Bill Sanders

"His devotion to telling stories in the most compelling way is exceeded only by his sensitivity to the people whose stories he tells. His writing demonstrates remarkable insight into people. He does not sugar coat anyone, but his empathy for human beings shows through clearly." - David Simpson, AJC

Recent posts

In Atlanta, the Boys of Summer on the Diamond and in the Community

_MG_7426

By this time next year, Mendez Elder figures to be on a baseball scholarship at Georgia Tech, Clemson or Rice – the first person in his immediate family to go to college. The catcher is a top prospect in Georgia and was the only inner-city baseball player ever selected for June’s Perfect Game National Showcase in Fort Myers, Fla. On a recent warm, sunny Saturday morning, Mendez was at Perkerson Park on the south side of Atlanta, helping middle school kids work on their game. Mendez is a catcher with a rocket for an arm. But what he has to offer, any middle school player, regardless of position, would lap up. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , , , , ,

Part Five: The Big Trouble With Oxy

OxyContin 1

Just joining us? This is part five of a five part series. Start from the beginning. Scott Merritt, a certified addictions counselor and licensed therapist in metro Atlanta, estimates that about 40 percent of kids in Cobb County high schools use illegal drugs, including alcohol. Though federal officials say the rates nationwide are lower, Merritt isn’t pulling that 40 percent out of thin air. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , , , , ,

Part Five: A Day In Drug Court

drug-court-01290000_rdax_676x456

Just joining us? This is part five of a five part series. Start from the beginning. Cobb County, Ga’s., Juvenile Court Judge Juanita Stedman’s office overflows every Wednesday at 4 p.m. For an hour, with therapists and probation officers filling every chair and – with several sitting on the floor – Stedman and her juvenile drug court team do a rundown of every kid currently in the program. One by one, Stedman calls out the name of each of 30 or so kids. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , , , , ,

Part Three: A Friend and Reason for Hope

Kyle Boyer

Just joining us? This is part three of a five part series. Start from the beginning. Kyle Boyer, 15-year-old prescription drug addict, duped his parents once again, faking a stomach ache to stay home from school. But instead of staying in bed, he went out to do what had become his norm – breaking into houses and stealing whatever the medicine cabinets within had to offer. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , , , , ,