Style + Beauty

She Designs with Purpose

From life-changing moments to Smithsonian collections, Brenda Smith creates jewelry that reflects beauty, meaning, and legacy Article by Decatur City Lifestyle There is a distinct power in women who create with purpose. Exclusive jewelry designer Brenda Smith embodies that spirit in every piece she creates. Each design reflects strength, personal history, individuality and are crafted to mirror not just style, but identity and lived experience. Brenda’s journey began at a pivotal moment when...

Sports + Recreation

More than Gold

Dominique Dawes on Impact, Balance, and Building Something Bigger Article by Tran Bui Smith | Photography by Luis Contreras, Getty Images, Dominique Dawes For many,  images of Dominique Dawes is forever tied to the Magnificent Seven, the first U.S. women’s gymnastics team to win Olympic gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics. A defining moment not just for the sport, but for a generation watching history unfold in Atlanta. She made history as the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic medal...

Local Services

Chief Toni Washington

Leading with Courage and Community Article by Caroline Ficken For Fire Chief Toni Washington , public service was a calling deeply rooted in family and purpose. Raised in a household dedicated to serving others, Washington grew up surrounded by law enforcement and public safety professionals. Her mother was a police officer, her bonus father worked in pardons and parole, and both dad and grandfather served as police officers. That legacy instilled in her an early understanding of the...

Health + Wellness

Mother's Day in Decatur

Church Street Edition Article by Caroline Ficken Just off Church Street in Decatur, a cluster of thoughtfully run, women-owned businesses creates the perfect setting for a different kind of Mother’s Day, one that feels calm, restorative, and delicious. Each space reflects the care and vision of the women behind it, offering not just services or products, but an atmosphere that invites you to slow down and stay awhile. Here, the day moves at an easy pace, with just a light touch of planning...

Arts + Culture

Today’s Rosie the Riveter

How Women Are Powering the Next Generation of Skilled Trades Article by Tamekia Morris, Campus President at Tulsa Welding School, Atlanta Metro During World War II, Rosie the Riveter became a symbol of women stepping into industrial jobs to power America’s workforce during a moment of national need. Today, we face a different challenge and, once again, women are answering the call. The U.S. is confronting a critical shortage of skilled trades professionals in welding, HVAC, electrical work...

Sports + Recreation

Game. Set. Match

Colleen Craig: Turning vision, grit, and community purpose into launch of Atlanta Vibe, Major League Pro Women's Volleyball Article by Brennan Smith On January 24, 2024, inside a roaring Omaha arena, the Atlanta Vibe clinched a fiveset thriller in the firstever Major League Volleyball match. For Colleen Craig, standing amid the noise, tension, and celebration, the moment was more than a win it was the realization of a dream years in the making. “I don’t know if you can beat that… maybe the...

Home + Design

The Fresh Start You and Your Home Deserve

Simple, sustainable steps to create calm, functional spaces that last. Article by Caroline Ficken | Photography by Heidi Harris The Fresh Start You and Your Home Deserve Spring brings longer days, open windows, and the familiar urge to refresh our homes. But when you’re staring at years of accumulated belongings, “spring cleaning” can feel overwhelming. Disorganization isn’t a personal failing. Many of the picture-perfect systems we see online are styled for the camera — not built for real...

Life + Culture

Block by Block

Inside the Downtown Decatur Ambassador Program and the philosophy of hospitality guiding its work. Article and Photography by Caroline Ficken On any given day in downtown Decatur, ambassadors in purple uniforms are seen polishing public spaces, assisting visitors, and keeping a watchful and approachable eye on the square. Many residents recognize the uniforms or perhaps the purple “Visit Decatur” truck, but fewer know the philosophy guiding the work, a philosophy that places hospitality at the...

Finance + Legal Services

Planning for Possibility

Inside the practice of James Herndon III, who puts people before portfolios. Article by Caroline Ficken Designing a life you love starts with getting clear on what actually matters to you, what brings you joy, and what kind of future you're trying to build.  For James Herndon III, a fiduciary financial advisor with Edward Jones, that belief sits at the very center of his work. He understands that money is the tool that supports a life thoughtfully designed. James didn't always see himself...

Life + Culture

Growing Together

How Trellis Horticultural Therapy Alliance Cultivates Community and Healing Article by Caroline Ficken In Decatur’s largest greenspace, something remarkable is taking root. At Trellis Horticultural Therapy Alliance’s Ability Garden at Legacy Park, veterans coping with PTSD, stroke survivors, and gardeners using wheelchairs work side by side. Therapy happens not in clinical offices, but in the soil, under open sky, hands busy in raised beds, among friends.  The story of Trellis began with a...