This historic Southwest Atlanta neighborhood is in the midst of evolution: a major redevelopment stuck in limbo, hustlin’ “water boys” at odds with some neighbors, and a thriving arts scene at risk from the pandemic—making it the perfect destination for our first Community Issue.

Just southeast of Atlanta, Forest Park yearns for connections, yet is caught between squabbling leaders, its past, and disenfranchised residents. We uplift solutions to food insecurity, untangle complexities of policing in immigrant communities, and more in the Clayton County city.

We probe the factors behind gentrification, explore a rich hip-hop legacy, and search for a missing police officer with a neighborhood in the midst of transformation: the Bankhead/Grove Park community in Northwest Atlanta.

This sleepy “bedroom” community harbors hidden gems and challenges that are rousing residents, from housing affordability to the nearby “Cop City” development.

This community, just south of downtown, is debating how to best honor its historic landmarks and serve its residents going forward. We explore the legacy that its General Motors plant left behind, the neighborhood’s mysterious reputation as a “Holistic Health Oasis,” and what’s in store for the vacant Lakewood Elementary building.

Residents of one of Gwinnett County’s most diverse communities describe the area as  a “tale of two cities.” The communal belonging described by homeowners from downtown historic Norcross contrasts sharply with the fear, struggle to pay rent, and challenging living conditions described by residents of color in unincorporated Norcross.