Transform Westside Summit began in 2014 as the brainchild of Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy. Created to bridge the gap between Westside residents and organizations with a true passion and desire to see the Westside grow, the audience includes longtime neighborhood residents, community and faith leaders, heads of non-profits and corporate executives. These diverse stakeholders come together to share success stories and discuss challenges that currently affect our Westside neighborhoods.

In recognition of the event’s ninth anniversary, new and long-time attendees were given the opportunity to reflect on their experience and the tremendous impact the Summit has made in transforming the Westside. Tameka Askew, Westside Future Fund’s Home on the Westside manager, led the blessing. 

John Ahmann, president and CEO, Westside Future Fund; Ebony Ford, director of Community Building and Engagement, Quest CDC; and Benjamin Earley, fourth generation Westside resident and senior correspondent, Redclay-Hill, led the discussion. Earley, who has co-hosted the Summit since January 2020, announced this would be his last as a regular co-host. He plans to pursue a different calling, but will attend future Summits as a member of the audience.

Panelist Reflections

Community Building

• The most critical part of the work we do is bringing people with different life experiences together. The Summit has provided that safe space to build community and get to know one another. For me, the Summits have been an enormous opportunity to meet and engage with so many people that I never would have had the opportunity to otherwise.” — John Ahmann

Transformational

• They call it the Transform Westside Summit. In order to transform the Westside, you have to transform each individual. This Summit has transformed my life. — Ebony Ford

Level of Influence

• One thing I’ve learned from interviewing people and speaking to different leaders is that it matters who is in position to make a change. I realize that I am in a position of a certain level of influence I can have in my community. That’s the added benefit, but it’s a very important benefit. — Benjamin Earley

Audience Reflections

Transformative Authority

• When the power and authority meet the poor and underclass, and we have dialogue and have a public sphere where we can speak, that can be very altering. Westside Future Fund has altered the thinking of many because it has worked towards transformative authority. They gave us hope that our voices would be heard. — Reverend Leroy Wright, pastor, First Thessalonian Missionary Baptist Church

Success on the Westside

• To be successful, you’ve got to develop a network, a group of people we can build trust in. A group to get through the hard times with. On the Westside, we were identified by what we didn’t have, how bad it was, how much we were left out. What’s happened over the last nine years is that we’ve turned that upside down. We have great things on the Westside. We have great assets in this community. Those assets are each other. We identify now as a place of power, a place we take pride in. A place where we trust each other. I don’t think we would have done that had we not gathered together. — Bill Bolling, founder, Atlanta Community Food Bank

Getting to Know Each Other

• The self introduction is what makes this room what it is because that’s how we get to know each other and that’s how we are all on an even plane. I have described this room as the best of Atlanta. This is where all of Atlanta can come together, with respect. Where everyone gets to know one another. There are a lot of organizations in this town that could learn a lot about how we do things here at the Transform Westside Summit. — Maria Saporta, SaportaReport

Making a Difference

• I wear a pin sometimes that says “Anybody can make a difference. Everyone should try.” There are those who are determined to make a difference and there are those who are destined to make a difference. I see that in this room. — Tillman Ward, long-time Westside resident

 

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

Earlier this month Colette Haywood, a legacy Vine City resident, officially closed on her home on Foundry Street. Haywood is the first legacy resident of Vine City to purchase a home through Westside Future Fund’s (WFF) Home on the Westside program. She is also the first single family home sale for WFF in the Vine City neighborhood; WFF’s previous home sales have been in the English Avenue neighborhood. Haywood’s home was built by Atlanta Habitat for Humanity through their Community Builders program.

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 for more updates on Colette’s story and our Stories of Impact blog to hear more from the residents we serve.

Education is a powerful tool that can unlock doors to a brighter future, but not all students, including many in our Historic Westside community, have equal access to quality learning opportunities. In an effort to ensure that young minds are empowered to reach their full potential, an organization called Read 21 is offering low-cost, innovative literacy programs and resources.

At the core of Read 21’s mission is the belief that literacy is the key to success in all aspects of life. Through their diverse range of programs, they strive to improve reading proficiency among students, fostering a love for books and knowledge. The organization provides access to high-quality books, develops libraries, and implements reading initiatives that engage students in interactive and enjoyable learning experiences with the objective to establish effective reading skills in students within 21 days of participation in their programs.

Read 21 understands the importance of early childhood education in shaping a child’s future – offering a solution for cradle-to-career education success in underserved communities. They collaborate with local preschools and early learning centers to provide comprehensive literacy support to young learners. By nurturing a strong foundation in literacy, these children gain a head start, empowering them to excel academically as they progress through their education.

Recognizing that some students may require additional support, the organization offers personalized tutoring and mentorship programs. Trained volunteers and educators work closely with struggling students, providing individualized attention and guidance. This one-on-one interaction not only helps students improve their reading skills but also boosts their self-confidence and motivation, inspiring them to set higher academic goals.

Understanding that education goes beyond the classroom, they organize field trips, author visits, and cultural experiences to broaden students’ horizons and spark their curiosity. By exposing them to new ideas, perspectives, and opportunities Read 21 ignites a passion for lifelong learning, instilling a belief in their ability to achieve their dreams.

Read 21 offers local residents and their families an opportunity to receive equitable education – ensuring that students in underserved neighborhoods in our Historic Westside community receive the support they need to thrive.

To learn more about Read 21 and their programs, visit https://read21.org/.

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is grateful to Home Depot for providing a $50,000 grant to support our signature program, Home on the Westside. WFF has used the funds to provide key upgrades to our multifamily properties. Additionally, a portion of the funds went to providing upgrades to rental units for Atlanta Police Department (APD) recruits via a partnership between WFF and the Atlanta Police Foundation (APF). Upgrades included new appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, and stoves.

APF reached out to WFF about potential housing resources for trainees due to space limitations at their recruit housing complex – Unity Place, which includes housing for 30 recruits. WFF currently provides four rental units for recruits at an affordable rate, and in exchange WFF has an on-site APD courtesy officer at the same property where the recruits are housed.  This partnership supports the mission of APF’s Secure Neighborhoods program.

“This collaboration with WFF allowed us to continue our number one mission, which is to make Atlanta the safest city by assisting the Atlanta Police Department in ensuring the safety of our citizens, helping officers to live in the city, and serve in the communities they live in,” said Curtislene Bass, Director, APF Officer Support Programs

APF and WFF have existing partnerships including the Westside Blue program and a Courtesy Officer program, which provides courtesy officers for some WFF-owned properties in exchange for housing, at a reduced cost, for Atlanta Police Department (APD) officers.

“The funding from Home Depot allowed us to make key upgrades to our multifamily properties and continue our mission of providing quality, affordable housing for our residents,” said Charles Forde, WFF’s Director of Real Estate Finance & Asset Management who designed the partnership. “Additionally, being able to provide these upgrades and design this partnership with APF helps us to provide security for our residents, and properties, while also fostering stronger bonds with local police and the community.”

The partnership will continue through the fall of 2023.

ATLANTA – June 6, 2023 – In today’s world, digital connectivity is a critical resource for youth and families, and it helps to support a healthy and thriving community. With support from AT&T, Westside residents will now have access to the digital tools they need to succeed.

To help narrow the digital divide in one historic Atlanta neighborhood, AT&T has awarded a $100,000 grant to Westside Future Fund (WFF) as part of the AT&T Connected Learning initiative. This initiative includes a $2 billion commitment from 2021 to 2023 to help bridge the digital divide by promoting internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption.

WFF, a place-based nonprofit serving five neighborhoods on the Historic Westside, will use the funds to provide digital devices to low-income families with children who are part of its signature program Home On the Westside. This program provides the opportunity for homeownership for people with key live, work, and learn connections to the community. In addition to providing digital devices, WFF will survey families living in WFF rental properties about their digital literacy needs and offer training with a focus on computer and technology skills. WFF currently provides free connectivity for 78 multifamily units in its portfolio.

“Through our work at WFF, we see each day that access to affordable housing is critical to ensuring the continued health and access to opportunity for families,” said WFF President & CEO John Ahmann. “We’re grateful to AT&T for providing us with key funding support that helps us further connect our communities and continue to deliver on our mission to residents living on the Historic Westside.”

WFF’s service footprint on the Historic Westside includes Vine City, English Avenue, Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center and Just Us. Prior to entering Home on the Westside, families are housing-unstable, and at risk of homelessness or displacement. WFF advances a compassionate approach to neighborhood revitalization that helps to develop the Historic Westside into a community Dr. King would be proud to call home. Since its founding, WFF has championed four impact strategies including community health and wellness, safety and security, cradle-to-career education, and mixed income communities. With this grant, WFF and AT&T will help bridge the digital divide on the Historic Westside and improve academic and economic mobility outcomes for some of the most vulnerable community members.

 “At AT&T, we are committed to helping close the digital divide and connecting more Atlantans to greater possibility,” said Venessa Harrison, President, AT&T Southeast Coastal States. “As part of this commitment, we are proud to support the Westside Future Fund and its Home on the Westside program. Together, we are providing Westside families with digital devices and resources to help them access virtual learning, develop essential digital skills and connect today in preparation for a brighter tomorrow.”

 AT&T is furthering its efforts to help close the digital divide by providing affordable internet service through Access from AT&T. When Access from AT&T is combined with the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), eligible households can receive home internet service at no cost to the household

Visit WestsideFutureFund.org to learn more about the organization and its Home on the Westside program.

For more information about AT&T Georgia, please visit www.attconnects.com/georgia or follow @ATTPolicyGA.

About Westside Future Fund

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is a place-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing a compassionate and equitable approach to neighborhood revitalization of five historic Westside neighborhoods: Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center, English Avenue, Vine City, and Just Us. WFF’s signature initiative, Home on the Westside, empowers legacy residents to rent, buy and retain affordable housing. WFF drives transformational change by championing four key impact strategies: mixed-income communities, cradle-to-career education, safety and security, and health and wellness. To learn more, follow us on Facebook (@westsidefuturefund), Instagram (@westsidefuturefund), and Twitter (@WFFAtlanta), or visit www.westsidefuturefund.org.

 

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

We’re committed to advancing education, creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and improving lives. As part of our companywide $2 billion commitment from 2021- 2023 to address the digital divide, we launched AT&T Connected Learning to invest in connectivity and technology, digital literacy, and education solutions to help today’s learners succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Since 2008 we’ve committed to programs that help millions of students across all 50 states and around the world, particularly those in underserved communities.

 

The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) is dedicated to addressing issues of safety and stability, particularly in the areas of intimate partner abuse and tenants’ rights. Over the past five years, AVLF has taken a place-based approach, aiming to go deeper into the community and provide stronger services. They have developed programs that meet their often-isolated clients where they are, using neighborhood-based offices and mobile advocacy. 

AVLF’s new program, Standing with Survivors (SwS), embeds a multi-disciplinary team in the community to provide comprehensive assistance to survivors in need of protection from an abuser. In collaboration with CHRIS 180, the Atlanta Police Department, Men Stopping Violence, and other program partners, SwS operates from a neighborhood-based satellite office and utilizes a “safe haven” van based at their Westside community office for mobile responses. The van serves as a safe and supportive space for advocates, counselors, and survivors to interact, discuss safety plans, and access resources. It is equipped with audio/visual capabilities to facilitate remote judicial hearings, improving survivors’ access to life-saving protection.

“AVLF has made an intentional transition to becoming a place-based organization, and we are committed to the Westside and surrounding neighborhoods,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director. “Our Standing with Survivors Mobile Response Unit is based on the Westside and will be there for any resident who cannot make it to the Courthouse. We will meet you where you are to help you begin your path to safety. Our team of advocates and attorneys will be there for you.”

To ensure a holistic and trauma-informed approach, AVLF has partnered with Chris180 to dispatch a team of trauma-informed professionals, including mental health counselors experienced in addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). These professionals work alongside AVLF’s social workers to address the immediate needs of survivors. AVLF also plans to work more closely with law enforcement and involve Men Stopping Violence to support perpetrators and address intergenerational trauma and violence in the community.

AVLF aims to be more preventative by reaching survivors earlier in the cycle of abuse, strengthening partnerships with law enforcement, and providing swift responses through their rapid-response team. By offering quality legal representation and support during the first reported incident, AVLF hopes to break the cycle of violence and prevent further abuse. The acquisition of the “Safe Haven” van in November 2022 further supports their commitment to being a place-based organization, specifically focused on the Westside and surrounding neighborhoods.

The Standing with Survivors program continues to expand, meeting survivors in various locations such as grocery stores and school parking lots, wherever it is safe for them. If anyone requires assistance or knows someone who does, they can contact AVLF at (404) 612-4324 (not a crisis line), and a member of the AVLF team will return the call and help develop a plan for safety.

 

 

In today’s digital age, access to technology has become a fundamental necessity. Unfortunately, many individuals and communities still face barriers in obtaining reliable and affordable devices and internet services. However, organizations like PCs for People have emerged as invaluable resources, providing the tools needed for communities to bridge the digital divide.

PCs for People is a non-profit organization committed to promoting digital inclusion by refurbishing and distributing computers to low-income individuals and underserved communities. This initiative has significant implications for our Historic Westside where many individuals have restricted access to reliable and affordable devices and internet services due to income inequities. By offering low-cost computers, PCs for People enables Westside residents to access vital online resources, educational opportunities, employment prospects, and healthcare services. It empowers individuals to enhance their digital skills, fostering economic growth and improved quality of life.

The digital divide has become an obstacle to progress and equality. PCs for People plays a crucial role in bridging this gap by providing affordable devices and internet connectivity options, ensuring that no one is left behind in the technology-driven world. By partnering with PCs for People, Westside Future Fund (WFF) aligns its mission to create a thriving, equitable community with the goal of empowering its residents through digital access and literacy.

As a part of the effort to deliver affordable internet options to Westside residents, the two organizations have agreed to install a fixed wireless LTE tower on the roof of WFF’s headquarters at 970 Jefferson Street which will amplify connectivity and provide access to the nearby historic neighborhoods.

The collaboration between the two organizations exemplifies the power of community-driven initiatives. By combining resources and expertise, they amplify their impact, opening doors of opportunity for Westside residents. Together, we are working toward a future where technology serves as a catalyst for positive change, fostering a stronger, more connected community.

Westside residents can visit PCs for People’s Atlanta location at Westside Works, 261 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30314. There they can purchase desktops starting at $0, laptops starting at $50 and internet service starting at a down payment of $60 plus $15 per month. For those eligible, PCs for People will help you sign up for free internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Community members and business leaders attended the May 19 Transform Westside Summit to learn about Atlanta Housing’s work on the Westside. The morning opened with connection and community building, where members of the audience shared resources for the group’s collective efforts to improve the Westside. Jerry McGaughy, Real Estate Development Director at Quest CDC, led the devotion.

Eugene E. Jones Jr., president and chief executive officer, Atlanta Housing, and author of the book “Housing Humans,” gave an overview of the organization’s work and the importance of partnerships to further the mission of true affordability in the city.

Organizational Highlights

“At the end of the game, homeownership is what we need to get to. How do we get there? That’s probably Atlanta Housing’s biggest attribute; we have the best robust homeownership program across the country. It beats New York; it beats Chicago; it beats L.A.”

• In the next year, Atlanta Housing expects to have 1,800 affordable units available
• In the fall, Atlanta Housing plans to host a developers conference to inform leaders on the developments going on in the city and the opportunities to build affordable housing. The goal is to reach 20,000 units

Innovative Projects

“I’m telling you right now, across the country, Atlanta is a place to go, not just because of the economic opportunity, but the affordable housing and the visibility of things being done right. You are very innovative here in the city of Atlanta.”

• Herndon Homes
  – Senior living in a historically black neighborhood with the intention of retaining Legacy residents
  – Getting ready for phase two. Lidl, a grocery store, committed to open on the property
• Modular homes
  – Self-developed, strictly for home ownership
  – Plan to build a smaller unit next to the proposed house that homeowners can rent the unit out to family members and pay down their mortgage with the profit
• Bowen Homes
  – Atlanta Housing recently applied for a $40 million Choice Neighborhood grant from the U.S.   Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to redevelop the site
  – Optimistic they are going to get the grant, but plan to move forward with the redevelopment even if they don’t because it’s the right thing to do
  – Want to ensure those who used to live in Bowen Homes have an opportunity to come back to the neighborhood
• Scholar’s Landing
  – Getting ready to do another phase, Roosevelt Hall
  – Grand opening June 16, 2023
  – First floor includes retail space, a computer center and library
  – Second floor will house the Atlanta Housing Choice Neighborhood team and AUC Consortium, including staff from Clark, Morehouse, Spelman, and the Morehouse School of Medicine

Audience Questions

1. My question deals specifically with the disability community and percentage of housing. When I last asked about it, I was told two to three percent. Has that number changed and what efforts are being done to improve it?
   From the HUD requirement, it’s only two to four percent. At Atlanta Housing, we try to do more than that. The model homes previously mentioned have some ADA accessible units.It’s not just wheelchair accessible, it’s also sight and hearing impaired. When we start building Civic Center, Inglewood, Thomasville, we’re going to do a lot more than before.
2. When you look back to when Atlanta Housing bulldozed Perry Homes and rebuilt West Highlands, what are the things that you feel like they got right and what are some things they could have done differently? I think they learned a lot with West Highlands. No one wants a development to be torn down, but no one wants a development to stay up and create crimes. I think it gave us a platform and a model that we can replicate, tweak and do better at other developments we have around the city.
3. In terms of the number of affordable units Atlanta Housing Authority was able to provide in its heyday, what will you be able to provide in the future? Those numbers are never going to come back to where we were back in the 90s. Back in the day, HUD was fully funded. We had many different programs to fund all these different social activities. When it comes to social services, the programs are gone right now. Every time we go to Congress for appropriations, we have to beg for our money. There’s no other federal government agency that goes through a budget year that has to beg for their money like HUD.
4. What one thing can we do to help you do more? I need you to come into the fold and be ambassadors when it comes to resources to get these developments and to help developers create affordable housing. I need you to know what we know and what we do. A lot of people don’t understand the complexity of what we have to go through. I need you to understand what we go through so you can explain to the neighborhood and the community that we’re doing everything we can, but here are the issues and roadblocks. Once you get that word out, it will make our jobs a lot easier.

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

Fresh food is the cornerstone of community health, fueling vitality and well-being. Unfortunately, access to fresh food is not guaranteed for all communities, including the Historic Westside. Efforts to change the landscape are at work. A partnership between the Westside Future Fund (WFF) and Food Well Alliance (FWA) is making strides by fostering education and connecting urban farmers and community growers to resource support.

The two organizations share the building at 970 Jefferson Street in English Avenue, where they work together to improve community health and wellness for Westside residents. Kate Conner, executive director of Food Well Alliance, says it only made sense that the remodeled warehouse, formerly the home of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, became their home.

“FWA was founded by Bill Bolling, the founder and longtime executive director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The food bank had a large community gardening program and they felt like it needed more attention under its own organization, which ultimately became FWA,” said Conner. “Bill and John Ahmann, president and CEO of the Westside Future Fund, sat down together and decided that the building needed to stay in the community and in the Westside.
When the food bank decided to sell the building, there was a once in a lifetime opportunity to keep it operating as a food resource within the community.”

Ever since, FWA has been on a mission to build a better-connected food system not only on the Westside, but throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. The organization looks to provide more local food access to locally produced fruits, vegetables, herbs and proteins. Supporting urban agricultural education and taking care of partner farmers through direct grants and additional financial support are a part of FWA’s wrap-around services intended to connect and build healthier communities.

The Westside has a rich culture of urban farming. Several of the city’s largest urban farms – many of which have operated for decades – are located within historic neighborhoods served by WFF. As FWA works to support urban farmers, and WFF works to preserve the community’s history, the partnership is natural and necessary according to Conner.

“We need to make sure that the people of the Westside continue to be served. There is so much farming and gardening with historical roots centered on the Westside. There’s limited accessibility to grocery stores in this community and people realize a need to be more independent and sustainable in that regard.” said Conner. “It makes sense that the Food Well Alliance and what we do, supporting local agriculture, and the Westside Future Fund, who’s seeking to preserve the Westside. It’s so important as a vision for the community. We do it in different ways, but it all comes back to community wellness, housing and food.”

On May 6, FWA held its annual Soil Festival in the Westside’s Maddox Park. The event included various educational components geared toward curious new growers. It’s intended to be a fun way to learn how healthy soil leads to growing food. According to Christopher Lemons, director of programs and outreach for FWA, the event most importantly connects the local community to the organization’s mission.

“We had our partners, different organizations in the agriculture field, local vendors and farmers out to educate people about what they do,” said Lemons. “It’s almost like back in the old days when they used to do the farm and cotton expositions. It’s an opportunity for people to get together and spend some time being focused on community and food.”

Both Lemons and Conner have personal attachments to the mission of the Food Well Alliance. For Lemons, a farmer himself, the organization’s work aligns perfectly with his own life mission.

“I’ve also been a community advocate here in Atlanta for a very long time. When I joined Food Well Alliance, it was an opportunity for me to merge my skills, experience and passion for agriculture and agriculture education,” said Lemons. “It allows people to empower themselves.”

For Conner, her experience composting and gardening with her parents as a child taught her the importance of healthy soil and fresh food, and ultimately led her to work with Trees Atlanta and now FWA.

“I personally believe that the health of our community can come through soil and more importantly food and healthy food. There’s a lot of connection between community health and growing your own food or being connected to those that do,” said Conner.

In light of the growth and development occurring within the Historic Westside, FWA and WFF want to ensure that legacy residents benefit from community improvements and historic preservation efforts. They see this partnership as a positive step toward this goal.

“The heart of Atlanta lives here. There is a depth of history in this community that has truly not been explored. There’s so much here that has influenced not only Atlanta, but the world,” said Lemons. “It’s an incredible community, and we really do need to make sure that the people who live here are able to stay here and benefit as the community is developing for generations to come.”

The Westside Future Fund (WFF) has been fortunate to have dedicated volunteers who are passionate about transforming our Historic Westside neighborhoods into a thriving community. Among these remarkable individuals is Shaun Young, whose experience with the WFF Volunteer Corps began in 2017 and has since blossomed into a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of local residents.

Shaun’s introduction to WFF occurred while she was conducting research for her role as a service manager and community service leader at the Westin Perimeter Hotel. Her responsibility was to establish partnerships with nonprofits and organizations that shared the hotel’s core values, such as education, health, and well-being. During this process, Shaun reached out to the United Way of Greater Atlanta, who then directed her to the start-up volunteer efforts of the Westside Future Fund.

Enthusiastically drawn to the mission of restoring the Historic Westside, Shaun felt a personal connection as her children had attended school in the community. At the time, the WFF Volunteer Corps was in its founding days, having just kicked up the volunteer program in partnership with United Way of Greater Atlanta. Shaun saw it as an opportunity to get in at the ground floor and make a real difference in a community that needed helping hands. She proudly recalls preserving an original WFF Volunteer Corps t-shirt, a symbol of her enduring dedication.

“I have my original t-shirt from the very beginning. There wasn’t a question to me, this was a mission I wanted to be a part of, I felt called to help. After that first experience as a volunteer, I stayed in touch, continued to follow them on social media, read all of the newsletters and stayed in the know with all of the activities and community service opportunities,” said Young. “I’ve been a part of it since 2017, and I’ve never looked back. These days, I still try to volunteer once a month or at least once a quarter, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”

Shaun’s involvement with WFF extends beyond her personal commitment. Having witnessed the transformative work and impact of the organization through her own volunteerism, she was motivated to get more people involved. That’s when she turned to her local alumni chapter of Southern University, where she holds a role similar to hers at the Westin directing community engagement, and connected the two organizations. Ever since, she and her fellow alumni have been consistent participants.

“They really enjoy being a part of WFF volunteer opportunities. Every experience has been incredible. From working in the Truly Living Well community gardens at the MLK Day of Service to the monthly community clean ups, we do quite a bit,” said Young. “It’s a ton of fun every single time. Many of them didn’t even know about WFF before getting involved as volunteers, and now it’s hard to get them to stop talking about it. I’m excited to be a part of the work of getting the word out about WFF. The members that come, now some are going on their own to volunteer just because of how much they enjoy it.”

For Shaun, the most rewarding aspect of her volunteer efforts is witnessing the tangible impact on individuals and families within the community. Whether preparing properties for move-ins or delivering food to those in need, she relishes the opportunity to see smiles and joy radiating from those she has touched. Shaun is truly inspired by the transformative power of WFF and how it has become a driving force in improving lives.

“My favorite part, though I love all of it, is that I get to see the whole concept of transformation and what that truly means. To see their smiles, to see their hearts full of joy knowing that someone’s seen them and that someone is there for them,” said Young. “I’m inspired by seeing firsthand how lives are being changed and being impacted.”

One of the key messages Shaun wants to convey about WFF is the unwavering commitment and cohesiveness it brings to the community. She emphasizes that WFF acknowledges and supports the needs of the people, ensuring that no one is forgotten. Through their sleeves-rolled-up approach, WFF actively makes a difference by empowering and guiding residents to a brighter future.

“It’s all because of this organization called Westside Future Fund that is really there, that’s in the trenches, that’s rolling up sleeves and making a difference in the community,” said Young. “At the Transform Westside Summits, when you see all of the community leaders coming together, you just know that there are people there striving to make a meaningful impact in this incredible community. They are there connecting the community to real resources for success.”

Shaun’s involvement with WFF has not only allowed her to contribute to meaningful change in the community but has also inspired others to join the cause. Through her tireless volunteer efforts and infectious enthusiasm, Shaun continues to encourage individuals to step up, get involved, and make a positive impact in their community.

“Day in and day out with WFF, I’m just in awe. The work they are doing truly is transformational,” said Young. “It’s truly inspirational and motivates me to want to continue my volunteer efforts and tell others ‘What are you doing this weekend? Come out and help’”

As Westside Atlanta continues its transformative journey, the Westside Future Fund can count on exceptional volunteers like Shaun Young to continue championing their mission. With her unwavering dedication, Shaun is a shining example of the difference that one person can make when united with a passionate organization like WFF.