Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America according to experts, and Kennesaw, Ga. is not an exception. Kennesaw State University's Pickleball Club started last year and is already ranked fourth in the nation.
The Trans Liberation Basketball League is an Atlanta-based group that provides a safe space for transgender athletes in the city. With how strictly politicized the topic of transgender athletes has become, the players say this league is an important part of their community.
Atlanta's notorious Forest Cove apartments gained a reputation as one of the city's most dangerous dwellings. Former residents report pest infestations, frequent crime, unstable architecture and abysmal air quality. Millennia Companies, one of the largest landlords in the U.S. and owner of Forest Cove, runs hundreds of properties across the country, most of which are in equally horrible condition to Forest Cove. Former tenants of Millennia's apartments are fighting back against the corporation and demanding change.
Perfect Harmony Health, a Georgia-based nonprofit, provides innovative healthcare through music therapy. Groovin' with Grandfriends is a community event combining music therapy and intergenerational bonding.
Henry's Louisiana Grill, a staple of downtown Acworth, will soon be under new management when chef Henry Chandler retires later this year. The award-winning restaurant is beloved by the community, and guests say its bittersweet to see him go.
Foster Care Support Foundation is a Georgia-based organization that provides clothing, toys, books and more to thousands of children in Georgia's foster care system. The foundation seeks to ease the financial burden fostering children can have on family members who foster their relatives, especially those who are older or cannot work.
The Polar Plunge is the largest annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Georgia. Participants dive into the frosty waters of Lake Acworth, raising money to fund the more than 17,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who compete in athletic competitions.
At Camp Twin Lakes, a Georgia-based nonprofit, children experiencing challenges such as chronic illnesses, traumatic experiences and familial loss find community among similar individuals. The camp is so impactful that many former participants return to work as staff, helping other campers find acceptance and understanding.
Arpad Repka, owner of Woodstock's Dulce Artisan Gelato, overcame numerous obstacles in order to open his shop. The Great Recession, COVID-19 lockdowns, and inflation are just some of the issues Repka pushed through to keep his business open and provide the people of Woodstock with authentic, homemade Italian gelato.
LifeLine Animal Project, Georgia's largest animal welfare organization, is facing a major obstacle in its newest shelter in Fulton County. The facility is so overcrowded that soon, pets may need to be euthanized to keep the shelter operational.
