Community Foundation staff members reveal their “Why?” for how their work boosts our region

By Diaka Burke, events and marketing associate, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta recently launched TogetherATL, a blueprint for how the Foundation will champion equity and lead boldly in collaboration with our partners and neighbors like you, all across our region. Together, we will work to secure prosperity for all who call the ATL home.

Our internal team, along with a broad array of stakeholders, helped inform this process by looking into the role we play in the region to identify our guiding principles. A big part of that effort was asking “Why?” frequently. Why are we doing the work we do? Why are we the organization to tackle such a huge challenge? Why are we, as stakeholders, the ones to drive change? What is my personal “Why” in this effort?

Asking “What’s your why?” to a staff member or other partner gives more insight into who someone is as a person, as well as a colleague, and why they came into this work. We started this video series as a way to share our stories and bring more of #TogetherATL into our work.

We continue our “What’s your why?” video series with staff members sharing their “Why.” The staff is the Foundation’s greatest asset and each person brings their own expertise, skill sets, talents and viewpoints. Click on each link to see full remarks.

As shared in my video, I firmly believe in a solution-oriented community, especially when it comes to creating a more equitable Atlanta. The saying “If you have a solution, then you don’t have a problem” is the foundation of my belief that everyone has a say in the Atlanta they want to create, from how safe neighborhoods are to live in to access to quality education and jobs. Together, we can make the building blocks to a quality life accessible to all.

Nikonie Brown, content and social media associate, views her role as a storyteller as a way to have donors, community members, nonprofit partners and others share their perspectives and experiences when it comes to the work in our region. While it’s important for the Foundation to share stories, it’s just as important to hear stories from others.

Jarrod Fleming, philanthropic associate, believes that human beings are meant to serve one another. Growing up, he saw how social services and other resources helped his family and others and, as an adult, he believes in paying it forward to help others.

Our “What’s your why?” video series will continue throughout the year. Please monitor new posts on our blog and on our YouTube channel.