This is a weekly feature called Community Notebook, filled with snippets of information, conversations, and reporting about the communities where we work. Canopy Atlanta Fellows and other community residents may contribute to this weekly reporting. The Community Notebook is featured in our newsletter Voices — sign up to find this in your inbox every week.
To proclaim or not to proclaim
By Adrian Coleman, West End Fellow and Research Consultant
Atlanta City Council proclamations are a source of community frustration and Council debate.
In June 2023, Committee on Council introduced ordinance 23-O-1248 recommending proclamations be removed from the standard Council agenda. The ordinance, which was never passed, stated, “While it is vital to continue to allow the Council to have the opportunity to recognize and honor certain individuals, changing the timing guidelines on when proclamations are conducted would be beneficial to the public and the Council.”
A recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution story reported that the time given to proclamations can take up to three hours.
“A way to connect us”
By Angelina Uddullah, Innovation Lab Fellow
When many people think of Vietnamese food, pho often comes to mind. However, Vietnamese cuisine is as diverse as its geography and history, offering a wide range of flavors and textures. One standout dish is Bún Bò Huế, a beloved noodle soup from the central region of Vietnam. Unlike pho, Bún Bò Huế features thicker, udon-like rice noodles, creating a heartier bite.
Originating from Huế, the former imperial capital of Vietnam, the dish is aromatic, spicy, and savory and typically served with sliced beef, chả lụa (pork sausage), and sometimes tender pork knuckles.
It’s a special dish, so whenever someone makes it, they usually invite a lot of people over. These foods serve as a way to connect us together.
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