On Friday, December 19, the Westside Future Fund (WFF) welcomed community members, partners, and neighbors to the monthly Transform Westside Summit for a meaningful conversation centered on education, opportunity, and the future of Atlanta’s historic Westside. This month’s program featured Dr. Bryan Johnson, Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools discussing building brighter futures for our students.

WFF President & CEO John Ahmann opened the Summit by welcoming attendees and sharing updates on the organization’s Home on the Westside program. Designed to prioritize high-quality, affordable housing for those who live, work, and learn on the Westside, the program continues to offer both rental opportunities and affordable single-family homeownership options.

Ahmann shared a video highlighting two new multifamily developments on Echo Street and Boone Street, which together will provide 57 affordable rental units to the community. He also spoke about the single-family homes currently available for purchase and emphasized the opportunity for down payment assistance, a critical tool in helping Westside residents achieve stable, long-term homeownership.

This month’s Summit featured a unique and powerful community-led devotion. Gospel quartet Tiny Foster & Dem Saints offered music that grounded the room in fellowship and shared experience, reminding attendees of the unifying power of faith, culture, and connection.

Following the devotion and fellowship, Ahmann welcomed Dr. Bryan Johnson, Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, for a moderated discussion titled “Building Brighter Futures: Dr. Bryan Johnson’s Vision for the Booker T. Washington Cluster.”

Building Brighter Futures

Dr. Johnson shared his deep belief in what is possible when vision, innovation, and community come together in service of students, and the conversation began with a focus on academic achievement within the Booker T. Washington Cluster.

“We are making a deep investment in the Washington Cluster explicitly,” Dr. Johnson shared. “We’re providing more options for families and students. We’re being intentional about positioning students for the future.”

Reflecting on his early days at Atlanta Public Schools (APS), Dr. Johnson spoke about the historic and cultural significance of Booker T. Washington High School:

“I had the privilege of starting during the 100th year, so there were a lot of special moments… There was this recognition of the significance of Booker T. Washington High School to the city, and the community, and frankly the nation—the legends that have walked the halls, and the impact that they have had on the city and the country. You recognize the importance it has for the community.”

“Because of that history, because of that excellence,” he added, “we’ve got to make it all that it can be.”

Dr. Johnson emphasized APS’s commitment to making the cluster a destination—not only for the surrounding neighborhoods, but for the entire district. “We want parents to choose Atlanta Public Schools,” he said.

Family Engagement, Community Partnership, and Equity

The discussion then explored meaningful family engagement and the role schools play in building strong relationships with parents and caregivers. He acknowledged that families come from many different circumstances and emphasized the responsibility schools have to meet them where they are.

“Our vision is that folks see the school as an extremely welcoming place,” he said. “A place that no matter if you earn a million dollars, or a thousand, or no dollars a year… you know how to access and engage in your child’s learning.”

When asked how community partners like Westside Future Fund, nonprofits, and businesses can support this vision, Dr. Johnson highlighted the importance of long-term student success.

“As important as it is to provide coats and backpacks and all those things—which we’re so grateful for—the most important thing we can do is position students to be successful post-graduation,” he said. “Teaching students to read, think critically, and understand how to navigate social skills—that’s how we break some of the generational challenges that have persisted in Atlanta and across the country.”

Equity remains a central focus of APS’s work. “We’re unapologetic about making sure no matter where you are, you have access,” Dr. Johnson shared. “We’re investing strategically.”

Looking Ahead with Hope

When asked what gives him the most hope for the future, Dr. Johnson’s answer was immediate: the students.

“The students give me the most hope,” he said. “This generation is different—and it’s incumbent upon us to figure out how to meet them where they are.” With more information and opportunity available earlier than ever before, he emphasized the importance of building strong academic foundations while continuing to adapt to students’ evolving needs.

“The kids are brilliant,” he added. “The more we can expose them to opportunities, the better positioned they’re going to be.”

Dr. Johnson encouraged ongoing dialogue and accessibility, inviting community members to reach out with follow-up questions. The audience members—many of whom are parents and grandparents—asked questions on topics from AP course access and literacy improvement, to facilities planning and skill-based learning. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Johnson reaffirmed his unapologetic commitment to recognizing current gaps while making intentional, meaningful improvements across the district.

The summit ended with a rousing rendition of Joy to the World. It served as a joyful reminder that together, through partnership, vision, and shared commitment, we continue working toward brighter futures for the Westside.

Missed the event? Watch the full December Transform Westside Summit on YouTube.

In historic English Avenue, two new single-family homes rose into place in a single day this November — a striking moment in a neighborhood where high-quality, affordable homeownership has long been out of reach for many of the people who love this community most.

For Westside Future Fund (WFF), the installation wasn’t simply about construction speed. It was about expanding the tools available to help legacy residents rent, buy, or retain a home through Home on the Westside, WFF’s signature program.

“When you have 200-plus homes to build, you look at every option that helps you do things faster, easier, and with affordability in mind without ever compromising quality,” said WFF Chief Real Estate Officer Rachel Carey.

Innovation That Serves Affordability

The modular homes — both three bedrooms, three baths, and approximately 1,450 square feet — were fully constructed in a factory and then lifted onto WFF-owned land at the corner of English Avenue and North Avenue. With primary construction completed off-site, the homes can be set on foundation and ready for move-in within six to eight weeks, dramatically reducing the time it takes to deliver high-quality, affordable housing.

For WFF Vice President of Real Estate Development Lee Harrop, modular isn’t a shortcut. It’s a way to give families access to the same craftsmanship WFF is known for — just delivered differently, quicker. 

“Once the crane left, you’d never know these were modular homes,” Harrop said. “Inside, they have the same finishes: granite countertops, durable materials, everything our buyers expect.”

Both homes will be priced at $350,000 and available to buyers with live, work, and learn connections to the historic Westside.

A Partnership Designed for Community-Led Revitalization

The project brought together development partners from Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP), Fortas Homes as general contractor, and Impact Housing as the modular manufacturer.

In a conversation with ANDP, the organization emphasized that this collaboration works because WFF anchors the community’s vision, “WFF serves as the community quarterback for the historic Westside — coordinating partners, aligning resources, and keeping legacy residents at the center of redevelopment efforts. Together, we’re producing high-quality, affordable homes as part of a neighborhood-driven strategy — advancing our mission to expand access to opportunity while supporting a locally anchored, inclusive revitalization effort.”

ANDP also underscored why this modular pilot matters.

“For us, this pilot is an opportunity to learn alongside WFF about where modular construction may be useful in supporting high-quality, affordable homeownership — and to better understand the conditions under which it can be a practical tool for advancing affordability.”

A Visible Step Toward a Mixed-Income Community

These homes are part of six new homeowners created on English Avenue this year — a milestone Carey calls an important signal of progress.

“When was the last time you could say six new homeowners were created on English Avenue in a single year?” she said. “It’s a visible indicator of the work happening block by block.”

For WFF, the modular pilot is the kind of creative, resident-centered problem-solving that defines its mission: restoring a community with, not to, longtime residents and helping ensure the historic Westside remains a place they can call home.

Harrop sees modular as another tool that could help accelerate affordability where conditions allow.

“If modular helps us create more high-quality, affordable homes for legacy residents at scale, it’s a tool worth exploring and implementing,” said Harrop. 

Home on the Westside in Action

Every new home brought online moves WFF closer to its long-term goal of creating a thriving, mixed-income community that Dr. King would be proud to call home — a place where people with deep ties to the neighborhood can stay rooted and build for the future.

On English Avenue, two new homes now stand as proof of what residents, partners, and WFF can accomplish together: quality, affordability, and belonging — built with care, and designed for the families who make the historic Westside home.

Interested in learning more about Home on the Westside and if you qualify? Visit www.homeonthewestside.com. 

For six consecutive years, the WFF Volunteer Corps and Hudson Grille have answered the same call: to show up for Atlanta’s historic Westside during the season of gratitude. This year, they answered it bigger than ever.

Over just two days, the partnership distributed 1,900 complete Thanksgiving meals to 247 households — a milestone that reflects both the growing need in our community and the unwavering commitment of those determined to meet it. Each meal included turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, desserts and rolls, everything families needed to gather around the table together.

From Pandemic Challenge to Community Solution

The story of this partnership is one of adaptation. Hudson Grille has been serving the community since 1991, with giving embedded in their DNA from day one. But when COVID-19 struck in 2020, they faced a question: How do we continue to serve when everything has changed? Working with Raquel Hudson, Director of Volunteer Programs at Westside Future Fund, they reimagined their approach. Instead of traditional in-person service, they created a distribution model that could reach more families, more safely, and more efficiently.

“Watching this partnership grow over the past six years, reaching nearly 250 households with 1,900 meals, is a reminder of what’s possible when we commit to showing up consistently,” said Raquel Hudson, Director of Volunteer Programs at Westside Future Fund. “It’s about affirming that families in our community are seen, valued, and worthy of celebration.”

Six years later, that pivot has blossomed into something remarkable: a program that grows stronger and reaches further each year.

Youth Leading the Way

Behind every meal handed off was a young person learning what it means to serve. For the third year in a row, Westside Future Fund interns — aged 11 to 21 and employed through a Georgia Natural Gas-funded initiative — were integral to the distribution efforts. These young people are building skills, earning income, and discovering firsthand the impact of showing up for their community.

Their hard work is essential to the success of the event. Over both days, they supported the orchestration of the entire operation: packing cars at Hudson Grille, coordinating delivery lists, and ensuring volunteers had everything they needed to get meals to families.

What 1,900 Meals Really Means

Numbers can feel abstract, but 247 households translate to real families. Children knowing their Thanksgiving table will be full. Elders not eating alone. Parents breathing easier knowing one significant meal is taken care of. The growth from previous years shows that word has spread, families know this resource exists, and they’re reaching out.

As this partnership continues to grow, it demonstrates a simple truth: community isn’t something that happens by accident. It’s built by partners like Hudson Grille showing up year after year, by WFF creating the infrastructure to scale impact, and by young people stepping in to make it all possible.

Ready to be part of the solution? WFF continues to support the historic Westside throughout the year. Learn more about volunteering opportunities at https://volunteer.westsidefuturefund.org/.

On Friday, November 21, the Westside Future Fund (WFF) welcomed community members, partners, legacy residents, and local leaders to the monthly Transform Westside Summit. This month’s program featured Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President & CEO of Invest Atlanta, in a conversation with WFF President & CEO John Ahmann discussing “How Invest Atlanta is Advancing Economic Opportunity on the Westside.”

The morning opened with a moving devotion delivered by Avona Lee Bridges, Compliance and Asset Management Specialist with Invest Atlanta and a Home on the Westside homebuyer, whose personal testimony set a powerful tone for the day’s conversation about resilience, opportunity, and the work of rebuilding community together.

Following the devotion and introductions from attendees across the Westside, Ahmann welcomed Dr. Eloisa Klementich to discuss Invest Atlanta’s work advancing economic mobility citywide and the agency’s commitment to the Westside.

Klementich opened by outlining what inclusive growth means for the agency: ensuring all Atlantans have meaningful pathways to success and designing programs that intentionally reach communities historically excluded from opportunity.

Data-Driven Strategy for Equity

Klementich described a framework developed six years ago using 32 metrics — from third-grade reading levels to access to transportation — to identify neighborhoods with the highest barriers to economic mobility.

This approach revealed a clear pattern: the majority of communities with the greatest need are located south of I-20, including many neighborhoods across Atlanta’s Westside.

By applying this data to program design, Invest Atlanta ensures that its resources — including small business support, affordable housing financing, and community development tools — are deployed where they can make the greatest impact.

“When we are purposeful, we can move the needle,” she explained.

The Westside Is Leading Today

When asked about the next 5-10 years, Klementich emphasized that meaningful progress is already happening on the historic Westside, thanks to strong community quarterback organizations including Westside Future Fund.

She emphasized the importance of collaboration, noting that Invest Atlanta’s role is to support the broader ecosystem by aligning housing, jobs, education, safety, and community development efforts.

Programs and Tools Available Now

Klementich highlighted several key programs Westside residents and business owners can access today:

• Small Business Loans: Low-interest loans at 3% and below, offering alternatives to credit card debt and supporting business expansion.
• Down Payment Assistance: Programs that significantly reduce barriers to homeownership for first-time buyers.
• Anti-Displacement Tax Fund: A partnership with WFF providing long-term tax relief for legacy homeowners.
• Faith-Based Development Loans: Forgivable loans helping churches explore affordable housing opportunities on underutilized land.
• Affordable Housing Tools: Financing options for developers building both single-family and multifamily affordable housing.

The Future of the Westside TAD

Klementich also addressed the importance of the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD), which Invest Atlanta administers. Current discussions about potential changes in county participation could significantly reduce available funding for affordable housing and infrastructure.

Using a powerful metaphor from her childhood, she explained that removing the TAD would be like taking away a critical tool from a builder’s toolbox.

“You can hammer a nail with the handle of a screwdriver,” she said, “but it’s much harder. The TAD is the hammer. We need every tool we have to continue delivering impact.”

Ahmann closed the summit by thanking Dr. Klementich, Bridges, and the Invest Atlanta team for their leadership and partnership. He reiterated the importance of collective action in building a community Dr. King would be proud to call home.

Missed the event? Watch the full November Transform Westside Summit on YouTube.

Today, we are proud to announce a milestone in our journey to honor Atlanta’s rich civil rights heritage: 220 Sunset Avenue has officially received historic designation. This recognition is more than symbolic — it cements the building’s role in preserving the story of leadership, family, and community on the historic Westside. For the Westside Future Fund (WFF), it’s a powerful affirmation of our mission: to preserve and restore the rich legacy of the community while building for its future. 

A Home Steeped in History

Built in 1949 by Rev. Maynard Jackson Sr., 220 Sunset Avenue was more than a family home: it was the cradle of a legacy. Rev. Jackson and his wife, Dr. Irene Dobbs Jackson, raised their children there, among them Maynard Jr. who would go on to become Atlanta’s first Black mayor.

This three-story building also provided affordable, dignified housing for faculty and staff affiliated with the Atlanta University Center, long before WFF’s involvement. Adjacent to the Martin Luther King Jr. family home at 234 Sunset, the building occupies a deeply symbolic block in Vine City’s history.

A New Chapter

In 2020, The King Center sold 220 Sunset Avenue to WFF, marking the start of a new chapter in its story. WFF took on a comprehensive restoration alongside partners to bring the building back to life. 

This restoration set out to ensure that the legacy of the Jackson family and rich history of this block of Vine City would be preserved for generations.

Following the restoration, 220 Sunset has reopened as affordable rental housing for Spelman College faculty and staff through a transformative partnership with WFF, tied directly to the organization’s signature “Home on the Westside” initiative. Lease terms are designed thoughtfully to encourage long-term residency and even offer a pathway to homeownership.

Securing the Future, Rooted in History

Historic designation of 220 Sunset builds a bridge between history and opportunity. For WFF, this moment showcases the power of preservation to advance affordable housing, community stability, and intergenerational legacy.

By rooting deeply in our shared history, we reaffirm a future where legacy families and new generations can thrive side by side.

WFF is incredibly grateful to all of the partners who brought this vision to life. Together, we are ensuring that places like 220 Sunset Avenue remain living landmarks, honoring the past and serving the future of the historic Westside.

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is preparing to welcome residents to two transformative developments that continue the organization’s mission of restoring Atlanta’s historic Westside into a community Dr. King would be proud to call home. 

646 Echo Street and 839 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard are the next steps in WFF’s ongoing work to expand access to deeply affordable, high-quality housing through its Home on the Westside program — ensuring that legacy residents and those with ties to the community can remain rooted as the neighborhood grows.

The two complexes will provide a total of 57 apartments ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units, and offer deep affordability through units dedicated at 30% to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) up to market rate. 

646 Echo Street: A New Chapter Near the Beltline

Rising just off Northside Drive in English Avenue, 646 Echo Street will feature 24 apartments across two three-story buildings, located a short walk from the Atlanta Beltline Connector Trail.

The development is part of a growing corridor that blends the Westside’s historic character with new opportunity. Through thoughtful design and affordability commitments, the project will serve residents earning a range of incomes — from 30% to 80% of the AMI. 

One of the apartment buildings features a distinctive brick façade that echoes smaller intown apartment communities from a century ago as a part of WFF’s commitment to retaining the historic fabric of the community. 

With units ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments, and starting at $450 per month for qualified individuals, 646 Echo Street will add much-needed rental options that are both modern and attainable, reflecting WFF’s belief that every Westside neighbor deserves access to quality housing close to opportunity.

839 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard: Affordable Housing in the Heart of the Community

Next door to Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park and just blocks from other major community anchors including the Atlanta University Center and Rodney Cook Sr. Park, 839 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard is another key investment in keeping the historic Westside’s restoration rooted in affordability.

This mixed-use development will offer 33 new rental units and three ground-floor commercial spaces totalling 1,200 square feet, designed to invigorate the key Westside corridor and create neighborhood vibrancy. 

Like other WFF developments, units will be reserved for residents who meet the Home on the Westside eligibility criteria — prioritizing legacy residents, returning residents, and those with strong ties to the community.

How to Get Started: The Home on the Westside Pathway

Both properties are part of WFF’s Home on the Westside program, which provides affordable rental and homeownership opportunities for individuals with connections to the community — those who live, work, or learn in the historic Westside neighborhoods of English Avenue, Vine City, Ashview Heights, Just Us and the Atlanta University Center.

Prospective residents can begin the process by completing a simple interest form at westsidefuturefund.org/findmyhotw.

From there, WFF’s housing team guides applicants through eligibility and next steps as new units become available.

Last month, I joined city leaders and community partners as we stood alongside Mayor Andre Dickens as he launched the City of Atlanta’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI) — a bold effort to ensure Atlanta’s prosperity reaches every corner of our city. 

For me, it was a full-circle moment. When I moved into Vine City years ago, I saw firsthand what it meant for a community to be surrounded by growth but not included in it. Imagine you’re in the desert, you see water tanks and the water is not being shared. For too long, neighborhoods like Vine City, English Avenue, and Ashview Heights have lived that reality. Given the challenges that neighborhoods have suffered — with people leaving as a result of all the disinvestment and redlining that occurred — we need those water tanks. 

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative changes that story. By extending and strengthening the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD), the City is reaffirming a simple but powerful truth: coordinated public investment can restore neighborhoods without displacing the people who have sustained them through decades of disinvestment.

The Power of the Westside TAD

The Westside TAD has been an important tool for restoration of the historic Westside neighborhoods.

Through partnerships with Invest Atlanta, Atlanta Housing, Quest Community Development Corporation, and others, Westside Future Fund has leveraged over $6 million in Westside TAD commitments to finance more than $37 million in development — a 6-to-1 return on public investment. Those dollars have created nearly 400 deeply affordable housing units, preserved historic landmarks, and supported hundreds of families in remaining rooted in the neighborhoods they call home.

Public investment through the Westside TAD has been the catalyst that makes private and philanthropic investment possible. The TAD provides the backbone for critical infrastructure that allows affordable housing and community restoration to take root. Building on that foundation, Westside Future Fund and our partners have invested many times over in direct development, preservation, and resident support. Together, these public and private commitments are creating the conditions for lasting, inclusive growth.

These investments are visible everywhere — from restored historic homes like 220 Sunset Avenue, the childhood home of Mayor Maynard Jackson Jr., to new mixed-use developments that combine affordable housing with essential retail and services. They show that the right kind of public investment changes lives.

Why the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative Matters

Extending the TAD allows the City and its partners to keep leveraging public investment to unlock private development, complete in-progress projects, sustain affordable housing pipelines, and deliver the infrastructure improvements that make all of it possible.

This alignment between the public and private sectors is how real progress happens. The TAD makes streets, sidewalks, and utilities feasible; private and philanthropic partners bring the vertical investment that fills those streets with homes, businesses, and opportunity. That partnership is what transforms neighborhoods like English Avenue and Vine City — communities that for too long have been left behind — into places where legacy residents and new neighbors can thrive together.

This isn’t just about financing buildings or infrastructure. It’s about investing in people and in the shared future of Atlanta. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, grounded in the proven success of the Westside TAD, ensures that public resources continue to meet private commitment — turning decades of disinvestment into decades of growth and inclusion.

Looking Ahead

At Westside Future Fund, we believe that restoration without displacement is not just possible — it’s happening. And the Westside TAD has been a key part of that success.

As the City moves forward with the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, we are proud to stand with Mayor Dickens, Invest Atlanta, and our many community partners to ensure that this next chapter of investment continues to strengthen the fabric of the historic Westside.

Together, we can build a community Dr. King would be proud to call home — vibrant, inclusive, and rooted in shared prosperity.

Let’s do the work together.

 

John Ahmann
President & CEO
Westside Future Fund

The streets of Atlanta’s Westside came alive during the 2025 Ride for the Westside on September 27, but the heart of the event wasn’t just the ride itself—it was the stories, memories, and voices of the people who call this community home.

“This is just an amazing day for our communities,” Jon Ingram, Chief Development Officer of Westside Future Fund said, smiling as riders and walkers made their way through neighborhoods steeped in history. “What makes Ride for the Westside different and unique? It’s a view into history… the cultural backbone that Atlanta is known for.”

The event welcomed everyone—cyclists, runners, and walkers—to engage with the Westside in their own way.

“You’re going to learn stuff about our city you may not know,” John Ahmann, President and CEO of Westside Future Fund noted, highlighting the blend of fun, exercise, and discovery that the event provides.

For many, the Ride sparked personal reflections.

“It’s familiar to me. I’m from this side of town… to see the bones that’s in this area always remind me of really good days of growing up in this neighborhood and remembering what it was at its prime,” said T. Dallas Smith, Chair of the Board of Westside Future Fund.

Rose Scott, host of “A Closer Look” on WABE, added, “You cannot talk about Atlanta’s history and not mention the Westside. It is a critical, significant, and sacred part of Atlanta’s history.”

The event was also about giving back. Ni-Kohle Golding, a young local artist, designed the t-shirts for this year’s event.

She shared how her community pours into her and this was an opportunity to give back saying, “This is the first shirt I’ve ever designed! I love to be involved in the community, and I felt really proud of seeing my design on the shirt.”

Maria Armstrong of Raising Expectations echoed the sentiments around coming together stating, “Community is made better by working together and really digging deep and supporting, with honor and integrity, the families who live here.”

Ride for the Westside is a living celebration of community, history, and culture. Each pedal stroke, each step, and each shared story reflected a deep connection to a neighborhood that continues to shape Atlanta’s identity.

From October 11–14, 2025, Westside Future Fund (WFF) joined thousands of Atlantans in celebrating Hands On Atlanta Week, the city’s largest week of service.

Since 1989, Hands On Atlanta has been connecting changemakers to nonprofits and schools, empowering volunteers to take action—whether it’s tutoring students, feeding the homeless, or improving public spaces. This year, WFF partnered with Hands On Atlanta to make a visible impact right in the heart of the historic Westside community.

Volunteers focused their energy on 395 James P. Brawley, one of the organization’s first Home on the Westside high-quality, affordable multifamily developments. The team rolled up their sleeves to clean up the property and paint vibrant murals, transforming the space into a welcoming, lively environment for residents. These efforts not only enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the neighborhood but also strengthened community pride and connection.

The collaboration was part of a broader initiative with The Same House and the 2025 Beloved Benefit beneficiaries, which hosted marquee volunteer projects at more than 50 nonprofits and schools across Atlanta. This incredible group of volunteers demonstrated how hands-on service can support long-term community development, creating tangible, lasting improvements while inspiring others to give back.

“Service is what bridges communities,” said John Ahmann, President & CEO of Westside Future Fund. “When we walk together with purpose — from the historic Westside to every corner of Atlanta — we show what’s possible when people unite around shared progress. Being part of Hands On Atlanta Week was a powerful reminder that the future we’re building on the Westside is connected to the future of our entire city.”

To learn more about Hands On Atlanta and how to get involved in future volunteer opportunities, visit www.handsonatlanta.org.