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, […]
Category: Thought Leadership
Posted inPoverty & Equity
The Business Case for Solving Homelessness in Atlanta
Homelessness isn’t just a humanitarian issue; it’s an economic one. When people lose housing, businesses lose employees, healthcare costs rise, and public services are strained. The cost of inaction is high, but investing in housing strengthens Atlanta’s economy. At Hope Atlanta, we see this firsthand every day. It’s the father working two jobs who still […]
Posted inHigher Education
Four Emory students selected for internship with legendary producer Jermaine Dupri and So So Def
Four Emory University undergraduate students have been selected for a remarkable internship opportunity with Grammy-winning producer Jermaine Dupri and his iconic record label, So So Def. Initially planning to select only two interns, Dupri expanded the opportunity after recognizing the outstanding talent among the applicants, ultimately choosing Ella Ferguson, Luccas Perez, David Qiu and Emmett Roth […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
The Uphill Battle: Nonprofits Fighting to Keep Our Neighbors Housed
Nonprofits working to end homelessness face an uphill battle every day. Even in the best of times, the road to stable housing is filled with obstacles—rising housing costs, limited funding, and growing demand for services. Now, with the looming threat of a government shutdown, the challenge is even greater. For thousands of Atlantans who rely […]
Posted inSmall Business
The GMSDC Celebrates Women’s History Month: Honoring Women Who Shape the Past and Future
The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) is celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2025…50 years of facilitating business partnerships and stimulating the economy of the Great State of Georgia. What began in 1975 as the Atlanta Regional Minority Purchasing Council – the brainchild of a bold handful of Georgia corporations who saw economic equity as […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
970 Partner Spotlight: Atlanta Beltline Partnership – Connecting Communities and Expanding Opportunity
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 inSmall Business
We Know What to Do—Now Let’s Do It
I recently addressed a room full of business owners and corporate decision-makers at a Welcome to Georgia reception to kick off the national supplier diversity conference in Atlanta. My challenge to the group was a simple question with broad implications for the future. When I first asked, “What Will You Do?”, it was a call […]
Posted inFinancial Inclusion
160 Years Later: The Promise of the Freedman’s Bank Lives On
160 years ago, America made a promise. On March 3, 1865, in the final days of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln and Congress established the Freedman’s Savings Bank—a radical idea at the time. The vision was simple but powerful: economic freedom must accompany personal freedom. For the first time in American history, formerly enslaved men […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
Housing-First Works: The Proof is in the People We Serve
For 125 years, Hope Atlanta has been a beacon of support for our neighbors in need, including those experiencing homelessness. While housing-first strategies are often debated in policy circles, the true measure of their success lies in the lives they transform. But let’s be clear—housing-first is not just about putting people into homes. It’s about […]
Posted inSustainable Communities
Status of Eviction Courts: Updates from Metro Atlanta’s Magistrate Judges
Eviction courts play a critical role in Metro Atlanta’s housing landscape, affecting families, landlords, and community stability. At Star-C’s recent February Breakfast, the chief magistrate judges from Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, Clayton, and Gwinnett counties provided updates on caseloads, court operations, and support programs. Key Updates: Looking Ahead As courts navigate eviction-related challenges, funding, staffing, and […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Jerome Bettis, “The Bus,” Stops at the Big Game for Heart Health
By Toni Perling Pro football legend Jerome Bettis, the former running back better known as “The Bus,” brought a heart health message to the big game in New Orleans on behalf of the CDC Foundation and the cardiovascular health initiative Live to the Beat. Bettis spoke to several of the media outlets gathered there for […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
February Summit Recap: A Year of Impact – Celebrating Leadership, Progress, and the Future of Atlanta Housing with Terri Lee
The February 21 Transform Westside Summit, held at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, brought together community leaders, residents and partners to reflect on the progress made in affordable housing in Atlanta. The Summit featured a dynamic conversation with Terri Lee, President and CEO of Atlanta Housing and John Ahmann, President and CEO of Westside Future Fund (WFF), as we celebrated […]
Posted inSustainable Communities
MARCH 13 HOUSING FORUM: Regional Action on Affordable Housing Development
Is the dream of homeownership out of reach? Nearly every state and city in the nation faces the triple threat of all-time high home sale prices, soaring mortgage interest rates, and a persistent lack of supply. Equally troubling, rental housing is unaffordable for half of the nation’s renters, preventing low- and moderate-income families from saving adequate cash for a […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
From Bystanders to Lifesavers: Why CPR Training Must Be the New Normal
February is American Heart Month—a time when we’re reminded that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. But beyond prevention, there’s a crucial conversation we must amplify: preparedness. The ability to recognize and respond to a cardiac emergency can mean the difference between life and death. Yet, the vast majority of […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks, Thought Leadership
Statewide Birding Trail Takes Flight in 2025
By Jared Teutsch, Executive Director Next year, in 2026, Birds Georgia will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of our founding in 1926 as the Atlanta Bird Club making us Georgia’s oldest, continually operating conservation organization. In the century since our founding, Birds Georgia has experienced a steady trajectory of growth as we work to build places […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Black History Month: Pathways to Progress – The History of Cameron M. Alexander Blvd
Atlanta’s historic Westside is a living testament to the city’s rich past and enduring legacy. Throughout the community, streets and landmarks tell the stories of trailblazing leaders whose contributions shaped Atlanta—and the nation. In honor of Black History Month, we are launching a blog series exploring the namesakes of four significant streets that run through […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
“As Long as We Keep Showing Up.” GEEARS’ Eighth Annual Strolling Thunder
“There are so many opportunities to lighten the load on young families, but I’m asking you to prioritize investing in TANF and consider enacting a state tax credit to help families make ends meet. I dream of a community where parents can be fully present with their families, not split in two as many of […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
The Black History of Giving in Atlanta
By Candice Jordan, Chief Development Officer, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Atlanta’s history is Black history. Rich with stories of resilience, perseverance and opportunity, Atlanta is a mecca of Black leaders, pioneers, and entrepreneurs inextricably sewn into the fabric of our city. Atlanta’s Black leaders have been at the center of human rights movements, innovation, and […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Black History Month: Pathways to Progress – The History of Joseph E. Boone Blvd
Atlanta’s historic Westside is a living testament to the city’s rich past and enduring legacy. Throughout the community, streets and landmarks tell the stories of trailblazing leaders whose contributions shaped Atlanta—and the nation. In honor of Black History Month, we are launching a blog series exploring the namesakes of four significant streets that run through […]
Posted inHigher Education
Rollins Family Honors Roots with $20 Million Gift for Theological Education
A recent gift to Emory’s Candler School of Theology can be traced to rural North Georgia a century ago. O. Wayne Rollins sat in the pews, sang from the songbooks, and took communion at Smith Chapel United Methodist Church near Ringgold—the church where his parents and grandparents were founding members. An expression of their faith, […]
