Meet the Black Atlanta Documented Contributors!
Vince "The Voice" Bailey
Vince "The Voice" Bailey is a professional media personality, announcer, and voiceover talent with over 40 years of experience in the industry. Known for his deep, resonant voice, he has established a long-standing career in media, covering various professional announcements and voiceover projects. He has provided Announcer services for the Atlanta Dream (WNBA), Georgia Force (Arena Football), Arkansas River Blades (Hockey) and Professional Ballroom Dance Competitions across the US, Professional Boxing Matches. Born and raised in Gary, IN, Bailey has lived in the Atlanta area since 2002.
Joseph K. Bannerman
Joseph K. Bannerman, M.A., is a Black historian, digital educator, and public scholar dedicated to making Black history accessible through scholarship, digital media, and community engagement. Through his social media platform “Learn Mo With Joe,” he shares engaging lessons on Black history with nearly 12,000 followers on TikTok. Bannerman serves as a research intern at the APEX Museum, focusing on Black Atlanta history from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights Movement, with particular emphasis on the historic Sweet Auburn district. He is also an S.P.A.R.K. Influencer for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Bannerman earned a B.A. in Political Science from Tuskegee University (2021) and an M.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Alabama (2024). He is currently a doctoral student in Humanities with a concentration in African American Studies at Clark Atlanta University. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, he has lived in Atlanta for nearly two years.
Kim Betton
Kim Betton is an award-winning media and communications professional with more than 35 years of experience spanning television news, talk radio, and public relations. As a journalist, her work includes NBC4, MSNBC, and USA TODAY Sky Radio in Washington, D.C., FOX13 in Memphis, WKBW-TV in Buffalo, and KARK 4 News in Little Rock. In public relations, Kim has worked for premier institutions such as Howard University, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the U.S. Federal Government. She is the Founder and President of Premier Multimedia Group, representing Grammy-nominated and award-winning artists as a publicist and operating the online jazz magazine SmoothJazzTimes.com. A five-time Telly Award winner and three-time NABJ Salute to Excellence nominee, she continues to shape compelling stories across broadcast, digital, and film. Kim has proudly called Atlanta home since 2020.
Tony Betton Jr.
Tony Betton Jr. is an Emmy-nominated media professional, youth development leader, and Director of Programs & Communications at Usher’s New Look. A former UNL student turned executive, he now leads innovative programs in Atlanta and Detroit that equip young people with real-world skills in media, AI, and creative industries. Known as “The Lit Journalist,” Tony blends storytelling, technology, and mentorship to prepare the next generation for success from the classroom to the newsroom. He is the founder of The REP Zone, a multimedia platform focused on culture and impact, and is passionate about building access, opportunity, and legacy for youth nationwide. Although born in Columbia, S.C., Betton has lived in the Atlanta area since he was just 2 months old.
Julie Andrea Borders
Julie Andrea Borders is a free-spirited, entrepreneurial Atlanta writer, interviewer, actor and nascent comedic entertainer. Since 2016, Julie has served as a VIP Concierge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: travel guardian angel and self-appointed city ambassador to high profile/high-net-worth passengers. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in success through service , Julie draws inspiration from her grandfather, the Rev. Dr. William Holmes Borders, Sr., revered minister of Atlanta’s Wheat Street Baptist Church and civil rights activist, as well as her father, Dr. William Borders, Jr., a dedicated physician and community leader. Her mother, Gloria Thomas
Borders, exemplified community advocacy, while her aunt, Dr. Juel Borders Benson, also a physician & minister, further emphasizes the family's commitment to religion, healthcare and education. The four Borders siblings and their Benson cousins were among the first waves of African Americans to integrate the city's prestigious
Westminster Schools. For her sister, Lisa Borders—former WNBA Commissioner, AtlantaCity Council President, and Coca-Cola Foundation President acting as a behind-the-scenes collaborator, confidante and consultant, Julie has adapted her family’s legacy of positive impact across various sectors, including religion, civil rights, politics, travel, healthcare, and the arts.
Erika Brayboy Collier
Erika Brayboy Collier is an Atlanta-based historian, educator, preservationist, and entrepreneur, serving as Founder and President of the Atlanta Humanities Society and as curator of Cascade History Preservation + PR Co, through her historical preservation firm, HNCS. She previously served as the District Historian, Archivist, and Museum Curator for Atlanta Public Schools—the fourth person to hold the role in the history of the Atlanta Board of Education. With a background as a public educator from 2002 to 2015 and six years of service on the Emory University Carlos Museum Teacher Advisory Board, Collier specializes in local history, community solutions, and archival research that helps communities better understand and preserve their stories. Born in St. Louis, MO, Collier is the daughter of a military family and spent part of her childhood in Germany, attending school on U.S. bases overseas before moving to Atlanta as a child, making Atlanta her home to this day.
Michael Davis
Michael Davis is an Atlanta-based senior executive, corporate leader, entrepreneur, consultant, economic developer, and former national retail franchise owner with experience spanning international, private, public, and nonprofit sectors, with a history and passion for media, radio, public speaking, and writing. Davis has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia and an Executive MBA from Emory’s Goizueta Business School. He serves as a member of Atlanta Mayor Dickens' Greenspace Advisory Council, a board member of the Atlanta Track Club, a board member of the Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Authority of Fulton County, a member of Friends of West Cascade Park, a member of the HouseATL prioritizing communities working group, and an Atlanta Way 2.0 activator. Davis currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the Atlanta Beltline Partnership. Born in Philadelphia, he has been an Atlantan since second grade.
Araba Dowell
Araba Dowell is a media professional, storyteller, and content creator committed to preserving and amplifying the people, culture and history that shaped Atlanta. Araba delivers compelling content that preserves community narratives and elevates voices often overlooked in traditional media. She is also the founder of Seven Sages Global, a strategic communications and consulting firm that helps organizations clarify their message, engage communities, and lead with purpose. With more than three decades of experience across media, marketing, and public engagement, Dowell is a trusted voice on political, business and community impact. Born in Accra, Ghana, to a Ghanaian mother and a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer father from LaGrange, Georgia, she was raised in Atlanta and remains deeply committed to documenting and uplifting the stories that define the city and its people.
Jennifer Freeman
Jennifer Freeman is an Atlanta-based communications, political, and economic strategist known for her leadership in public affairs, government relations, and media outreach. Over the course of her career, she has held senior communications and strategic roles with the Georgia House of Representatives, Fulton County government, the City of Atlanta, Georgia Tech, and Atlanta Public Schools, helping shape messaging and community engagement across major public institutions. Freeman currently serves as community outreach representative for Congresswoman Nikema Williams, where she works to strengthen connections between the congresswoman’s office and communities throughout Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District. In addition to her public service career, Freeman is also a recording artist. Raised in the Peyton Forest community, which gained national attention in the early 1960s during the Peyton Road Wall controversy, Freeman graduated from Northside School of the Performing Arts and Spelman College. She now resides in the historic Collier Heights community.
Cheryl Johnson
Cheryl Johnson is a community historian, storyteller, and longtime advocate for preserving the cultural heritage of Southwest Atlanta. Born and raised in the historic Cascade Heights neighborhood, Johnson has dedicated much of her work to documenting the people, places, and stories that shape Black Atlanta. She previously served as a reporter for Rolling Out, where she covered community issues, arts, and culture. Johnson also serves as a board member of The ArtsXchange in East Point, helping support creative programming and neighborhood engagement. Through her writing and civic involvement, she continues to amplify local history and the voices that sustain it.ator committed to preserving and amplifying the people, culture and history that shaped Atlanta.
Ralph Long
Former George State Rep. Ralph A. Long III is an Atlanta-based community advocate, real estate broker, and civic engagement leader. He serves as a Community Service Specialist in the City of Atlanta’s Office of Constituent Services, working with residents, neighborhood organizations, and stakeholders to address community concerns and strengthen connections between city government and the public.
Long previously represented Georgia House District 61 in the Georgia General Assembly, where he focused on education, economic development, and community revitalization. His legislative experience deepened his commitment to public service and broadened his understanding of policies shaping local neighborhoods and economies. He is also the Broker and Owner of The District Realty, a full-service real estate firm he founded in 2008. Long holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from The Art Institute of Atlanta and brings a perspective that blends design, development, housing, and civic engagement, with a focus on strengthening Atlanta’s neighborhoods and expanding community opportunity.
Carla Morrison
Carla Morrison is an Atlanta public relations strategist and cultural tour curator who builds platforms that elevate voices and drive meaningful connection. As Founder of Chit Chat Communications, she leads strategic communications, media relations, and high-level event production for public officials, civic leaders, and mission-driven organizations. Her work bridges government, business, and community through intentional messaging and authentic engagement. She is also the visionary behind Chit Chat Atlanta Tours, a cultural tourism division spotlighting Black history, civil rights movement, Black restaurants, HBCU and more. Born in New Haven, CT, Morrison has been an Atlantan since 1995.
Louis Negrón
The Rev. Louis Negrón is an activist and community leader who has worked with numerous prestigious nonprofit organizations, including the Children's Defense Fund (Washington, D.C.), United Way of Metro Atlanta and Supportive Housing Communities (Charlotte, NC). CEO Emeritus of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., Negrón has two master's degrees, one from Central Michigan University in Administration and a second from Mercer University in Christian Ministry. Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Negrón roots Atlanta go to back to his years at Morehouse College.
Brian Poe
Brian Poe, MBA., Esq., is Chairman of Georgia Injury Attorneys: "The People’s Champs." He is a well-known business leader in metro Atlanta, with over 25 years of experience practicing law. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Poe has an M.B.A. from the University of Georgia and a B.S. from Florida State University. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and spent many years as a senior attorney with a Fortune 500 corporation and major national law firms based in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Poe serves on the Board of Directors of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc., and was its first General Counsel. Born on a U.S. Air Force base in Wichita Falls, TX, he moved to Atlanta with his family in 1969.
Shelia Poole
Shelia Poole is a veteran journalist and, until recently, the longest serving African American reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she served as lead reporter for the AJC’s Voices team and contributed to award-winning coverage of Black finance, generational wealth, and Latino immigration in Georgia. Known for thoughtful reporting on faith, healthcare, aging, and community issues, Poole pairs deep sourcing and SEO expertise with strategic audience engagement, including creating the AJC’s first online Oscar party and its “Meet Us at the Movies” events. In addition to the AJC, Poole's work has appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader, Canopy Atlanta, and Medscape. Poole was born and raised in Louisville, KY, and holds degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University. She has made Atlanta her home since joining the AJC.
Michael Stinson
The Rev. Dr. Michael D. Stinson is a pastor in the United Methodist Church who has devoted decades of ministry to spiritual teaching, community outreach, and church leadership in Atlanta. He holds advanced degrees in zoology from Howard University and in theology from Gammon Theological Seminary.
From 2012 to 2018, Stinson served as pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church, where he oversaw significant upgrades to the church’s physical facilities and worked to broaden the congregation’s reach, particularly among young people and those not traditionally connected to the church.
A native Atlantan, Stinson was among the first Black families to move into the Peyton Forest community, which gained national attention in the early 1960s during the Peyton Road Wall controversy, when barriers were erected to prevent African Americans from purchasing homes in the area. His life reflects both a deep commitment to ministry and a personal connection to Atlanta’s civil rights history.
Eric Thomas
The Rev. Eric Thomas is pastor of St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church in Southwest Atlanta. A native Atlantan, he attended Woodward Academy College Preparatory School and North Carolina A&T University.
Having undergone a heart-transplant in 2019, Pastor Thomas literally saw and felt life leave his body, never wavering from the belief that God was a Healer! Thomas enjoys sharing with people that “today, I am a walking miracle.” With numerous other continual reminders of God’s mercy and grace in his life, the two most important are his adult sons Isaiah and Noah.
Delores Turner
Delores Turner is a journalist, author and retired Atlanta Public Schools teacher. She is a graduate of Washington High School and has a bachelor's degree from Spelman College, a special education degree from Georgia State University and master's degree from Clark Atlanta University. One of the founding staff members of the former AOL/Huffington Post Cascade Patch news website, she is the author of two books: "We Met at the Bridge Table" and "The Lynching of Porter Flournoy Turner." The youngest of nine children, she is a "Grady Baby," one of legions of deeply-rooted Atlantans born at Grady Hospital.
Carolyn Walcott
Dr. Carolyn Walcott is a communication scholar and international consultant with more than twenty years of experience across media, academia, and development practice. She holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Development from Ohio University and a Ph.D. in Communication from Georgia State University. An Assistant Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Clayton State University, the Guyanese-born educator and former television broadcaster also mentors graduate students at the University of Guyana, remotely. As the current head of the Commission on the Status of Minorities of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), she collaborates with global educators and scholars to amplify their work across the academy and industry. Coinciding with her research agenda which includes media performance, migration and identity, her research has been published in leading journals such as Media, War and Conflict, the Journal of Global Diaspora and Media, and the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies.
Simone Webster
Simone Webster, CEO of Simone Speaks to Inspire, LLC, is a speaker, storyteller and vocalist known for curating regional panel discussions and workshops on topics ranging from whole-life wellness and wellness technology to legacy building and sustainable leadership. A Magna Cum Laude and Global Scholar graduate of Georgia State University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Arts & Sciences, Webster has more than 20 years of experience designing, delivering, and managing mentorship programs that blend creativity with measurable results. Born in New York City, she has lived in Atlanta for more than four decades.
Michelle Taylor Willis
Michelle Taylor Willis is the Founder and CEO of Gagnant Media and Publisher of SoFu Lifestyle Magazine Michelle host of “According to Michelle“and “Black is the New Green” on streaming platforms. A graduate of the University of Florida, Willis is an author, speaker, actress, and master strategist. Michelle has been recognized as one of the “Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Atlanta,” “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Atlantans,” and has made several “Top 100' ' lists in Georgia. SoFu Lifestyle has been awarded “Publication of the Year” three times and has received countless awards recognizing her work in the local and national communities. Her book, “Raising Significance: A Guide to Well-Rounded, Independent, and Confident Kids," was featured on the Tamron Hall Show. A native of Jacksonville, Fl., she has lived in Atlanta since 2006.
Alfred Wyatt, Jr.
Dr. Alfred Wyatt, Jr. has been in the private practice of dentistry with the incorporation of lasers and other light technologies for over 40 years. He presently serves at his alma mater as an Associate Professor of Oral Rehabilitation. Dr. Wyatt is a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) where he has served on the board of directors. He is past chair of the Education Committee of the ALD and is presently chair of the certification testing committee. He has been the author or co-author of several publications related to the clinical use of lasers and light technologies. He also presently serves as a dental editor for WebMD. A native of Atlanta GA, Dr. Wyatt was educated in the Atlanta Public School system. He received a B.S. degree in biology from Clark College in 1980 and his DMD from Medical College of Georgia (School of Dentistry) in 1984.