Posted inHistoric Westside

Restoration Without Displacement: The Westside’s Unfinished Promise

Last month, on a cold January morning on the historic Westside, neighbors, partners and city leaders gathered to celebrate 57 new, deeply affordable homes on blocks that had sat vacant for decades. For longtime residents of English Avenue and Vine City, the opening of 646 Echo Street and 839 Boone Boulevard was less a ribbon-cutting […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

New Paths to Homeownership on English Avenue — Two Modular Homes Point Toward What’s Possible

In historic English Avenue, two new single-family homes rose into place in a single day this November — a striking moment in a neighborhood where high-quality, affordable homeownership has long been out of reach for many of the people who love this community most. For Westside Future Fund (WFF), the installation wasn’t simply about construction […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

220 Sunset Avenue Earns Historic Designation — Honoring a Legacy While Building Community

Today, we are proud to announce a milestone in our journey to honor Atlanta’s rich civil rights heritage: 220 Sunset Avenue has officially received historic designation. This recognition is more than symbolic — it cements the building’s role in preserving the story of leadership, family, and community on the historic Westside. For the Westside Future Fund (WFF), […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

November Summit Recap: Investing in Inclusive Growth — How Invest Atlanta is Advancing Economic Opportunity on the Westside

On Friday, November 21, the Westside Future Fund (WFF) welcomed community members, partners, legacy residents, and local leaders to the monthly Transform Westside Summit. This month’s program featured Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President & CEO of Invest Atlanta, in a conversation with WFF President & CEO John Ahmann discussing “How Invest Atlanta is Advancing Economic Opportunity on the Westside.” The morning […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

Six Years Strong: How a Community Partnership Ensures No Family Goes Without on Thanksgiving

For six consecutive years, the WFF Volunteer Corps and Hudson Grille have answered the same call: to show up for Atlanta’s historic Westside during the season of gratitude. This year, they answered it bigger than ever. Over just two days, the partnership distributed 1,900 complete Thanksgiving meals to 247 households — a milestone that reflects […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

Westside Future Fund Prepares to Open Two New Multifamily Complexes in English Avenue

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is preparing to welcome residents to two transformative developments that continue the organization’s mission of restoring Atlanta’s historic Westside into a community Dr. King would be proud to call home.  646 Echo Street and 839 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard are the next steps in WFF’s ongoing work to expand access to deeply affordable, high-quality […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

Letter from Leadership: A Stronger Future Through the Westside TAD

Last month, I joined city leaders and community partners as we stood alongside Mayor Andre Dickens as he launched the City of Atlanta’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI) — a bold effort to ensure Atlanta’s prosperity reaches every corner of our city.  For me, it was a full-circle moment. When I moved into Vine City years […]

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October Summit Recap: Connected on the Westside — Building Pathways to Parks, Jobs, and Opportunity Without Displacement

The October 17 Transform Westside Summit explored the theme “Connected on the Westside: Building Pathways to Parks, Jobs, and Opportunity Without Displacement,” bringing together leaders and partners shaping equitable growth across Atlanta’s historic Westside. Hosted by John Ahmann, President & CEO of Westside Future Fund, the Summit featured leading voices Clyde Higgs, President & CEO of the Atlanta Beltline, […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

Letters from Leadership: Keeping the Promise of the Westside — Why the Westside TAD Matters

Early in July, the Fulton County Commission considered withdrawing from the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) — a move that would disrupt deeply affordable housing developments already underway in neighborhoods that played defining roles in the Civil Rights Movement. As I shared with the Commission, I live in Vine City. Every day, I see what […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

Finding Home on the Westside: The Story of Fernando Esquivel-Suarez

Fernando Esquivel-Suarez arrived in Atlanta from Colombia two decades ago, never expecting the city to become his “forever home.” Today, he’s a dedicated Professor of English and Ethnic Studies at Spelman College, a role he’s held for 13 years.  His journey to Atlanta began with his pursuit of Master’s and Ph.D. degrees at Emory University, […]

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July Summit Recap: Justice Where It Matters – Advancing Neighborhood-Based Legal Empowerment

The July 18 Transform Westside Summit focused on the intersection of housing, justice, and community well-being, spotlighting the vital work of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) in creating systems-level change across Atlanta through pro bono legal and social services. Hosted and moderated by Westside Future Fund President & CEO John Ahmann, the Summit highlighted how historical systemic disinvestment continues […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

Groundwork for Change: How Integrity Home Solutions Powers Property Care, Youth Leadership, and Volunteer Impact on the Historic Westside

When it comes to revitalizing Atlanta’s historic Westside, transformation doesn’t just happen — it’s built, block by block, by those willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work. For Westside Future Fund, that work is made possible every day by a trusted partner: Integrity Home Solutions. Founded in 2019 by two brothers with […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

A New Chapter in English Avenue: CJ Williams Becomes a First-Time Homeowner Through Home on the Westside

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is proud to celebrate a new beginning for CJ Williams, the latest first-time homebuyer to close on a home through our Home on the Westside program. A dedicated Atlanta Public Schools teacher and staff member at the Atlanta Trap Music Museum, CJ is now the proud owner of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in […]

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970 Partner Spotlight: Community Farmers Markets – Strengthening Local Food Access on the Westside and Beyond

In 2019, Food Well Alliance and Westside Future Fund partnered to purchase and revitalize 970 Jefferson St. NW, the historic site of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Bill Bolling and John Ahmann played pivotal roles in making this acquisition a reality, turning a shared vision into a success. The two organizations collaborate on managing the […]

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June Transform Westside Summit Recap: The Group Project: Advancing Atlanta’s Neighborhoods Together

At Westside Future Fund’s June Summit at The Gathering Spot, attendees explored how strategic investments in neighborhoods can shape Atlanta’s future. In a city where life expectancy can differ by 20 years across just a few miles, the conversation focused on the urgent need for systems-level change. The summit’s featured speaker, Courtney English, Chief Policy Officer […]

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970 Partner Spotlight: Second Helpings Atlanta – Fighting Hunger Through Food Rescue

In 2019, Food Well Alliance and Westside Future Fund partnered to purchase and revitalize 970 Jefferson St. NW, the historic site of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Bill Bolling and John Ahmann played pivotal roles in making this acquisition a reality, turning a shared vision into a success. The two organizations collaborate on managing the […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

Welcoming Lyric McGhee and Jaylyn Maddox Home on the Westside

This month, two new homeowners put down roots in Atlanta’s historic Westside through Home on the Westside — each bringing a meaningful connection to the community. Lyric McGhee: A Lifelong Westsider Finds Her Home Lyric McGhee’s story is deeply tied to the historic Westside. She grew up in the community, attended local schools, and gave back through […]

Posted inHistoric Westside

Preserving the Past, Protecting Community: National Preservation Month on Atlanta’s Historic Westside

May is National Preservation Month — a time to reflect on the spaces that tell our nation’s story and to recognize the people working to protect them. On Atlanta’s historic Westside, preservation is not just about safeguarding the past — it’s about protecting a community’s future. Westside Future Fund (WFF) was established to help revitalize […]

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