Newsletter | November 26, 2025
In this week’s Voices:
- Five Atlantans on environmental justice, community work, and resilience
- Does your neighborhood flood? Tell us your story.
- The storyteller who redefined the Wren’s Nest
- Donate today to double your impact
- Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Canopy Atlanta!
Send your feedback about this newsletter to hello@canopyatlanta.org.
Photos by Claudia Maturell
Flooding in Atlanta is caused by more than just rainfall: It’s the result of decades of development decisions, infrastructure neglect, and investment patterns that have left some neighborhoods more vulnerable than others.
To kick off the When the Creeks Rise project, we spoke with five community educators, grassroots organizers, and environmental scientists about how we manage—or fail to manage—our stormwater, and how Atlanta must adapt as our city grows and our climate shifts.
“We have disturbed the natural harmony of water doing what it does best.”
—Yomi Noibi, Consultant for Environmental Community Action
“At a grassroots level, we’re the ones who can fix our problems if we’re given the opportunity and the resources.”
—Annie “Carla” Moore, Leader of Green Team of English Avenue
“It’s the boots on the ground. That’s really the power that we need.”
—Darryl Haddock, Special Projects Director for the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance
Flooding isn’t just water in your basement or a river running down your street. It can be blocked drains or water-filled spots in your neighborhood park.
If you have ever experienced any flooding, we’d love to hear from you. Please take five minutes to fill out this form and help us create a comprehensive record of how, where, and why Atlanta floods.
Voter turnout is often lower in municipal elections compared to state and federal elections. However, a higher percentage of voters cast ballots around metro Atlanta in 2025 compared to those cast in municipal elections in 2021, based on data Canopy Atlanta reviewed.
In Clarkston, College Park, and East Point, the percentage of ballots cast compared to the number of registered voters nearly doubled in most of the races. Clarkston went from 10 percent to 19 percent, while East Point increased from 17 percent to 30 percent. None of the races we examined had more than a 35 percent turnout.
Many of the municipalities we looked at saw a decrease in total registered voters in 2025 compared to 2021.
Want to work with Canopy Atlanta on our latest project? Join us for a workshop to learn more about how YOU can get involved in our community journalism.
📅 Thursday, Dec. 4, 6 to 8 p.m.
📍 CreateATL: 900 Murphy Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
We'll start the evening with refreshments and conversation. Then we'll provide an overview of various Canopy Atlanta programs and projects, including When the Creeks Rise, Documenters, Community Notebook, community listening, and more.
You'll leave the workshop with the tools and information you need to become a part of Canopy Atlanta.
By Brent Brewer, West End Fellow and Canopy Atlanta Board Member
Generations of Atlantans grew up hearing stories interpreted by Akbar Imhotep, the legendary storyteller and puppeteer at the Wren’s Nest. His repertoire included legends of Brer Rabbit, African tales, and stories pulled from traditions that had nothing at all to do with the Wren’s Nest but everything to do with a living, breathing South.
On Nov. 23, the Wren’s Nest and the Kuumba Storytellers of Georgia welcomed friends, neighbors, and artists to gather on the lawn and honor the life of Akbar. The event included a tree dedication, storytelling by Kuumba members, music from Kebbi Williams, and reflections from those who knew Akbar personally.
As longtime board member Jim Auchmutey shared at the event, the history of the Wren’s Nest changed the moment Akbar arrived in 1985. His voice, his presence, and his storytelling transformed the museum’s mission and connected it more deeply to the West End community.
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