JANUARY 2-8, 2026 • Vol. 60 Issue 34 • FREE
IN THIS ISSUE
Controlling the scores PAGE 6
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Path to Peace
Two dozen Buddhist monks, led by Bhikkhu Pannakara, have embarked on a 2,300-mile Walk For Peace, which included, among other counties, Clayton and DeKalb. Above: The monks make their way down Rainbow Road in Decatur on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
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Metro
Monks march across the country for a common goal By ISAIAH SINGLETON & DONNELL SUGGS
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eorgia’s winter temperatures and high winds didn’t stop crowds from gathering inside and outside of the Morrow Center in Clayton County on Monday afternoon in anticipation of the arrival of some special guests. The same took place outside of the Wat Buddha Bucha temple and Porter Sanford Performing Arts & Community Center in DeKalb County. Two dozen Buddhist monks, led by Bhikkhu Pannakara, have embarked on a 2,300-mile Walk For Peace, which included, among other counties, Clayton and DeKalb. In Decatur, hundreds of people gathered along Rainbow Drive to watch the men march up the drive and into the center. Hours before the monks arrived, mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, grandparents, friends, and interested parties sat, stood, and walked in place to stay warm while they waited. Belinda T. lives down the street from the temple and took the short drive over to witness what she called “history.” “This is a historical event. I have lived to see a Black president, a Black vice president, and now this,” Belinda T. said. “I feel like I’m witnessing history.”
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Steven Gibson echoed her sentiments. He was there with a couple of family members. Gibson and his party made their way from Douglasville to Decatur. He told The Atlanta Voice that he planned on making the trip because he, too, wanted to witness something he had never seen before. He also agrees with the monks’ overall mission of peace. “I agree with what they are doing. It’s noble,” Gibson said. “Where we are as a country, we need something positive to lift our spirits.” A mother and her four children moved closer and closer together in order to stay warm. She wanted her kids, an older boy and three small girls, to see the monks for various reasons. The top reason is proof of life. “I support their walk for peace, I believe it is bringing us all together,” Nyah S. said. “But I also want my children to witness different walks of life.” Kyah S. didn’t intend to use the perfect pun, but it landed right on target. She said her children are too young to have witnessed the Civil Rights marches of the 1950s and 1960s, or even the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 and 2021, but they can see this. “Especially, peaceful ways of life. There are people of all colors and religions out here,” Nyah S., who is Muslim, said. “It’s important
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
for them to witness this.” Following brunch inside the arts and community center, plans are in place for the monks to remain in DeKalb County for a peace gathering at the Beacon Municipal Complex. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, State Representative and
gubernatorial candidate Ruwa Romman (DGa.), and Congressman Hank Johnson (DGa.) are invited speakers, along with lead monk Bhikkhu Pannakara. In Morrow, massive crowds gathered along Tara and Mt. Zion boulevards, while some people stood on cars, bundled in blankets, and used walkers as they awaited the monks’ arrival at the Morrow Center at Southlake Mall. Due to the number of people in the crowds, the monks were moved inside the building for safety reasons. Residents peered into the windows near the entrance of the Morrow Center to catch a glimpse of the modestly dressed monks in their traditional saffron and brown robes. This peace walk began in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to conclude in Washington, D.C., according to the steady stream of social media posts associated with the monks’ mission. The goal is to promote national healing, unity, and compassion. The Walk for Peace will traverse 10 states on its route to Washington, D.C., stopping at state capitols, historic landmarks, and local communities to share its message and invite moments of reflection and prayer. This 110-day pilgrimage began at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, the future site of one of the most significant Buddhist projects in the United States: The Ancient Sacred Buddhist Scripture Stupas, Dhammacetiya. This visionary $200 million development spans 14 acres and will feature 840 stupas, each inscribed with sacred Buddhist
See MONKS on page 5
theatlantavoice.com • JANUARY 2-8, 2026 • Page 3
Metro
Ciara, Mayor Dickens Announce $500K Food Security Donation By NOAH WASHINGTON
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tlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined Grammy-winning artist and philanthropist Ciara Wilson on Tuesday, December 23, to announce a $500,000 donation aimed at strengthening food access for families across Atlanta and Georgia, directing major support to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Southwest Atlanta Cares. The announcement was made at the Southwest Atlanta Cares Hub inside the fellowship hall of Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church, a longtime anchor in Atlanta’s West End area. The location highlighted the city’s reliance on neighborhood-based institutions as food insecurity continues to rise across metro Atlanta and North Georgia, particularly during the winter months. Ciara said the donation, made through the Why Not You Foundation she shares with her husband, New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson, reflects both her personal ties to Atlanta and the broader need facing families throughout Georgia. She described Atlanta as a city that helped shape her values and sense of purpose. Though born in Fort Hood, Texas, Ciara spent her teenage years in College Park, a suburb of Atlanta, where her family ultimately settled after moving across the country as part of a military upbringing. She attended North Clayton High School before graduating from Riverdale, and said her connection to metro Atlanta remains central to how she understands community and responsibility. Ciara added that the region’s ongoing struggles with hunger, particularly among children and working families, speak to the need for sustained, local investment rather than one-time relief.
The announcement was made at the Southwest Atlanta Cares Hub inside the fellowship hall of Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church, a longtime anchor in Atlanta’s West End area. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
“One in six children goes to bed hungry, and that has to change,” Ciara said while announcing the $500,000 contribution. She said the gift is intended to expand food security efforts while empowering families and young people across Atlanta to pursue their goals with stability and dignity. Dickens said the donation builds on recent citywide efforts to address food access, including the launch of ATL Cares, an emergency response initiative created after delays in federal SNAP benefits disrupted households
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined Grammy-winning artist and philanthropist Ciara Wilson on Tuesday, December 23, to announce a $500,000 donation aimed at strengthening food access for families across Atlanta and Georgia. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
throughout Atlanta. Those delays, he said, exposed how quickly families across Georgia can be pushed into crisis when safety nets falter. The mayor credited the Atlanta Community Food Bank and its partners for stepping in during that period, providing emergency food distribution at a time when demand was already elevated. He said sustaining those services requires long-term investment and collaboration between city government, nonprofit organizations and private donors. “This donation means more meals on tables for people who otherwise wouldn’t have access,” Dickens said, adding that food security remains a cornerstone of Atlanta’s broader approach to economic stability and public health. Kyle Waide, president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, said the donation will help provide more than one million meals across metro Atlanta and North Georgia through the organization’s network of roughly 700 partner agencies. Those partners include faith-based organizations, community centers and food pantries serving urban, suburban and rural parts of the region. Waide said the need has grown sharply in recent years. The number of people served by the food bank has increased by about 70 percent over the past three and a half years, a trend he attributed largely to inflation, rising housing costs and broader economic pressure affecting families throughout Georgia. During the holiday season, he said, that strain is compounded as children lose access to school-based meals.
While the event drew elected officials and a globally recognized entertainer, its impact was rooted in the everyday work happening inside the church and throughout southwest Atlanta. Kevin Bibbs,71, a lifelong West Atlanta resident and longtime member of Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church, said the presence of high-profile figures matters less than the consistency of service. Bibbs, who has been part of the church for more than six decades, helps with maintenance and day-to-day operations to ensure food distributions run smoothly. He said his role has always been about service rather than recognition, describing the work as an extension of the church’s mission to care for the community. “I came to serve,” Bibbs said. He added that knowing families will be fed during the holidays carries special meaning in a city and state where economic gaps remain wide. “If we can help anybody, on any level, that’s a good thing,” Bibbs said. Dickens said initiatives like Southwest Atlanta Cares reflect a model the city hopes to replicate across Georgia’s urban centers in the coming years. Sustaining and expanding food pantries into 2026, he said, will depend on continued momentum, with residents, businesses and organizations contributing funding, volunteer hours and expertise to address hunger at the neighborhood level. “People are already stepping up and asking how they can be part of the group project,” Dickens said.
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Voices
Big Green Has Always Been White. Now the Erasure Is Intentional By DR. MUSTAFA ALI
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have spent my adult life in rooms where the air feels heavy with unspoken truth. In boardrooms that were alabaster by design. Donor retreats wrapped in recycled bamboo and good intentions. Places where the words “equity” and “justice” show up on the slides, but the people most harmed by the crisis sit nowhere near the table. Sometimes not in the building. Too often, not even in the imagination of those shaping the agenda. I’ve learned that erasure rarely arrives with a shout. It walks in quietly. Slow steps. Soft shoes. It hides inside the priorities we set without thinking, the decisions we rationalize in the name of progress, the silences we refuse to disturb. And in the environmental movement — the so-called Big Green universe — it has shaped leadership for generations. I say this with both love and disappointment. I say it as someone who has walked alongside these organizations for decades, believing in their mission, fighting for the same planet they say they fight for. But belief is not the same as blindness. And love is not the same as complacency. At some point, the truth has to be said out loud: There are not enough African American, Latino, or Indigenous leaders at the highest levels of the Big Green world. Not nearly enough. And the reasons are older than any of us wants to admit. The ‘Someone’ Keeps Looking the Same I’ve watched this play out like a slow-moving storm. A drizzle at first. A small oversight here, a missed opportunity there. Leaders retire. Others ascend. The door opens for someone new. But somehow the “someone” keeps looking the same. Keeps coming from the same pipeline. Keeps reinforcing the same patterns of safety disguised as expertise. And when the storm intensifies — when the Trump Administration erases entire offices dedicated to environmental justice, when frontline communities are ghosted from federal decision-making, when staff of color are pushed out or sidelined — suddenly Big Green organizations look around and realize something unsettling: They don’t have enough leaders who understand the stakes because they’ve never made it a priority to elevate those who live with the stakes every single day. Ignoring the Truth Won’t Save Us That is how erasure works. Not abruptly. Not violently. But quietly. One leadership choice at a time. One complacent moment at a time. One undocumented brilliance left sitting in the shadows because someone “wasn’t the right fit” for the culture. Culture, of course, meaning comfort. Comfort, of course, meaning the status quo. I don’t write this to shame anyone. Shame has never built a movement worth following. I write it because ignoring the truth won’t save us. Not from rising seas. Not from poisoned air. Not from communities being turned into sacrifice zones
FOUNDED May 11, 1966
FOUNDER/EDITOR Ed Clayton Immortalis Memoria
PUBLISHER/EDITOR J. Lowell Ware
Immortalis Memoria The Atlanta Voice honors the life of J. Lowell Ware. ––– PUBLISHER Janis Ware PRESIDENT/ GENERAL MANAGER James A. Washington 2018-2024 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER Chia Suggs csuggs@theatlantavoice.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Donnell Suggs editor@theatlantavoice.com
Environmental organizations aren’t serious about justice if they keep excluding Black, Latino, and Indigenous leaders. Photo Credit: iStock.com/Dragos Condrea
by bureaucratic neglect and corporate greed. And certainly not from the climate crisis barreling toward us with the force of a thousand hurricanes. Decision-Makers, Strategists, and Vision Shapers The movement needs Black leaders. It needs Latino leaders. It needs Indigenous leaders. Not as tokens. Not as public-relations décor. Not as a bullet point in a glossy annual report. But as decision-makers. Strategists. Vision shapers. People who understand that saving the planet cannot be separated from saving the people who have borne the cost of its destruction. Green 2.0 has been telling this truth for years. Spotlighting the good, the bad, and the unequivocally ugly. Naming the places where progress is real and the corners where old habits cling like vines around a dying tree. They’ve shown us the data we don’t want to see, the patterns we keep repeating, the leadership gaps that widen each year we pretend everything is “moving in the right direction.” Big Green Must Walk the Talk But this moment is different. The Trump Administration has made a sport of erasing the talent, contributions, and humanity of people of color across government. Policies that once protected communities are torn apart. Scientists are silenced. EJ offices are gutted. Hard-won gains are rolled backward. We can’t let the environmental movement mirror that same erasure in softer tones. We can’t claim to fight for justice while replicating
injustice behind closed doors. We can’t demand representation at the federal level while failing to practice it in our own institutions. Because the truth is simple, even if the journey is not: We are going to need everyone if we’re going to win on the climate crisis. Everyone. The communities that have been ignored. The leaders who have been overlooked. The wisdom that comes from struggle. The insight that comes from living at the edge of disaster and still believing in a future. Diversity is not a nicety. It is a survival strategy. A moral imperative. A scientific necessity. A reflection of the world we say we want to save. The earth doesn’t ask for perfect leaders. It asks for honest ones. Brave ones. Leaders who understand that justice is not an accessory but a foundation. Leaders who know that a movement built without the people most affected will never be strong enough to withstand the storms ahead. I believe we can build that movement. I believe we can widen the circle. I think Big Green can evolve into something braver, broader, bolder than its past. But only if we choose truth over tradition. Courage over comfort. And everyone over a privileged few. That’s how we win. That’s how we survive. That’s how we make sure no one is erased again Dr. Mustafa Ali is a poet, thought leader, strategist, policymaker, and activist committed to justice and equity. He is the founder of The Revitalization Strategies, a business focused on moving our most vulnerable communities from “surviving to thriving.”
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theatlantavoice.com • JANUARY 2-8, 2026 • Page 5
MONKS Continued from page 2 scriptures symbolizing the boundless wisdom and compassion of the Buddha. The project stands as a testament to Texas’s vibrant and growing Buddhist community and its commitment to strengthening the moral and spiritual fabric of the nation. Buddhist monks dedicate their lives to preserving, practicing, and sharing the teachings of the Buddha through renunciation, meditation, study, and compassionate service. Following the Buddha’s example, monks often undertake long walking pilgrimages, spiritual journeys that may last for months. During the Walk for Peace, participating monks will observe a strict ascetic code inspired by these ancient traditions, including eating only one meal per day and sleeping beneath trees, as a practice of humility, endurance, and spiritual focus. Rooted in both spiritual devotion and civic purpose, the Walk for Peace looks to remind Americans that peace is not a destination; it is a practice. As the nation faces challenges of division, mental health crises, and conflict both at home and abroad, this pilgrimage offers a simple yet profound message: peace begins within the heart of each person and extends outward to families, communities, and the nation. Walk For Peace Spiritual Leader Bhikkhu Pannakara said they walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within
On Monday, December 29, the monks made their way down Tara Blvd. in Jonesboro on their way to the Morrow Center in nearby Morrow. Photo by Chia Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
each of us. “The Walk for Peace is a simple yet meaningful reminder that unity and kindness begin within each of us and can radiate outward to families, communities, and society as a whole,” he said.
Nyah S. and her four children waiting to see the monks on their Walk for Peace along Rainbow Drive in Decatur on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Supporter Monique Funches says this movement, in which the monks are participating, has inspired her own healing journey. “For me, this walk means a lot and contributes to my healing journey because of my own experiences, personally being adopted from foster care,” she said. “It has taught me the value in being able to come to peace and to terms with my circumstances and with being separated and longing and yearning for that connection with my first family.” She also says the Walk For Peace pilgrimage’s goal is to promote unity, peace, and a color-blind perspective, seeking wholeness and embracing differences. After watching so many people unite for a single goal, Funches says it feels like everyone is “finally coming together,” especially in
Photo by Chia Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
a time when it seems like everyone is divided. The monks will continue their 2,300-mile pilgrimage, culminating on Feb. 13, 2026, in the U.S. Capitol, where participants hope to deliver a brief message symbolizing healing and renewal. Broadcasting the event via her TikTok account, Wanda Doucette, a local grassroots organizer with A Labor of Love, stopped to say she was feeling the peaceful vibes around her. “I’m here because of the cause, which is to unite peacefully,” Doucette said, a native of New Orleans now residing in DeKalb County. “The message I am receiving is to be on one accord. This walk for peace has allowed me to reflect on myself. It looks like Mardi Gras out here.”
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Education
Controlling the Scores By KAYELYN A DORSEY
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tandardized testing has long been framed as a neutral measure of achievement. Yet, its origins in white supremacy reveal that it was designed to privilege white, middle-class norms while excluding others. For Black students in under-resourced schools, the consequences are especially severe. These assessments misrepresent their abilities, deny access to advanced programs, and contribute to cycles of exclusion and punishment that mirror the criminal justice system. Testing corporations and reform advocates wield hidden power by profiting from these systems and defining achievement without community input. Most sharply, standardized testing exerts invisible power by shaping students’ beliefs about intelligence and worth, embedding deficit narratives in their consciousness. Since the development of high-stakes standardized testing policies under the No Child Left Behind Act, federal agencies, testing corporations, and school administrators have gained disproportionate power over public education—using test scores to control curriculum, discipline, and school funding. This power structure not only reinforces racial hierarchies embedded in test design but also criminalizes academic failure, contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline by disproportionately excluding and punishing Black students in under-resourced schools.
Policymakers and organizations that impose testing requirements wield the most visible form of power in standardized testing. Standardized tests were created to maintain racial hierarchies, as Strauss (2021) demonstrates by tracing their roots to white supremacist ideology. She illustrates how bias was ingrained in the basic framework of American education when standardized assessments were developed to support white, middle-class values. Through accountability laws like No Child Left Behind, which influence curriculum and school financing, policymakers continue to impose these biased instruments. This is a form of visible power: Black students are disproportionately harmed by institutions that require testing as a policy, criminalizing academic failure. Schools that are deemed to be “failing” are subject to staff turnover, closures, and heightened surveillance, which destabilizes communities and perpetuates inequality. Dunbar Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia, is a victim of school closure. As part of the district’s efforts to close a $100 million budget deficit, the area has been targeted for closure. Atlanta Public Schools has suggested closing Dunbar along with other schools that serve primarily Black students, despite a 33 percent rise in enrollment and considerable community resistance. Families argue that the closure would be devastating for the neighborhood, depriving it of a critical resource and putting kids into overcrowded schools farther away. This
Standardized testing has been used to maintain racial hierarchies and perpetuate cycles of exclusion and punishment, with Black students in under-resourced schools disproportionately affected by these biased assessments. Credit: istock.com/basar17
closure is justified by enrollment figures and accountability indicators, which are frequently linked to performance on standardized tests. This case demonstrates how policymakers use test scores and budgetary constraints to control which schools survive and which are sacrificed. These closures exacerbate the injustices already present in the school-to-prison pipeline for Black youth by reinforcing instability, dislocation, and exclusion. The companies that create, administer, and profit from standardized testing wield secret
Parental concerns skyrocketed after a repurpose proposal surfaced about turning Dunbar into an early childhood center, which would mean current students would have to attend another school. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
power that extends beyond legislators. Standardized tests, according to Taylor and Lee (1987), misrepresent the talents of African American students by neglecting language and cultural diversity. Testing companies like Pearson, Educational Testing Service (ETS), McGraw-Hill, and Houghton Mifflin define intelligence, favoring dominant communication standards while disregarding Black students’ cultural practices. This exposes hidden power. Exam sales and administration generate enormous profits for these firms. In addition, Pearson has won contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to administer college-readiness and state exams, dominating the U.S. testing market. Test fees, study materials, and scoring services are significant sources of income for ETS, the organization that creates and administers the SAT and GRE. Ninety-six percent of state-level tests are written by four companies: Harcourt Educational Measurement, CTB McGraw-Hill, Riverside Publishing, and NCS Pearson (PBS, 2001). Companies spent at least $20 million on lobbying to obtain contracts and favorable legislation, and the testing boom driven by Common Core and No Child Left Behind generated nearly $2 billion yearly business (PR Watch, 2015). These influential individuals promote injustice and deficit narratives by misclassifying Black students and preventing them from enrolling in advanced programs. Black children’s exclusion from educational opportunities is not accidental; rather, it is profitable. Policymakers gain power by using test results to support reforms and closures, while corporations benefit from test sales, repair programs, and preparation materials. The school-to-prison pipeline also supports economic exploitation, as jails benefit from a regular influx of young people and political leaders consolidate power through “tough on crime” rhetoric. In this way, the psychological injury to pupils directly translates into material advantage for those in power. According to Mallett (2015), test results are used as a weapon to support harsh policies
See SCORES on page 8
theatlantavoice.com • JANUARY 2-8, 2026 • Page 7
Life
Zina Bina series aims to boost kids’ financial literacy By ISAIAH SINGLETON
O
ften in life, there are many things we either never learn about, learn about too late, or learn the hard way. Although not regularly taught in school, there are essential topics that are crucial for understanding in order to make informed, responsible decisions. One of these topics is financial literacy. Author and single mother Alex Ryan has released her first children’s series book, “Zina Bina Learns the Value of Money,” for this exact reason. Illustrated by Marcin Piwowarski and written by Ryan, the 56-page, vibrant hardcover book helps children understand the value of money through engaging storytelling, relatable lessons, and colorful illustrations. Statistics show that children and teens have low confidence and knowledge in personal finance, with a significant gap existing between the desire for education and the availability of formal instruction, according to Annuity. Most financial education currently happens at home, though many parents feel unequipped to teach the subject effectively. In the first installment of the “Zina Bina Financial Literacy Series,” readers follow Zina Bina, an imaginative and curious young girl, on an adventure filled with fun, discovery, and financial smarts. Through playful storytelling, relatable scenarios, and whimsical illustrations, children are invited to learn about saving, spending, sharing, and growing money in a positive, empowering way. Piwowarski brings Zina Bina’s world to life with bright, expressive artwork that enhances these lessons and sparks imagination. Together, the storytelling and visuals create an engaging tool for families and classrooms alike. Ryan says financial education isn’t just for adults, and by introducing key concepts like budgeting, delayed gratification, and value creation early, children are better equipped to build healthy financial habits and self-confidence as they grow. “Zina Bina Learns the Value of Money” transforms what can feel like “grown-up talk” into joyful, kid-friendly experiences that make learning feel natural, not intimidating. “Children are naturally inquisitive, and money is a part of their world long before adults realize it,” Ryan said. “This book gives families and educators a joyful, relatable way to start important conversations about money, self-control, and making thoughtful choices.” Zina Bina’s Origin Alex’s daughter Zahrya Toregano inspired Zina Bina’s origin when she was around five or six years old, according to Ryan. “Zahrya’s energy and spirit around that time were vibrant. When she was younger, she had such a big personality and a lot of energy,” she said. “She was just a bubbly, happy, joyful kid bouncing all over the place, and she had big, thick, bouncy hair, which is why Zina Bina has thick hair as well. I said to her one day, ‘Girl, you look like a book character,’ and that kind of got
me thinking.” Ryan started brainstorming the idea in 20112012 by calling her daughter “Rina-Bina”, which got her started on the pilot stages of what is now Zina Bina. Ryan said she became busy with life and did not put much more thought into it until last year, when she received signs making her want to bring back the book series. A couple of years back, she says she began to dive deep into her financial education journey, simply because life has been a little challenging for her throughout the years due to finances and not having the full knowledge or information about financial literacy. “My mom and dad did the best they could with what they had when I was growing up, so they gave it to us based on what they were able to in a way they knew how to give to their children,” she said. “But it was so much I feel like they missed something, and we made mistakes.” Ryan says she made a lot of financial mistakes, and her life became extremely expensive for a while due to her lack of knowledge on a lot of things. “Raising a child as a single mom struggling with finances, after a while, it takes a toll on you,” she said. “I just knew it had to be more to life than struggle. I’m seeing people on TV, living their lives successfully, going on vacations, and I’m saying to myself, ‘what’s their secret?” This sparked the financial deep dive into financial education and literacy with her asking herself, how can she mash up her and her daughter in one? Thus, the creation of Zina Bina was born. Ryan says she took her daughter’s energy and her own journey and cultivated the branding of this book character. “All the information I’m learning now is great, but what if I had it when I was younger?” she asked herself. “What if my parents knew this stuff or were able to teach it to us in a practical way that we would enjoy and understand at the ages of four and five?” She wanted to keep kids engaged and captivate them, and they do not even realize they’re learning about the concepts of money. She also says it’s important to lay a foundation because she’s aware that there are many financial literacy books available, but few that explain it in a way children can understand. “We have to let kids know what to do with the money, but we first have to start by letting them understand what money is,” she said. “Why should we value money? How should we feel about money, because it starts at the root of the foundation, and how you build your relationship with money determines how you use it, manage it, and how to deal with it in life moving forward.” Zina Bina, Beyond, & Advice When parents buy the book for their children and read them, Ryan wants them to understand although money is an abstract concept, it doesn’t have to be taboo. “People don’t talk about money, especially with their kids. It’s like we don’t talk about finance in the house, but there are ways we can
In the first installment of the “Zina Bina Financial Literacy Series,” readers follow Zina Bina, an imaginative and curious young girl, on an adventure filled with fun, discovery, and financial smarts. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
break it down to our children to be able to introduce the concept to them at an early age to the point they can get it and understand it,” she said. “Even if they don’t grasp the entire concept, they grasp it enough to understand. We’re trying to build financially wise, confident, financially healthy adults, and it starts from childhood.” Additionally, once Ryan is done with her financial literacy series of Zina Bina, she says she wants the character to branch out and do other things. “I felt like the financial literacy series was extremely important, especially in today’s time with all the economic struggles. We don’t want to keep repeating history, and breaking the cycle begins with our children.” As far as advice for parents out there who may not agree or are unsure on how to discuss to their children about finances, Ryan says she didn’t always know she needed the information because, as adults, we think we know “everything.” “We think we know enough to be able to teach and raise our kids to be financially responsible and responsible adults, but we have to lean into the fact that there’s always room to grow, and there’s always more knowledge and information we can gain to be able to educate ourselves,” she said. As a single mom, Ryan says her advice to other single parents is not to shelter your kids and think they may not understand. “Sometimes, we don’t teach our kids certain things because we think they’re too young to handle it or they won’t understand. I want my kid’s foundation to be so solid because she was aware of things,” she said. “You can’t shelter kids from things because you’re afraid of what they may or may not be able to handle.” Having hard conversations with your kids and teaching them how to have those types of conversations is extremely important in the development of that child, Ryan said.
“We can’t be afraid to have these conversations with our kids, and you have to nurture the information with them as well,” she said. “You need to nurture the information too and not just leave it there. Give them practical lessons and examples, and be with them in that space so they can grasp it in the correct way.” Ryan suggests that parents review their last three to six months of bank account statements and highlight any recurring expenses, which will indicate where they’re spending their money and whether all of it is being spent without any savings or investments. “If all that money is going out and none of it is being saved or invested, then it’s time for a conversation,” she said. “You must tell yourself this isn’t going to get me to the place in life where I can create generational wealth. Look at your own practices and life and scan that to see if you’re struggling.” Ryan also says she had her daughter sit and watch her invest in stocks. Zahrya even has her login, where her mother requests her to log in at least once a week and see what the numbers are doing. “It’s to see how we’re gaining and to see how we’re losing. It’s to familiarize herself with it, or when I go to the bank, I take her with me,” she said. “Walk your child through the steps at the bank, let them watch you, even if it may go over their head a little bit, but kids are resilient.” Additionally, the second book in the series is complete and will be released sometime in Spring 2026. In the next five years, Ryan says she sees Zina Bina as a household name, a franchise. “On her Instagram, she already has animations, talks, and audio. She bounces on money balloons and goes on rockets,” she said. More will continue in this book series, and we want to build an entire world around her with apparel, party packs, dolls, animation, TV shows, etc.”
Page 8 • JANUARY 2-8, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com
Life
Street Lines: 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo By DENNIS MALCOLM BYRON AKA ALE SHARPTON
KIA’s introduction of the all-new 2025 Kia K4 into the compact sedan market left a lasting impression as you can see regarding my favorable Street Lines review of the GT-Line version. Eager to compare that model to the other four—LX, LXS, EX and GT-Line Turbo—I excitedly got behind the wheel of the latter, which is the top of line of the quintet. The most obvious differences? Performance and more opulent features coming standard. The GT-Line Turbo stayed consistent regarding the popular “Morning Haze” exterior, attractive LED lighting, and 18-inch alloy wheels with black gloss accents. However, the standard appointments to boost the sport factor included LED projector headlights, fog lights, and rear combination lights embellishing the exterior. Under the hood, the GT-Line Turbo justifies its name with a major engine upgrade—a 1.6-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission, leaving behind the less responsive Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Of course, adding the sport-tuned multi-link rear suspension, sport
Photo courtesy of Kia
pedals, and a GT-Line steering wheel with paddle shifters completed the performance-minded driving experience. On the luxury side, the K4 GT-Line Turbo’s list of standard
SCORES Continued from page 6 and school closings, which destabilize Black communities and schools. When taken together, these sources demonstrate how policy agendas and corporate profit combine to maintain inequality. The psychological and ideological impacts of standardized testing on Black students are the most harmful, invisible form of power. Taylor and Lee (1987) emphasize the psychological injury caused by linguistic bias, and USC Scribe (2022) links this harm to criminal prosecution and exclusion. The psychological toll is immense. Repeated exposure to low exam scores fosters anxiety, depression, and disengagement from school. Students frequently experience a sense of learned helplessness because they believe that, no matter how hard they work, a biased system will judge them as failures. Reduced motivation, increased dropout rates, and vulnerability to harsh punishment might result from this internalized inferiority. According to USC Scribe (2022), Black children who perform poorly on tests are frequently excluded, suspended, and eventually come into contact with the juvenile criminal system. In this sense, by instilling deficit narratives in Black children’s minds, standardized testing actively creates failure rather than merely measuring
features include a power sunroof with a sunshade, leatherette seating throughout the cabin, rear air vents, and an ear-pleasing Harman/Kardon premium sound system. The optional Technology
accomplishment. Additionally, standardized testing promotes a competitive worldview that conceals structural injustices in addition to individual disengagement. Black students are informed that their shortcomings are personal rather than systemic, which upholds racial hierarchies and justifies exclusion. This ideological strength ensures the internalization of deficit narratives, shaping identity and long-term outcomes. Students’ conduct, academic engagement, and motivation to fight exclusion are all impacted when they start to perceive themselves as less capable. Black children are more likely to experience punitive discipline and eventually come into contact with the legal system as a result of the severe psychological and ideological toll. This illustrates the invisible power: when their talents are misrepresented, students internalize failure and shame, disengage from school, and accept exclusion as a given. Standardized testing is significant because it not only misrepresents talent but also molds identity and selfworth, instilling deficit narratives in children’s minds and perpetuating structural injustices. Standardized testing interacts with severe discipline systems rather than existing in a vacuum. According to Mallett (2015), low test scores are often used as an excuse for zero-tolerance policies and school closures, which force teachers and children in underprivileged communities to relocate, as seen in Dunbar
Package ($2,200) is highly recommended if you want to go all out. This bundle adds ventilated front seats; a surround-view monitor; blind-spot view monitor; LED ambient lighting in various colors;
Elementary. Black kids are disproportionately affected by these “improvements” because they are more likely to attend underfunded schools and experience severe disciplinary actions. As a result, students are forced into surveillance and control systems, and intellectual struggle is criminalized. According to Mallett’s (2015) findings, the combination of punitive policies and standardized testing results in a real, tangible school-to-prison pipeline. Black kids are disproportionately drawn into juvenile justice systems due to institutional injustices that are perpetuated by testing and punishment rather than innate flaws. The USC Scribe article (2022) gives a vivid picture of how standardized testing leads to the school-to-prison pipeline for Black youth. It defines individuals in the court system and school officials as visible powerholders who uphold rules that link discipline to academic achievement. These policies disproportionately impact black children; test-related academic tracking increases the likelihood that they will be penalized, expelled, or reported to the police. Black kids are frequently depicted as disruptive or underachieving, which shapes public image and policy without responsibility. The hidden power in the racism assumptions ingrained in testing and discipline practices causes students to internalize these narratives; they become disengaged from school and come to terms with their eventual exclusion, which
memory function for both the driver’s seat and outside mirrors; and the very handy smartphone digital key. Safety wise, the Package delivers an extensive suite of advanced driver-assistance features like forward collision-avoidance assist with cyclist and turning detection; blind-spot collision-avoidance assist; rear cross-traffic avoidance; highway driving assist 2; and parking collision-avoidance to undoubtedly ease the mind as well. Although the K4 GT-Line Turbo is the cream of the crop of the five trims complemented with more muscle, efficiency still plays a big part with a respectable 29 miles per gallon combined. And no worries, the applauded 10-year/100,000mile limited powertrain warranty further boosts the confidence to drive it off the lot. With a sticker price of $31,445 as equipped including the Technology Package, the 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo leaves virtually nothing to be desired in the compact sedan segment. Fuel Economy: 26 city/36 highway/29 combined Price: Starts at $30,290 and $31,445 including both the Technology Package For more information, visit Kia. com.
gives rise to invisible power. Standardized testing employs three different forms of power: visible, concealed, and invisible. Students internalize stories of failure when their talents are exaggerated, corporations profit from their widespread use, and policymakers compel inaccurate assessments through accountability regulations. These factors cooperate to sustain the school-to-prison pipeline by criminalizing intellectual struggle and upholding racial inequities. Instead of serving as a path to opportunity, education has evolved into a system of exclusion and punishment. Dunbar Elementary serves as a reminder of how these factors come together in actual communities, where financial constraints and accountability measures pose a threat to the closure of Black families’ roots. Overall, the broader implication is that, to affirm Black kids’ identities, transfer authority to communities, and prioritize justice over surveillance, deconstructing this system requires reconsidering evaluation. We can only start the process of ending the school-to-prison pipeline and establishing an educational system founded on justice and compassion by opposing the racism logic of standardized testing and the corporate profits that support it. Schools can become places of equity, compassion, and opportunity rather than exclusion and punishment when visible, hidden, and invisible power are addressed simultaneously.
theatlantavoice.com • JANUARY 2-8, 2026 • Page 9
Health
Overcoming holiday stress: Dr. Beauboeuf’s approach By ISAIAH SINGLETON In a recent survey by Orlando Health, 39 percent of U.S. respondents reported worrying about how much they eat during the holidays. And a quarter agreed they should skip meals to “save” calories before a feast such as Thanksgiving dinner. Dr. Lindsey Beauboeuf, a board-certified Family Medicine physician and founder of Mozaïk Lifestyle Medicine in Atlanta, offers a refreshing, culturally rooted approach to holiday wellness. Beauboeuf specializes in lifestyle-focused primary care for Black and Afro-Caribbean communities, emphasizing mindful eating, stress management, and chronic disease prevention during high-stress, high-calorie seasons. She also leads The Haitian Doctor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing culturally relevant health education to the Haitian diaspora. Beauboeuf said she noticed in her practice that when holidays come around, people put a special emphasis on holidays, which results in people feeling pressured and stressed. “I’m not sure if it’s the culture here or capitalism, but I noticed in my practice, especially during holidays, there’s a huge emphasis on buying gifts and materialistic things, which
causes families and people to feel pressured and stressed,” she said. “When you feel those emotions, your cortisol levels rise naturally, which causes your hunger to go up and food noise skyrockets.” She also says to focus more on the joy and celebration of the holidays and why we celebrate them. “For people like me who are born and raised in a different country, in Haiti, for example, food and holidays is more than just the calories,” she said. Beauboeuf said this is a time to experience your culture because it tells stories and if you take the holidays for what is about, truly in essence, joy, celebration, community, family, lights, and you don’t focus on what’s on your plate, then it can help take away the guilt of eating too much or overindulging. “There’s a lot of anxiety that comes with holiday seasons and there’s some displacement of that anxiety onto the food itself, and if you refocus, it helps,” she said. If people cannot refocus, she says to be prepared like pregaming before a party. “When it comes to food, this means don’t leave your house hungry because if you’re hungry, you’ll go to the function eating everything until
you’re stuffed,” she said. “Also, eat plenty of veggies, proteins, and other food items that will keep you full for longer, so you’re not tempted to overindulge, and also remember to hydrate.” She also says not to beat yourself up if you do overindulge because “things will happen”. “You will overindulge, it’s okay. It’s not the end of the world, don’t beat yourself because you don’t do it every day, it’s the holidays, it’s once a year,” she said. “If you happen to overindulge or if you do too much, pick yourself right back up. You don’t have to eat everything you see at the dinner table.” In a new national survey commissioned by Beyond Finance, 65% of the 2,000 respondents said it’s nearly impossible to know how much they can safely spend this season, while two-thirds (66%) say there is an unhealthy cultural pressure to buy gifts even when they can’t afford to. That specific pressure has fueled a rise in what experts call “guilt-giving”, which is the act of spending out of obligation rather than desire, and “FOMO-spending,” where social comparison and digital influence drive impulsive purchases. Beauboeuf also says to try to bake your food or air fry it and to move your body throughout the day. “Stay moving if you get stressed or feel guilty.
Dr. Lindsey Beauboeuf (above) also leads The Haitian Doctor, a nonprofit dedicated to culturally relevant health education for the Haitian diaspora. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/ The Atlanta Voice
Take deep breaths, get at least six to eight hours of sleep, and just remember to enjoy your loved ones and remember the holidays are only once a year,” she said. “This is a time where you’re supposed to nourish yourself, your spirit, and your life.” She also says to make real connections and not be around people who you don’t like or who bring negative energy. Growing up, she said, there were years where they didn’t even have a tree, but still celebrated fully with a lot of joy because they had lights outside. “The biggest gift is your presence and the words you speak to people,” she said. “It’s the energy you bring, and it doesn’t matter what’s underneath the tree. It’s about what’s coming from the heart. My advice is for people to acknowledge what’s important, and that is something to counteract that holiday guilt and stress.”
Health
Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Reversed? By TASHI MCQUEEN
T
ype 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic, life-altering condition affecting more than 35 million Americans. The disease occurs when a person’s cells do not respond to insulin properly, causing high blood sugar levels. Excess glucose in the blood can harm the body, potentially damaging the kidneys, heart and eyes. Around one in 10 Americans has diabetes, and 90 to 95 percent of them have Type 2, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease has long been considered irreversible, but recent research suggests that it may be possible to reverse T2DM or at the very least, put it into a state of remission. Some medical experts are now comfortable discussing T2DM reversal, noting studies show significant weight loss can restore normal metabolic function, the process by which the body turns food into energy. A report from Yale School of Medicine (YSM) notes that Type 2 diabetes can be reversed by reducing insulin resistance. Defining research by Gerald I. Shulman, George R.
Cowgill Professor of Medicine (endocrinology) and Cellular and Molecular Physiology at YSM, and Kitt Petersen, professor of medicine (endocrinology) at YSM, found that modest weight loss—even as little as 10 percent—can reduce insulin resistance and reverse T2DM. However, the study also found that most people who lost weight later regained it. The report adds that anti-obesity GLP-1 medications, such as Trulicity and Ozempic, can help individuals with diabetes maintain long-term weight loss as a treatment for the disease. “Loss of fat around the liver and pancreas can allow the body’s insulin producing cells to regain function,” said Dr. Olalekan Otulana, a general practitioner and physician. “People who achieve this tend to have been diagnosed relatively recently and may also have excess body weight to lose. It is important to emphasize that this requires a structured and supported approach, often involving a planned dietary program, increased activity and medical monitoring.” Austin Shuxiao, a board-certified internal medicine physician, is among medical experts who argue that diabetes cannot be truly
reversed, though remission can be achieved. Remission occurs when an individual with T2DM maintains normal blood sugar levels for three months or more without taking diabetes medication. “Typical maintenance of T2DM involves keeping blood sugar within a target range, and subsequently keeping HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) at a manageable level, typically between 6–7 percent,” said Shuxiao. “When HbA1c reaches a non-diabetic or prediabetic range, less than 5.7 percent, then we can say the diabetes is in remission. The key determinants of whether this is achievable is the duration of diabetes and the degree of insulin resistance.” Shuxiao said the longer a person has diabetes, the less likely they are to achieve remission due to insulin resistance accumulating in the body over time. Experts caution that the term “reversal” can be misleading because, without sustained lifestyle changes, the disease can return. In a large study led by Barune Thapa, a medical student at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, and colleagues, 556,758 adults with T2DM were
analyzed. About 2.9 percent achieved remission over three years, though 36.9 percent of them later relapsed. Shuxiao believes dietary education is crucial for people with diabetes to achieve normal blood sugar levels without dependence on medications. But Shuxiao emphasized that even if individuals lower their A1c to a non-diabetic range, they will always carry a formal diagnosis of diabetes. “Lifestyle changes are foundational, and medications are there to assist,” he said. “I can understand that people don’t want to change the way they eat to accommodate diabetes, but they cannot truly manage their diabetes if they don’t manage their diet.” Medical experts note that once someone develops significant insulin resistance, their body remains at higher risk of regaining it, even if blood sugar is controlled and they are off diabetes medications entirely. Though debate continues over whether T2DM can truly be cured or reversed, medical experts agree that individuals with the disease can and should learn to regulate their blood sugar and insulin levels.
Page 10 • JANUARY 2-8, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com
Community
“Cookies With Rookies” takes place at Atlantic Station By NOAH WASHINGTON
P
ublic confidence in police in the United States plummeted in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, with only 48% of Americans saying they had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in police that year, a drop from historical norms above 50%, and remaining depressed in subsequent years. Across the country, that erosion of trust has lingered, particularly in communities of color, and has reshaped conversations about public safety, accountability and community policing. Against that backdrop, Atlanta’s newest police officers and firefighters are taking part in a grassroots effort to begin rebuilding trust one conversation at a time. Recrui from the Atlanta Police Department and Atlanta Fire Rescue hosted “Cookies With Rookies,” a community engagement event at Atlantic Station, designed to introduce first responders to residents outside of emergency situations and foster dialogue in a casual setting. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the initiative is part of a broader city strategy to strengthen relationships and counter distrust that followed national controversies over police conduct and use of force. “These are our newest members of the department, and we want them to understand that community partnership is essential,” Schierbaum said. “The only way we succeed as an effective police and fire department is to have that relationship with our neighborhoods.” For many Americans, efforts like this come amid ongoing skepticism about policing and justice. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that about a third of U.S. adults say things between police and Black Americans are worse now than before Floyd’s murder, and just 11% say the relationship is better. Recruit Jamari Anderson, 22, said he chose to join the Atlanta Police Department because he wanted to be part of the solution and a reassuring presence in communities where distrust runs deep. “At the end of the day, someone
Jamal McKee – AFRD recruit. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Jamari Anderson- APD recruit. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
always needs a protector,” Anderson said. “Regardless of how Anderson said being present and approachable at community events is one way future officers can begin to bridge the gap with residents. On the fire side, recruits emphasized that trust is equally important when lives are at stake. Jamal McKee, a 28-year-old Atlanta Fire Rescue recruit who entered the academy in February 2024, said training demands precision and accountability.
“This job is very detailed,” McKee said. “You’re learning EMT work and life-saving measures. It’s not just your license in your hands, it’s other people’s lives.” McKee, scheduled to graduate in April 2026, said becoming a firefighter offered him a way to serve while being a familiar, reassuring face in the community. Atlanta Fire Chief Roderick Smith, a veteran of 32- years, said building trust before emergencies occur can make a meaningful
Recruits from the Atlanta Police Department and Atlanta Fire Rescue hosted “Cookies With Rookies,” a community engagement event at Atlantic Station. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
difference when crises strike. “I always say, get to know us before the red lights come on,” Smith said. “When the lights come on, there’s chaos. Trust is key in those moments.” The monthly engagement events will continue through 2026, including during major events like the World Cup, as part of ongoing efforts to rebuild community trust
and dialogue between first responders and Atlanta residents. Another recruit, 34-year-old Justus Wright, said he hopes residents remember firefighters as approachable people committed to service. “If they see me again in the future, I want them to recognize me and know that I’m there to help,” Wright said.
theatlantavoice.com • JANUARY 2-8, 2026 • Page 11
Sports
Falcons defense saved its best for last By DONNELL SUGGS
D
efense wins championships. In the case of the Atlanta Falcons, that will not be happening, at least not this season, but it does win games. The Los Angeles Rams hadn’t been held scoreless during the first half of a game all season before they set foot in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night. The Falcons had failed to hold an opponent scoreless during the first half of any game this season before they began the game on Monday night. The Atlanta Falcons are at the end of the road. There’s only one remaining game on the 2025 schedule, and after Monday night’s 27-24 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, there’s a good chance to end the season on a high note. The Falcons are now on a three-game winning streak and the defense has to be given a ton of credit for that recent run success. “We got some turnovers early. I thought we did a nice job of doing that as a team,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said after the game. “That was a great team
win and a great team effort to be able to hold that team scoreless.” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had only thrown five interceptions this season before he was picked off three times on Monday night. Jessie Bates III returned a first-half interception for a touchdown and rookie safety Xavier Watts intercepted two Stafford passes during the second quarter and the fourth quarter. Watts nearly returned the fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown, but stepped out of bounds near midfield. “Great night. The guys came to play tonight, and they played a good football team,” said Morris, the former defensive coordinator for the Rams during their Super Bowl season in 2022. A former college safety during his playing days at Hofstra University, Morris will happily hang his hat on the same rack as current Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Atlanta’s defense is second in the league with 53 sacks (Denver is first with 64), 11th in passing yards allowed, and 14th in total yards allowed.
During the game against the Rams, the Falcons got sacks from four different players, including Khalid Kareem, whose name was on the practice squad list as early as the beginning of the week. Leonard Floyd, Brandon Dorlus, and Ruke Orhorhoro had the other sacks. Watts’ five interceptions is the most for a Falcons rookie since Deion Sanders had five in 1989. That defensive effort could be seen as a sign of what this team is capable of when healthy and focused. Or it could just be a good night in a season of bad nights. The Falcons’ defense also gave up 21 unanswered points, including a touchdown on a blocked field goal late in the third quarter. Either way, the Atlanta Falcons won their seventh game of the season. Next up for the Falcons (7-9 overall), winners of their last three, is the New Orleans Saints (6-10 overall), winners of their last four. Neither team is going to make the playoffs, but both are playing their final game of the season with momentum on the line. Kickoff for the Sunday, January 4 game will be 1 p.m.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris (above) credited his team’s defense for “coming to play” against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Sports
Charlie Ward has good memories of playing in Atlanta By DONNELL SUGGS The Florida A&M Rattlers men’s basketball program played a non-conference game at Georgia Tech on Sunday, December 28, 2025. But on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Rattlers first-year head coach Charlie Ward took a seat inside the College Football Hall of Fame to talk shop. For a college basketball coach to be seated in college football’s hall of record here in Atlanta would be odd if not for the man in question. Thomasville, Georgia native, Charlie Ward is one of the greatest twosport collegiate athletes of all time. Moments after the Rattlers’ bus pulled up outside the College Football Hall of Fame, a dozen student-athletes got off the bus, followed by a shorter and older man wearing glasses and a FAMU sweatsuit. Ward still looks like he’s at his playing weight from his playing days. Asked if his team had any idea how good a college football player he was, Ward smirked before looking ambivalent. His football-playing days are long gone. The visit to the hall will give his players quite an education on their head coach if they aren’t sure how good he was on the gridiron. This being Ward’s first season as a
collegiate head coach, there have been some lessons learned along the way. The Rattlers are 3-7 overall and have lost their last two games. While playing basketball at Florida State, Ward’s teams, which included former NBA players Sam Cassell and Bob Sura, rarely lost games, despite competing in the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). “I just appreciate our upbringing,” Ward said of his playing days. He mentioned a game-winning layup against the Yellow Jackets and a big win at Boddy Dodd Stadium during his senior season as moments that stand out in Atlanta. Now he was back, looking for another victory. Speaking of the ACC, FAMU will play a Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets team that is 8-4 and is also coached by a former NBA point guard, Damon Stoudamire. “This has been a good experience. The players are the players, and the game is the game,” Ward said. His high school coaching career gave him less autonomy over who he was coaching, but the college level will allow him to piece together a roster. “Being able to go recruiting has been
something. You just have to manage your roster,” he said. As decorated for his on-field heroics as Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, two legendary two-sport athletes on the collegiate and professional levels, Ward won the 1993 Heisman Trophy as the quarterback at Florida State University and the 1994 National Championship. He followed up a five-star college football career with a 12-year career as a guard in the NBA, first as a first-round draft pick, 26th overall, by the New York Knicks, who were also in Atlanta for a game against the Atlanta Hawks that night. Asked if he knew that his former team was in town at the same time as his new team, Ward said he didn’t. He’s focused on coaching college basketball these days. The team was given a tour of the hall, and for the majority of the players, this was their first time inside. Ward, who also finished sixth in Heisman voting as a junior in 1992, and is the basketball program’s alltime leader in steals, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Ward and his wife started and continue to operate the Charlie and Tonja Ward Family Foundation.
First-year FAMU head basketball coach and former 12-year NBA veteran Charlie Ward won the 1993 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Florida State University. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Page 12 • JANUARY 2-8, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com
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