Atlanta Beltline’s Third Quarterly Briefing: A Night of Community, Culture, and Empowerment

Last Wednesday, the Atlanta Beltline brought the city together for an unforgettable evening, starting with a buzzing vendor market that connected up and coming entrepreneurs with resources for funding, programming, and support, all aimed at helping them grow their ventures and thrive in Atlanta’s vibrant business ecosystem. 

As the night went on, attendees received the latest updates on the Beltline’s progress, including photos of ongoing projects, status updates for new segments, and more.  A brief Q&A afterward gave Atlantans a chance to ask project leaders their burning questions and learn more about what’s coming to their neighborhoods. 

But the real highlight of the night? The panel discussion on "Culture, Community, and Empowerment," led by none other than Grammy-nominated artist, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and New York Times best-selling author, Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins.

An Atlanta native himself, Jeezy gave his perspective on the Beltline, sharing that it’s, “connecting the dots. It’s bringing people together, it’s bringing cultures together, it’s bringing art together... When you look at Atlanta, it’s so strong and powerful and the Beltline is the vein running through the city, keeping the city going.” 

The panel was packed with exciting speakers, including Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc.; Ryan L. Smith, EVP of Atlanta Life Insurance; Myrna Anderson-Fuller, President of the West End Merchant Coalition; and Jelani Traxler, Co-Owner of Glaciers Italian Ice. Together, they discussed how critical culture and serving one’s community is to the city's growth and shared their vision for creating a unified Atlanta.  

Overall, the event was a powerful reminder of the work being done to create empowerment and real economic opportunities for all Atlantans. Couldn’t make it in person? Check out the live stream.