Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is trying to combat the challenges of accessing affordable housing. He recently announced his $5 billion Atlanta Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, which includes a $1.3 billion plan to subsidize affordable housing projects. He aims to extend existing tax allocation districts to fund community investment projects, with an initial focus on 7 neighborhoods: Thomasville Heights, English Avenue/ Vine City, Grove Park/Bankhead, West Hollowell, East Campbellton, West Campbellton, and Downtown Atlanta.

For the November installment of Coffee Conversations held at Grant Park Coffeehouse, program host Rose Scott talked with a panel of guests about what exactly TADs are, the pros and cons of them, as well as other possible solutions that could potentially help build stronger communities and center equity for all Atlanta residents.

Guests Include:

Rahel TafarI, the owner of the Grant Park Coffeehouse

Kyle Kessler, the director of policy and research of the Center for Civic Innovation

Gavin McGuire, the executive director of the Grove Park Foundation

Julian Bene, an Atlanta Economic Justice advocate and Former Invest Atlanta board member

Alison Johnson, the executive director of the Housing Justice League

Fred Stevens, a consultant in residence with the Paradise Community Development Center

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Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson has been spearheading the district since August 2024. Under his leadership, the district that serves just under 50,000 K-12 students has focused on improving student achievement. Johnson talks with “Closer Look” program host Rose Scott about the current state of public education. He also talked about his top priorities, including closing a $130 million budget gap this budget cycle,  APS’s Comprehensive Long-Range Facilities Plan, boosting community engagement, and more.

Plus, under mandates from President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., thousands of employees at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been fired or furloughed. Some of those employees are now banding together to support one another through the CDC Mutual Aid Network. Scott talks with guests about the mission of the newly formed network. Guests include: 

Dr. Stephanie Salyer, the co-founder of the CDC Mutual Aid Network

Aryn Melton Bakus, a founding member of Fired but Fighting

Dr. Barbara Marston, a co-founder and coordinator of the CDC Mutual Aid Network

Guest 1, an anonymous guest

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Diana Martha Louis is an assistant professor of women’s and gender studies at the University of Michigan. In her new book, Louis seeks to reframe some of the historical stories about Black people and mental health in the 19th century. The book is titled “Colored Insane: Slavery, Asylums, and the Politics of Mental Health in the 19th Century.” Combining literary and historical analysis, the book explores the asylum movement, slavery’s impact on the mental health of Black people, and how some historical beliefs about mental health still shape how some in the medical field view Black people’s mental disability in the present day.

Plus, the Working Families Party is an independent political organization focusing on making life better for working families. Recently, Fallon McClure, the deputy southeast regional director for WFP, joined a group of state legislators urging Governor Kemp to use the state’s surplus to cover the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Fallon talks with “Closer Look” program host Rose Scott about her overall thoughts on how lawmakers responded to the federal shutdown, how other federal cuts are impacting the lives of families, as well as the recent political shifts happening within growing progressive movements.

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More than 7 million children across the United States depend on special education services, which school districts now refer to as exceptional children’s services. But recent cuts to the Department of Education are taking more resources away from the historically underfunded programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). To discuss their growing concerns and the potential impact the situation could have on students, we hear from Anita Hagins Jones, the resident of the Georgia PTA, Lola Green, the president of the Georgia Special Education PTSA, Theneshia Dixon, the legislative chair for the Special Education PTSA, and Cobb County School Board Member Leroy "Tre" Hutchins, who is also a special education specialist.

Plus, the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network (GAIN) is a local nonprofit that provides free immigration legal services and other wraparound support to immigrant survivors of crime and persecution. Back in October, the organization’s executive director, Alpa Amin, said the Department of Justice denied funding to GAIN’s Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Program. Amin joins “Closer Look” to talk more about how GAIN is responding with less funding and greater need.

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Veterans Sazha Ramos and Ignacio Montoya both experienced traumatic injuries that had a significant impact on their lives. For Ramos, it led her to an addiction to pain medications. For Montoya, a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. But after facing their challenges, both are using their journeys to assist other veterans. For a special edition of “Closer Look” on Veterans Day, “Closer Look” program host Rose Scott spoke with them about their experiences, Ramos’ work assisting veterans struggling with addiction, and Montoya about how he’s advancing research into improving mobility for those who have been paralyzed.  

*American Addiction Center’s 24/7 hotline is 866-868-3449.

Plus, the Veterans Empowerment Organization (VEO) and The Home Depot Foundation are partnering together to end veteran homelessness. Recently, the “Closer Look” team stopped by VEO’s campus on Atlanta’s Westside for a tour. Program host Rose Scott talks with Stewart Williams, a Marine Corps veteran and the CEO of VEO, Army veteran Larry Benitez, Marine veteran Michael Joseph and Erin Izen, the executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. They discuss the unique challenges many veterans face, VEO’s mission, and the support services and resources VEO provides beyond housing.

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It’s been 15 years since the Georgia Board of Regents adopted a policy that banned undocumented students from receiving in-state tuition rates, as well as banned them from attending the state's top five public universities. We hear from Dr. Emiko Soltis, the executive director of Freedom University, and Kathy, an undocumented student, about the unique set of barriers that undocumented students face. We also learn how Freedom University is adapting to and responding to the Trump Administration's crackdown on immigrants, while remaining a supportive space for students.

Plus, the new comic, “BLACK ARMS TO HOLD YOU,”  tells the story of Black resistance throughout U.S. history. Ben Passmore is an award-winning political cartoonist and comic artist. He talked with “Closer Look” program host Rose Scott about the research and inspiration behind the book. Passmore also explained why he feels the book is especially timely given the current political and social climate.

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Tuesday night’s elections in Georgia are among those that captured national attention. For the first time in nearly two decades, Democrats flipped two Republican held seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission. On today’s “Closer Look,” we speak to a roundtable of journalists and a political science professor who give their take on local and national races, and what the results mean heading into the 2026 Midterm Elections. 

Guests included:

WABE climate reporter Emily Jones

Rahul Bali, WABE politics reporter

Alessandro Sassoon, politics reporter at Atlanta Civic Circle 

Dan Whisenhunt, founder and editor of Decaturish.com

GSU politics and policy professor Tammy Greer

 

Plus, André 3000 and Big Boi have been called hip-hop pioneers for an innovative way of infusing their southern roots into their music. This Saturday, Atlanta’s own OutKast will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class. Ahead of the ceremony, “Closer Look,” program host Rose Scott talks with a roundtable of guests about the duo’s origin and influence.

Guests included:

Shanti Das, a former promotions and senior marketing director at LaFace Records during OutKast’s rise in hip-hop

Sonia Murray, a longtime music journalist and former music critic for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Dr. Joycelyn Wilson, an ethnographic and cultural studies scholar and an associate professor at Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at Georgia Tech School of Literature, Media, and Communication

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Emergency relief and recovery efforts are underway in the Caribbean following widespread destruction of Hurricane Melissa. At least 67 people are dead, in addition to the billions of dollars in damages. One of the organizations on the ground providing aid is CARE, a global humanitarian nonprofit that's based in Atlanta. We hear from Jonathan Arogeti, the Caribbean Humanitarian Response Lead at CARE.

Plus, as the federal government shutdown continues, groups offering support across Georgia are stepping up to meet growing community needs. “Closer Look” program host Rose Scott speaks with leaders from three local organizations about their expanded efforts to help individuals and families in need of food, as well as jobs following mass layoffs.

Guests include:

• Jenny Taylor, vice president of career services and the chief mission officer at Goodwill of North Georgia
• Jasmine Crowe-Houston, the founder and CEO of Goodr
• Nancy Triplett, a board member and donor relations representative for Never Alone Food Pantry 

Lastly, the documentary, “Natchez,” challenges the stories being told about a small Mississippi city that thrivess from antebellum tourism. The film reveals residents' reckoning with the dual perception of Natchez and its history of slavery. Ahead of the documentary’s exclusive opening at the Tara Theatre on November 7th, we hear from the film’s director, Suzannah Herbert.

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According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. Data also suggests there are huge racial disparities when it comes to prostate cancer diagnoses, treatment, and outcomes. “Closer Look” program host Rose Scott talks with Reggie Hicks, the executive producer of the documentary film and host of the podcast "If You Are My Brothers." Hicks talks about his efforts to spread awareness through the documentary and podcast, as well as his ongoing fight against the disease.

 

Plus, the story of Dr. Karen Kinsell of Clay County Medical Center was the focus of “The Only Doctor” documentary. For more than 13 years, she was the only medical doctor in Clay County, Georgia. Dr. Kinsell joins “Closer Look” to talk more about how things have changed since she’s no longer the only doctor in Clay County, as well as her new efforts to transform dilapidated houses into affordable housing.

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Action Pact is one of four Head Start programs affected by the federal government shutdown in Georgia. More than 500 children and their families in southeast Georgia rely on Action Pact for food, educational services, and employment resources. However, due to the halt in federal funds, Executive Director Diane Rogers says they’ll have to stop providing that community support starting Monday, November 3. Close to 200 employees will also be furloughed. She spoke to “Closer Look” about how devastating this will be for those in need and how she’s working with Georgia lawmakers in Washington to recover some financial assistance. 

Plus, if you see The Grim Reader Bookshop rolling around metro Atlanta, don’t be alarmed. The mobile bookstore, which is a hearse, offers a variety of books that appeal to fans of scary stories. For Halloween, Olivia Doyle, the founder of the bookstore, discusses the backstory of her business and why community is a central focus of her work.

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