In this episode, Kathy Rainwater-Roe, Director of Community Partnerships at Phoenix Senior Living, shares how her first volunteer experience with Atlanta Mission dismantled her assumptions about homelessness and revealed the dignity and gratitude of the women she met. 

After that paradigm shift, Kathy has worked hard to bring Phoenix from serving meals during the holidays to investing in the whole person by becoming one of Atlanta Mission’s employment partners. In this conversation, Kathy unpacks the surprising parallels between senior care and homelessness, the transformational impact of second chances, and why changing perceptions is key to changing lives. 

If you’ve ever wondered whether one person, or one employer, can really make a difference, Kathy’s story will inspire you to see a new perspective. 

Become an employment partner: https://atlantamission.org/corporate-partnership/

Check out Phoenix Senior Living: https://www.phoenixsrliving.com/

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In this special episode of Unseen Atlanta, CEO Tensley Almand steps into the host’s chair for a conversation with Justin Landis, founder of The Justin Landis Group, Bolst Real Estate, and a member of Atlanta Mission’s Executive Committee.  

Justin shares how showing luxury homes in one Atlanta neighborhood while passing people sleeping under bridges in another shifted his perspective forever. From launching bold campaigns with Atlanta Mission to creating a benefit corporation, his conviction remains the same: where you live matters, community matters, and everyone deserves a dream home. 

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For 16 years, Michael Sheppard has been walking alongside men experiencing homelessness at The Shepherd’s Inn and Fuqua Hall. In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, he shares what this kind of change really takes. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to respond when you see someone in need, or what real transformation looks like behind the doors of Atlanta Mission, this conversation will shift the way you see homelessness, dignity, and hope. 

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Cedric thought he could carry the weight of life on his own. Morgan thought homelessness was something that only happened to “other people.” Both were wrong. They walked into Atlanta Mission on the same day, one step away from giving up, and one step away from a lifetime of friendship. 

This is a story about what happens after rock bottom. 

Listen now. Because the line between “them” and “us” is thinner than you think. 

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Season 2 of Unseen Atlanta is here! This year, the stories go even deeper. Join hosts Rachel Reynolds and Jonathan Miller as they pull back the curtain on unseen issues in Atlanta, sharing powerful first-hand accounts from people who’ve experienced homelessness and addiction, and insights from experts working to solve these challenges. 

In this episode, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s ahead this season: from stories of recovery and resilience, to conversations with business leaders and advocates who are investing in our city’s future. You’ll also learn how each episode connects to a bigger picture, and how you can be part of the change happening in Atlanta right now. 

Whether you’re a long-time supporter or just tuning in for the first time, this season is an invitation to listen closer, see more, and believe that transformation is possible. 

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Jason never imagined he’d become homeless. He had a law degree, a successful 20-year career in human resources, and a strong faith background. But after a job loss, personal trauma, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, his life unraveled, and he found himself with no resources, no home, and nowhere to go. 

In this episode, Jason shares his story of situational homelessness and the emotional toll of losing everything. He explains how Atlanta Mission’s structured programming and spiritual community helped him regain his footing, reclaim his purpose, and rebuild his future. 

We’re also joined by Anthony Green Jr., a vocational specialist at Atlanta Mission, who explains how the Next Steps and Transformations programs are designed to not just restore employment, but identity, dignity, and direction. 

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Before coming to The Potter’s House, Eli was living a double life. He was outwardly spiritual but inwardly broken. In this episode, he shares how unresolved grief, addiction, and shame kept him stuck in cycles of self-sabotage until he finally surrendered to healing. Through deep introspection, faith, and community, Eli found purpose and learned to love himself again. 

Psychiatrist Dr. John Tumeh also joins this episode to shed light on the connection between mental illness, addiction, and homelessness—and why empathy is essential for recovery.

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Matt’s story is one of radical honesty, resilience, and redemption. In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, Matt shares how decades of hiding behind masks—of perfection, performance, and people-pleasing—gave way to a life built on truth and recovery. 

Growing up in a small Georgia town where being himself didn’t feel like an option, Matt spent years masking his identity and numbing his pain through addiction. It wasn’t until he heard himself say the words, “I am an addict,” that his transformation began. 

Through vulnerability, community, and faith, Matt found not only sobriety but the freedom to live fully as himself. Today, he works on staff at Atlanta Mission, helping others walk the same path he once feared to begin. 

This episode is both deeply personal and profoundly hopeful. Matt is not just a guest—he’s his own subject matter expert on healing, identity, and what it means to finally feel seen. 

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Sherri came to Georgia looking for a new beginning—but instead, she found herself homeless, alone, and in the depths of addiction. She never imagined how much one decision, one shelter bed, and one advocate could change everything. 

In Part 2 of her story, Sherri opens up about the hard road to recovery, the moment she finally felt seen, and how she started to love the woman she’s becoming. 

Plus, hear from Dr. Carla Garvin on the role trauma-informed care plays in stories like Sherri’s. 

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What happens when survival means making the hardest decision a mother can face? 

In this emotional first part of Sherri’s story, she opens up about her journey through childhood trauma, domestic violence, addiction, and the moment she chose to give custody of her children to her parents – not out of abandonment, but out of love. 

Sherri shares the harrowing reality of abuse, including a near-death assault that changed her life forever. Her story shines a light on the deep connection between trauma and homelessness, and how cycles of violence and addiction can leave even the strongest among us in crisis. 

This episode is raw, powerful, and essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the hidden struggles behind homelessness, and the strength it takes to survive them. 

Part Two of Sherri’s story – her journey toward healing and hope – drops May 28. 

Content Warning: This episode contains descriptions of domestic violence, assault, abuse, and addiction. Listener discretion is advised.

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