Raven Johnson’s back-to-school event brings smiles and support to Atlanta children

South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (above) with a young boy during her back-to-school giveaway in East Point. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice EAST POINT- The DTLR East Point location was packed from wall to wall, camera’s flashing, music blasting, and kids screaming in excitement. On Saturday, August 3, DTLR staff transformed their store into a home-away-from home for NCAA basketball champion and Atlanta native Raven Johnson. The event, a back-to-school supplies giveaway designed to support local students, offered not only backpacks, but mindfulness journals to prepare students for the upcoming school year. Antonio Gray, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement at DTLR, highlighted the extensive planning involved. “The planning began months ago when we learned of Raven’s desire to give back to her community,” Gray stated. “With our strong infrastructure for hosting in-store events and bringing in athletes, we handled the logistics seamlessly.” Gray emphasized the event’s primary goal: providing a memorable experience for the kids. “I hope they got a picture with an athlete they admire and a backpack for school. It’s about giving back to the community,”& he said. Johnson’s return to her community seemed personal. “It’s a blessing,” Johnson said. “When I was young,...