As a champion of the #PowerOfWe – the impact of compassionate action around a collective vision – Westside Future Fund finds joy in sharing real-life stories of this philosophy in action.

The most recent example happened immediately following WFF’s Nov. 2 Transform Westside Summit.

Community advocate and nonprofit leader John Barrow of A Better Way Ministries was in attendance at the Oct. 5 Summit when community pillar and legacy resident Mother Mamie Moore delivered the opening devotion.

“I saw her getting out of a big white MARTA van, but I didn’t pay too much attention to it at the time,” said Barrow. “I guess I registered it in my mind. Before and after she spoke, I prayed for her. I was so moved after her remarks that I invited her to come and speak at an event I was having with my ministry.”

Barrow, who had been building a relationship with Mother Moore over the last few months, thought his weekend event would be a great opportunity for her to see and visit with some of the members of A Better Way Ministries who’d been volunteering in the neighborhood.

Mother Moore, who uses a wheelchair, replied to Barrow with gratitude, but hesitance. “I would,” she said, “but I don’t think MARTA runs that far.”

Barrow was blown away, having never considered that she didn’t have her own transportation.

“I thought back to my own time when I didn’t have transportation and how hard that was. And I empathized with how challenging it must be for her. For her to be such an integral part of the community, I felt it important for her to have quality, reliable transportation.”

With that, Barrow put a plan in motion and, less than a month after extending the invitation to Mother Moore, was able to surprise her at a Summit with a wheelchair-accessible van that she could now use to get around the community and beyond.

Barrow donated the vehicle to the Beloved Community, Inc., the nonprofit of which Mother Moore is a founding member, that will now allow others with disabilities to take advantage of it as well.

“This has become much bigger than a van. It’s become an opportunity to bring people together,” said Barrow, who has been working with members of the community to find drivers for the van. “There are a lot of people in the community looking to be involved and looking to be a part. This would be something, something meaningful.”

When asked about Mother Moore’s response to the unexpected gesture, Barrow replied, “She was speechless and very grateful.”