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SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • Vol. 61 Issue 17 • FREE

IN THIS ISSUE

HFR House Celebrates Black Designers

PAGE 6

More Than Music

Behind the Mighty Marching Panthers’ 10-minute halftime shows are up to 120 hours of preparation as the band rebuilds from fewer than 60 members to more than 120. Photo by Tabius H. McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

Page 2 • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com

Local

The Hours Behind Halftime: A look inside the Mighty Marching Panthers preseason Band Camp By TABIUS H. MCCOY Report for America Corp

he scarlet red of the turf blurs beneath the heat mirage hanging in the muggy air. Distressed Black combat boots, some soles hanging on by sticky duct tape, with torn aglets. Each band member sported a oncewhite tee that had gone dingy within hours, drenched in sweat. Among hundreds, only one instrument was in sight. A sole snare drum. The glare of brass, the soothing hum of woodwinds, and the gutpunch of percussion were not the focus. At least not yet. Before music comes into place, formation and movement must be pristine. Boots made slight indents in the turf as knees shot upward, feet crashing back down in unison. “Clack!” Right foot up. Left foot down. “Clack!” Left foot up. Right foot down. The snare’s stadium-filling crack had set the pace for the past hour and a half—no stopwatch or metronome needed. The thud of boots against the turf competed with the hard-hitting snare. A cohesive sound, loud enough to carry across the field. But assistant band director Mr. Brandon Owens thought otherwise. “You can step harder,” Owens shouted through his megaphone. “I promise you’re not going to hurt the turf!” And the steps came down with

The Mighty Marching Panthers march back to CAU Panthers Stadium at 8:51 p.m. during summer band camp. Photo by Tabius H. McCoy/ The Atlanta Voice

a little more oomph than they did before. As time passed, the sun grew more piercing. Eventually, it found someone. Slowly, one member broke from formation, rushing for the sideline. He guzzled water from his red water pail, then cooled down in the shade as the head drum major walked over to check on him. He caught his breath. The rest of the band kept moving. The cadence kept going. Those steps… they never stopped. The snare kept clacking. This is band camp. For the Mighty Marching Panthers, the past three to four years

Percussion section rehearsing the new rap song “Spend Dat” by Yung Miami in preparation for the upcoming season. Photo by Tabius H. McCoy/ The Atlanta Voice

have been about rebuilding. A band consisting of just under 60 members four years ago has grown to more than 120 today. Each minute spent through the long days of preseason practice goes toward accomplishing the band’s goal of becoming a household name again. Head drum major Antonio Maffett Jr. has been a Mighty Marching Panther since 2022, watching that growth happen in real time.Along the way, the program has gained attention from household names like Jill Scott and Tyler, The Creator, while also collaborating with major brands like Rap Snacks. “The foundation of what we were making, with that little amount of people, I saw what it could be, and that’s exactly why I stayed,” Maffett said, reflecting on the growth of the program. “It’s just fulfilling to see.” In a few weeks, the same empty stands will be filled with alumni, students, community members, and individuals from far and wide. The same dingy white tees will be replaced with clean, pressed, bright red wool uniforms. That one solo snare will be surrounded by 100 other instruments—tubas, saxophones, trumpets and tenors, just to name a few. Suddenly, once the final down of the first half is played and the clock strikes zero, everyone will stop. Even the chatter about the postgame afterparty will come to a halt. All eyes will turn toward the middle of the field. It is halftime. For 10 minutes, kids and grandparents are pulled into the same

musical time machine, as renditions of past hits and current Billboard favorites meet under the stadium lights. At an HBCU, the marching band signifies something deeper than a musical ensemble. It embodies school pride, tradition and identity. For some, the gleam of a baritone or the sizzling clash of the cymbals evokes memories from their heyday on the yard. For others, it may offer a first glimpse of a place they hope to one day call their second home. The band is the sound of the institution. For the Mighty Marching Panthers, the musical ensemble seen at halftime is the reward for long, strenuous mornings and even longer nights, according to Director of Bands Mr. Torre Goodson. “If you see a 10-minute performance, you’re realistically looking at maybe a hundred, maybe 120 hours of preparation,” Goodson said. A usual morning during band camp starts around 5:30 a.m. with nearly two hours of conditioning, stretching, aerobics and calisthenics—all done before the cafeteria opens for breakfast. By 10 a.m., the band is already going over field commands and breaking into sectionals. Then they break for lunch. But even the walk to the cafeteria isn’t really a break, as the band marches and plays its way across campus before finally sitting down to eat, supplying nutrition for the next few hours. After eating lunch, it wouldn’t be long before a drum major’s whistle echoes through the dining hall. Fweeeet! Within a matter of minutes, majorette dancers, section leaders and

newfound freshmen alike move to get their equipment to head back out and embrace the next half of the day. When they arrive back at the band room, there’s more music to be perfected. Some new and trending. Some old and classic. This time, the band is learning “Spend Dat” by Yung Miami. The announcement itself brings some excitement to the drumline. “Ayee,” a few of the bass drummers shout with smiles on their faces. At the same time, classic staples like “Talkin’ Out the Side of Your Neck” by Cameo are refreshed, keeping them polished for instances like the fifth quarter. Eventually, the band breaks for dinner, and by around 6:30 or 7 p.m., they’re back on the field again. And from there, the night keeps rolling, oftentimes past 10 p.m. Maffett described band camp as more of a mental battle than simply physical labor. “It’s testing your endurance,” Maffett said. Despite the aches and fatigue that come with the long summer days of camp, Mr. Goodson believes the time spent is about developing more than a performance. ““I don’t know very many people who have gone through this program and come out on the other side and not been a better person from it,” Goodson said. As the day carries into the evening, the time creeps a few minutes past 10 p.m. The percussion keeps a steady beat like it has for the past 15 minutes. The stadium lights begin to flicker. The lights shut off. The drums keep going.

Clark Atlanta University cymbal player Caleb Davis practices during the Mighty Marching Panthers’ summer band camp. Photo by Tabius H. McCoy/ The Atlanta Voice

theatlantavoice.com • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • Page 3

Politics

Jon Ossoff to Mike Collins: ‘It’s time to come clean’ By DONNELL SUGGS MACON, GA- A small campaign office in a shopping plaza on Eisenhower Parkway in Macon was the site of the latest appeal for clarity during this election season. This time, it came from Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff to his 2026 senatorial election opponent, Republican Congressman Mike Collins. The two men aren’t exactly friends, so the request will more than likely go unanswered. That said, Ossoff would like some clarity. Collins has been linked to white supremacists and racists, and on Thursday morning, yet another story linking a Collins staffer to the KKK and Nazis appeared on the Washington Post website. “It’s time for Mike Collins to come clean,” said Ossoff, who added that Collins should schedule a press conference of his own to explain the allegations. “I had intended to address the ongoing scandal of Congressman Mike Collins and his refusal to cooperate with the federal investigation into the illegal misuse of tax dollars. But then I saw the stunning news this morning.” Ossoff said the latest allegations against Collins should “shock the conscience of every Georgian.”

Earlier this month, local religious leaders held a press conference requesting clarification from Collins outside of Big Bethel AME Church. “Today, we’re asking you, Mr. Mike Collins, who are you? Are you with a white nationalist group?, said Reverend Timothy McDonald III. “We are asking him to answer questions about his ties or commitments to any form of racist group.” Ossoff took questions from the media. One was whether the allegations affect the Collins campaign going forward. After all, this is not the first allegation of connections to hate groups, and Collins has yet to speak on those allegations in a public setting. What’s new? “What’s new today is yet more documented evidence of the congressman’s ties to white nationalism and Neo-Nazi ideology,” Ossoff said. “Absolutely, Georgia voters reject this, and not just Democrats. The state of Georgia rejects hatred, bigotry, Neo-Nazism, and the Klan.” The politicians are scheduled to debate on Tuesday, October 13, in Atlanta as part of the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series. Until then, Ossoff believes there’s some business to get squared away.

Senator Jon Ossoff (above) wants answers from Georgia Congressman Mike Collins regarding allegations of connections to racists and white supremacists. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

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Page 4 • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com

Voices

My Voice, My Power An introduction from the writer By DeJa’ ARMSTRONG

have come to a different understanding of the meaning behind Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hours” theory. I believe it suggests more than just conquering a particular skill. No, I see a layer just below the superficial title of calling oneself a master. It is less about the mere skill and largely about the transformation; a divine refining of one’s identity, a pruning and maturing of one’s vision, creating in us a definite clarity of purpose. I have been many things in the 10 years of officially claiming myself as an artist. To be quite transparent, my vision for my practice was once entirely more complex than my now-simple one. In the beginning of my 10 years, I was exactly

FOUNDER/EDITOR Ed Clayton Immortalis Memoria

22 years old. Still in college, with no seriousness or motivation to professionally pursue it. “Artists don’t make any money!” people would protest at the thought of me going for it. The “starving artist” rhetoric also became an unsolicited and unforgiving reminder to stay small in my artistic endeavors. Transformation is a process. As I became more sure of, confident in, and understanding of myself, with the help of completely surrendering to a force greater than me, the One who created my blueprint, God slowly peeled away every layer of “selves” I cosplayed as. Each shedding of identity was a cleansing of my so-called dreams and aspirations. I think when we try to take our purpose into our own hands, it becomes polluted by the (hopeful)

PUBLISHER/EDITOR J. Lowell Ware

Immortalis Memoria The Atlanta Voice honors the life of J. Lowell Ware. ––– PUBLISHER Janis Ware PRESIDENT/ GENERAL MANAGER James A. Washington 2018-2024 COO Richard Dunn rdunn@theatlantavoice.com CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Jazmine Brazier jbrazier@theatlantavoice.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER Chia Suggs csuggs@theatlantavoice.com Surrounded by books that reflect history, culture, and identity, De’Ja Armstrong considers the experiences and ideas that have helped shape her perspective as a writer. Photo by Myles Johnson

After a decade of calling herself an artist, De’Ja Armstrong says she has found greater clarity not in titles, but in understanding who she is and the purpose behind her voice. Photo by Dantrell Mallett

FOUNDED May 11, 1966

acceptance of others or the salaries verified by Google. Giving it to God meant surrendering to the dismantling of these complex titles. Giving it to God meant, for me, being honest with myself. I was molded into a woman who recognized she didn’t need a title at all. I mean, it is about who a woman is rather than what she does. For those of you who are new to my writings and philosophies, I want to clarify: I am not saying what a woman does is not important. Women have made beautiful and mighty strides in society, and we must give honor to that. I am saying we are not just our doings. The more I became whole within myself, the simpler my vision and purpose came to be. I arrived back to the little girl, sitting in her grandmother’s home, uninterruptedly and peacefully writing songs and poetry. The little girl who delighted in the idea of having an in-home library when she became of age. The girl who so desperately wanted to share her writings, to speak up for herself, and say what matters to her, but she was too afraid to. You see, this process of becoming is really just a journey back to you.

See, you already know who “you” are. It is the child in you, the dream you had before “they” told you, you can’t. You are the person behind the identity you created to compensate for the lack “they” told you you had. You were already enough. I was already enough. I am enough, as the woman I am in the eyes of God. Ten years it took me to stray away from home and find my way back. 10,000 hours it took me to realize the answer was already there. I am grateful for the opportunity to present to you my column, “My Voice, My Power.” This title serves as a declaration for not just myself, but for those who are also on the journey to finding their voice. Our voice is indeed our power. It is, in fact, a reflection of one’s heart. So, as you are reading this, you are essentially learning of me: a curious woman who was once the little girl afraid of her voice. Have you ever thought to yourself that your one insecurity may be your gift? Don’t worry if you are on your path to becoming and your gift scares you. I will leave you with this quote: “God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies those whom he has called.”

EDITOR IN CHIEF Donnell Suggs editor@theatlantavoice.com GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTERS Laura Nwogu lnwogu@theatlantavoice.com Noah Washington nwashington@theatlantavoice.com BUSINESS REPORTER Tabius H. McCoy tmccoy@theatlantavoice.com SPORTS REPORTER Tarohn Finley tfinley@theatlantavoice.com EDITOR AT LARGE Stan Washington swashington@theatlantavoice.com ––– SALES RDW Jackson rdwadman@gmail.com SUBMISSIONS editor@theatlantavoice.com DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Martel Sharpe msharpe@theatlantavoice.com ––– CONTACT INFORMATION 633 Pryor Street, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30312 Office: 404-524-6426 info@theatlantavoice.com

theatlantavoice.com • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • Page 5

Health

From the ER to YouTube, Nurse Dolly Is Helping Kids Grow Into Healthy Adults By JATIKA HUDSON

hrough songs, call-and-response lessons, and kid-friendly videos, Emari Etta-Tawo is turning basic health education into something young children can understand and enjoy. “I always say that one of my goals is growing healthy children into healthy adults,” says Emari Etta-Tawo, Emory Hospital emergency room nurse. “I feel like if they’re more receptive to learning at these ages, then they’re naturally just going to grow into healthy adults.” In her mission to help children, Etta-Tawo created Mini Med School with Nurse Dolly in July 2025, a YouTube show that teaches children to make better health choices through fun lessons and songs. As a mother of two, she wanted to make an impact and encourage children to build healthy lives and habits that will improve their lives and keep them healthy. Learning the value of making healthy life and food choices starts early in life. Like so many children’s shows, Nurse Dolly asks children questions through the screen, and she understands how the

call-and-response helps them remember the information she shares. “That’s why I incorporate songs in my videos, and I ask questions with the intention of them talking back and answering me. I just learned through just being a mom and recognizing, you know, how my kids. which are also the target audience for me, how they like to learn.” Realizing that few children’s shows emphasize health topics, she wanted to reach them at a time and place when they are impressionable, open-minded, and ready to make learning fun and exciting. “I thought I needed to fill that gap. So, I created Mini Med School with Nurse Dolly,” she shares. “What inspired me was being an actual nurse and being a mother to a preschooler and a toddler. I was looking for ways to make an impact beyond bedside nursing. An idea just came to me one day after recognizing a gap in health education for children.” Like so many of us, she admits growing up not favoring eating our vegetables. But filming Nurse Dolly shows a generation of children what it takes to avoid the health disparities that affect so many families, especially Black families.

“For example, them learning about what a healthy life should look like. They can carry that with. them, not only through adolescence, but until adulthood,” she says. “They know that they should brush twice a day, knowing that I have a video about exercising and the importance of getting up and moving, and how it benefits your heart and just overall your body. These lessons are instilling these values into them at ages four, five, and six.” In her eight years of being a nurse, one of the biggest issues she’s witnessed is childhood obesity. “We need to improve the foods that we give our kids and just try to be active. I’m a mom. I’m not perfect. I know, it’s hard to just say that. I’m going to give them broccoli, but you know, just trying to give kids better options most of the time,” she says. Mini Med School teaches which foods are good for your body, how to properly brush your teeth, and one of her most important messages is to not be afraid of doctors and nurses. Approaching the topic of fear of the healthcare industry is Etta-Tawo’s way of breaking generational mindsets that have hindered the health of many Black people.

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Nurse Dolly asks children questions through the screen, and she understands how the call-and-response helps them remember the information. Photo by James Williams, Mini Med School LLC

She also wants to inspire the next generation of healthcare providers. “Being this representation for kids that look like me, and them seeing themselves in me as a real person, not an animation. I feel like I’m inspiring the next generation of black women, doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals. So that I’m one issue that I believe that I’m tackling.”

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Page 6 • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com

Fashion

HFR House Celebrates Black Designers By NOAH WASHINGTON

“J

ust amazing seeing all these people walk around with HFR bags,” Brandice Daniel said in celebration of watching shoppers, fashion-enthusiasts move through The Retreat By TGS rooftop Daniel is the founder and CEO of Harlem’s Fashion Row, and on Aug. 29, her traveling shopping experience, HFR House, landed in Atlanta for the first time, powered by Visa. Designers came from across the country, including New Orleans, New York, and Atlanta itself to sell directly to the shoppers filling the space, part of a lineup organizers said was built to spotlight where Black fashion is headed next. Adrienne Trimble, senior vice president and global chief inclusion officer at Visa, told the crowd the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to helping small and medium-sized businesses grow. “We believe that everyone who has a great idea deserves the opportunity to grow into something more meaningful,” Trimble said, adding that Black-owned businesses “create jobs that others do not create for us, for people who look like us.” A full-circle moment for HFR’s founder For Daniel, the Atlanta stop carried personal weight. She lived in the city in her early 20s, moving there right out of college and working for a home builder while trying to break into fashion. When the company announced it was closing, she said, she saw it as a crossroads and left Atlanta to pursue fashion full-time. “I left here with only a plan A to get in fashion, and now I’m back here doing HFR House,” Daniel said. “It’s like it’s like feels so full circle. I can cry.” She said HFR House’s identity goes beyond a pop-up shopping event. “HFR House is a vibe, and I think it’s the intention behind it,” she said. “What people are really feeling is the heart behind what we do. It’s not just the event. It’s the team, the conversations, our intention, and

HFR House took place on The Retreat by TGS Rooftop. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

designers with “a unique point of view” who show up in person to meet shoppers directly. Brandice Daniel (above) is the founder and CEO of Harlem’s Fashion Row, and on Aug. 29, her traveling shopping experience, HFR House, landed in Atlanta for the first time. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

it’s really the people you’re feeling.” Daniel said her team prioritizes designers based in whatever city hosts the event, alongside a broader scouting process led by the organization’s head of designer relations. She said the goal is to feature

New Orleans designer’s generational run Jared Harris, founder of the New Orleans streetwear brand RocFre$h fashion, said Atlanta capped what he called a “generational run” with HFR this year, following stops at Essence Fest in New Orleans with H&M and Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard with Nike and Foot Locker. Harris founded Rock Fresh in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, after the birth of his son gave him the push to leave behind what

he described as imposter syndrome. “I didn’t want to be a hypocrite and tell my son, ‘Hey, grow up, follow your dreams, be whatever you want to be,’ and I never did what I wanted to do,” Harris said. “He gave me that spark, that confidence to just jump off the porch and start my brand.” Harris, who studied fashion at LIM College in New York, said the brand’s name stands for “remembering our culture for reasons everyone should have.” His faith, rooted in the Ifa tradition, shapes his designs directly. He cited a recent sneaker release of a Cowrie Shell inspired Air Force-One collaboration, as an expression of both his African spirituality and his

Two bags created by Edwards III. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

family legacy. “I want them to walk away with a cultural heritage piece that when they look at it in their closet, they get a sense of pride,” Harris said of what he hopes customers take from the brand. Youngest designer in the room John Hamilton Edwards III, 19, said he launched his luxury brand, Seraphim Garments, this year after a run-in with someone falsely posing as a marketing representative for the label Telfar while he was filming a commercial. “I got upset, and I said, I can make my own luxury brand,” Edwards said, tracing the idea back to his childhood attending church, where his mother insisted he dress in tailored suits. Edwards, a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, released his brand’s first collection in March. He said being the youngest designer at HFR House pushes him. “I get to keep people on their toes, and they get to keep me on their toes,” Edwards said, crediting a SCAD professor with teaching him that “competition is healthy.” Designers travel in for the moment Not every designer at HFR House was local. Abdul Chatman, founder of the New York-based brand TheGrp Prjct, said the Atlanta stop felt like a “field trip” for his team, which structures its seasonal drops around a schooling theme. “It actually feels like a little New York, a little bit,” Chatman said of Atlanta’s fashion energy, calling the event a meeting of “the Big Apple and the Georgia Peach.”

theatlantavoice.com • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • Page 7

Food

Chef Kelli Potter Steps Up to the Plate as Atlanta Food and Wine Festival Host Chef By LAURA NWOGU

hef Kelli Potter isn’t a stranger to the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. The restaurateur, TV personality, and self-proclaimed “Queen of Waffles” knows what it’s like to walk from tent to tent under the Atlanta sun, tasting endless bites and drinks that celebrate Southern tradition. But as the chef and owner of Nana’s Chicken and Waffles, she also knows what it’s like to be one of the featured restaurants bringing the community together. Now Potter is trying on a different hat: host chef. From Thursday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 13, more than 200 chefs, restaurants, and beverage purveyors will gather at The Home Depot Backyard for a culinary weekend that melds the food, drinks and culture that make Atlanta and the South unique dining destinations. Potter will host “Southern Fried: A Chicken Affair” on Sept. 13. For the chef who knows just how much a piece of perfectly fried chicken can elevate and complement a meal, it’s a hat that fits well. The journey to host chef began in the comforting kitchens of the matriarchs in her life, from her mom to her great-grandmother. A Baltimore native, much of Potter’s memories surrounding her family began in the kitchen, watching as the women in her life stirred a pot on the stove or slid a baking pan into the oven. “Whether it’s inside the kitchen or conversing over food or at a picnic, or at a family reunion, I think everything has always been incorporated with the love of food and love of family,” Potter said as she sat inside of her Nana’s Chicken and Waffles location in McDonough. Behind her, the dining room was packed with families and friends as they fellowshipped over heaping plates of hot breakfast food that ranged from peach cobbler chicken and waffles to Cajun grit cakes smothered in etouffée sauce. Potter paid homage to her childhood, naming Nana’s Chicken and

Chef Kelli Potter, owner of Nana’s Chicken and Waffles, poses inside the restaurant’s McDonough location. Potter will host “Southern Fried: A Chicken Affair” during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival on Sept. 13. Photo by Tabius H. McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

Waffles after her grandmother. That tribute has carried with it childhood and family recipes that she has shared with the metro Atlanta community for a decade. What was once a goal on her vision board has now turned itself into a brunch staple where Louisiana and Maryland-style comfort food reign supreme. “The restaurant was more about giving light to the matriarchs of our family and our grandmas. Community was always super important. People don’t realize that we didn’t get our success from me being on a TV show. Our success came from the community. I’ll never forget, I started in Conyers, Georgia, Rockdale County and that’s where I was able to connect with the community and connect with people through food. They gave me my first chance at that… Giving back to our community and feeding our community is always our number one priority.” Potter said when customers visit the

Chicken wings are among the comfort-food offerings at Nana’s Chicken and Waffles, where Chef Kelli Potter has built a menu inspired by family, Southern flavors, and the food memories of her childhood. Photo by Tabius H. McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

restaurant on the weekends, she can often be heard in the back of the kitchen, cooking, yelling out orders, and managing her staff. As a self-taught chef, her love and passion for food and community manifests itself best when she’s back of the house. When she curated the menu, she wanted to make sure that those that tasted the food could draw back on fond memories and take a little piece of Nana’s once they left. “What did that waffle remind you of? Did it remind you of your great grandmother’s peach cobbler back in the day? Did it remind you of your favorite auntie’s banana pudding? Food is definitely all about an experience, from the presentation to the taste and to the actual moment of who you enjoy it with, whether you’re by yourself or you’re enjoying it with friends or loved ones,” Potter said. While many may know Potter as the chef and owner of Nana’s, some may also know her as a full-time cast member on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” During the show, Potter celebrated the grand opening of a new Nana’s location in Sandy Springs. However, shortly after, the restaurant permanently closed. She called that “one of the hardest moments” for her, but stayed true to the feeling that her vulnerability opened the doors for other women to see that failure doesn’t mean defeat and the importance of trying in place of fear. “This is actually who I am before the show. This is what built my character. This is what actually feeds my family. This is generational well-being and wealth for us. The show is just a tool. It doesn’t make me who I am. I can go off that show today or tomorrow, and this will still be here. This is still me,” Potter said. “It was really hard for me to open and close a restaurant on a TV show. So many people share their highs, but they don’t share their lows. And to be in a space where that was my first time having to close a restaurant because it didn’t do well, I wanted to share that journey to let people know, ‘Hey, sometimes it doesn’t work out.’” Despite the highs and lows, Potter said the journey has been worth it, especially as she joins a celebrated list of Black women

restaurateurs who have made a name for themselves and have thrived in a male-dominated industry that is often unpredictable. “People think opening a restaurant is an easy task. So many restaurants aren’t able to make it within those first two years of business, and it’s been a journey, especially in a male-dominated area. When you think about it, 10 years prior to me even starting, you didn’t see as many women restaurateurs as you see now. Seeing other women thriving and opening businesses and restaurants makes me so proud.” This festival’s theme for 2026 is “The City is the Story,” putting Atlanta front and center. While Potter was born in Baltimore, she said Atlanta raised her and that the promise of success for Black entrepreneurs has inspired her. “I’ve been in Atlanta for over 20 years now. Coming here and seeing successful Black women, Black men, Black families, entrepreneurs has shaped me in such a way of, ‘Girl, you’ve got to win. You’ve got no choice. Everybody else can do it. Why can’t you?’” Potter said. “It’s achievable. You can see it. You can go to the next restaurant down the street. I’m so blessed and honored to even be in this space right here being next to the franchises. It has inspired me in so many ways. And I think just knowing that it’s possible, that Black success is achievable.” Potter said that she feels honored to have been selected as a host chef and is excited for guests to experience all that the festival has to offer. “It’s a moment. It’s a vibe. It’s the culture. It’s the music. It’s the taste. It’s the people… It’s really an amazing experience of culture, food, and real Atlanta,” Potter said. “You’ve got chicken and waffles in one tent, oxtails in the other, empanadas down the street, a little street corn up there. You literally have everything there in the midst of trying all of these amazing chefs underneath one tent. I can’t wait to celebrate, and I can’t wait to honor the other chefs and restaurateurs as well that day.” Join Potter at “Southern Fried: A Chicken Affair” from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13. The festival is for guests 21 and older, and tickets for the four-day festival are on sale now at atlfoodandwinefestival.com.

Chicken and waffles take center stage at Nana’s Chicken and Waffles, where Chef Kelli Potter combines Southern comfort food with flavors inspired by her family and upbringing. Photo by Tabius H. McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

Page 8 • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com

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BankWithUnited.com | Member FDIC United Bank DBA United Bankshares Advertising Notice. Not a Commitment to Lend. Subject to Program Availability. All loan applications subject to credit approval. Annual Percentage Rate (APR), programs, rates, fees, closing costs, terms and conditions are subject to change without any notice and may vary depending upon credit history and transactions specifics. Other closing costs may be necessary. Flood and/or property hazard insurance may be required. To be eligible, buyer must meet minimum down payments, underwriting and program guidelines. United Bank NMLS ID 522399 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

costs. However, saving for a down payment isn’t the only hurdle. Even qualifying for a mortgage can present a barrier as borrowers struggle to meet lender requirements in today’s higher-cost market. At United Bankshares, we want to make the dream of buying a home a reality. That’s why we introduced a new program designed specifically to address these financial barriers many first-time homebuyers face today. United Bank’s HomeBright Program United Bank’s HomeBright Program was developed to address one of the biggest obstacles facing today’s homebuyers: the widening gap between rapidly rising home prices and the ability to save for the upfront costs of purchasing a home. HomeBright helps bridge this gap by providing flexible financing solutions designed to reduce initial financial barriers to homeownership. By lowering upfront cost requirements and expanding access to financing for eligible borrowers, the program enables more individuals and families to take the first step toward owning a home. At the same time, HomeBright is structured to support sustainable, long-term homeownership, helping qualified buyers achieve their goals with confidence and financial stability. How HomeBright can help qualified borrowers: • Financing of up to 100% loan-to-value (LTV) • Option to include a qualified non-occupant co-borrower on the loan may help strengthen a borrower’s application • No mortgage insurance requirement, which may help reduce monthly housing costs • Gift funds may be used, subject to program guidelines • Fixed-rate and lower adjustable-rate options are available • Program availability may depend on borrower income and/or property location • Program must be used for the borrower’s primary residence

• Available for home purchases and eligible refinances • First-time homebuyers must complete a homeownership counseling course before closing Whether you’re purchasing your first home or exploring financing options, understanding available programs can make a significant difference. Speaking with a United Bankshares mortgage specialist early in the process can help you better understand your financing options, program eligibility, and the steps involved in preparing for homeownership. If you are ready to take the next step in your homebuying journey, learn more about the HomeBright Program at BankWithUnited.com. United Bank is doing business as United Bankshares in the state of Georgia. HomeBright Program Disclaimer:Subject to Credit Approval. Not all applicants are eligible. HomeBright is not available in all market areas. Loan must be for purchase or eligible refinance of primary residence. Property type and location limitations apply. Loan terms and conditions apply, including but not limited to, maximum loan-to-value of 100%, maximum loan amount, minimum credit score, and maximum income limits. Homebuyer education may be required. Program rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. United Bank Mortgage Disclaimer:United Bank DBA United Bankshares NMLS ID 522399 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) Member FDIC. ADVERTISING NOTICE - NOT A COMMITMENT TO LEND - SUBJECT TO PROGRAM AVAILABILITY. This is not a commitment lend. All loan applications are subject to credit and property approval. Annual Percentage Rate (APR), programs, rates, fees, closing costs, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice and may vary depending upon credit history and transaction specifics. Other closing costs may be necessary. Flood and/ or property hazard insurance may be required. To be eligible, buyer must meet minimum down payment, underwriting, and program guidelines.

theatlantavoice.com • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • Page 9

Arts

High Museum to open largest-ever survey of ‘I SPY’ photographer Walter Wick’s work By NOAH WASHINGTON

he High Museum’s newest exhibition, “I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders,” runs from Aug. 28 through Jan. 3, 2027, “It’s like I am in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” an attending visitor said while walking through the exhibit. The exhibit features photography from the beloved “I SPY” and “Can You See What I See?” children’s book series. The exhibition, organized by the New Britain Museum of American Art, features more than 80 works spanning 50 years of Wick’s career, including rarely seen photographs and the three-dimensional models he built to create them. It is the latest installment in the High’s ongoing series celebrating children’s book artists, which has previously spotlighted Beatrix Potter, Mo Willems, and Eric Carle. The photographs on display include dreamlike miniature cityscapes like “Sky High,” which imagines a child’s cluttered bedroom transformed at night into a glowing miniature skyline built from toys, cardboard boxes, and party favors. Other works draw on classic literature and fairy tales, including “Puss in Boots,” a scene built around a storybook castle, and a series of images inspired by Lewis Carroll that hide dozens of visual riddles for visitors to solve. Andrew Westover, the High’s Eleanor McDonald Storza deputy director of learning and civic engagement, curated the show. He said the exhibition’s path to Atlanta began after he saw it staged elsewhere. “The New Britain Museum of American Art originated this exhibition, and I was connected with the curator there,” Westover said. “I went and saw the show when it was on display at the Norman Rockwell Museum,

Piece: ‘Can you see what I see? ... Seven horses, fifteen hearts- seven cards with missing parts’. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

and realized it would be a great fit for this institution, so we reached out and made the connection, and we’re able to bring it here.” Westover also described the scale of the undertaking required to bring Wick’s intricate, hand-built sets to life in the gallery. “We have tremendous staff, a team of preparators who helped build everything, and there was also a staff person from the New Britain Museum of American Art who came down to help build all of these models,” Westover said. Assembling the show took

Piece: “Jolly Roger set”. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

about six weeks from the time the works arrived, Westover said. The exhibition leans into interactivity, inviting visitors to solve the same visual riddles found in Wick’s books. One photograph, “Marble Math,” challenges viewers to count the marbles in the frame, a task complicated by mirrors that hide some spheres and place others outside the picture plane. “That one there was featured in the New York Times,” Westover said. “It’s a puzzle where you try to count how many marbles there are. It is not as easy as it seems.” Another work, “Crazy Columns,” relies on a different kind of trick entirely. “This is not computer tricks or photo retouching,” Westover said. “This involves only a half-silvered mirror, meaning you can see through one side but not the other. That allows the illusion of rounded columns that trick your eye into seeing them as square at the top.” Elsewhere, a full-scale set inspired by Wick’s “Clouds” photograph was recreated in partnership with the Alliance Theater, giving visitors a rare look at how such elaborate scenes are constructed and staged. Asked what he hopes younger and older visitors alike take from the show, Westover pointed to the value of unstructured wonder. “I think what I hope people can take away from this is that creativity is not bound by age,” he said. “Curiosity is good for everyone, and you can find so much joy in art.”

Piece: “Marble Math”. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

Page 10 • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com

Sports

The Atlanta Braves are hot at the right time By DONNELL SUGGS

he Atlanta Braves are hot at the right time. The Major League Baseball season has officially entered the final fifth of the marathon, and the Braves remain in first place in the NL East, several games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. Atlanta stitched together a strong August. There was a seven-game win streak that included a pair of three-game sweeps of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies at Truist Park. There was a complete game performance against the Dodgers by Chris Sale, a game-winning hit by Ha-Seong Kim, and a five-inning, eight-strikeout gem by Bryce Elder. The latter was on the mound on Monday night against the San Francisco Giants in a makeup game from nearly two months ago. The Giants, 25 games under .500 on the road this season, didn’t have much to play for other than self-respect, but the Braves were looking to keep the win streak going heading into a six-game East Coast road trip that will test them. The Braves played two games in Washington against the Nationals to begin September, but it’s the four-game holiday weekend series

against the Phillies that will be the biggest test of the season. “He played like himself” “He played like himself,” said Braves manager Walt Weiss following the win over the Rockies on Friday, August 28. Acuna, Jr. had one of his most productive games of the season. He was on base the entire game and scored from second base three times. Acuna said of his performance, “I felt good today.” Having Acuna, Jr. back in the lineup, and equally as importantly, in right field, has helped the Braves come into games in better form. Batting second or leading off, Acuna, Jr. is getting four-five at-bats a night, and he remains one of the most dangerous and most unpredictable bats in Major League Baseball. Acuna, Jr. was 6-9 from the plate during the sweep of the Rockies. Another addition to the lineup and defense has been veteran catcher Sean Murphy. Batting under .100 when he returned from injury, Murphy raised his batting average over .200 during the winning streak. Having Murphy play behind the plate also frees up Drake Baldwin’s bat and allows him to lead off and get five at-bats per game. Murphy had a three-hit game against the Dodgers on August 26

The Atlanta Braves, first place in the NL East, are headed to Philadelphia to play a crucial four-game series with the Phillies over the Labor Day weekend. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

Atlanta Braves centerfielder Michael Harris II hit a solo home run in the second inning of Monday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park. Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves

and a two-hit game against the Rockies on August 28. He singled off San Francisco Giants starter Anthony Molina in the 5th inning on Monday, and that allowed Baldwin to come to the plate with a runner on and give the Braves a 3-2 lead after singling Murphy home. Michael Harris II is having a career year. He has already set a career-high in home runs. He hit his 23rd in the second inning on Monday, and he hit safely in all three games against the Rockies. Harris II set a career-high in RBI last season with 86, and he ended Monday’s game with 78 RBI with just under 30 games to play in the season. Unsung Heroes Raisel Iglesias, Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee, and Dylan Dodd get the most publicity out of the Braves’ bullpen, but fellow pitchers Ray Kerr and Victor Mederos have both contributed in a big way this season. Kerr entered Monday’s game in the sixth inning and pitched 3.1 innings in relief, only giving up an earned run in the ninth inning on a solo home run. After the game, Weiss said Kerr was “the bright spot” and that “he threw the ball really well. Great showing by Ray.” A weekend series against the red-hot Phillies will take all of the Braves’ pitchers and hitters if they want to extend their lead in the NL East and book a ticket back to the postseason.

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss (above) following the Braves’ 7-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Monday at Truist Park. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

Page 11 • SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • theatlantavoice.com

SEPTEMBER 4-10, 2026 • www.theatlantavoice.com

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LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Application to Establish a Branch of a State Member Bank United Bank DBA United Bankshares, 2071 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, VA 22182 intends to apply to the Federal Reserve Board for permission to establish a branch at 3445 Peachtree Road, Suite 175, Atlanta, GA 30326. The Federal Reserve considers a number of factors in deciding whether to approve the application including the record of performance of applicant banks in helping to meet local credit needs. You are invited to submit comments in writing on this application to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, P.O. Box 27622, Richmond, VA 23261. Comments can also be sent electronically to comments.applications@rich. frb.org. The comment period will not end before Monday, September 14, 2026. The Board’s procedures for processing applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. Part 262. Procedures for processing protested applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. 262.25. To obtain a copy of the Federal Reserve Board’s procedures, or if you need more information about how to submit your comments on the application, contact Brent Hassell, Assistant Vice President, at (804) 697-8980. The Federal Reserve will consider your comments and any request for a public meeting or formal hearing on the application if they are received in writing by the Reserve Bank on or before the last day of the comment period.

OPPORTUNITIES SR. MARKET RESEARCH & PARTNER MARKETING SPECIALIST Innova Solutions, Inc. has an opening for the role of Sr. Market Research & Partner Marketing Specialist (Atlanta, GA). Duties include: Research market and industry trends to find and size partner-led growth opportunities, including analyzing customer needs, buying patterns, and demand signals for cloud, AI, automation, and enterprise technology solutions. 40 hours/week. Remote work/telecommuting permitted, position reports to Atlanta, GA. Any applicant who is interested in this position may apply by mail to the following individual (please reference job #NS727148): Innova Solutions, Inc. Attn: Ana Cristina Santiesteban Guiterrez, 1455 Lincoln Parkway East , Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30346.

OPPORTUNITIES BUSINESS Altus Group Limited seeks a Sr Consultant in Atlanta, GA: Prepare cash flow models for valuing commercial real estate assets, with emphasis on complex property types such as office, retail, unstabilized assets and development projects. Telecommuting permitted. Up to 5% of domestic travel required. Email resume to careers@altusgroup.com. Must reference Ref. SO-SC.

LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE Dr. Chandace White is no longer with CenterWell Stone Mountain as of September 18, 2026. Current patients will automatically be transferred to another provider at the center. If you are a patient and you choose not to continue care at CenterWell Stone Mountain, you can obtain your medical records by calling 404-9050100.

LEGAL NOTICE

CLASSIFIEDS OPPORTUNITIES SENIOR DATA ENGINEER Senior Data Engineer w/ GREENSKY MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC in Atlanta, GA. Remote work permitted. Identify, dsgn, & implement internal process improvements: automating manual processes, optimizing data delivery, re-dsgn’g infrastructure for greater scalability, etc. Work w/data & analytics experts to strive for greater functionality in our data systs. Req’s: Master’s deg (U.S. or foreign equiv) in Comp Info. Systs, IT, Comp Sci, Comp Eng’g, Electrical Eng’g or rel. field & 3 yrs of exp in job offered or in rel. role. Up to 10% trvl req’d. Domestic only. Job Code: 10131593. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS: Apply at greensky.com. Select “About” tab & click on “Careers.” NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. ©2006-2026 GreenSky, LLC. All rights reserved. GreenSky is an equal opportunity employer & will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law.

SUMMONS IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DISTRICT OF ST. CROIX MILL HARBOUR CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, v. DOUGLAS HEMBREE, Defendant. CASE NUMBER: SX-2026CV-00108 ACTION: DEBT AND FORECLOSURE TO: Douglas Hembree Address: 195-14 th Street, N.E., Unit 1701, Atlanta, GA 30309 #1707 Within the time limited by law (see note below) you are hereby required to appear before this Court and answer to a complaint filed against you in this action. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment by default will be taken against you as demanded in the complaint. Witness my hand and the seal of this Court on this February 25, 2026. /s/ Scot F. McChain Attorney for Plaintiff

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Tamara Charles Clerk of the Court NOTE: The defendant, if served personally, is required to file his answer or other defense with the Clerk of the Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty-one (21) days after service of this summons, excluding the date of the service. The defendant, if served by publication or by personal service outside of the jurisdiction, is required to file his answer or other defense with the Clerk of the Court, and to serve a copy thereof upon the attorney for the plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the completion of the period of publication or personal service outside of the jurisdiction.

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“I am able to give my teachers the largest pay increase that we’ve been able to give in my 10 years here.” Dr. Trent North, Superintendent, Douglas County School System

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