Hello World,

I’m proud to say the 2025 edition of Atlanta magazine’s Atlanta 500 is on newsstands now!!!

What is the Atlanta 500 you ask?

“The Atlanta 500 recognizes the 500 most influential business and civic leaders in Atlanta. The list also includes dozens of leaders whom the magazine has deemed as ‘Legends.’ The Atlanta 500 recognizes the most influential Atlantans—including not only corporate CEOs, but also leading entrepreneurs, educators, researchers, artists, and those leading nonprofits and shaping public policy.”

As the A is my hometown, it continues to be a privilege to edit a book comprised of the best and brightest of the A! And if you aspire to be a leader here, you should definitely get a copy! If you are in Atlanta, please get your copy of Atlanta 500 wherever you would normally buy your copies of Atlanta magazine. I got my copy from the newsstand at a Sprouts grocery store. Click HERE to see a list of all of the locations that carry this publication! Also, HERE is a link for the online 2025 issue of the Atlanta 500. And below is an excerpt of my editorial letter:

The power of Atlanta is that it influences everything

Atlanta’s power never ceases to amaze me. As a pop culture PhD, my latest Atlanta’s power amazement is Atlanta’s mention in California rapper Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 banger “Not Like Us,” which is a diss track for the ages against Canadian rapper Drake. How did Atlanta get involved in rap beef between two rappers not from here, you might be asking. That’s the allure of Atlanta’s power, is my answer (or in other words), Atlanta Influences Everything, which is among the latest catch phrases that attempts to encapsulate all that is Atlanta.

According to Kendrick Lamar, Atlanta is the place where you “run to” when you need a “few dollars.” He highlighted when Atlanta was called Terminus and how the railroad lines that ended in our city in 1837 brought wealth to our state’s metropolis and how Atlanta is still wealthy today, albeit for different reasons. And that is true: captains of industry continue to be captivated by our city—we are the capital of the Hollywood of the South, Southern Hip Hop as a staple was created here, the FIFA World Cup is coming here, and the Super Bowl continues to come here. I’ve always loved one of New York City’s catch phrases: If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. But I would like to submit this catch phrase for Atlanta: If you can’t make it anywhere, you can make it here.

To read the rest, click HERE.

Any thoughts?

The post ‘Atlanta’ magazine’s 2025 Issue of ‘Atlanta 500′ is on Newsstands NOW!!! appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Hello World,

Last year, I shared that I had been working on “a ginormous freelance project that took all of my extra attention outside of my job, family life, and other regular responsibilities.” And the reason why is because I was the 2023 guest editor of Atlanta magazine’s Atlanta 500!!!

Well, chile, God blessed me with that accolade AGAIN! I’m the 2024 guest editor of Atlanta magazine’s Atlanta 500!!! This year, I received a promotion of sorts as I was named the editor of the publication although it is still a freelance position…Everything I shared last year is still true so I will share it again…

What is the Atlanta 500 you ask?

“The Atlanta 500 recognizes the 500 most influential business and civic leaders in Atlanta. The list also includes dozens of leaders whom the magazine has deemed as ‘Legends.’ The Atlanta 500 recognizes the most influential Atlantans—including not only corporate CEOs, but also leading entrepreneurs, educators, researchers, artists, and those leading nonprofits and shaping public policy.”

I was proud and excited to take on this ginormous freelance project for a few reasons:

1. Atlanta magazine is the premier magazine of my city. As a magazine journalism bachelor’s degree recipient from the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication of the University of Georgia, it is a no brainer.
2. As the A is my hometown, it was a privilege to edit a book comprised of the best and brightest of the A for 2024! (And if you aspire to be a leader here, I think you should definitely get a copy!)
3. While I love being a new mother, it is also important for me to continue nourishing and flourishing in my communications career so it was a test of whether I would be able to balance all of my responsibilities as they are now. If I didn’t know before, I truly know now that prayer works! And my village (those who help me and my handsome hubby take care of our twins) is a Godsend…Chile…I already knew that working mothers are akin to superheroes and now I’m finding out why…

So if you are in Atlanta, please get your own copy of Atlanta 500 wherever you would normally buy your copies of Atlanta magazine. I got my copy from the newsstand at Sprouts grocery store. Or if you want to save time and not search around at various stores, just get your copy HERE for $5.95 plus shipping. Also, the link for the 2024 issue of the Atlanta 500 will be live in the near future, but in the meantime, please check out Atlanta magazine and previous issues of Atlanta 500 HERE.

So with that, I say, “Peace Up! A-Town Down Shawty.”

Any thoughts?

The post I’m the Guest Editor for ‘Atlanta’ magazine’s 2024 issue of ‘Atlanta 500’!!! On Newsstands NOW!!! appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Hello World,

Atlanta’s elite, Dr. Stacii Jae and Will Packer fans gathered at Silverspot Cinema in Atlanta to celebrate the premiere of OWN’S “Put A Ring On It” on Thursday, March 16.  OWN premiered Season 4 of its successful relationship series Put A Ring On It on Friday, March 17th at 9PM EST/8PM CST, also available on the OWN app and discovery+.

About Put A Ring On It:

At the center of the emotionally-charged series are three couples embarking on the ultimate ‘do or die’ relationship test to determine whether they should ring wedding bells … or call it quits. Throughout the impassioned months-long experience, the Atlanta area couples will be guided by Relationship Coach Dr. Stacii Jae Johnson, who has been helping couples discover their truths and healthy romantic relationships for over 10 years. Each week, the couples are pushed, stretched, and tested to confront the one question they’ve been too afraid to ask: are they really ready for their ‘happily ever after?’ The couples go on a series of dates with other people to test the waters, and perhaps discover if there might be a better love connection out there that they’ve been missing all along. Their goal: to decide whether it’s time to go their separate ways, or make the big leap and ‘put a ring on it?’

See the trailer below followed by a few snaps (Photo Credit: Chris Mitchell) from the premiere below…

Will you be watching?

Any thoughts?

The post Will Packer & Stacii Jae Johnson Screen OWN’s ‘Put A Ring On It’ in Atlanta…(PHOTOS) appeared first on After the Altar Call.