Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

Pennsylvania

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Contributing Writer at Freelance

Reader. Writer. Journalist. Sayer of sarcastic things. Strong opinions, gentle soul. I live and breathe words.

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Articles

After setbacks, Neatrour says the community has rallied behind her write-in bid for City Council

2 weeks ago | pghcitypaper.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

As an opera singer, Amanda Neatrour came to Pittsburgh to hone her craft with a voice teacher, but she stayed because she fell in love with the city. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Baltimore, Neatrour admits that, with the exception of a cousin located in the South Hills, she doesn’t have much in the way of extended family in the Steel City.
Abbott Elementary - Please Touch Museum

3 weeks ago | starrymag.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

By: Atiya Irvin-MitchellAva (Janelle James) is back and makes an unconventional series of morning announcements that the teachers aren’t thrilled about. She says she’s pardoning herself for taking bribes and Jacob (Chris Perfetti) points out that is an abuse of power. Plus, she changed the passcode on the basement bathroom, which makes Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) ask how you impeach a principal.
Abbott Elementary - Rally

4 weeks ago | starrymag.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

By: Atiya Irvin-MitchellWe open with the knowledge that in the aftermath of the Super Bowl, Philadelphia Eagles fans freed a shark from the local aquarium. That matters because the aquarium was supposed to be where they were taking the kids for this year’s end-of-the-year field trip. Gregory (Tyler James Williams), who isn’t a Philadelphia native, says that Eagles fans are unique to a room full of defensive Eagles fans.
Homewood locals find self-sufficiency and health benefits in beekeeping

4 weeks ago | pghcitypaper.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

If Elizabeth Lawrence was correct in saying, "The hum of bees is the voice of the garden," Homewood is full of humming. Specifically, after years of the Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh Co-op, aka BUGS, empowering Homewood residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables, the co-op has widened its focus to include beekeeping.
Abbott Elementary - Ava Fest: Tokyo Drift

1 month ago | starrymag.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

By: Atiya Irvin-MitchellThe teachers are trying and failing to do printouts for the upcoming open house because they lack functioning computers. Janine (Quinta Brunson) reminds the cameras that the school district took all of their freebies from the golf course away, so they’re back at square one. So, now everyone is stuck with crashing computers and Ava (Janelle James)gave away the funding they were supposed to get to needier schools. However, Janine says that they’ve got a plan.
Abbott Elementary - Music Class

1 month ago | starrymag.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

By: Atiya Irvin-MitchellWe open with the revelation that since Ava’s (Janelle James) firing, Gregory (Tyler James Williams) has stepped in as the interim principal. He gives announcements over the intercom and learns in real time that a lot of them are out of date. Dia (Pam Trotter) explains that Ava didn’t like to do the announcements because she thought a lot of them were boring. Still, Gregory stresses to the cameras that he isn’t trying to take over, and this arrangement is only temporary.
Rainbow Serpent and a celebrated British photographer capture Pittsburgh's "fierce" side

1 month ago | pghcitypaper.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

According to Merriam-Webster, to be fierce is “to have or express bold confidence or style.” For those who participate in FIERCE Pittsburgh, fierceness means celebrating the vibrancy and resilience of Black LGBTQ Pittsburghers by immortalizing them in black-and-white portraits. Created and executed by Ajamu X, a British photographer and artist, from April 2-7 FIERCE Pittsburgh will spotlight artists, activists, cultural workers, drag queens, scholars and community leaders based in the Steel City.
Abbott Elementary - Audit

1 month ago | starrymag.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

By: Atiya Irvin-MitchellMelissa (Lisa Ann Walter) compliments Ava’s (Janelle James) new dress and quickly regrets it when Ava says the dress is too exclusive for the likes of her. Then, as she continues to brag about how no one could ever steal her swag, Janine (Quinta Brunson) walks into the teacher’s lounge wearing the same dress, much to Melissa’s amusement, Gregory’s (Tyler James Williams) shock, and Ava’s horror.
Abbott Elementary - Karaoke

1 month ago | starrymag.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

By: Atiya Irvin-MitchellIt is a potluck in the teacher’s lounge with a twist: Janine (Quinta Brunson) is having everyone match each person to the dish and their personality. Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) matches the dishes to the teacher with ease, but there’s one standout in the form of a croquembouche. At first, she thinks Ava (Janelle James) might’ve made the pastry puffs piled into a cone, but Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) says the desert was all him.
Local lawmakers have won bipartisan support for a bill prohibiting hair discrimination

1 month ago | pghcitypaper.com | Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

Outside of picture day, hair is something many people can go for long periods without thinking about. Still, studies show that Black Americans experience hair discrimination from the classroom to the workplace, meaning negative bias manifested toward Black natural or textured hairstyles. Sometimes, this could mean braids, locs, and kinky hair being deemed “unprofessional.” Other times, it takes shape in suspensions given to children for wearing culturally meaningful hairstyles.