never make any real moves,” she said. “That’s how you learn and go into saying, ‘this could work,’ but don’t be afraid of it not working, just keep going.”

Karriem said she hopes people react positively to the Blanco version of their tequila because so many have negative experiences with silver or white tequila.

“Ours is smooth; most times we have to force people to taste it, but when they do, they’re like, ‘Oh, this is good. I can drink it, ‘” she said. “We’d love for more people to have a positive experience with our Blanco because we’re giving you a quality product. It’s not going to give you a headache or look bad the next day, but it’s still tequila, though at the end of the day, don’t get it twisted.”

She also said they want to make sure people lean into their community.

“If whatever community you identify in, lean into your community and make sure you’re serving them with love and relying on them,” she said. “I want you to have a positive tequila experience, not a bad experience.”

Reyalibre is in eight liquor stores and roughly 25 clubs and bars in Atlanta.

“In six months, that’s amazing, but it’s just the beginning,” Erica said. “We’re expecting to expand soon. We're already in Prohibition liquor stores in Smyrna, Veteran’s Memorial, J&J Liquor stores in Stockbridge, Camp Creek, World Beverage, and ATL South. Bim’s Package store, My Friend’s bottle shop, and more coming soon.”

Erica Jones and Asiaa Karriem, owners of Reyalibre, a Black woman-owned Atlanta-based tequila brand. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voic

Reyalibre, a Black woman-owned tequila brand is also LGBTQ+ owned and based in Atlanta. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

A$AP Rocky found not guilty in assault case

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Grosse Pointe Garden Society Is The Standout Of The Season

BY NOAH M. WASHINGTON

The National Broadcasting Channel (NBC) has planted the seeds for success with Grosse Pointe Garden Society, a darkly comedic drama blending mystery, social intrigue, and high-stakes personal drama. Set in an affluent suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, the series follows four garden club members entangled in a murder. Teacher and aspiring writer Alice (Anna Sophia Robb), real estate agent Catherine (Aja Naomi King), father of two Brett (Ben Rappaport), and socialite Birdie (Melissa Fumero).

On February 4, The Atlanta Voice visited Assembly Studios in Doraville for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the production.

Created by Jenna Bans and Bills Krebs, the show was developed in 2022, with a writer’s room being formed in 2023. Early on, Grosse Pointe Garden Society was buzzing in the industry as one of the hot pilots, drawing attention from all corners of Hollywood, said Melissa Fumero, who plays one of the lead characters, Birdie.

“Everybody knew about it, and everyone, myself included, was calling their reps, asking, ‘Who are they seeing?’ “ she said. “And it was, ‘Everyone is being seen.’”

The excitement around the project piqued her interest right away, making it a standout opportunity from the start.

One of the centerpieces of the Grosse Pointe Garden Society pilot is Catherine, a real estate agent from a prestigious family whose obsession with control masks an inner turmoil. Reflecting on her personality, King admitted, " I love control, so it was easy to tap into that. Since becoming a mom, that has just hugely expanded my world.”

Unlike her peers, Catherine approaches the garden club with the same meticulousness she applies to her career and personal life—never getting her hands dirty, always dressed to perfection, orchestrating rather than executing.

“She would not go out in a bonnet,” King laughed. “Even her loungewear is perfectly put together because it doesn’t matter who might come to the house—she will look a

certain way.”

King, no stranger to on-screen high-stakes drama, drew comparisons between Catherine and Michaela Pratt, her previous role on How to Get Away with Murder. However, she noted key differences:

“Michaela was a young girl, a law student learning to make her mark, while Catherine was already established. She’s a grown woman with a family, responsibilities, and a legacy to uphold.”

This distinction informs Catherine’s struggles—not with attaining power but maintaining it, even as the weight of societal and familial expectations threatens to unravel her.

Production was shooting episode 8 of the series during The Atlanta Voice's visit.

Designing the World of Grosse Pointe Garden Society

The world of Grosse Pointe Garden Society is just as essential to the story as its characters. Production designer Adam Davis was tasked with transforming Atlanta into the high-society enclave of Grosse Pointe. Since he couldn’t travel there for research, he re -

lied on online sources—Google searches, real estate listings, and input from executive producer & creator Bill Krebs, a Grosse Pointe native—to capture the town’s distinct architecture and atmosphere.

“Grosse Pointe has a history of old-money wealth,” Davis explains. “The architecture is well-preserved Tudor mansions, which must be reflected in our locations.”

Many of the grand homes on-screen were real, while others were meticulously recreated on soundstages to ensure seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor settings.

At the heart of the show’s visual storytelling is the garden itself. Finding the perfect filming location proved challenging, with Davis and his team scouting across Atlanta before selecting a lush garden commonly used for wedding photography. However, the space didn’t have the vibrant colors needed for the show’s aesthetic. The production brought in over 1,000 plants to fix this, transforming it into a rich, blooming oasis.

When the show was greenlit, the team faced an even bigger challenge—creating a permanent, controlled version of the garden at Assembly Studios.

“Bill and Jenna [the showrunners] called me and said, ‘Hey, we want to do this, but we want to build the garden at Assembly,’” Davis said.

That meant constructing a 360-degree environment outside the studio gates, masking nearby buildings to maintain the illusion of an endless estate.

Beyond aesthetics, the garden serves as a narrative device, marking the passage of time within the story.

“We use the garden as a clock,” Davis explains. “As it grows and changes, time moves forward in the show.” But filming across seasons presented challenges—especially when capturing summer scenes during Atlanta’s winter, "Nothing’s in bloom, so what do you do?” Davis said. “You bring silks, spray-paint grass, or synthetic turf."

A Beautifully Dark Drama

As secrets unravel and the garden grows, the show promises to keep audiences guessing—not just about the murder at its centerafter all, even the most beautiful blooms can hide the deepest roots of deception.

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour adds fourth date to Atlanta stop

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

BEYONCÉ has added a fourth and final Atlanta performance on her COWBOY CARTER TOUR at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 14. With the announcement of this show, Beyoncé will become the first artist to perform four nights at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on a single tour. Previously, Beyoncé and Taylor

Swift were the only artists who played three nights at MBS on a single tour, both in 2023.

The 22-date tour will begin in the U.S. from April through May, then cross the Atlantic to London and Paris. The Cowboy Carer Tour returns to the US in late May before concluding in Atlanta.

Following incredible fan responses from

BeyHive and the artist presale signup, Beyoncé added a third show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on the COWBOY CARTER TOUR on July 13, adding to the previously announced dates of July 10 and 11.

When it comes to ticket details, multiple presales will take place ahead of the general on-sale for the newly added date. The gener-

al on-sale will take place starting Friday, Feb. 21, at noon on Ticketmaster. The three previously announced shows are now on sale at Ticketmaster, and an extremely limited inventory remains.

BEYHIVE PRESALE: For the newly added date, the BeyHive presale begins Feb. 19 at noon through Feb. 20 at 11 a.m.

The Atlanta Voice recently visited Assembly Studios, where production of episode 8 of the series was taking place. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Dr. Melody McCloud releases book to empower black women’s wellness

Atlanta United gears up for Charlotte FC

BY DONNELL SUGGS

The weather in metro Atlanta could not have been better when the Atlanta United players walked out of the team’s training facility onto the practice pitch on Tuesday morning. Following the team’s 3-2 season-opening victory over visiting CF Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 22, the energy and expectations for the first road game of the season at Charlotte on Saturday, Mar. 1 remain high.

The two goals allowed to CF Montreal were something Atlanta United manager Ronny Delia expressed having an issue with during his postgame press conference on Saturday night. During training Delia could be heard shouting, “Yes, yes. Good” and “That’s good. Perfect”.

Atlanta is coming into Charlotte with a near-full roster. Brooks Lennon was back in training this week. He didn’t play on Saturday against CF Montreal. New signings Emmanuel Latte Lath and Miguel Almiron both looked strong during training following outstanding performances in the season opener. Latte Lath’s two goals and Almiron’s assist and steady play in the midfield give Atlanta United supporters confidence that a rivalry match on the road is equally as winnable as a home game inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The attendance for opening night, 65,520, was the third-largest crowd for a soccer match on the planet on Saturday night. Only a match in the Bundesliga and La Liga, two of the largest leagues in Europe, surpassed that amount of butts in seats.

The team has training scheduled for Friday before leaving for Charlotte.

Last weekend, Atlanta United first-year manager Ronny Deila made a mass substitution in the 83rd minute of what was a 2-2 game. He decided to bring Ajani Fortune, defender Derrick Williams, and Edwin Mosquera into the match. Two minutes later Mosquera would score the game-winning goal on a rocket into the upper left corner of the CF Montreal goal. From the very beginning of the match, the 2025 season felt like it was going to be different. Deila was all smiles during his postgame press conference, calling the atmosphere inside The Benz, “Like a rock concert.” But he wasn’t as positive about the second half of the match where the home team gave up two goals.

“The second half was hard to watch as a coach,” Deila said. “It was a game of two halves.”

There were times early in the match when Miguel Almiron or Emmanuel Latte Lath (two goals and an assist on the Mos -

quera goal), the two high-profile signings of the off-season, got their feet on the ball and the crowd rose to its feet. The energy when Atlanta United has the ball and is racing downfield is always high, but on Saturday night it was something different entirely. Within the first 15 minutes of the match, Atlanta United took several shotson-goal from Latte Lath, Saba Lobjanidze, and Alexy Miranchuk. Almiron earned a free kick in the 7th minute and both he and Latte Lath took turns running past the CF Montreal defenders.

Bartosz Slisz got in on the act in the 28th minute when his shot was tipped away by the Montreal goalkeeper. Atlanta United may have been dominating the match in terms of possession and excitement, but the score remained 0-0 halfway through the first half. Until Latte Lath took a Lobjanidze corner kick off his head and into the Montreal goal for the first and only score of the first half. CF Montreal tied the game at a goal each early in the second half on a goal from midfielder Nathan Saliba in the 47th minute.

Latte Lath would strike again to give Atlanta a 2-1 advantage, this time on an unassisted goal that followed a miss by Almiron. Montreal would tie the match again in the 71st minute, eliciting boos from the near-capacity crowd in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. he would come out of the match in the 89th minute and receive a massive level of applause from the crowd. Noah Cobb came into the game for Latte Lath.

After the match, Latte Lath complimented the environment and said his first game

in Major League Soccer was “tough.” Amiron received a similar sendoff when he left the pitch as a sub for striker Jamal Thiare in the 99th minute.

Giving Back to the Game – There was a check presentation from the Atlanta United Community Foundation to Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Department of Athletics during halftime of the CF Montreal game. The $345,000 was granted to the state’s largest school system’s sports arm for support of all 23 of its soccer programs.

Moments after the presentation, The Atlanta Voice spoke to Atlanta Public Schools Director of Athletics Corrie Collier about the financial support the soccer programs, 12 middle school and 11 high school, are receiving. Moments before the presentation was announced, Collier spoke about the funding efforts by the Atlanta United Community Foundation. “It feels wonderful. It’s for all of the student-athletes and coaches so they can be successful on and off the field,” Collier said.

Atlanta United manager Ronny Deila (left) watches from the sideline as defender Matt Edwards (center) attempts a pass against fellow defender Ronny Hernandez during training on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

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What Do We Do Now? 10 Action Steps for the Next 4 Years

BY KEITH BOYKIN

There’s so much going on right now that it’s impossible to keep track of it all, and that’s the point. They want us to be overwhelmed so we can’t keep up or fight back, but today, I want to give you 10 action steps you can take to stay engaged, make a difference, and protect your peace.

The new administration is breaking laws and pushing boundaries in a desperate attempt to remove the guardrails that protect democracy, weaponize government, repeal civil rights laws, erase Black history, platform billionaires, open up a concentration camp at Guantanamo, revoke LGBT rights, disrupt vital government programs, purge government workers, pardon an army of militant insurrectionists, endanger the lives of former government officials, fire government watchdogs, and threaten Mexico, Canada, Greenland, Colombia, and Panama. And we’ve only just begun. So what are we going to do about it?

I spent four years covering the previous Trump administration as a political commentator for CNN, and it was exhausting. Nearly every day, there was a reckless tweet, an unvetted announcement, or a new law or norm broken. What I learned is that Trump is a chaos agent who needs as many distractions as possible to stay in power.

So here are 10 action steps we can take to stay focused, not just to survive the next four years, but to win the future.

1. Stay informed but not overwhelmed

We cannot tune out and sleepwalk into fascism, but neither can we allow ourselves to become depressed by the enormity of the chal-

lenge. So don’t try to do everything. Start by following your expertise and interests. Focus on issues important to you. And protect your peace by stepping back from all the trees in front of you so you can see the larger forest.

2. Share truthful, factual information with friends, family, and followers

Part of the reason Trump is in office today is because the right wing built a media infrastructure to serve as an echo chamber of lies and misinformation. It’s your job not to recirculate that propaganda. Instead, seek out reliable truthtellers and factual posts. Share them regularly and widely with your friends, family, and social media followers. Do not share misinformation unless you’re rebutting it.

3. Raise your voice to elected officials

I know it’s old-fashioned, but visit the offices of the people representing you or write a letter.

A study by the OpenGov Foundation during the first Trump administration found that in-person visits, personal letters, and social media were the best tools for being heard by members of Congress. Share a personal story of how an issue affects you. “The more effort a constituent puts in, the more engagement and impact they can expect,” the study found. And as political commentator Reecie Colbert notes, target vulnerable Republicanswho won their races by less than 2%.

4. Run for office

The people in Congress, your state legislature, and city council are no smarter than you. So launch your campaign. Talk about the issues

that resonate with you and your community. Raise some money. And run for office.

5. Go to court

If you’re a state attorney general or practicing attorney, you’ve probably already thought of this. But even if you’re a government worker, a federal contractor, or a private citizen adversely affected by right-wing MAGA policies, call a lawyer, and sue for your rights.

6. Reward the good

We have economic power in where we spend our dollars. In the face of the current anti-Black assault, some companies, like Costco, Delta Airlines, Patagonia, Apple, Pinterest, and even JPMorganChase are standing behind their DEI programs. Support Black-owned businesses that are down for the cause and businesses that support you. And donate to nonprofits and organizations that work on issues important to you. If you’re not ready to boycott, try a “buycott” or a “buy-in.”

7. Punish the bad

The list of companies capitulating to MAGA’s anti-DEI threats is long. Target, Walmart, Meta, McDonald’s, Ford, Coors, Amazon, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, and others are rolling back their DEI programs. Some are easy to quit, but others are integrated into our lives, making it difficult to cut them off completely.

So let’s organize creatively to develop new ways to make an impact. We may not get everyone to participate in an endless boycott of all these companies, but we can create targeted campaigns that leverage pressure points to

achieve specific goals.

8. Create a conscious culture

Now more than ever, we need music, film, art, TV, culture, and institutions that reflect and protect us. If you have that platform, don’t be afraid to use it to tell our stories. And if you’re not an artist or a content creator, support those who are.

9. Organize for the short term

Donald Trump is a 78-year-old man term limited by the Constitution. We have special elections, gubernatorial elections, and mayoral elections taking place this year, midterm elections in 2026, and another presidential election in 2028. We can’t wait until the last minute to organize, so let’s get busy now with voter registration and education campaigns instead of scrambling to pull it together in the final few months of the next election.

10. Plan for the long game

The crisis we’re in right now didn’t happen overnight. Right-wing conservatives have spent the past century slowly plotting to roll back the workers’ rights gains of the 1930s, the civil rights gains of the 1960s, the women’s rights gains of the 1970s, and the LGBT rights gains of the 2000s. Conservatives knew that presidents, senators, and members of Congress come and go, but longterm control of the Supreme Court would set us back. Now they have it, and it’s our job to develop our own long-term strategy, build our own media infrastructure, and create a different future. These 10 steps are just a starting point. But we can do this — and so much more. Now, let’s get to work.

Sealed Bids for 25RFP1349715A-BKJ Co-Responder Program for the Department of Behavioral Health & Development Disabilites will be accepted by through the WebGrants System at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty on due on Wednesday, March 25, 2025 at 11:00 A.M.. Proposal(s) will be publicly viewed online via BidNet Direct only the names of the proposers will be disclosed at the opening.

Bid Bond: N/A Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia (“County”) in partnership with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), proposes the Co-Responder Program (CoRe) to serve adults in Fulton County, Georgia experiencing behavioral health crises, with a focus on individuals experiencing overdose due to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Co-Occurring Disorders (COD), by providing training and resources to assist first responders with the administration of FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medications, crisis de-escalation, and warm handoffs of clients to community-based resources that provide timely and effective, culturally competent treatment and wraparound supports. The detailed scope of work and technical specifications are

outlined in the Scope of Work, Section 3 of this proposal document.

General instructions, specifications and/or plans for this project can be downloaded Free of charge at https:// www.bidnetdirect.com/Georgia/fultoncounty under “Bid Opportunities”.

Pre-Proposal Conference: will be held via a Zoom Teleconference on Tuesday, March 04, 2025 at 2:00 P.M., to provide proposer(s) with information regarding this project and to address any questions.

Zoom Link:

Link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/zMAXZJLcRb2ZWtY1-pyY8Q Meeting ID: 955 8334 3013 Password: 628187

Fee: N/A

Contract Term: One (1) Year.

If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Craig R. Bogan, APA (404) 612-7660 or Email: craig.bogan@fultoncountyga.gov.

Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

AH will undertake during the fiscal year. A draft of the Plan is available for review at https://www.atlantahousing.org/about-us/plans-reports/ and at AH-owned communities through Friday, March 7, 2025.

You can comment on the Plan in person at the Public Hearing, by email at strategy@atlantahousing.org, or by US mail: Atlanta Housing, OSPRA MTW Office, 230 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303. Comments received before March 12 will be included in the Plan. All interested parties, esp. families assisted by

or send an email to accessibility@atlantahousing.org by February 20, 2025 to request reasonable accommodations for your needs.