In August of 2023, Westside Future Fund launched its Our Next Chapter campaign with a goal to raise key philanthropic support to complete the organizations housing development targets it outline in 2017. As the year comes to a close, WFF’s Chief Development Officer Rochelle Reeder shares her vision for 2024 and explains how philanthropic partners help fuel the organization’s mission to advance a compassionate approach to equitable neighborhood revitalization.

Q: Can you provide an overview of the strategic priorities for WFF in 2024, particularly in the context of equitable neighborhood revitalization on the historic Westside in Atlanta? 

A: In 2024, our focus is on Our Next Chapter, and specifically meeting our fundraising targets so that we can truly build community on the historic Westside. We launched our capital campaign in August of this year to raise $55 million to help us unlock $45 million from our Impact Fund. With an additional $10 million in public grants, we will be able to provide a significant inventory of quality, affordable housing to support and enable legacy residents, and those with deep ties to the community, to remain on Atlanta’s Westside. 

Q: The Our Next Chapter capital campaign launched in August of this year; how do you plan to engage donors in 2024?  

A: We intend to build on the success of past campaigns by cultivating strong relationships with existing donors, exploring new partnerships, and implementing targeted stewardship efforts to sustain and increase support. 

Q: Regarding the “Our Next Chapter” capital campaign, what are the key objectives, and how does it align with WFF’s broader mission? 

A: At Westside Future Fund, our goal is to advance a compassionate approach to equitable neighborhood revitalization on the historic Westside. Over the years, we’ve made progress in so many key areas including additional greenspace, supporting area schools, and partnerships to positively impact the safety and security of the community. Our next chapter is focused on supporting these holistic efforts with quality affordable housing because we believe that families and future generations can’t enjoy these important neighborhood amenities without having access to housing.  

Q: How will we engage the local community in our fundraising efforts? 

A: Community engagement is a major priority for us. Our office, at 970 Jefferson St. NW, is in the historic Westside. We share our office footprint with dozens of other non-profit partners and see ourselves as a hub and resource for the community. In the new year, we intend to have more events with the residents we serve through our signature program Home on the Westside, and engage with community stakeholders to share more about our mission, progress, and ways that we can be a partner.  

Q: How do you envision measuring the success of the “Our Next Chapter” campaign, both in terms of fundraising goals and the impact on the community? 

A: Success will be measured not only by meeting fundraising targets but also by the tangible positive changes in the community. That will include the completion of funded projects, increased community engagement, and improved quality of life for residents on the historic Westside. 

Q: Are there opportunities for donors to contribute in ways beyond financial support, such as volunteering or offering in-kind donations to support our mission? 

A: Absolutely. In addition to financial contributions, we welcome donors to engage through volunteering, providing in-kind support, or contributing their expertise. Collaborative efforts enhance our impact and create a sense of shared responsibility for community revitalization. 

Q: As the Chief Development Officer, what excites you about this work and the year ahead? 

A: As the Chief Development Officer at Westside Future Fund, the prospect of making a tangible impact on the community is what fuels my excitement for the work ahead. The role presents a unique blend of strategic planning, partnership building, and resource mobilization. Collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including government entities, local businesses, and community members, provides an opportunity to create meaningful change. Fundraising takes on a purposeful dimension, with the challenge of securing resources translating into real-world improvements. The coming year holds the promise of executing strategic plans, expanding successful initiatives, and navigating the dynamic landscape of community development. The thrill lies not only in achieving measurable impact but also in the adaptability required to overcome challenges and contribute to the broader mission of Westside Future Fund. 

 

Community members and business leaders attended the November 17 Transform Westside Summit for a glimpse into Georgia Tech’s dynamic role in community development, innovation, and inclusivity under President Dr. Angel Cabrera’s visionary leadership.  The event showcased the university’s commitment to creating positive change and fostering a collaborative and thriving community.

As always, the morning opened with connection and community building, where members of the audience shared resources they have for the group’s collective efforts to improve the Westside. Colette Haywood, Vine City legacy resident, community advocate and Home on the Westside resident, led the devotion. John Ahmann, Westside Future Fund President and CEO, moderated the discussion.

Key Moments from the Conversation

Dr. Cabrera highlighted the importance of community in fostering a sense of belonging. He emphasized Georgia Tech’s mission to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Cabrera shared his transformative experience at Georgia Tech, underscoring the university’s commitment to inclusivity.

Reflecting on his unexpected path to the presidency, Dr. Cabrera humorously admitted, “I was never even in the principal’s office, and now I live in it.” He stressed Georgia Tech’s dedication to its community, acknowledging the university’s responsibility to create value for its stakeholders.

The conversation delved into Georgia Tech’s strategic initiatives under Dr. Cabrera’s leadership. He highlighted the university’s focus on developing leaders equipped to drive positive change. He emphasized the importance of diversity, revealing plans to improve representation, especially among African-American students.

Dr. Cabrera shared insights into Georgia Tech’s physical expansion and its impact on Atlanta’s landscape. The success of Midtown’s transformation and the role of Georgia Tech in driving that change served as a testament to intentional planning. He  noted the need to break down physical barriers within the city to enhance connectivity.

He announced the unveiling of Science Square, a groundbreaking project developed in partnership with Trammell Crow. Aimed at establishing an innovation ecosystem for biomedical and health sciences, Science Square represents Georgia Tech’s commitment to retaining startups within the local community. The complex, including the Grace apartment building–named afterGrace Hamilton, the first African-American woman to be elected to the General Assembly in Georgia–seeks to create a vibrant, inclusive neighborhood with a focus on innovation, arts and technology.

Dr. Cabrera concluded with an exciting announcement about a future pedestrian and bicycle bridge, reinforcing the university’s commitment to bridging physical divides. The bridge will connect Science Square with the heart of the campus, promoting accessibility and community engagement.

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

This Thanksgiving week, the Westside Future Fund Volunteer Program jumped into action to help individuals and families in our community get the full experience of the holiday by partnering with Hudson Grille to provide Thanksgiving meals to those in need. This occasion marks the fourth year of the partnership, this year providing over 1,500 meals with all of the essentials including turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole along with dessert and rolls. 

The team at Hudson Grille has been distributing Thanksgiving meals to the community for years according to Russ Adams, Director of Operations at Hudson Grille. It’s an integral part of who they are as a business, beginning the program at their inception in 1991 at their former Juniper Street location. It was in 2020 when challenges presented themselves as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that Adams had to rethink their strategy, which led him to approach Raquel Hudson, Director of Programs at Westside Future Fund. It was then that the two organizations birthed the current partnership that has continued ever since, one that Adams views as an amazing opportunity to make a difference.

“For me, doing stuff on Thanksgiving, it’s a time of reflection. We get so busy in our everyday lives and we see in front of us all of the time that there are people in need,” said Adams. “We are sometimes glutinous over the holidays, so when you take the time out to say ‘hey, maybe this one day or this one good deed can make a difference,’ it’s important because it gives you this appreciation for what you do after the fact with your family.”

This year, over 1,500 meals will be distributed over the two days prior to Thanksgiving Day – a significant increase from the 200 meals that were distributed in the first year of the partnership. The growth of the program speaks to the needs of the community that WFF serves, according to Hudson. 

“I’m having people calling me months ahead of time asking ‘hey, can I get on the list for this year,” said Hudson. “We come, we pick it up, and we deliver it to the door. It’s a great service to the community. It’s something they don’t normally have access to.” 

This year, the WFF Volunteer Corps and volunteers from Hudson Grille are joined by interns from WFF’s and its community partner Integrity Home Solutions internship program. These interns, ranging from ages 11 to 21, are employed by WFF and Integrity thanks to a grant from Georgia Natural Gas as a part of the Mayor of Atlanta’s Year of the Youth program. The program intends to keep youth under the age of 25 engaged, employed, and off of the streets while learning job skills. 

“Usually these interns are helping us with our community clean ups. They have all agreed on two Saturdays a month, but they also come in during their off time from school. They made over 175 phone calls to let people know what day their meals would be delivered,” said Hudson. “It was really nice to hear one of the interns say to me at the end of the day ‘I really got to work on my social skills.’ It’s great that they have small learnings from this opportunity, being able to interact with the public and being able to understand the process and how it works.”

For Anthony Slaton, a 17-year-old intern with Integrity Home Solutions and Westside Future Fund, the opportunity to participate in the program has been an incredible experience, one he expects to carry with him for years to come.

“I haven’t been here for that long, I’ve been here for like two months, and I can already say this is an amazing program to work for. These are very great people and very kind people,” said Slaton. “I love helping people. They help me stay focused and attend to my goals. I have really been trying to turn my life around, change from the person I was becoming and the circle I was hanging around. I want to become the greatest potential version of me.”

Not only are the youth of the community engaged in this event, so are the seniors. Linda Adams, a resident of the historic Westside for over 20 years, is participating as a volunteer for the third year in a row as a part of the local Westside Seniors on the Rise group that she founded four years ago. The group aims to support senior residents of the community through social events and essential resources. The holiday season can be especially difficult for some seniors, particularly those that lack family and often find themselves alone.

“They live by themselves and if the family members and friends are not around, they don’t cook and I just try to make sure they have something to eat, especially during the holidays,” said Adams. “Check with your neighbors, check on the people you know may be alone. Stay in touch with the seniors where you live.”

This incredible event is just the first of several that WFF will be participating in to support the community this holiday season. If you or someone you know would like to get involved, please visit https://volunteer.westsidefuturefund.org/. 

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is celebrating a milestone in its creation of quality affordable housing units on the historic Westside with the opening of three of its multifamily properties in English Avenue.  These openings represent 21 new units of quality affordable housing in these neighborhoods. The 21 new high-quality affordable housing units are in addition to WFF’s existing portfolio of 181 units and represent over $30 million worth of investment in multifamily projects completed, and underway.

WFF is a place-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing a compassionate and equitable approach to neighborhood revitalization of five historic Westside neighborhoods: English Avenue, Vine City, Atlanta University Center, Ashview Heights, and Just Us. WFF’s signature program, Home on the Westside, enables residents with live, work, and learn connections to these neighborhoods to rent, buy, and retain high-quality affordable housing.

Each of the newly opened multifamily properties includes 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units in fully rehabbed existing buildings. The building sites were previously blighted and vacant. They have been renovated instead of torn down to preserve the historic character of the community.  Additionally, each property has an ADA-accessible unit. Rents for these apartments will serve people at 60 percent area median income (AMI) or less, and all of the projects will feature Homeflex project-based rental assistance from Atlanta Housing.

As a sponsor of the Westside Land Use Framework Plan, which was adopted unanimously by the Atlanta City Council in 2017, WFF seeks to create affordable housing to help rebuild the community. With all its housing development, WFF supports Mayor Dickens’ goal of building and preserving 20,000 affordable housing units in the city. WFF aligns with the administration’s commitment to “development without displacement” by prioritizing residents with key “live, work, and learn” connections to the historic Westside.

“Given our service footprint, and commitment to preserving quality affordable housing on the historic Westside, WFF has made significant investments in English Avenue and Vine City since 2018,” said John Ahmann, WFF’s President & CEO. “I’m excited to share our progress towards the needs of the community and Mayor Dickens’ vision for the future of our great city.”

The three multifamily properties are located at:

• 356 James P. Brawley Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 (8 units)

• 400 Paines Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 (6 units)

• 613 Echo St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (7 units)

WFF is currently developing an additional 104 high-quality, affordable housing units, in both new construction projects and substantial project rehabs, throughout its service footprint.

WFF’s mission to advance a compassionate approach to equitable revitalization is achieved through the support of our philanthropic partners. The organization has launched Our Next Chapter, a capital fundraising campaign to accelerate its ability to create affordable housing for legacy and future residents of the historic Westside and to restore these storied neighborhoods as part of the fabric of Atlanta. Become a part of Our Next Chapter.

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is grateful to Bank of America for naming our organization as one of its grant recipients. With an award of $22,000, we will continue our work to develop more quality affordable housing via our signature affordable housing program Home on the Westside. This program prioritizes legacy and future residents with live, work, and learn connections to the historic Westside. Its three service areas include single-family homeownership, rental housing, and property tax assistance for legacy residents.

As of 2023, WFF, and our Impact Fund, have enabled the creation and preservation of 646 completed multifamily units, 214 rental units, and another 121 units under development and scheduled for completion by 2025. We have also completed construction on and sold 35 homes and provided property tax assistance to 133 legacy residents to keep them in the historic Westside community.

As a place-based nonprofit advancing a compassionate approach to neighborhood revitalization, WFF understands that housing is critical to support a thriving community. A family that experiences housing insecurity can’t benefit from the amenities of any community, regardless of its resources.

“Partnering with WFF is vital to address affordable housing in Atlanta,” said Al McRae, president, Bank of America Atlanta. “These investments demonstrate our commitment to finding solutions and providing resources to help people succeed.”

WFF is inviting philanthropic partners to join Our Next Chapter. Visit here to learn more about our fundraising campaign.

Westside Future Fund (WFF), a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing Atlanta’s historic Westside neighborhoods, is proud to announce the appointment of its new Chief Development Officer, Rochelle Reeder. With nearly two decades of experience in development and fundraising, Rochelle brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for advocating on behalf of women, youth, education, and the community.

Her expertise lies in crafting results-driven strategic plans, building sustainable and robust donor relationships, motivating teams, and efficiently utilizing resources to exceed fundraising goals. Her impressive track record showcases her ability to establish strategic relationships, inspire forward-thinking teams, and maximize resources. Prior to joining WFF, Rochelle served in key development leadership roles at YR Media, Spelman College, Interdenominational Theological Center, and The Woodruff Arts Center.

Rochelle’s journey into philanthropy and development was deeply influenced by her parents, who instilled in her the values of giving back to the community. This early exposure to community service and the power of giving shaped her understanding of philanthropy as something accessible to everyone, regardless of the scale of their contributions. She carries forward her family’s tradition of community care, not just in her professional life but as an extension of her personal values. She possesses a passion and enthusiasm for social impact, driving her to maximize WFF’s efforts to identify new funding opportunities and amplify donor engagement.

 Reeder is dedicated to addressing critical social issues, including racial inequities and policy failures affecting marginalized communities. Her strategic evolution focuses on expanding WFF’s platform and programming, increasing the organization’s local presence, and deepening its mission-critical services – including  WFF’s signature quality affordable housing program Home on the Westside, which has three service areas: single-family homeownership, rental housing, and property tax assistance for legacy residents.

Reeder will lead the organization’s capital fundraising campaign Our Next Chapter, which aims to raise $55 million to complete the affordable housing development targets established by WFF in 2017.

You can learn more about WFF’s Our Next Chapter campaign here.

 

This fall Westside Future Fund (WFF) sold homes to two residents with key ties to the historic Westside. This represents nine single-family home sales for the organization in 2023.

Nicola Jackson closed on her home in September. She has been a resident of Vine City, one of the five neighborhoods in WFF’s service footprint, for over a decade. Jackson is also a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School; her daughter is a student attending Spelman College.

“I know I’m in a better position to own a home in the neighborhood I never want to leave,” said Jackson. “My whole life is in this community and I can’t see myself elsewhere in Atlanta.”

Jackson now owns a three-bedroom, 2 bathroom home in English Avenue.

Dr. Kimberley Hundley is also a new homeowner in the English Avenue neighborhood. Like Nicola Jackson, Dr. Hundley has lived on the Westside for over a decade in the Atlanta University Center community. She is a Clark Atlanta University alum and also works at City of Refuge’s House of Cherith as a behavioral health specialist.

“I think having my home here in the community gives me a bigger investment in where I work, what I do, and how I provide care to clients,” said Hundley in an interview with City of Refuge. “If I’m going to be working with you and walking with you on your journey for healing, and I live in the same way you do, it’s more of an intimate relationship.”

Dr. Jackson now owns a two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom home.

Learn more about how you can support Home on the Westside through WFF’s capital campaign Our Next Chapter.

 

 

Community members and business leaders convened at The Gathering Spot October 20 for the Transform Westside Summit. The program began with a moving devotion from N’Dieye Danavall, English Avenue resident and homeowner through Westside Future Fund’s signature program, Home on the Westside. 

Following the devotion, Reverend Winston Taylor, legacy Westside resident, local preacher and founder of The Beloved Community Inc., took the stage to discuss the activation of St. Mark’s AME Church. He was joined in conversation by WFF President & CEO John Ahmann. 

Located at the intersection of Cameron Alexander and James P. Brawley in the English Avenue neighborhood, St. Mark’s Church was originally opened in 1895. It was abandoned in 1948, following a catastrophic fire. Taylor purchased the property in 1997, despite substantial challenges. The church, once a symbol of a thriving community, had fallen into disrepair and misuse due to changing demographics and drug-related issues. Taylor recognized the suffering in the neighborhood and felt called to make a difference. His efforts to acquire the church were marked by his unwavering faith and determination.

Key Moments from the Conversation

Pastor Taylor was born in Carver Homes but later moved to the Old Fourth Ward. His journey led him to invest in various neighborhoods, including English Avenue, in the 80s. His passion for helping those in need, inspired by his own upbringing, eventually led him to the ministry. Interestingly, he was mentored by Reverend Cameron Alexander.

Taylor’s work focused on bringing order and safety to the area, which in turn led to hope and transformation for the people there. He cleaned up the area, removed trespassers, and emphasized the importance of addressing financial needs rather than engaging in unnecessary conflicts.

He has partnered with SCAD Serve to explore the preservation of the church and the potential for activation. The community has been actively involved in this process, and the vision to activate the space. He envisions St. Mark’s Church as a community center, offering childcare, support services, and a gathering space for neighbors. Taylor stressed the need for safe places where people can socialize and interact in underserved communities. He also highlighted the opportunity to provide food trucks with a legitimate place to operate, allowing individuals to transition into lawful businesses. Winston shared that he plans to have the space activated by spring 2024. 

Recognizing its historical importance, the church was designated a landmark earlier this year by the City of Atlanta’s Urban Design Commission.

It was announced at the Summit that the Beloved Benefit has awarded $100,000 to the Beloved Community Inc. to help support the activation of St. Mark’s. 

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

Westside Future Fund (WFF) would like to thank everyone who attended our second annual Ride for the Westside. WFF was honored to partner with Quest CDC for this year’s event where 450 people registered – more than doubling attendance from last year. Corporate partners, community leaders, residents, and families joined together on Saturday, September 30 on the historic Westside for a morning of family-friendly events including an 11-mile bike loop, 5K run, a Peachtree Road Race Qualifier, and a walk.

WFF and Quest CDC would also like to thank actress, singer, Real Housewives of Atlanta star, and founder of the nonprofit DREAMAKERS Drew Sidora who served as our emcee for the day.

If you missed this year’s event check out the recap below.

WFF is a place-based organization focused on compassionate and equitable neighborhood revitalization on the historic Westside. Its service footprint includes English Avenue, Vine City, Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center, and Just Us. The median household income for residents within WFF’s service footprint is just under $35,000.

You can support Westside Future Fund’s mission to equitably revitalize the historic Westside through Our Next Chapter campaign. With $55 million in philanthropic support, WFF will be able to build on this progress and leverage an additional $45 million in low-cost financing from its Impact Fund. An additional $10 million in public grants will help the organization finance:

• 285 multifamily units, of which 185 will serve families at 60% Area Median Income (AMI) and less.
• 225 single-family homes with accompanying income-qualified down-payment assistance, and
• Supporting the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund to help legacy resident homeowners stay in the community

Consider joining WFF as a philanthropic partner or volunteer to build a community Dr. King would be proud to call home.

 

 

In a pivotal moment for the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, a 121-year-old institution dedicated to supporting women and their families, the organization’s leadership chose Danita V. Knight as its President and Chief Executive Officer last fall. Knight, who succeeded the retiring Sharmen Gowens, started with the organization in January, and is now nine months into her new role.

Knight has a long history of deep-rooted involvement in Atlanta’s civic circles, underscoring her dedication to community improvement. She has formerly served as Board Chair of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, participated as a “seed funder” to bring the WNBA Dream to Atlanta, and is Vice Chair of the Brookhaven Social Justice, Race, and Equity Commission. “I have focused on bringing attention to the needs of women and girls for most of my life, either intentionally or just because it was the right thing to do,” said Knight. “This work is a personal ministry of mine that I am committed to for life.”

Knight comes to the YWCA of Greater Atlanta at a critical time for the organization as it works to expand and optimize its program offerings and locations, including the reopening of the historic Phillis Wheatley YWCA in the Historic Westside in collaboration with Westside Future Fund, CHRIS 180, Families First, Morehouse School of Medicine, and YMCA of Metro Atlanta. As of today, the organization is planning to reopen the facility by 2025, and well on its way with over $5.5 million raised of their $19.5 million campaign goal. “By virtue of bringing back the Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA, we will be solely dedicated to serving the needs of women and their families in the Westside,” said Knight. “The concept is to work with our collaborators to provide wraparound services to women and their families, with the goal of tending to the needs of the “whole woman.” This unique approach is extremely exciting because we are focusing on an area of Atlanta where between 50 and 60 percent of women are heads of households, and that same percentage lives at or below the poverty line.”

The building that once housed the Phillis Wheatley YWCA has been shuttered since 2015. Before that time, it was used as an early learning center, a school, and a women’s shelter. During its days as a YWCA, the Phillis Wheatley building served as a social and civic gathering place for Black Atlantans and provided space for essential services advancing the health and education goals of Westside residents. Since its closing, those services largely dissipated from the community, contributing to a lack of key social support resources in the historic Westside for women and their families.” Data and research show that there is a void of services in the Westside for women and their families,” said Knight. “Additionally, we have gone out and talked to women on the Westside to ask, ‘what do you need?’ The model that we have produced – the wraparound services model – is the result of those conversations. We need to ensure that we are creating something that has been affirmed by women on the Westside of Atlanta.”

The YWCA of Greater Atlanta offers a comprehensive list of programs and services to women. Four core programs form the essence of their mission, ensuring that women and children have access to the health and education resources they need from the earliest days of their youth well into adulthood.  The YWCA Early Learning Academy (ELA), which Knight says is often “mistaken” for a daycare center, offers children far more than just a place to stay while their parents are working. “Our ELA Academy is a place of preparation,” said Knight. “We accept children from six weeks to five years of age. By the time our children leave for kindergarten, they are reading, writing, and ready to excel,” said Knight. “When the Phillis Wheatley YWCA reopens in 2025, we will be able to offer 85 slots to families for their children on the West side of Atlanta, 68 of whom will receive tuition assistance on a sliding scale based on need.”

Women advance their professional skill sets in the Digital Skills Academy (DSA). This eight-week program provides women ages 18 to 40, and in some cases older, with essential digital knowledge and skills that can be applied to empower their lives; and enhance their careers. “Program participants receive laptops, hotspots, headshots, resume and career support, financial literacy, and follow-up guidance after they move on from the program,” said Knight. “There is also a ‘ripple effect,’ where graduates of this program become mentors to incoming students, the next cohort. We have had so many success stories and living-wage job placements thanks to this program.”

That same age group of women may also participate in EncorePlus, a wellness initiative focused on providing underinsured Black and Latina women with breast health education and access to diagnostic services, including mammograms. This year alone, more than 500 women across Atlanta participated in this program.

The Georgia Women’s Policy Institute provides participants with the education and resources to make a difference in their communities as public policy advocates – on behalf of women and their families. Women from around the state come together each year to participate in one of two cohorts: Economic Empowerment and Education or Reproductive Justice. By the end of these sessions, participants are prepared to effectively address issues with elected officials and advocate on behalf of women and their families locally, at the statehouse, and nationally.

Knight says that there are plenty of ways for people to support the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. “We have had so many people say, ‘I see what you are doing in the community and want to volunteer. We are enhancing our volunteer process so that people may have multiple options. At the end of the day, everyone may contribute to our work. Please visit our website and reach out to me, or any of our team members,” said Knight.  “We do not take your calls or emails for granted and will follow up. There is space at our table for everyone.”

To learn more about the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, visit https://ywcaatlanta.org/.