Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haigler’s *Wake Up with Dee Morning Show* on News & Talk WAOK is no stranger to soul-stirring conversations that linger long after the mic drops. On a crisp fall morning, she welcomed Atlanta photographer Melissa Alexander, whose lens serves as both mirror and embrace, capturing the raw poetry of Black life with an unyielding tenderness. Accompanying this audio clip is a deep dive into Alexander’s world of vulnerability and her pivotal role in the upcoming Elevate Atlanta festival—where the city’s past pulses into its future.
At the core of Melissa Alexander’s artistry lies an obsession with vulnerability, a deliberate dance of growth and courage that underpins every frame she crafts. Her work zeroes in on the profound intimacies of the Black American community, where she finds solace in the unfiltered exploration and celebration of Blackness. With the gentle precision of a caretaker, she photographs her subjects “from the womb”—infusing each image with intent to nurture, affirm, and fortify the spirit. It’s not mere documentation; it’s an act of communal reclamation, turning the camera into a vessel for healing and strength.
Rooted in Atlanta’s electric creative ecosystem, Alexander draws from a tapestry of influences that span hip-hop’s golden era, fantasy epics, and literary luminaries. She’s an ardent admirer of A Tribe Called Quest’s lyrical introspection, the mythic grit of *Conan the Barbarian*, and Zora Neale Hurston’s evocative chronicles of Black folklore and fortitude. These threads weave through her current projects, which trace the luminous evolution from Black girlhood to Black womanhood—a visual odyssey of transitions, triumphs, and the quiet ferocity of self-discovery.
Alexander joined Dr. Dee to spotlight Elevate Atlanta, the annual fall festival that alchemizes the city’s neighborhoods into living galleries of public art, electrifying performances, and bold creative exchanges. Activating overlooked spaces, uplifting communities, and toasting Atlanta’s indomitable essence, Elevate is a ritual of renewal. This year’s theme, *Rooted & Rising*, catapults us back to the late ’80s through early 2000s—a nostalgic yet vital full-weekend takeover honoring the traditions, venues, and stories that forged the city’s iconic rhythm. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the Atlanta that mended our shared wounds and sparked a worldwide cultural wave, forever rooted in the soil that sustained us.
The festival unfolds October 10–12 across vibrant hubs like Westview, West End, Castleberry Hill, and South Downtown, all events free and family-friendly (with some requiring registration). Kicking off Friday with soulful sound baths, vendor markets, fashion runways, and live bands at spots like The Carrie Steele Bridge and ZuCot Gallery, it builds to a crescendo on Sunday with artist markets, DJ sets of Atlanta classics, open mics, and panels on cultural preservation at Westview Corner Grocery and The Pearl Cleage & Zaron Burnett Center.
But it’s Melissa Alexander’s installment on Saturday, October 11—*Rooted & Rising: The Space Within*—that promises to resonate deepest with her ethos of intimate vulnerability. Hosted by Atlanta Downtown at Woodruff Park (91 Peachtree St.) and Underground Atlanta (50 Upper Alabama St.), the day blooms with wellness and wonder: a 9:30 AM HIIT session with Community RBG Experience, yoga and soundbaths from 10:30 AM, live music at noon, a sprawling Corner Store Marketplace until 5 PM, a Crown Classic Hair Showdown at 3 PM, and an Inside Underground activation wrapping at 7 PM. Alexander’s presence infuses these moments with her signature gaze, inviting participants to explore the tender “space within” Black community bonds—echoing the festival’s nod to eras that healed and hustled in equal measure.“This is where our stories take root and push toward the light,” Alexander reflected on the show, her words bridging the gap between personal courage and collective legacy. As Dr. Dee deftly unpacked how such events foster the vulnerability Alexander so reveres, their exchange became a microcosm of Elevate’s magic: art as bridge, dialogue as dawn.
Dive into the full interview via the audio clip below, where Alexander’s passion crackles like vinyl under a needle, sharing anecdotes from her inspirations and insider peeks at festival vibes. For the complete schedule, snag your Cultural Passport for stamps at partner spots, or grab exclusive artist-designed stickers—head to https://elevateatlart.com/#schedule to register and plan your rise. In Atlanta, every activation is an invitation to remember, reclaim, and reimagine. Let Elevate—and this conversation—be your spark.
*Listen now and rise with the roots.*