Impact Newsletter
JANUARY 2023 ISSUE

Westside Future Fund is a nonprofit formed by Atlanta’s public, private and philanthropic partners who believe in the future of Atlanta’s Westside and are committed to helping Historic Westside neighborhoods revitalize and develop into a community Dr. King would be proud to call home.

A Day of Service Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. King

More than 900 volunteers gathered to celebrate the legacy and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the community. The MLK Day of Service brought together those who are committed to the mission of Westside Future Fund (WFF) – to revitalize the historic Westside and build a community that Dr. King would be proud to call home.

Our volunteer corps facilitated eight service projects throughout the historic Westside neighborhoods served by WFF including schools, museums, and community resource centers. Volunteers completed tasks like organizing, painting, cleaning, planting and repairing. Their efforts helped beautify and breathe life into each space while also building community with each other.

Building Back the Block

After decades of neglect in English Avenue, a cluster of multi-family housing properties are finding new life. Just a block from Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway at the corner of Echo Street and Fox Street, Westside Future Fund acquired three multi-family housing complexes and is now renovating them as affordable housing units.

Two of the buildings were tenant occupied at purchase, and the third building was in desperate need of repair. Those repairs are underway and the building is currently in the framing stage. Once complete, it will house seven new units in addition to the 23 units in the existing two buildings – made possible thanks to acquisition and renovation financing funding from the WFF Impact Fund, charitable donors, and Invest Atlanta for providing the acquisition and renovation financing funding.

Recapping a Year of Success

This morning, we joined together for our Transform Westside Summit and listened as five of our team members highlighted the organization’s 2022 achievements and talked about their collective work revitalizing our community. The Summit kicked off with a devotion from Darryl Lesure, Senior Principal Lead at Chick-Fil-A Corporate. Westside resident Benjamin Early moderated the event.

Tameka Askew, Home on the Westside Manager
Rachel Carey, Chief Real Estate Officer
Charles Forde, Director of Project Finance
Raquel Hudson, Director of Programs
Derrick Jordan, Real Estate Development Contractor

Watch the Full Summit

Home on the Westside

New Year, New Home

This past holiday season was something special for Steven, Jarrett, and Mila. In the final month of 2022, the three became new homeowners when they closed on Westside Future Fund (WFF) homes in English Avenue.

Each celebrated their closings with a ceremonious contract signing alongside members of the WFF team.

The purchases were made possible by the Home on the Westside program, an initiative to promote community retention by providing financing support to help lower the cost of homeownership.

What’s in Store for the Future of the Westside

In December 2022, the Atlanta Business Chronicle published its Westside Market Report, a comprehensive look at transformational work being done here in our community.

Meet Rani Strivastava

Revitalizing the Westside is a team effort, one that relies heavily on the support of our many incredible volunteers. To thank them for their hard work and dedication, we will shine a light on people who actively support our mission.

This month, we recognize Rani Shrivastava. A few years ago, Rani embarked on a personal mission to collect books for Westside children and families – all out of the kindness of her heart and a drive to make a difference. See how Rani started volunteering with us.

Q: How did you first hear about the Westside Future Fund?
A: I was talking with my mother about wanting to support schools in Atlanta, but I didn’t know what to do. Later that same day, my mother’s friend mentioned that Westside Future Fund may be a good place to get involved. I went to the website and found what I was looking for – an organization that could help children’s education in my hometown.

Q: What is your favorite part of serving with the WFF Volunteer Corp?
A: Being able to serve my community is my favorite part of working with the WFF Volunteer Corp. WFF is so well organized and impactful here in Atlanta. Helping build my community is such a rewarding experience and observing the impact my efforts have made make it all the better.

Q: What inspires you about this service opportunity?
A: Reading has always been a passion of mine, and that gave me the idea to collect books and donate them to WFF. I was happy to foster a child’s love for reading. I collected books ranging from picture books to chapter books and novels, too.

Q: What do you want others to know about the Westside Future Fund?
A: WFF is invigorating a large part of our Atlanta metro community. So many Atlantans are proud to be associated with Dr. King, and WFF helps make Atlanta a city he would be proud of.

Impact Newsletter: New Year, Same Mission (January 2023)

Impact Newsletter
JANUARY 2023 ISSUE

A Day of Service Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. King

Around Town

Home on the Westside

In the News

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Rani Strivastava

Stay Informed

Impact Newsletter JANUARY 2023 ISSUE

A Day of Service Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. King

Around Town

Home on the Westside

In the News

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Rani Strivastava

Stay Informed

Impact Newsletter
JANUARY 2023 ISSUE