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Hey Y'all!
In this season of gratitude, we often find ourselves reflecting on the many blessings in our lives. Thanksgiving encourages us to slow down, embrace the present, and appreciate the people and moments that bring us joy.
This month, I’ve been especially grateful for the small, everyday moments that make life beautiful: the laughter of loved ones, quiet mornings with a cup of coffee, and the chance to be part of such a vibrant community here in beautiful #SoFu. It’s a big part of my job as a mother to teach my son about gratitude. In a quote attributed to Marian Wright Edelman, Muhammad Ali and Shirley Chisholm in various iterations, it is said that Service is the rent we pay to take up space on Earth. Plus, there’s just a good feeling that comes with helping other people.
Our November issue is dedicated to stories of gathering, giving back, and celebrating the people and organizations that make the cities of SoFu so special. We’re endlessly thankful for our advertising partners, whose support allows us to bring inspiring stories to your doorstep each month, and for the faithful readers who make it all worthwhile.
As we prepare to gather with loved ones, let’s take a moment to reflect on what truly brings meaning to our lives. This holiday season, may we find contentment not in possessions or accolades but in the connections we nurture and the good we do for others.
Wishing you and your family a season of gratitude and grace,
ERIKKA SEARLES MITCHELL, EDITOR
@SOUTHFULTONLIFESTYLE
November 2025
PUBLISHER
Michelle Taylor Willis
michelle.taylorwillis@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Erikka Searles Mitchell | emitchell@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Kevin Giles | kevin.giles@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Gabrielle Latimore, Scottlynn Johnson
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Phil Jackson, Darrell Stoney, Matt Beard, Jeremy Thomas, Casey G. Ford, Judia Black
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Mary Albers
LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
The 2025 Soul Symphony Weekend, a reimagined version of the annual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic, took place in September and featured a star-studded lineup of events, including a black-tie gala, a live fashion show, and thrilling polo matches. The main attractions for the weekend were the Black-Tie Soul Symphony and the Annual Atlanta Polo Party.
Theatrical Outfit is excited to launch Season 49 with Tennessee Williams’ deeply southern classic, “The Glass Menagerie” (October 29 – November 23). This groundbreaking work returns to ATL with an electric new vision that redefines the “classics” genre. The semi-autobiographical work is about how the past can become a prison and how dreams can set us free.
Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team, the first ever all-Black high school team, recently made its competitive debut at the 8th Annual Atlanta Polo Party during the 2025 Soul Symphony Weekend. Co-founded by celebrity fashion designer Miguel Wilson, the team was created through his nonprofit, the Ride to the Olympics Foundation. These students, with no prior polo or riding experience before 2 years ago, not only competed but also secured a victory in their first match.
About 15 of the members reunited after 60 years at the plush home of former Atlanta school principal Gwen Ferrell Elmore. They reminisced and recited their scripture parts that have sustained them over the years and made them successful in life. Sixty years have passed since members have united together. All of the former members testify to the fact that this experience gave them great confidence as public speakers.
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The holidays have a way of calling us back to what matters most—faith, family, compassion, and the quiet but powerful act of giving. As lights go up and calendars fill, there are still many who sit in silence, carrying burdens too heavy to bear alone. But what if this season, you could be the spark that changes everything for someone else?
The founders of City Lifestyle, through their private foundation, are once again launching its annual Christmas Giving Campaign—a heartfelt effort to seek out and support individuals and families who have quietly fallen through the cracks. The mission is simple: to bring light, dignity, and hope to those who need it most.
Since its beginning just four years ago, this initiative has grown from a humble idea into a life-changing movement. Last Christmas alone, more than 200 families across the country received unexpected support—financial relief, but also something even more powerful.
“We don’t just send checks,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “We send a message: You are seen. You are loved. And you are not forgotten.”
Together with City Lifestyle President Matthew Perry, Steven has helped shape this into a tradition that goes far beyond charity. “This is about community,” Matthew adds. “We believe we’ve been blessed, so now we get to be a blessing.”
Every story begins with a nomination. Often, it’s a neighbor, coworker, friend, or teacher—someone who’s been quietly carrying too much for too long. One past recipient, after receiving unexpected support during a time of deep personal struggle, wrote:
SCAN TO NOMINATE
“We send a message: You are seen. You are loved. And you are not forgotten.”
“Beyond the very practical solution of receiving funds to fix my car, this thing you guys worked together to do is bigger than that. I carry the Christmas card you sent in my purse. When things get really hard, I pull it out and remember what it felt like to be seen. That card represents hope— that change for the better is possible. I’m not sure how many people get to carry hope around in their purse. But I do.”
Another wrote in after her husband was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer and unable to work:
“This support has blessed our family not only financially, but emotionally and spiritually as we trust God to meet our needs throughout this difficult time. Thank you to our anonymous friend and to your foundation. What a joy and gift to be part of God’s family!”
Each year brings countless stories like these—real lives touched by simple acts of kindness. Some use the funds to pay overdue bills, others to afford groceries, medication, or repairs. But no matter the circumstance, the impact is the same: hope is restored.
This season, you have the opportunity to be part of that. The campaign is now open to nominations—completely confidential and prayerfully considered. Whether it’s someone battling illness, facing unemployment, or just in need of a helping hand, you can bring them a moment of grace that will ripple far beyond Christmas morning.
“Knowing my mom was chosen filled my heart with indescribable joy,” said another past recipient. “Your generosity doesn’t just brighten her life; it inspires hope and faith in all of us. It enables her to stay in her home and get back on her feet.”
Nominations are open from November 1st to December 5th, 2025. To submit someone you know, simply scan the QR code or visit @CityLifestyle on Instagram, where you’ll find the nomination form in the bio.
This holiday season, let’s give more than gifts. Let’s give each other the gift of being seen. Because sometimes, the smallest gesture becomes someone’s greatest miracle.
To nominate someone in need, visit: KingdomBuildingFoundation.org or scan the QR code.
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Cirque Du Soleil’s Luzia is a one-of-a-kind experience described as “a surrealist escape to an imaginary Mexico,” with its blend of visuals, acrobatics, and water effects that represent themes such as culture and nature. Yet, the true magic behind the show is its performers, such as Olivia Aepli and Terrance Robinson, who have put in hard work to make their dreams come true with Cirque Du Soleil.
Olivia, an Ohio native, has been a gymnast since she was 3 and a fan of Cirque Du Soleil since she was 10. Growing up training in gymnastics, Olivia decided to pursue her dream by submitting a demo reel on Cirque Du Soleil’s casting site. Not long after, Olivia’s dream was becoming her reality as she was selected to go to a 6-month training program in Montreal, where she learned the art of “swing to swing.” Now cast in Luzia as one of the “Running Women,” a monarch butterfly who leads the clown in the show, Olivia lives her dream every night performing swing to swing, hoop diving, and pole dance.
Terrance, who was born in St. Louis and now resides in Atlanta, has always been a street acrobat, inspired by The Ringling Brothers’ shows whenever his mom had tickets. Already traveling and performing while training at a circus school in Quebec City, Terrance’s childhood friends told him about an opening for a hoop diver in Cirque Du Soleil Luzia . He auditioned and was soon cast in the show.
Both performers resonate with the poetic themes of the show, which are enhanced by the element of water, adding an emotional layer and unique beauty to the production. “It’s great to be able to bring different characters to life on stage and to see the work we put in to make the public happy,” says Terrance. For both Olivia and Terrance, performing and travelling with their friends all over the world, including Spain and Australia, only adds to an already magical experience. “The whole thing is magical and I’m living my dream,” says Olivia. The hope each night for Olivia and Terrance is to create a moment of escape for audiences into Luzia , where they can leave their worries behind and leave with a smile. Together, they invite everyone to experience the world of Luzia for themselves.
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Before the lights, camera, action of BronzeLens, the founding artistic director of the BronzeLens Film Festival was a girl from Washington, DC, who loved to read. Her love for the arts was shaped by her mother, an aspiring actress, who immersed Deidre McDonald in a variety of artistic experiences from an early age.
Film was not initially her interest, but stories always have been. On her way home from school, Deidre began going to the local independent theater, crediting “Sugarcane Alley,” by the Martinican Filmmaker Euzhan Palcy, as the first film to show her the depth and emotional layers that a film can capture. This film opened her eyes to how a film can allow an audience to truly see and experience someone’s world and their story through the screen. “Film is such an engulfing media that it can take your breath away,” she says.
Although Deidre’s professional career did not exactly begin with film, storytelling has always taken center stage. What started as a 3-month internship at Channel 11 eventually led to a position as senior producer for
ARTICLE BY GABRIELLE LATIMORE PHOTOGRAPHY BY COURTESY OF BRONZELENS
programs and projects, where Deidre leveraged her passion for storytelling to produce documentaries and children’s series with complete creative freedom.
Cut to 16 years ago when Deidre helped write the next chapter in Atlanta’s film scene as a founding force of the BronzeLens Film Festival. Because Atlanta is a city rich in Black culture, creating a destination festival geared toward Black filmmakers fit perfectly in the script. “It’s not about the glitz and the glamour,” she says, but it is a festival for real storytellers telling real stories.
With a curatorial eye shaped by Indie films, Deidre believes in the power of independent distribution. Some BronzeLens alum, like Courtney Glaude, who worked with Tyler Perry, have gone on to mainstream success, but Deidre remains passionate about finding stories for an audience outside of Hollywood. Deidre even has
a longstanding relationship with Ava DuVernay, having partnered with her over the years to show more than 20 films that were procured independently. “In mainstream media, sometimes marginalized people are shut out of being seen,” she says. “This festival magnifies us as a people and gives opportunity to see each other and to be seen.”
For Deidre, it’s not a wrap just yet. “I’m not retiring,” she says. “I’ll always love film and be supportive of filmmakers.” The artist
in her won’t fade to black, as she plans to keep her artistic spirit alive through music, theatre, and film. She has even recently begun taking a collage-making course and is part of a jazz studies group.
While the spotlight may be shining elsewhere for her, Deidre’s story is still rolling with plenty more coming soon.
“We are so grateful to our members who contribute to Operation Round Up, the Foundation’s fundraising program.”
November is here, and that means it’s almost Giving Tuesday, which falls on Dec. 2, 2025, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. On this day, millions of Americans unite to support nonprofits across the country, donating billions to causes that strengthen their communities.
At GreyStone, members don’t have to wait for Giving Tuesday to make a difference. Through the Operation Round Up® program, members can give back every month by rounding up their power bill to the nearest dollar. That spare change—an average of about 50 cents per member each month—adds up to something extraordinary. More than 29,000 GreyStone members currently participate in the program, which helps fund scholarships and support nonprofit organizations that serve local families in need.
The impact is significant. During the 12 months ending in August 2025, Operation Round Up provided $20,000 in scholarships and over $725,000 in assistance to organizations such as SHARE House, Special Olympics, the Good Samaritan Center, CASA of Douglas County, the Nichols Center, Beyond the Front Porch, and many others. Since the program began in 1998, members have contributed more than $7.2 million to these efforts.
“We are so grateful to our members who contribute to Operation Round Up, the Foundation’s fundraising program, so that we can recognize worthy students, as well as help those who need help in our community,” said Marcus Carter, chairman of the Foundation board.
Students are encouraged to apply for GreyStone’s scholarship opportunities. The 2026 Foundation Scholarship application opens in the fall at greystonepower.com/scholarships. Each year, GreyStone awards five $3,000 scholarships to members or their children who are seniors in high school or enrolling in college. Recipients are chosen based on financial need and academic achievement, ensuring the support reaches students who need it most.
This Giving Tuesday—and every month of the year—GreyStone encourages members to join Operation Round Up. Enrollment is available at greystonepower.com/oru. Together, small acts of generosity create lasting change.
D
By: Jolene Butts Freeman
May we celebrate our mothers- those h ose who are angels in heaven It is of my opinion, when a woman becomes a mother, her heart grows as large as the number of children she births She unlocks a world of sacrifice as her life drastically changes –It’s no longer just her
Motherhood brings an immediate shift in routine midnight feedings, diaper changes, appointments, and the daily work of raising kind, capable children While taking a holistic approach to help kids thrive is rewarding, it can also be incredibly stressful
For example, did you know approximately 1 out of 10 women postpartum depression after giving birth?
According to PostpartumDepression org it is estimated that nearly 50% of mothers with postpartum depression are not diagnosed by a health professional
That’s why it’s crucial for mothers to build a village of trustworthy, genuine, and dependable people whose actions match their words
Lastly, in the midst of motherhood, many moms neglect their own well-being skipping meals, eating on the go, and not prioritizing exercise Here are a few tips:
Make time to pray or meditate
Talk to a counselor or therapist
Exercise early while the house is quiet
Eat healthy consider trying the Eat Right for Your Blood Type approach
Do things you truly enjoy
Spend quality time with your spouse and family
So, readers, on Mother’s Day do something special for your mother Show her you really love her! Remember this quote from Gail Tsukiyama - “Mothers and their children are in a category all their own There’s no bond so strong in the entire world No love so instantaneous and forgiving ”
Learn more about lifestyle choices and Mamas Making Moves 247 at www mamasmakingmoves247 com and follow me on Instagram at mamasmakingmoves247
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HOLIDAY HUGS AND HELPING KIDS GRIEVE AT KATE'S CLUB
ARTICLE BY ZARIA SAMUEL
Our organization’s mission and work is to help individuals understand how prevalent grief is... and the power of helping a child learn how to grieve healthily, said Lisa Aman.
Inspired by her own journey with childhood loss, Kate’s Club Founder Kate Atwood turned personal grief into purpose. Kate’s Club’s pivotal work began in 2003 when six children gathered at a bowling alley to find connection in their grief. Atwood created Kate’s Club to uplift and empower children, teens, and families facing the death of a loved one. Today, the organization proudly serves more than 10,000 grieving children and families across Georgia through life-changing programs, innovative seminars, and healing-centered activities that normalize and destigmatize grief.
“Our organization’s mission and work is to help individuals understand how prevalent grief is, what the risks are if we don’t address it, and the power of helping a child learn how to grieve healthily,” said Lisa Aman, executive director of Kate’s Club.
Kate’s Club meets this need by fostering community through peer-to-peer empowerment. Mentors lead creative exercises, such as mask-making, where members illustrate how they appear after loss on one side and who they truly are on the other, serving as a motivating activity to foster healing and self-discovery.
“There’s this transformation of a child and family participating where you see this level of safety and comfort developing in them,” Aman said.
The organization also reshapes how communities understand grief. Through virtual seminars, Kate’s Club has equipped doctors, nurses, and psychologists with tools to better communicate with and support grieving patients. Because the organization is donor funded, families and professionals receive these essential services at no cost, removing barriers to care.
On November 9, to kick off Children’s Grief Awareness Month, Kate’s Club will host the 2025 Memory Walk: A Circle of Connection. This event is a moving tribute to loved ones lost and a celebration of community support. Winter Holiday H.U.G.S. (Healing, Understanding, Giving, Support) will also return to transform the holiday season into a time of comfort, connection, and celebration.
“We want to ensure that those grieving or supporting a griever know that they are not alone. There is a community of grievers, lots of resources and support, starting with Kate’s Club, to help them understand and feel that it is okay to grieve,” Aman said.
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The air inside Forbes Arena at Morehouse College was filled with energy, purpose, and compassion on September 14, 2025, as over 100 youth volunteers came together for a powerful act of remembrance. Blankies 4 My Buddies Foundation, in partnership with a student-led nonprofit based at the Atlanta University Center, Achieve M.O.O.R.E., the Hearts Forward 9/11 Day of Service transformed a day of national mourning into a movement of hope, unity, and healing for children of fallen soldiers.
This year’s project was a collaboration between brothers Kollin and CJ Matthews, both recipients of Youth Service America’s We Serve to Remember $1,000 grants. Their efforts combined two heartfelt initiatives: Kollin’s Mission: Buddy Box for children ages 6–12 and CJ’s Hearts Forward for teens 13 and up. Together, they led volunteers in assembling 200 grief kits—100 for kids and 100 for teens—filled with comfort items, affirmation cards, journals, sensory toys, and handwritten letters designed to remind grieving military children they are not alone. The kits for younger children included the sibling team’s latest book, Making Change with The Good Brothers, a coloring and activity book that is an interactive guide to inspire kids to take simple actions and make a positive difference in their communities.
comfort and hope. Others made blankets as part of the organization’s Making Change Blanket Workshop, which proved to be a favorite among impactful activities at Morehouse last year and again during Giving Tuesday in December 2024 after the institution announced two tragic losses last fall. In both moments, students found healing in working with their hands, even as they processed losses within their own campus community. This year’s workshop continued that tradition, allowing groups to tie fleece blankets that carried both care and solidarity.
The day would not have been possible without the guidance of Hannah Bennett and Genesis Price, juniors at Spelman College who serve as E-Board members of Achieve M.O.O.R.E. Their leadership helped ensure that every detail was intentional and meaningful, from the reflective silence observed to the final blanket tied.
Students also contributed to stations that gave everyone a chance to serve. At the Memory Wall, participants paused to honor fallen heroes with reflections. Others poured love and encouragement into handwritten cards, each one a message of
Organizations like the Spelman Jaguarrettes and Navy ROTC also joined in, underscoring the spirit of collaboration that defined the day. “This was more than a service project—it was love in action, and it showed that when young people come together, we can truly make a difference,” said CJ Matthews, a high school senior and co-founder of Blankies 4 My Buddies. By the end of the afternoon, the Morehouse arena echoed with something greater than remembrance—it carried the heartbeat of a new generation stepping forward with compassion, ready to honor the past while building a future rooted in unity and care.
ARTICLE BY SCOTTLYNN JOHNSON
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