Thanks to AJ Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), for this week’s column.

Founded in 1941, CAP is a member-based not-for-profit advocating on behalf of a vibrant Downtown Atlanta. As the leader of CAP, AJ has been a long-time advocate of greater connectivity between Downtown economic vibrancy and the historic westside neighborhoods.

An example of this is the Westside Tax Allocation District. Nearly all the tax proceeds are generated by businesses in Downtown Atlanta but 20% of the proceeds must be spent west of Northside. Historically, much of the housing in the neighborhoods originally developed as housing for workers at factories in Downtown Atlanta, when it was a manufacturing hub served by the railroads. The Westside Future Fund (WFF), as part of its cradle-to-career impact strategy, is intentional about connecting residents on the westside to Downtown job opportunities, many more of which will be coming thanks to the resurgence of Downtown Atlanta.

I have had the good fortune of working with AJ Robinson for nearly 20 years, and as a leader he is a true living example of the spirit “the more we, the more I can do,”. On behalf of the WFF, we are grateful for the strong working partnership with CAP.

John Ahmann, President and CEO, Westside Future Fund 

 

Click here to read the full column.

Recent #HistoricWestside columns for Saporta Report: 

• “The Power to Heal” by Michael Lucas, Deputy Director, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
• “The 1300: Atlanta’s Beloved Inspired Community Catching The Hearts Of Many” by Britt Gray, City of Refuge & Britni Johnson, The Wilbert Group
• “Building Strong Foundations For The Westside’s Next Generation” by Justin Carr, Director of Partnerships, Westside Future Fund
• “Creating Sustainable Change, and a Beloved Community, on Atlanta’s Westside” by Chick-fil-A’s Rodney Bullard 
• “Two Years of Westside Future Fund” by John Ahmann, President and CEO of Westside Future Fund
• “The Power of ‘We’” by The Atlanta University Consortium (AUCC)
• “It Takes a Village to Make a Park” by Michael Halicki, executive director of Park Pride
• “Building Momentum At Hollis Innovation Academy” by
  Dr. Beverly D. Tatum, Westside Future Fund board member and President Emerita of Spelman College
• “A Westside Story” by Rev. Howard Beckham, Westside native and President and CEO of Integrity CDC 
• “Building Atlanta Together” by John Ahmann, President and CEO of Westside Future Fund 
• “The More We, the More I Can Do” by John Ahmann, President and CEO of Westside Future Fund