Arts and advocacy Tuesday
May 20 — Hello, Silver Streak readers!
This week we have news on community advocacy and the arts around Metro Atlanta.
GLAAD Down South recently brought storytellers together to celebrate the voices of LGBTIQ+ Southerners and people living with HIV. Katie Burkholder has more on this event and its partnership with GILEAD Sciences below.
➼ We also have a story on the environmental work of advocate Steve Peters, who was recently honored by the City of Brookhaven for his service and dedication. Peters has been an instrumental force in a variety of community-building initiatives with Murphey Candler Park.
And, the Atlanta Opera has announced their final performance for the 2024-2025 season. Opening on June 7, Handel’s eponymous ‘Semele’ – billed as a combination of “modern mythology and theatrical invention” – explores an affair between mortal Semele and the god Jupiter. See below for more details and ticket information.
But first a few headlines:
🔌 Georgia Power has offered to freeze base rates for customers for three years, but bills could still increase due to storm recovery costs and other specialty increases.
💉 A fourth measles case has surfaced in Georgia in an unvaccinated person, the state Department of Public Health said Monday.
💰 The Atlanta Regional Commission awarded $1 million in Livable Centers Initiative grants, including projects in Tucker and Avondale Estates.
🌳 Brookhaven City Council members passed resolutions to continue improving the safety of the Ashford Park neighborhood’s paths and roads.
🎆 Work is underway on the immersive “shared reality” Cosm entertainment venue at Centennial Yards in Downtown Atlanta.
🍿 “Star Wars: A New Hope” and “The Sound of Music” will be the first two films in this summer’s Coca-Cola Film Series at The Fox Theatre.
🕓 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter.
• GLAAD Down South
• Community builder Steve Peters
• Atlanta Opera + Handel’s ‘Semele’
AND
• Stories of Atlanta | Lance Russell
Enjoy!
GLAAD Down South brings Black LGBTQ+ storytellers together
🏳️🌈 On May 16, Black queer Atlantans gathered at MODEx Studio for GLAAD Down South, an event celebrating LGBTQ+ Southerners, storytellers, and people living with HIV.
The event, produced in partnership with GILEAD Sciences, was designed to amplify GLAAD’s mission of amplifying LGBTQ+ and HIV narratives across the South as effective strategies in the fight against HIV and anti-LGBTQ+ attacks.
“We listen to trans women, queer youth,Latinx leaders,faith-based advocates, because they’ve always known what true care looks like, and we’re here to follow their lead,” Marcus Wilson, the Director of GILEAD Sciences, said. “So, as we connect tonight, let this gathering be a reminder that the South is not a problem to be solved, it’s a power to be respected. Our stories are not side notes, they are strategy.”
📖 Read more from Katie Burkholder here.
Teach your old fur new tricks!
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Brookhaven City Council applauds Steve Peters’ community service
🤝 Steve Peters, a volunteer, advocate, and community builder, was honored by the City of Brookhaven for his dedication to the environment.
“Thank you to Steve Peters, who’s very quietly served this community, both through his organizational skills and hard physical labor,” Mayor John Park said at the May 13 Brookhaven City Council meeting. “You literally have sweat equity in the city, Steve, and it has not gone unnoticed.”
In 2015, Peters joined the Friends of Murphey Candler Park, which eventually became Murphey Candler Park Conservancy. He brought in Trees Atlanta and the National Wildlife Federation to teach Brookhaven residents how to identify invasive species. He was also involved in saving the Murphey Candler Park pool in the late 90s.
🌳 Read more about Peters’ community efforts here.
Atlanta Opera to close season with Handel’s ‘Semele’
🎼 The Atlanta Opera announced that it is closing out its 2024-2025 season with a visually stunning new production of George Frideric Handel’s “Semele.” It is slated to debut at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on June 7, with additional shows taking place June 10, 13, and 15.
Created by Handel in the 1700s, “Semele” is a three-part musical drama that tells the story of the titular character Semele, a mortal woman who engages in an affair with the god Jupiter.
Directed and produced by The Atlanta Opera’s Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. and Tomer Zvulun (artistic director), the Baroque-era show is said to be a mix of “modern mythology and theatrical invention,” according to the opera company.
🎟️ For more information and to order tickets visit here.
‘A Cure for Chaos’: Stories of Atlanta by Lance Russell
VIA SAPORTAREPORT
🏛️ The town of Atlanta designated its first commissioners in 1845. The five-man governing body was comprised of stalwart citizens, none of whom had any previous experience in government affairs. They did their best to bring order to the young railroad town, but by all accounts their efforts fell on deaf ears. There was little interest on the part of the community about paying taxes, or for that matter, following the rule of law.
The main source of income for Atlantans was provided by the railroad companies. Building Atlanta’s railroad lines was a labor-intensive endeavor carried out by men, many of whom were Irish immigrants separated from their families. It’s not surprising that where there were hard-working men with money, you would find drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Atlanta certainly fit that description. However, as word began to spread about the opportunities to be had in Atlanta, an influx of entrepreneurial-minded citizens was beginning to change the face of the community.
🥃 Find out more on this week’s Stories of Atlanta.
Explore more of our newsletters
💡 Did you know Silver Streak has other newsletters that go deeper into what’s happening across metro Atlanta?
➡ Stacks: Our newest newsletter covering Atlanta’s literary scene, author profiles, book reviews, and more comes out the second Sunday of each month.
➡ Sketchbook: All about Atlanta’s art scene. Artist profiles, art openings, museum events. Wednesdays.
➡ Side Dish: News about the food scene. Beyond just openings and closings, Side Dish includes recipes and a regular feature on pop-ups. Thursdays.
➡ Scene: The only newsletter focused on the movie world. Reviews, interviews, podcasts. Fridays.
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🖋️ Today’s Silver Streak was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
