Canopy Atlanta asked over 140 community members in East Point, College Park, and Hapeville about the journalism they needed.
Canopy Atlanta also trains and pays community members, our Fellows, to learn reporting skills to better serve their community. LeJoi Lane, the person interviewed for this video, is a Canopy Atlanta Fellow.
“Growing up, my mom was very much the type to be like, we’re gonna go explore,” says Tri-Cities Fellow LeJoi Lane. By traveling to different places to shop for groceries and discovering new food in the process, her mother instilled a sense of curiosity in her at a very young age. To this day, LeJoi enjoys cooking and experimenting in the kitchen.
LeJoi brings that passion for food into her journalism. In her reporting for the Tri-Cities Issue, she writes about food access and the struggle to bring grocery stores to Tri-Cities, chronicles her weekly grocery shopping, and shares her vision for food in her community.
LeJoi’s reporting responds to residents’ concerns—including her own—that fresh food isn’t as readily accessible as it should be. As she looks back at her reporting, though, she’s come to appreciate what she calls “smaller systems that reflect everyday needs and everyday resources.” A highlight from her time spent reporting was buying grapes from Champion Gardeners Youth Entrepreneurs at the East Point Farmers Market.
“Everything we want to fix in the world starts with us getting back to the value of the human connection. And that’s what community is. That is the power of community,” she says.
Watch her talk about her reporting in the video below and explore the Tri-Cities Issue here.
Editor: Christina Lee
Canopy Atlanta Reader: Mariann Martin
I hope this story leaves you inspired by the power of community-focused journalism. Here at Canopy Atlanta, we're driven by a unique mission: to uncover and amplify the voices and stories that often go unheard in traditional newsrooms.
Our nonprofit model allows us to prioritize meaningful journalism that truly serves the needs of our community. We're dedicated to providing you with insightful, thought-provoking stories that shed light on the issues and stories that matter most to neighborhoods across Atlanta.
By supporting our newsroom, you're not just supporting journalism – you're investing in Atlanta. Small and large donations enable us to continue our vital work of uncovering stories in underrepresented communities, stories that deserve to be told and heard.
From Bankhead to South DeKalb to Norcross, I believe in the power of our journalism and the impact it can have on our city.
If you can, please consider supporting us with a small gift today. Your support is vital to continuing our mission.
Floyd Hall, co-founder
