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 occupied by single parents working service jobs at the airport earning $6.50–$7.00/hour. Within a month, we had 30 excited children and many relieved parents whose children were no longer “latch-key” kids. The program was a win-win: parents were thrilled to have a safe, caring environment for their children, and the children loved the snacks, activity, and academic structure. As the property owner, I also saw reduced tenant vandalism and increased renewals. Ashton Chase became a community of choice where neighbors knew neighbors and children played with their Star-C classmates. Soon, the College Park police hosted family fishing trips and the local fire station joined in at events.
By 2014, Star-C was officially established as a 501(c)(3), becoming the umbrella for our resident services programs based on the social determinants of health in low-income apartment communities throughout Atlanta.
That work continues. We’re now onboarding four new apartment communities, including Oakland City/West End Apartments. This 107-unit community has long suffered from gang violence and disinvestment. The new owners have partnered with Star-C to bring in resident programs based on a tenant needs assessment, and we’re excited to engage partners to deliver healthcare, education, nutrition, and—most importantly—hope.
