By NOAH WASHINGTON
LaRayia Gaston describes Atlanta as a city full of fairies.
“I just thought it was magical,” she said. “It was literally a city full of fairies.”
That sense of wonder guided the Brooklyn-born entrepreneur to plant roots in a city she had never visited before she was compelled to book a flight during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The result was LaRayia’s Bodega, a Blackowned, plant-based grab-and-go eatery tucked into a corner of Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall, and, approaching five years in operation, one of Atlanta’s most quietly beloved hidden gems.
Gaston’s path to Atlanta was anything but linear. She launched her first clothing brand, Apule Town, in New York before relocating to Los Angeles, where she built a showroom, pursued acting and modeling, and eventually found herself at the intersection of the city’s fashion district and its most devastating reality: Skid Row.
“I was designing and having high-end clients while seeing homelessness and poverty that really affected the Black community,” she said. “When you start to see those things at a level of devastation, it kind of makes you question your art and what you do, and how much of it has impact.”
That questioning led Gaston to
spend 43 days living on Skid Row as part of a documentary she directed. The experience reshaped her purpose. She founded Love Without Reason, the nonprofit that runs
Lunch On Me, an initiative dedicated to ending starvation and enriching the lives of unhoused residents.
Every month, Lunch On Me serves 10,000 organic meals six days a
week to people on Skid Row, and in Atlanta, the nonprofit distributes free vegan food at Woodruff Park every Friday.
Out of that same mission came the first LaRayia’s Bodega, which she describes as the nation’s first organic 99-cent store concept, a response to food access and waste on Skid Row. The concept married her background in design, mixology, and food with an abiding belief
that healthy food should not require abandoning cultural identity.
“When I go to Whole Foods, I don’t find myself,” Gaston said. “I don’t find my identity, my representation, my culture. So it feels like when you’re in those spaces, something about your identity feels abandoned.”
The Atlanta location, situated at
By LAURA NWOGU
Leadership from the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) and the Atlanta Police Department (APD) gathered at Atlanta’s Public Safety Headquarters to address questions and provide important information on the safety of locals and visitors during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the international tournament just 20 days away, APD and AFRD chiefs emphasized that their agencies are well-versed in handling large-scale events and prepared for the influx of people and potential issues that may arise during the eight matches.
Their number one request was, “If you see something, say something.”
APD Chief Darin Schierbaum stated that APD has no role in immigration enforcement. APD’s focus will be to enforce the law and ensure that any resident of Atlanta inside the city limits can access the police department by calling 911, going to a police precinct, or flagging down an officer.
APD employs 68 officers who are certified Spanish translators. They will deploy those officers and other bilingual officers to strategic locations to ensure that people within the city limits can communicate with officers. The officers also encouraged people to use 311 to utilize the language line and shared that 911 has a service that detects when someone is speaking a different language, so they can get
area to maintain safety and reopen them so people can enjoy and travel freely.
Thousands of people are expected to attend Fan Fest, and APD tested a flexible citywide mobility plan in March to address pedestrian and traffic concerns.
The Federal Aviation Administration will implement a temporary flight restriction for personal drones during the FIFA World Cup period in Atlanta, meaning the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and surrounding areas are a no-drone zone. Those who ignore the restriction will face a civil penalty of up to $100,000 and/or criminal prosecution. APD will have several drones manned by members of the drone unit.
“We want people to have a good time, but we do not need extra drones in the sky during this period, so we just ask that you adhere to the flight restriction that will be in place,” said Deputy Chief Hampton.
connected to an interpreter.
“Language should not be a deterrent for people to report crime,” said Miguel Lugo, an APD Hispanic Liaison. “If you’re a victim of a crime, you’ve got rights. We don’t care about your immigration status either. So, if you reach out to one officer who often doesn’t speak Spanish, our chain of command through our process will locate officers who are certified translators and move those officers to those locations where they are needed to assist our citizens and visitors.”
APD will be fully mobilized for the six-week period of the matches, with all hands on deck and officers and civilian professionals assigned to either the FIFA detail, a duty related to providing safety for the city’s other neighborhoods, or a specialized team. For Atlanta Fire Rescue, their shifts will be the regular 24-hour shifts with specialized shifts for game day and authorized activities inside the city. Projected overtime for APD during that six-week period is approximately $24 million for extra deployment, which will be reimbursed by the federal government back to local jurisdictions.
There are 1,840 sworn APD officers, and 750 of those officers will be deployed to game detail. A total of 250 additional officers from other local, state, and federal agencies will assist APD during the matches, and elevated resources will be deployed throughout the FIFA Fan Festival. Leadership noted that the majority of officers will remain in the city’s other neighborhoods to address any public safety concerns that may arise.
“We can’t do this alone, so our
partnership with our state, local, and federal agencies continues to assist us and make sure we are able to successfully make sure that FIFA and the citizens and guests that come to participate in FIFA are safe, but also our neighborhoods that we provide police services to,” said Deputy Chief Charles Hampton.
AFRD Chief Roderick Smith assured residents that anywhere from 250 to 300 firefighters will be prepared to respond up to the paramedic level, assisting wherever it’s needed across the city. Both agencies also stated they are ready and prepared to respond to any incidents during the first week in July, when two matches and the Fourth of July parade will take place.
Deputy Chief Hampton said there are currently no plans to close any roads around Mercedes-Benz Stadium or Centennial Olympic Park, where the Fan Fest activation will be taking place. However, if a safety issue arises where there is an influx of pedestrians overflowing from the park into the streets, APD has a plan in place to temporarily shut down the streets around that
AFRD Chief Smith emphasized firework safety and stated that celebratory gunfire is illegal.
“When we talk about fireworks inside the state of Atlanta, just being very candid, they are illegal. However, we do know that certain cultures in this sport like to use personal pyrotechnics, and so we will be working very closely with them to try to make sure that it is done in a very safe and controlled manner,” said Smith. “I just want you to reiterate that in the event that they are utilized, make sure that you’re on concrete or non-combustible surfaces, make sure that you’re away from buildings and away from flammables, but we encourage you not to do it, because it is dangerous.”
The Atlanta City Council approved an ordinance to allow outdoor open containers in designated zones for the FIFA World Cup, temporarily suspending its open container laws to allow adults over the age of 21 to freely walk on public streets and sidewalks with alcoholic beverages from licensed
By By CHARLENE CROWELL Center for Responsible Lending
As much of the nation continues to grapple with rising costs that are outpacing wage gains, new research affirms that younger, more diverse generations are caught in a financial marketplace built for yesteryear not today.
Ambition Without Access, a newly released study by the Julian Bond Institute (JBI), an initiative of the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), is the first nationally representative look at how wealth and financial aspirations differ across race and generations particularly for Blacks and Latinos.
“Young Blacks and Hispanics want to own homes, want to start businesses, want to retire comfortably, and want to leave something for their children — at rates that either match or exceed their white peers,” states the study. “They are optimistic. They are financially motivated. And they are determined.”
The JBI 2050 Survey, conducted in cooperation with NORC at the University of Chicago, surveyed white, Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans across Gen Z (age 18-28), Millennial (29-44), Gen X (45-60), and Boomer (61-79) age groups.
Among its findings:
• 86% of Americans across every race and generation say homeownership was a financial goal when they became financially independent — yet only 23% of Black Millennials who aspired to homeownership have achieved it, compared to 51% of white Millennials.
• 67% of Black Gen Z and 55% of Hispanic Gen Z aspire to own a business — a rate significantly higher than the 34% of white Gen Z who share that goal.
• 77% of Black Gen Z and 70% of Hispanic Gen Z aspire to build an inheritance to pass on, even though only 18% and 20% respectively expect to receive one themselves —compared to 33% of white and 38% of Asian Gen Z who anticipate getting one.
• 46% of Black Millennials are optimistic about their household’s financial future — higher than the
Submitted Photo
31% of white Millennials — despite having fewer financial resources, lower savings, and significantly less family financial support.
“The gap between financial aspiration and achievement for young and minority consumers is not a matter of motivation. It is a matter of structural access — to family financial resources, affordable credit, adequate income, and the knowledge to navigate a system not designed with these communities in mind. As the United States moves toward a majority-minority future, closing these gaps is not just a moral imperative — it is an economic one,” said Sara Weiss, executive director of JBI and a report co-author.
But homeownership, long considered the foundation for building family wealth, remains out of reach for many younger consumers.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the nation’s average price to purchase an existing home this past April was $417,700. Regionally, the lowest priced home purchases were found either in the Midwest at $324,500, or the South at $366,600. The nation’s highest prices homes at $619,600 were in the West and $510,800 in the Northeast.
Home affordability was also the focus of a recent New York Times editorial citing the vast differences in the ratio between home prices and median household income. In 1950,
the median home price in the United States was $7,400 — only 2.5 times the median annual household income.
“But that ratio began surging in the 2000s. Today the median home costs almost five times the median household income” states the editorial.
Conventional mortgages, the most affordable and sustainable over the 30-year length of most loans, have the advantage of fixed interest rates, but they require a 20 percent down payment to access the lowest rates available. Few young consumers can independently afford down payments ranging from $64,900 to $123,920. Smaller down payments may be available but come with higher monthly payments that include mortgage insurance.
For JBI and CRL, timely and decisive actions geared towards practical solutions are essential to overcome today’s financial roadblocks.
“The Gen Z and Millennial respondents in this survey are in the formative years when the foundation for wealth is either built or destroyed,” states the study. “The consequences of homeownership decisions, saving habits, and credit trajectories being established right now will compound themselves for decades…Thus, the time for structural reform is not after the demographic transition occurs. It is both before and during it.”
Secondly, according to the JBI study, solutions to today’s
homeownership challenges must incorporate initiatives for consumers at every stage of life:
“Solutions lie in enacting initiatives to fund downpayment assistance at scale for first generation homebuyers, reforming mortgage policy to expand access, increased funding of small business support and capital access programs in communities of color, uniform adoption of state-sponsored retirement programs that allow individuals access to retirement plans when their employers do not provide them, and a commitment to modernize consumer protections so that they align with the present fintech era. Doing so will prepare us for the America that is coming; failing to do so will leave us stuck in the America that has been.”
JBI designs community-informed research that elevates the financial needs, challenges, and opportunities of our increasingly diverse nation to help financial institutions, policymakers and academia effectively design an inclusive financial market for the future.
Just as intentional policies and practices left out communities of color from wealth-building, now is the time to correct course by forging intentional inclusion.
Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene. crowell@responsiblelending.org
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BY DONNELL SUGGS
A25-year veteran law enforcement officer was named one of Metro Atlanta’s chief of police. Sharis McCrary is the new Chief of Police for the City of College Park. Asked if this appointment was a dream job, McCrary answered in the affirmative.
“Some people may call it a dream job, but I view it as a meaningful calling and a tremendous responsibility,” McCrary said.
“I look forward to pouring into our public safety personnel with positivity and strong leadership as we continue serving and protecting the College Park community, whose unwavering support for city employees has never gone unnoticed.”
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Ponce City Market, offers fresh salads, coldpressed juices, smoothies, vegan lemonades, vegan milk teas, and hot dishes infused with Caribbean and international flavors. The menu includes items such as Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit Tacos with mango salsa, vegan comfort foods like chili, cornbread, and collard greens, and beverages like Black Girl Magic Lemonade with activated charcoal. Gaston developed the entire menu herself, drawing on her years of bartending and mixology as much as her time working with communities facing food insecurity.
She designs the apparel sold in-store as well. “The bodega is my brain,” she said. “It’s my mind. It’s what I think of. It’s the world I live in.”
Gaston said she did not set out to open in Ponce City Market specifically. Three weeks after arriving in Atlanta, she found herself in a meeting with the market’s team, still new to the city, still learning its geography.
“I didn’t know Ponce was the most visited landmark in Atlanta,” she said. “When I went, I discovered things as someone new.”
What she discovered that she loved the most, she said, was Black Atlanta.
McCrary joined the department in the summer of 2001 and has served in the criminal Investigations, patrol, and traffic divisions, S.W.A.T., and the Community-Oriented Policing unit.
Asked if the city is ready for what should be thousands of guests coming through College Park by way of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for the FIFA World Cup matches, McCrary said they welcome the challenge that comes with hosting an international sporting event.
“The City of College Park is ready to welcome the world. When visitors step off a plane, they step into College Park,” she said. “We offer excellent hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues, and we’re only minutes away from downtown Atlanta. As
Georgia’s Global Gateway City, we offer multiple methods of transportation - MARTA buses, trains, the ATL SkyTrain, a free light rail people mover from the airport to the car rental facility, shuttle buses, and a host of rideshares.”
An Atlanta native and Columbus State University alum, McCrary held the rank of lieutenant during her career and sees the FIFA World Cup as an opportunity to put College Park on people’s minds after the tournament ends. The Atlanta Dream call College Park and Gateway Center Arena home, too.
“Our mission is to provide FIFA World Cup guests top-tier entertainment, exceptional hospitality, and safety to create lasting memories for peace of mind,” McCrary said.
“Black people,” she said flatly, when asked what made her fall in love with the city. “I’m a pro-Black woman. I love my people more than anything in this world. To see Black people thriving, to see the nuance, to see the history, it was special.”
The bodega reflects that ethos from the moment a customer walks in. Gaston said the most consistent feedback she receives is that something drew people to the corner, an energy they could not name before they arrived.
“Something called me to this corner,” she said, recounting what customers often tell her. “It’s something divine. It’s something sacred.”
For customers new to the bodega, Gaston said she resists pointing them to any one item before learning who they are.
“I’m more focused on learning my customer than telling them what to do,” she said. “Context is everything.”
What she does want every visitor to leave with is a sense of being seen.
“Especially as a Black woman in my experience in life, I feel like we’re so undervalued and underserved,” Gaston said. “What I want people to recognize is that each customer, each visitor, we see them. It’s about being public servants. We want to connect with people. We want to serve them.”
By NOAH WASHINGTON
For 50 years, the building at the heart of downtown Atlanta has carried a single name and a singular identity. On Wednesday, May 20, it got a new one.
The former CNN Center officially reopened as The CTR, a reimagined mixed-use destination anchored in art, food, community, and culture, as city leaders, developers, and local artists gathered inside the building’s revamped atrium to mark the milestone.
“This building watched the Olympics come to its front lawn,” said Chris Eachus, a Founding Partner at CP Group, which purchased and redeveloped the property. “It served sandwiches in this food court to high schoolers on field trips, who are now bringing their own kids downtown.”
Eachus framed the occasion not as a grand opening, but as a reunion between Atlanta and an old friend. The building first opened in 1976 as the Omni International Complex and was transformed in 1987 when Ted Turner converted it into CNN’s global headquarters. Turner died two weeks ago. Members of his family attended the reopening ceremony.
“There are no words equal to what Atlanta owes Ted, or what the world owes Ted,” Eachus said. “Today is the beginning, not the end, of how we need to honor him.”
CP Group has invested more than $200 million into the building’s renovation, including a redesigned atrium and a new food hall, with commissioned murals and public art installations created by Atlanta artists. The iconic CNN letters at the building’s entrance have been replaced with ATL, a piece created by SCAD graduate Michael Porton.
An artist residency and cultural programming hub called CTR Culture Studios will anchor the building’s creative identity going forward.
The World Cup arrives in Atlanta in 26 days, and The CTR is already positioning itself as a destination for the estimated millions of fans expected to flood the city. An Official FIFA Merchandising Store has opened inside the building, one of five metro Atlanta locations.
Collins said the Atlantic Station location, which opened the prior weekend, posted record firstday numbers. The CTR location
opened this week.
Bem Joiner, a co-founder of Atlanta Influnces Everything and a consultant hired to oversee art and culture programming at The CTR, said the goal was to give Atlanta’s creative economy a permanent home.
“People will say, ‘Take me to where the creatives are,’ and there has not been one place,” Joiner said. “The center could be a centering place for the creative economy.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens linked the reopening to a broader wave of downtown revitalization, noting that Centennial Yards, Five Points, and South Downtown are all in active development.
“Downtown is where Atlanta shows up for the world, and right now the world is getting ready to show up for Atlanta,” Dickens said.
Dr. Eloisa Clementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, pointed to more than $15 billion in combined investment across roughly eight major development projects within a mile and a half of The CTR, with a projected 8,500 new residential units on the way, 30% of which will be affordable housing.
A formal grand opening is scheduled for June.
“You can’t make new old friends,” Eachus said, “but you can make sure the old ones feel like themselves again. Welcome back.”
By DONNELL SUGGS
The Georgia primary runoff election begins with an early voting period between June 8-12, and on runoff election day on Tuesday, June 16. Georgians will have to return to polling stations to make their final selections for who will become the next Republican nominee for governor, the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, or who will be the next Fulton County Commission chair. In addition to those races, there are so many more up for grabs and Black women are
leading the way in many of them. High-profile primary campaigns for Democratic governor, won in a landslide by former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and attorney general, won in equal and equally as impactful measure by Rep. Tanya Miller (D-62) with 84.55% of the vote. For those Black women, both previously elected by the public, a successful primary, though impressive, was expected. For Democrats such as former Atlanta City Councilwoman Keisha Sean Waites, running for insurance commissioner, Nikki Porcher, running for labor
commissioner, Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, running for secretary of state, and Sojourner Marable Grimmett, the upcoming runoffs are what they have their sights set on.
On Monday, Memorial Day, in the midst of a rainy holiday weekend, Grimmett, a wife, mother, and graduate of Clark Atlanta University, sat down at a table inside a local pizzeria with a slice and a dream. She wants to be the next woman to represent the Democratic Party in the race to see who will be the commissioner in Fulton County’s 5th District. With the help of her campaign manager and sorority sister, Greer Peters, and without corporate or Super PAC ad dollars, Grimmett is qualified for a runoff by winning 35% of the vote compared to the 43% won by her opponent, Helen Zenobia Willis, a South Fulton City Councilwoman. Grimmett pulled a political door hanger out of her purse and laid it on the table in between bites.
“This is a grassroots campaign. What I do have is family, friends, neighbors, and believers,” Grimmett, wearing an emerald green dress and her signature wide smile, said. “That belief piece is that good people can be elected.”
Grimmett said she was pleased with how her campaign was doing despite the impressive voter turnout for Willis, also a Black woman. The daughter of Pulitzer Prize-winning author, historian, and scholar Manning Marable, Grimmett is running her second political campaign of her lifetime. Her first was for the seat vacated by the passing of the eight-term Fulton County Board of Commissioners member Emma I. Darnell. Grimmett placed third, but with that loss, there was learning, she said. She remembers learning that she lost by a small margin.
“I remember someone explaining it as losing by a sub-division,” she said. “And that’s all they had to tell me.” She picked up the door hanger in order to properly emphasize her next point. “This time around, I will not miss a single neighborhood.”
At a Black-owned coffee shop, Black Coffee Atlanta, on Jonesboro Road, the woman with the lavender
hair was fired up about the recent primary election results and the upcoming runoff election. Nikki Porcher is running as a Democrat to challenge the current Georgia Commissioner of Labor, Barbara Rivera Holmes. She is now in a runoff with Michelle Sanchez. With a campaign as grassroots as Grimmett’s, Porcher, a veteran, mother of a soldier, and political neophyte, won 30% of the vote. Sanchez, who admitted via one of her social media accounts that she didn’t know what a labor commissioner did, won 25%.
Porcher told The Atlanta Voice that she had visited 56 counties during her initial campaign. That works out to just under 9,000 miles. She’s got to do it again in order to seal the deal.
“There are so many people telling Black women what to do, and now we’re taking the lead,” Porcher said. “People did not think I was going to get this far.”
Porcher spoke about the microaggressions she has faced during the campaign, but the inspiration she received when she saw that she was
not alone. There were other Black women getting past political barriers during this election season. Asked if they are proud of their fellow Black women candidates, both Grimmett and Porcher said they were.
“I’m getting goosebumps. To see so many Black women representing and leading, you have to be happy,” Porcher said.
“It’s inspiring, encouraging, uplifting, and gives me more motivation,” Grimmett said.
Porcher founded an organization for Black women business owners, Buy From A Black Woman, and she served the country as an airman in the United States Air Force, so she knows how to organize, focus, and finish a job. This latest task has her in another election just to get the right to run in another election in November. As a Black woman in Georgia, she’s not alone.
There’s a whole state that will be impacted by these elections,” Porcher said. “It’s finally like the state is looking like its true representation.
“And it’s about time.”
By LAURA NWOGU
Part of Atlanta’s charm lies in its diverse food scene, from the rich culture to the bold flavors. The saying often goes that “Atlanta isn’t a real place,” and what makes it unique is the bustling dining and drinking spots on every corner of the city’s neighborhoods, built to satisfy every palate. Lucky for locals and tourists alike, there’s never a shortage of places to visit, especially when new businesses are rolling in every month. However, the restaurant industry landscape is constantly in flux, and amid grand openings, the city is seeing a wave of closures, from small businesses to legacy and popular restaurants.
Here is a roundup of updates on your local favorites, recently-opened restaurants, and incoming restaurants.
Rodney Scott’s BBQ
668 Metropolitan Pkwy SW
Atlanta continues to experience a wave of surprising closures, with many restaurants and local favorites shuttering their doors with little notice. On May 3, the Rodney Scott restaurant group announced that all of Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog barbecue locations across multiple states have temporarily closed their doors until further notice. James Beardaward-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott opened the first location of the restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2017. Since then, it has expanded to Alabama and Tennessee, with its Georgia location opening in Atlanta in July 2021. Situated in a converted auto repair shop on Metropolitan Parkway, the restaurant served up South Carolina-style whole
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vendors from June 11 to July 19. The temporary open container district is contained within the South Downtown entertainment district, from Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard to the North, Peachtree Street to the East, I-20 to the South, and Northside Drive to the West.
“Once you go outside those boundaries, you can expect to see a member of your police department, just to remind you that you need to take it back across the street or pour it out at stations that are readily available,” Hampton said. “We know it will be a good time, but we’re asking for people to be responsible. Do not drink and drive, do not scooter and drive. We ask you to take Marta or call Uber.”
Unhoused Population
A big question locals have had surrounding the FIFA World Cup has been the plan
hog barbecue, ribs, chicken, and popular Southern sides.
Hero Donuts
33 Georgia Ave SE
The Summerhill neighborhood has undergone rapid redevelopment in the past few years and is considered one of Atlanta’s oldest and fastest-growing neighborhoods. Along the corridor of Georgia Avenue, small businesses and local restaurants have made a home for themselves, from Little Tart Bakeshop to Maepole. And while it seems to be thriving at a glance, it is experiencing its own wave of closures that adds to the deeper conversation about Atlanta’s restaurant scene. The eatery has “temporarily closed” signs at both of its Atlanta restaurants after opening its first location in Summerhill in 2020. It is under the umbrella of Pihakis Restaurant Group, a Birmingham
for the unhoused population. It’s a concern that stems from the 1996 Summer Olympics, when ahead of the international multi-sport event, the city of Atlanta displaced its unhoused population and illegally arrested an estimated 9,000 people.
“For the last 20 years, the Atlanta Police Department has had a special team, the Hope team, whose focus is connecting individuals to services and to avoid the occasion of arrest, and arrest only if necessary. That has always been the department’s approach,” Schierbaum said. “The administration, in its first four years, has had a concerted effort to have a holistic approach that unsafe and illegal encampments are closed. That is ongoing.”
According to APD, the department has cleaned 35 encampments, connected 453 individuals to resources, and made zero arrests during encampment cleanups in 2026.
Schierbaum shared that when APD has to close an encampment, there is an extended period of time where they engage occupants
restaurant group which is currently facing millions of dollars in lawsuits, contributing to the closure of both Hero Donuts and Rodney Scott’s.
71 Georgia Ave SE Unit B
After four years in Summerhill, the popular chicken restaurant was forced to permanently close its doors on May 10. The restaurant announced the news on Instagram, telling its patrons that “It has been an honor to serve you over the years and get to know many of you. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lunches, birthday parties, munchies and lives.” The closure was attributed to rent hikes, parking and reduced food traffic, emulating much of the same woes that have caused many West Midtown restaurants to close.
Spice Atlanta
1230 W Peachtree St NW Suite 130
A new global fusion and sushi restaurant has opened in the heart of Midtown, serving a blend of dishes and tapas from various cuisines. Founded by brothers Nana Atakora-Bediako and Baff Atakora-Bediako, Spice Atlanta marks the duo’s second location following the success of its original location in Charlotte. The elevated dining space offers a sleek, sophisticated experience, serving dishes such as Korean chicken wings, hamachi crudo, cassava fries, jollof rice, grilled prawns with Moroccan flavors, and a selection of sushi and cocktails.
Hours: Sunday-Monday, 5 p.m.-midnight.; Friday - Saturday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m.
Nando’s PERi-PERi
99 Krog St. NE
Nando’s is set to open its third location in Georgia at Krog Street Market. Taking over the former Bar Mercado space, the globally popular South African chain is known for its South African flame-grilled chicken and PERi-PERi sauces. In anticipation of its first Atlanta (ITP) restaurant opening in June, the restaurant hosted a limited-time PERi-PERi Portal popup on the BeltLine earlier in May, giving visitors a taste of what’s to come.
and encourage them to utilize the resources provided by the city. They also let them know the exact date the encampment will close and inform them that an arrest could occur after that point. He emphasized that for an arrest to take place, there has to be probable cause; APD cannot arrest an individual just for being homeless.
APD encouraged residents to report when they see people violating the law regarding illegal parking locations, noise ordinances, and large parties. They encouraged those wishing to host celebrations to apply for the proper permits.
By By JENNIFER PORTER GORE Word In Black
In January 1973, a 27-year-old Black woman named Cheryl Lanier vanished from San Francisco. No one filed a missing persons report for 37 years.
When her case was finally logged in 2010 and the city police department’s Missing Persons Unit investigated, but the case languished, unsolved for decades. This month, DNA analysis confirmed Lanier had died in Houston, Texas, in September 1976 — three years after she disappeared — after jumping from a moving tractor-trailer. She had spent half a century as a Jane Doe.
Lanier’s tragic story, however, isn’t rare. In fact, it fits a disturbing pattern of what happens when Black Americans go missing.
Harmful Stereotypes
In 2023, more than half a million people were reported missing in the United States. According to 2023 data from the National Crime Information Center, 40% of missing persons are people of color, although Black Americans make up just 13% of the population.
The disappearances are made worse by what doesn’t happen: urgent searches and media attention.
Black and Missing Foundation co-founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson have described being “shunned” by the media, met with silence when seeking coverage for missing Black victims. The dynamic is rooted in stereotypes associating Black communities with criminality. For instance, many missing Black children are first classified as runaways, so their disappearance isn’t circulated through an Amber Alert.
For Black families, the pain of loss is compounded by the invisibility. It took 53 years for Cheryl Lanier to be identified. Thousands of other Black people who have vanished are still waiting to be seen.
Word In Black spoke with Natalie Wilson about the Black and Missing Foundation’s 18-year fight to find America’s forgotten missing. The co-founders started the organization after watching a grieving family get ignored by the same media that made the disappearance of Natalee Holloway an international story.
The following has been edited for clarity and length.
Word In Black: Your organization has been around for nearly two decades.
What prompted you to start it, and what is the Black and Missing Foundation’s core mission?
Natalie Wilson: We have been sounding the alarm since May of 2008 that people of color are disappearing at an alarming rate from around the country. Our mission is to bring awareness to missing men, women, and children from around the country, to educate our community on personal safety, and to search for those who are missing.
The inspiration behind the foundation is a young lady by the name of Tamika Houston, who went missing from Spartanburg, South Carolina — my sister-in-law’s hometown. We read about how her family, particularly her aunt Rebecca, who works in public relations, could not get media coverage for her missing niece.
A year after Tamika disappeared, Natalee Holloway vanished — and just saying her name alone, everyone knew her story. Rebecca had reached out to the same reporters, the same networks, the same programs that covered Natalee Holloway, and she was met with silence.
My co-founder Derrica and I decided to do some research to see if there were systemic issues around missing people of color, because we simply were not seeing their stories
in the media. At the time, we found that 30% of all missing persons were people of color. My background is media relations and public relations; awareness is key in trying to find the missing. Derrica’s background is in law enforcement. Those are the two critical professions needed to bring our missing home.
WIB: What keeps you going after 18 years?
Wilson: The families. They are desperately searching for their missing loved ones, and many times they tell us we are their last resort.
Law enforcement isn’t taking the police report — they’re turning families away. The media isn’t covering the stories. And the community isn’t involved, because either they don’t know someone is missing, or they’re turning a blind eye because they aren’t personally affected.
WIB: You mentioned law enforcement turning families away. Can you give a specific example?
Wilson: There was a young girl by the name of Kennedy who went missing from Baltimore. When her mother reported her
See MISSING on page 11
By DONNELL SUGGS
FAYETTEVILLE, GA. - The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) will play a pair of matches in North Carolina and Illinois before they head off to training camp for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino and the final roster of 26 players were at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, preparing for matches against Senegal at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday and Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday, June 6, and taking questions from local and national media.
This year’s roster includes more Black American-born players than any other before. The red, white, and blue draped over the backs of the American players is an honest representation of this country. The USMNT, win or lose, will be a complete reflection of this country.
Midfielders Tyler Adams (Upstate New York) and Weston McKennie (Texas), forwards Haji Wright
(California), and Tim Weah (Upstate New York) join defenders Alex Freeman (Florida), Mark McKenzie (Delaware), Chris Richards (Alabama), and former Atlanta United star Miles Robinson (Massachusetts) on this year’s roster.
Freeman, 21, is one of the youngest players on the roster, but has qualified for the World Cup roster by playing well in the Major League Soccer with Orlando City SC and currently with Spanish club Villareal CF.
On Wednesday, during the first day of training in Georgia, the final roster was greeted by staffers as they made their way off of the team bus. For all of the players, this was the first time they were getting a look inside the training center.
Before training, Pochettino made his way over to the press assembled on the sideline to welcome them.
This year’s roster has Black players who are from other countries, and the level of success of Pochettino, his staff, and US Soccer will have a
lot to do with how those players perform this summer.
Defender Antonee Robinson (England), forward Folarin Balogun (England) (New York City and midfielder Malik Tillman (Germany), were all born in Europe but also represent the cultural change taking place in American national team soccer.
At noon, the team made their onto the training pitch and went through drills before the media was escorted off the field.
The team will be at the National Training Center on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, before they leave for Charlotte. They are scheduled to return to the training center from Tuesday through Thursday before leaving for Chicago.
The United States, in Group D, will open the World Cup against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12. That match will be followed by matches against Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles.
By DONNELL SUGGS
The sprinklers inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium came on while the grass expert was talking. The timing could not have been better.
Stuart Wilson, the FIFA Pitch Venue Manager, was explaining how the Kentucky Blue Grass blanketing the soccer pitch inside the stadium made its way to Atlanta when the waterworks began. Wilson, a former staffer with Arsenal Football Club, didn’t bat an eye as the water made the already emerald green glass shimmer and shine.
“It thrives best in this environment. It’s a natural sod stitched with natural fibers,” Wilson explained.
It took four days to completely install the grass, according to Wilson, and since there will not be any Major League Soccer matches played until after the tournament, the field should be easier to maintain.
The grass field will be a change for any soccer fans used to watching Major League Soccer club Atlanta United on its home turf. Pun intended. In order to make the playing surface acceptable for the eight World Cup matches that will be played in Atlanta this summer, the grass had to be
suitable for the highest level of play. Leonel Messi would be proud.
The grass from Kentucky, the sod however, is from Colorado. The combination mixed with the (air) conditions inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium will help keep the surface ready for whatever the World Cup clubs have to offer.
The grass was tested in Tennessee, it will be perfect for World Cup play, says London-born Wilson. “I’m very confident that this will be a perfect playing surface,” he said. “It’s really, really top level stuff.”
Atlanta will host matches in every round with the exception of the quarterfinals and finals, which are scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
Something for everyone:
There will be mobile sensory rooms available at all World Cup venues, according to Bev Carter, FIFA Host City Director, Atlanta. There will be at least one room available, and in Atlanta, the sensory room was located in the Home Depot Backyard on Thursday. Its proximity to the stairs, outdoor escalator, and entrance will make the quiet space most accessible to guests.
“We really hope this city embraces this opportunity,” Carter said.
By LAURA NWOGU
The City of Chamblee’s annual summer concert series kicks off in June, and this year, the city is celebrating Juneteenth by bringing some Beyoncé energy to the mix. The series, which features six bands, three nights of music, and a fireworks show, is one of Chamblee’s signature summer events that brings in thousands of people every year.
“The summer concert series for the city of Chamblee has been around for 30 to 40 plus years, and as the community has grown, we’ve also shifted our focus on a lot of events to focus on just that — our community and the representation of our community,” said Brittney Lindsay, the City of Chamblee’s community engagement director.
The first concert will take place on June 12, where attendees can
Continued from page 9
missing, law enforcement told her Kennedy had run away. That is what we see repeatedly — law enforcement classifying [Black] young girls as runaways. The moment that happens, they receive no Amber Alert and no media coverage whatsoever, because the assumption is the child left home willingly.
But even if a child leaves home voluntarily, you have to ask: what are they leaving from, and what are they leaving into? We know that girls and boys are being sex trafficked at an alarming rate.
In Kennedy’s case, we were able to pressure law enforcement into taking a proper missing person’s report. We amplified her case. She had been trafficked and was being moved from Baltimore to another part of Prince George’s County by her traffickers. An Uber driver recognized her from a flyer on our website, contacted us, and we were able to reach our resources at the FBI. They rescued her. Kennedy was 14 or 16 years old — young — and she was a functioning autistic child. That case illustrates exactly why we require a police missing person’s report to be on file before we can assist a family. If law enforcement refuses to take the report, we
enjoy a tribute to the musical journey and evolution of Beyoncé, with a promise of powerhouse vocals, choreography, and stunning visuals to accompany her biggest
work with the family to get it done.
WIB: You mentioned the numbers have changed since you started the foundation. What do the statistics look like now?
Wilson: When we first started in 2008, based on FBI statistics, 30% of all missing persons were people of color. Today that number has increased to 40%. But we believe the real number is much higher.
The Hispanic community is underreporting for various reasons, and the FBI is categorizing Hispanic individuals as white in their data — which we find troubling. Research shows that 24% of Latinos and Latinas identify as Afro Latino. So, when you’re miscategorizing Hispanic missing persons as white and not accounting for Afro Latinos at all, the true scale of the crisis is being obscured.
WIB: What does your media strategy look like, and why does media coverage matter so much to these cases?
Wilson: Media coverage is important for two reasons. First, it alerts the community that someone is missing. Second, it puts pressure on law enforcement to dedicate resources to the case. No
hits from her era in Destiny’s Child to her iconic solo career. This will be the city’s second year hosting a Juneteenth celebration through the summer concert series.
department wants to be embarrassed. When we work with media partners and a reporter calls a precinct asking for a case update, we see law enforcement spring into action.
Because we can’t wait for the traditional news cycle, we’ve also built our own platforms — including a podcast — so families can tell their stories directly. All it takes is one piece of information, one person who comes forward with a tip, to bring someone home. And if they’re no longer alive, at least the family has answers and can move forward.
WIB: Where does the foundation operate, and who are your partners?
Wilson: We’re headquartered in Hyattsville, Maryland, but we are a national organization. Over nearly 18 years, we’ve built partnerships with law enforcement agencies around the country — departments in Washington, D.C., Oakland, and elsewhere actively use our missing persons database. We also have partnerships with local and national media, including programs like Dateline, and we could not do this work without the Black press, which has consistently created space for us to tell these stories.
In June, we’re launching our
“If you look at the evolution of Beyoncé in the most recent years, Beyoncé, as an artist, has chosen to highlight a lot of the historical struggles and current struggles in
very first street team in Atlanta — boots on the ground in one of the country’s hot spots, ready to mobilize immediately when someone goes missing. Other highneed cities we focus on include Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, and Miami.
WIB: What do you want parents to know about how children are being targeted?
Wilson: We ask families: how can someone get into your home without coming through the front door or a window? The answer is through apps and technology. Any device with a chat feature is a potential point of contact for predators.
We had a case out of Georgia where a pedophile groomed a young girl, who was a gamer, over the course of two years. People assume this happens fast. It does not. These individuals are patient, and they know how to identify vulnerability. They know that children who lack food, housing, or basic stability are more susceptible. They know what to say. They earn trust slowly, and eventually they get children to share where they go to school, where they worship — details that put them in danger.
We also urge young adults: stop posting [on social media] your location in real time. Post when you
the African American community, and that’s something that Juneteenth also strives to celebrate — the past reckoning with the present,” said Jeffrey McNair, The City of Chamblee’s special events coordinator. “We’re riding the Beyoncé wave. We’re just coming off last year’s Cowboy Carter tour, which was a big blast, followed by her Renaissance tour, and, most recently, her hosting the Met Gala, so Beyoncé is always a hot topic. Who better to bring to Chamblee than Beyoncé?”
The event will feature food and drink vendors and family-friendly activities. The remaining two concerts will take place on Saturday, July 4, featuring an Independence Day performance by Robin Thicke, and Friday, August 7, with a boy band tribute. The concerts are free and open to the public and will begin at 6:30 p.m. in front of Chamblee City Hall.
get home. You never know who is watching.
WIB: What should someone do if they know something about a missing person but are afraid to come forward?
Wilson: We have an anonymous tip line. We know there is a deep and historically earned distrust between law enforcement and our community. If you are not comfortable going directly to police, please reach out to us. We will not compromise your identity. We understand the sensitivity. And if you have a missing loved one and do not know what to do, please reach out to us so we can provide the support you need.
WIB: What’s on the horizon for The Black and Missing Foundation?
Wilson: On May 30th, we are hosting our 10th Anniversary 5K at the harbor in Fort Washington, Maryland. It is a family event — a day for the community to rally around families who have missing loved ones. Along the route, you will see mile markers featuring the images and information of missing persons. We hope the community will come out, walk with us, and help us keep these faces visible.
Spacious 1-Bedroom Affordable! Rent Based on Annual Income Amenities, Great Location, and Convenient to Marta Please call for detailed information (404) 586-9098
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
Director of Consolidation, Atlanta, GA – Req: Bach/forgn equi deg in Busi Admin, Finance, Acct’g, Busi Mgmt, or a rel fld + 10 yrs’ exp in either public or private acct’g environment w/ exp in acct’g mgmt. Exp must incl: 9 yrs’ exp providing global acct’g & consolidation support, incl’g Asia & Europe; 8 yrs’ financial consulting expe focused on reporting & auditing; 8 yrs’ exp w/ SAP, Axiom/MX Open General Ledger, & Consolidation Tool (Business Objects); 7 yrs’ exp w/ Busi Objects or equiv consolidation tools; 5 yrs’ exp w/ Int’l Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS); & 5 yrs’ exp w/ ERP implementations for General Ledger & large-scale world-wide consolidations. KICPA & AICPA certifications & 30% int’l travel req’d. CV: Essex Solutions Inc., ATTN: HR, 5770 Powers Ferry Rd NW, Ste 400, Atlanta, GA 30327 or palmer.zavodny@ essexsolutions.com.
Software Quality Assurance Analyst sought by Community Loans of America, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) to work in a collaborative team atmosphere with varied Senior Level QA engineers to develop multi-platform test automation, including promoting development practices for coded test frameworks, participating in code reviews, and source control management meetings. Bachelor’s degree or foreign degree equivalent in Computer Science and Engineering or closely related field. Experience may have been gained concurrently and must include: 5 years of experience in each of the following: analyzing requirements, designing test cases, and defining acceptance criteria; collaborating with developers and analysts to review and validate tests; identifying and tracking defects and maintaining overall test quality; and running and supporting regression test environments. 1 year of experience in each of the following: automating test cases and maintaining automation frameworks; performing database on Main Frames and ETL testing using Oracle SQL, PL/SQL, and Informatica; and documenting UAT steps, training users, and providing testing sign-oV. Send resume and cover letter to: C. Galeas, Community Loans of America, Inc., 8601 Dunwoody Place, Suite 406, Atlanta, GA 30350.
Director, Global Financial Planning & Analysis, Atlanta, GA – Req: Bach/forgn equi deg in Busi Admin, Finance, Acct’g, or a rel fld & 10 yrs’ exp in financial analysis and/or acct’g exp in a large, multi-busi unit mftg co. environment. Exp must incl: 5 yrs’ exp in planning busi strategies, budget planning, analyzing busi performance, & profitability & financial status for multi-faceted global operations & turnaround strategies; & 2 yrs’ exp in implementing SAP ERP modules in a global mftg organization, incl’g Asia. Domestic & Int’l travel req’d up to 25% of time. CV: ATTN: HR, Essex Solutions Inc., 5770 Powers Ferry Rd NW, Ste 400, Atlanta, GA 30327 or palmer.zavodny@essexsolutions.com.
FULTON COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed Bids for26ITB1622449C-JNJ Towing & Wrecker Services for County Fleet for the Department of Real Estate & Asset Management will be accepted by the Fulton County Department of Purchasing & Contract Compliance online via BidNet Direct athttps:// bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. Local (Eastern) standard time.
All Solicitations submitted will be read no later than 11:15 a.m. on the stated due date via a virtual zoom meeting.
Virtual Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98102636408
SCOPE OF WORK: Fulton County, Georgia “County” is seeking bids from qualified bidders to provide towing and wrecker services for County fleet vehicles on an as-needed emergency basis as determined by Fulton County.
The detailed scope of work and technical specifications are outlined in the Scope of Work, Section 3 of this bid document.
BID BOND: N/A
General instructions, specifications and/or plans for this project can be Downloaded Free of charge athttps://www.bidnetdirect.com/Georgia/ fultoncounty under “Bid Opportunities”. Fee: N/A
Term of Contract: One (1) Year with two (2) Renewal options.
Pre-Bid Conference, will be held online via a virtual Zoom Conference on Tuesday, June 09, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., to provide bidders with information regarding this project and to address any questions. Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99535941585
If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Jakeiah Johnson, APA, MBA, CCA, CPM Phone: (404) 612-7885 or E-mail: jakeiah.johnson@fultoncountyga.gov.
Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.
