The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 040326

Vision. Power. Legacy.

In The Black

Arena at Southlake: A community hub by Shahida Mausi

By ISAIAH SINGLETON

With the Arena at Southlake, a new multi-purpose facility in Morrow, set to officially open this spring, The Atlanta Voice spoke with the woman leading operations at the venue: Shahida Mausi, CEO and founder of The Right Productions, Inc. (TRP).

Founded in 1996, TRP is an entertainment production and venue management company with a national footprint. Since 2004, the company has managed Detroit’s 6,000-seat Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, formerly Chene Park, making it the only amphitheater of its size in the United States operated by an African American woman-owned firm.

Under Mausi’s leadership, the venue has ranked among the top amphitheaters in the world, hosting hundreds of concerts featuring internationally renowned artists. She is widely recognized for her impact across culture, the arts, entertainment, and community development.

Now, Mausi brings that experience to Clayton County, where she oversees operations of the new 8,000-seat Arena at Southlake, expanding TRP’s reach in large-scale venue management.

Mausi said the idea for the arena grew from a practical need: providing Clayton County Public Schools students with a high-quality graduation experience without the recurring cost of renting external venues.

“The board of the Clayton County Public School System said they should have our own space, rather than spend half a million dollars a year on graduations in somebody else’s facility,” Mausi said. “From there, the idea grew.”

Interim Superintendent Dr. Douglas Hendrix, Sr. said the arena represents more than a building; it’s an investment in students and the broader community.

“The Arena at Southlake

represents what is possible when we center children and strengthen the community around them,” Hendrix said. “It creates opportunities for students to build confidence, explore real-world pathways, and prepare for success beyond the classroom.”

Beyond education, Mausi sees the arena as a catalyst for economic growth in Clayton County and the south metro Atlanta region.

“We anticipate that every dollar spent on entertainment, sports, or concerts will generate an additional $12 in economic activity in and around this area,” she said. “We expect to create hundreds of parttime jobs, along with some fulltime positions. This will be an economic engine for the community.”

Mausi, a founding member of the Black Promoters Collective, is the promoter behind the New Edition concert. She says she is humbled, but shouldn’t be the only one.

“I’ve been in this field since college, and you keep your head down and keep working, always looking for ways to climb that mountain,”

she said. “I didn’t realize we were the only Black company to control 6,000 seats, and now 14,000 seats, because I’ve worked in supportive

communities like Detroit and now Clayton County.”

She also noted the broader impact the arena is expected to have, including increased traffic to local restaurants and hotels, as well as expanded internship and workforce

development opportunities.

As for how she felt when she won the bid to design the arena, Mausi used the word humbled to describe the moment.

“We look at what we do as a mission of service, and what we do

affects the people we serve. It is our goal to provide great experiences for people and give people the opportunity to come to things that we do, and to leave that space uplifted,” she said.

What she is looking forward to most about the grand opening is seeing people’s jaws drop when they enter the building. Not only was the idea to create space for entertainment and education, but it’s unique in the country, taking a significant part of the Southlake Mall and transforming it, she says.

Mausi says she hopes the arena brings joy to the community, creates economic activity, and serves as a place that lifts the spirit and pride of the community.

The Arena at Southlake will officially open on Wednesday, April 22. The venue has already hosted the 2026 SIAC men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in March.

“On behalf of the Clayton County Board of Education, I invite our community to join us as we celebrate this important milestone,” said Hendrix, Sr.

Atlanta Dedicates Vietnam War Memorial Plaza

By STAN WASHINGTON

On Vietnam War Memorial Sunday in Piedmont Park, veteran Rev. Elderson J. McGhee surveyed the audience full of Atlanta and Fulton County residents, state politicians, dignitaries, and fellow Vietnam War veterans. He began his remarks by saying, “This is what I wanted when I came home from Vietnam.”

But as we know, there were no ceremonies or parades welcoming home the soldiers, dead or alive, who returned home from the war. They only received disdain. Some were spat upon by protestors of the war. The average age of the soldiers in World War II was 26. The average age of the young men who served in Vietnam was only 19. Most didn’t have a clue why they were halfway around the world fighting Communism in this divided Southeast Asian country.

McGhee and his fellow Vietnam veterans finally got the welcome home celebration and parade they

long sought with the dedication of Atlanta/Fulton County’s Vietnam War Memorial in Piedmont Park.

The monument features five pillars representing the five branches of the armed services and the plaques with the names of 240 men from Atlanta and Fulton County who made the ultimate sacrifice. Over 58,000 Americans were killed during the Vietnam War. That number does not include many others who returned home suffering from Agent Orange,

PTSD, and other ailments.

“This project is designed to honor and memorialize them, their sacrifice, their service, and their legacy,” McGhee said. “This is a work for their hometown and their homeboys who served but returned home alive and able to tell their stories.”

The idea for this project began 20 years ago in McGhee’s backyard, where he discussed the idea with several of his fellow Vietnam vets.

It would be another 11 years before the city of Atlanta and City Councilman Michael Bond would become involved, helping make the project a reality.

On Jan. 22, 2019, Bond, with the support of the Atlanta Commission on Veterans Affairs, got the Atlanta City Council to approve a resolution to establish the Sons of Atlanta Vietnam War Monument and Memorial Experience, in partnership with the local 118th Chapter of the

Vietnam Veterans of America.

“This memorial is our promise to remember - a place where stone and steel will forever echo the names and legacies of Atlanta’s fallen,” Bond said. “Hopefully, this will also be a place of healing for the veterans and family members of those who lost their lives.”

According to McGhee, the memorial plaza is not the end of the work of the Sons of Atlanta Vietnam War Memorial Project.

“We will become a part of community centers and libraries all across Atlanta and Fulton County, providing instant access to resources and assistance that improve the quality of life for everyone in the community,” McGhee said.

“Let’s work and serve, as they did together to protect, preserve, and grow what we have, because their service and sacrifices warrant this level of loyalty from us now,” he added.

Located on the Piedmont Avenue side across from the ball field, the plaza is open and free during park hours.

‘Let’s Bring Out the Lovely KiKi Shepard’

By LIZ COURQUETLESAULNIER

Word In Black

When I was growing up in Chicagoland back in the ‘80s, there were two Black women I wanted to dress like when I was growing up. One was Dominique Deveraux — Diahann Carroll’s iconic character on “Dynasty,” the prime time soap — who was all silk and shoulder pads and cold, gorgeous nerve, always ready to slap somebody.

The other was a character of her own making. She showed up every week on a stage in Harlem and demonstrated, without ever saying so, that Black women could be elegant and powerful and completely in command — not in spite of how they looked, but partly because of it.

KiKi Shepard, co-host of “Showtime at the Apollo,” appeared on my TV screen every week in a perfectly tailored gown, gliding across that stage like she had never once in her life rushed for anything.

Shepard died Monday at 74, of a massive heart attack in Los Angeles. Her representative, LaShirl Smith, described the loss on Instagram as sudden and unexpected, one that “hurts an awful lot.” For those of us who grew up watching her, that grief feels exactly right.

More Than Mere Decoration

Born Chiquita Renée Shepard in Tyler, Texas, Shepard was a Howard University graduate — an actress, dancer, and television host who graced our screens from 1987 to 2002. Back then, America had Vanna White, glammed up to turn letters on “Wheel of Fortune.” But Black folks had KiKi Shepard, so famous and so fine she ended up in Outkast’s 2000 hit “So Fresh, So Clean.”

Shepard was central to how a generation of Black viewers experienced the Apollo. Every week, the announcer’s voice would boom through the television — “And now: Amateur Night with KiKi Shepard.” — and she would appear. Moving like the dictionary should have her image next to the words charm,

grace, and elegance. Moving like time was hers to keep.

After the amateurs had poured themselves out on the Apollo stage, the night’s host — Sinbad, Mark Curry, Steve Harvey, take your pick — would summon her: “Let’s bring out the lovely KiKi Shepard.” In sky-high heels, legs a mile long, she’d float onstage and stand behind the contestants, hand hovering over their heads as the crowd roared its verdict.

There was theater in it, yes. But Shepard was more than mere decoration.

Occupying Space, on Her Terms

Sometimes talk about representation in the media can seem as if it’s mostly an exercise in accounting — how many Black folks are in which roles and on which networks. But representation isn’t just about who has permission to be seen, it’s also about how they are seen.

Before there were countless TV and streaming channels, before social media, there were narrow definitions of how Black women could appear on American screens. They had a limited range of roles — loud, comedic, sidekick, or silent. Shepard was one of the few Black women on mainstream television in the late 20th century allowed to simply be She wasn’t a punchline or a prop or someone’s sassy best friend.

In a society where Black women are expected to contort and minimize themselves — to be exceptional but not threatening, visible, but not too visible, and confident, but not “difficult” or “aggressive” — Shepard modeled how to occupy space on her own terms. Comfortable in her own skin, without asking anyone’s permission.

Back then, many of us Black girls didn’t yet have the words for what we saw in her. But each week, with a twinkle in her eye, she conveyed that such ease was also possible for us.

A Job ‘Not Everybody Can Do’

Shepherd herself once described her Apollo years not as fame, but as a master class. She watched and studied the hosts she worked with, learning how to hold an audience, to guide a room, to do a job that, as she

put it, “not everybody can do.”

The gowns were part of the work too. She talked about fashion as a vehicle, something audiences could connect with, statements that drew attention to causes she cared deeply about.

After connecting with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America in the early 1990s, Shepard spent more than a decade traveling the country, hosting events, visiting patients and families, and using her platform to bring visibility to a disease that disproportionately affects Black people. As a carrier of the trait herself, she understood the stakes — and turned her visibility into service. She founded the KIS Foundation in 2006 to improve the health of lives of people with the disease.

“KiKi believed that compassion,

community, and education could change lives,” her family said in a statement on the foundation website. “Her voice uplifted countless individuals who often felt unseen, and her work created lasting pathways for hope, resources, and understanding for those living with this disease.”

It would be easy, and incomplete, to remember KiKi Shepard only as the gorgeous woman in the gown at the Apollo. She was that beyond a doubt. But she was also a trained performer, a self-made television institution, an advocate who thrived during her moment in the spotlight and kept working for a cause she believed in once it moved on.

And all these years later, I still want her clothes, her posture, and her unhurried certainty that she belonged exactly where she was.

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“I’ll Let History Tell Its Story”: Bottoms, Black Women Mayors Celebrated

By LAURA NWOGU

Black women continue to make history and shatter glass ceilings in local, state, and federal government, especially within Georgia. On the heels of Women’s History Month, some of the women breaking barriers as mayors of various Georgia cities, including former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, gathered on Tuesday for a luncheon to celebrate and honor their notable achievements. Hosted by The National Association of Women Owned Small Businesses, the luncheon featured small businesses offering products such as wellness items and an array of jewelry, and it was a chance for women from all over Georgia to network, fellowship, and support small businesses.

With less than a month until early voting in Georgia’s highly anticipated gubernatorial race, candidate Lance Bottoms said it was an honor to celebrate her fellow Georgia mayors and support the entrepreneurial spirit of female business owners. If Lance Bottoms wins Georgia’s gubernatorial race in November, she will become the first Black person and the first woman to take the helm as governor, following her status as the second Black woman elected mayor of Atlanta.

responsibility of being a leader and all that represents. I’m showing my children and people throughout various communities what leadership can and should look like. It really should be reflective of all of us. So I’ll let history tell its story, but, of course, I’m honored.”

“Supporting small businesses really is in my DNA. My mother owned a hair salon for almost three decades. I know how important it is for women to be able to provide for their families and have the flexibility they need to provide. And the stream of income for our family really was a life changer, and then to be able to celebrate with women leaders across the metro area is something that we should all be doing, especially in this season,” Lance Bottoms said to The Atlanta Voice.

“It’s not always top of mind for me that I’m a history maker, but it really is just a

RallyHER’s Women’s March: Voices That Refuse to Be Silenced

By MILES PIERRE, INTERN

On the steps of the AUC Woodruff Library, students across the Atlanta University Center gathered for RallyHER’s Women’s History March on Tuesday, March 24. They marched to the Georgia State Capitol, raising awareness about issues impacting women and advocating for women’s rights for greater equity.

RallyHER is an initiative of ProjectHER, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded by Garyel Tubbs in 2025.

The RallyHER’s March was created as both a safe space and an opportunity for young women at both Clark Atlanta and Spelman College to lead, organize, and demand change on several issues that women face that don’t get spoken enough about. Rokita Spencer, a junior political science major at Clark Atlanta University and the organizer of this event, spoke about the spark that inspired her to create this community-wide movement.

“This was a collective effort, and I want to give back to those women who have helped mold me

Amid Atlanta and Georgia’s constantly changing political landscape, with impacts that echo across the nation, Black women are also making waves in the state’s smaller cities, opening the door to more change. The Black female mayors in attendance were greeted with a standing ovation as they were welcomed into the luncheon, where their special contributions to Georgia’s communities were recognized.

The event featured Bainbridge, Ga., Mayor Sylvia Washington, the city’s first Black and female mayor; Jonesboro, Ga., Mayor Donya Sartor, the city’s first Black mayor; Palmetto, Ga., Mayor Teresa Thomas-Smith, the city’s first Black and female mayor; Metter,

and also create a new legacy for a new generation of women who are coming after me,” Spencer said.

Spencer added that the march was not only rooted in women’s leadership, but also a safe space where they can feel heard and understood, emphasizing others, including men of both Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta, should come out and support. Spencer also adds that she feels these issues continue to be overlooked.

“There should be more opportunities for women being able to feel appreciated in these spaces,” said Spencer. “It’s always a certain group or a certain demographic that is able to be uplifted more than the other. I want to be able to create a space where all women are uplifted on the same exact level, whether that’s at Clark Atlanta, Spelman, Morris Brown, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, or anywhere.”

As more attendees gathered across the promenade, several students expressed how the march carried both personal meaning and collective

Ga., Mayor Rashida Taylor, the city’s first female mayor since 1974; Hampton, Ga., Mayor Ann Tarpley, the city’s first Black and female mayor; Cairo, Ga., Mayor Arlisha Williams, the city’s first female mayor; Forest Park, Ga., Mayor Gwen Webb Ellison, one of the first two students to integrate Forest Park High School; Donalsonville, Ga., Mayor Twynette Reynolds, the city’s first female mayor; and Swainsboro, Ga., Mayor Lillie Ann Brown, the city’s first Black and female mayor.

“Throughout the metro area, we have a number of women leaders, from our county commission chairs to mayors. As go women, so go our communities quite often. We are often on the front lines of being sensitive to what the needs are in our communities, especially for our young people. We are heading households, we are heading civic organizations and governments, and it’s just important for people, especially women, to see leadership reflected in other women,” Lance Bottoms said.

Disney Dreamers 2026: One Class. 100 Dreams.

By DONNELL SUGGS

The dreams and goals of the young people assembled at Disney World for the annual Disney Dreamers Academy vary. There are high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors here who want to pursue studies in medicine, law, economics, and careers in the arts.

Making their way from Georgia are Fiffy Abiodun-Findo, Kyla Decambre, Joseph Giles, Kenia Gonzalez-Chavez, Claire Jefferson, Riley Lacey, Alexis Lattimore, Skye Pierre, Azarii Roach, and Shakayah Watson.

And then there are the two future journalists.

For Georgia Disney Dreamers, Decambre and Lacey, the craft of journalism is what they want to do in the future. Both students took time to talk to The Atlanta Voice about why they enjoy the time-honored traditions of broadcast journalism and what they hope to do with it in the future.

Decambre, a junior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology, said she wants to be a broadcast journalist because it’s a part of her everyday life. She and her parents watch the local news every day, and on her own time, Decambre watches national and regional news online and via social media.

“Journalism is really important to me. It has had such a profound impact on my life,” Decambre, 17, said. “ I want to be that person who helps communicate what is going on.”

Decambre doesn’t have a go-to news broadcast that she watches. She said she likes to diversify her news coverage, or what she

describes as her “news palate”.

“It’s so important to know the community around you,” she said.

Her journalism and life mentors include Howard University professor Dominic McKenzie, whom she met during a summer in D.C. through the HBCU’s “Voices of Tomorrow” program, which serves aspiring journalists while they are high school students. There are also her parents, who she said were her biggest support system.

Lacy, a junior at Woodward Academy in College Park, wants to be a sports broadcaster. He told The Atlanta Voice that he has always enjoyed watching sports and sometimes gets involved in a unique way when watching basketball and football on TV.

“I just really like sports, and sometimes when I watch I find myself commentating on the games,” Lacy, 17, said.

This past football season for the Eagles was a special one for Lacy, who joined the broadcast team for the first time. A competitive program at Woodward Academy, Lacy had to wait his turn to get in the booth for the school’s successful and popular football team. He counts the season of broadcasting as a major accomplishment and milestone.

“I think it’s important because you get more of the game from the inside,” Lacy said of sports journalism and broadcasting. “You can report the stories more than just what is in the box scores.”

Lacy is a fan of his hometown professional sports teams, including the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Falcons. He recently got into baseball and is looking forward to following the Atlanta Braves this season.

“If there’s a Hawks game on, I’ll just put it on, even if it’s just for background noise,” said

Lacy, who said he has been enjoying the Disney Dreamers Academy experience. The last time he and his family were at Disney World was when he was three. “ I just love sports.”

Asked what they want to take away from the Disney Dreamers Academy experience, Decambre and Lacy said the relationships they are forming with the other Dreamers are at the top of their lists.

“I just want to make new friends and take full advantage of new opportunities,” Lacy said.

Cecambre said she has so many things she wants to take away from this week, “I want to say too much”, she joked.

“The leadership experiences,” Decambre said. “I love to learn from the people who want to make a change, so I can learn how to make an impact on people’s lives where I live.”

On day two of the Disney Dreamers Academy, the 100 students who were selected for the prestigious week-long academy, and their parents and guardians, were assembled in one of the large rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It was time for the official welcome and start of the group workshops and mentor presentations.

Throughout the week, the Dreamers will have received plenty of motivation from Disney staff, special guests, and, of course, from their families and friends. But some things said during the welcome rally might be bookmarked in their minds long after this experience is over.

Here are some highlights: “You are not the future, you are, in fact, what we need right now,” DDA alumnus Princeton Parker said.

“Today, you join a powerful legacy,” said Disney Chief Opportunity & Inclusion Officer Tinisha Agramonte.

“When something is in your way, don’t run

from it. It’s a speedbump, go over it,” WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson, one of the celebrity mentors, said.

For Georgia Dreamers, Fiffy Abiodun-Findo, Kenia Gonzalez-Chavez, and Claire Jefferson, those words of encouragement were fuel to their fires.

Jefferson, a senior at Houston County High School in Warner Robins, has plenty of motivation at home. She is here following in the footsteps of her mother, Tanisha Jefferson (then Simpson), Disney College Program Class of 1997, and brother, Solomon Jefferson, Disney College Program Class of 2023.

“I want to keep the generational run going,” the youngest Jefferson joked.

Disney is in her blood. Interested in acting, Jefferson played Princess Tiana in last year’s Houston County Christmas Parade.

“I love the theater and the fine arts, Jefferson said. “You have to have that creativity, and I enjoy that.”

Jefferson is also interested in mechanical engineering and has tentative plans to attend Georgia Tech in Atlanta after high school. She also wants to apply for the Disney College Program. She said she believes in taking full advantage of opportunities like these.

“I want to take these experiences and see how I can shape the rest of my life,” said Jefferson.

The daughter of Nigerian parents, Abiodun-Findo, wants to be an OBGYN for a very good reason. She wants to help Black women get the health care and medical compassion they deserve and need.

“I think women of color’s pain isn’t properly recognized due to stereotypes, and I want

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clarity for them.

“What initially brought me out was I wanted to support Rokita and my peers, but when I found out what the real meaning and purpose of this was, it meant everything to me and what I stand for,” said Kyra Pollard, a junior at Clark Atlanta. “I’m a huge womanist, and I think women deserve so much more than what we’re getting, especially with our rights being converted.”

DREAMERS

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to do something about it,” said Abiodun-Findo, 17, a junior at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville.

When she found out there would be 10 Georgia Dreamers in her class, she was impressed. “That says a lot about Georgia,” she said. “It’s been cool to meet different people from Georgia.”

Calling the Disney Dreamers Academy experience “really big” and “larger than myself,” Abiodun-Findo said it has also felt surreal at times.

“It feels like I should be at school right now, going through third period,” she joked.

Asked if she would do it again, Abiodun-Findo, smiling brightly, quickly answered, “In a heartbeat.”

A first-generation American of Salvadoran parents, Gonzalez-Chavez also wants to change the world, but she plans to do her work from the courtrooms of Georgia. Gonzalez-Chavez, 16, is a sophomore at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens. Her dream is to become an attorney so she can help bridge the divide between native Spanish speakers and the state’s legal system.

“From the things I see in my own community, I believe I could help a lot of people by running a bilingual law firm,” she said.

Pollard also noted that being in a space surrounded by Black women made the movement feel even more powerful and safe.

“Being part of a demographic that is often disrespected and heavily neglected in America can be really discouraging at times,” said Pollard. “But seeing us all together being able to be resilient, happy, and ecstatic, makes everything worth it.”

Several student organizations, including the NAACP Chapter of Clark Atlanta University, came in support of the march and spoke about several issues impacting women that

aren’t being talked about enough.

“I believe that their voice is not being talked about enough,” said David White Jr, the current Mr. NAACP. “We really have to put our women first. As a Black man, I grew up in a house with all women, so I understand what it’s like to not feel heard and not to feel good about certain things.”

Danae Samuel, the Executive Event Coordinator for NAACP, added on by emphasizing to others on how to take action today to support women in their communities.

“Spreading the word is critical,” said Samuel. “Spread the word both across campus

Gonzalez-Chavez shared that her mother didn’t complete high school, so opportunities like Disney Dreamers Academy have been a God-send for her and her family.

“To be here with so many talented and smart people is awesome,” Gonzalez-Chavez said. “I have been able to network with kids and adults.”

She wants to study at Emory University in Atlanta after high school.

Along with being a leader in the classroom, Gonzalez-Chavez is involved with Youth Lead Georgia, an

organization run by the J.W. Fanning Institute at the University of Georgia.

“I just try to take advantage of these opportunities,” she said. “But mostly I want to be able to network with people my age and adults. I would like to continue talking to these people in the future.”

On day three, Shakayah Watson walked up and took the microphone with her right hand. Moments earlier, she had handed over her drawing of a superhero to famed artist Nikkolas Smith with that same hand, and now she was about to briefly explain who that superhero was on the page.

Dressed in a yellow Disney Dreamers Academy t-shirt and denim shorts, she described her drawing to her fellow Disney Dreamers as follows: “I made a superhero that could time-travel and maybe alter things that have happened in the past, because right now I feel like we are re-living things from the past instead of learning from our past experiences.”

The superhero’s name is KI5 (pronounced Ki-Five).

Watson said she enjoyed presenting her drawing to her fellow Disney Dreamers. Along with sports, she fancies herself an artist off the court, and enjoys conveying her creativity on canvases and in sketchbooks.

“I’m a painting and drawing fanatic, and I love expressing myself through art,” she said. “The way it came out, I

and outside the world so people become more aware.”

For Spencer, the future of this organization extends beyond just one march and just one single day. As the crowd of students moved from the library to the State Capitol, one message remained clear: this movement is ongoing, and the leaders behind it refuse to have their voices silenced.

“One action that people can take after today to support these women within these communities is listening,” said Spencer. “You do not listen to respond, you listen to understand.”

loved the meaning behind it, too.”

Watson, a junior student-athlete at Shiloh High School in Snellville, is used to being on stage in front of her peers. She plays basketball and volleyball for competitive programs at the Atlanta-area high school. She considers volleyball her favorite and best sport, and hopes to continue playing on the collegiate level. Watson isn’t against playing college basketball, though, and has her eyes on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Florida A&M University. The Tallahassee campus is close enough to home without being too close, she explained.

Asked what being a successful multi-sport athlete has done for her self-confidence and ability to be prepared to perform in front of crowds, Watson answered, “Everything.”

Being more specific, Watson, 17, said, “It definitely helped me with time management, because when it comes to playing games with clubs and AAU, my dad taught me to be at least 15 minutes earlier.”

Watson said she usually arrives 2030 minutes early in order to warm up and think through the game ahead.

This spring, she started playing on her school’s tennis team. Another sport, another opportunity to compete.

She told The Atlanta Voice that sports have also helped her with confidence.

“Sports have helped me prepare myself as a young adult,” Watson said. “It’s helped me with how I show up in life. I don’t just show up, I’m learning how to show up mentally prepared and in a more confident manner.”

During day three of the academy, Watson and three other student-athletes/Dreamers got a chance to meet WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson. Watson believed the meeting was fated.

“I spoke it into existence, actually,” Watson said. “I told my mom that if I saw her, I was going to hug her and ask her some questions.”

Watson said she loved talking to Wilson and considers her an inspiration as a fellow 6-foot-four female athlete. “We were side-by-side, I got to hug her, we’re the same height, it was so good talking to her.”

Her overall Disney Dreamers Academy experience was summed up in a few short sentences: “I loved it. It was so good.”

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You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Build a Strong Financial Future

By EBONy ROBINSON Vice President and Financial Advisor, United Brokerage Services, Inc.

April is Financial Literacy Month, a national observance aimed at raising awareness about the importance of financial education and encouraging Americans to practice healthy financial habits. As a financial advisor with United Bankshares, I’ve seen firsthand the difference a strong financial education can make in a person’s future.

According to the 2025 TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index, financial literacy in the U.S. has remained stagnant in recent years, recently dropping to 49% –the same level as the inaugural 2017 Index. A demographic breakdown also shows that financial literacy levels tend to be the lowest among women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Gen Z.

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interest charges on high-APR credit cards, and unnecessary or forgotten expenses, like subscriptions, which may be holding you back from strengthening your financial position.

Often, a review of how your money is moving is all it takes to better understand your finances.

Establish a financial plan

Now that you have a better picture of your financial situation, the next step is to begin planning.

At its core, financial planning is about developing a strategy for your money. It covers topics such as

Financial planning is for people who want to make smarter decisions with their money, and working with a financial advisor can help ease the burden and bridge that knowledge gap. Financial planning allows you to take control of your financial future, avoid common mistakes, and be prepared for life’s uncertainties. With a solid plan, you have a clear roadmap for your money, which helps you make smarter decisions and stay on track to reach your goals.

Make a will

Once you’ve taken steps to understand and grow your finances, it’s just as important to think about how those assets are protected and passed on. As the saying goes, “you can’t take it with you.” After spending a lifetime accumulating wealth, it’s time to decide what happens to it after you’re gone.

As my colleague in Trust and Estate Planning often reminds clients, everyone should have an estate plan

“We don’t like to talk about death, but the reality is that no one lives forever,” said Regan Lonchena, United Bank Wealth Management SVP and Director of Advanced Planning & Trust Legal Counsel. “You can’t prevent death when it’s your time, but what you can do is prepare for it and make sure your money, property, investments, and dependents are all taken care of according to your wishes after you’re gone.”

Creating an estate plan and making a will isn’t just for the wealthy. Lonchena suggests that anyone over 18 years old should have an estate plan. “At 18, you are legally considered an adult, meaning parents are no longer able to access health information or make medical or financial decisions for their children.”

An estate plan ensures you – not the state – decide what happens to your assets. Without a will and other estate planning documents, like a power of attorney, the state may decide what happens to assets, personal belongings, and private items in the case of a person’s incapacitation or death. Don’t let all your earnings, savings, investing, and smart money moves go to waste by forgoing an estate plan in the end.

Financial literacy doesn’t require

expertise – it starts with small, intentional steps. By taking the time to understand your finances, create a plan, and protect what you’ve built, you begin laying the foundation for long-term financial stability. This Financial Literacy Month, the goal isn’t to know everything, it’s to start.

Ebony Robinson is a financial advisor at United Brokerage Services, Inc., covering the greater Atlanta metro area and surrounding regions. She has a Master of Business Administration and has worked in the financial services industry since 2004. Ebony holds the following licenses: Series 6, Series 7, Series 63, and Life & Health Insurance. United Brokerage Services, Inc., is a registered broker-dealer and registered Investment Advisory Firm. It is a subsidiary of United Bankshares, Inc., the issuer of UBSI stock. The investments offered through United Brokerage Services, with the exception of brokerage certificates of deposit, are not bank deposits and are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, any bank. These products are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC. Investments are subject to risk including possible loss of principal. This information is not legal, or tax advice and past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

Latryce Golliday’s ‘Redemption’ art exhibition in Atlanta

By NOAH WASHINGTON

The Candler Hotel in downtown Atlanta hosted a solo exhibition of Latryce Marie Golliday’s gallery, “Redemption,” bringing together nearly 30 works of sculpture, photography, and painting.

Golliday, a Michigan native who relocated to Atlanta roughly a decade ago, has spent the past two years building a full-time artistic practice after treating painting as a hobby for years. The exhibition, held in one of downtown Atlanta’s landmark spaces, marks a significant milestone in that transition.

The name “Redemption,” she said, reflects a deliberate emotional choice.

“I think I was feeling a lot of rage, and I think that rage sometimes will make you go into the mode of revenge,” Golliday said. “And to me, I had to grab hold of that emotion and turn it into something that is powerful and transformative. Redemption is the underdog story.”

That story is rooted in hardship. In 2022, a kidney illness led to the full removal of her left kidney. During her recovery, while still working in real estate, a friend encouraged her to channel her downtime into creating art for her home. It proved to be a turning point.

“I lost my kidney, but on the other side,

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I became an artist,” Golliday said. “I think that’s the story of redemption, all in itself, taking your negative experiences and making something beautiful.”

Golliday began painting 10 years ago after hosting a sip-and-paint event following the birth of her son. When a friend purchased her first painting, the moment sparked something she said she couldn’t ignore. She stepped fully into her artistic identity two years ago.

Among the exhibition’s works is the key art piece “Transformation,” which originated as a small self-portrait Golliday had gifted away to a friend. After a child tore the painting in half, she asked to have it returned and reworked it into a larger, more elaborate composition. She described the original as a reflection of the physical and emotional scars from her surgeries.

“That piece was a self-portrait, and it was a reflection of the scars that I have from my surgeries and things that I’ve gone through,” she said. “To see it ripped in half, it kind of just tore me apart. But I ended up asking if I could have it back so that I can rework the piece, and it turned into that incredible, elaborate piece.”

Another piece, “The 1st Will Be Last and the Last Will Be 1st,” was created while Golliday watched a multi-part documentary series, “Whited Out, exploring what she

described as the erasure of Black history. She said she hopes the work resonates beyond any single community.

“I think the truth needs to be just universal,” she said. “We’re the human race. We’re all one people, and that’s where we should be right now.”

One piece in the exhibition draws from an unexpected source. While out on a morning workout, Golliday said she came across a downtown protest hosted by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic service organization, and briefly joined in. The encounter, centered on themes of defending life, found its way into her work.

Another piece reinterprets the biblical story of David and Goliath, with Golliday casting herself as David. She described it as a meditation on spiritual resistance rather than physical confrontation, inspired in part by the Gil Scott-Heron poem “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.”

“To me, it means it’s more of a spiritual revolution that’s going to happen,” she said. “I think that God will handle everything and balance everything out.”

Beyond her art, Golliday is the founder of Atlanta Art Club for Kids, a monthly meetup group that takes children to cultural experiences across the city. The group’s inaugural outing was to the High Museum of Art. She said the initiative grew from a desire

to give children the kind of exposure she wished she had growing up in Benton Harbor, Michigan

Golliday said her aim with the exhibition is straightforward: to make people feel something beyond the grind of daily life.

“We’re all in this rat race of survival mode, hustle and bustle, just on the go,” she said. “I just want people to feel good and to feel magical. Like when I work, and I paint, I feel like I’m in heaven.”

Atlanta hosts world’s largest space exhibit: THE INFINITE

By NOAH WASHINGTON

In a given lifetime, very few people will ever be able to experience the grandeur that is space exploration.

Now, as a result of hard-working men and women, you are able to experience the spectacle & glory of space right here in Atlanta.

Beginning March 27, Space Explorers: THE INFINITE at Pullman Yards brings the world’s largest immersive space experience to the city for a limited engagement, giving visitors a chance to explore a life-size replica of the International Space Station (ISS) through virtual reality. The exhibition, presented by Infinity Experiences, has drawn more than half a million visitors across global stops including Montreal, Houston, Singapore and more than a dozen other cities before landing in Atlanta.

The project grew out of a collaboration between two Montreal-based studios, PHI Studio and Felix & Paul Studios, which partnered with NASA beginning in 2021 to build specialized cameras and send them to the ISS. Over the course of two years and more than six missions, the cameras,

some equipped with nine to 10 lenses allowing for full 360-degree movement, captured footage of astronauts’ daily lives aboard the station. The resulting exhibition spans four chapters, more than 60 unique videos and required 21 days to build out the Pullman Yards facility.

“You put on a headset and you’re going to explore a life-size replica of the International Space Station in virtual reality,” said Rory Seydel, Director of Marketing at PHI for the exhibition. “You get to see footage that was filmed in space, interviews with astronauts. It’s very intimate and awe-inspiring.”

Visitors are transported nearly 250 miles above Earth, moving in and out of the ISS across the hour-long experience. In addition to astronaut interviews and sweeping views of Earth from orbit, guests can watch NASA’s Artemis I rocket launch on giant screens and take in “The Universe within the Universe,” an audiovisual installation by artist Ryoji Ikeda. The experience is based on the Primetime Emmy Award-winning series “Space Explorers: The ISS

Experience,” created and produced by Felix & Paul Studios in collaboration with NASA and TIME Studios.

The ISS, which has been in operation for decades, is slated for retirement around 2030, making the exhibition a document of a particular era in human spaceflight. Seydel pointed to Atlanta’s deep ties to space exploration as a driving reason for the city’s inclusion on the tour.

“Atlanta has a really strong space community,” Seydel said. “There’s Georgia Tech, which has a number of astronauts who have come from it.”

Among them is Shane Kimbrough, who served as commander of the ISS during the filming of the experience and is a Georgia Tech graduate.

Fewer than 300 people have traveled to the ISS in the past two decades. For Seydel, the exhibition’s core mission is bridging that gap.

“Not everyone in their lifetime is probably going to end up going to space,” he said. “This immersive experience really gives you the feeling and that access to space, and who knows, it might inspire the next astronauts of the future.”

Bottom of Braves’ lineup and bullpen looks ready for 7-game road trip

By DONNELL SUGGS

The bottom third of the Atlanta Braves’ lineup has played better than expected through six games this season. Players like Michael Harris II, Dom Smith, and Mauricio Dubon might not be lighting the baseball world on fire, but they are holding their own and contributing in various ways.

Smith already has a game-winning home run this season, walking off against the Kansas City Royals during opening weekend. Dubon had three hits against the A’s on Monday and another hit on Tuesday. Harris, a notorious slow starter, got a hit on Tuesday night as well.

The Braves’ first-year manager and veteran MLB shortstop Walt Weiss said he is pleased with how the bottom of the lineup has set the table for leadoff hitter Ronald Acuna, Jr. and the other big bats in the lineup: Matt Olson and Austin Riley.

Against the A’s, the big bats left several runners on base, even when they got off to strong starts. For example, on Monday against the A’s, during a 4-0 win, the Braves scored three runs in the first inning, then failed to score again until the eighth inning. On Tuesday, following a walk from Smith and a fielder’s choice error that allowed Dubon to get on base and Smith to second in the seventh inning, Acuna, Jr. and Olson were struck out

with the runners on base.

It’s early in the season, but the failure to get runs in can’t be blamed on the bottom third of the lineup. Harris II, 5-19 from the plate, is hitting .263 with three RBI and a home run. Dubon, in his first season with the Braves, is 6-14 with 5 RBI. When Ha-Seong Kim, the other shortstop in the lineup, gets back into the rotation, it’s going to be hard to keep Dubon, a utility

infielder, out of the lineup.

Smith, who has only played in three games this season, is 3-9 and has 4 RBI and six total bases. On Tuesday night, Smith filled the designated hitter spot and batted eighth. He drew a walk and singled in the fifth inning.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Atlanta Braves closed a three-game series with the Athletics (I’m still not sure what city to associate this team with) with a 5-1 victory. During the game, Smith had two hits, while Dubon had a hit and scored a run.

Next up for the Braves will be a trip west for a seven-game swing against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Angels. The last seven-game West Coast road trip to start the season didn’t go well. The Braves started the 2025 season 0-7 after playing the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. This road trip isn’t against that particular caliber of opponent, but the first part of the trip will have to be without Chris Sale, who started on Wednesday afternoon in the series finale with the A’s. On Wednesday, his most recent start and second of the season, Sale (20) went six innings, giving up a hit and a run in the process.

The 2026 season has begun better than the 2025 season, that’s for sure.

Atlanta came into Monday night with a 2-1 record following a series win over the Kansas City Royals on opening weekend. The highlight of that series can be the opening day start by Chris Sale, home runs by Drake Baldwin, Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies, and Dom Smith. The

latter home run was a walk-off on night two of the season.

The highlight of the series against the A’s might be the four-inning performance from Braves reliever Martin Perez on Tuesday night. The lefty came into the game in the fifth inning and pitched the rest of the game. In the ninth inning, Perez got the final three A’s hitters of the game to fly out and ground out.

After the game, Martin was positive about his appearance tonight. For the first time in at least four years, he’s completely healthy and acknowledged that fact during his postgame press conference.

“I’m healthy, I don’t feel any pain anymore,” he said. “It’s good to go out there and compete for your team.”

His manager was equally positive about the pitching performance and the fact that he only needed to use three pitchers tonight. “Martin did an unbelievable job. He was just what the doctor ordered,” said Braves manager Walt Weiss after the game.

Weiss and the Braves will need Perez, potentially as a fifth starter in Arizona, and second-year player Didier Fuentes, who pitched well (4 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, and 4 Ks) in long relief against Kansas City last Sunday.

SENIOR (62+)

Spacious 1-Bedroom Affordable! Rent Based on Annual Income Amenities, Great Location, and Convenient to Marta Please call for detailed information (404) 586-9098

FIT Sr. Software Engineer to dev system BIOS, firmware & drivers for processors/microcontrollers, debugging systemic issues and hardware, as well as software problems. Bach degree in compsci, electrical/electronic engr, comp engr, or related field &8 yrs of exp as a Software Engineer req. Exp must have been progressive & included UEFI firmware development, C, C++ design & coding skills, PEI/DXE interfaces, protocols, UEFI driver model, HII PC/Server architecture/ platforms, developing & debugging UEFI firmware for platform subsystems such as CPU, PCle, Memory, IMPI/Redfish, RAS, Security, embedded system software dev at system architectural level. Resumes to AMI US Holdings Attn: Ethan Park 3095 Satellite Blvd, Bldg. 800, Suite 425 Duluth,GA 30096 or ethanp@ami.com

CLASSIFIEDS

F/T Engineer I Development to develop & deploy solutions for improvement, expansion & maintenance of functionality of proprietary integrated development environment; develop web-based cloud-hosted software tools, accounting for design, implementation, testing, maintenance & related doc. Bach degree in compsci, comp or electrical engineering or related field req. Edu or work background must have included Linux; C++; Python, Bash; JavaScript. Resumes to AMI US Holdings Inc. Attn: Ethan Park 3095 Satellite Blvd, Bldg. 800, Ste 425 Duluth, GA 30096 or ethanp@ami.com

Software Engr II; Travelers; Atlanta, GA. Complete expert SW end to end engineering tasks incl design, develop, analyzing, config, test, debug, troubleshoot, document, health monitor/alert, & impl based on user/system specs for impactful & high-visibility initiative. Bach. or equiv in Comp Sci or a rltd field & 4 yrs exp as a SW Developer or a rltd role. Must have 4 yrs exp w/: programming/development on the Salesforce platform, incl declarative programming models; Salesforce config, incl flows, assignment rules, approval processes, custom field and object creation, lightning page standard and dynamic layouts, global actions, custom settings, standard and dynamic dashboards and reports, as well as Record Sharing Rule config; VSCode, git, code deployment, and mature release process knowledge; and custom coding knowledge, incl APEX best practices – incl appropriate patterns, trigger frameworks etc.; Lightning Web Component dev; and Aura. Salary $130,707 to $175k. Resume to jtoth3@travelers.com& reference Job CodeK032026B.

Bidder(s) names will be publicly read at 11:05 A.M. local (Eastern) time, via Zoom on the stated due date. Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98301778500?pwd=2FUq4i30EDJpTJBXTZva1ZV5pCFXZA.1 Meeting ID: 98301778500 Password: 448095

Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia “County” The consultant shall provide a detailed description of the work to be performed. The Fulton County Family Treatment Court (FTC), Helping Our Parents Excel (HOPE) Program, is seeking a qualified vendor to facilitate two (2) cohorts of either the Strengthening Families Program (SFP-3-17) or the Celebrating Families Program (CFP-0-17). Each cohort shall consist of weekly 2.5-hour group sessions conducted over approximately sixteen (16) weeks, serving up to fifteen (15) adult participants and their children per cohort. The two cohorts will not run concurrently Fee: N/A

Term of Contract: This contract is grant funded and will end on September 30, 2026.

A Pre-Bid Conference: A Pre-Bid Conference will be held via Zoom. Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM local time

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93834695400?pwd=XKIWybAabnas0oFvzf0OAqs6IWGarc.1 Meeting ID:93834695400

Passcode: 195661

If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Keisha Massey, Assistant Purchasing Agent at (404) 612-1010 or by email at keisha.massey@fultoncountyga.gov. Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.