It’s time to celebrate: It’s finally spring in the City of Atlanta. As the weather begins to warm up and residents find themselves spending more time outdoors, the Atlanta Beltline continues to transform urban living, offering a vibrant, accessible space where community, creativity and wellness converge. This spring, we’re highlighting the diverse ways you can […]
Category: Thought Leadership
Posted inCorporate Community Impact
Southern Roots, Global Impact: Atlanta Businesses Are All In on Global Volunteer Month
By Cheryl Kortemeier, Executive Director, Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) April is Global Volunteer Month. Established in 2020 by international nonprofit, Points of Light, Global Volunteer Month is designed to honor and celebrate volunteers worldwide and to leverage volunteerism to strengthen communities and address global challenges. According to Points of Light, 85% of companies […]
Posted inFinancial Inclusion
Dream Forward—a “bridge building” virtual town hall
On April 4 at 1 ET/12 PM CT join John Hope Bryant and Operation HOPE for Dream Forward—a “bridge building” virtual town hall featuring some of the nation’s leading changemakers, thought leaders, and executives committed to advancing economic inclusion. Dr. King’s dream for America included economic opportunity and inclusion for all. Building on his life’s work in the wake of […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Ship Strikes Threaten The Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale
By Brian Foster, Georgia Conservancy With fewer than 370 North Atlantic right whales remaining, including just 70 breeding females, this species is on the brink of extinction. Once abundant along the Atlantic coastline, these whales now face an uncertain future due to ship strikes, entanglements in fishing gear, and habitat loss. Each winter, right whales […]
Posted inHigher Education
Emory research connected to second patient in sustained remission of HIV
Emory University’s pioneering work with a class of small molecules known as JAK (janus kinase) inhibitors continues to generate interest into how HIV might be cured after a second patient who received the treatment was declared to be in long-term remission. The use of JAK inhibitors against HIV began with a ground-breaking discovery led by Christina […]
Posted inSustainable Communities
Overcoming NIMBYism with Partnership and Proof
Along with hundreds of industry leaders, Star-C attended last week’s Georgia Affordable Housing Coalition Conference, where a key theme for project success was how to overcome NIMBYism—the resistance that often arises when affordable housing is proposed in growing communities. At Star-C, we’ve learned that resistance softens when neighbors and community institutions feel seen, heard, and […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
Hope Atlanta at 125: Answering the Call, Building a Stronger Future
Homelessness is no longer confined to downtown streets. It’s in grocery store parking lots, hotel rooms, and the backseats of cars. Today’s unhoused neighbors are working families, students, veterans, and individuals who’ve experienced just one unexpected setback. Atlanta’s affordable housing crisis—compounded by systemic failures and a shortage of 70,000 affordable homes—has left thousands teetering on […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
970 Partner Spotlight: Hands On Atlanta – Connecting Volunteers with Community Needs
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
March Summit Recap: Empowering Communities — The Revitalization of Phillis Wheatley YWCA with YWCA of Greater Atlanta
At the March 21 Transform Westside Summit, the spirit of Women’s History Month was front and center as we gathered to honor the powerful legacy of women on Atlanta’s Historic Westside—and look ahead to the future being built through collective action, community voice and collaboration. Westside Future Fund (WFF) President & CEO John Ahmann and co-host Ebony Ford, a […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Honoring the Women of the Westside: Pillars of Progress, Legacy, and Leadership
Atlanta’s historic Westside has been home to generations of remarkable women whose courage, vision, and love for their neighborhoods have helped shape the city as we know it. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re taking a moment to recognize the incredible women whose stories have shaped Vine City, English Avenue, and the communities beyond. […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Finding Home on the Westside: The Story of Rodrick Collier
For Rodrick Collier, becoming a homeowner through Westside Future Fund’s Home on the Westside program is more than a milestone—it’s a transformative experience rooted in legacy, location, and love for community. A firefighter by profession and community advocate at heart, Rodrick has deep ties to Atlanta’s Westside. In fact, he once served this very neighborhood through his […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
Celebrating Women: ‘A Seat at the Table’ with Rosalyn Merrick and Terri Lee
The journey to the CEO seat for women in leadership is often shaped by unique perspectives rooted in faith, childhood experiences and big ideas. In this candid conversation, Atlanta Habitat CEO Rosalyn Merrick and Atlanta Housing CEO Terri Lee reflect on what motivates them as leaders who are dedicated to ensuring affordable housing options in […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
YWCA Greater Atlanta: Leading Change for Women and Families in Atlanta
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, there is no better time to reflect on the incredible work under way at YWCA Greater Atlanta under the leadership of President and CEO Danita V. Knight. With a mission focused on eliminating racism and empowering women, girls, and their families, YWCA Greater Atlanta is transforming lives and paving the […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
How to Celebrate Native Plant Month
April is National Native Plant Month as annually proclaimed by Congress through Senate and House resolutions to recognize the benefits of native plants to the environment and economy of the United States. Every year, sponsors must reintroduce the resolutions. While having this recognition is excellent, why not make it permanent? Here in Georgia, that just […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Make Your Organization a Best Place for Working Parents® Georgia
GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students is pleased to partner with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce on a new initiative that promotes family-friendly practices in workplaces and honors the Georgia employers who embrace them. The Best Place for Working Parents® Georgia is a designation achieved through an easy online self-assessment. Employers who make […]
Posted inHigher Education
Emory recognized as top producer of student Fulbright winners
For the ninth consecutive year, Emory University is one of the top producers of recipients of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the government’s flagship international exchange initiative. Emory University has again earned the distinction as one of the country’s top producers of students selected for the prestigious U.S. Fulbright Awards. A total of 177 Emory students […]
Posted inSmall Business
How the Community Business Development Program is Strengthening Georgia’s Small Businesses
The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC), which has been serving Georgia’s business community for five decades, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2025. What originated as a supplier diversity initiative to give Atlanta’s minority business community a legitimate seat at the table in corporate supply chains, has evolved into so much more over the […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
Celebrating Women: Althea Broughton, First Woman to Serve as General Counsel for Atlanta Habitat Board of Directors
Learn more about Althea’s impact on affordable housing in Atlanta as we celebrate Women’s History Month. What inspired you to practice law? I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since elementary school, but not in the Perry Mason way. My childhood sheroes were lawyers like Barbara Jordan, Patricia Roberts Harris and Constance Baker Motley. Inspired by […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Maternal and Child Health: A Critical Public Health Priority
By Stacey Koehnke, MedShare CEO & Executive Director Maternal and child health is a cornerstone of public health, reflecting the overall health and well-being of a community. Unfortunately, current maternal and child health outcomes around the world, while improving, still reveal significant challenges and disparities that require urgent attention and action. MedShare has a long […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Community reaction to Park Pride Grant makes a great headline: “This is real now.”
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager Home, community, resilience, a place to dream – these are just a few words that neighbors use to describe Four Corners Park. Four Corners Park is a nearly five-acre park nestled in Atlanta’s Peoplestown neighborhood. The park is home to the Rick McDevitt Youth Center, […]
