OutKast, Usher, and André 3000 have shaped the music industry, making Atlanta the birthplace of hip hop.
The city has become the epicenter of the film industry, hosting fan favorites like Stranger Things, The Walking Dead, The Hunger Games, and nearly every Marvel superhero.
Since the torch was lit up in 1996 for the Olympic Games, Atlanta has stood as the sport mecca of the Southeast. That "Celebration of the Century" fueled Atlanta's dreams and made it a consequence of its own hospitality, hosting multinational organizations from The Home Depot to Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines to Mercedes-Benz USA, providing jobs not just for the city but for the world.
Atlanta, since the '90s, has always been forward-looking.
It couldn't have been any other way. Just as in 1963, Dr. King made the national speech, 30 years later, his words echoed in the city of his birth. As Atlanta opened its doors to the world, Dr. King's speech inspired us to “Reach Higher”.
Now, fast forward to last week, the annual MLK Sunday Supper hosted by Hands on Atlanta, gave Inclusivv the opportunity to create a conversation that would explore how we fuel the fire within to build the beloved community.
Nonprofit, civic, and social leaders in Atlanta, came together to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore how the status quo impacts their lives (for better or worse). We named it "Challenging the Status Quo '' because, hey, why not make it bold?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was no fan of sitting on the sidelines. In his book “Where Do We Go From Here?”, he warns against the peril of complacency. He mentions that “our survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.” The actions we take now will define us for many centuries.
And Inclusivv and Hands On Atlanta are no strangers to getting more people to come alive, with a fire in their hearts. (It all started with a dream – and we’re still doing the work together seven years later!)
So, we brought hundreds of people who call Atlanta home together to have dinner and honest conversation. These were discussions that demanded vulnerability and reflection, pushing boundaries to envision a more just and equitable future for Atlanta. The conversations went there, asking us: What lights up? What injustices make us angry? And how can we build a more equitable community for all?
During the event, Jay Bailey delivered a powerful speech, emphasizing the need to plant seeds that will grow into the trees future generations will use as shade. His call to action lit a fire within everyone…because while “Atlanta influences everything”, it still has neighborhoods with 0% literacy rates. It still has the highest income inequality than any other city in the United States. It still is one of the most stressed cities in the country.
Atlanta has to do better.
But, Atlanta will always show up.
Cheryl Preheim, Atlanta’s favorite news anchor from 11Alive, Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, founder of The Village Market, Bem Joiner, co-founder of Atlanta Influences Everything, Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta and Jay Bailey, President and CEO at H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, all came to supper because of their commitment to serving Atlanta and challenging individuals to do more.
As a city with a rich history, we must come together, engage in difficult conversations, and address systemic issues that persist. Leaders in Atlanta can lead the way by:
As we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., let us remember that meaningful conversations and intentional actions are the building blocks of positive change. Together, we can challenge the status quo, be good troublemakers (shoutout to John Lewis!), and create a more just and inclusive future for all.
To our Atlanta folks and beyond, we invite you to host your own Challenging the Status Quo conversation. What we need is more people who have come alive, with a fire in their hearts. We don’t have enough people with fires lit, and as a result, we’re not seeing enough progress across the issues that matter. And the silence around critical issues simply supports the status quo.
It’s going to take a little courage, a little humility, and an openness to listen and learn from each other. But the only way to ensure this moment turns into a movement is to remain engaged and thoughtful about the policies and practices that need to change to reach real equity.
And for those in leadership positions within organizations who are looking for guidance on how to lead these courageous conversations within your workplace or within your community, we’d love to hear from you. We have years of experience in launching community conversations and our content library has over 50+ topics ranging from unconscious bias, to psychological safety, inclusive culture and more. Send us an email at hello@inclusivv.co to learn more or book time with us here.