Partners in Purpose

Love & Legacy: Columbus’ Changemakers

In the heart of Columbus, Ga., Natalia Naman Temesgen and Pythias “Pete” Temesgen are making a lasting impact on their community—one through the power of storytelling, the other through the pursuit of justice.

Natalia Naman Temesgen, an accomplished playwright, television writer and associate professor of creative writing at Columbus State University, has brought her work to stages and screens across the country. Her plays have been produced in Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York; and she has written for television series such as Dear White People (Netflix), Julia (Max), and Reasonable Doubt (Hulu).

Her play Lawnpeople earned an honorable mention for the 2019 "Relentless Award" from the American Playwriting Foundation, and her upcoming work, Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story, is set for a 2025 production at Prime Stage in Pittsburgh. In 2021, she was named an Artist in Residence at the Serenbe Institute, where she received the Film Focus Fellowship.

While Natalia tells powerful stories, her husband, Judge Pythias “Pete” Temesgen, serves the Columbus community in the courtroom. As a State Court Judge of Muscogee County, Temesgen has built a career focused on fairness and public service.

Before taking the bench, he practiced civil litigation at Huff Powell Bailey LLC, and worked in criminal defense. His career also includes roles as an assistant district attorney and law clerk in Columbus.

Beyond the courtroom, Judge Temesgen has been deeply involved in community leadership, previously serving as president of the Fountain City Bar Association and on the Public Safety Advisory Commission as a mayoral appointee. He also has been active with the Springer Opera House and the Columbus Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.

Together, the Temesgens embody a commitment to public service and cultural enrichment. They reside in Columbus with their two children, Aria and Paul, continuing to shape the city through their contributions to the arts and justice system.