The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 053025

STRIKE Back

Kroger drivers want fair contracts

By DONNELL SUGGS

FOREST PARK, GA.

- Your local Kroger supermarket might experience a delay in restocking some of your favorite items. The trucks that occupy Georgia’s highways and interstate roadways are full of trucks delivering goods to supermarkets across the state. One of the country’s largest supermarket chains and one of the country’s largest unions may have something to say about how this story plays out.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 30 truck drivers at the Kroger fulfillment facility in Forest Park. Last year, an overwhelming majority voted to join the Washington, D.C.-based union. On Wednesday morning, it was confirmed that a strike had been authorized by the union. That means a strike can occur any day now, according to Teamsters representative Colin McCullough.

The Atlanta Voice spoke with McCullough by phone Wednesday morning to further validate the press release sent out to media outlets on Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, a visit to the entrance of the fulfillment center saw trucks making their way in and out of the center. Drivers lined their trucks on Kroger Drive and waited for their turn to enter the fulfillment center for pickup. Their next destinations were unknown, but that is much less important than what goods are on the trucks and the people making the deliveries happen.

In the release from the Teamsters, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division, Tom Erickson, said about the drivers at the Forest Park fulfillment center: “These workers organized with the Teamsters to win better wages, real benefits, and respect on the job. If Kroger refuses to deliver, we’ll do whatever it takes to hold them accountable. We will never allow any company to shortchange our members.”

There has been interest in the strike from Atlanta-based organizations as well. The Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc., which holds a weekly community forum on Mondays at 11 a.m. at the Vicars Community Center on Cascade Avenue, is also included in the Teamsters press release. Rev. Shanan E. Jones, President of the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc. is quoted in the release:

“It is a shameful and unjust practice to disenfranchise the very people who sacrifice daily to help a corporation like Kroger achieve and surpass its profit goals,” Shanan said.

The Atlanta Voice reached out to Shanan and the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc. for comment and are awaiting a reply.

The Kroger Co., which is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the third-largest supermarket chain in the United States, according to data from GourmetPro.com.

Kroger’s Forest Park fulfillment center is on the 2000 block of Anvil Road.

Atlanta City Councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet is running for City Council President

By ITORO N. UMONTUEN

Atlanta City Councilwoman Marci Collier Overstreet lives and breathes

Southwest Atlanta. After serving in District Eleven for eight years, she is running for Atlanta City Council President. Current City Council President Doug Shipman, announced he would not seek reelection in February.

As she returned to her alma mater, Benjamin E. Mays High School, Overstreet showed me her class yearbook from 1983 – ironically – the year I was born. She keeps the yearbook close because it reminds her of her roots and her love for Southwest Atlanta. However, as Overstreet moves forward, she admits she would never step into the world of politics.

“So these are my roots, and I knew that you could never have any bad days at work if you’re helping someone in a community where you grew up, where you raised your children, where you were married,” Overstreet explains. “I was married at the United Methodist Church.”

Overstreet kicked off her campaign in April. In her press release, she says, “I believe I have the experience, expertise, and empathy to help advance the quality of life for all of the people in the City of Atlanta.” During our conversation, Overstreet emphasized her commitment to community development.

“I was the zoning chair for two years, and that was important to me, because you want to be careful about how you develop your communities,” Overstreet explains. “The answer is not always ‘yes’ to everything that wants to be in your community.”

Overstreet’s motto is based on A-T-L

Overstreet’s overall approach is summarized by her platform of “Action, Trust, and Legacy” (A-T-L). It focuses on implementing concrete solutions, building community trust, and creating sustainable improvements for future generations. When Overstreet launched her campaign in April, said she will promote public safety and community policing. Her other chief priorities are economic mobility for residents and transportation.

“We have an economic gap in our city,” Overstreet admitted. “We’re told that we have the largest wealth gap in the nation here, right here in Atlanta, the haves and the have nots. I don’t like that. Economic mobility is extremely important in our communities. Especially for me and people that look just like me, we need to make sure that we are doing all of the things in our city to make sure that we’re bringing everyone with us.”

Overstreet views her leadership through the lens of her community roots. She believes that by understanding the local context and needs, she can create meaningful, targeted solutions. For example, Overstreet recently outlined a plan to revitalize

Greenbriar Mall. It includes adding workforce housing and partnerning with MARTA to create a transit hub, among other initiatives.

“It’s about action, trust and legacy. That’s ATL right? My action is doing the work. It’s the promises that I make throughout and they have been solidified in legislation and not just words. First of all, I am working with the Council to make sure that they understand my vision. All of my legislation has to do with making sure that our quality of life is elevated. It’s really about action for me. Not just talking about it; not seeing where the problems are, and doing nothing. But actually having solutions and then enacting your solutions.”

Maynard Jackson’s example establishes Overstreet’s standard

Overstreet praised the legacies of Atlanta’s first Black Mayor, Maynard Holbrook Jackson and Ambassador Andrew Young. She aims to emulate their vision and impact, and underscored her dedication to helping those most in need. But, it circles back to when she was a student at Mays High School and her desire to enroll in the Delta Airlines’ summer program.

“I wanted to work for Delta Airlines, and it’s because Maynard had the vision to make Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport something amazing,”

Overstreet says. “That made Delta Airlines shine globally. And I wanted to be a part of that.”

The Atlanta Neighborhood Planning Unitcontains twenty-five different areas defined by zip codes and city council districts. It was created by Jackson in 1974 in order for citizens to participate in Atlanta’s Comprehensive Development Plan. It’s how the city’s vision for the next five, ten, and fifteen years. Overstreet believes in maintaining Maynard’s vision, while addressing the needs of the New Atlanta.

“Especially in the last 10 years, going through all of the processes that are in place, our 35% mandate of making sure that we have minority participation in every aspect of our city work is all Maynard,” says Overstreet. “And the actual NPU system, the neighborhood planning units that’s not done anywhere, that’s done here. So everything that we do that changes the landscape of our city goes through, goes through our communities via NPU, and that’s all Maynard.”

Overstreet believes Atlanta can still become the “Beloved Community” as the late John Lewis famously described. However, it’s a collective effort from not just politicians, but the citizens as well.

“It is up to us, and I accept this responsibility of helping the people that need it the most,” said Overstreet. “I really do try to reach in areas and help in ways that, just like Maynard, just like Andy Young, I am open to everyone that needs anything. The people that need it the most, we can’t ever forget them.”

Trump Rules Through Fear — and Black America Must Stay Vigilant

By RASHONDA TATE

Recently, I was traveling through Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport — an airport I’ve walked through countless times in my three decades of travel.

But this time was different. The line for TSA security was like something out of a disaster movie: snaking through terminals, full of frustrated travelers, with agents shouting updates to a restless crowd. I asked one of them what was going on, and they shrugged, “DOGE cuts. Limited staff and we’re all suffering.”

I felt the same rush of frustration I imagine others felt. I was two and a half hours early, had priority lane privileges and STILL barely made my flight. As I often do, I pulled out my phone to post about it to my private social media account — a space where I’m not shy about my political views. But just before I hit “post,” I paused.

I’m just a writer from Texas, I thought. There’s no way anyone from the Trump administration would see this. But I hesitated because…what if they did? What if someone flagged it? What if, in the vindictive spirit of this new era, someone decided to revoke my travel credentials or add me to a watchlist?

Some might say I’m being extreme. But that fear? It was real.

And that’s the point. That’s what Donald Trump wants.

“Real power is fear.” That’s what Trump once said — and he’s made good on that philosophy every step of the way. His political playbook isn’t built on inspiration or unity; it’s built on intimidation, vengeance and control. And for Black Americans, who have always lived under the shadow of structural fear, that kind of leadership is not just threatening — it’s dangerous.

This is a man who has weaponized public shaming, social media attacks, frivolous lawsuits and government authority to punish those who dare to dissent. He’s gone after journalists, judges, prosecutors — even ordinary citizens who speak out. His administration treated criticism as betrayal and disagreement as criminal.

But the impact on Black communities has been especially chilling.

Under Trump, voter suppression reached new highs, cloaked in the lie of “election fraud,” especially targeting cities with large Black populations like Houston, Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia. Black-led movements like Black Lives Matter were labeled “terrorists,” and peaceful protesters were tear-gassed for photo ops. Civil rights protections were gutted. Affirmative action dismantled. Fair housing policies rolled back. Police accountability weakened. The word “woke” became blasphemous.

“Real power is fear.” That’s what Trump once said — and he’s made good on that philosophy every step of the way. His political playbook isn’t built on inspiration or unity; it’s built on intimidation, vengeance and control. And for Black Americans, who have always lived under the shadow of structural fear, that kind of leadership is not just threatening — it’s dangerous.

And all of this was wrapped in a campaign of fear: fear of “crime,” fear of “illegals,” fear of change, fear of Black power.

This is not new. Throughout history, African Americans have been silenced through fear— through lynching, through voter intimidation, through job threats, redlining, surveillance and censorship. Trump is not the inventor of this tactic. He’s simply its loudest, most shameless modern-day champion.

What scared me most about that moment in the airport wasn’t the line. It was realizing that I was self-censoring out of fear. I eventually posted my message, but I watered it down. I muted my outrage. And afterward, I sat with the sadness of that.

Because what kind of “free” country do we live in if a journalist — someone whose job is to speak truth — is afraid to voice frustration over an airport delay, for fear that it might be held against her?

That’s not democracy. That’s dictatorship. Fear works best when it isolates us — when it convinces us that speaking out isn’t worth the risk. When it persuades us to be quiet, to fall in line, to sit down. That’s why Trump leans on it so heavily.

But here’s the truth: Fear can only win if we let it.

Black America has always resisted — even when it was risky, even when it cost us everything. We’ve marched, organized, voted, protested and created, knowing that silence was never an option. And now, more than ever, we must continue to push forward — unafraid, unbought, and unbossed.

So yes, I posted my (albeit watered-down) update. But I’ll keep posting, writing and raising my voice. Because if we stop speaking, they’ve already won.

Stay vigilant. Stay loud. And never, ever let fear decide your truth.

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Spiritually Speaking: Friendship Revisited

BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON

The Atlanta Voice

I was listening to one of the evangelists on television the other night and found myself being spiritually moved by the comment about the faith of friends.

The parable where Jesus heals the paralytic struck me in a way that seared my consciousness at the time.“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5.

The operative word here for me was “their.” I don’t know why, at this particular time, all of those sermons I’d heard about choosing your friends wisely became crystal clear. Can you imagine the strength and power behind a group of individuals who believe in you so strongly, care about you deeply, and love the Lord so much that He heals you because of them? If there is ever any place in that bible that should make you realize that people who love God and you can make a difference in your life, this is the place.

For all those praying mothers out there, here’s proof that God through Christ is listening. I don’t have to remind a lot of us about the grief we put those who love us through. I won’t remind many of the only course of action we left open to those who love us. Putting us in the

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.

hands of the Lord was their only alternative because, as the old folks say, our heads were so hard that we only bruised ourselves while we made our hearts bleed. Help me, somebody. I’m testifying that I believe I’m here today because the Lord entertained the pleas of others on my behalf. I was too dumb, young, and stupid to do so for myself.

What’s the phrase? You better check yo-self before you wreck yo-self? You see, the paralytic’s friends might have given up on him, but they wouldn’t give up on God. Now these are the kind of folks I want in my life. I believe the message here is that while in the midst of your own personal storms, one unalterable fact is you’re better off if you’ve got some of God’s storm troopers with you. You need some folk who will break down a few walls, tear up a few roofs, and destroy a couple of yokes for you in the name of God. You see, these people will tell you what you already know in a

“YOUR VOICE”

heartbeat. If you try to go it alone, you might as well make a reservation in the devil’s Motel 6. You can start this journey by yourself, but you likely won’t be able to finish it by yourself. The family of believers is just that, a family. Take a look around in your own life and take inventory of your closest friends. Which one(s), if any, would you want pleading your case before the Almighty? Who in your current collection of friends is willing to make a personal appeal to God to save your butt from the insanity you’re currently in, just got out of, or, are about to go through even as you know better? More importantly, what kind of friend are you? If your closest friend took this same inventory, how would you stack up? Are you likely to help him or her get into heaven or go straight to hell?

As we used to say when I was growing up, riding shotgun was a favored position. If all is as it should be, then God is riding shotgun no matter where you are.

He has to be because at least one person is so connected that they won’t forsake anybody in the group, even if it’s not you, to Him that He. I guess I’m just trying to point out that the belief of others in the truth of the Lord is so powerful that you can benefit from it, which is mind-boggling. I have friends who see this as usual, natural, the way. To me, Mark 2:5 was like a light that had me examine some of my relationships, only to find that adding one or two more who would find a way to lead me into the presence of the Lord would probably go a long way towards me achieving my ultimate goal. May God bless you and your friends always.

This column is from James Washington’s Spiritually Speaking: Reflections for and from a New Christian. You can purchase this enlightening book on Amazon and start your journey toward spiritual enlightenment.

What do you think we should do about ‘illegal immigrants’ who were brought to the U.S as babies and toddlers and raised here?

[Cassandra spoke, specifically on the case of Ximena Arias-Cristobal, 19, a Georgia teen who was erroneously arrested by police for a traffic stop and then turned over to ICE. Her parents brought her to the US illegally at age 4.]

“I don’t know. There’s a moral answer, you know, and then there’s also a legal answer. So it’s a tough call. I mean, she’s been here her entire life, and she’s been raised here, and her whole life is here, and she has been established, and she has been a productive citizen of our country, and a lot of people have come here from different places and have done that. So, from a moral, ethical perspective, she should be pardoned and allowed to stay here. But I don’t know what all the laws are around people who have come here illegally. They should put her into the system to allow her to go through the process of gaining citizenship. That’s what I think, but I do not know what the law mandates.”

“My opinion on the situation with who we’re referring to would be if the person were not involved in any illegal activity, and they’ve been here since they were a young child, then they should have an opportunity if they have contributed to society, and they’ve been doing well in our communities, then why not give them some exoneration from their issue that they’re having with the government right now.”

“The immigrants should be able to stay as long as they came over here as a child. They are entitled to stay here in the United States. The United States is a good place to live. It’s a land of the American way, and I feel if they had an opportunity to come over here when they were young, they should be able to stay.”

“As far as the immigrant babies... Aren’t we all immigrants? I mean, we live in a world where we’ve all migrated to somewhere we didn’t discover. This isn’t truly our land. Our parents, our ancestors, built this land, and we’re grateful for what they did. But how can we judge? How can we judge anybody? You’ve got to love everybody, let them, you know? Let people do what they want and need to survive. We’re all trying to make it, so that’s my view.”

“My thoughts on the current climate of the immigrant policies are that it should be the total opposite of what Donald Trump is doing. That’s going into schools, going into churches, not giving them any rights, sending them to Guantanamo Bay. I don’t have any ideas, but I know what Donald Trump is doing, and what I hear isn’t right, and it’s not helping anyone. It’s displacing families and cousins and relatives and friends and just putting a bad look on America and how we treat other people, especially with the whole South Africa situation.”

Compiled by Vincent Christie

Atlanta DOT hosts Safe Routes to School program

By ISAIAH SINGLETON

The Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT), through its Safe Routes to School Program, will partner with Safe Kids Fulton County to educate students at Hope Hill Elementary School.

Safe Kids Fulton County is a national movement aiming to make it safer for students to walk and bike to school. SRTS programs are designed to make school zones and streets safer within the vicinity of schools safer for youth and most vulnerable road users. Safety Town Georgia is an interactive small-scale town where young children learn how to safely walk on sidewalks, bike, scoot, and skate safely. Students are also taught how to cross the street using traffic signals and crosswalks.

LaJoyce Lewis, representative from the Fulton County Board of Health, said they have an opportunity to partner with the City of Atlanta to bring safety education, pedestrian, and bike safety education to children who attend Hope Hill Elementary School.

“We’re doing that because there’s a high rate of incidents of traffic situations or incidents in this community,” she said. “We want the kids to learn how to be safe in their community while they walk and ride their bikes throughout the community.”

Lewis also says they instruct students about the importance of helmets and the proper fitting of them.

“It’s important they wear a helmet each and every time they ride a bike, or scooter, or skate through the community,” Lewis said.

Nicole Hollis, representative from ATLDOT, said the interactive activity gives students a chance to learn about the rules of the road in a safe environment.

“Like LaJoyce said, there are high numbers of traffic fatalities and injuries near the school campus, particularly along Boulevard and Irwin Street,” she said. “Our department has identified a list of high-priority schools in our program where we’re focused on making sure that kids are educated properly on how to do things like cross streets properly.”

Hollis says if students choose to bike to school, they ensure kids understand how to use their bikes, whether traveling along paths that aren’t safe, and working with their department to build out infrastructure that makes it as safe as possible.

Safety Town, Hollis says, is an initiative through Safe Kids Fulton County and their department has a top 25 list of high-priority schools where they are focused on doing safety action plans to find infrastructure safety improvements. There are currently five other schools this year they are working with and hoping to bring Safety Town to bring awareness to traffic and education, especially for those younger kids in kindergarten through

“It’s important they wear a helmet each and every time they ride a bike, or scooter, or skate through the community,” LaJoyce Lewis, representative from the

“We’re doing that because there’s a high rate of incidents of traffic situations or incidents in this community. We want the kids to learn how to be safe in their community while they walk and ride their bikes throughout the community.”

LaJoyce Lewis Representative from the Fulton County Board of Health

third grade.

Additionally, Lewis said Safety Town has been in operation through Fulton County Board of Health three going on four years, and the program is the leading agency for the Safe Kids Fulton County Coalition.

“We partner with organizations, schools, faith-based communities, Parks and Recreation throughout Fulton County, and we’re mobile so we can take our resources to them,” she said.

Often, she says, the kids they service live in marginalized communities that lack resources and aren’t able to receive the same benefits as other kids who might otherwise have access.

“This is an opportunity for them to not just

hear about the rules of the road, but actually be able to implement some of the safety measures we’re teaching them in order to keep them safe,” she said.

Their programs are held both inside and outside as well.

Furthermore, Lewis said to the Atlanta Voice readers to watch their website for Safe Kids Fulton County because they are always looking for volunteers.

“Under the Fulton County Board of Health website, we’re always looking for volunteers to join the coalition where we can talk about community safety, countless ways to keep kids safe, both bicycle and home safety, and to help parents learn about other safety

discussions like car seat safety,” she said. “We have an opportunity to teach parents about the importance of having their kids properly restrained in car seats that have not expired or been damaged.”

Also, Hollis said she’d like to thank Hope Hill Elementary for partnering with them on the interactive activity.

“We know there are a lot of students that walk to school and bike as well, so reinforcing that education with the students, especially as we approach the end of the school year and kids are out more moving around, this gives them a chance to understand the importance of having these types of skills on hand when they’re navigating roads day-to-day.”

Education

Georgia’s 529 Plan: Boosting college savings with tax-free growth

By DONNELL SUGGS

It’s graduation season, and across the country, students are graduating from all levels of the education spectrum: pre-K, kindergarten, elementary school, high school, and, of course, college.

Today is May 29, but it can also be called 529 Day. It is the day parents, guardians, and friends begin saving for the future of those students.

According to an expert, Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plans are engineered to assist in saving for what is next, even if that road doesn’t lead to college. State of Georgia Treasury Program Director Bethany Whetzel spoke to The Atlanta Voice about the benefits of a Path2College 529 plan.

Whetzel was asked why it is important for parents, families, and guardians to have Path2College 529 plans in place for their children’s future. She said Georgia’s 529 plan is a great way for families, friends, anyone who has a loved one who they have faith or believe that they will have post-secondary expenses or any kind of educational expenses to prepare.

“A 529 plan is a way for families to save in a tax-advantaged way,” Whetzel said. “The

earlier you start saving and have money in that account, you’re going to be growing that money in a tax-deferred way. You’re going to be using that tax-free earnings to contribute to that compounding interest, so your savings power is doubled.”

According to data from the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of a college education in this country, for example, is $27,146 for a student living on campus.

Whetzel continued to speak about the tax advantages of 529 plans, including not paying income taxes on that investment. For example, a Georgia resident who invests money into a PACTA College plan, which is also a Georgia plan, you can receive a state income tax deduction up to $8,000 if you are filing jointly or $4,000 if you’re a single filer per beneficiary.

“So, that means if you are contributing, let’s say, $8,000 to your daughter’s plan and you’re contributing $8,000 to your son’s plan and you are filing jointly, that means that you could receive up to a $16,000 income tax deduction on your state taxes,” Whetzel explained. “So, it’s really great because it’s not

just the cap on how much you can receive as a tax deduction, but it’s per beneficiary.”

And that doesn’t have to be for your child, says Whetzel.

“I could open an account for a close loved one, or my niece or my nephew, and I could also receive that tax deduction as well,” she said.

The Path2College 529 plans don’t just have to be for a post-secondary school, according to Whetzel. It can be used for educational institutions across the country, and even some foreign institutions, in some instances. That also includes apprenticeship programs.

“So, if you are in a qualifying apprenticeship program with special certification related to it, you can use that money to go to that program as well,” Whetzel said.

If a Path2College 529 account is set up through Saturday, May 31, the state will contribute $50 to that plan after six months.

“So, it’s not just, you know, not just post-secondary, not just four-year college. It could be a technical school, a community school, if, like, speaking about like barber school, if it’s accredited, that could be, you know, an acceptable expense. And yeah, so there’s a lot more.

Street Lines: 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus

By DENNIS MALCOLM ByRON AKA ALE SHARPTON

The Compact crossover is one of the most popular segments in the auto industry, and Mazda made its mark with the introduction of the CX50 in 2023. In 2024, the reputation of a sports vehicle with nimble handling; impressive styling inside and out; and overall great value remains intact, but with a few welcomed upgrades I applaud. Presented in eight trims—S Select, S Preferred, S Premium, S Premium Plus, Turbo, Meridian Edition, Turbo Premium and Turbo Premium Plus. I had the pleasure of reviewing the Premium S version, which is pretty much the top-of-theline model minus the turbocharged engine, yet still provided enough opulence to keep the party going.

At first sight, there is no mystery how much I love Mazda’s signature Soul Red Crystal Metallic exterior, which came with the optional 20inch alloy wheels, black metal accents, and curvaceous frame. The rear spoiler, roof rails, shark fin antenna, and rear privacy glass added

welcomed stealthiness.

Inside, the smell and feel of the black leather-trimmed seats with brown accents announced its Premium designation; the front seats were also ventilated, while the back came heated. The panoramic moonroof made the cabin feel airy, while the 10.25-inch color display, Bose 12-speaker sound system, head-up display, and wireless Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto connectivity flexed the tech muscle. A wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, and power-folding mirrors added to the long list of amenities.

Under the hood, Mazda’s SKYACTIV-G 2.5L engine produced 187 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft of torque. Although it was not the optional turbocharged version which delivers 256 horses, it was more than adequate with light towing capability topping out at 2,000 pounds. The ride was smooth, and the maneuverability was top notch thanks to the G-Vectoring Control Plus. The intuitive MIDrive with Sport and Off-Road modes

provided the faith to handle different road conditions, while hill launch assist added extra control on inclines.

Mazda continues its strong safety reputation with advanced driver-assist features such as lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, smart brake support, driver attention alert, and radar cruise control with stop-and-go. Front, side, curtain, and even front knee airbags will further boost confidence within especially parents who are toting around their precious cargo wherever they go.

With a total MSRP of $39,470 including all the options, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus offers the type of value even the most frugal would consider. Whether it’s everyday practicality or taking a long excursion on in while enjoying luxurious appointments, the CX-50 deserves a serious look.

Fuel Economy: 24 city/30 highway/ 27 combined

Price: The 2024 Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo Signature $39,470

For more information, visit Mazdausa.com.

Marie Claire hosts ninth annual Power Play summit in Atlanta

By LAURA NWOGU

Marie Claire’s Power Play summit made its Southern debut in Atlanta on Thursday, May 15, and the day was filled with powerful conversations led by even more powerful women.

Sponsored by Clinique, women from Atlanta and across the U.S. enjoyed makeup activations, a communal sound bath session, a matcha bar that became a popular fixture, and panels from trailblazing women in sports, fashion, entertainment, and business. The event is usually held in San Francisco or L.A. However, Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire’s editor-in-chief, said bringing the annual event to Atlanta has been a mission of hers since she joined the fashion media brand in 2023.

“It has always been a hotspot of creativity and momentum. There’s amazing music coming out of Atlanta. Beauty founders, art, sports, business — it’s a place that really has been fortified by the sort of trends that come from coastal cities,” Ogunnaike said. “It was really important to me to not just stay on the coast, but to really take Power Play on the road and drop into women’s lives where they are.”

While its location is new, the event’s focus on highlighting and celebrating influential women is not. Last year’s speakers included conversations with Courteney Cox, Sophia Bush, and Tina Knowles. When curating this year’s panelists, Ogunnaike said they wanted women who would reflect Atlanta’s hotbed of sports, arts, music, and culture.

This year’s keynote speakers featured Kandi Burruss, Marsai Martin, Jordan Chiles, and Natasha Lyonne. They were joined by other speakers including Morgan Shaw Parke, the Atlanta Dream’s president & COO; DJ Miss Milan, Grammy Award-winning DJ and Emcee for Doechii; Leyte Winfield, the director of Spelman College’s cosmetic science program; and Chelsea Fishman, owner of Atlanta’s first women’s sports bar, Jolene Jolene. Sports reporter Tabitha Turner-Wilkins, comedian Hannah McMahan, author Daisy Auger-Dominguez, and Ogunnaike moderated the panels. Amid a background of burnt orange flowers and an audience of passionate women, the discussions ranged from handling internal and external pressure, building your own career table, bridging the gap between science and beauty, being multidisciplinary, taking risks that turn into rewards, and navigating executive burnout. The St. Regis Atlanta was transformed into a space where women could relax from their day-to-day, make meaningful connections, and learn what exactly “Freedom and Your Future” — the event’s 2025 theme — meant to them.

“It’s something that I always think about as a Black woman who works in corporate America and lives in America. My parents

moved here from Nigeria in the 70s, and so freedom has always been top of mind for me. At Marie Claire, when we think about the sort

of key parts of our DNA, power and purpose are two of them, along with style. In thinking about those three things, and of course, considering the climate right now, freedom seemed like an obvious choice.

“When we were thinking about freedom, we of course think about the political ramifications when it comes to that word, the right to choose, women’s reproductive rights — that sort of thing. But we also think about other types of freedom. There are many different ways and many different choices that women have, now more than ever. So, women are able to follow career paths that aren’t linear. They can run for office, they can be stay-at-home moms, share their lives online, create community. We wanted to explore the different ways that freedom presents itself in a woman’s life.”

From business owners and chefs to DJs and authors, the event was a masterclass of watching power in play as attendees networked with one another in an intimate, invitation-only setting. Ogunnaike shared that, in the future, they hope to host the event in cities such as Miami, Austin and Chicago.

“This is just the beginning. There are incredibly powerful women, and we can be of service to them as well.”

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Looking for ways to better plan for or even reduce insurance, gas, and maintenance costs?

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car. Other expenses that usually get bundled into the total cost include sales taxes, vehicle registration fees, maintenance and running costs, car insurance and financing.

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making biweekly payments, you end up making a total of 26 payments in a year, the equivalent of 13 monthly payments rather than 12—helping you pay off the loan a little earlier. Make sure you contact your lender to confirm this is an option.

4) Consider shorter loan terms. Though longer loans often mean smaller monthly payments, they usually come with higher interest rates, which typically ends up costing you more over time. If available, opt for a shorter

3) Maintaining your car regularly. Routine check-ups can also help you save money on gas but also help prevent expensive repairs in the future. Changing the oil regularly, checking tire pressure, and following the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule are great ways to keep your car and wallet happy.

How should someone approach the true cost of car ownership before buying a car?

The total or true cost of car ownership typically goes beyond just the sticker price—although the sticker price is typically the largest of all the expenses associated with buying a

For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content. Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

© 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The Vibrary Brings Wine, Books and Good Vibes to Stone Mountain

By LAURA NWOGU

Winding down with a glass of wine and a book in hand is a comfort many look forward to at the end of the day. Nestled in the heart of Stone Mountain Village sits The Vibrary, a wine and book bar that binds that feeling of escape and peace between the pages of local works and in drops of vino. For owner Candace Walker, it’s a vision that began when she was just a child.

A Michigan native, Walker moved to Stone Mountain during her middle school years to join her mother, who had already relocated to Georgia. It was her mother who fanned the flames of her love of reading, encouraging her to do book reports during the summer. Walker shared she would often get in trouble for reading late into the night, where her books would often transport her to different worlds. However, as she got older and life started getting busier, she found she couldn’t read as much. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and life slowed down, she said it renewed her passion for reading. Coupled with her weekly happy hours on Zoom with her friends, where they would drink wine and discuss life and books, the beginning chapters of The Vibrary began to form in Walker’s head.

When she saw that the building perched at the intersection of Main Street and E. Mountain Street was vacant, she knew she wanted to create a space where people could find peace and quiet within themselves and also create community—all in the area she’s called home for many years.

From birthday parties and baby showers to first dates that led to an engagement party where the couple first met, Walker has witnessed many of life’s significant celebrations at The Vibrary that still stick with her today

since she opened in 2021. It has also been a resource for authors as a place to host book signings and meet-and-greets.

“I love the connections that I see being made here. I love the connections that I’ve made. I also just really enjoy people turning back to books,” Walker said. “I feel like our attention span is competing with so many different things, and when people come in here, multiple people have said,’ Wow, I didn’t even realize how long I was in here’ or ‘It’s like you can’t even hear what’s going on outside.’ It’s just so comfortable. It’s a cocoon.

“I just feel like it was important because the vision was given to me, I wanted to be obedient to bringing that vision to fruition. Because if I didn’t, I felt like I would be blocking somebody else’s blessings.”

With rich dark colors and pops of color to velvet couches, plants and artwork of Black women all set to the soundtrack of smooth R&B music, Walker intended to create a space that reminded her of her home. An LED sign tucked into a corner of the room reads “Good Vibes Only.”

The selection of for-sale books, mostly by Black women authors, range from fantasy to modern romance, mystery, education, art and history. The wine and book bar has sections where people can pick from selections of just local authors and also a section where people can donate books or “leave and take” a book, highlighting the sharing aspect that makes reading a fun community activity.

Walker also rotates the wine selection, featuring the wine label she owns and other Black women-owned wines, such as Theopolis Vineyards by Theodora Lee and Random Whine by Kaye Jackson, that patrons can pair with the bar’s offering of charcuterie boards.

“I chose the books because I felt we needed more books highlighting women protagonists, or Black women or women of color. And I also felt it was important to have books here for people who were not Black to have access to in a safe space to ask questions or interact with people. The space is for anybody who is respectful. We are a community here, so it’s all kinds of age ranges, races, and sexual orientations. We all just

have a good time. If people have good vibes, they fit.”

When creating The Vibrary, Walker was intentional about creating a Black-owned and operated third space in Stone Mountain Village. Stone Mountain’s Confederate history is still embedded in the city and carved against the face of the mountain itself, but Walker recalled the shift when she began to see Black people walking along the red brick sidewalks and historic buildings.

“I was like, what’s happening? Is something going on? Is the area changing?

She knew she wanted to establish a business outside of Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead where Stone Mountain locals could conduct business, have meetings, create and decompress without driving for miles away from their homes.

“I felt like it was important because it’s nothing like that over here. I live over here, but every time I wanted to do something, I had to drive to the city. I had to drive to Decatur, and I don’t feel like Decatur and the city are inherently better than Stone Mountain. So, I felt like having something like this for people who live on this side or live close to here was important, because I just knew that I was annoyed having to drive to go do something fun or a place where you can go that’s not necessarily your home and not necessarily work.”

As she continues to build with the hopes of expanding Vibrary to other areas, Walker said she carries the memory and legacy of her grandmother, who also owned a bookstore in Michigan. Though it wasn’t as successful, the memory of her grandmother’s courage and her family’s push for education has spurred her on.

“I’ve done hard things before, and once I put my mind to something, I feel like I can complete it. So it was just rewarding to see it come to fruition and rewarding to see that other people enjoy the space.”

No More Suffering in Silence: Black Men Demand Space to Heal

By ANDREA STEVENS

Mental health professionals are calling attention to the urgent need for culturally competent care, open dialogue and systemic reform as it relates to suicide in the Black community.

Black men, specifically, are rarely given safe spaces to feel vulnerable—and have even fewer opportunities to build emotional intelligence. Now, advocates say it’s time for a change.

Jason Jennings-Wright, a traveling hospital social worker, psychiatric rehabilitation therapist and adjunct professor, said many Black men are suffering in silence.

“We don’t give men– especially Black men– space to say, ‘I’m not okay,’” Jennings-Wright said. “We’ve internalized this idea that vulnerability is weakness. But that silence is costing lives.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the suicide rate among males in 2023 was approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Men make up 50 percent of the U.S. population but account for nearly 80 percent of suicides.”

Jennings-Wright believes part of the issue

lies in stigma and a lack of culturally relevant information.

“If we don’t have enough messaging highlighting the importance of mental health in Black communities, our own thought processes won’t allow us to even recognize what’s happening inside of us,” he said.

Mark E. Carrington, a Black man who began therapy after experiencing severe panic attacks, said generational silence shaped his early understanding of mental health.

“Growing up, nobody talked about therapy. You just went to church and tried to pray it away,” Carrington said. “But that wasn’t enough. Therapy helped me get to the root of issues that started in childhood.”

Both Carrington and Jennings-Wright emphasized the importance of judgment-free spaces where Black men can express themselves without fear of being labeled weak.

“It’s not a weakness to ask for help. If anything, it’s a strength—it shows self-awareness, discernment and the critical thinking skills we should be encouraging in every Black man,” Jennings-Wright said.

Carrington said therapy helped him build coping tools to manage anxiety and emotional distress.

“You have to go at your own pace. Therapy

isn’t a race,” he said. “You need to feel comfortable with your therapist, or you won’t see results. It only works when you’re honest— with yourself and with them.”

Jennings-Wright also warns against viewing mental health as a purely individual issue.

“We can’t just focus on personal responsibility. That’s a Band-Aid,” he said. “We have to talk about systemic issues—poverty, racism, and capitalism—that make life feel unbearable for so many. It’s not just about fixing the person. It’s about fixing the conditions they’re living in.”

That message resonated with Carrington, who said his own journey began when he saw peers making the choice to seek help. He said community plays a vital role in shifting attitudes.

“It helps when you have friends who are already in therapy. They make it easier to open up—and help break the false stigma that Black men don’t need an outlet. We absolutely do,” he said.

Both men agree that healing can’t happen in isolation. Lasting change requires cultural and institutional commitment.

“There are people like me—Black men— creating spaces where others can show up fully, with all their pain and questions, but we need more,” Jennings-Wright said. “We need families, schools, churches, and policymakers to show up too. Until we treat Black men’s mental health as a collective responsibility, we’ll keep losing lives that could have been saved.”

GOP’s ‘Beautiful’ Bill Endangers Black Women’s Health

By JENNIFER PORTER GORE

When Republicans in the House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” before dawn Thursday morning, it was bad news for Black people in general, and for Black women in particular.

Along with slashing $700 billion from Medicaid — which provides healthcare for millions of Black people, and one in three Black women — the legislation also effectively defunds Planned Parenthood for America, a nonprofit which has helped nearly half of all Black women look after their reproductive health.

In a statement, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said the “big ugly bill” will have consequences for everyone, in the form of higher healthcare premiums, copays, and deductibles. But vulnerable people and communities will pay a particularly high price.

“Hospitals will close, nursing homes will shut down, and communities will suffer,” Jeffries said. “It will take food out of the mouths of children, seniors, and veterans at a time when too many families are already struggling to live paycheck to paycheck.”

Denying Health Care, Preventive Services

But Ianthe Metzger, senior director at Planned Parenthood, told Word In Black that the bill helps Republicans achieve a long-sought goal: starving her organization of the federal dollars it needs to provide health care and preventive

Parenthood. Recently, the administration cut millions in family planning grants to the nonprofit, and five of its affiliates have sued the Trump administration for its attacks on the 15-year-old Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program.

The organization has nearly 600 health centers nationwide that serve roughly 2 million patients a year; more than half of them rely on Medicaid and other state and federal funds for their health care. And the majority of their patients have children.

What’s more, 64% of Planned Parenthood’s health centers are in rural and medically underserved communities, leaving women with few, if any, alternatives. And when lawmakers force their clinics to shut down, the ramifications are clear.

saw a spike in STIs, and the number of Iowans who received services plunged 86%.

Medicaid covers four in 10 births in the U.S. and is the largest single payer of pregnancy-related services. In recent years, voters in many Southern and Midwestern states approved abortion restrictions when Roe v. Wade was overturned; that, coupled with legislative assaults against Planned Parenthood, has made pregnancy even riskier for Black women, who already face the highest maternal mortality rates in the country.

services for low-income women, a disproportionate number of whom are Black.

Although federal money can’t be used for abortions by law, the Medicaid cuts will keep Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid-eligible reimbursements for its other services, such as birth control, testing for sexually-transmitted infections, and cancer screenings.

“If we’re not able to get the Medicaid reimbursement to provide those other services, then our health centers shut down and we can’t provide abortion care or anything else, either,” Metzger says.

This is the first time during the second Trump administration that Republicans have acted on the goal of entirely defunding Planned

When Planned Parenthood Clinics Close

For example, when the Planned Parenthood clinic in Scott County, Indiana, was forced to close in 2013, even though it didn’t provide abortions, the area lost its only HIV testing center. Approximately two years later, the town was the center of an HIV outbreak.

In Texas, abortion bans and the related closure of Planned Parenthood led to tens of thousands of women going without reproductive health care. In Tennessee, healthcare services for women dropped 93% when the organization left the state. In Iowa — after lawmakers ousted Planned Parenthood from a family planning program in favor of a state-funded program — caregivers

“When you look at Black women, they often bear the brunt of reproductive restrictions, or just healthcare restrictions in general,” says Metzger. “And that is true when it comes to Medicaid, when it comes to defunding Planned Parenthood.”

“And when you [add] on top of that it being harder for Black women to get care that they need,” she said, ”then it is going to be states that have abortion bans in the South and Midwest that will be the most impacted from Planned Parenthood being defunded and from Medicaid being cut across the board.”

If the GOP succeeds in its plan to covertly defund Planned Parenthood, [it] would really be catastrophic in many of the areas where Planned Parenthood is a sole provider,” Metzger says. “In many cases, [we are] the only entry point that many Black women and other people have to the healthcare system.”

Travel

Universal’s Epic Universe Promises Storied Thrills for People Worldwide

By LAURA NWOGU

Epic is the appropriate word to describe the new theme park making waves at Universal Studios. In a historic feat decades in the making, the Orlando theme park has opened Epic Universe, the first major new theme park in Central Florida in 26 years.

The Atlanta Voice was at Epic Universe for the week to celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, May 22.

The theme park is evolution and innovation in play. Epic Universe is a prime example of what makes amusement parks, well, amusing. It’s sprawling worlds of rides with death-defying drops and twists, and storytelling at its finest from the grand portal entrances to the ride queues punctuated by animatronics and 3D/4D features that continue to juice the creative aspect of technology. Every other corner is also an opportunity to indulge in food that further transports your senses into that world.

The park features five immersive worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter– Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe and Celestial Park. Three hotels have also been built by Loews Hotels, which give dedicated access to the park and discounts: Helios, Stella Nova and Terra Luna.

Entering the portals into each world is a visual and audio feast. But for many who don’t live in Orlando or Florida, the question is, is it worth the expense and the travel? The team at Universal says, for the experience, yes.

Prices for a one-day ticket to Epic Universe for residents outside of Florida start at $139 per day for adults and $134 per day for children. From snacks to full meals, prices range from $7 to $20.

Joshua Frank, the beverage program manager for Universal Orlando Resort, said cost was a factor in curating the drinks.

“We try to have something for every budget and every palate so there’s always a range,” Frank said.

Pete Carsillo, the senior creative director for Dark Universe where you get to experience the experiments of Victoria Frankenstein, said they tried to push the envelope with the design of the universe.

“This is something you can’t experience anywhere else on Earth. Imagine an inworld place for the Universal Monsters. It just doesn’t exist. This is the first time that we’ve ever done it, and I can tell you, I would travel from around the globe just to see Universal’s Epic Universe,” Carsillo said.

“If you walk around, you know just how grand this experience is and how big it is and how worthwhile it is.”

Khari Cabral and Jiva open the 2025 Atlanta Jazz Fest

By DONNELL SUGGS

World-renowned jazz bassist Khari Cabral Simmons and his band Jiva opened the 2025 Atlanta Jazz Festival on Saturday afternoon. The annual celebration of the time-honored one-of-a-kind musical mix of percussion, horns, bass, piano, and strings takes place in Piedmont Park over the threeday Memorial Day weekend.

Long-time WCLK radio personality Morris Baxter, the afternoon MC, welcomed the crowd to this year’s jazz festival and introduced Simmons and Jiva.

“Happy Jazz Festival, Atlanta,” said Simmions from his corner of the stage.

Cabral and Jiva’s hour-long set was both light and funky. It was a mix of live musical performance and backyard jam session. In a word, it was awesome.

The central greenspace at Piedmont Park quickly filled up for the 1 p.m. performance as Cabral and Jiva played some of their

more popular tunes, including “78 and Sunset,” “How Can We Go Wrong,” and “Samara Smiles”.

Unlike during annual musical events such as One Music Fest, which are far more crowded and require tickets to enter, the vibe during the first couple of hours of this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival was incredibly chill. Couples in tents and families with wagons full of snacks and cold drinks made space for themselves and sat waiting for more from Cabral and Jiva.

“Atlanta, it’s been our extreme honor to be in front of you today,” Cabral said.

Cabral took time to introduce the entire 10-piece band to the audience. Dashil Smith played trumpet and vocals, Rodney Edge played keyboard, and Landon Anderson handled the drums.

During the performance, Simmons took a few minutes to take a bass solo break. Smith also improvised when he and vocalist Lavahi broke into a rendition of A Tribe Called Quest’s 1993 hit off of their classic album, “Midnight Marauders”, “Electric Relaxation.”

Angela Bassett Stuns at Premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

By NOAH WASHINGTON

Angela Bassett lit up the red carpet on Wednesday, May 21, at the Atlanta premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eighth installment in the Tom Cruise-led action spy saga. Bassett reprises her role as Erika Sloane—formerly CIA Director, now President of the United States.

Speaking about her character, who first appeared in 2018’s Mission: Impossible –Fallout, Bassett called the role both “groundbreaking and aspirational.” She noted the significance of portraying a female U.S. president, a milestone yet to be reached in real life

“It’s a woman in that position that unfortunately, we haven’t seen in our country yet,” Bassett said, referencing the real-life absence of a female U.S. president. “But we do see women of authority, intellect, and capability in other positions. This is just another glass ceiling that we have to break through.”

Bassett added, “Sometimes we have to see it in order to believe it.”

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, The Final Reckoning follows Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team as they race to prevent a rogue AI known as the Entity from triggering a global catastrophe. The film reunites franchise

Angela Bassett (above on Wednesday, May 21, 2025) called her role in the Mission: Impossible films both “groundbreaking and aspirational.” She noted the significance of portraying a female U.S. president, a milestone yet to be reached in real life.

veterans Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Henry Czerny, with Bassett’s President Sloane becoming a key player in the fight to stop the Entity’s escalating influence. When asked what she brings to the franchise, Bassett, 66, said, “I want to bring me— me-all of me and all of mine.”

The Mission: Impossible franchise is not Bassett’s first foray into action, having played Queen Ramonda in the Black Panther franchise.

Production on The Final Reckoning was expansive. Initially planned to be shot backto-back with Dead Reckoning Part One, the film faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming spanned locations including the UK, Norway, South Africa, Malta, and Abu

Dhabi. With an estimated $300–400 million budget, it ranks among the most expensive films ever made.

Rotten Tomatoes rating is at a 79% approval rating.The film premiered in Tokyo on May 5, screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, and opens in U.S. theaters on May 23.

FORTUNATE: Atlanta United’s Jay Fortune is living his dreams

By DONNELL SUGGS

MARIETTA, GA - Spain and Portugal were playing for the tournament title, and Atlanta United central midfielder Ajani “Jay” Fortune had front row seats to all the action. A member of the national team for Trinidad and Tobago, Fortune understands full well how important it is to play for one’s country.

Following training last Friday, Fortune volunteered his time as a celebrity guest for the tail end of camp when the campers broke out into teams of four and played for a mock World Cup trophy. The Spain/Portugal final was the finale of the day.

The eight players for the Atlanta United Youth Camp lined up beside Fortune following the title game, and even though the difference between the 22-year-old professional soccer player and the middle school-aged children participating in the one-day camp at the team’s practice facility was stark, it wasn’t that long ago that Fortune was in their shoes. A camper, one of the better players on the

mini-pitch that afternoon, asked Fortune for his cleats. He was the only kid brave enough to ask a member of Atlanta United for actual game-used cleats. Fortune was wearing sneakers at the time, so he ran back into the locker room after the camp was finished and grabbed a pair for the kid.

Fortune grew up playing the game just like those kids played it that morning. His father, Andre, was his and his brother Andre II, 28, first soccer coach while growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina. The father, who is the director and head coach with Inter Development Futbol, Inc., still coaches the sons in some ways despite the Fortune brothers both having played professionally.

Andre told The Atlanta Voice that he and Ajani text before and after matches.

“I watch him play every week. He knows that he has the support and people he can talk to,” Andre said.

“He still teaches me till this day,” Fortune joked.”He coached me, my brother, Matt, and

a lot of other players who are doing well.”

Fortune says his father has done well with the transition from father to coach and back to father.

“It’s a little different when he’s your coach and you had a bad game and it’s a silent drive back home versus now, and he’s done very well with knowing when to be a dad and when to be a coach,” Fortune said. “I’m really grateful for that.”

Andre says he is proud of his son’s accomplishments and knows there’s much more room for his game to grow if given the opportunity.

“He has done extremely well. You see, he left home at 15, he went out there and he had to work hard to stay in that space,” Andre said. “It was a space that was very difficult to remain in, but he did.”

Sitting in the shade and wearing shorts and a t-shirt, Fortune manages to look younger than he actually is. And at 22, that’s saying something. Along with childhood friend Matt Edwards, who was also coached by Fortune’s father as a youth player and has been a regular starter at right-back for Atlanta United, Fortune is a key part of the club’s future. Fortune, Edwards, center-back Noah Cobb, for example, are Atlanta United Academy players who have gotten the attention of first-year manager Ronny Deila.

Last week, during a 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union, Fortune played the entire 90 minutes and displayed some of the skills that Deila, and before him, Gonzalo Pineda and Rob Valentino, find useful. Asked how it feels to be in the team’s current plans as they work on some level of consistency, Fortune used the word “confidence” several times.

“I think as we’re going on, my confidence is starting to grow, and I’m somebody that when I’m confident, I feel like I can be very beneficial to the team,” Fortune said. “All I want to do is keep getting better through the games and training.”

During the preseason, with all of the expectations for this year’s team as high as they are low at the moment, Fortune told the press that he had a list of personal and team goals he wanted to accomplish. Once reminded that

one of his goals was to help the team get back to the Major League Soccer playoffs and to play a lot more, Fortune nodded his head.

“Whenever you have goals set, it gives you something to aim for. No matter how big or small the goal is, whenever you’re able to achieve them, it feels good,” Fortune said.

Fortune said his individual goals, including taking advantage of scoring opportunities like he did last week against Philadelphia when he took a shot at the opponent’s goal and missed, are based on what’s best for the team first and foremost.

“I think getting that balance is key,” Fortune said. “Just seeing the improvements from preseason of last year to now is a big thing to me.”

His father believes Atlanta United coaches, supporters, and Major League Soccer fans have only seen a percentage of what Ajani can do. There’s still much more unearthed

The Good, The Bad, & The Braves: Hosting the Red Sox

By DONNELL SUGGS

The Atlanta Braves will host the Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks in their next two series, beginning on Friday, May 29, at Truist Park.

The six-game homestand will come after playing three games in Philadelphia following a day off on Memorial Day. The two opponents the Braves will face next are familiar foes; Atlanta took two of three in Boston earlier this month and two out of three in Arizona last month.

The Braves will then be back on the road from June 6-11 in San Francisco and Milwaukee, respectively.

FORTUNE

Continued from page 14

potential, Andre said.

Atlanta is well under .500 on the road this season and can make up some ground on National League East leaders Philadelphia and the New York Mets against the Giants and Brewers. Both are third-place teams in their respective divisions.

Who’s Hot:

Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna, Jr., has returned and immediately made an impact. If not in the win column, then most certainly at the plate and in the outfield. Acuna looks comfortable in the outfield again. He had an outfield assist during the series against the San Diego Padres last weekend. Offensively, Acuna, Jr., has looked

“I personally believe Atlanta hasn’t tapped into his potential. They are getting about 75% of his talent at the moment,” Andre said. “He has more to offer.”

Fortune’s father shared stories of his son’s ability to score and accumulate assists in big games as a youth player. Once in Manchester, England, a “six or seven-year-old” Ajani went through a training exercise with older kids despite playing in soccer cleats that were a size or two too small. The Fortunes had left Ajani’s boots back at the hotel, so he just put on the pair one of the coaches had and went to work. Before long, Manchester City’s academy coaches were lining the pitch, watching the little kid go.

“He just went out there and played,” Andre said of that moment.

Fortune admitted that he only had eyes for soccer while growing up. His father and older brother were early inspirations, and his latest inspiration is one day playing in one of the big leagues in Europe.

“I played tee ball when I was really young, a little flag football with friends, but I think I knew quite early that this was going to be the one that I was going to be the best at,” he said.

Fortune said he always wanted to be a professional soccer player.

“That was always the dream. I think you definitely don’t expect it to be like this,” Fortune said of his current circumstances.

Before completely finishing his thought, Fortune looked out over the team’s practice field. The blue skies and warm weather brought another smile to his face.

“When this happened, it was great to see

like his old self. In his first three games back from a year-long injury, Acuna had at least one hit in all three games, including two home runs.

Who’s Not:

Atlanta center fielder Michael Harris II was 2-11 with just two RBI during the weekend three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Truist Park. The Braves lost two of the three games, and Harris managed to lower his already low sub. .250 batting average in the process. Harris, who has only three home runs this season, hasn’t hit a home run since April 19 against the Minnesota Twins.

the effort we put in had gotten me somewhere, but it’s still nowhere near where I want to be,” Fortune said.

Back in the starting lineup for Atlanta United, at least for the moment, Fortune, who has started five of Atlanta United’s 14 matches this season, spends his time away from the pitch playing video games and hanging out with friends. Some of whom do not play professional sports, according to Fortune.

“Just being able to talk about something different. The fun thing is, when I end up talking about a game it’s usually in a fun way,” Fortune said. “It’s never anything too serious.”

Asked if he was happy and what makes him happy, Fortune said he’s getting to live out his dream, so how can he not be happy?

“I wake up every morning and I’m doing

this and I’m doing it professionally,” Fortune said. “Matt, we grew up together, and we’re starting. This is a tough point of the season, but at the end of the day, there’s so much worse that I could be doing.”

Fortune, under his father’s guidance, had won a lot of tournaments and state cup titles as a youth player. The losing that has taken place this season -Atlanta United came into the Memorial Day weekend with a 2-5-7 overall record- is something he doesn’t want to get used to. A positive mindset is one that he says he combats the current on-field malaise that has enveloped the club at the moment.

“When I came here, I had the same mindset of wanting to win, so obviously when you’re not it, it’s not easy,” Fortune explained. “It’s up to us to fix it, and if we keep being upset and dwelling over it, we won’t get anywhere with that.”

So playing soccer makes Ajani Fortune happy.

“Waking up and doing this is a great thing,’ Fortune said.

With Atlanta United ahead 1-0 early in their match with FC Cincinnati at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, May 25, Fortune scored his first goal of the season. Afterward, he danced a jig and was immediately surrounded by teammates.

After the match, Deila said Fortune is one of the best players on the club and that he wasn’t surprised he played well against one of the best teams in Major League Soccer.

“He, in my head, has what I’m looking for. He can be a leader. He has some character,” said Deila. “We need some local players we can build the team around.”

Fortunately for Atlanta United, there’s such a player ready for just that.

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of

& Contract Compliance electronically via BidNet Direct https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty on Wednesday, June 24, 2025. All proposals submitted must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) time on the stated date.

Proposal(s) shall be publicly viewed via BidNet Direct web, only the names of the Proposers shall be disclosed at the opening.

Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia (“County”) Through issuance of this Request for Proposal (“RFP”), the County is soliciting Proposals from qualified Offerors that can provide a self-insured dental PPO and a fully-insured dental HMO. Dental benefits are offered to all active and retired employees and their eligible dependents. Plan services will be effective January 1, 2026

The detailed scope of work and technical specifications are outlined in the Scope of Work of the bid document.

Fee: N/A

Contract Term: One (1) year with four (4) one year renewable years.

Pre-Proposal Conference: will be held via a Web Conference on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 11:00 A.M to provide proposer(s) with information regarding this project and to address any questions.

If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Mark Hawks, CAPA Email: mark.hawks@fultoncountyga.gov.

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