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.

The October 17 Transform Westside Summit explored the theme “Connected on the Westside: Building Pathways to Parks, Jobs, and Opportunity Without Displacement,” bringing together leaders and partners shaping equitable growth across Atlanta’s historic Westside. Hosted by John Ahmann, President & CEO of Westside Future Fund, the Summit featured leading voices Clyde Higgs, President & CEO of the Atlanta Beltline, Inc., and Elizabeth B. Chandler, Board Chair of the Atlanta Beltline Partnership. 

Together, panelists discussed how intentional connectivity—through transit, green space, and economic opportunity—can strengthen communities while preserving the legacy and stability of longtime residents.

The event opened with a devotion by Rashaan Evans, Student Services Coordinator at Spelman College and a Home on the Westside Homebuyer. Evans highlighted that true restoration begins with taking our burdens to God, that opposition often signals the right path rather than failure, and that effective leadership combines encouragement, organization, and perseverance. Through his reflection, he emphasized that meaningful community transformation requires both tangible action and spiritual grounding, and that building strong families and thriving neighborhoods relies on unity, resilience, and staying anchored in purpose.

Following the devotion, Derrick Jordan, President of Anothy Development, Real Estate Development Consultant for Westside Future Fund, and longtime Westside resident, moderated the panel featuring Chandler and Higgs. The conversation focused on the Beltline’s ongoing efforts to create equitable economic development, preserve housing affordability, and foster community engagement along the Westside Trail.

Key highlights from the panel included:

• Connecting Community and Infrastructure: Both panelists emphasized that the Beltline is a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization, economic opportunity, and social connection. Over $9 billion in private investment and 60,000 jobs have followed the project, underscoring its impact as an economic engine.
• Housing Affordability and Legacy Retention: Higgs and Chandler discussed their goal of delivering 5,600 affordable housing units citywide, a target they are projected to exceed by 30% by the end of 2030. Higgs shared, “Our superpower is that we are purchasing lots of land around the Beltline. When you control the land… when you control the dirt, you can exact very deep housing affordability.” In addition to owning land strategically, particularly along the Westside, they are supporting programs that protect legacy homeowners from displacement. 
• Supporting Small Businesses and Workforce Development: The panelists highlighted programs providing grants and other resources to help legacy businesses thrive along the Beltline. The $500,000 initiative for property owners enables affordable commercial space for long-standing local businesses, mirroring the same commitment the organization has made to housing. In reference to workforce development Higgs added, “If you think about Atlanta’s competitive advantage, it is who we are. It’s our culture. It’s our diversity. When you see all of these mega companies deciding to locate in Atlanta, they’re not coming here for our beaches, right? They’re coming here because of the folks—the diversity that we have in this room.”
• Parks, Programming, and Public Safety: Showcasing the expansion of parks such as Shirley Clark Franklin Park and Anoda Park, Higgs and Chandler pointed to innovative fitness programs, bike skills courses, and youth events designed to bring the community together. Investments in lighting, cameras, and trail maintenance are critical to creating safe and inviting public spaces.
• Community Engagement and Philanthropy: Higgs and Chandler stressed the importance of involving residents in planning and designing projects. “You can’t solve every challenge that may impact the neighborhoods, but we do a pretty darn good job through our community engagement. It’s a model for other organizations around the country to make sure the neighbors feel heard, because we are going into their backyards—literally sometimes their backyard,” noted Chandler. They also highlighted the need for continued philanthropic support, particularly for maintenance funds and legacy retention programs, to ensure the Beltline remains a model of equitable urban development.

Throughout the discussion, Higgs and Chandler underscored that the Beltline’s success depends on intentional community-centered strategies that balance new investment with protections for existing residents, offering a blueprint for inclusive growth in Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods.

This month’s summit served as a reminder that meaningful progress requires both vision and action—a commitment to investing in people, place, and opportunity across Atlanta’s historic Westside.

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

Mark your calendars for the November Transform Westside Summit on November 21! As always, this event is free and open to the public. Secure your spot by registering today. 

This year’s Ride for the Westside once again brought the Atlanta community together in motion and in purpose. Hosted by Westside Future Fund (WFF), the fourth annual event featured an 11-mile bike ride, a 5K run, and a walking tour of Atlanta’s historic Westside. With family-friendly activities and celebrations at the finish line, the day welcomed participants of all ages and fitness levels to experience the rich history and vibrant future of the Westside.

Over 500 participants gathered early on September 27, setting off under morning skies that rose over landmarks central to Atlanta’s story. Friends, families, and supporters filled the streets, united in support of a cause bigger than the miles ahead: advancing a brighter future for the historic Westside community.

Purpose Behind the Movement

Ride for the Westside is more than a ride, run, or walk — it is a movement rooted in community and legacy. Each stride, step, and pedal helps drive the mission of WFF: securing high-quality affordable housing, supporting cradle-to-career education, enhancing community health and wellness, and ensuring safety and security across the historic Westside.

Participants passed by cultural and civil rights landmarks, including the childhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., gaining a deeper appreciation for the Westside’s enduring role in shaping Atlanta and the nation. Along the way, they also saw the progress being made—vacant and blighted properties transformed into high-quality, affordable homes for longtime residents with deep ties to the community.

Highlights from the Day

The day was filled with memorable moments:

• Families and neighbors celebrating together as children and parents proudly crossed the finish line.
• Community leaders and residents sharing stories of transformation and hope tied to WFF’s programs.
• First-time participants and returning supporters alike exploring the historic Westside neighborhoods, discovering history, and witnessing the progress that collective action is making possible.

From the cycling route to the running path to the guided walking tour, each experience offered a unique way to connect with the Westside’s past, present, and future.

A Lasting Impact

Funds raised through Ride for the Westside will directly support WFF’s holistic work across its four impact areas: affordable mixed-income housing, cradle-to-career education, safety and security, and community health and wellness. These investments are making the vision of a community Dr. King would be proud to call home a reality.

The event would not have been possible without the commitment of volunteers, sponsors, and the many community partners who made the day a success. Most importantly, we extend gratitude to every participant who showed up — not just to ride, run, or walk — but to stand with the historic Westside.

Together, we are building a stronger future, rooted in history, carried forward by community, and powered by purpose.

The September 19 Transform Westside Summit brought together leading voices from across Atlanta’s philanthropic community as recipients of the 2025 Beloved Benefit presented by the Same House convened for a conversation themed “Building The Same House: Advancing Beloved Community & Economic Mobility in Atlanta.” 

The gathering brought together nonprofit leaders, community voices, and institutional partners for a robust conversation about inclusion, belonging and the work of economic justice in Atlanta.

John Ahmann, President & CEO of Westside Future Fund, opened the summit and welcomed the participants, setting the tone for an exchange that would bridge vision and action. The morning devotional was presented by Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House, who also spoke about the mission and model of his organization, which seeks to bridge social divides and invest in economic mobility. 

After a rousing round of neighbor introductions, the morning’s session was moderated by Amara Walker, an Emmy-award winning communicator. She led a panel discussing community and economic mobility.

The panel featured voices from across sectors, each bringing different vantage points on community, economy, and systems change:

• Bruce Deel, Founder & CEO of City of Refuge, emphasized the role of comprehensive services—housing, mental/physical health, vocational supports—as foundational to breaking cycles of poverty. 
• Marlin D. Harris, of New Life Community Alliance, brought a community development and faith-rooted perspective to the table. 
• Kwame Johnson, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Atlanta, stressed the importance of mentorship, opportunity, and relational capital in economic mobility. 
• Dr. Victoria Seals, President of Atlanta Technical College, addressed workforce readiness, credentialing, and alignment between education and opportunity. 
• Santiago Marquez, CEO of the Latin American Association, called attention to immigrant communities, language access, housing, and inclusion as essential to a just city. 
• Dr. Sarah Y. Vinson, Professor & Chair in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine, lifted up the intersections of mental health and community well-being: how trauma, stress, and access to care shape lives. 
• John Ahmann, President & CEO of Westside Future Fund, underscored that stable, affordable housing is the foundation for economic mobility, and shared how the Home on the Westside program helps ensure longtime residents can remain in and thrive within their community.

From the conversation, several themes stood out as foundational to advancing the vision of a beloved community:

• Collaboration is the only way forward.
  Bruce Deel of City of Refuge stressed that “collaboration is the only way it works. None of us can do everything.” He shared how his organization partners with Atlanta Technical College, Westside Future Fund, and vocational training programs to create pathways to livable wages, which in turn stabilize housing and strengthen community security.
• Mentorship transforms potential into opportunity.
  Kwame Johnson of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta described their new Level Up program, which places paid mentors in schools every day: “Attendance is up, discipline is down, suspensions are down. And we’re now teaching 20 cities in our network how to do it.” His story underscored that mentorship at scale can break cycles of poverty by ensuring every student has daily access to guidance and support.
• Education is a powerful engine of economic mobility.
  Dr. Victoria Seals of Atlanta Technical College highlighted how dual enrollment and technical programs can transform households: “More than 20% of our students come from households of less than $25,000. They can do one program with us and are able to earn $60,000.” She emphasized that collaboration allows limited resources to go further and create generational change.
• Health and education are inseparable.
  Dr. Sarah Vinson of Morehouse School of Medicine noted that schools are central to youth well-being: “We talk about social determinants of health, but there are social and psychological determinants of educational achievement.” She explained that mental health services in schools are critical to helping young people realize their potential.
• Building bridges across communities creates strength.
  Santiago Marquez of the Latin American Association reflected on collaboration with African-American leaders and lessons from nonviolent movements: “We need to learn from the African-American community … how do we build those bridges and actually learn about nonviolent protest that can help change the world?” His remarks illustrated the power of cross-community learning and solidarity.
• Leadership rooted in listening inspires lasting change.
  Panelists praised leaders like Rodney Bullard, Dan Cathy, and Arthur Blank for their example. As Bruce Deel recalled, “Dan didn’t come in saying you need to do A, B, and C. He came in asking questions … let the community talk to us versus us talking down.” Their authenticity and humility have modeled how business and civic leaders can empower communities.

John Ahmann closed the summit by affirming WFF’s commitment to the path ahead and inviting continued collaboration. This monthly summit was an anchor point—one moment in ongoing dialogue and action.

If you missed the live session or want to revisit the discussion, you can watch the full summit recording below!

Don’t forget to mark your calendar: the Transform Westside Summits continue monthly, gathering leaders and community voices to envision and build a Westside shaped by equity, inclusion, and economic possibility.

Westside Future Fund is proud to celebrate longtime community leader Tracy Bates as one of our newest homeowners through the Home on the Westside program.

For decades, Tracy has been a tireless advocate for her neighborhood and a champion for preserving the heart of the community she calls home. She currently serves as President of the Historic Westside Cultural Arts Council, English Avenue Neighborhood Association President, and a faithful member of Lindsey Street Baptist Church.

Through her leadership, passion, and steady voice, Tracy has poured into the Westside and worked to ensure it remains a vibrant place for generations to come.

This summer, Tracy took the next step in her Westside journey by purchasing a two-bedroom, two-bath home with support from Home on the Westside. With the help of down payment assistance, she transitioned from advocate to homeowner—a milestone that reflects her deep commitment to staying rooted where her heart has always been.

Tracy has always known the truth: the Westside is the best side. The Westside Future Fund team is grateful for her leadership, her love for this community, and the breath of fresh air she continues to bring as our neighbor.

Congratulations, Tracy, and welcome home!

If you’re interested in finding your own pathway to homeownership, you can learn more here.