Russell Family Enterprises Invites Georgia Residents to Celebrate 6th Annual Community Event: Russell Rocks the Block (RRTB)

By Dwayna Williams, Donna x DWAYNA

Photos by Lashley / Zeriba Media

On Saturday, September 19, from noon to 4:00 pm, at John Hope Community Center in Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill neighborhood, the Russell Family Enterprises, LLC invited Georgia residents to celebrate its 6th annual community event: “Russell Rocks the Block (RRTB).”

Russell Rocks the Block Brings Community, Opportunity and Celebration to Castleberry Hill.

Free Castleberry Hill Community Event Brings Jobs, Voting Resources, Food, Music, and Fun for All Ages.

More than a free annual celebration, RRTB reflects Russell Family Enterprises’ commitment since 1952 to investing in the people and communities that help make Atlanta thrive. This year’s event will connect attendees with employment opportunities (on-the-spot hiring), voter registration, nonpartisan civic education resources, health and wellness resources, entertainment, food, and more. The event took place at John Hope Community Center (Villages of Castleberry), 560 Larkin Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30314-4300.

Hosted by Russell Family Enterprises, Russell Rocks the Block welcomed families, entrepreneurs, college students, community residents, nonprofit organizations, and local leaders for an afternoon centered on community, connection, opportunity, and resources.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees explored a Vendor Village featuring community organizations and healthcare partners, connected with employers through the Career Fair, accessed voter registration and civic engagement resources, and participated in interactive family activities and activations.

The event featured:

Vendor Village featuring Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Neighborhood Association, Oak Street Health, Herman J. Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RICE) Center, People United Foundation and Black Voters Matter.
Career Fair inside the John Hope Community Center, with a dedicated registration desk.
Voter registration and civic engagement resources to help residents get informed and engaged.
SteamSport Activation, including a car simulator and VR experience.
Soccer in the Streets and an Atlanta United activation in progress.

Family-friendly activities, including SteamSport’s car simulator and VR experience, Atlanta United’s photo opportunity, bounce house, games, airbrush art, and more.
DJ entertainment (Grammy-nominated DJ Willy Wow), food, treats (Ben & Jerry’s, Proof of Pudding, and Coca-Cola), and opportunities for attendees to connect with local organizations and resources.

Bluff City (@itsbluffcity) – live R&B performance.
Interactive family activities throughout the afternoon.
Complimentary meals while supplies last, along with food trucks and treats available for purchase, including BBQ, smoothies, juice, and sweets.
John Hope Bryant, who made a special appearance and participated in the day’s community programming and book giveaway.
Killer Mike, special guest appearance who joined Russell Family leadership on stage for a conversation focused on entrepreneurship, community, and civic engagement.
Skyler Reed (@iamskylerreed), special guest/featured talent, who delivered a live R&B performance.

The Loft Athletic Club, which led an interactive fitness experience.
Freddie the Falcon, who joined families throughout the event for photos and engagement.

The afternoon reflected Russell Family Enterprises’ ongoing commitment to the Castleberry Hill community, where the Russell family’s story began, and to creating opportunities for connection, education, economic mobility, and civic engagement.

The event is rooted in the Castleberry Hill community and builds upon the legacy of Herman J. Russell, whose vision helped shape Atlanta through development, empowerment, and community investment. With the theme “Building Community. Creating Opportunity. Inspiring Lasting Impact,” RRTB is designed to demonstrate that community investment extends beyond physical development.

“Russell Rocks the Block is about continuing a legacy of investing in people and creating opportunities that strengthen our communities. Castleberry Hill has been an important part of the Russell story for generations, and this event allows us to bring people together, connect families with valuable resources, and support the community that has supported us for so many years. We want everyone who attends to leave feeling connected, encouraged, and aware of opportunities that can make a meaningful difference in their lives,” Michael Russell Sr., Chief Executive Officer, H. J. Russell & Company

This year’s event featured a dedicated voter registration and civic engagement area provided by our community partners, Black Voters Matter. Attendees will have access to voter registration and election information, as well as nonpartisan voter education resources. The initiative is designed to increase access to civic information and encourage community participation without influencing how attendees vote.

Workforce development remains an important component of RRTB, as it connects Atlanta residents with on-the-spot hiring opportunities. Attendees will learn about employment and career resources while connecting directly with organizations and employers committed to creating pathways to accessibility.

“We’re excited to bring Russell Rocks the Block back to Castleberry Hill for its sixth year. This event means so much more to our family than business. This year, we’re especially excited about the opportunities to share voter registration resources with our attendees and to connect people with career pathways designed to support their personal and professional growth. For us, it’s about creating an experience that is both fun and meaningful, one that brings our community together while opening doors to new possibilities,” Mori Russell Atkins, Business Development Manager, Concessions International

RRTB will continue to bring together a diverse group of community partners that contribute to Atlanta’s fabric and provide resources, services, and experiences for attendees.

The event is part of Russell Family Enterprises’ broader commitment to community investment and reflects the organization’s belief that “Russell invests in people as much as places.”

Organizers expect more than 500 residents and community members to participate in this year’s celebration.

Thank you for helping us continue to tell the story of the people, partnerships, and community that make Russell Rocks the Block possible.

About Russell Family Enterprise, LLC

Russell Family Enterprises is a purpose-driven real estate development and construction company committed to creating positive change in the communities where it lives, works, and builds. Guided by the belief that thriving neighborhoods are built through meaningful relationships and long-term investment, Russell’s community engagement efforts focus on expanding access to education, supporting women’s empowerment, addressing hunger relief, and creating opportunities that strengthen families and neighborhoods.

Through initiatives like Russell Rocks the Block, the Russell family brings together residents, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, employers, and community leaders to provide free resources, foster meaningful connections, and celebrate the communities that have shaped its legacy. More than building spaces,

Russell is dedicated to building stronger, healthier, and more connected communities for generations to come.

More about Russell Family Enterprise and its community initiatives at: www.hjrussell.com, www.cintl.com, or follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@h.j.russellcompany.

Russell Rocks The Block Promo Video:

Russell Rocks the Block (RRTB) 2026

Russell Rocks the Block (RRTB) 2026, Photo by Lashley, Zeriba Media

Interview with Killer Mike (Michael Santiago Render), Interviewed by Lashley / Zeriba Media, Saturday, September 19, 2026

Lashley: Talk to events like this and talk to your impression of what this represents to the community.

Killer Mike (Michael Santiago Render): Well, I’ll tell you what it represented to me. Black wealth wasn’t something I saw on the Cosby show; and what I mean by wealthy is a true Black middle class, a true Black upper class, not having to reinvest in the community, but they were in the community. The [Herman J.] Russells lived three streets behind me, my grandparents lived in a nine hundred square foot house on the front side of Collier Heights, on Collier Drive.
I went to better schools because the people that could afford to not live there stayed there. I went to better schools, I associated with kids that were smart. I went to a good school after Frederick Douglass and going to Morehouse. I kept building those relationships. And I am a product of the working class that matriculated up to the middle class; and I’ve helped others to do that by seeking and finding partners and reinvest in my community, hire people in my community that can now afford to live in that community and repeat the cycle. I think that’s what successful communities do.

Lashley: We’ve got an election coming up. Talk about the impact of the Black vote and talk about what you see happening on the Atlanta side.

Killer Mike (Michael Santiago Render): Well, the Black vote is obviously in terms of my state is the most valuable. We make up a third, I think about 33, [or] 35 percent of the state in terms of Democratic Party, overwhelmingly over 90 percent. We vote Democrat; and I know the Republicans are lusting to get 11 percent or better. So they’re doing every tactic. I didn’t know there was a Rick Jackson in the Black community until they ran for this office; but what I’ve known is that I’ve seen Keisha Lance Bottoms as a city council person. I’ve seen her in and out of office. I’ve seen her as mayor and I’ve seen her be successful; and that’s what I’d like to see for the state. I’ve not been mad at the [current] governor we’ve had, but we must admit to some mistakes that our former mayor is getting blamed for where he is. He kept our state open. So when people say where crime went up under her administration, her state was wide open. She couldn’t control that. People came in from out of state. They brought their b***s*** with them. Her and her police department helped fix that b***s***.
Then she went to D.C. and advocated for our part up there as a part of a national administration. She came home. She allowed our current mayor to run, win twice. Has been good for this city and the homeless population in terms of decreasing that; and I think she’s going to do good in terms of keeping data centers out and keeping hospitals in the state as governor. So I look forward to helping her become [Georgia Governor].

Lashley: Finally, talk about the journey of the city. We had the World Cup. We had some of these actions. Talk about where you see the city progressing to.

Killer Mike (Michael Santiago Render): In terms of an international city, Andy [Young] made sure we were an international city. That’s what we are between what he and Billy [Payne] did. We get the Olympics here. So I wasn’t surprised at the World Cups and more. What I am surprised about is the DNC isn’t here. The DNC strongest voting base happens to be Black men and women. So the fact that they have skipped over Atlanta twice now to me is grossly ignorant, grossly arrogant. But whatever it grossly is, they need to fix it fast.

Lashley: Thank you.