While Atlanta Ballet’s graceful performances have enchanted audiences for decades, there is a lesser-known but equally compelling story unfolding behind the scenes. Their recent endeavors have extended beyond the world of pirouettes and pliés as the Westside-based organization is embracing a new kind of performance – one that’s centered around giving back to the community they hold dear.

Tom West, Executive Director at Atlanta Ballet, moved to the city two years ago to assume his role with the organization, bringing with him over 20 years of experience in performing arts organizations across the nation leading development programs focused on supporting performers and the communities in which they live and work. Recognizing the value of bonding beyond the performance stage and ballet studio, West decided to lead his team on a journey that transcended dance and focused on community service. His aim was clear: create an experience that unites their staff and faculty around a shared purpose – a purpose that didn’t revolve around ballet but rather around the community they aspire to uplift.

It was amidst this backdrop that the partnership between Atlanta Ballet and Westside Future Fund began to take shape. West, having just moved and being unfamiliar with the community, reached out to current and former Atlanta Ballet stakeholders for leads on where to get started – which is when he met Virginia Hepner.

Hepner, a current WFF Board member and impassioned Atlanta Ballet supporter, played a pivotal role in bringing these two organizations together. With her guidance, the ballet’s leadership connected with the Westside Future Fund’s staff to understand their innovative and impactful initiatives.

“We went over for a meeting with WFF’s leadership team to learn more about the work that they are doing there, which turned out to be incredibly innovative and really powerful,” said West. “We got really excited thinking about how we could develop a meaningful relationship to help. When we started thinking about how we should volunteer, my first call was to the Westside Future Fund. Virginia is so passionate about the organization, it was hard not to share that same passion.”

With excitement and determination, the Ballet reached out to the Westside Future Fund to explore volunteer opportunities. WFF introduced them to M. Agnes Jones Elementary, a school with a need for volunteers to enhance the experience of their annual field day event for students. Eager to contribute, the ballet team jumped at the chance.

For two years running, the Atlanta Ballet team immersed themselves in the experience. Kids, faculty, and volunteers joined together for activities including relay races, tug of war, cornhole and more. For Kelly Tonina, Centre Administrative Director at Atlanta Ballet, it was a day to remember. 

“I’ve been to the volunteer field day at M. Agnes Jones both years, and both times it’s been so much fun. It’s just awesome to watch hundreds of little kids running around and having a good time. You can’t help but enjoy hearing the laughter of kids and seeing them be active and just having a good time,” said Tonina. “Myself and all of our colleagues were spread out with different tasks and it was a great time to see each other out of the office. Our artistic director was helping the kids at tug of war. It was so hilarious. I’d never seen him in that element before.”

What truly made this experience remarkable was the partnership between the Atlanta Ballet team and the school’s faculty. Working side by side with educators, the ballet staff saw a different side of their colleagues, allowing everyone to shed their professional roles and simply have fun together. This unique interaction demonstrated the profound impact of coming together for a shared cause.

Beyond the immediate impact of the volunteer work, the Atlanta Ballet team’s involvement with the Westside Future Fund has also offered them a deeper understanding of the fabric of Atlanta. Through their collaboration, they’ve come to appreciate the intricate aspects of the city, forming connections that extend far beyond the dance stage.

“Still being new to Atlanta, I’m learning a lot about the history and the geography of the city. The introduction that Virginia and the Westside Future Fund team did for me was a real gift,” said West. “Just understanding the makeup and dimensions of this particular part of the city.”

Atlanta Ballet’s commitment to the Westside community extends beyond field day, however. Their partnership with Hollis Innovation Academy, offering dance instruction at no cost, exemplifies their long-standing dedication to their neighboring communities.

“I’m impassioned for the area just because of what the Westside Future Fund is trying to accomplish, rebuilding the community in a way that people who live there can stay there and have a better place to raise their families,” said Tonina. “I appreciate that the Atlanta Ballet is a part of this community and I think it’s a great opportunity for us to branch out and let people know that we are here and we support them, especially right in our backyard.”

To learn more about Atlanta Ballet, visit https://www.atlantaballet.com/. 

This month, Westside Future Fund (WFF) launched its $55 million capital campaign Our Next Chapter to support the completion of its quality affordable housing targets by 2028.

As Atlanta’s Westside continues to attract attention from local and national developers, there is an urgent need to ensure quality affordable housing options. WFF is a place-based organization focused on compassionate and equitable neighborhood revitalization on the historic Westside. Its service footprint includes English Avenue, Vine City, Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center, and Just Us. The median household income for residents within WFF’s service footprint is just under $35,000.

WFF now owns enough land to reach its overall mixed-income goals established in 2017: 1,500 high-quality, affordable units serving families at 60 percent AMI and less, 250 new single-family homes with down payment assistance for mortgage-ready buyers, and the establishment of the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund for legacy resident homeowners. Its land acquisition has followed the priorities identified by historic Westside residents, community leaders, and stakeholders in the 2016 Westside Land Use Framework Plan, which was unanimously passed by the Atlanta City Council.

 

The organization’s progress to date includes 646 completed multifamily units, WFF owns 214 rental units with another 121 units under development and scheduled for completion by 2025. WFF has helped 35 families purchase homes, and provided property tax assistance to 133 legacy residents.

With $55 million in philanthropic support, WFF will be able to build on this progress and leverage an additional $45 million in low-cost financing from its Impact Fund. An additional $10 million in public grants will help the organization finance:

• 285 multifamily units, of which 185 will serve families at 60% Area Median Income (AMI) and less.
• 225 single-family homes with accompanying income-qualified down-payment assistance, and
• Supporting the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund to help legacy resident homeowners stay in the community

“Our land acquisitions to date, reflect the priorities of the community,” said John Ahmann, WFF’s President & CEO. “In this next chapter of our work, we’re intentionally focused on moving faster to develop more quality affordable housing. This is necessary as market forces continue to drive up the cost of land and housing. It’s critical to build the affordability into these developments at the outset.”

Through its signature program Home on the Westside, WFF’s community retention guidelines prioritize legacy and future residents with live, work, and learn connections to the historic Westside. The program’s three service areas include single-family homeownership, rental housing, and property tax assistance for legacy residents. You can hear more from the residents WFF serves here.

Read more about WFF’s Our Next Chapter campaign in this recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, or listen to this interview on 90.1 WABE-FM’s Closer Look with Rose Scott.

To learn more about how you can support WFF’s Our Next Chapter campaign, email: John@westsidefuturefund.org.

 

 

Community members and business leaders convened at The Gathering Spot August 18th for the Transform Westside Summit. The program began with a moving devotion from Shade’ Yvonne Jones, CEO of Green is Lyfe and proud chair of NPU-L and liaison for English Avenue and Vine City. Jones spoke about the importance of developing unity between organizations and people of the community. “You cannot have a Beloved Community without unity… Where there is unity, there is strength and power, that enables us to do the work before us”, said Jones as she delivered a powerful message.

Following the devotion, Danny Shoy Jr., Managing Director for Youth Development and Atlanta’s Westside at The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and WFF Board Member was joined on stage by Caroline Huston, Director of Strategic Communications for the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for an insightful conversation around the foundation’s evolving strategy for their work on the Westside.

Key Moments from the Fireside Chat

1. “The neighborhood has a rich history and legacy that we believe should continue.”
As the Westside continues to change the Blank Foundation wants to work to make sure legacy residents aren’t displaced from a community that has been their home for decades.

2. “Legacy Residents should benefit from the positive changes that are happening in the community.”
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s total Westside commitment over the past decade exceeds $55 million dollars and will increase with the support of philanthropic funders, community members and organizations neighboring the community who are invested in the growth of the Westside.

3. “We learned the importance of Listening.”
As The Blank Foundation developed its strategy to support the revitalization of the Westside, it uncovered how necessary it is to listen to residents and remember to be thoughtful and focused on the mission at hand.

4. “Communities are really defined by their people.”
Residents living in communities that have endured economic hardship and blight is not the vision for Westside residents, our community members want their
community to thrive.

Miss the event? Watch the full Transform Westside Summit on YouTube.

Earlier this month Westside Future Fund celebrated closings for two more homeowners through our signature affordable housing program Home on the Westside.

Kristen Folsom has purchased a home in English Avenue. She works in public health and is a Spelman College alumna.

Tiffany Tyuse is the second single-family home sale for WFF’s Home on the Westside in Vine City, and works in county government.

WFF created HOTW as part of our commitment to community retention and serves residents with key “live, work, and learn” connections to the Westside. WFF’s HOTW program provides key services for legacy and future residents of the Historic Westside, specifically in the English Avenue, Vine City, Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center and Just Us neighborhoods. Those services include:

• Homeownership
• Rental Housing
• Anti-Displacement Tax Fund for Legacy Homeowners

Learn more about our signature program Home on the Westside here. Stay tuned to our YouTube channel  and our Stories of Impact blog to hear more from the residents we serve.

July was a busy month for the WFF Volunteer Corps! Dozens of volunteers rallied together in our collective effort to revitalize our community and clean up entire blocks within English Avenue. We welcomed groups from Chick-fil-A and FirstKey Homes, as well as community members actively engaged in the transformation of the historic Westside. 

Over a dozen volunteers from FirstKey Homes cleaned up multiple lots that had been blighted and abandoned along Sunset Avenue, just blocks from the former home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The group, formed primarily of interns from the Marietta-based company, filled two dumpsters worth of overgrowth, debris and garbage. Cameron, managing intern for the project, first learned about the Westside Future Fund while looking for a volunteer opportunity for herself and her colleagues and was quickly drawn to the organization’s mission.

“When I heard Westside Future Fund was providing affordable housing, I was immediately interested,” said Cameron. “I did a little research and saw the history of the community, and read about its needs, then I made sure that we came out to help out in any way we could.”

A familiar face joined the monthly Community Clean-Up early in the month. Sidy, who has attended three straight months of clean-up events, was happy to be back with the WFF Volunteer Corps – and let them know that he’s here to stay.

“It’s a great opportunity to get out and get active while doing something meaningful that helps others,” said Sidy. “I really enjoy being here, and plan to keep coming back.”

A huge crew, made up of several dozen volunteers, from Chick-fil-A cleaned and cleared blocks of blighted lots surrounding WFF’s 400 Paines Avenue Home on the Westside multi-family development, which is scheduled to complete later this year.

Westside Future Fund hosts volunteer events throughout the Historic Westside community each month. To explore how you can make a difference and find out about upcoming opportunities, we invite you to visit www.westsidefuturefund.org/volunteer. Together, we can transform the historic Westside into a community that Dr. King would be proud to call home.

This month Westside Future Fund (WFF) became HUD-approved. As a nonprofit agency approved by HUD, WFF can continue its mission of building a mixed-income community, which ensures the inclusion of low-to-moderate-income families with key financing for home purchases. With this designation, WFF can now:

• Purchase HUD-owned properties
• Access FHA Mortgage financing
• Direct fund down payment assistance on FHA-insured mortgages

“Having this approval from HUD is a key tool to help us continue to provide deeply affordable quality housing to legacy and future residents on the Historic Westside,” said Rachel Carey, WFF’s Chief Real Estate Officer.

Established in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development was created to focus on urban housing issues. Today HUD’s mission is “to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.”

WFF aligns with this mission through its signature program Home on the Westside (HOTW), which helps create a community Dr. King would be proud to call home. HOTW’s community retention guidelines prioritize people with key “live, work, learn” connections to the Historic Westside to live in WFF-owned properties. HOTW services include:

• Anti-Displacement tax fund for legacy homeowners
• Rental housing
• Homeownership

“Our goal is to always meet people where they are in their journey,” said Tameka Askew, manager for HOTW. “Having this approval from HUD for the historic Westside is a game changer for the residents we work with who have a dream of achieving home ownership.”

Learn more about our Home on the Westside program here.

Find out how you can support the mission of Westside Future Fund.

Community members and business leaders convened at The Gathering Spot July 21 for the Transform Westside Summit. 

The program began with a moving devotion from Reverend Winston Taylor, legacy Westside resident local preacher, and founder of The Beloved Community Inc. Taylor also owns the historic St. Mark AME Church, which he plans to make a community gathering spot for the Historic Westside.  Taylor’s message was centered on miracles. “In order to do this impossible work that we’re doing that is considered to be building Jerusalem, you’re going to have to believe in miracles,” said Taylor at the start of his message.

Following the devotion, T. Dallas Smith, T. Dallas Smith & Company Founder and CEO, and WFF Board Chair-Elect, joined John Ahmann, Westside Future Fund President & CEO, for a powerful and candid fireside chat about his early remembrances growing up on the Westside,, and his passion for seeing his childhood neighborhood restored to a thriving, mixed-income community.

Key Moments from the Fireside Chat

“It [the neighborhood] was paradise. People took care of one another.” 

Smith grew up in Hunter Hills, off of Simpson Road on Child’s Drive. It is now known as Joseph E. Boone. His mother watched children in his childhood home and his father, a former paratrooper in the Air Force’s 82nd Airborn division, worked at Lockheed Martin and drove a taxi for Simpson Road Cab Company. He attended EC Clement Elementary School and Turner High School before moving to College Park.

“…the first razor blade I had to swallow.”

At age 14, Smith’s family moved to College Park, where they were the first Black family on their street. The same day they moved in, his neighbors across the street made a point of posting their for sale sign. He recalls an incident where three white boys pulled up next to him as he rode his bike. They threw foul language, rocks and cans at him and told him to “get out of my neighborhood.” He described that event as “the first razor blade I had to swallow.” 

“…the okey-doke.”

In hindsight, Smith described his parents’ rationale for moving as “the okey-doke.” They thought everything would be better because they were moving to a white neighborhood. They believed Dr. King’s dream was integration and the grass was going to be greener on the other side. In reality, they moved to a neighborhood that didn’t want them in the first place.

“I knew one thing: I wasn’t going to get the benefit of the doubt.”

His book “In the Black, Changing the Dominant Narrative in the Commercial Real Estate Industry” features a poem he wrote in May 1996, entitled “Tears of Black Folk.” This moving poem was written when he worked at Cushman Wakefield, a self-proclaimed very tough time in his life, as he was the firm’s first Black broker. He recalls having to work harder than all the other brokers while feeling—very clearly—that he wasn’t supposed to be there. 

“It’s like God was pushing me back to this old neighborhood. I could not shake it.”

The two men met years ago at a networking event. Both were looking for homes and Ahmann mentioned that he was interested in purchasing a home on Sunset in the Historic Westside. Smith was struck by this response both because it was in his old neighborhood but also because Ahmann is a white man. This conversation, along with others he met who mentioned returning to live on the Westside, inspired Smith. He purchased T. M. Alexander’s house on Sunset two years ago. He plans to redevelop it and move back into the neighborhood.

“Giving the benefit of the doubt is such a treasure.”

During an emotional moment in the conversation, Smith stressed the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt, likening it to giving someone fresh water. He boldly proclaimed that the Historic Westside is not less than; it is better than because it has survived despite the things that have happened to it..

“Until we have people who look like me…who can afford to live anywhere they want…come back to the neighborhood, we’re going to continue to have this issue. Give us the benefit of the doubt. This is a neighborhood that will save this city—because they did it before.”

Audience Questions

• How does a young person find a house in Atlanta? It’s so hard to find anything.
  • Number one, get connected to an Empire Board of Realtors broker. Number two, come to Westside Future Fund. Maybe you don’t know this, but there are some down payment assistance programs giving up to $60,000 in assistance. These opportunities are available now. Another thing we’re working on is trying to get the message out for these resources within WFF.
• People have different views of what the issue is. Some think it’s housing; others say preservation. What is the vision we can all come together to restore and revitalize the whole MLK quarter?
  • I think it’s the old adage—The Five Blind Men—who were all touching an elephant. The reality of it is we’re all talking about the same elephant and if we take care of the pieces we feel drawn to, they will all work together.

Miss the event? Watch the full Transform Westside Summit on YouTube. 

A year since the inaugural Ride for the Westside, the Atlanta housing market continues to outpace the economic mobility of low-wage, working-class families. Recognizing a continued need for philanthropic support, the second annual Ride for the Westside fundraiser returns to support Quest Community Development Corporation’s (Quest CDC) and Westside Future Fund’s (WFF) community-oriented affordable housing efforts, while also celebrating the rich, cultural history of the Historic Westside.

Quest CDC develops affordable and supportive housing for formerly homeless and extremely low-income residents in metro Atlanta. Additionally, the organization provides key support services including comprehensive case management, financial management, and other resources for individuals and families affected by behavioral health, addictions, and physical disabilities.

“Quest is one of the few housing developers in Georgia intentionally focused on housing residents at the lowest income levels, and those who are most vulnerable, to advance social equity and economic inclusion,” said Leonard L. Adams, Jr., President & CEO of Quest CDC. “We are creating communities that change lives, believing purposeful living begins when you have a place to call home.”

WFF helps revitalize the Historic Westside into a community Dr. King would be proud to call home by championing four impact strategies: community health and wellness, safety and security, cradle-to-career education, and mixed-income communities. Its signature program, Home on the Westside, provides the opportunity for homeownership for people with key live, work, and learn connections to the Westside. WFF serves residents in the Vine City, English Avenue, Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center, and Just Us neighborhoods.

“We know that healthy neighborhoods are a key social determinant for families including their health and well-being, economic opportunity, and access to quality education,” said John Ahmann, President, and CEO of WFF. “Our signature program Home on the Westside is a key part of our mission to advance a compassionate approach to neighborhood revitalization. Philanthropic support is key to helping us continue to develop deeply affordable, quality housing for current and future residents of the Historic Westside.”

Quest CDC and WFF are honored to announce actress, singer, and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Drew Sidora as this year’s emcee for Ride for the Westside. Through her non-profit DREAMAKERS, Sidora motivates young women from diverse backgrounds to be empowered as leaders in their schools, churches, communities, and the world.

“I’ve always been a passionate Dreamer hoping to Entertain and Inspire!” said Sidora. “I’m excited to join this year’s Ride for the Westside supporting a great cause.”

Ride for the Westside will take place on Saturday, September 30 from 8:00 am to noon with festivities and fun for all ages beginning and ending at the WFF Campus at 970 Jefferson Street, NW Atlanta.  The event will include an 11-mile bike loop, a 5K run, which is also a 2024 Peachtree Road Race qualifier, and a Heritage Walk highlighting historic landmarks, community gathering spots, and local businesses. For more information, visit westsidefuturefund.org/ride4westside.

Quest CDC and WFF are grateful to our sponsors for this year’s Ride for the Westside, including Chick-fil-A, The Home Depot Foundation, The Coca-Cola Company, Georgia Power Foundation, Schneider, WABE, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), PNC, NCR, Aaron’s, Comcast, Brock Built, Dematic, Top Floor Insurance, TMPAV, Wharton Law, L.C., FirstKey Homes, General Parts Company, APD Urban Planning + Management, Marsh, and Lucie Content.

 

 

 

 

 

The Historic Westside, and its neighborhoods including English Avenue, Vine City, Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center and Just Us are part of our nation’s Civil Rights history and full of rich culture.

During our bi-monthly community tour, Westside Future Fund (WFF) invites the community to learn more about the stories, and history, behind the landmarks that shaped the Historic Westside’s identity.

A Journey Begins

The tour begins at WFF’s office at 970 Jefferson Street in English Avenue. Each tour begins by sharing the legacy of the Historic Westside and how, through decades of change, the neighborhoods that make up this community have experienced economic decline and depopulation. It also shares the mission and vision of WFF to advance a compassionate approach to neighborhood revitalization to build a community Dr. King would be proud to call home.  

Discovering Historic Westside

As the bus winds through the Historic Westside, each stop along the route offers a glimpse into the past, present, and future of the community, and the efforts led by WFF, with philanthropic support, and other community stakeholders and partners to bring key resources to residents. 

The bus tour unfolds like a tapestry of stories, highlighting the educational institutions that have nurtured generations of leaders including Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morris Brown College, and Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and the Interdenominational Theological Center. 

Moving through the community, the tour passes by Rodney Cook Park, a hub of community activity, which showcases the dedication of individuals who have come together to create a safe and vibrant space. Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park pays homage to a beloved resident whose tragic passing brought about a collective resolve to foster unity and harmony.

The tour also takes participants to former residences of key civic leaders in Atlanta’s history including the Antonio Herndon Home, once belonging to a former slave turned founder of Atlanta Life Insurance and Atlanta’s first Black millionaire. Further along, the tour reaches the home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a place of profound historical significance that continues to inspire generations.

The journey isn’t complete without paying tribute to influential figures who have shaped Atlanta’s narrative. The home of the Jackson family, including the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson Jr., reflects their commitment to public service and their lasting impact on the city.

Witnessing Transformation

The bus tour also showcases the tangible results of WFF’s revitalization efforts. Participants witness the transformation of blighted, abandoned homes into quality, affordable housing. These newly built homes, and multifamily properties, parks, and schools including the Hollis Innovation Academy stand as a testament to WFF’s commitment to creating sustainable communities that provide key resources and amenities to residents and foster hope about the future. Additional landmarks such as St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Historic Westside Gardens, Phillis Wheatley YWCA, and the Quest Community Development office are also included.Each site bears witness to the spirit of collaboration and determination of WFF and many other philanthropic and community partners.  

WFF’s monthly community tour is an immersive experience for participants that serves as a reminder that the heart of a community beats strongest when its members come together, united by a common vision of progress, equality, and hope.

Don’t Miss Next Month’s Tour!

Register today to join the Westside Future Fund team at their next Community Tour on August 12, 2023: https://www.westsidefuturefund.org/wfftours/. 

The WFF Volunteer Corps warmly welcomed a mix of familiar and fresh faces to our volunteer opportunities this June. It was a month filled with enthusiasm and dedication from individuals like Michael, Sidy, and Justin, who shared their experiences and motivations for actively participating in our organization’s initiatives.

Michael’s journey with WFF began when he discovered the organization online and decided to attend the Transform Westside Summit. This event proved to be an eye-opener for him, as he learned about the ongoing volunteer opportunities available in the community. The experience left an indelible mark on Michael, inspiring him to join our monthly Community Clean-Up. Reflecting on the pressing needs of the Atlanta community after living there for 37 years, Michael expressed his realization that action speaks louder than words.

“I drive by areas like this that need attention almost every day,” said Michael. “I think about it over and over again, about what needs to be done, and guess what the solution is: hands on. We can talk about it, think about it, but in the end, when it’s time for the rubber to meet the road, it’s time to take action.”

The monthly Community Clean-Up event offers volunteers a tangible opportunity to contribute to the revitalization of the Historic Westside neighborhoods. Participants actively clear trash, manage overgrowth in public spaces, sidewalks, and vacant properties. Sidy, who had been inspired by his first volunteering experience with his AT&T colleagues, eagerly joined the Community Clean-Up crew for the second time in June. Reflecting on his previous encounter, Sidy expressed his admiration for the organization’s dedication to making a tangible difference. 

“When I was here at the last volunteer event, I saw how hard the organization is working to physically make a difference in this community,” said Sidy. “I felt as though they need all of the help they can get, so I promised to come back any time they have a public volunteer event.”

Another familiar face at the Community Clean-Up was Justin Mah, a dedicated veteran member of the WFF Volunteer Corps. Justin has invested countless hours supporting our organization’s mission and remains committed to the cause. Justin’s love for the Westside, combined with his deep sense of community, led him to actively engage with the organization.

“Being a resident here, getting involved with my community and the Westside Future Fund, I feel like at least once a month joining these events is not a hard commitment,” said Justin. “The goal is that one day we won’t have to be out here doing these clean ups, but as long as we do, I’ll be out here.”

Westside Future Fund consistently hosts volunteer events throughout the Historic Westside community on a monthly basis. To explore how you can make a difference and find out about upcoming opportunities, we invite you to visit www.westsidefuturefund.org/volunteer. Together, we can create a brighter future for the Historic Westside neighborhoods.