Author: ATL Direct Staff
The 48th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival returns to Piedmont Park Memorial Day Weekend, May 24–26, 2025, featuring three days of world-class jazz, food, culture, and community—free and open to the public.
If there’s going to be a “Black mecca” for this rapidly growing sport, there’s a good chance it will be Atlanta. But cities everywhere can benefit from this one small way to bring us together. Several years ago, I wrote about the promise and politics of pickleball, urging local governments to get ready for an explosion that was about to occur and to embrace the sport’s potential to bring diverse populations together around a common goal of health and fitness. It’s been encouraging to see this play out across the country, but public officials can do more to encourage wider…
The City of Atlanta has officially broken ground on the long-awaited Bowen Homes redevelopment, launching a $63 million first phase to bring affordable, mixed-income housing and community revitalization to Northwest Atlanta. The project will deliver over 2,000 new homes and vital infrastructure—marking a bold step toward equity and opportunity.
Atlanta is setting the stage for a transformative shift in public transit, with a renewed focus on accessibility, connectivity, and economic growth.
The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department has partnered with Atlanta Public Schools to launch the Fire Safety Mentorship Program. A key initiative of the City of Atlanta’s Year of the Youth campaign aims to connect AFRD personnel with APS students, fostering mentorship that supports personal growth, academic achievement, and fire safety awareness. “Every station will dedicate three hours per month to the program, with each shift contributing one hour of dedicated time,” said Fire Chief Roderick Smith. “Units will remain in service during the mentoring activities as we support students from pre-K to high school.” The mentorship is structured around three…