The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 050826

PAIN AT THE PUMP

Gas Prices Rising

By LAURA NWOGU, DONNELL SUGGS, AND NOAH WASHINGTON

For Byron Blueford, the math on gasoline stopped making sense a long time ago.

The Atlanta resident drove a 2009 Toyota Corolla for 14 years, buying it at 19. But watching gas prices climb, sometimes reaching $6 or $7 a gallon in California, where his family lives, and as high as $9 in parts of Los Angeles, he made the switch to a 2021 Tesla Model Y earlier this year.

“They think it’s absurd,” Blueford said of his Oakland family’s reaction to fuel costs. “I think that this is just outrageous, and they think it is too.”

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp suspended the motor fuel excise tax on March 20. On the morning of Tuesday, May 5, for example, the price of regular gas at two QuikTrip gas stations on SR 85 and Tara Blvd., two busy major intrastate highways, was $4.29 per gallon.

For those running for governor, like former State Representative Jason Esteves and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the price of gas will be at or near the top of the list of questions they have received from voters.

“Donald Trump promised to lower gas prices on day one, but instead dragged us into an unnecessary war that’s raising costs at the pump for hardworking families. We deserve

better than Trump’s disastrous economy, and failed Republicans in Georgia enabling him,” said Esteves in a statement to The Atlanta Voice.

“When I’m governor, I’ll fight back against Trump and use every tool at my disposal to bring down costs for hardworking Georgians who need it most, not big corporations.”

Lance Bottoms agrees that the current president is partly responsible for the rising cost of gas.

“Georgians are paying the price for Donald Trump’s war in Iran and his failed economic policies, from higher gas prices to higher costs at the grocery store,” Lance Bottoms said in a statement to The Atlanta Voice. “With Georgia’s gas tax suspension set to expire, Governor Kemp should extend it and keep relief in place for families who are already being squeezed.”

Without an extension, the suspension will come to an end on May 19, primary election day here in Georgia.

“As governor, I will act quickly in times of crisis to lower costs, including suspending the gas tax when necessary, working to reduce energy costs for families, and standing up to the chaos from Washington that is making life more expensive for Georgians,” said Lance Bottoms.

In Atlanta, prices have reached $ 5 per gallon. For Blueford, the calculus was simple: a full charge for his Tesla costs roughly $9 and takes about 30 minutes. Before the switch, filling

his Corolla ran between $30 and $40. He still owns the Corolla, parked and rarely touched since he got the Tesla, and says he intends to keep it.

“I would always keep my gas car as my first car,” Blueford said. “If I need to leave it at home to charge, I’ll just take my other car out.”

The decision to buy a Tesla carried its own complications. Blueford said his mother had reservations, though his father was supportive. He has largely separated the vehicle from its CEO, noting that he refers to it simply as “a Tesla” and does not align himself with the brand’s public figure.

“I don’t condone or think

anything of that man,” Blueford said. “I’m happy that I got the car that I wanted.”

Georgia Rep. Robert Dawson (D65) has a day job when he’s not representing District 65 under the Gold Dome. He works in the tech industry and has to drive to and from work everyday. He, like so many others, is feeling the financial crunch of high gas prices.

“In my opinion, I don’t know what economists are talking about. We’re at a point of hyperinflation. I believe it’s going to get worse, and hopefully that’s a wake-up call for Americans to work together.”

Maya Lawrence, 27, has to drive from Stonecrest to Alpharetta for work.

“Five days a week, Monday through Friday,” Lawrence said.

The prices between home and work differ between $4 and $5 depending on when she gets gas and how much she buys.

“It definitely made me go to the gas station more often than previously,” Lawrence explained. “So, usually I would fill up maybe in a week, and some change. On the weekends, I would be selective about where I went, because I usually went to Atlanta around Buckhead. I started limiting myself to the Madison Yards area because it’s closer to my house if I wanted to hang out in the city. I definitely was not using AC and was riding with my windows down.”

According to AAA, the average gas price in Georgia ($3.91), though much more than residents had paid a year ago, is much better than around the country, including in California, District of Columbia (average price per gallon: $4.53), Hawaii ($5.65) and Connecticut ($4.55).

“I have a Toyota Corolla. The tank only holds about 10 gallons. It would cost between $23 and $25 to fill her up from below a quarter tank. Now, I think the most I paid the other day was $35 to fill up my tank from the quarter.”

The average price in Georgia remaining under $4 is due to the gas tax suspension.

“Seeing 30 cents get taken off, seeing it drop from $3.99 to $3.69, definitely made me feel better because I could not fathom paying almost $4 a gallon to fill up my little car,” she said.

Clayton County resident Jeremy Crutchfield, a veteran and father, says he has to make what he calls “conscious decisions” on when to get in the car these days. Despite having a short commute to work, and being gainfully employed, he does drive far distances when he and his son Jordan want to see family in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee. Those trips were already costly.

“Now I have to think about it and be conscious of when and where I fill up,” Crutchfield said. “It’s an extra $40-50 a week, so it will affect our summer plans for sure.”

World Cup 2026: Atlanta’s emergency teams train for safety

By LAURA NWOGU

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is quickly approaching, with a little over 40 days away until the first match in Atlanta, and the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) are preparing for every scenario, including mass casualty events, as hundreds of thousands of people flood the city to watch the world’s biggest sport.

On Monday morning, APD and AFRD held a mass-casualty training event at Centennial Olympic Park, where the FIFA Fan Festival is taking place. They broke down the coordinated, multi-agency response led by the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA) and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness (MOEP), and supported by local, federal, and state resources such as the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)

Actors playing shooting victims lay immobilized across the ground of Centennial Olympic Park, hands pressed to imaginary gun wounds, as a woman ran through the field shouting for her missing son. It was a full-scale exercise, but one that mimicked real-life incidents and active shooter responses during mass casualty events. One hundred members of APD, 50 members from the fire department, and Grady EMS participated in the exercise, with different groups charging through the park, to first stop the shooter and then provide rapid on-scene care for victims to save as many lives as possible.

APD Assistant Chief Carven Tyus said the training is conducted regularly, and his officers and those from other agencies are well prepared, with years of training under their belts.

“This training allows us to come together and really talk about what mass casualties look like. Not only are the officers going to come and stop any threat there, but also just to provide the type of level of care that the people need,” Tyus said. “When these officers and these people get to the scene, it’s more ‘How are you’ and not ‘Who are you?’ And so that is what we’re looking at today. You’re going to see some dynamic training today, and this partnership between

all the agencies.”

General admission for Fan Fest is free, with paid tiers for a more exclusive experience, and is expected to be where a majority of non-ticket holders for the matches will gather. Other local agencies will also be involved when it comes to coordinating response to incidents, including the Marta Police Department, Georgia World Congress Center Police Department, and Georgia State University.

Practice makes perfect was the sentiment of the day, and the agencies emphasized their commitment to using the training to ensure locals and visitors are safe and well cared for during large-scale events such as the World Cup.

“It’s something we do every day, but working on this large a scale, it gives us the ability to practice for those things, especially with FIFA coming up and many other largescale events that we hold every day in the city of Atlanta,” said Shane Smith, the senior divisional manager for Grady EMS. “Our part of it is basically the transportation of all those patients that we would have, working with the regional coordinating hospital, which is Grady, a level one trauma center here, and making sure that we get those patients the care that they need, and we get them to the proper location.”

Voices

Misogynoir, Gun Violence, and a Crisis We Refuse to Name

By MARIAH COOLEy

Eusther Toussaint in North Carolina. Barbara Deer in Illinois. Nancy Metayer, vice mayor of Coral Springs, Florida. Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, a Virginia dentist.

And most recently, eight children were killed, and two women were critically wounded in Louisiana.

Over the span of one month, we’ve seen at least five stories of Black women and children killed or wounded in gun-related domestic violence incidents. Make no mistake: these are not isolated tragedies. They are a pattern and a direct reflection of what happens when misogynoir — hatred of Black women — becomes enmeshed with bad gun policies.

America’s man-made epidemic of gun violence is fueling a horrific outbreak of femicide against Black women, and still, our country refuses to confront this crisis. We talk about mass shootings and community violence, but when Black women are shot and killed by intimate partners or other family members, the silence is profound.

Unknown Epidemic

Gun violence is gendered. According to data from Everytown for Gun Safety, hundreds of women are shot and killed by an intimate partner every year. Nearly 6 million women reported that an intimate partner had attacked them with a gun.

But the story doesn’t end there. Domestic violence disproportionately harms Black American women. Compared to all ethnicities, we have the second-highest prevalence rates and experience the highest homicide rates in which an intimate partner was the perpetrator.

What’s more, although about 19 women are shot and killed in a domestic violence homicide each month, very few reports specify how many of those women were Black. And with the Trump Administration having slashed more than a billion dollarsset aside for gun violence research and prevention, it could take years before we get a clear national picture of how many Black women and girls are killed by a spouse or romantic partner holding a gun.

As a gun safety activist, I have

worked tirelessly alongside others to help shift the narratives that define how this country and our leaders understand gun violence. Growing up as a young Black woman in Illinois, I saw firsthand how the nuanced issue of gun violence in Black communities is flattened to street beefs and gang shootings, leaving little room to discuss intimate partner violence. .

As a result, the stories of Black women, shot and killed by someone they knew, are unheard.

‘Deadly Shootings are Connected’

The gun violence prevention movement and our political leaders continue to ignore a long-overlooked fact: gun violence in America cannot end if we refuse to fully see Black women.

For too long, the conversation has been shaped by whom the public has been trained to mourn. White women killed by their intimate partners often become national headlines, while their Black counterparts are lucky if their story makes the

local news. It’s a harsh reflection of our country’s unspoken hierarchy of grief: some lives are worth rallying around, while others aren’t.

But grief is not a limited resource. Ending gun violence does not require choosing between which shootings are worth our attention. It requires seeing how all deadly shootings are connected — and how little our lives mean to the gun lobby.

Black women have been doing gun violence prevention work in communities for generations, and I am proud to stand on their shoulders. We organize vigils. We lobby elected representatives, demanding they keep weapons out of the hands of abusers. We beg the system to listen to us. But the movement itself cannot succeed if it continues to require Black women to save ourselves. It must center Black women.

Black Women are Worthy of Care

That means listening to us before our partner attacks us. It means asking us what safety looks like in our communities. It means funding

anti-violence organizations we lead — the grassroots, shoestring community groups that do the heavy lifting of saving lives. It means making space for difficult but critical conversations about misogynoir — how it has infected practically every aspect of our society, including policy and government.

And it means elevating domestic violence from a secondary category of gun violence to an ongoing crisis driving other forms of violence — including mass shootings and suicide.

It is past time to have a movement that looks Black women in the face, while we are still here, and recognize that our lives and voices are an integral part of ending gun violence. We must create a movement brave enough to look at the full truth of gun violence, one that sees Black women as multidimensional people deserving of care and prioritization

Eusther, Barbara, Nancy, Cerina, and 10 women and children in Louisiana deserve no less.

Mariah Cooley is a board member of March For Our Lives.

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Atlanta Hawks, Kaiser Permanente bring youth mental wellness summit to Powder Springs

By NOAH WASHINGTON

Approximately half a dozen students sit in a small classroom, coloring Hawks-themed notebooks as Jenae Ingram, a licensed clinical social worker, asks the students about how they felt last week. One said anxiously. One said confidently. One said, frustrated. Despite the mix of emotions filling the room, the students in the moment remained calm; they were leaning into a coping method most of them grew up with without ever knowing it had a name.

“One thing that I do with emotions is actually use coping skills,” Ingram told the group. “What y’all are doing right now, in coloring, is actually what we would consider a coping skill. It’s what we do to take our mind off of the emotions or the triggers that are at play.”

That moment unfolded Wednesday afternoon at the Ron Anderson Recreation Center in Powder Springs, where the Atlanta Hawks and Kaiser Permanente co-hosted “The Wellness Huddle: A Youth Mental Wellness Summit presented by Kaiser Permanente,” welcoming nearly 70 middle school students for an afternoon of interactive programming designed to

give them real tools for managing their mental health.

The event featured three rotating stations: guided yoga and mind-body awareness paired with basketball integration, emotions and stress management, and positive self-talk and affirmations. Students left with a Hawks athome workbook, yoga mat, water bottle, drawstring bag, and T-shirt.

Alexis Roe, vice president of community impact for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, said the summit was part of a broader Mental Health Awareness Month series built around three communities with distinct needs.

“We started this series on Saturday with the women of color health summit,” Roe said. “Today is all about our youth. We want them to understand that equally important to their physical health is their mental health, and if they’re frustrated, if they’re sad, if they are confused, there are platforms to talk about that.”

The Hawks and Kaiser Permanente launched their partnership in 2024, and the series will wrap on June 6 with “Built Different,” a men of color health summit.

Heading the mental health programming was Dr. Kensa Gunter, a licensed psychologist based

The Atlanta Hawks and Kaiser Permanente co-hosted “The Wellness Huddle: A youth Mental Wellness Summit presented by Kaiser Permanente,” welcoming nearly 70 middle school students for an afternoon of interactive programming designed to give them real tools for managing their mental health. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

in Atlanta who also serves as director of mind health for the NBA and WNBA. Gunter said every activity at the summit was chosen with the students’ developmental stage in mind.

“The idea was to identify developmentally appropriate strategies that youth could engage in,” Gunter said. “Most of the participants today are between the ages of 12 and 14. We want

to make sure the activities are things that they could do now, but also that they could take with them.”

Gunter said the summit’s deeper goal goes beyond a single afternoon.

“We want the students to realize that we see you, and we recognize that just like your physical health matters, your mental health matters,” she said. “If you have healthy kids, it puts you on a pathway to having healthy adults.”

Brandon Gardner, community relations manager for Kaiser Permanente, said the partnership reflects Kaiser’s longstanding investment in Atlanta, where the health care organization has operated for more than 40 years.

“Kaiser truly is about investing into the local communities,” Gardner said. “Being able to collaborate with different community partners, just like the Atlanta Hawks, helps us further that mission of not just transactional relationships, but authentic relationships, where we want to give back.”

Roe said the tangible resources students received were deliberate.

“We want to give kids tools that they can use today,” she said, “and oftentimes, that’s just what they’re lacking.”

Nikema Williams secures funding for CAU campus safety

By LAURA NWOGU

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have faced a surge of threats across the country in recent years, resulting in lockdowns or closures and concerns among students, parents, faculty, and staff about their safety. On the heels of these threats, the latest of which happened in 2025 when terroristic threats against Georgia’s AUC campuses triggered a lockdown, Congresswoman Nikema Williams has secured $250,000 in funding for Clark Atlanta University’s campus security.

The funding will strengthen security measures on campus, allowing the Clark Atlanta University Police Department to enhance technology, strengthen its communication systems, and expand initiatives that support a safer campus environment.

“Protecting Clark Atlanta is about protecting possibility, and when we invest in prevention, partnership, and community center safety, we send a clear message that our students deserve to learn in an environment where they feel secure, supported, and connected to the broader community around them,” Williams said. “Clark Atlanta University is part of a thriving ecosystem in the fighting fifth, and I will always fight to ensure that that ecosystem is strong, resilient, and safe, because campus safety isn’t just about building a future where our students and neighborhoods rise together. It’s about making sure that that is a reality.”

The event included remarks from CAU President Marshall Taggart and CAUPD Chief Debra Williams, along with speeches from Marshall Taggart, the associate vice president for the Office of Government Affairs and Community Relations; Javari Carlton, CAU’s student government association president; and Jorvis McGee, CAU’s graduate student government president.

The funding comes just a year after Williams secured $630,000 in community project funding for campus safety improvements, which allowed campus security to install and strategically place emergency towers throughout campus. They are equipped with emergency call capabilities, loudspeakers and direct communication to campus security’s video integration communication center. With the push of a button, anyone can immediately connect with security personnel. The towers also allow CAUPD to broadcast emergency messages across campus when necessary.

“Because of that investment, we are not reacting to incidents. We are better positioned to prevent them, to communicate effectively, and to support our community when it matters most, and that is what campus safety is about. It is not just about response. It is about preparedness, prevention, and being present. With this new investment of $250,000, we will continue to build on that foundation,” CAUPD Chief Williams said.

“At the end of the day, this work is not just about technology or funding, it’s about people. And for me, this work is personal. I have seen firsthand how quickly life can change and how critical it is to be prepared, to be present, and to be proactive. This investment is about more than just adding something new to our campus. It is about protecting lives, creating peace of mind, and ensuring

that every student, every faculty member, every staff member, every visitor who walks onto this campus has the opportunity to walk safely into their future, pursue their purpose, and learn and return home to those who love them. That is our responsibility, that is our commitment, and that is why this work matters.”

After the announcement and signing of the check, Congresswoman Williams and the crowd walked to a nearby emergency tower where they demonstrated how the towers work. She vowed to secure additional funding to advance efforts to secure and protect Atlanta’s university campuses.

“Clark Atlanta said, ‘Find a way or make a way,’ and we’re going to keep finding ways and making ways,” Congresswoman Williams promised.

Alphas of Atlanta raise $300,000 for education with Alpha Derby Weekend

By NOAH WASHINGTON

The Alphas of Atlanta gathered in their Sunday best, blending style and service as the organization hosted the 11th annual Alpha Derby Weekend from April 30 through May 3. The four-day Kentucky Derby-themed fundraising series drew attendees from across the country and earned official recognition from Atlanta, Conyers, and Newnan city officials.

The weekend, anchored by the Saturday Derby Watch Party at Guardian Works Atlanta, featured five events spanning a golf tournament, a Friday night kickoff concert, the flagship Derby Day celebration, and a Sunday brunch at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead. Organizers said nearly a third of attendees travel from outside Georgia for the destination event, which has raised approximately $300,000 to date in support of nine education foundations across Metro Atlanta.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., attended Sunday’s brunch and praised the brotherhood’s commitment to community investment.

“You have raised $300,000 so far, and that means a lot for the community,” Dickens said. “When you guys do it together, you really make a powerful commitment to the community. Atlanta is grateful and thankful.”

Dickens noted his attendance at the event over the past three to four years and applauded the Divine Nine’s collective presence in the city. “We might have pledged different fraternities or sororities, but we

are all here together, united for the purposes of community,” he said.

The weekend drew proclamations from Atlanta, Conyers, and Newnan. Atlanta City Council District 3 member Byron Amos presented the organization with a city proclamation recognizing April 30 through May 3, 2026, as Alpha Derby Weekend in Atlanta, calling it one of the highest honors the council can bestow.

“A proclamation is one of the highest honors we can give to a person or an organization,” Amos said. “But I think this is the first time we actually given it to an event.”

Amos, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, noted the event was held in his district for the first time this year and highlighted the organization’s philanthropic footprint. “Proceeds from Alpha Derby Day, which is about $300,000 so far, directly

support the Alphas of Atlanta grant program,” he said, “embodying the spirits of a party with a purpose.”

Conyers City Councilmember Sherri Washington issued a parallel proclamation on behalf of the mayor and the full Conyers City Council, formally recognizing the same dates as Alpha Derby Weekend in Conyers and citing the organization’s founding principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.

Even though the party was thrown

by the fellas, there was still plenty for the women to do. Among the weekend’s highlights was the best hat competition, sponsored by Talley & Twine, which drew contestants vying for prizes that included gift cards and, for the top finisher, a suite cabin aboard the Ubersoca Cruise, billed as the world’s largest Caribbean-themed cruise. Jodi Lewis, a co-founder of the cruise and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., presented the grand prize in person.

“You are going to be joining us in

not just any cabin, but a suite cabin on board our cruise in October, and you’re going to experience five nights of pure Caribbean fun,” Lewis told the crowd.

Talley & Twine founder Eric Heyward, who pledged Alpha Phi Alpha in fall 2002 at Albany State University, said his company’s sponsorship reflects a full-circle moment with the fraternity that shaped his professional identity.

“It feels good to be able to give back,” Heyward said. “It feels good to be able to engage in more meaningful ways with the fraternity that’s given me all the professionalism, given me the network, has given me the confidence to walk into rooms that I would normally not be able to walk into.”

The Alphas of Atlanta is a Metro Atlanta nonprofit comprised of members from area graduate chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. The organization’s annual programming supports education foundations across the region through what it describes as a “party with a purpose” model.

Heyward added that the Derby format aligns naturally with his brand’s aesthetic. “We take back our own narrative,” he said. “We love to dress up, love style. This is where people want to look their best.”

UniverSoul Circus kicks off opening weekend in Atlanta

By ISAIAH GUTIERREZ

From fire breathers and flying motorcycles to trapezists and jaw-dropping stunts, UniverSoul Circus has returned to Atlanta with an all-new production under the big top at the former Turner Field Grey Lot.

To celebrate its homecoming, UniverSoul is pulling out all the stops — from its first-ever HBCU scholarship presentation to themed nights, pre-show performances, and Mother’s Day festivities happening throughout its Atlanta run.

This year’s production features performers from five continents delivering high-energy stunts, comedy, dance, and cultural showcases, all with the signature flair that has defined the circus for more than three decades.

Ahead of opening week, UniverSoul previewed the show in Stockbridge during the city’s “Tasty Tuesday” event at Clark Park. The sneak peek featured fan-favorite acts including skaters, stilt walkers, Caribbean dancers, hand-balancing performers, foot jugglers, and Fresh the Clowns, drawing a crowd of more than 2,000 attendees.

Celebrating 32 years under the Big Top,

UniverSoul Circus is a single-ring production founded in 1994 by Cedric Walker, with a mission to spotlight diverse performers from around the world. The company remains headquartered in Atlanta.

Ringmaster Cedric Walker said the circus is thrilled to return home.

“Thank you so much for having us, and we are so proud to be back in Atlanta, where we started in 1994,” he said. “That was 32 years ago when this started, and to be back feels like home.”

The show continues in Atlanta through Sunday, June 14.

Upcoming highlights include:

Saturday, May 9 – HBCU Night and Scholarship Presentation

UniverSoul Circus will award $2,500 scholarships to five HBCU students during the 7:30 p.m. show. The day also features a pre-show performance by Diadem Dance Company ahead of the noon show.

Sunday, May 10 – Mother’s Day Celebration

Families can celebrate Mother’s Day under the big top with special themed festivities.

Buckhead Art & Company showcases diverse voices and authentic storytelling

By NOAH WASHINGTON

In a report released by Artnet in 2020, only two of the Art Dealers Association of America’s 176 member galleries were owned by African Americans, a figure that barely clears 1%. Karimah McFarlane is one of them, and she just tripled her footprint.

McFarlane, a Howard University graduate and former head of market human resources at Google’s Southeast region, opened Buckhead Art & Company in 2023. In January, the gallery relocated to its new address in Buckhead, nearly tripling its footprint from a 3,500-square-foot space on Buckhead Avenue to what is now, by McFarlane’s account, the largest African American female-owned gallery in the Southeast.

“I wanted to do something that made my heart sing,” McFarlane said. “I wanted to do something that brought people together.”

The timing of the expansion is deliberate. As federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have

come under sustained political pressure, McFarlane said she saw an opening and a responsibility.

“There were so many people that were displaced, particularly people who were doing DEI art, art that’s telling political stories, art that’s telling marginalized stories, and they didn’t really have a home,” she said.

The timing of the expansion is deliberate. As federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have come under sustained political pressure, McFarlane said she saw an opening and a responsibility.

“There were so many people that were displaced, particularly people who were doing DEI art, art that’s telling political stories, art that’s telling marginalized stories, and they didn’t really have a home,” she said.

Head curator Christos Perry, who started at the gallery in 2023 as an intern painting walls and worked his way up through social media management before taking the full-time curator role in January 2026, said the breadth of voices on

display is intentional.

“We have all races, creeds, colors, backgrounds, and we have artists from all over, New York, LA, Texas, Ohio — even international artists,” Perry said. “We have artists from Nigeria, and we’re looking to do more countries soon.”

Perry, a 2015 SCAD Animation graduate, said his curatorial sensibility is rooted in his own life as a working artist. He looks for work that feeds a creator’s soul rather than the market.

“Authenticity is key,” he said. “I always tell artists: do not make art for galleries, do not make art for people. Make art for yourself.”

Among the artists Perry championed in the new space: Brittany Barr, who he called the “MVP of 2026” whose work integrates artificial intelligence and augmented reality, with QR codes embedded in each piece that, when scanned, unlock moving, talking visual narratives; Lynx Nguyen, whose “Pearly Gates” piece layers reclaimed paper and wood with scripture from the Bible transcribed in Vietnamese; and Brill Adium, whose piece “Osiris”, a work he described as being about rebuilding, reconstruction and rebirth in the face of imminent danger.

The gallery also represents

Chanell Angelique, a Jamaica-born Atlanta-based artist who works in Black diaspora feminism; Travis

Love, a Decatur native and 3D installation artist Zoe Antona, who, according to Perry, uses color to recreate the emotional weight of experiences from her own life.

McFarlane, who serves on the leadership councils of the Fernbank Museum and Workforce Fulton County and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, said the gallery’s animating principle is simple.

“Joy,” McFarlane said. “Every piece has some symbolism of triumph and hope.”

For new and seasoned collectors alike, McFarlane had a message.

“Be open to letting your heart dream and imagine,” she said. “Think about where your dollars are going and how you can change the life of someone and also enrich your own life at the same time.”

Buckhead Art & Company is located at 3063 Bolling Way in the heart of Buckhead Village District. The next opening, “Hot and Unbothered,” featuring Brittany Barr, is scheduled for April 30, 2026.

Saturday Night Live: Atlanta United hosts L.A. Galaxy

By DONNELL SUGGS

On Wednesday morning, on the team’s training grounds in Marietta, the vibes were good as Atlanta United players were laughing and joking around during a passing drill. One could assume the good vibes were carrying over from the last time the team played a match.

Last Saturday, Atlanta United Paraguayan midfielder Matias Galarza hugged teammate Saba Lobjanidze like one would hug a loved one: tightly with eyes closed. It meant something to be in that moment, and Galarza was savoring it. The moment in question: Atlanta United was back. Keyword: United.

Lobjanidze had just scored his second goal of the match during the 50th minute. A goal that gave Atlanta United a 3-1 lead over visiting CF Montreal, one of the worst teams in Major League Soccer. A goal that would ultimately seal the win for the home team.

The current win streak improved to three games following the victory, and the win could be described as a team effort, with Alexey Miranchuk and Cooper Sanchez each picking up assists, and Emmanuel Latte Lath scoring a goal. Even goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos made several key saves during the match. It was the definition of a team win.

Asked about playing well in front of the home fans, Miranchuk said it was the least they could do for one of the league’s best support systems.

“We can give 100% on the field,” he said. “Overall, football is played for the people who have supported us in good times and bad times. It is really important to play together in difficult times.”

Miranchuk is in the middle of a career year in MLS. In 10 matches this season, he has 5 goals (his career high for Atlanta United is 6 goals in 31 matches during the 2025 season) and two

assists. More importantly, the current team captain hasn’t received a yellow or red card.

Sanchez, a star in the making, was surrounded by members of the press in the locker room following the victory. That had not been the case over the past couple of games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, all of which were losses.

“I feel like this week has been great,” Sanchez said after the match. Nine points.”

Atlanta United didn’t pick up nine points in the Eastern Conference standings last week, but the victories in Toronto (2-1 on April 25) and against CF Montreal on Saturday night. The victory in Charlotte was in the U.S. Open Cup.

It can officially be nine points if they win their match against L.A. Galaxy on Saturday, May 9, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Galaxy will come into Atlanta following a 1-1 draw with Vancouver last weekend.

Winning at home in front of the announced 34,703 in attendance was important to Atlanta United manager Gerardo “Tata ” Martino. The team hasn’t played in front of a sellout crowd in months.

“The team owed it to the fans,” said Martino

after the game. “We talked about it before the game.”

Atlanta United defender Matt Edwards, a former Atlanta United Academy player, was more succinct about playing well in front of the fans: “They don’t owe us anything, and we owe them everything”

“It means so much to play well at home, and we felt like we owed it to them,” Edwards said.

Up Next: Here’s to winning more matches

at home, but the next two matches will be on the road. Atlanta United will be spending some time in the Sunshine State as they play consecutive matches against rival Orlando City SC. The first, on Saturday, May 16, will be a regular season meeting, and the next will be a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match.

Atlanta United’s all-time record against Orlando City is 12-7-6, according to data from fbref.com.

FLORA exhibition at Phipps Plaza showcases Atlanta’s top floral designers

By NOAH WASHINGTON

Thousands of fresh blooms, couture-inspired mannequins, and the work of more than a dozen Atlanta floral designers have taken over Phipps Plaza this week as Fleurs de Villes returns for its third year with the Atlanta debut of FLORA, a free, fashion-forward flower exhibition running through Sunday, May 3.

The global flower show, which has staged more than 160 exhibitions across five countries and 34 cities, transforms Mall Level 1 at Phipps Plaza into what its co-founders describe as a living gallery, where floral art doubles as fashion and storytelling.

“It doesn’t matter what language you speak or how much money is in your bank; everyone loves flowers, and that’s what makes this so special,” said Tina Barkley, co-founder of Fleurs de Villes, at the exhibition’s opening Wednesday morning.

Barkley said Atlanta earned its place on the global tour by checking every box the organization

looks for when selecting host cities, including local floral talent, neighborhood sophistication, and the caliber of available venues.

Among this year’s featured

designers is Ebonee Benson of Ebonee Benson Designs, who contributed three mannequins to the exhibition, the most of any participating designer. Benson drew from African spiritual tradition and Japanese culture for her installations, including one inspired by Oshun, the Yoruba Orisha of fertility, love, and beauty, rendered in yellow blooms and sunflowers.

“I don’t know if many people think of the Orishas as haute couture, but to me, they are,” Benson said. “Flowers are going to speak the same language wherever you go, which is love, which is beauty, which is happiness.”

Benson, who is originally from Birmingham, Alabama, now based in Georgia, said each mannequin required roughly 14 hours of total design time across a team of three to five people, with concepts developed weeks in advance before construction during the days immediately preceding the show’s opening.

“It’s not just a party flower on a table,” she said. “It’s art, and it’s transformative, and it’s magical.”

Also earning recognition at this year’s show is Christian Daniele Mays of The Social Pedigree, who received the Florist Favorite award, voted on by fellow participating designers. It was her first year in the exhibition, and she signed on just two weeks before

the show’s opening.

Her submission, titled “Future Floral,” features delphiniums at the base, three varieties of moss covering the body of the dress and thistle at the crown, creating what Mays described as a maximalist design that balances color, texture and beauty without tipping into excess.

“I think my designs are very intricate but also very in your face,” Mays said. “People should not be afraid to do the most, and your design should reflect that.”

Mays came to floristry after being laid off from a corporate events job in 2020, eventually freelancing and apprenticing with local designers before establishing her own studio.

Six years later, she said the Florist Favorite recognition from her peers carries particular weight.

“I’m truly blessed and humbled by it,” she said. “I’m just so thankful that I was given a talent, and I’m able to use it to share my gift with the world.”

Fleurs de Villes FLORA runs at Phipps Plaza through Sunday, May 3, with free admission. A floral market and demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can vote for their favorite mannequin for a chance to win a prize package that includes a two-night stay at Nobu Hotel Atlanta, a $250 Phipps Plaza gift card and a $1,000 certificate for the Porsche Experience Center.

“I’m truly blessed and humbled by it,” Mays said. “I’m just so thankful that I was given a talent, and I’m able to use it to share my gift with the world.”

Street Lines: 2026 Subaru Uncharted GT

By DENNIS MALCOLM ByRON AKA ALE SHARPTON

Subaru’s future in the electric vehicle space continues to burgeon after I reviewed the all-new 2026 Subaru Uncharted GT. At first sight, this subcompact SUV says it’s adventurous, fearless, and ready to take on any environment, and I am all for it. Its big brother, the 2026 Subaru Solterra reviewed here, was also impressive, but this one seems more built for city life.

Dressed in Coastal Wolf Gray Metallic, the body is sleek and ultramodern with a welcomed Mad Max

vibe. The illuminated six-star logo in the front figuratively pounds the Subaru chest, while the sharp tworowed LED headlights and 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels with gunmetal finish add both function and style to this hatchback.

With 338-hp dual-motor electric powertrain complete with all-wheel drive, the GT trim flexes some muscle on the road. Its assertive acceleration still feels smooth, especially during highway merges and quick passes. Of course, the 8.2 inches of ground clearance boosts confidence to take on rough roads, gravel paths,

and uneven terrain.

With EVs, range is always a concern. The 74.7-kWh battery delivers an EPA-estimated 273 miles of range, which should be more than enough for daily commuting and regional road trips. When it’s time to recharge, the Uncharted should be applauded for its integrated NACS port strategically located on the right fender, giving drivers easier access to an expanding charging network. My research says the DC fast-charging option can replenish the battery from 10% to 80% in about 28 minutes. I am not mad at that.

Data Engr w/ GREENSKY MANAGEMENT

RFP for Residences of Hope located at 875 Carter Street NW, Atlanta, GA . BIDS DUE: June 1, 2026, at 2:00 pm

PRE-BID MEETING will be held on site on May 12, 2026, at 10:00 am. PLANS: Hard Copies of plans available upon request and at subcontractor’s expense from A1 BluePrint (www.a1blue.com), Phone: 404-524-8881 OR for a link contact Linda at Lstache@ gormanusa.com.

Contact Info: Linda Stache, Gorman & Company, Phone: 608-835-5177

CERTIFICATIONS: SBE/MBE/WBE/EBE/DBE/VBE, Section 3 and a prevailing wage rate project. This project is also BABA, NGBS Bronze and HEAR project

Let’s not forget about the interior. The spacious cabin delivers a clean, modern-minimal feel, accentuated by a tech-forward display. The vibrant, 14-inch multimedia touchscreen comes standard, complete with a 7-inch digital gauge display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other perks in the front include the optional 11-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system—one of my favorite brands— two wireless smartphone chargers, extra storage underneath the front seats, and the back row gets the heated option as well. Want more? How about a panoramic glass roof with a motorized sunshade, ventilated front seats, Harman Kardon speaker system,

GA. Applicant may work remotely from anywhere in U.S. Dsgn, dvlp,

execute softw test plans, strategies, & scenarios for BI & Data Warehouse projects. Write, optimize, & automate complex SQL queries, T-SQL stored procedures, & views for Snowflake & MS-SQL Server to support both validation & dvlpmt tasks. Req’s: Bach deg (U.S. or foreign equiv) in Comp Sci, Electronic Engg, or rel. engg field or rel. field. 7 yrs of exp in job offered or in rel. role. Job Code: 9620910. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS: Apply at greensky.com. Select “About” tab & click on “Careers.” NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. 2006-2026 GreenSky, LLC. All rights reserved. GreenSky is an equal opportunity employer & will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law.

RFP for The Sanctuary located at 265 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA. BIDS DUE: May 14, 2026, at 2:00 pm

PRE-BID MEETING will be held on site on April 28, 2026, at 10:00 am.

PLANS: Hard Copies of plans available upon request and at subcontractor’s expense from A1 BluePrint (www.a1blue.com), Phone: 404-524-8881 OR for a link contact Linda at Lstache@gormanusa.com.

Contact Info: Linda Stache, Gorman & Company, Phone: 608-835-5177

CERTIFICATIONS: SBE/MBE/WBE/EBE/DBE/VBE, and a prevailing wage rate project. This project is also NGBS Bronze, Invest Atlanta and DCA project

and a digital rearview mirror with HomeLink. Subaru also includes its full EyeSight driver-assist suite to address virtually any safety challenge. Then again, Subaru is renowned for easing owners’ minds when it comes to taking on road hazards.

Coming in three trims—Premium FWD, Sport, and my GT—starting at $34,995, the latter is still reasonable asking $43,795.

Ultimately, the Uncharted GT is Subaru’s most compelling EV yet during my experience, complete with the practicality, reliability, styling, and tech advancements I would love to have in my driveway. For more information, visit Subaru.com

FULTON COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT FOR RFP

Sealed RFP’s for 26RFP032326K-DB Developer Services for 301 Fulton Industrial Circle & 305 Fulton Industrial Circle for Fulton County Government will be accepted by the Fulton County Department of Purchasing & Contract Compliance, online via Bidnet Direct, https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty.

All Bids must be submitted no later than 11:00 a.m., local (Eastern) time on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

Bid Bond: N/A

Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia “County” anticipates that once selected, the preferred Developer will begin undertaking tasks to deliver the project. These tasks would be done between selection and signing of the Development Agreement and other documents related to the terms of the transfer of site control and development requirements. The following scope of work includes but is not limited to some of the tasks that the Developer would undertake:

• Conduct environmental review

• Refine development concept and financial model

• Negotiate agreement terms and conditions with County

• Obtain project entitlements

• Secure project funding

See Solicitation for more details.

General instructions, specifications and/or plans for this project can be downloaded electronically free of charge at https://www.bidnetdirect. com/georgia/fultoncounty.

Fee: N/A

Term of Contract: The contract will commence as of the date indicated in the Notice to Proceed (NTP) and shall continue until the sooner of (a) a period of 2 months; (b) Signing of an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA); or (c) the Agreement is terminated as provided herein.

PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE:

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. Via Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91837828680

Please see Solicitation Document for more details.

If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Darlene A. Banks, CAPA at (404) 612-7879 or by e-mail at darlene.banks@fultoncountyga.gov

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