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Heather Elaine Buckner Patel

Writing

How young trans people—and their families and medical providers—are contending with a wave of animus

Illustration: Ina Jang

Journalism is struggling. In Atlanta, new indie outlets are finding ways to make it work—and bringing in important voices

Illustration: Andrew Rae

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Is Atlanta losing out on millions of dollars in revenue each year in property taxes?

Photo: Courtesy of S9 Architecture

As Atlanta continues to grow, unhoused people are finding a new voice—and new allies

Photo: Audra Melton

Freedom University wasn't meant to last this long

Photo: Eley Photo

The 4,978 schools that fueled a movement

Photo: Andrew Feiler

Alicia Philipp recognizes the fix for Atlanta’s vast inequity—but you might not want to hear it

Photo: Frederico Martins

In politically mixed friend groups, a lesson for navigating differences

Photo: Eley Photography

The misadventures of Sunshine, a neighborhood pig on the lam

Illustration: Sam Island

Red Hot City describes an Atlanta that’s a good place to do business—but increasingly out of reach for many of its longtime residents

Illustration: Israel Vargas

Sterling Davis is Atlanta’s king of trap (neuter, return)

Photo: Lynsey Weatherspoon

How the founder of Blue Ridge’s bigfoot museum keeps the faith

Photo: Kaylinn Gilstrap

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Can We Still Afford Atlanta?

Illustration: Lauréne Boglio

Helen Kim Ho + Daniela Rodriguez on Immigrants’ growing influence in Atlanta

Photo: Alex Martinez

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Why is it so hard to buy a starter home in the city? (+ 33 other questions you asked about Atlanta)

Photo: Andrea Fremiotti

10 ways to help restaurants survive COVID-19

Photo: Andrew Thomas Lee

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Meet the Atlantan who’s rescued more than 1,000 cats from trees

Photo: Growl

Tales of two Atlanta food delivery drivers

Photo: Emma Fishman

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Escape Pods: From politics and hip-hop to soccer in the Dirty South

Chicken wings are twice as expensive now (and other scary numbers from Atlanta restaurant kitchens)

Illustration: Paul Brian Nelson

Pleasant Hill Road is metro Atlanta’s sweetest strip

Photo: Brinson + Banks

Just across the Georgia state line

Photo: Alan Cressler

In 1867, a naturalist walked 1,000 miles to the Gulf. 150 years later, a former AJC reporter retraced the path by car.

Illustration: Filippo Vanzo

Pumpkin whisperers and okra aficionados, taco technicians and pecan purveyors: Meet Atlanta’s green giants

Photo: Bailey Garrot

Mr. Midnight: Lieu Nguyen, a refugee from Vietnam, spent three decades welcoming others to Atlanta

Photo: The Sintoses

50 Ways to Play Outside

Photo: John E. McDonald

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The loss of her daughter to domestic violence gave Susann Montgomery-Clark a new life mission

Photo: Courtesy of Susann Montgomery-Clark

TaB fans are putting out an S.O.S. (Save Our Soda)

Photo: Courtesy of Jenny Boyter

Claws out at a new cat show: Loving Cats Worldwide launched in Atlanta this year—on the same day as a Cat Fanciers’ Association show.

Photo: Larry Johnson Photography

If you'd like to read more of my work, please get in touch.

Writing: Work

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