The High Museum of Art is a mainstay of culture and community in Atlanta. Their recent project with the sustainable building nonprofit Southface Institute showcases how the museum cares for the planet too. The High has taken several steps to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions over the years, including replacing gallery lighting with LED […]
Category: Thought Leadership
Posted inHistoric Westside
November Summit Recap: Building Foundations – Collaborative Approaches to Affordable Housing in the Historic Westside
The November 15 Transform Westside Summit brought together community leaders, housing advocates and residents to discuss collaborative solutions to affordable housing in Atlanta’s Historic Westside. Under the theme “Building Foundations,” the Summit emphasized the importance of partnerships in addressing housing challenges while preserving the character and legacy of the community. John Ahmann, Westside Future Fund President and […]
Posted inFinancial Inclusion
HOPE Global Forums: Annual Meeting to Celebrate Ten Years of Impact and Innovation
HOPE Global Forums | Annual Meeting (HGF), the nation’s largest gathering dedicated to financial literacy and economic empowerment, returns to Atlanta, December 9-11, at the Signia Hotel. With the theme “The FUTURE,” this year’s HGF agenda will explore the critical relationship between financial education, community uplift and innovation to find solutions to today’s most pressing global challenges. Now in its […]
Posted inCorporate Community Impact
What is Your Company’s Superpower?
By Kat Reynolds, Veritiv Corporation Your mission, should you choose to accept it: discover your company’s superpower. And gift it to nonprofits! Your company’s superpowers can include time, talent, and treasure distinct from traditional volunteerism practices. These are impactful ways to build capacity for nonprofit organizations and highlight your company as a hero. At the […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Thank You to Bernie Marcus for Making the World Safer
By Judy Monroe, MD Bernie Marcus, who passed away in early November, played a large role in the CDC Foundation and in the presence of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta as a base to help protect people in the United States and across the globe. Most people knew Marcus as […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Why This is an Excellent Time to Support GEEARS
By GEEARS On November 22nd, GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students hosted our annual luncheon. It was a dazzling day in which 200 fellow supporters of early childhood gathered at Zoo Atlanta (with an excellent view of the elephants!) to celebrate our organization’s work on behalf of Georgia families and educators. We honored […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
970 Partner Spotlight: Urban Recipe – Building Community Through Food Cooperatives
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 inFinancial Inclusion
Successful White Men Alone Can’t Create America’s Economic Future
By John Hope Bryant, founder & CEO of Operation Hope As the founder of Operation HOPE, I’ve spent the better part of my life advocating for financial literacy and economic empowerment in underserved communities. Over the years, I’ve come to a stark realization: there are simply not enough successful white men to carry the weight of […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
Low Income Investment Fund is driving educational equity in metro Atlanta
By Amir Ali, vice president, Community Facilities and New Markets Tax Credits, Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world for the better,” so said civil rights leader and Spelman College alumna Marian Wright Edelman. The founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Georgia’s State Flower Should Be From Georgia
Did you realize that Georgia’s state flower is not even from Georgia? Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata) was designated as the state flower of Georgia in 1916 under the mistaken belief that it was indigenous to Georgia; however, it is indigenous to China, and its introduction to Georgia was the result of deliberate cultivation. The Cherokee […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Westside Future Fund Celebrates Home Closing with Atlanta Firefighter Rodrick Collier
Westside Future Fund (WFF) is proud to celebrate another member of our community finding a home on the Westside. Earlier this month, Rodrick Collier purchased a home in the English Avenue neighborhood. Serving the very community where he now lives, Collier previously worked at the fire station that protects English Avenue and Vine City, perfectly aligning […]
Posted inHigher Education
Oxford College program connects students with industry professionals
This fall, Oxford College launched the Impact Lab, an initiative offering students hands-on engagement with real-world industry professionals. Unlike a typical academic college course, the one-hour credit program takes place at the Center for Pathways and Purpose, a hub designed for student exploration and experiential learning, which opened in March. “It’s a very informal, neutral space that […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Legacy of Impact: Metro Atlanta’s Youth of the Year
By David Jernigan, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta In the fast-moving world of youth development, moments of true reflection often come when you least expect them. This year’s Youth of the Year (YOY) Celebration for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) was one of those moments. As […]
Posted inFinancial Inclusion
Operation HOPE Releases Third Quarter Research Results Showing More Positive Outlook on Homeownership
Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, today announced the third quarter 2024 results of The HOPE Insider, a comprehensive nationwide client survey. This quarter’s survey showed that respondents are more hopeful than last quarter about the affordability of homeownership and are overall hopeful that their […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Balancing International and Domestic Work to Amplify MedShare’s Impact
As a global humanitarian aid organization dedicated to increasing access to healthcare for underserved communities around the world, MedShare continuously monitors the world’s healthcare landscape to understand the evolving challenges facing medically vulnerable populations. By prioritizing areas of greatest need, MedShare is better able to collaborate with our partners, such as governments, corporations and other […]
Posted inSmall Business
Nzinga Shaw’s Call to Action on Economic Equity – ‘What Will You Do?’
The GMSDC welcomed the Supplier Diversity Community to Atlanta for the NMSDC National Conference and Exchange on October 20 – 23. This annual gathering brings together thousands of corporate decision-makers, minority business owners, procurement professionals and industry experts for workshops, keynotes, panels, matchmaking and networking opportunities focused on economic equity. The GMSDC is one of […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Finding solace in our parks
There’s no denying that last week’s election was stressful – between worrying about the outcome, being inundated with political texts and calls and maybe even some disagreements with friends and family. To top it all off, with the recent time change, the low light of winter is slowly creeping in – and an estimated 10 […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Preserving History: Westside Future Fund Acquires English Avenue Carnegie Library for Revitalization
This October, Westside Future Fund (WFF) acquired the historic English Avenue Carnegie Library, located along Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. Originally opened in July 1922, the library was built at a cost of $23,000, funded by Fulton County and the City of Atlanta. Situated next to English Avenue School—then the largest school in the city, serving over 1,200 […]
Posted inAtlanta Housing
Atlanta Housing Seeks Development Partner to Transform Historic Stadium Hotel
Atlanta Housing (AH) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the redevelopment of the landmark 450 Hank Aaron Drive property, inviting developers to reimagine this historic property as a high-quality, mixed-income community with affordable housing, community-centric retail, and open spaces. Built in 1973 and commonly known as Stadium Hotel, the former Ramada Plaza has […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
A five-alarm fire requires a five-alarm fire response
By Belisa Urbina, CEO and Stephanie Watson, director of strategy and sustainability, Ser Familia One of the major sources of strength in Atlanta is its rich diversity. Over the past 10 years, Latinos have led a strong population growth trajectory. This trend will continue to eclipse all other areas of demographic growth. In fact, the […]
