Diversity
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Black Representation Has Increased, But Athens Artists Say There’s More to be Done
Jasmine Best grew up in the hills of North Carolina watching her grandmothers and great grandmothers sew and crochet — which led her to develop an interest in the craft. “It’s kind of recontextualizing the women who taught me these skills or had to use these skills and putting it…
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‘Generational Curse Broken’: First-Gen College Students Reflect on Graduation
Siham Ahmed, a fourth-year student at the University of Georgia, emigrated from Ethiopia to the United States at the age of 1. The move away from culture and community was difficult, but Ahmed said her parents made the decision “because of the opportunities that exist in America Where can I…
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Black Business Owners Face Pressures to Vacate Historic Potterytown Neighborhood
On a warm spring evening, Lashanna Mattox paces back and forth on Pottery Street. She stares up at the newest parking deck for The Mark, which towers over the small business she and her husband, Terrell Mattox, own. Mrs. Mattox is the front desk coordinator and co-owner of the Potterytown-based…
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‘Radically Inclusive’: Athens Coffee Spot Employs, Empowers People with Disabilities
At Bitty & Beau’s coffee shop, customers might notice “we love you” or “you are awesome” written on the side of their cup of joe. These positive notes are emblematic of a culture of encouragement and inclusivity in the store, which is a space dedicated to primarily hiring people with…
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Black Undergraduate Enrollment is Dropping: How One Student-Led Organization is Fighting to Raise It
Listen to the story here. While the University of Georgia’s student population continues to grow each year, the number of Black undergraduate admissions hasn’t grown at all — it’s declining. According to the UGA Fact Book, which shows publicly available information facilitated by the Office of Institutional Research,…
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African-American Heritage Pathway Marks Athens Landmarks
Local historians are hoping to shine a spotlight on several lost and forgotten landmarks in Downtown Athens. They hope this effort helps preserve and communicate some of the rich and complex history of African Americans in the Classic City. In November, the Athens Downtown Development Authority, in collaboration with the…
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Athens Area Pagans Advocate for Freedom of Religion
A woman invites a group of her closest friends to spend a Wednesday evening together at her house in the woods. They are not spending the evening indoors watching TV or sharing a meal. Tonight the focus is on an important religious ceremony they will hold outdoors. Members of the…
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Striving for Equal Representation on the Football Field at Clarke Central
Head coach Cherrelle Pass and her girls flag football team made history at Clarke Central High School this year. Pass is a PE teacher at Clarke Central and initiated the program in spring 2022. One of Pass’ former students asked her why the Gladiators don’t have a flag football team…
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Hillel UGA Looks Forward to New Baxter Street Building
This winter, members of Hillel UGA, a Jewish student organization, are celebrating both the holidays and the construction of a brand new building. Plans for the new building have been in the works for about six years, but construction has ramped up in the past few months. The bones of…
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The Allure of ‘Hygge’ and How It Attracts Denmark’s Tourists
While planning an upcoming trip to Denmark, tourists often stumble upon a unique Danish term important to the county’s culture: “hygge.” With no American cultural equivalence, the concept of hygge (pronounced hoo-guh) piques the interest of tourists who want to know more about Denmark’s customs. “When we were researching the…