On Aug. 27, the Westside Future Fund awarded $100,000 in grants to five of Atlanta’s Booker T. Washington cluster schools to fund student and teacher-oriented programs on the Westside.
Five schools received $20,000 each for “programs and resources that promote student success:” Booker T. Washington High School, Hollis Innovation Academy, H.J. Russell West End Academy, Tuskegee Airmen Global Academy and M. Agnes Jones Elementary.
Atlanta Public Schools is split into nine “clusters,” with five schools in the historic West End’s Washington cluster. The cluster Superintendent Shelly Goodrum said the funds will go to “impacting our children, but also the teachers that teach them.”
Westside Future Fund led the charitable fundraising effort, and the $100,000 came from funders who told the nonprofit to distribute the money to the cluster schools. WFF opted to split the grant equally among the five schools.
Now, the cluster will be able to use it for a number of programs. Goodrum said it could go towards teacher development, STEM labs, science resources, field trips and increase opportunities for students. The superintendent said money would go to “things that otherwise (students) would not have been able to afford, especially for those things that have a cost associated with them.”
The Aug. 27 grant is only a fraction of the Westside Future Fund’s involvement in the historically underserved area, though. Atlanta Public Schools District 2 Board Member Aretta Baldon said the nonprofit has a long-standing relationship with the school cluster, and it’s “not just monetary donations.”
“It’s also the donation of time and talent,” Baldon said.
Westside Future Fund staff come into the schools to volunteer at least twice a year. It’s part of the “cradle-to-career” approach to helping revitalize the historic Westside after disinvestment created vacant homes, underperforming schools and few resources for the people that remain in the neighborhood.
WFF President and CEO John Ahmann said issues like low enrollment and high turnover at the Washington cluster schools can be attributed to poverty and housing problems. “Families do want to stay,” Ahmann said, but low-income families have to chase the lowest possible rent.
“One of the things we’re able to do is offer high-quality, affordable housing so families can stay,” Ahmann said.
The nonprofit runs anti-displacement tax fund assistance for legacy residents, affordable housing, rental and homeownership resources, and more to ensure longtime residents can live in the neighborhood through its “revitalization.”
When it comes to the cluster area, Ahmann said WFF prioritizes affordable housing for families with kids in the local schools — the nonprofit even builds three-bed, two-bath houses to ensure there’s space for everyone.
“Stabilizing the community means you stabilize the schools,” Ahmman said. “Westside Future Fund is in the business of communities.”
The Westside Future Fund’s initiative to award $100,000 in grants to Atlanta’s Booker T. Washington cluster schools is a commendable step towards addressing educational disparities in historically underserved communities. By investing in programs that support both students and teachers, the fund not only enhances educational resources but also fosters a sense of community resilience and empowerment. This holistic approach, which includes volunteer efforts and affordable housing initiatives, demonstrates a commitment to long-term revitalization and stability for families in the geometry dash meltdown area.
Schools can use flexible budgets for extracurricular activities, learning materials, and teacher professional development.