WABE education reporter Juma Sei discusses President Joe Biden’s commencement address at Morehouse College. The President addressed several current topics, including democracy, systemic issues that impact Black people and the Israel-Hamas war.

Plus, Propel ATL is calling on Atlanta city leaders to increase the Atlanta Department of Transportation’s proposed budget to match other major cities. The current proposal increases the department's budget by 2%, which doesn’t keep up with the rate of inflation. Rebecca Serna, the executive director of Propel ATL, highlights how the proposed budget does not make up for funding cuts from the previous year. She shares what her organization hopes additional funding could be used for.

Lastly, the In Her Hands guaranteed income program is expanding to reach more Black women in more Atlanta neighborhoods. Hope Wollensack, the executive director of Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund, talks about the eligibility and application process. She also mentions the key findings of the In Her Hands’ Year One Evaluation Report. Shamarra Woods, an Old Fourth Ward resident, and participant of In Her Hands, shares how the program has changed her life.

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It was May 17, 1954, when a unanimous decision by the U.S. Supreme Court labeled racial segregation in public schools as unequal and unconstitutional. Rose talks with guests about the Brown v. Board of Education decision, prevailing and systemic issues within school systems today, and the ongoing work to create change.

Guests include:

Charles Black, the former chairman of the Atlanta Student Movement and current board chair of Freedom University,

Dr. Chantelle Grace, an assistant clinical professor of Social Science Education, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at Florida State University

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Season tickets are sold out for the Atlanta Dream, signaling fans are fired up for some thrilling basketball. WNBA newcomers Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and others are adding to the groundswell of excitement. Rose talks with Morgan Shaw Parker, the president and COO of the Atlanta Dream, about expectations for the team this season and the daily operations of overseeing a professional women’s basketball team.

Plus, for our graduation series, we hear from Ebony Chappel. The 2024 soon-to-be graduate of Clark Atlanta University is a non-traditional college student. She’s a mother and a grandmother, who left high school at least 27 years ago. Chappel talks with Rose about her journey from designing outfits for her and her three children, to creating a business and majoring in fashion design.

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Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence calculates how Black and Brown Communities continue to be disproportionately impacted by gun violence. Rose talks with Dr. Keisha Lindsay Nurse, an epidemic intelligence service officer with the CDC, about how her family was personally affected and what the data doesn’t show about gun violence.

Plus, the Coalition to Advance Public Safety has announced up to $500,000 in funding for violence intervention programs in Atlanta, including fellows who worked with the Center for Civic Innovation's 2023 cohort. Rohit Malhotra, the executive director of the Center for Civic Innovation, and Jacquel Clemons Moore, a violence intervention expert and CCI board member, discuss Atlanta’s current violence intervention "ecosystem" and how this funding could be used to create change.

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Andrea Young, the executive director of the ACLU of Georgia returns to “Closer Look” to discuss the findings of a new poll about the Fulton County Jail. According to the poll, half of Fulton County voters believe the jail is poorly managed, dangerous, and overcrowded. The poll also reveals that two out of three voters believe the county should renovate the existing jail instead of spending nearly $2 billion to build a new one.

Plus, for our graduation series, we hear from Georgia Tech grad Courtney Curtis. The second-generation Georgia Tech student discusses her academic journey and how she plans to use her passion for sewing and biomedical engineering to help others.

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WABE TV will premiere “The Only Doctor” documentary on May 14. The film follows Dr. Karen Kinsell, the owner of Clay County Medical Center. Kinsell is the only medical doctor in Clay County. After years of working without pay, the future of her practice is unknown as she moves closer to retirement. Rose talks with Kinsell and film director Matthew Hashiguchi about the documentary and the state of health care in Clay County.

Plus, for our graduation series, we hear from Randi Parks. The first-generation college student, who majored in international studies, and minored in French and politics, talks with Rose about receiving a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Belgium for the 2024-2025 academic school year.

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The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released its 2024 report, “Changing the Odds: Comprehensive Solutions for Atlanta’s Future.” The report tracks community, education, and economic data by race. This year’s report explores how the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 racial unrest revealed racial disparities in Atlanta. Kweku Forstall, the director of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Atlanta Civic Site, discusses key takeaways from the report.

Plus, for our graduation series, we hear from Marwah Ismail. She’s a first-generation Somali-American and an Emory University student graduating with honors in religion and Italian studies on a pre-law track. Ismail talks with Rose about being diagnosed with a rare and malignant eye cancer while earning her undergraduate degree.

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Julie Walker, who serves as the vice chancellor for Libraries & Archive and the state librarian for Georgia Public Library Service, discusses a new partnership that aims to provide a new way for Georgians to renew, change, or review their benefits for state government assistance programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Women, Infants, & Children (WIC). The partnership between the Georgia Department of Human Services and the Georgia Public Library Service will install more than 400 self-service kiosks at libraries across Georgia. The kiosks will allow Georgians to access Georgia Gateway, the state government’s integrated web portal for assistance programs.

Plus, we revisit Rose’s conversation with Resita Cox. The Emmy Award-winning film producer and director discusses her latest documentary, “Freedom Hill.” The documentary explores how climate change and environmental racism are affecting the first town in the U.S. that was chartered by formerly enslaved people.

Lastly, for our graduation series, we hear from Air Force Reservist Rabiah Hubert. The psychology major is one of Spelman's Class of 2024 Top Ten Scholars and Majors. She talks with Rose about her academic journey as a non-traditional transfer student and how she balanced her undergraduate schoolwork while currently serving in the U.S. military.

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