Newsletter | December 17, 2025
In this week’s Voices:
- Our staff shares their favorite Canopy Atlanta story of the year
- Plus, Coffee with Canopy this Thursday on the Westside
- Help us reach our $30,000 fundraising goal by the end of the month
- Thank you for a great 2025 and Happy Holidays!
Send your feedback about this newsletter to hello@canopyatlanta.org.
We asked our team to share their favorite story we published in 2025. From music to TADs to historical houses, the list captures a beautiful snapshot of communities in Atlanta, all told by residents who know their own stories best.
Your Momma and Your Cousin, Too
“A couple of years ago on Headland and Delowe—Was the start of something good”
This was a moment. Veteran Photojournalist Rita Harper’s stunning images were paired with Tri-Cities Fellow Immanuel Laidlaw’s words about an iconic intersection and the lasting impact of OutKast and the rest of the Dungeon Family, as told by their East Point friends and neighbors—because, who better to tell it?
—Kamille
Healing the land
The site of the Chattahoochee Brick Company has a history of extraction and exploitation, but community members envision its future as a place to listen and heal.
The documentary "Healing the Land" is a moving look at a place that has a history of extraction and exploitation, but where community members are envisioning it as a place to listen and heal. As we brainstormed how to tell this story from a different angle, Genia Billingsley spoke about the land—the physical space—and what we can all learn from the land. The result of that conversation is this deeply personal film, told by community members who know the land they live on best.
—Mariann
“We’ll see if that money ever makes it this far down the block.”
A lifelong Grove Park resident shares her perspective on the impact of TADs in her community.
My favorite story of the year was “We’ll see if that money makes it this far down the block,” a piece about tax allocation districts in Atlanta. What made it stand out wasn’t a breakdown of financing mechanisms or economic projections—it was that the author was a community member, and the story centered community voice and sentiment rather than numbers and stats.
As a fellow community member of Grove Park, reading it felt deeply nostalgic. Not because the subject was new, but because the perspective was familiar. I’ve heard this point of view many times before. I heard it when the Olympics came to Atlanta. I heard it again when Mercedes-Benz Stadium was built. Each time, there were promises of investment and opportunity, and each time, neighbors wondered—sometimes quietly, sometimes out loud—whether the benefits would actually reach their block.
The story captured that hard-won awareness in a way that data alone never could. It reminded me that for many communities, development isn’t experienced through spreadsheets or press releases, but through memory, repetition, and lived history.
—Genia
“It looks like some of this old beauty’s got to go.”
After years as a gathering spot for music and community, Gallery 992 will close this weekend.
On Sunday, May 18, just after 1 a.m., I sat inside Gallery 992, knowing I had a 5 a.m. wake-up call, listening as the saxophone moved through a packed room where performers and listeners shared the same floor and the same moment, . People lingered, reluctant to leave a space that had long functioned as a cultural and spiritual commons, where live music was freely accessible to the community. It was the Gallery's last night. Months later, amid layoffs and economic uncertainty, the weight of that night became clear: places like this are rare, and their absence is felt the deepest when communities need grounding most.
—Brent
What does it mean to “get to where we want to be?”
The real vision for Atlanta’s neighborhoods might not be about comparison at all. It might be about wholeness—each community growing into its own version of what thriving looks like, without losing the essence of who they are.
I could never choose just one favorite story, but I will say that Ms. Genia’s recent piece is such an amazing snapshot that captures the essence of so much of Canopy Atlanta’s work. Each neighborhood that Canopy Atlanta has been fortunate to work with has such a unique narrative and identity, and ultimately, hopefully, its own vision for what thriving looks like going forward.—Floyd
Built for legacy
Collier Heights was designed by and for Black people, with the architectural design of every house telling a story. From American Small Houses, to ranch-style, to mid-century, each home focuses on the symbolic power of the neighborhood.
I loved the creativity behind this piece: blending beautiful art, photography, maps, written words, and spoken audio to tell the origin story of the Collier Heights community as seen through its unique architecture. Reading this taught me something entirely new about what the neighborhood of Collier Heights means to residents today and how its history was the beautiful story of building, victory, and well-deserved pride in what it means to have a home—both figuratively and literally.
—Ada
Seeking Shelter
To get an emergency bed in Atlanta, people must cross the city, wait in lines, and meet varying rules. Even then, they may not find help.
This summer, I worked with journalist Stephannie Stokes and designer Sarah Lawrence on "Seeking Shelter," a deeply empathetic storytelling interactive based on more than a decade of housing reporting. Comprising some two dozen illustrated scenes and custom animations, the piece explores how barriers like limited space, inconsistent rules, and long waitlists make it difficult for people in crisis to find emergency shelter in Atlanta. It was grounded in real organizations, policies, circumstances, and lived experiences: The quotes featured throughout the interactive were directly pulled from conversations with advocates, shelter operators, and individuals who have personally navigated Atlanta's shelter system.
—Heather
Want to catch up on the work Canopy Atlanta is doing and share what is happening in your neighborhood? Come out for a free cup of coffee this week.
Canopy Atlanta is popping up in coffee shops around Atlanta. We’ll share our location every week in the newsletter and on social media.
📅 Thursday, Dec. 18, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
📍 The Ke'nekt Cooperative: 1492 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30310
As 2025 wraps up, this will be the last edition of the Voices newsletter for the year. We will be taking a 2-week break to rest, spend time with our friends and families, and plan for 2026. Happy holidays from all of us!
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