University of Georgia student Ian Crosby, a volunteer at BikeAthens, had an unusual idea for the Athens Com­munity Council on Aging (ACCA): he wanted to deliver food for their Meals on Wheels program via bike. 

“Our collaborative culture led to an inventive succession plan, giving artists the chance to pursue leadership positions within the company,” said Zoetic Dance Ensemble founder and Creative Director Melanie Blanchard. That’s how they hired new Artistic Director Mallory Baxley, a dancer and filmmaker who began with the company in high school, and stuck with them through college at UGA and beyond. “Many of our dancers have invested years of their careers in Zoetic,” said Blanchard. “We wanted to offer them a significant return by recruiting a new Artistic Director from within.”