Heart of South Downtown

04/13/2026

ATL student DJs… it’s your turn 🎧

We’re opening the call for 2 DJs to take over South Downtown.

$100/hour. 4-hour sets. Real crowd.

Not looking for someone to press play. We want DJs who know how to build a vibe, shift energy, and move an audience.

If you’re ready for a real crowd, we’re ready for you.

Open to students across:
GSU, Morehouse, Spelman, Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta, Emory, SCAD, Kennesaw State, Agnes Scott

🎶 Bring something we haven’t heard before!

Apply through the link in bio by April 19.
(drop your best mix — we’re listening 👀)

Tag a DJ who should be on this stage 👇🏽

02/22/2026

“Something Good Is Coming” for

Day 3 of the is underway — and the energy is unmatched!

02/22/2026

Behind every great pitch is a team, pushing ideas, asking the questions, and building something bigger than themselves.

Day 2 was all about debriefs, collaboration, and turning vision into action. Bringing solutions to help shape Atlanta’s Future.

02/21/2026

The momentum is officially in motion!
Day one of the ATL Global Innovation Weekend was a smashing success!
Ideas were flying. Teams were forming. Connections were being built. Cheers to the productive weekend ahead! !

02/18/2026

Heart of South Downtown invites the community to read a powerful new article by Blake Stoner, Board Chair of Heart of South Downtown, highlighting the vision behind ATL Global Innovation Weekend and why this moment matters for Downtown Atlanta.

Article Link: https://saportareport.com/atl-global-innovation-weekend-south-downtowns-world-cup-civic-accelerator/columnists/guestcolumn/melinda-sylvester/

As shared in the piece, this initiative is about more than preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it’s about building lasting civic infrastructure, supporting local innovators, and ensuring South Downtown reflects Atlanta’s creativity, resilience, and leadership on a global stage.
The weekend culminates in the ATL Global Innovation Weekend Pitch Showcase, where cross-sector teams will present bold, community-rooted ideas developed over 48 hours of collaboration.

📍 Atlanta Tech Village – Sylvan
📅 February 22
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM EST

Heart of South Downtown encourages civic leaders, community members, and partners to read the article, then join us in supporting the innovators shaping Atlanta’s future.

Read ATL Global Innovation Weekend: South Downtown’s World Cup 'Civic Accelerator' by Blake Stoner for SaportaReport here.

02/11/2026

After 48 hours of building, collaborating, and reimagining what’s possible, Atlanta’s civic builders are ready to pitch bold solutions for Downtown — ahead of the 2026 World Cup and beyond.
Come get inspired.
Come support local visionaries.
Come see what happens when innovation meets community.

📍 Atlanta Tech Village – Sylvan
📅 Feb 22 | 6–8 PM EST

Seats are limited — we’ll see you there. Link in Bio 🔗

02/05/2026

⏰️ Last call! ⏰️

Applications for the ATL Global Innovation Challenge close tomorrow.
If you’ve got a bold idea, a problem worth solving, and the drive to build! This is your moment.
As Atlanta prepares to welcome the world for the World Cup, we’re looking for people who want to build solutions that move our city forward.

Don’t overthink it. Apply now.

02/02/2026

Applications for ATL Global Innovation Weekend close this Friday, Feb 6!

A weekend built for collaboration, learning, and building alongside people who care deeply about the city of Atlanta and the future of Downtown.

No ego. Shared purpose. Limited spots.

Apply by Friday. Link in Bio.

01/28/2026

Big problems. Real constraints. Bold ideas.

We’re bringing builders, thinkers, and doers together to tackle a focused set of civic challenges tied to Downtown and the future of Atlanta
These focus areas aren’t theoretical. They’re rooted in lived experience, public systems, and what’s possible when people actually work together.

If you’re ready to build something that could live beyond the weekend, this is where it starts:

Public Safety & Walkability
- Designing safer streets, clearer wayfinding, and a Downtown people can move through with ease
Cultural Preservation & Storytelling
- Reimagining how Atlanta’s history, culture, and voices are experienced and shared
Business Vitality & Economic Opportunity
- Building tools, systems, and pathways that help local businesses start, grow, and stay
Sustainability & Public Space Activation
- Transforming public spaces into greener, healthier places where community life thrives
Civic Engagement & Advocacy
- Creating practical ways for residents to participate, be heard, and shape Atlanta’s future

01/24/2026

This weekend is built for people who want to help shape what’s next for Atlanta.

Participants come ready to build — forming teams, developing new ideas, and designing real solutions from the ground up.

Volunteers are the backbone of the weekend — keeping things moving, supporting teams, and making sure everyone has what they need to do their best work.

Coaches bring real-world experience — asking better questions, offering perspective, and helping teams sharpen their ideas without taking over.

Judges help identify what’s ready to move forward — evaluating ideas based on impact, feasibility, and long-term potential.

Different roles. Shared purpose. One weekend focused on turning ideas into action in South Downtown.

01/16/2026

💡 Got a brand-new idea?

This weekend is for the “what if…” stage — when your idea is still a thought, a sketch, or a note in your phone. Come collaborate with ATL visionaries on ideas!!

Quick vibe check ->
If your idea already exists or is live, this one’s probably not for you — and that’s okay! This space is all about building something new for the World Cup.
If you’re excited to take a fresh idea and see where it could go
👉 Apply here: https://luma.com/zbcd56ju

01/14/2026

🔥 ATLANTA! THIS IS A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION CALL 🔥

The world is coming back to ATL for the World Cup, and Downtown must reflect the very best of our culture, creativity, and spirit. As the final countdown begins, we’re seeking Atlanta’s top 50 creatives to come together next month for:

ATL Global Innovation Weekend
Powered by Heart of South Downtown
This is not a conference. Not a panel.
This is a 48-hour civic build moment to help shape how Atlanta shows up to the world, and what lasts long after the final whistle.

We’re calling in:
🎨 Artists & culture-shapers
💻 Technologists & engineers
🧠 Strategists & organizers
🎓 Students & emerging builders
❤️ People who care deeply about this city and are ready to build something real

📍 Why South Downtown?
This is where Atlanta’s story began, and a core gateway to the World Cup matches.
What we build here will be seen by millions and felt for decades.

💡 What happens during the weekend:
• Cross-sector teams form fast
• Real challenges get tackled
• Prototypes + activations are built
• Winning ideas receive prizes, mentorship, and pathways to pilot

This is a curated, application-based weekend.
Spots are limited.

👉 Apply here: https://luma.com/zbcd56ju

Tag someone who should be in the room.
Let’s show the world who we are.