Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens recently appointed Judge LaDawn Blackett to be Atlanta's interim inspector general. Her appointment comes in the aftermath of Shannon Manigault’s resignation over alleged interference and harassment. Interim IG Blackett joins “Closer Look” to discuss leading the OIG and her top priorities while assigned to lead the office.

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Night of Ideas Atlanta is an annual event that fosters late-night discussions geared toward addressing specific global issues. This year, WABE partnered with Villa Albertine, the Goat Farm Arts Center and Night of Ideas Atlanta to host the event, which featured live music, art and several panel discussions. The theme of this year’s program, which took place on March 29, was common ground. Rose Scott served as the moderator. Today, we will air the opening panel discussion. Rose asked panelists this question: To what extent is Atlanta a common ground for the different communities that call it home?

Guests included:

Illya Davis, a professor of philosophy at Morehouse College and the director of Freshmen and Seniors' Academic Success Programs 

Writer and publisher Walid Hajar Rachedi

TEDxAtlanta organizer Jacqui Chew

Gigi Pedraza, the executive director and founder of the Latino Community Fund Georgia

Saba Long, the executive director of Atlanta Civic Circle

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According to the latest data from Giving USA, charitable giving reached $557.16 billion in the U.S. in 2023. As the philanthropic landscape continues to evolve, younger generations of Americans will soon be the beneficiaries of what is called the “Great Wealth Transfer.” This will position Gen X, millennials and Gen Z at the forefront of our nation’s charitable giving. For the March installment of “Coffee Conversations” the “Closer Look” team heads to Dancing Goats in Midtown. Rose talks with local nonprofit leaders about the future of NexGen philanthropy and their efforts to attract new donors to non-traditional causes.

Guests include:

Aaron Shively, the vice president of operations at Dancing Goats Coffee

Raphael Lewis, the general manager of Dancing Goats Coffee Midtown

Fay Twersky, the president of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

Tim Bresnahan, the vice president of advancement & philanthropic services at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

Karen Beavor, the president and CEO of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits

Che Watkins, the executive director for Braven-Atlanta  

Rodney Bullard, the founder and CEO of the Same House

Hope Wollensack, the executive director of Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund

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The book, "It’s Not You, It’s Capitalism," explores the economic challenges Gen Z and millennials are facing in the current economy while offering up possible solutions from labor leaders, economists and more. Author Malaika Jabali, who is an attorney, activist, and the senior news and politics editor at Essence Magazine, talks about the inspiration behind her book and her research on capitalism.

Ayoka Chenzira is a veteran transmedia storyteller. She is an award-winning filmmaker, television director and digital media artist. As a pioneer in Black independent cinema, she is credited with being one of the first Black women to write, produce and direct a 35-millimeter feature film. She joins “Closer Look” for our Women's History Month series, "Piloting the Journey."  Chenzira talks more about how she has used imagination, creativity and innovation across multiple platforms.

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The new book,  "There Is No Place For Us" features the stories of five Atlanta families struggling to find and keep safe, stable housing. These working families represent the country's "hidden homeless," people who sleep in cars or extended-stay motels but aren't tracked by government homelessness counts. Atlanta-based journalist Brian Goldstone, who authored the book, talks more about his book and Atlanta’s growing homelessness crisis.

Nannie Helen Burroughs was an educator, a suffragist and a Black labor activist. Her life’s story and legacy are the focus of the new book, “Nannie Helen Burroughs: A Tower of Strength in the Labor World.” The book's author, Dr. Danielle Phillips-Cunningham, is an associate professor of labor studies and employment relations at Rutgers University. She joins “Closer Look” to talk more about her book and Burroughs’ fight for the education and upward career mobility of Black women.

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The new book, "Slavery After Slavery" reveals how some landowners in the South used “forced apprenticeships” re-enslave emancipated Black children. The court system supported a majority of these “forced apprenticeships,” resulting in many children being separated from their families in the years following the Emancipation Proclamation. Dr. Mary Frances Berry, who is an acclaimed historian, educator, activist and author, will give a lecture about the book at Emory University on Friday, March 28. Ahead of her visit to Atlanta, Dr. Berry joined “Closer Look,” to share more about her research and details what she believes are the modern-day consequences of re-enslavement.

Democratic Senator Nan Orrock, who represents Senate District 36, is the founder of the Georgia Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Working Families Legislative Caucus. For decades, Orrock has been at the forefront of legislation that has centered civil rights, women’s issues, health policy, workforce issues, environmental issues and more. She joins Closer Look” for our Women's History Month series, "Piloting the Journey."

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Gallup polling shows the economy was the top issue for voters in the 2024 presidential election, and President Trump ran on a promise to immediately lower prices. Now, two months into his second term, Trump’s push for tariffs is raising recession concerns for some economists. Amid the economic uncertainty, consumers are witnessing rising costs for everyday goods and services, such as groceries. On today’s Feedback Friday edition of “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” we’re asking consumers: How have your spending habits changed?  Tom Smith, a professor in the practice of finance at Emory University, joins us for the discussion.

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Data suggest 68% of all companies will use AI in the hiring process by the end of 2025. Today, we begin a two-part series looking at the benefits and the harm of using AI in the job hiring process. Many companies are using AI to review resumes, reject candidates without human input or oversight, and even conduct entire interviews. Dan Beck is the president and chief product officer at SAP SuccessFactors. He has used AI to help boost the workforce of companies like Delta. Beck talks more about the pros of AI being used by employers.

Plus, The B.E.S.T. Academy basketball team has won the Class A Division I championship. Earlier this month, marking the school’s first championship in any sport, the team defeated Southwest Macon 62-57. B.E.S.T. Academy head basketball coach Brian Weeden, Asst. Coach Mario Lemons and team members discuss their championship run.

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Companies like Delta Air Lines are legally exempt from paying hotel/motel tax for their bookings that are more than 30 days. Hapeville Mayor Alan Hallman explains why this is a major concern for his city and why he supports the passage of House Bill 492.

International Transgender Day of Visibility will be recognized on March 31. The day is used to celebrate transgender people and raise awareness about issues that impact them. Quinton Reynolds, the founder and executive director of Game Changing Men, and Toi Washington Reynolds, the founder of Trans Women of Color Healing Project, talked with show host Rose Scott about the work of their organizations. They also shared details about what they feel are the top concerns of Black transpeople and how their organizations are working to spread awareness at the Georgia State Capitol.

Ingrid Saunders Jones is a retired Coca-Cola Company executive and the former chair of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. She joins “Closer Look” for our Women’s History Month series, “Piloting the Journey.” Saunders Jones talks more about her decades-long career in the corporate world, working in politics and her time as an educator.

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President Trump recently signed an executive order to suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and resettlement funding. However, a federal judge has blocked Trump's actions — calling it an overreach. For a roundtable discussion, “Closer Look” is joined by Reverend John R. Moeller Jr., the president and CEO of Inspiritus, Aimee Zangandou, the executive director of Refugee and Immigrant Services at Inspiritus and Louisa Merchant, the director of Refugee Ministries at All Saints Episcopal in Midtown. They talk with Rose regarding the disruption of resettlement services, the suspension of funding and other efforts to serve thousands of service refugees in Georgia.

Plus, Georgia lawmakers are weeks away from Sine Die for the 2025 legislative session. As the session is nearing an end, the ACLU is tracking 527 proposed bills, from across the U.S., that they refer to as “anti-LGBTQ bills. ” The ACLU claims 11 of those bills have been introduced in the Georgia Legislature. Jeff Graham, the executive director of Georgia Equality, talks more about the proposed legislation his organization is watching that allegedly targets the LGBTQ+ community.

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