Sending Unarmed Responders Instead of Police: What We’ve Learned
This analysis from The Marshall Project, examines the impact of the 100+ response teams nationwide, featuring input Atlanta’s Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD). Many people remain leery of dialing 911 in a crisis, especially when there’s no guarantee that someone will get an alternative responder instead of police. Instead of being dispatched through 911, PAD has opted to use a non-emergency line, 311. “People may have hesitancy about calling 911 because it might result in a police dispatch that they don’t want,” said Moki Macias, executive director of PAD.
Second Helpings Atlanta has appointed a new Board of Director member, Ben Halpern, executive vice president of Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors.
Ben Halpern commented, “I am so honored to be asked to join Second Helpings Atlanta, who is now celebrating their 20th year of service, providing free groceries, produce and meals to those experiencing food insecurity. Their mission is to eliminate hunger and food waste in metro Atlanta by rescuing surplus food and delivering it to those in need. That resonates deeply with Farmers & Fishermen’s dedication to the community at-large who are food-challenged.”
Protecting homeownership for Atlantans as the city grows
Amanda Rhein, Executive Director of the Atlanta Land Trust, penned an Op Ed piece in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on how Atlanta can remain an inclusive city that welcomes newcomers while protecting legacy residents. Rhein writes, “Atlanta is the best version of itself when we can open the door to newcomers while ensuring that those who are already here don’t have it slammed in their faces.” She goes on to share how the work Atlanta Land Trust is undertaking can keep housing permanently affordable and ensure “a livable, equitable and economically viable city where historically marginalized populations and communities of color can access and benefit from opportunities and prosper.”
Amanda Rhein, Executive Director of The Atlanta Land Trust, penned an Op Ed piece in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on how Atlanta can remain an inclusive city that welcomes newcomers while protecting legacy residents. Rhein writes, “Atlanta is the best version of itself when we can open the door to newcomers while ensuring that those who are already here don’t have it slammed in their faces.” She goes on to share how the work Atlanta Land Trust is undertaking can keep housing permanently affordable and ensure “a livable, equitable and economically viable city where historically marginalized populations and communities of color can access and benefit from opportunities and prosper.”
Tamira Benitez Wants to Help DC’s Grassroots Leaders Heal
Two years into her tenure, Tamira Benitez—Executive Director of Diverse City Fund, is leaning into healing support for on-the-ground organizers. Since taking leadership in spring of last year, she has bolstered the fund’s participatory grantmaking model, which puts organizers of color in the decision-making seat. She has also leaned into the fund’s longtime commitment to providing wellness and healing support for the frontline organizers who make up the bulk of the fund’s grantees.
Two years into her tenure, Tamira Benitez—Executive Director of Diverse City Fund, is leaning into healing support for on-the-ground organizers.
Impact100 Twin Cities Distributes First Grant Round
The new women's grant making group earmarked $100,000 to help the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center scale its Women’s Wealth and Equity Building Initiative.
Development on Auburn Avenue aims to revitalize historic neighborhood
HDDC’s The Front Porch on Auburn is a $37 million project that will bring affordable housing and new retail. HDDC is targeting graduate students and those in the entertainment and hospitality industries. Rents will be set for people making 80% of the area median income — or $60,200 a year for individuals and $86,000 for a family of four. Lease terms will range from three months to 18 months and Joseph estimates the average rent will range from $1,200 to $1,400, including utilities.
‘Truly affordable’ project comes to market in Southwest ATL
The Atlanta Land Trust’s 36-unit community of for-sale townhomes known as, Avenue at Oakland City, is located off Murphy Ave and only four blocks from the BeltLine’s Westside Trail. All townhomes are being reserved for buyers earning at or below 100% of the area median income. Buyers can also qualify for down payment assistance funds through Invest Atlanta, Atlanta Housing, and Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership.
Denied: Alabama's broken parole system
Redemption Earned, led by its Executive Director, former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, helped secure the release of Robert George. Mr. George, who is 85 and in failing health, has served 31 years in prison for manslaughter. The state fought his release despite the victim's mother's plea for clemency.
Cobb Co. Organization Expands Program To Help Serve Growing Homeless Population
Open Doors and The Center for Family Resources were recently featured on Atlanta News First (ANF). Their client Ravin O’Bannon talks with ANF's Asia Wilson about how she overcame homelessness through a new suburban initiative to help families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
New Homes in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward
The Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC) and Mercy Housing Southeast are proud to be part of an important partnership to redevelop a 1950s-era apartment complex in the historic Old Fourth Ward, one of Atlanta’s fastest gentrifying neighborhoods where increasing property values risk forcing long-time residents out of their homes. Built in 1951, the existing 58 uninsulated cinderblock apartments will be replaced with 76 newly constructed, energy-efficient apartment homes in a mixed-use development that will also include a grocery store or other retail to the property.
Center for Civil and Human Rights realizing its initial dream
Construction fencing surrounds the perimeter of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights to make way for the $56 million, 24,000-square-foot expansion of the living museum. The expansion will feature a three-story West Wing with a café and three new galleries — a Family Gallery for children under 12, a gallery that will tell the story of the Reconstruction Era and a Special Exhibitions Gallery for traveling and rotating exhibitions.
Baby bonds program gets closer look in Georgia
Democratic lawmakers want the state to gauge whether state-funded saving accounts for children born into poverty could help shrink the wealth and equity gap in Georgia. Under a hypothetical baby bonds program in Georgia, advocates say, the state government would make annual deposits in a trust fund for every Medicaid-eligible child born here.
Atlanta Land Trust, Cityscape Housing Break Ground on Residential Development
The Atlanta Land Trust (ALT) and Cityscape Housing this week celebrated the start of construction on The Trust at Oakland City, a new mixed-income housing development.
Phyllis Wheatley center, once a Green Book haven for Black students and artists, turns 100
The center was founded in October 1924 as the Phyllis Wheatley Settlement House. The building was established to help the growing African American community that was new to Minneapolis. Providing kids the chance to explore the outdoors, listen to the sounds of nature and take a dip in a lake had been a high priority for Phyllis Wheatley. And this year, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center is turning 100 years old and celebrating a century of its mission.
Could a novel “baby bond” pilot program help to close Atlanta’s racial wealth gap?
To close the racial wealth gap, the Georgia Resilience and Opportunity (GRO) Fund is piloting what’s called a “baby bonds” program–a concept that’s gaining some traction nationally. The GRO Fund pilot’s aim is to accelerate wealth-building for young Black adults from lower-income families.
L.E.A.D. Center For Youth featured on Closer Look with Rose Scott
A special edition of “Closer Look with Rose Scott” was a themed show focusing on the mentoring of young Black boys.
Show host Rose Scott spoke with several guests, including L.E.A.D. Center For Youth founders CJ and Kelli Stewart who exemplify the transformative power of mentorship through their athletic-based programs. The interview also included current Ambassadors— student-athletes in L.E.A.D.’s program.
Historic Clayborn Temple featured in Nonprofit Quarterly
Anasa Troutman wears many hats (including being a record producer), but in this interview, the focus is on her role as executive director of Historic Clayborn Temple, a $25 million project to restore a building that was the central organizing hub of the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike in Memphis.
“Our hope and our vision for the building is that it will be a place of gathering and a place of story, but also… a place for intersectional conversation.”
-Anasa Troutman
Sydney Langdon selected as the recipient of the 2024 Ann Cramer Civic Leadership Award
Congratulations to Sydney Langdon Senior Director, Corporate Social Responsibility at Warner Bros. Discovery, for being selected as the recipient of the 2024 Ann Cramer Civic Leadership Award! Sydney truly embodies what Ann describes as "connect of the hands, head, and heart." Thank you, Sydney, for your outstanding community leadership and service!
Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society Featured in the AJC
Trevor Beeman, executive director of Cobb Landmarks + Historical Society, gives a tour of the circa 1840 Power-Jackson Cabin in east Cobb County, which could be the area's oldest structure. His organization is raising funds to restore the cabin and move it to nearby Hyde Farm.
Atlanta collaboration wins the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge
The City of Atlanta, NBAF, CDC Foundation and Out of Hand Theater collaborate to win the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge.
The City of Atlanta, NBAF, CDC Foundation and Out of Hand Theater collaborate to win the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge
Bloomberg Philanthropies has selected the City of Atlanta as a winner of a grant of up to $1 million as part of its Public Art Challenge. This unique grant program supports temporary public art projects that address important local civic issues in cities across the country.
NBAF, in partnership with the City of Atlanta, the CDC Foundation and Out of Hand Theater will produce “Thriving Together,” which will address healthcare disparities through large-scale installations, community dinners, a mobile art gallery, and a festival – all of which will be curated through the lens of racial equity in public health.
Atlanta is one of just 8 winning cities, from more than 150 project proposals received from cities in 40 U.S. states. The project will be developed over the next two years and will bring people together to address public health through community-driven public art.
Visit publicartchallenge.bloomberg.org erg.org/to learn more about the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge and stay tuned for updates as the City of Atlanta’s project comes to life.