Entrepreneur, financial expert, and women’s leadership advocate Dr. Sonia Lewis is broadening her influence beyond the business world through a recently announced alliance with epiMediaGroup, one of the elite public relations and marketing firms in all of Atlanta. Dr. Sonia is the founder and CEO of Student Loan Doctor LLC, an award-winning consulting company that specializes in student loan debt repayment initiatives. Affectionately known as “The Student Loan Doctor”, she uses this platform to help individuals navigate the student loan debt process and achieve financial freedom. Dr. Sonia’s

Youth Villages of Georgia is pleased to announce Creekside High School teacher Timothy Richmond as its Mentor of the Year. The honor was presented at Youth Villages’ Mentor & Volunteer Dinner held at Copeland’s of New Orleans on Cobb Parkway. Richmond, an AP African American studies and U.S. history teacher who was named Creekside’s Teacher of the Year, has been a part of Youth Villages’ Chris Crye Mentoring Program since he was a student at Atlanta’s Emory University. Joining the program in 2019, Richmond has mentored eight young people ranging

By April Ryan, Black Press USA Reality TV show star Dr. Heavenly Kimes’s political programming has changed. She has now filed to run for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District seat instead of running for election in the Georgia State legislature. Realizing her platform is much larger, Kimes wants to replace Black Democratic Congressman David Scott, who faces age criticism like former President Joe Biden. The dentist and reality show star of Bravo’s Married to Medicine joins a growing list of contenders for Scott’s seat, which he has held since

Celebrated Chef Gerry (G.) Garvin, an Atlanta native, has been tapped to lead the lineup of culinary experiences at the ATL's State Farm Arena. The Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena recently announced new culinary optiones at the famed sports and entertainment venue designed to elevate the fan experience. Crafted under the leadership of Chef G. Garvin, the organization’s Chief Culinary Officer, in partnership with Levy, the arena’s award-winning hospitality partner, the refreshed menu blends the best of Southern tradition with the vibrant, diverse flavors that define Atlanta’s

Everton Blair is a Georgia native, educator, and community leader running to represent Georgia’s 13th Congressional District. He has dedicated his career to expanding opportunity, ensuring fair representation, and delivering results for working families. Blair, class of Harvard 2013, Stanford 2016 and Harvard Grad School 2025, is  the first person of color, and the fiirst openly gay person elected to the Gwinettt County Board of Education. He is also the youngest-ever member of that auspicious body, where he served as county chairman and board representative. As Georgia's Democratic

New Leaders, a national nonprofit advancing educational excellence by preparing and supporting transformational educators, recently announced the appointment of Dr. Lisa Herring as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Herring brings more than 25 years of experience leading at every level of the education system, from classroom teacher to district superintendent to president of a national innovation hub. As Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, she led systemwide initiatives to accelerate learning recovery, expand college and career pathways, and deepen employer collaborations. Under her leadership, the district achieved the highest graduation rate in its

InCommunity has announced Brenda Gates as the 2025 Direct Support Professional (DSP) of the Year, recognizing her dedication, compassion, and commitment to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Gates journey in caregiving began in 1986 when she worked as a housekeeper in a nursing home. Inspired by her natural ability to connect with and care for others, she earned Certified Nursing Assistant certification and transitioned into hands-on support roles. By 1988, she was working in private homes, beginning what would become a nearly four-decade career serving vulnerable

John Hope Bryant's vision of creating a whole new approach to community uplift, rooted in economic empowerment, combating financial illiteracy, restoring dignity, offering redemption, and addressing the critical issues facing corporations and financial institutions today, has driven his world-renowned organization Operation HOPE since its inception. His life work has been to help realize equity of opportunity for all; to equip people in underserved communities with the financial tools and training needed to take ownership of their lives and create a secure financial future. John’s entrepreneurial journey began with the