Westside Future Fund (WFF) has released our 2023 Impact Report, unveiling a wealth of organizational achievements through the calendar year as the organization pushes forward into Our Next Chapter for the historic Westside. We’re excited to share our progress in making our vision a reality.
Building Community with Transform Westside Summits
We welcomed hundreds of attendees from throughout Atlanta to the Gathering Spot last year as we united once a month for a moment of congregation and unity for the Westside. The signature gathering featured local and national leaders including: T. Dallas Smith, Founder & CEO of T. Dallas Smith & Company and WFF 2024 Board Chair; Roz Brewer, former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance and former Chair of Spelman College Board of Trustees; and Angel Cabrera, President of the Georgia Institute of Technology.
New Places to Call Home
WFF made tremendous strides in its commitment to create and maintain affordable housing for legacy residents and individuals with live, work, and learn connections to the historic Westside. Three new multifamily developments were opened in English Avenue, creating 21 high-quality 1- and 2-bedroom units. WFF also celebrated closings on 10 single-family homes in the community, transforming blighted properties into long-term residences. We continued to support longtime residents of the community through the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund, providing $125,000 in critical assistance to those challenged by surging property taxes.
As the year came to a close, WFF broke ground on a development project at 839 Joseph E. Boone Blvd which will bring 33 new multifamily units and 1,200 square feet of retail space in a highly-trafficked corridor of the community adjacent to Rodney Cook Sr. Park. Proximity to greenspace is a sought-after quality and focus of the WFF real estate acquisition team as they work to create higher levels of walkability and park access throughout the neighborhood.
Building Community at 970 Jefferson
Throughout 2023, WFF focused on activating the 970 Jefferson headquarters in partnership with Food Well Alliance as a community center adjacent to the Atlanta Beltline connector that brings like-missioned organizations together for collaborative planning and service delivery. The effort brought together people from across the community for events including Giving Tuesday and the second annual Ride for the Westside, which doubled its attendance since its inaugural year prior.
Hands on Impact
The WFF Volunteer Corps united corporate groups, individuals, and residents with opportunities to get hands-on helping the Westside. From monthly Community Clean-Ups to annual events, our Volunteer Corps showed up for the community. The effort engaged 2,270 volunteers acrossr nearly 50 events, providing $216,558 worth of value invested into the community through volunteer hours.
Launching Our Next Chapter
The Our Next Chapter capital campaign kicked off at The Coca-Cola Company headquarters in August 2023, hosted by John Murphy, President and CFO of The Coca-Cola Company. The $55 million campaign goal will enable WFF to activate another $45 million from its Impact Fund in addition to $10 million in public grants for strategic land acquisitions to fulfill its quality affordable housing targets by 2028. This investment will have impact for generations—one of economic mobility and neighborhood health and stability.
See the Numbers
To learn more, view the 2023 Impact Report: Making The Vision Reality here.