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 […]
Category: Thought Leadership
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
How Testing Protects Us All
For much of history, physicians made disease diagnoses by simply using their senses. What does the skin look like? How do the lungs sound? Do any bodily fluids have a particular smell? As we have learned more about the nature of diseases and developed more advanced tools, testing has become one of our strongest defenses […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
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 […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
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 […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Birds Georgia Is Burning for Birds
Prescribed burning, also known as controlled burning, helps restart the ecological clock, thin unwanted vegetation, and benefit native plant species, creating a habitat where birds can thrive. Working with the Interagency Burn Team (IBT), a collection of private, state, and federal partners focused on burning to help rare wildlife, Birds Georgia has conducted prescribed fires […]
Posted inHigher Education
Emory researchers discover promising treatment for epileptic seizures
Epilepsy is a persistent brain disorder that produces hard to control seizures and cognitive impairments in 1.2% of the U.S. population. It can be treated and sometimes controlled but never cured. Now, Emory University researchers have discovered genetic pathways to address the stubbornly difficult challenge of alleviating epileptic seizures. The researchers were part of a […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
From Crisis to Hope: How Place-Based Strategies Can Reverse the Rise in Family Homelessness
Across the country, family homelessness is rising at an alarming rate. In 2024 alone, the number of people in families with children experiencing homelessness surged by 39%—the largest increase of any demographic group. Here in Atlanta, the number of families experiencing homelessness rose by 14%, even as chronic homelessness declined. These aren’t just numbers—they’re mothers […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
Homeownership is Liberation
By Rosalyn Merrick, President and CEO, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity I grew up celebrating Juneteenth as a little girl visiting my maternal grandmother’s hometown of Thomaston, a small town in middle Georgia with fewer than 10,000 residents. Each summer, my cousins and I made the return voyage to Granny’s neighborhood for a few days to enjoy […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Meet Park Pride’s Design Trio
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager As we all head into summer, Park Pride is also entering a new season! We are thrilled to announce a few changes to the way we do things. Teri Nye, who had previously served in Park Pride’s Park Visioning Program, has rejoined the organization after […]
Posted inHigher Education
Georgia State University Is Ensuring Tomorrow’s Workforce Is Career-Ready
At Georgia State University, instilling the skills and competencies that employers value is baked into its DNA. And just as Georgia State pioneered the tools and techniques that have made it a national leader in getting students from all backgrounds to graduation day at equal high rates, it’s also focused on ensuring those graduates are […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Dreams Deferred: AmeriCorps Cuts and the Fight for College Access
By Damian Ramsey College wasn’t part of my original plan. Maybe I didn’t believe it was meant for someone like me. But people and programs changed that. They helped me see what was possible and guided me forward. One of those programs was the Bruce Wells Scholars Upward Bound Program at Clark University. Part of […]
Posted inSustainable Communities
Revitalizing Communities Through Resident Services
By Marjy Stagmeier, Founder and Board Chair, Star-C Programs When I first started offering resident services programs in my apartment communities, our actions were strongly embraced by the broader community. I think back to the year 2000 when we started an after-school program at Ashton Chase Apartments in southeast Atlanta, a 224-unit low-income property predominately […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Building Generational Wealth: How the Beltline is Making Homeownership Dreams Reality
June is National Home Ownership Month, and there’s never been a better time to celebrate the transformative power of homeownership in Atlanta. At the Atlanta Beltline, we’re not just building trails and parks; we’re building pathways to generational wealth and community stability that will benefit Atlantans for decades to come. The numbers tell an inspiring […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
SNAP Funding Cuts Will Harm Georgia’s Youngest Children
By the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students The budget reconciliation bill, which recently passed the U.S. House, would completely restructure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), transferring costs to the state and likely resulting in significant cuts to food assistance for families. The House’s proposal also […]
Posted inSustainable Communities
Neighbors Together Celebrates NeighborWorks Week
Each year, ANDP’s Neighbors Together Community Leadership Initiative (CLI) supports current and emerging neighborhood leaders in addressing a topic of community importance. This year, the CLI Team—Nadine Ali, Cassandra Brown, Wilita Frehiwet, DeBorah Hargrove, and Niya Randall—has teamed with ANDP to craft a topic on how self-care can empower both individuals and communities. Join us Saturday, […]
Posted inHigher Education
Georgia Tech Shaping Atlanta’s Future as Top Tech Hub
For Atlanta to be considered among the nation’s top tech hubs, its higher education system must play a pivotal role in unlocking its potential technological advancement and entrepreneurial investment. A study by the Boston Consulting Group revealed that increasing the number of local startups while retaining the talent graduating from Georgia Tech and other research […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
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 inPoverty & Equity
Shifting the Stigma: Rewriting the Narrative Around Homelessness and Mental Health
When you think of someone experiencing homelessness, what image comes to mind? For many, the answer is shaped by decades of media portrayals, political rhetoric, and public myths—images of tents under bridges, untreated mental illness, and individuals who appear to have “given up.” But these ideas are not only incomplete—they’re dangerous. They fuel stigma, reinforce […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
The Connection between Vaping and Mental Health Challenges: Why Youth Deserve Our Protection
By Adriana Dragicevic and Amaya Carthan Each year, World No Tobacco Day reminds us that protecting future generations from tobacco harms is a population health imperative because tobacco is the world’s leading cause of preventable deaths. In 2025, the campaign’s theme, “protecting children from tobacco industry interference,” rings especially urgent. An area of growing concern […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
The Women Shaping Atlanta’s Westside & Why We Should Know Their Names
When the future story of Atlanta’s Westside is told, it will include women who lead, build, organize, and advocate for equity. As John Ahmann, President and CEO of the Westside Future Fund, has stated, “Despite all the work that is being done on the Westside to rebuild the community and provide supportive services to people […]
