For Elisha Dumas, the opportunity to live on the Westside marks the beginning of a new chapter at age 27.  

“I’d been staying with my mom for so long,” he said. “The home was the next step of having something of my own and being able to build equity for my family.”

Originally from New Orleans, Elisha moved to Atlanta in the third grade after Hurricane Katrina forced his family to relocate. They eventually settled in Douglasville, but Elisha always felt a connection to Atlanta’s historic Westside. He grew up attending St. Theresa Catholic Church, and it was during those years that the community began to feel like home.

“That’s where I got my [first] experience of the Westside, and I’ve wanted to move out here ever since.”

Thanks to Westside Future Fund’s Home on the Westside program, that long-held dream is now a reality. 

Elisha began applying for his first home in September 2024. Just two months later, in November, he became a homeowner, receiving the keys to a beautifully renovated house in the heart of the Westside. “Everything was given to me and written out step by step on how to go about the [homeownership] process,” he said.

Home on the Westside is built for residents like Elisha — those who have deep roots in the Historic Westside through living, learning, or working in the community. Powered by support from corporate and philanthropic partners, the program provides down payment assistance and homeownership guidance to help long-time residents remain an essential part of the community’s future.

As Westside Future Fund continues working toward a community Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would be proud to call home, we remain focused on the vital role that safe, affordable housing plays in that vision. It’s not just about homes — it’s about building a community where all residents can live long, healthy lives and afford safe, stable housing. 

Click here to learn more about Home on the Westside.

The April 18 Transform Westside Summit, held at The Gathering Spot, invited community members to reflect on how honoring the past — especially through historic preservation — can help shape a stronger, more unified Westside.

This month’s Summit focused on 234 Sunset Avenue, the historic Vine City home where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his family lived from 1965 until and after his assassination, with insights from Reginald Chapple, Superintendent of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District at the National Park Service. The conversation explored how restoration of this historic home can carry forward the legacy of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King while inspiring present-day progress.

Westside Future Fund President & CEO John Ahmann and Summit co-host Ebony Ford, a proud English Avenue resident, opened the program by celebrating National Volunteer Month and the vital role volunteers play in advancing community revitalization.

“It’s a time to celebrate the power of people coming together to make a difference,” said Ford. “Here at Westside Future Fund, we believe in doing with the community, not to the community.”

A thoughtful devotion was given by Mandy Hazelton, Visual Information Specialist for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Preservation District at the National Park Service.

Key Highlights from the Discussion

Preserving 234 Sunset Avenue
Tucked in the heart of Vine City, 234 Sunset Avenue is more than a house — it’s a living legacy. In 2019, the National Park Foundation acquired the home and later transferred it to the National Park Service, which has since worked to restore the site and shape its future as a place for learning and reflection.

“We want the house to represent what is possible when you make a decision to live out what you believe,” said Chapple.

Once restoration is complete, the home will become a museum honoring the life of Dr. King and the pivotal contributions of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, ensuring their story continues to inspire future generations.

Community Voices Shape the Future
Chapple emphasized that community input is key to the next phase of the project. Public comment sessions will soon be part of the federal NEPA process, giving residents the opportunity to guide how this important site is preserved and activated. The goal is for the museum to be fully operational by 2029.

“Atlanta can speak to peace, justice, and equality in a way no other place can,” Chapple said. “We are an international magnet for folks hungering for how to live together and thrive.”

A Shared Vision for the Beloved Community
The conversation reminded attendees that the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement lives on not only in historic landmarks but in the everyday work of community members. From preserving history to empowering residents, the path to a beloved community is paved by shared service, storytelling, and commitment.

Creating the beloved community takes all of us — working hand in hand, rooted in service, and united by a shared vision.

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

At the April 28, 2025 ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly restored 220 Sunset Avenue residence, Westside Future Fund was honored to share a powerful statement from Dr. Constance Jackson Carter, one of the six children of Rev. Maynard Jackson Sr. and Dr. Irene Dobbs Jackson, who once lived at the residence as child. In her remarks, Dr. Carter reflects on her family’s deep roots in Vine City, the historic significance of 220 Sunset, and the enduring legacy of leadership, service, and community nurtured within its walls. We are proud to publish her full statement below.

This is indeed a very special day, concluding many ins and outs to reach this historic moment for the Jackson Family’s and King Family’s historic 220 Sunset Avenue residence, the neighbors of the Vine City community, Westside Future Fund, Spelman College, and for all of you gathered here today understanding the significance of the preservation of Atlanta’s history.

Thank you on behalf of the Jackson Family and the extended Dobbs Families for your being here today for this celebration of a rebirth, a restoration that lends continuity to our history and our values as a community, an Atlanta community. Thank you to Westside Future Fund and Spelman College for your vision in this living venture for faculty and staff of Spelman College who will be the first residents fulfilling our Parents’ initial vision to share our home as affordable housing for Faculty and Staff of the Atlanta University Center, dating back to Jan. 1949.

Blessings and deep thanks to City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Rev. Bernice King, Executive Director of the King Center, Carter Coleman III of APD Urban Planning and Management, the Honorable First Lady Valerie Richardson Jackson, my Sister-in-law, and other Jackson and Dobbs clans Family members, Bishop John Lewis, Vine City Community Coalition, and Mrs. Jackie Tyson, President of New South Associates, representatives of Friendship Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Kelley Miller Smith, Jr., Pastor and Mr. Curtis Evans, Administrator, if present, and so many others, especially Sunset Ave. Neighbors and Friends, and future Residents of 220 Sunset Ave.

It would take an hour to convey all of the history associated with this residence, both for the Jackson Family and for the King Family’s initial King Center, next door to the King Family’s 234 Sunset Ave. home.  The King Center was established here and in use after the purchase of the residence from Dr. Irene Jackson after our Mother moved with our brother Paul and me to Durham, NC., where she was asked to be Chairperson of the Dept. of Modern Foreign Languages at North Carolina College, now NCCU.

The most exciting part of this story is our Father’s extending of the doors of Friendship Baptist Church as the 3rd Pastor to the Mission he saw in underserved Vine City, and the role our Mother played as the first African American card holder for the Atlanta Public Library in that early desegregation effort across the South.  That daughters Carol Ann, 17 years old, and Connie (Constance) 12 years old, would join her to check out young adult books and records and children’s books, while Dr. Jackson selected books, recordings and replicas of paintings for her Humanities class at Spelman College, attests to Irene Dobbs Jackson’s determination to follow through. That robed Ku Klux Klansmen stood outside on the steps of the Library facing us would not unravel her fearless commitment to change the error of desegregation for the good she saw her efforts would achieve.

220 Sunset Ave would raise:

• A performing vocalist and jazz musician, champion for the underserved in early childhood education and later in Atlanta City Housing Authority in Alexandra Jackson Baranuik
• A brilliant artist and leader in education in the USA and in Nigeria in Jeanne Jackson Oladele
• An outstanding Attorney and the first African American Mayor of the City of Atlanta in Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr.
• An Educator and Administrator for the State of Georgia and Senior Facilities for the City of Atlanta in Carol Ann Jackson Miller
• A poet and educator, PhD recipient and trained Archivist for the State of Georgia Assoc. of Archivists at the AFPL Auburn Avenue Research Library in Dr. Constance Jackson Carter
• And last but not least, an Hospital Administrator certified by the University of Oslo, Norway and Masters from of Michigan, called by Dr. Sullivan to serve in the first Administration for Morehouse School of Medicine and Administrations in other underserved hospitals, and later the US Department of Energy in Paul Dobbs Jackson.

This is a testimony to the vision of Rev. Dr. Maynard Jackson Sr. and Dr. Irene Dobbs Jackson nurtured here at 220 Sunset Ave for their Family.

I most appreciate John Ahmann for allowing me these remarks. Every Family here in Vine City Community has a story. I thank God for the opportunity for our story to continue to serve and to uplift our Communities and  Families, our institutions of Pastoral service and Higher Education, and Offices of leadership for the City of Atlanta and beyond.

God bless you each and all!

Constance Jackson Carter, PhD

Every April, National Volunteer Month offers a meaningful opportunity to thank the people who give their time, talents, and hearts to serve our greater community. Here in our community, the people who power the WFF Volunteer Corps are neighbors, community champions, and essential partners in our mission to restore Atlanta’s historic Westside. 

Their dedication brings our vision to life. 

Volunteers come from all walks of life and backgrounds. Some are longtime residents. Others are students, professionals, or families who believe in investing their time where it matters most. What unites them all is a shared belief in the potential of this historic community and a willingness to be part of something bigger than themselves. Through our volunteer initiative, the WFF Volunteer Corps, we work hand-in-hand with more than 60 local nonprofit agencies to support our impact areas of education, housing, and health and wellness. 

“At Westside Future Fund, we’re committed to working with the community to help restore and preserve the rich history and strength of the historic Westside,” said Raquel Hudson, Director of Property Assets & Volunteer Programs at Westside Future Fund. “Our volunteers play a vital role in that mission by joining hands with our neighbors, showing up consistently, and investing their time in the places and people that make this community so special.”

In 2024, more than 3,000 volunteers engaged in projects across the Westside — a 33 percent increase from the year before. Together, they contributed over 9,100 hours of service, resulting in an estimated $304,926 in community investment. This time and energy was directed toward tangible outcomes, including, but not limited to, the cleanup of 96 tons of trash — for perspective, that’s equivalent to 16 adult elephants. From revitalizing public spaces to supporting community events, our volunteers’ impact is evident on every block of the historic Westside.

The past year was filled with moments that exemplify the power of collective action. 

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year, over 1,200 volunteers fanned out across over a dozen sites in the community, demonstrating a living legacy of service. Last year, volunteers helped deliver Thanksgiving meals to 292 households in the spirit of the holidays and provided gifts to 222 youth through our Holiday Gift Giving program. 

“It was amazing to see so many people come out and support not only our students but our parents, our teachers, and our school community as a whole,” said Dr. Teruko Dobashi, principal of M. Agnes Jones Elementary School, during the 2025 MLK Day of Service. “I think it’s really important for our students to have access to people who look like them, who may not look like them, showing them how to pour into a community so that they can take that and lead and do the same. We’re all about paying it forward here.”

At the heart of this work is a shared commitment to our mission: to advance a compassionate approach to neighborhood revitalization that creates a diverse, mixed-income community, improves the quality of life for current and future residents, and honors the rich history and culture of the historic Westside. Volunteers play a vital role in making that mission possible. 

“It means a lot to give back to Atlanta’s historic Westside,” said Bella Smith, a Boston Consulting Group volunteer participating in the 2024 volunteer mobilization at Booker T. Washington High School in honor of its 100th anniversary. “We’re grateful to Westside Future Fund for the opportunity to serve. Volunteering at schools like this is a powerful way to invest in students’ futures and help carry forward the legacy of this historic community.”

Thank you to every person who has stood with us, volunteered with us, and believed in the power of community. Your service is helping to build a stronger Westside — one that Dr. King would be proud to call home.

“English Avenue is the best place in the world to live. Because of the different groups that have come in the neighborhood, we have improved so much,” said Mrs. Thelma Reneau, a local senior, legacy Westside resident, and WFF Anti-Displacement Tax Fund recipient following a visit from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) volunteers during their 2024 volunteer mobilization. “[The volunteers] came and planted some flowers for me and painted my kitchen, so my house is looking like all of these beautiful new houses [that WFF is building]. Thank you so much.”

Volunteering with Westside Future Fund means becoming part of a movement rooted in love, legacy, and the promise of a better future. Visit www.westsidefuturefund.org/volunteer to learn more about upcoming volunteer opportunities. 

In 2019, Food Well Alliance and Westside Future Fund partnered to purchase and revitalize 970 Jefferson St. NW, the historic site of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Bill Bolling and John Ahmann played pivotal roles in making this acquisition a reality, turning a shared vision into a success. The two organizations collaborate on managing the facility, with Food Well Alliance overseeing the warehouse and upstairs space, while Westside Future Fund is responsible for maintaining the rest of the building.

Today, 19 nonprofits and local enterprises utilize 970 Jefferson, operating from this revitalized space to collectively contribute to the betterment of the Westside community and beyond, embodying the shared vision that inspired the partnership. We’ve launched a new series, the 970 Partner Spotlight, to highlight each of these incredible organizations and their work. This issue features Hands On Atlanta, a dynamic nonprofit that connects thousands of volunteers with meaningful service opportunities across the city.

Mobilizing Volunteer Power to Meet Atlanta’s Greatest Needs

From corporate boardrooms to school hallways and community gardens, Hands On Atlanta serves as one of the city’s most powerful engines for volunteerism. The organization plays a key role in advancing community-based solutions by mobilizing thousands of volunteers to serve across the city.

“Hands On Atlanta is the great aggregator of the Atlanta community,” said William Webber, Associate Director of Corporate Impact. “We bring together everyone from corporate groups to college students to everyday residents who want to give back—and connect them with the right opportunities.”

That means promoting 25 to 50 volunteer opportunities a day and serving as a bridge between Atlanta’s philanthropic-minded companies and the grassroots nonprofits that need their help.

“Our nonprofit partners are often run by one or two people. They don’t have the capacity to plan custom volunteer events for 500 people,” Webber explained. “We step in to design and lead those activations so they can focus on their mission.”

Hands On Atlanta’s work focuses on three major pillars: educational equity, environmental sustainability, and food security. They also manage the largest AmeriCorps program in Georgia, placing more than 40 members in Title I schools across metro Atlanta to serve as tutors, coaches, and program leaders. These AmeriCorps members are a direct line to the community’s evolving needs—whether that means providing snacks for students who arrive late and miss breakfast, or hosting Saturday programs that offer safe, enriching spaces for kids and families.

A Culture of Collaboration at 970 Jefferson

The synergy between organizations at 970 Jefferson is what makes the space special, according to Webber. Proximity leads to problem-solving, innovation, and shared impact.

“I want to know what everyone is doing so that we can enhance and build up that mission too,” said Webber. “Even just knocking on WFF’s door and asking what you’re seeing out there—that kind of knowledge-sharing is priceless.”

Hands On Atlanta often collaborates with partners like Food Well Alliance, Urban Recipe, and Second Helpings Atlanta, who are also based at 970 Jefferson. Webber recalled a recent example where a community partner (Restoring One’s Hope of Atlanta, Inc.) identified 500 food-insecure students from the Atlanta University Center. He had the food and the volunteers, while West Side Future Fund had the community organizing experience and the funds.

“Let’s do a massive pack that supports your community,” Webber proposed. And they are currently planning that event.

These moments of synergy—whether it’s donating environmental STEM kits, sharing tents, or planning full-scale activation events—are what keep Webber and his team rooted at 970 Jefferson.

“Everything we do is in partnership with a community organization, a school or a corporate partner. The collaboration between the organizations at 970 is such a beautiful thing. It makes solving big problems in our community a little easier and removes obstacles to create more impact.”

Supporting the Westside

Many of Hands On Atlanta’s initiatives center around neighborhoods on Atlanta’s historic Westside, often in partnership with other 970-based organizations.

One standout example is their support of Cure Violence, a grassroots organization located just around the corner from 970 Jefferson. Cure Violence operates with deep community ties and minimal resources—and Hands On Atlanta helps amplify their impact by donating items like snacks, hygiene kits, and educational materials for the youth they serve.

“They told me, ‘We just want some chips for the kids,’ so I gave them a thousand bags of chips that they can hand out from now into eternity,” Webber recalled with a smile.

Their Westside work also includes large-scale beautification projects. Last year, Hands On Atlanta led a massive volunteer effort at Booker T. Washington High School. With the help of the Atlanta Braves, Home Depot, alumni, and neighbors, they added more than 100 tons of dirt to restore the school’s ball fields, painted murals on shipping containers, and transformed an overgrown courtyard into a vibrant hangout space with flowers and picnic tables.

“These are the kinds of impact events that truly transform a space and show the community that people care,” said Webber.

The Power of Shared Purpose

Webber regularly organizes “970 Takeover” events that bring together nearly every organization in the building for coordinated service days.

“There’ll be something happening in the parking lot, something in every corner of the warehouse. People can see the action and understand what’s really going on inside 970,” said Webber. “It’s not just a building—it’s a place where incredible things happen every day.”

If you’d like to get involved and volunteer with Hands On Atlanta, visit their website and browse thousands of volunteer opportunities at www.handsonatlanta.org.

To learn more about the organizations working out of 970 Jefferson Street NW, visit 970jefferson.org.

At the March 21 Transform Westside Summit, the spirit of Women’s History Month was front and center as we gathered to honor the powerful legacy of women on Atlanta’s Historic Westside—and look ahead to the future being built through collective action, community voice and collaboration.

Westside Future Fund (WFF) President & CEO John Ahmann and co-host Ebony Ford, a proud English Avenue resident and community advocate, opened the Summit by reflecting on the pivotal role women have played—and continue to play—in shaping the Westside community.

“Here on the historic Westside, women have played a very vital role in shaping our neighborhoods, leading change and uplifting others,” said Ford. “As we reflect on the past, we also focus on the future, empowering young women and ensuring they have the opportunities to lead and thrive.”

Key Highlights From the Discussion 

YWCA Phillis Wheatley Revitalization Project

This month’s featured program spotlighted the revitalization of the historic Phillis Wheatley YWCA, an iconic Westside landmark founded in 1951 that served generations of residents before closing in 2017. The YWCA Greater Atlanta is now leading a transformation effort to restore and reopen the facility as a hub for women, children and families—offering early learning, workforce development, health services and more.

YWCA Greater Atlanta President & CEO Danita Knight and Board Member Sarah Irvin, who also serves as the Committee Chair of the Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA revitalization campaign, shared updates on the project’s progress and its community-informed approach. Through a series of “social circles” hosted with local women, the team listened to residents’ needs and priorities before designing programming. Partnerships with CHRIS 180, Morehouse School of Medicine and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta are already in place to bring services directly to the Westside.

“What Phillis Wheatley became is what we do at YWCA Greater Atlanta every single day,” said Knight. “We take women who already have the natural skills and abilities, and we pour into them to help them move from just merely surviving to thriving. That’s why this is so important.”

This project is a recommitment to preserving legacy while investing in future generations. “This will be a safe space for women, girls and families,” said Knight. “Historically, it was a safe space and a gathering space, and we’re bringing that back.”

As a tribute to the site’s legacy, the YWCA team has also preserved the original building’s facade. 

To close the program, attendees shared questions and reflections—ranging from opportunities for local entrepreneurs to engage in the work to the importance of inclusive development and early childhood education.

Couldn’t make it? Don’t worry — you can watch the full March Transform Westside Summit on our Youtube.

Atlanta’s historic Westside has been home to generations of remarkable women whose courage, vision, and love for their neighborhoods have helped shape the city as we know it.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re taking a moment to recognize the incredible women whose stories have shaped Vine City, English Avenue, and the communities beyond. These women were change agents, advocates, educators, and visionaries whose legacies continue to inspire and inform our work at Westside Future Fund. 

Dr. Irene Jackson Dobbs

Born in 1908, Dr. Irene Jackson Dobbs was a brilliant academic, Spelman College valedictorian, and advocate for civil rights who made her mark as the first Black person to integrate the Atlanta Public Library system. After studying in France and earning a doctorate, she returned to her home on Sunset Avenue in Vine City—a neighborhood she and her husband chose for its promise as a thriving Black community.

Her quiet but courageous acts of resistance, like demanding a library card in a segregated city, blazed trails for future generations. Her son, Maynard Jackson Jr., carried that legacy forward, becoming Atlanta’s first Black mayor. Today, Westside Future Fund is restoring her family’s former home at 220 Sunset Avenue to serve as high-quality, affordable housing for faculty and staff of Spelman College in honor of her legacy. 

Dorothy Bolden

A native of Atlanta, Dorothy Bolden began working as a domestic worker at the age of nine and transformed her lived experiences into a national movement. In 1968, she founded the National Domestic Workers Union of America, which gave voice to countless women laboring in households without rights, protections, or dignity.

Her fierce advocacy helped elevate domestic work to the forefront of labor rights and women’s rights conversations. Though her work spanned the country, her passion was deeply rooted in the communities of Atlanta’s historic Westside, where she organized workers and built power among the city’s most overlooked women. Her spirit of grassroots empowerment continues to inform the mission of Westside Future Fund—ensuring long-term residents can choose to stay and thrive in the neighborhoods they’ve called home.

Mattie Freeland

For more than 55 years, Mattie Freeland was the heart and soul of Dalvigney Street. Known affectionately as “Mother Mattie,” she offered food, shelter, and love to anyone in need. When others saw a blighted lot across the street, she envisioned a garden—a space for hope and beauty in a neighborhood too often forgotten.

Though she passed before that dream came to life, her neighbors carried it forward. Today, Mattie Freeland Park is a vibrant green space and a testament to community power. Westside Future Fund proudly supports development efforts surrounding the park and, in 2017, supported the conversion of Mattie’s home as a community house—ensuring her legacy of love and service lives on in the place she cherished.

Kathryn Johnston

Kathryn Johnston was a 92-year-old matriarch who lived for decades on Neal Street in English Avenue. In 2006, her life was tragically cut short during a botched no-knock police raid that sparked national outrage and catalyzed conversations about justice and reform.

In her honor, the Kathryn Johnston Memorial Park now sits just a block away from her former home, transforming once-neglected land into a sanctuary of healing and remembrance. The park, designed to mitigate stormwater flooding and offer a safe space for residents, is part of a broader effort—supported by Westside Future Fund—to reclaim and renew the English Avenue community in ways that honor the lives and legacies of those who came before. Several WFF projects—including new blocks of single-family homes along Proctor Street, the nearly completed mixed-use development at 839 Joseph E. Boone Blvd., and an upcoming single-family and multifamily project set to break ground across from the park—reflect a concentrated effort to revitalize and transform the area into a thriving, vibrant community.

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley, the first published African American female poet, serves as the namesake of the historic Phillis Wheatley YWCA on Atlanta’s Westside. Once a gathering place for Black women and children, the building has been shuttered since 2015—but its mission lives on.

Thanks to the leadership of Danita V. Knight and partners including Westside Future Fund, the Phillis Wheatley YWCA is being revived. When it reopens in 2025, the building will house vital wraparound services—from early childhood education to career training and health programs—designed specifically to uplift Westside women and families. With more than 60% of Westside households led by women, this investment is a critical step toward community-wide stability and empowerment.

At Westside Future Fund, we’re proud to stand on the shoulders of women like Dr. Irene Jackson Dobbs, Dorothy Bolden, Mattie Freeland, Kathryn Johnston, and so many others. Their courage, leadership, and love continue to guide our work to build a community where every resident—especially the women who anchor it—has the opportunity to thrive.

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is proud to announce another milestone in its mission to ensure long-time residents and community contributors can continue to call the historic Westside home. Zonquil Bailey, a dedicated community advocate and mentor, recently became the proud owner of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home along the James P. Brawley corridor through WFF’s signature affordable housing initiative, Home on the Westside.

Bailey’s connection to the Westside runs deep. His family has long been part of the fabric of the neighborhood, and through his work with Music Without Limits, he has devoted himself to empowering youth across the community with after-school programs, life skills workshops, and mentorship. Now, thanks to the support of Home on the Westside, Bailey has the opportunity to continue his work and legacy from a place he calls his own.

By prioritizing individuals with live, work, and learn connections to the Westside, Home on the Westside ensures that residents like Bailey—who actively uplift and invest in the community—can build lasting stability without being priced out of the place they love.

Home on the Westside: Empowering Residents and Building Stability

WFF’s flagship program, Home on the Westside, focuses on three key service areas to combat displacement and create pathways to economic empowerment:

• Homeownership: Supporting mortgage-ready buyers like Bailey in achieving their dream of homeownership.
• High-Quality Rentals: Providing safe and affordable rental housing options to meet a range of needs.
• Property Tax Assistance: Helping legacy residents remain in their homes through the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund.

Through these efforts, WFF is working to ensure the Westside remains a vibrant, inclusive community for generations to come.

Join WFF’s Next Chapter

WFF’s work is made possible by a growing coalition of philanthropic partners who believe in compassionate, community-centered revitalization. To deepen this impact, WFF launched Our Next Chapter, a capital campaign focused on accelerating the production of affordable housing across the Westside.

Help write the next chapter of the historic Westside’s story. Join the movement today.

For Rodrick Collier, becoming a homeowner through Westside Future Fund’s Home on the Westside program is more than a milestone—it’s a transformative experience rooted in legacy, location, and love for community.

A firefighter by profession and community advocate at heart, Rodrick has deep ties to Atlanta’s Westside. In fact, he once served this very neighborhood through his work in public safety. Today, he’s proud to call it home.

“This is probably the most convenient home I’ve had,” Rodrick says. “I’m less than a half mile from the BeltLine, close to groceries, close to everything. I really like being right here.”

But for Rodrick, the true value of homeownership lies beyond convenience. Having grown up in apartments and rental homes, he never had the chance to witness homeownership firsthand—or learn the financial lessons that come with it. Now, he’s changing that narrative for his own son.

“For him to experience being in a home with his father—where we can talk about financial freedom, talk about the process, and talk about the legacy of family—it’s a great tool,” he says. “I didn’t have that. But now he does.”

Rodrick’s story is a powerful reflection of what Home on the Westside is all about: creating pathways to stability and generational progress for families with deep roots in Atlanta’s historic neighborhoods.

Through investments and partnerships, Westside Future Fund is helping longtime residents like Rodrick not only remain in the communities they love—but thrive in them.

“It kinda feels like this neighborhood was left out of the movement of financial freedom,” he says. “Now, they’re putting back into the community—and it’s a really great feeling.”

Home on the Westside: Building Stability, One Family at a Time

Westside Future Fund’s Home on the Westside initiative supports individuals with live, work, and learn connections to the Westside through:

• Homeownership opportunities for mortgage-ready buyers
• High-Quality Rentals at affordable rates
• Property Tax Assistance through the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund

These programs are designed to ensure that legacy residents and community heroes like Rodrick Collier can plant roots, build wealth, and create lasting change.

Join the Movement

Westside Future Fund’s mission is made possible by the generosity of our philanthropic partners and community supporters. Join Our Next Chapter, our capital fundraising campaign to accelerate the creation of affordable housing across Atlanta’s historic Westside.

Be part of the change today.

Atlanta’s historic Westside is a living testament to the city’s rich past and enduring legacy. Throughout the community, streets and landmarks tell the stories of trailblazing leaders whose contributions shaped Atlanta—and the nation.

In honor of Black History Month, we are launching a blog series exploring the namesakes of four significant streets that run through the historic Westside. This edition highlights Cameron M. Alexander Boulevard, a key corridor in the heart of English Avenue that stands as a tribute to a man devoted to faith, service, and community empowerment. Formerly known as Kennedy Street, it was renamed in 2010 to honor Reverend Cameron Madison Alexander, a towering figure in Atlanta’s religious and civic life.

A Life of Leadership and Service

Born in Atlanta on February 12, 1932, Cameron M. Alexander was an accomplished student-athlete and musician, he played football, ran track, and performed on the saxophone. His love of history guided him academically, providing a foundation for the ministry that would define his life’s work. In 1948, he graduated from Booker T. Washington High School.

After high school, Alexander attended Florida A&M University, where he was a member of the renowned Marching 100 band. He later served in the U.S. Air Force before continuing his education at Morehouse College, where he studied under the mentorship of the legendary Dr. Benjamin E. Mays. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from the Morehouse School of Religion and went on to hold leadership positions in multiple institutions, including the Morehouse School of Religion and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

The Pastor Who Transformed a Community

Rev. Alexander’s journey in ministry began in Cartersville, Georgia, and took him to Macon and Savannah, where he became known not only as a spiritual leader but also as a civil rights advocate. In Macon, he played a key role in desegregating city buses, lunch counters, and even Mercer University. In Savannah, he partnered with financial institutions to revitalize entire neighborhoods, demonstrating his belief that the church must be active in uplifting communities.

In 1969, while visiting Antioch Baptist Church North as a guest preacher, Rev. Alexander delivered a sermon so powerful that the congregation voted the very next day to call him as their pastor. Over the next 49 years, he led Antioch with a vision that extended far beyond the pulpit. Under his leadership, the church became a beacon of hope, offering housing assistance, education programs, job training, and international missionary work. He trained, licensed, and ordained more than 600 ministers, 150 of whom went on to pastor their own churches.

For nearly five decades, Rev. Alexander led Antioch Baptist Church North, transforming it from a modest congregation into a thriving institution with over 14,000 members and more than 75 ministries. His influence extended far beyond the church walls, shaping the English Avenue community and inspiring people across Atlanta and beyond.

A Street Named for a Servant Leader

Rev. Alexander’s deep commitment to English Avenue and the surrounding Westside community was unwavering. He firmly believed that Antioch Baptist Church North should remain in the city, where it could have the greatest impact on those in need. His leadership went beyond his congregation—he was an advocate for affordable housing, economic development, and social justice.

Rev. Alexander’s influence reached far beyond Atlanta. He served as President of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia for 29 years, led international humanitarian efforts in Haiti, South Africa, and Brazil, and was honored by institutions such as the Atlanta Business League and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. His sermons and speeches have been preserved in the Library of Congress, ensuring that his voice will continue to inspire future generations.

In 2010, in recognition of his contributions, the City of Atlanta renamed Kennedy Street as Cameron M. Alexander Boulevard. The street, which runs through English Avenue, serves as a lasting tribute to his dedication to the neighborhood. English Avenue, historically significant but long impacted by disinvestment, is now the focus of revitalization efforts, and the boulevard bearing Rev. Alexander’s name stands as a symbol of resilience and faith in the community’s future.

Westside Future Fund’s Work on the Boulevard 

When you walk or drive down Cameron M. Alexander Boulevard, you are traveling along a road that represents more than just a name—it embodies a legacy of service, faith, and transformation. His work and vision live on, not just in the street that bears his name, but in the community he uplifted and the countless lives he touched.

As Westside Future Fund (WFF) continues its transformational work across Atlanta’s historic Westside, the intersection of Cameron M. Alexander Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive has been a focal point for restoration efforts.

At this corner stands the Yellow Store—once a bustling commercial hub, later overshadowed by disinvestment, gang violence, and the local drug trade. Since acquiring the property in 2019, WFF has eliminated illicit activity and plans to restore the building as a mixed-use space, offering both residential and commercial opportunities to serve the community.

Diagonally across the street, St. Marks AME Church is undergoing its own transformation. Led by Pastor Winston Taylor, this restoration project is revitalizing the church as a gathering space for local residents and community events—preserving both the structure and the cultural identity of the corridor.

Just east of the intersection, a row of high-quality, affordable single-family homes now stands, made possible by the Atlanta Police Foundation’s (APF) Secure Neighborhoods Initiative. In collaboration with Pulte Homes and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, APF aimed to strengthen relationships between communities and the officers who serve them. WFF partnered with APF to identify legacy residents for the homes, which also provide housing for select Atlanta Police Department officers.

Across the street, the @Promise Center serves as a vital resource for Westside youth, offering mentorship, education, and support to empower the next generation.

With each of these efforts, WFF is advancing its mission to restore and revitalize the historic Westside—ensuring its neighborhoods remain vibrant, safe, and full of opportunity—while keeping the legacy of Cameron M. Alexander and other historic community leaders at the heart of the work.