Dr. Karida Brown says her new book “The Battle For the Black Mind” is much more than a history lesson for readers – it’s personal. The NAACP Image Award-winning author follows the history of segregation in America's education system and the ongoing struggle for educational justice. Dr. Brown returns to "Closer Look" to share more about her new book, which is the result of eight years of research.

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According to a new investigative report published by Atlanta Civic Circle, the City of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund is being used to pay housing bond debt and staff salaries. Sean Keenan, a housing reporter at Atlanta Civic Circle, returns to “Closer Look,” to discuss the story and the response from housing advocates and some city officials.

Plus, N'namdi Arinze is making his mark in Atlanta’s food industry as the owner of Vegan Wangs, a plant-based chicken wing restaurant. Alongside his sister, Arinze has expanded the business from online deliveries, ghost kitchens, and pop-up events—into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar location. Recently, Rose and the “Closer Look” team paid a visit to the Southwest Atlanta eatery on Cascade Road.

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Today's special edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott" is a themed show focusing on hunger. According to the latest data from Feeding America, nearly 40% of the food-insecure population in the United States is white. Yet, in most counties, food insecurity rates among Black, Hispanic and Latino households exceed those of white households. This all comes as data also reveals, 1 in 7 people in Georgia are facing hunger. Now, amid federal funding cuts to assistance programs and inflation impacting food prices, Rose talks with local leaders about their efforts to combat summer hunger across metro Atlanta.

Guests include:

Kyle Waide, the president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank

Jon McMurdo, the development manager at Second Helpings Atlanta

Kashi Sehgal, the founder and CEO Retaaza

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The New Disabled South is working to build a coalition of disability justice activists and advocates. Dom Kelly, the co-founder, president, and CEO of New Disabled South, discusses the organization’s mission: 'To improve the lives of disabled people and build strong disability justice and rights movements in the South.

Plus, with looming potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and surging prices at the grocery store, the nonprofit A Red Circle, has released a national blueprint that outlines five food policy recommendations that all states, including Georgia, can follow to act on right now. Erica R. Williams, the executive director of A Red Circle, talks with Rose about the work of the nonprofit, the importance of combating food insecurity and the national blueprint.

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There have been significant public health policy changes under the Trump administration, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent statement. He announced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children.

This all comes as ongoing concerns heighten about other key public health policies related to environmental health, health equity, mental health, infectious diseases, reproductive health, and the impact of climate change.

For today’s edition of Feedback Friday on “Closer Look,” Rose is joined by Atlanta-based internist Dr. Dhaval Desai. He discusses the timeline of these actions and gives his analysis about the potential consequences and impact.

*On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its language regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for age groups.

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In Jan. 2025, then-Vice President Kamala Harris announced a final rule by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to remove medical debt from consumers’ credit reports. The policy was to take effect in March, but just like many other Biden-era actions, the Trump administration is changing course. Now, a federal judge is expected to decide in mid-June about whether to vacate the consumer protection rule. Georgia ranks among the top five states with the most medical debt, with 13% of adults in the state owing money. Former health tech executive and consumer advocate Scott Speranza, the CEO of HealthLock, discusses what this could mean for Georgians.

For “Closer Look’s” Class of 2025 graduation series, we hear from Bon Varlet. The standout Kennesaw State University graduate majored in information technology. She talks with Rose about her academic journey, including earning a Fulbright Study Award, and her aspirations to attend law school and to protect public institutions, particularly libraries.

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Under the Biden administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar For All program aimed to improve access to clean energy and solar programs. Now, under the Trump Administration, local advocates and business leaders say $7 billion, embarked for organizations nationwide, was temporarily withheld. Diamond Spratling, the founder and executive director of Girl Plus Environment, and Tonya Hicks, the president and CEO of Power Solutions, share why they feel it’s important for communities to have this investment and what access to clean energy could mean for communities in Georgia.

We continue with WABE’s “Server South” series.  State officials are now grappling with questions about tax incentives, and data centers’ usage of water and energy. We air WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali’s latest report.

For “Closer Look’s” Class of 2025 graduation series, we hear from Gwendolyn Campbell. She’s the valedictorian for the Class of 2025 at Morris Brown College. Campbell talks about her academic journey, juggling family responsibilities, overcoming health challenges and her aspirations to go to law school and provide legal help to youth.

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Federal funding cuts are impacting community violence intervention (CVI) programs. CJ Jones, the founder of Dream Builders of Atlanta, Chee'Tara Alexander,  the co-founder of H.O.P.E. Hustlers, and Amber Goodwin, founder of the Community Justice Action Fund, discuss how funding cuts are impacting their work and the actions they are now taking.

We continue with WABE’s “Server South” series.  Some high-profile early projects went all-in on solar energy, building enormous solar fields to power their computer processing. But as the industry accelerates and needs more electricity, power companies are falling back on fossil fuels to meet the demand. We air WABE’s Emily Jones’ latest report.

For “Closer Look’s” Class of 2025 graduation series, it’s a family affair. Rose talks with the Lee family. Quila Lee and her daughters—Rakiya Lee, Kamiya Lee, and Kalaya Lee—have each earned either a master’s or a bachelor’s degree and are 2025 graduates of Georgia State University. The Lees talk about their academic journeys, their challenges, and triumphs, and what it means to hit this meaningful milestone as a family.

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A team of Georgia State University researchers have compiled historical data of thousands of enslaved people from Georgia and other southern states. The information dates to before the Civil War. It’s called the Data Mining and Mapping Antebellum Georgia. Elizabeth J. West, a professor of English and co-director of Georgia State University’s Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora, and Dr. Ras Michael Brown, an associate professor in the department of history, discuss updates to the research project.

INSERT: We continue with WABE’s “Server South” series.  Data centers use huge amounts of water to cool off their constantly running servers. As data center developers look to tap into Georgia’s water resources, county leaders and conservationists are looking for solutions. We air WABE’s environmental reporter Marisa Mecke’s latest report.

For “Closer Look’s” Class of 2025 graduation series, we hear from Marchellos Scott. The standout graduate, of the Morehouse College Class of 2025, majored in educational studies. He talks with Rose about his academic journey. He also shares his next chapter: pursuing a career as an educational law attorney, championing justice, equity, and transformative change within the American education system.

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The latest data suggests, there are more than 150 accredited medical schools in the U.S. However, only four of them, less than 3%, are located on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is one of those institutions. The Atlanta-based institution, regarded as being one of the nation’s top leading educators of primary care physicians, is marking 50 years of focusing on improving community health outcomes. For the second May installment of “Coffee Conversations,” Rose and the team head to MSM to learn more about how the school has been championing health equity for five decades.

Guests include:

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, the president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine

Dr. Rick Kittles, the senior vice president for research at Morehouse School of Medicine

Dr. Adrian Tyndall, the dean and executive vice president for health affairs at Morehouse School of Medicine

Jeromey Beaman, the president of the Student Government Association at Morehouse School of Medicine

Dr. Elizabeth Ofili, a Morehouse School of Medicine professor, a cardiologist and global principal investigator of the African American Heart Study

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