Latest from Historic Westside
Letters from Leadership: Keeping the Promise of the Westside — Why the Westside TAD Matters
Early in July, the Fulton County Commission considered withdrawing from the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) — a move that would disrupt deeply affordable housing developments already underway in neighborhoods that played defining roles in the Civil Rights Movement. As I shared with the Commission, I live in Vine City. Every day, I see what…
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SaportaReport is proud to present the latest in Thought Leaders from across Georgia. Designed as a general forum where experts may host discussions about their respective fields, SaportaReport Thought Leadership is sponsored by various industry leaders from the Atlanta area. Westside Future Fund, a nonprofit formed by Atlanta’s public, private and philanthropic partners, shares news in how the community shapes the future of Atlanta’s Westside and are committed to helping Historic Westside neighborhoods revitalize and develop into a community Dr. King would be proud to call home.
More on Historic Westside
Finding Home on the Westside: The Story of Fernando Esquivel-Suarez
Fernando Esquivel-Suarez arrived in Atlanta from Colombia two decades ago, never expecting the city to become his “forever home.” Today, he’s a dedicated Professor of English and Ethnic Studies at Spelman College, a role he’s held for 13 years. His journey to Atlanta began with his pursuit of Master’s and Ph.D. degrees at Emory University,…
July Summit Recap: Justice Where It Matters – Advancing Neighborhood-Based Legal Empowerment
The July 18 Transform Westside Summit focused on the intersection of housing, justice, and community well-being, spotlighting the vital work of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) in creating systems-level change across Atlanta through pro bono legal and social services. Hosted and moderated by Westside Future Fund President & CEO John Ahmann, the Summit highlighted how historical systemic disinvestment continues…
Volunteer Spotlight: Andi Shen & Love Atlanta
Andi Shen, a longtime volunteer and current partner leader with Love Atlanta, has played a key role in the organization’s impact on the historic Westside this year. Though it was her first year working directly with Westside Future Fund, Andi has been volunteering with Love Atlanta for nine years, helping to organize volunteers across the…
Groundwork for Change: How Integrity Home Solutions Powers Property Care, Youth Leadership, and Volunteer Impact on the Historic Westside
When it comes to revitalizing Atlanta’s historic Westside, transformation doesn’t just happen — it’s built, block by block, by those willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work. For Westside Future Fund, that work is made possible every day by a trusted partner: Integrity Home Solutions. Founded in 2019 by two brothers with…
A New Chapter in English Avenue: CJ Williams Becomes a First-Time Homeowner Through Home on the Westside
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…
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…
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…
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…
Welcoming Lyric McGhee and Jaylyn Maddox Home on the Westside
This month, two new homeowners put down roots in Atlanta’s historic Westside through Home on the Westside — each bringing a meaningful connection to the community. Lyric McGhee: A Lifelong Westsider Finds Her Home Lyric McGhee’s story is deeply tied to the historic Westside. She grew up in the community, attended local schools, and gave back through…
Preserving the Past, Protecting Community: National Preservation Month on Atlanta’s Historic Westside
May is National Preservation Month — a time to reflect on the spaces that tell our nation’s story and to recognize the people working to protect them. On Atlanta’s historic Westside, preservation is not just about safeguarding the past — it’s about protecting a community’s future. Westside Future Fund (WFF) was established to help revitalize…
May Transform Westside Summit Recap: Generations of Opportunity – Building the Future Together on Atlanta’s Westside
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The dignity of the individual will flourish when matters concerning his life are in his hands.” More than 50 years later, those words inspired Hope Wollensack, Executive Director of The Georgia Resilience & Opportunity Fund (The GRO Fund), to launch a nonprofit dedicated to doing just that: putting power back…
April Transform Westside Summit Recap: Honoring the Past, Building the Future – 234 Sunset Avenue and the Spirit of Legacy
The April 18 Transform Westside Summit, held at The Gathering Spot, invited community members to reflect on how honoring the past — especially through historic preservation — can help shape a stronger, more unified Westside. This month’s Summit focused on 234 Sunset Avenue, the historic Vine City home where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and…
Finding the Home on the Westside: The Story of Elisha Dumas
For Elisha Dumas, the opportunity to live on the Westside marks the beginning of a new chapter at age 27. “I’d been staying with my mom for so long,” he said. “The home was the next step of having something of my own and being able to build equity for my family.” Originally from New…
A Family’s Legacy Lives On: Reflections from Dr. Constance Jackson Carter at 220 Sunset Avenue
At the April 28, 2025 ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly restored 220 Sunset Avenue residence, Westside Future Fund was honored to share a powerful statement from Dr. Constance Jackson Carter, one of the six children of Rev. Maynard Jackson Sr. and Dr. Irene Dobbs Jackson, who once lived at the residence as child. In…
970 Partner Spotlight: Hands On Atlanta – Connecting Volunteers with Community Needs
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…
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