fbpx
logo
mobile-logo
HomeSouth DeKalbBehind the South DeKalb Issue

Behind the South DeKalb Issue

Canopy Atlanta partners with Atlantans to choose, report, and present journalism responding to community needs, helping residents tell stories about the issues that matter most to them.

 

Canopy Atlanta is paying and training South DeKalb community members—our Fellows—to learn journalism skills over a six-week program. They will work with other journalists to report and write the stories in this issue.  Those Fellows will use their new skills to continue working on behalf of their communities.

To choose the stories in this issue, Canopy connected with South DeKalb community members and convened a South DeKalb Community Editorial Board to help guide story angles.

 

Canopy Atlanta is transforming how Atlanta’s journalism is produced by partnering with residents to provide information and tell stories about their community. Join us in making sure every Atlantan can access the information they need by supporting our work today.

Meet our South DeKalb Issue team:

Our four South DeKalb Fellows, who applied for the program in the summer of 2022, will partner with established local journalists to produce the South DeKalb Issue. Canopy Atlanta provided instruction and mentorship in reporting skills through a six-week paid training program.

Amiri Banks
Amiri Banks is an ATL native with three generations of roots reaching across the entire metro area, especially on the especially in West End and East Atlanta/Decatur. Amiri is also an Afrofuturist, feminist, and writer with a passion for liberation in all forms. He has a deep love for nature, truth-telling, and action.
About me
Iris Brooks
Iris Brooks graduated from FAMU in 1989 with a BS degree in print journalism and worked as a staff writer with the school newspaper and later The Atlanta Voice. Here, she developed a deep appreciation for the importance and necessity of telling the story of a community from the perspective of the community. The importance of Black control of the economics of the Black community was particularly important to her.
About me
Dominique Harris
Dominique Harris is an aspiring journalist and community activist with a personal philosophy that promotes community development and community succession. In hopes of a becoming a more vocal and impactful member of society, Dominique plans to strengthen his journalism skills so that his impact will reflect his community and its many layers of language and culture.
About me
Michael Rouse
Michael Rouse joins the South DeKalb Fellowship team as a community food ambassador. He is also writing for CA as an Atlanta Documenter. A coastal North Carolina native, Mike has called Atlanta home for the past 23 years. During this time he's lived in Grant Park, East Atlanta Village, Reynoldstown, Oakhurst, Buckhead, and DeKalb County. After attending Virginia Wesleyan University, Mike nourished his spirit by serving two terms in AmeriCorps. It was there that he learned what true grassroots work looks and feels like.
About me

Workshop Facilitators and Mentors: TBD

Our South DeKalb Community Editorial Board, who applied for the roles in the summer of 2022, will help us refine the story angles in the issue based on feedback collected from South DeKalb community members.

Ronnie B
About Me
Amiri Banks
Amiri Banks is an ATL native with three generations of roots reaching across the entire metro area, especially on the West End and in East Atlanta/Decatur. Amiri is also an Afrofuturist, feminist, and writer with a passion for liberation in all forms. He has a deep love for nature, truth-telling, and action.
About Me
Jamye Barnes
Jamye Barnes has a true passion for people, places and pretty things, with a God-given talent for pairing great people with great style. Twenty years in the creative arts industry has afforded Jame the opportunity to work as an Interior Designer and Visual Merchandiser for some of the leading furniture showrooms and retailers. Jamye's standout accomplishments include an arts degree in merchandising, various roles in interior design, and life and motivation coach.
About Me
Gerald Clay
About Me
Emmanuel Freeman
Emmanuel Freeman is a long term South DeKalb resident. He is a proud Georgia State alumni with a degree in accounting. Freeman previously worked for several state and local agencies. He is retired and enjoys exercising, walking and spending time at Exchange Park.
About Me
Scapegoat Jones
About Me
Shana Laster
Shana Laster has been a proud resident of South Dekalb for nearly 20 years. Originally from Montgomery, Alabama, Shana moved to Georgia to attend Spelman College and has since made South Dekalb her home. She has leveraged her professional background as an attorney to help other attorneys and career professionals find meaningful work that suits their desired lifestyle. She enjoys reading, cooking, forming meaningful relationships, and the theater arts.
About Me
Alonzo Mahone
About Me
Toni Parker
About Me
Tyree Rush
About Me

Experienced local journalists, photographers, and illustrators will contribute to our South DeKalb Issue, working on stories based on the community’s feedback or in collaboration with South DeKalb Fellows.

Help us bring community-powered journalism to more neighborhoods across metro Atlanta. Support our work today.

Read the South DeKalb Issue
en English
ar العربيةzh-CN 简体中文nl Nederlandsen Englishfr Françaisde Deutschid Bahasa Indonesiaga Gaeilgeit Italianoja 日本語ko 한국어mn Монголfa فارسیpt Portuguêsru Русскийsr Српски језикso Afsoomaalies Españolsv Svenskatr Türkçeuk Українськаvi Tiếng Việt