Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The dignity of the individual will flourish when matters concerning his life are in his hands.”
More than 50 years later, those words inspired Hope Wollensack, Executive Director of The Georgia Resilience & Opportunity Fund (The GRO Fund), to launch a nonprofit dedicated to doing just that: putting power back into the hands of the people.
This month’s Transform Westside Summit, sponsored by the Arthur Blank Family Foundation, explored how local partners financially empower our communities through initiatives like In Her Hands and Freedom Futures, led by The GRO Fund.
Westside Future Fund President & CEO John Ahmann and Summit co-host Ebony Ford opened the discussion by emphasizing the significance of guaranteed income, especially within the context of Dr. King’s legacy. Ahmann noted that The Trumpet of Conscience — the book Dr. King was working on before his assassination — called for guaranteed income, a vision later championed by Coretta Scott King. Aisha A., an In Her Hands Westside program participant, delivered the devotion.
“I’m glad we’re having this conversation on the Westside, because this is exactly where these investments are needed most,” said Ford.
The co-hosts then welcomed Dr. Alex Camardelle, Vice President of Policy & Research at Kindred Futures, to moderate a panel focused on guaranteed income and basic economic security as foundational to economic mobility. Three leaders from The GRO Fund joined him: Hope Wollensack, Executive Director; Chyna Quarker, Director of Programs for In Her Hands; and Amit Khanduri, Director of Programs for Freedom Futures.
Key Highlights from the Discussion
In 2020, Wollensack founded The GRO Fund after serving on a community-based task force commissioned by Atlanta City Councilmember Amir Farokhi to examine the root causes of economic insecurity. After eight months of deep community engagement, the task force concluded that baseline economic security is essential for underserved communities to thrive. To meet this need, Wollensack established an ambitious guaranteed income pilot program, offering direct cash assistance with no conditions attached.
“We view our work as bringing bold ideas to life,” said Wollensack. “These are bold, evidence-based, community-led concepts designed to create an economy where all of us can thrive.”
Through In Her Hands and Freedom Futures, The GRO Fund provides no-strings-attached income support to those facing the highest barriers to economic opportunity, specifically Black women.
“Atlanta’s Westside is a place with deep history, legacy, and struggle,” said Dr. Camardelle. “It’s a place where Black women have always been the backbone of the community — and where poverty, housing insecurity, and disinvestment are still very concentrated.”
In Her Hands is designed to be part of the solution. Last year, In Her Hands expanded to the Westside, serving 275 women across four communities. Each participant in the Westside cohort will receive $36,000 over three years, an investment that promotes long-term financial security and autonomy. “This is about testing what it looks like to put the solution in their hands and watch them flourish,” said Quarker.
The GRO Fund’s next chapter is Freedom Futures, an accelerated pilot program that provides young people with guaranteed income and baby bonds. This innovative approach supports their needs today while equipping them with the resources to build wealth tomorrow, directly addressing the root cause of inequality: lack of wealth.
By investing in people, not just programs, partners like The GRO Fund are restoring agency and honoring the resilience within our neighborhoods. In doing so, they’re helping shape a community that honors Dr. King Jr.’s vision.
Miss the event? Watch the full May Transform Westside Summit on our YouTube channel.