2005 2007 Investing in Our Communities’ Priorities Title XX Investment Report
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Atlanta Renewal Community Coordinating Responsible Authority (ACoRA)
Picture unavailable
George Howell Chairperson
Karl Barnes
M.M. (Peggy) Harper Vice Chairperson
Asha Jackson
James Shelby
Management entity for the Atlanta Renewal Community
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Brenda Turpeau Secretary
Carol Jackson
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and Background About the Atlanta Renewal Community Coordinating Responsible Authority and Enterprise Atlanta
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A Word about ACoRA’s Inaugural Investment Report (Board Chairman)
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An Overview of the Title XX Investment Area and Demographic Profile
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Investing In People Covenant House of Georgia: Homeless Youth Get “Second Chance” to Show Their Gifts
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Atlanta Citizen’s Emergency Response Team (ACERT): Residents Prepare for National Disaster
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Future Seekers, Inc.: Herndon Homes Teens Get “Stepping Stone” to Future Success
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Beacon of Hope Makes an Impact with Teen Talk
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Operation P.E.A.C.E. Gets Youth Reading and Rolling to New Places
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The Study Hall at Emmaus House: A Learning Haven for Youth
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Raising Expectations” Project Dream Offers Students Broader View
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Whitefoord Community Program: Youth Explore the World of Possibilities Via Cycling
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Atlanta Workforce Development Agency: Corporate Exposure the Norm for the Youth Work Program
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ZAP Asthma Summer Camp Helps Young Asthma Sufferer to Play Ball Again
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Investing In Neighborhoods City of Atlanta Bureau of Housing Mortgage Assistance Program Lands Life-Long Community Activist in First Home
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Enterprise Community Loan Fund…$25.5 Million Loan Pool to Assure Affordable Housing for Changing Neighborhoods 23 City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs: Park Renovations Promote Solid Identify in Title XX Neighborhoods City of Atlanta Public Works: Lights, Streets and Walkways Happen Through Partnerships
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City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Weed and Seed… Sowing the Seeds for Safe Neighborhoods
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Investing In Businesses Ron Clark Academy: Tax Incentives Boosts Prep Students
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Hagar Civilization Training Missionary: ACoRA Helps to Preserve Icon of African-American Entrepreneurship
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About the Atlanta Renewal Community Coordinating Responsible Authority and Enterprise Atlanta The Atlanta Renewal Community Coordinating Responsible Authority (ACoRA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation created by the City of Atlanta to oversee Atlanta’s Renewal Community designation, awarded in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Governed by a seven-member board of directors, ACoRA is responsible for marketing and facilitating the use of Renewal Community tax incentives and managing the investment and expenditure of approximately $53 million in Title XX Social Service Block Grant funds that remain from Atlanta’s 1994 federal Empowerment Zone designation. In 2005, Enterprise Atlanta was selected by the ACoRA board to serve as their management entity. ACoRA’s dual program implementation is guided by two documents. The Atlanta Renewal Community Integrated Strategic Plan guides the investment of Title XX funding, while the Atlanta Renewal Community Tax Incentive Utilization Plan outlines the method by which the tax incentives will be marketed to help achieve the City’s overall economic development strategy. Working at the board’s direction, Enterprise Atlanta facilitates awareness about and understanding of available tax incentives and the investment of Title XX funding. Enterprise Atlanta also provides hands-on technical assistance to organizations or individuals requiring support in accessing resources available from both program areas. Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit organization, founded in 1982, that specializes in funding affordable housing and other community development initiatives. Established in 1994, Enterprise Atlanta is one of 17 local offices that the Columbia, Maryland, based corporation maintains across the country. Through the work of Enterprise Atlanta, Enterprise Community Partners has invested more than $150 million in loans, grants and equity to help produce more than 5,000 units of affordable housing, mostly through seven local community development corporations. Enterprise Atlanta also works to forge partnerships that address a broad array of community development issues including education, safety, economic development, employment and resident empowerment. 4 4
“The road to effecting lives and neighborhoods with sustainable change is not a short one.�
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A Word About ACoRA’s Inaugural Investment Report Lan utem il utatem dolore feu feu feugue vendit, conulla feu feuisse niamcoreet, con ut vel dio delent volore commolore modit in eliquis alit veliquatet, vullam vent praessi. Rud exerat nonulput illaorp eriusci ent nulputpat. Ut praesto odolor ad magnit, quationum inis nissi. Dolobor ercidui psuscip euguerit lorperil ipsusto enim nostrud delenit augait, veliquat. Ipis eugueraesto core dolore del dipisim nulput atum ip ercillaor adit augue vulla feugait prat ad tem ex exerit
“From 2005 -
2007, we have
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awarded 31 contracts to 25 service providers, totaling more than $14,357,155 in
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awards to expand services and life
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Board chair, George Howell
opportunities for residents and improve the physical environment in which they live.�
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Title XX Investments With an overall goal of community revitalization, the Atlanta
Poverty
Renewal Community Program allows for the investment of Title XX
At the time Atlanta received its 1994 Empowerment Zone (EZ)
funds in 23 census tracts, comprising 30 distinct neighborhoods,
designation, each of the 23 census tracts within the EZ had
originally designated as the Atlanta Empowerment Zone by the
a poverty rate above 35 percent, representing some of the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1994.
greatest levels of concentrated poverty in Atlanta.
Through its implementation of the Atlanta Renewal Community
A decade later, a disproportionate number of the 45,768
Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP), ACoRA’s targeted investment
residents currently residing in these neighborhoods are still
strategy is designed to address the greatest needs and support
impoverished. 2000 Census data revealed 48.8% of households
the greatest opportunities for change as it relates to poverty,
reported an annual household income of less than $15,000.
education, housing and employment. As such, the ISP identifies
The prevalence of poverty is significantly higher than the city
the following four categories as central to revitalizing these
as a whole, where 24.4 percent of residents and 21.3 percent
communities:
of households live below the poverty level - more than double
b Increasing Employment and Investment
the rate (9.2 percent) for the nation as a whole.
b Creating Safe and Livable Communities
b Lifting Youth and Families Out of Poverty
Educational Attainment
b Providing Adequate Housing for All
The 2000 Census reported that more than 41.4 percent of the
The demographic profile below highlights the socioeconomic
residents of the Title XX investment area had earned a high
conditions within the Title XX investment area.
school diploma and only 9.4 percent of the population had attained at least a bachelor’s degree. Educational attainment
Demographic Profile of Title XX Investment Area
varies radically by Title XX census tract; in six of the tracts
The boundaries of the Title XX investment area span 9.29 square
fewer than 15 percent of the residents had some level of post
miles to the east, west and south of Atlanta’s central business
secondary education.
district. The area includes many older, often deteriorating residential areas and vacant industrial facilities. The 30 neighborhoods that
By comparison, 76.9 percent of Atlanta residents have at least
lie within these boundaries can be characterized as mirroring
a high school education, with 34.6 percent (as compared to
the “inner city” of other major metropolitan areas that have
the national average of 24.4 percent) of the population having
experienced historically high concentrations of poverty; a skills
earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.
gap in the workforce; a significant amount of subsidized housing; an increasing number of homeless residents; and a shortage of affordable housing choices. It should be noted that the Title XX investment area is a subset of the larger Renewal Community, which encompasses 72 census tracts where approximately 199,727 people reside.
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Housing
XX investment area is 79.1 percent. Both rates vary radically by
Atlanta’s continued population growth and recent gentrification
Title XX census tract; labor force participation ranges from 45
of its urban core has created housing demand and contributed
percent to 97 percent and the unemployment rate from three
to rising costs in the Title XX investment area. Prior to the recent
percent to 55 percent. Employed residents often work in low-
downturn in the housing market, demand for in-town living
paying jobs, most of which are in the service industry.
resulted in skyrocketing values and escalating property taxes. Aging low rent apartments and single family units are giving way to new upscale developments, putting many low-income residents at risk of losing housing options in neighborhoods convenient to job centers and transit options.1 According to the 2007 Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) forecast, the average travel time to work is 32.6 minutes and 49.7 percent of households in the Title XX investment area do not
Conclusion
Through targeted investment of Title XX dollars and facilitating the use of Renewal Community tax incentives, ACoRA is supporting comprehensive community revitalization by investing in people, businesses and neighborhoods. This report shares insightful stories about Title XX dollars at
own vehicles.
work and includes a snapshot of how federal tax incentives are
One year after Atlanta’s 2002 designation as a Renewal Community,
the Renewal Community.
helping to stimulate business development and employment in
the average rent in Atlanta was $1,084 compared to an average
Atlanta Renewal Community/Title XX Neighborhoods and their Census Tracks
rent of $342 in the 30 Title XX investment neighborhoods. The average cost of a home in Atlanta was $152,400 compared to an
Marietta Industrial n Old Fourth Ward n Herndon Homes & English Avenue n Magnolia Park & Vine City n Vine City n Butler Street n Old Fourth Ward & Butler Street n Cabbagetown & Reynoldstown n Grady Homes & Antoine Graves n Village of Castleberry & University n Atlanta University n Hill & Atlanta University n McDaniel Glenn & Mechanicsville n Mechanicsville & Summerhill n Capital Gateway n Summerhill & Grant Park n Summerhill & Peoplestown n Villages of Carver & South Atlanta n Mechanicsvile, Peoplestown & Summerhill n Pittsburgh n Englewood Manor, Chosewood Park n Lakewood Heights n
average home value of $111,554 in the 30 Title XX investment neighborhoods. According to 2003 Fulton County Tax Assessor records, there were 42,315 substandard housing units in the city; a third of those households were cost burdened, meaning families were spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing2. Based on the 2007 ESRI forecast, 63.4 percent of all households in the Title XX investment area were renters, compared to the national average of 33.8 percent. Employment Trends
According to the 2000 Census, the average unemployment rate in the 23 Title XX census tracts is 24 percent, more than four times the citywide rate of 5.5 percent. The average rate of labor force participation for people 16 years old and older in the Title
1
John O’Callaghan. Property-tax Relief still Keep City Vital. Atlanta Journal Constitution. February 8, 2008.
2 City of Atlanta, Georgia 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan Volume 1. November 2004
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8 17 22 25 26 28 29 32 33 37 38 43 44 46.95 58 49.95 55.01 55.02 56 57 and 63 64 67
Investing in People
ACoRA Grantees In addition to the organizations featured in this inaugural investment report, ACoRA proudly supports the missions of the following organizations:
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Atlanta Harm Reduction Center
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Intergenerational Resource Center
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Atlanta Housing Authority
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Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta
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Atlanta Victim Assistance
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Meredian Educational Resource Group
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Atlanta Workforce Development Agency
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Metropolitan Atlanta Coalition of 100 Black Women
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Beacon of Hope
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Metropolitan Atlanta Community Development Corporation
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Bethursday Community Development Corporation
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NPU-T Crime Task Force
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Bobby Dodd Institute
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Operation P.E.A.C.E.
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Capacity Builders
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Peoplestown Revitalization Corporation
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Carver Family YMCA
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Pittsburgh Community Improvement Association
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Castleberry Hills Neighborhood Association
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Planned Parenthood of Georgia
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Center for Black Women’s Wellness
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Raising Expectations
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City of Atlanta Bureau of Code Enforcement
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Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation
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City of Atlanta Bureau of Housing
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Samaritan House of Atlanta
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City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs
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Sister Love
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City of Atlanta Department of Public Works
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Sisters in Action
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City of Atlanta Fire Rescue
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St. Jude’s Recovery Center
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City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Weed and Seed
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SUMMECH
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City of Atlanta Municipal Court
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The Study Hall at Emmaus House, inc.
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Community Concerns
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Transition House
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Covenant House of Georgia
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TryCope
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Dover Training Institute
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Vine City Civic Association
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Enterprise Community Loan Fund
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Vine City Health and Housing Ministries
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Future Seekers, Inc
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West End Medical Center
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Greater Vine City Opportunities Program
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Wholistic Stress Control Institute
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Hands on Atlanta
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ZAP Asthma Consortium
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Covenant House of Georgia Homeless Youth Get “Second Chance” to Show Their Gifts “Everybody deserves a second chance,” says Maxine Shoulders Brandon, executive director of Covenant House of Georgia, a safe haven for homeless and runaway youth in the state. If not for the love, understanding and support of Covenant House of Georgia, second chances would be sparse for youth ages 16-21. Often, these youth have been treated as castaways from their own homes, usually by a parent or another family member. The effects of homelessness are not only life-altering but also potentially lifeending. The majority of homeless youth have reported being beaten up, robbed, stabbed or shot at while living on the streets. A second chance to live peacefully is a welcomed opportunity to a youth facing potential physical and sexual abuse on the streets. Covenant House is “a place of refuge, a safe haven to rest their heads and their nerves so that they can figure out which way to go next,” remarked Shoulders Brandon. Second chances involve receiving the most basic necessities of life, including food, shelter and clothing. Add a place to heal,
grow, establish positive relationships, gain self-esteem, job readiness and life skills sprinkled with a lot of unconditional love and respect. This recipe for a second chance at Covenant House Georgia provides youth with the tools they need to survive so that they do not become homeless adults. “If we arm them with the proper tools such as vocation and education they will thrive,” stated Shoulders Brandon. “I believe that if we don’t do something for our children today, they won’t be here to take care of us tomorrow.” A substantial allocation by ACoRA provided resource materials, MARTA passes and computer software for the Job Readiness/ Life Skills Program. Without ACoRA’s support, updated software would not have been possible. It has given the youth an opportunity to not only have study tools necessary for learning GED preparation, conflict resolution and decision making but also to create resumes and cover letters for job preparation. ACoRA funds have positively impacted young adults who received GEDs in 2007 as a result of this investment. In addition, faded study materials that had been copied many times over were improved.
Also, nutritional snack bars and juices have given the young people much needed brain power to allow better focus. “Prior to ACoRA funds, private donation money was used,” stated Shoulders Brandon. “But, this took away from our flexibility and creativity to support other programs such as our residential housing.” Since August 2000, the Covenant House has been working with homeless and runaway youth in the Atlanta area at the Five Points Community Service Center. Nearly 6,000 youth have received help from a highly-skilled outreach team that provides life skills to help program participants prepare for a better life. Shoulders Brandon believes that doing something for homeless youth is as simple as civic and community leaders opening their doors without passing judgment on how young people dress and giving them a chance to express themselves. “They will be surprised to learn that our young people have so many gifts inside of them.”
The 2007 GED class benefited from Covenant House’s GED study and test preparation resources to help them prepare for a better life.
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ACERT – Atlanta Citizens Emergency Response Team Residents Prepared for National Disaster The City of Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department is looking for a few good men and women to train and prepare for natural and manmade disasters. Individuals must have a strong desire and willingness to serve and protect their neighborhood and workplace. “ACoRA is providing funding for Atlanta Fire Rescue to provide ACERT training to residents living within the boundaries of the former Atlanta Empowerment Zone,” says Battalion Chief Bernard Coxton. ACERT
-
Atlanta
Citizens
Emergency
Response Team – is a program designed to educate community members about hazards and potential disasters that may affect their communities and workplace. According to Chief Coxton, “the concept involves preparing our citizens to survive up to 72 hours should
At the conclusion of the training program,
“We choose to do this because we want our
a catastrophic event occur. Through the
a simulation disaster drill is conducted to
citizens to have requisite skills to use on a
training program, citizens are taught various
ensure that each participant has acquired
daily basis should the need arise,” stated
life-saving skills.” The 20-hour ACERT course
the basic skills taught over the course of the
Chief Coxton.
curriculum teaches citizens basic skills to
training. “This gives them an opportunity to be
help sustain and save lives until professional
tested in a disaster setting and it gives them
Thanks to the ACoRA funding, the City of Atlanta
respondents arrive. Individuals learn disaster
a chance to use the skills learned,” explains
Fire and Rescue Department is scheduled to
medical preparedness, team organization,
Chief Coxton. Lastly, each participant will be
begin training Atlanta Renewal community
fire safety, light search and rescue, and
armed with an emergency preparedness kit to
residents this year. Through the ACERT
disaster psychology. Participants learn how
take back into his or her community to use
program, the department will be able to position
to identify possible hazards that could affect
should the need arise.
citizens to protect and save lives within their communities when disaster strikes. Citizens
their homes, communities and work places; identify and correct life-threatening medical
ACERT was birthed in Atlanta in 2005 from
will be equipped to meet the needs of their
conditions; perform patient triage; locate and
CERT (Community Emergency Response Team),
neighbors when emergencies occur to minimize
establish a treatment area; treat injuries and
which originated with the Los Angeles County
the loss of life and property as well as damage
burns; bandage wounds; recognize whether
Fire Department. The newer program stepped
to the environment.
or not a building, home or structure is safe to
outside of the national standard and added
enter; safely implement basic fire suppression
CPR training to the curriculum. The CPR Anytime
“We would like for our citizens to have the
strategies and safely remove victims trapped
component will provide basic cardiopulmonary
highest survival rate possible during and after
inside a home.
resuscitation training for up to 300 residents.
a disaster,” adds Chief Coxton.
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Future Seekers, Inc. Herndon Homes Teens Get “Stepping Stones” to Future Success The present is a stepping stone into a positive tomorrow. Sometimes the vision of a brighter tomorrow is a little cloudy, and the future is hard to see. A gentle push is often all that is needed. Future Seekers, a youth development organization that serves high school students ages 14-17, offers a gentle push to young people from the Herndon Homes community. It provides training programs and life-skills seminars that equip these youth to build successful futures. “We try to give them the tools that they need to be prepared for the future,” said Sandra Hall, executive director and co-founder. A recent allocation from ACoRA has given teenagers from the Herndon Homes community hope for a brighter future. The funds have enabled Future Seekers to expand the number of participants that they directly impact by offering programming in the community. Micah High, a participant in the Future Seekers After-School Enhancement Program, is “on the right path to achieving his goals,” says his mom, Kulechia High.
“The students don’t have what they need to open their minds up to what they can be in the future,” states Hall. “So, the funds directly link to the kids. ACoRA is our foundation for the Herndon Homes Youth Enhancement Program. Without ACoRA we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything to the level or magnitude that we have.”
use their cognition to create more than they see around them,” says Hall. It has been said that the future is purchased by the present. Presently, Future Seekers, Inc. has made a significant impact on the Herndon Homes community. “We have enhanced the community by making the students more marketable with their enhanced skills,” remarked Hall. “Also we have enhanced the community by making it safer and helping students become
Kulechia High pleaded with Future Seekers to enroll her son Micah in the program. As a single parent, she knew her son really needed structure in his life. Since Micah was only 12, he was allowed into the program for one semester. His life changed dramatically and his mother sent a letter thanking the staff for serving her son. She indicated that the program had re-directed her young son into a path of achievement.
more accountable for the decisions they make.”
Future Seekers’ Enhancement Program offers workshops and life skills seminars designed to educate and create an awareness for the teenagers. Topics range from sexual abstinence and post-secondary educational attainment to job readiness and self esteem. “We are a training company,” remarked Hall. “We provide seasoned trainers who can translate their life experiences in a way that our students can relate.” With additional ACoRA funding, Future Seekers’ participants have taken field trips to places such as the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum and Stone Mountain Park to expose the teenagers to experiences outside their community. “Exposure is one of the most important things that we value here at Future Seekers. We have got to make sure that these kids know and are able to 13 13
Beacon of Hope Beacon of Hope Makes an Impact with “Teen Talk” The mountains of life are hard to climb, especially when you are a child different life experiences. “The program is designed to improve citizenship, growing up in an impoverished neighborhood. Where can a child go to find leadership and academic performance and to give children a cultural and direction, guidance and encouragement to assist with the life mountains fine arts kind of experience,” stated Meredith. “Because of this program, they must face? we are able to offer these teens environments that they would have never experienced before.” “A little ray of hope can make the day brighter. A beacon of hope can give a fleeting future a fighting chance.” The teens are required to perform various community service projects such as tutoring younger children. In addition, the teens are given instruction on For the past 11 years, children living in the Old Fourth Ward and surrounding personal appearance and hygiene, public speaking and business etiquette. downtown Atlanta neighborhoods have been greeted with some heartfelt There is also an information technology piece to assist the teens in their hopefulness via Beacon of Hope. This organization’s mission is to computer literacy. strengthen families and communities through education, human services and community development. “Without the ACoRA money, we couldn’t provide diverse and high-quality programs. These kids don’t have money to pay for the services,” remarked “We understand that serving a child has to be delivered in a holistic approach Meredith. “If we don’t give them different visions, different environments, because that child has to go home to his parents and to a community,” said different experiences, different things that they can hope for, things that Lydia Meredith, executive director of Beacon of Hope. “A key thing that we they can confidently believe they can achieve, they will be negatively labeled. understand is that we have to engage the parents and families in educating If we don’t have intervention programs for these teens, they will become these children. It’s one of our greatest challenges because some of the statistics. That’s the impact! We need more ACoRAs, more United Ways and parents are underemployed, unemployed, haven’t finished high school, more DHRs.” third generation teen moms and third-generation school dropouts.” For the participants in Beacon of Hope’s “Teen Talk” program, lives are With ACoRA’s funding of “Teen Talk: Youth Leadership Program,” at- being enhanced because of the dedicated and quality service provided to risk students attending Southside and Grady High Schools are given them. They are in the process of designing positive, hopeful futures slated an opportunity to learn new skills, build self-confidence and engage in to shine brightly as beacons of hope for others to emulate.
Southside High School students expand their horizons through Teen Talk, presented by the Beacon of Hope. 14 14
Operation P.E.A.C.E. Operation P.E.A.C.E. Gets Youth Reading and Rolling to New Places Just as the sun rises everyday, so does hope feel very strongly that the reading teacher is a program. The kids broaden their perspective by in the Village of Bedford Pine in the Old good asset to us and our program,” remarked traveling out of town on a bus tour called the Fourth Ward. The 12-year efforts of Operation Moffett, a former elementary school teacher in Heritage Tour. Since many of the children never P.E.A.C.E. (Positive Education Always Creates Washington, D.C. The reading teacher’s salary leave the Fourth Ward, “the Heritage Tour gives Elevation) are making a powerful difference. The is made possible by ACoRA. Moffett and the the children an understanding of their culture organization inspires change in a community reading teacher, a former middle school teacher, and an appreciation of where they came from where possibilities typically appear bleak. decided to go back to the old, yet basic, reliable so that they will know where they can go,” method of the Dick and Jane reading series. says Moffett. The bus tour travels the state of Last year, a hopeless mother was referred to Georgia as far south as Savannah; and tour Operation P.E.A.C.E.’s after-school program “The ACoRA funds have enhanced our programs stops include a slave plantation in St. Simmons because her two young boys were reading below and kept us rolling. Without the funds, we would Island and the first black church in the United their grade levels. The mother had given up on probably not be in operation at this time because States. During the bus ride, the children are the possibility that her boys would ever learn of a devastating fire in 2005,” says Moffett. “We educated on their history through movies and to read. According to Executive Director Edna had experienced 11 years of growth and we lost documentaries. Moffett, “The boys couldn’t read; they could not everything down to the pencils. So, the results recognize certain words.” The two young boys, of that left us like a baby, starting all over.” Additionally, the bus enabled the organization to now in kindergarten and first grade, are reading not miss one day of after-school programming on their grade levels, and their mother is filled Operation P.E.A.C.E used the ACoRA funds to in November 2005, when their facility burned with hope for a brighter future for her children. purchase a 29-passenger bus that allows the down the day before Thanksgiving. It provided kids to go beyond their community’s borders. safe transportation for students—making four Without the ACoRA funds, hope would have been The bus supports an incentive that Operation daily trips to schools to pick up students and limited or a long shot for the young mother P.E.A.C.E. offers 70 after-schoolers to perform bring them to the programs, all free-of-charge. and many others in the Old Fourth Ward. “We well academically in school and in the after-school
ACoRA helps Operation P.E.A.C.E. youth go beyond their borders in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward. 15 15
The Study Hall at Emmaus House A Learning Safe Haven for Youth In the hear t of the Peoplestown community just south of Turner Field sits a grey house with an adjacent colorful playground. This house, The Study Hall at Emmaus House, symbolizes a solid foundation for this community. The House has been a fixture in the community for 18 years, providing children from kindergarten to eighth grade at four Atlanta Public Schools with love, support, individual tutoring and homework assistance. Cultural enrichment and educational programs are offered year-round to the community. “With our longevity we have a great reputation for being an organization in the community that works for the children of Peoplestown,” stated Executive Director Jacquetta Watkins. include academics, cultural children are getting the academic p.m., they have completed their “And not only do the children rely on enrichment, financial literacy, assistance they need as well as homework, enrichment activities and us, but the parents do as well. It means civic engagement and wellness the other enrichment components had dinner. “One of the things I’ve always valued about our program a lot to be able to have people that to foster well-rounded young we offer.” is that we make sure the children value the program and the services people committed to personal a c h i e v e m e n t . T h e A C o R A ACoRA funds allowed The Study are prepared when they leave in we provide.” funds have directly impacted Hall to separate what was once a the evening. They can go home and The brainchild of Father Austin Ford, the community by allowing combined class of kindergarteners spend quality time with whoever an Episcopal priest, the Study Hall expansion of The Study Hall’s and first-grade students. “Through their guardian is,” stated Watkins. at Emmaus House was intentionally after-school program with the hiring of a full-time first-grade The parents or guardians of the designed to look like a house and blend 15 additional children. With teacher, the funds enable us to children are actively involved and into the community. Father Ford, along additional capacity, The Study offer more focused attention to both support the program because they with others he recruited, raised capital Hall can alleviate the need for classes,” Watkins explained. “Also, value The Study Hall at Emmaus to create an after-school program that after-school care for some 30 more nutritious snacks and dinners House. Recently, one parent shared, would offer “a learning safe haven” for kids. “It’s 15 children who are served to the children to allow “I’d hate to think what after school the Peoplestown community.
wouldn’t have had a place to go greater focus on academics and would be like without you. You all after school,” noted Watkins. encourage healthy eating.”
are like our extended family.” All of
this in a ‘grey house of hope’ with The Study Hall’s after-school program “Now, they have a place in an offers a scholar model comprised of environment that their parents By the time the children leave The the colorful playground that blends five components. The components know is safe and one where Study Hall, usually between 6 - 6:30 so perfectly into the community. 16 16
Raising Expectations Project DREAM Offers Students Broader View School is for learning. A child goes to school to discover and gain knowledge. When a child’s environment becomes a distraction, it is sometimes difficult to maintain focus, study and grow. The possibilities of life need to be encouraged and the expectations for their development need to be elevated. Raising Expectations does that. Raising Expectations is a youth development after-school program that provides structured tutorial programs and mentoring activities to children grades 4-9 in metro Atlanta. “We pair students with college mentors from Morehouse, Spelman or Clark Atlanta University,” said Executive Director and Co-Founder, Maria Armstrong. “The environment that we try to create is about raising expectations. The premise of our organization is helping kids turn their challenges into opportunities in life.
assignments, study skills and test preparation,”
gives them some idea of what college is actually
We encourage them to have high expectations
said Armstrong. “We conduct pre-assessments at
like as opposed to some far away theory that
because we know that it will propel them to
the beginning of the program to advise students
they can’t actually grasp,” added Armstrong.
perform at a higher standard. If you lower your
on what learning concepts they have mastered
“Most of the kids stay in their neighborhood and
expectations of them, you’ll get exactly that—
and those for which they need additional support.
they don’t see all the potential opportunities that
performance at a lowered standard.”
Assignments are given to them based upon that
exist outside the walls of their community. Our
pre-test. The tutors work with them on building
goal is to broaden their perspective because the
The ACoRA funds recently awarded to the
their skills in areas in which they are deficient so
bigger your view of the world becomes, the better
organization support its “Project DREAM
that they are better prepared to take the CRCT
able you are to dream and have aspirations for
(Developing Raised Expectations for Adolescent
(Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests).”
your life.” In addition, ACoRA funds have directly impacted Raising Expectations’ “Youth View
Minds).” This free after-school tutorial program is designed to educate, engage and empower
Raising Expectations believes that the unique
Project,” a Public Safety Campaign that affords
every participant to achieve his or her fullest
development of a meaningful, long-term
students the opportunity to interact with longtime
potential. Three days a week, from 4 - 6:30 p.m.,
relationship with the college mentor/tutor
neighborhood residents to obtain oral histories.
students receive individualized support from
serves as a foundation for broadening youths’
“The ACoRA allocation has really helped us to
their assigned college mentor/tutor. Two days
perspective about the world in which they live.
increase the number of children we serve and
per week students participate in cultural, sports,
Students are exposed to college life through
provide a broader array of services,” remarked
arts and leadership enrichment sessions.
social discovery projects where they actually
Armstrong. “ACoRA’s investment has really
go to classes with their mentor/tutor to see the
enabled us to broaden the scope and breadth of
social and academic aspects of college life. “It
our projects and community outreach efforts.”
“They work on co m p l e ti n g homework
17 17
Whitefoord Community Program Youth Explore the World of Possibilities via Cycling Fifty students from Atlanta’s Coan Middle and Whitefoord The program provides the requisite training and structure Elementary schools are getting a snapshot of what the necessary for participants to endure the intensity and duration city and life have to offer from the perspective of a unique needed for cycling. Physical stamina and maneuvering skills bicycling program. are taught as well as sitting positions, gearing, pacing and pedaling techniques and how to interface with traffic. The young people participated in The Whitefoord Community Program’s Bike Rite project last summer. The Bike Rite Program “Over the years, I have seen kids who never thought they could is transforming kids into touring cyclists, people who wish to complete the program due to the rigors and physical demands explore the world around them via bicycle. of bike riding,” said Slaton. “They learn a lot about discipline “Kids are like film, all they need is exposure,” said Scott because you can’t just get off a bike and walk away when you Slaton, coordinator of Whitefoord Community Program Bike are in the middle of a ride; you have to finish it.” Rite Program. “A key benefit of our program is to expose kids to a whole new world.” The ACoRA funds have enabled the Bike Rite Program participants to gain a life push forward through becoming Indeed, the Bike Rite Program exposes teenagers to not only more physically fit with stamina and endurance in their lives. In the great outdoors, but fun Atlanta venues such as Centennial addition, the funds have enabled participants to gain exposure Park, Phillips Arena and CNN Center. The participants also tour to potential careers and colleges. No matter where the roads of local colleges and organizations such as Morehouse College, life may take them, Whitefoord Community Program’s Bike Rite Georgia Tech, Edwards Pie Company and Atlanta Fire Station Program instills the discipline and knowledge for participants #10–-which sparked a special interest in one student. to keep close when riding. Mark Jordan, a Bike Rite Program participant for four years, gained a new career direction as a result of the summer bike tour to Atlanta Fire Station #10. His interest was piqued and he kept in touch with some of the firefighters at the station. “Mark visited us just before starting ninth grade. Shortly thereafter he started the fire station’s summer internship program and he continued with it through high school,” stated Slaton. “Now, the Atlanta Fire Department has placed Mark in a training program in preparation to become an Atlanta Fire Fighter.” The Bike Rite Program steers students on a path that might have been otherwise overlooked. It is an adventurous forward push into a new direction via touring miles on the roads of Atlanta for the purpose of enjoying the sights and sounds and exploration into a world of possibilities.
Bikers Atiba Mbiwan, Maurice Jordan (Mark Jordan’s twin) and Diante Peytob participate in the Whitefoord Community Program’s Bike Rite program. It is giving youth a new perspective on what life has to offer via cycling through metro Atlanta.
18 18
Atlanta Workforce Development Agency Corporate Exposure the Norm for Youth Work Program Planning for life after high school can be a The summer internship program provides daunting task for any senior. Sadly, if your youth with work-readiness skills, reinforces family has limited resources to assist with educational skills, and provides a safe and this endeavor, it poses an even greater positive summer experience. “Workforce challenge. Mayor Shirley Franklin’s Youth programs like these offer young people an Program, administered by the Atlanta abundance of knowledge and experience. Workforce Development Agency (AWDA), This type of real work experience is rare at seeks to provide resources for students such a young age,” stated Lum. from all 10 high schools in the Atlanta Public Schools system. The program offers As a result of the ACoRA funds, Youth students the opportunity to develop and Work participants have been afforded implement practical and individualized the opportunity to observe the workplace plans for their future after graduation, culture, including dress code and employee whether it is to obtain employment or earn interaction to help develop a positive work ethic. The students gain hands-on an associate or bachelor’s degree. experience and acquire goal-setting, time The AWDA also supports another student- management and organizational skills. focused initiative, the Summer Youth Work They also learn about teamwork and how to Program sponsored by the City of Atlanta. effectively communicate. The eight-week internship program begins the first week in June and has a direct impact In addition to helping 21 young people on participating teens as they transition gain “real world” corporate experience from high school to the real world. The with support from ACoRA, 65 Atlanta public internship offers very valuable exposure schools students are getting to the next step in their lives with help from ACoRA. Since and experience to the “world of work.” the Mayor’s Youth Program was launched Students are interviewed for summer in 2005, ACoRA has awarded $350,000 internships with major corporations during for scholarships to students attending “Meet with the Mayor” Saturdays, which the college or university of their choice. These schools include Atlanta Metropolitan begin each year in October. College, Clark Atlanta University, Clayton “Every March, students are assigned to State College & University, Florida A&M, corporations that are willing to accept Morehouse College, Pennsylvania State them for internships for the summer,” University, the University of Alabama, said Deborah Lum, executive director, the the University of Notre Dame, Tuskegee Atlanta Workforce Development Agency. University, the University of West Georgia, “They begin work immediately after they and other post-secondary institutions. recess for summer break and work for six to eight weeks during the summer.”
19 19
Erica Morgan (seated) spent a summer working in the Human Resources office of Atlanta Spirit LLC with supervisor La’Keesha Wilkerson, manager of Organization Development.
Summer Youth Work Program intern Brandon Merritt spent a summer working at the Woodruff Arts Center.
Claire McLeveighn, director of International Relations for the City of Atlanta, welcomed intern Michelle Fisher to her office for the summer.
ZAP Asthma
Summer Camp Helps Young Asthma Sufferer to Play Ball Again Trayvon Ponder, a 13-year-old Atlanta youth, attended a one-week summer camp last year. Like most kids attending camp, Trayvon watched movies and videos, played games and cards, and did various exercises. He had fun and met new friends. He also gained a greater awareness of the asthma that he lives with daily. Trayvon’s asthma is not unusual. Asthma is increasingly common among youth in low-income, urban areas. Recognizing this growing health crisis, ACoRA joined with ZAP Asthma in 2007 to help kids like Trayvon live with asthma. Trayvon’s summer day camp, held at Kennedy Middle School in Atlanta, is supported by ACoRA and designed specifically for children, ages 7-14, with asthma. The camp was sponsored by ZAP Asthma, a coalition working with families, schools and health providers to assure children with asthma achieve their health and learning potential. “The camp talked all about asthma,” Trayvon said enthusiastically. “They showed how to control it, the symptoms and how you can resolve asthma.” Stacy Ponder, Trayvon’s mother, stopped by ZAP
Asthma’s exhibit and signed her son up for the summer camp while attending a parent meeting sponsored by the Atlanta Public Schools. “I signed him up so that he could benefit from some of the help they offer.” The camp gave Trayvon a much broader understanding of his asthma. He learned ways to self-manage the disease that affects more than 1,500 families who live in former Atlanta Empowerment Zone neighborhoods. Having asthma doesn’t slow down Trayvon, who likes to play baseball, basketball and football for fun. “Having asthma means that I have to be aware of my body,” remarked the teenager. “Before I went to the camp, I didn’t know when I was supposed to take treatments,” said Trayvon who is a seventh grader at Benjamin S. Carson. “Now, I know when I need treatments, and I now know when I am getting ready to have an asthma attack.” “The program meant a lot. It helped the kids to be more confident and learn how to deal with the
asthma. My son enjoyed it,” said Ms. Ponder. “It taught him different ways to deal with his asthma.” As a direct result of the camp, the Ponder family was empowered to make some lifestyle changes that will benefit Trayvon’s health. “He didn’t know the insects, dust, outside allergens, certain plants, pet dander, even stuffed animals would trigger his asthma,” stated Ms. Ponder. “Before the program, we would keep the dog in the house. Now, the dog is outside due to that fact.” In addition, ZAP’s camp also provided a valuable parent session. “The parent information program taught me about the different triggers of asthma such as chemicals and dust mites. It was a great asset to me as well,” said Ms. Ponder, who also suffers with asthma. ZAP Asthma’s Summer Camp was able to arm the Ponder family with information and resources to vastly improve their asthma health and knowledge; and most importantly, it allowed Trayvon to play ball again. Childhood asthma is a growing
public health concern in low-income urban communities. Many urban children live in indoor environments that place them at substantial risk of ongoing exposure to asthma triggers. This problem tends to be exacerbated by substandard housing; air pollution; mold, mildew and dust; and other environmental hazards. In an attempt to mitigate these risks, ACoRA is investing in ZAP Asthma to help educate asthmatics and their caregivers on how to effectively 20
reduce these exposures.
Investing in neighborhoods
Atlanta Mortgage Assistance Program MAP Lands Life-Long Community Activist in First House Valena Henderson, a life-long community activist, committed to affordable housing in Atlanta’s inner city neighborhoods some 38 years ago for the purpose of “assisting the people that really needed to be sheltered and to give them a home and a place to live.” Today, she remains dedicated to serving and states that her motto has always been, “If I could just help somebody, then my living would not have been in vain. That’s what I have always done.” In 2007, the time came that Henderson herself would need a new home. After 40 years of living in the Wheat Street Gardens community, she found herself being displaced due to the renovation of the property. “I was gathering up everybody that I knew who had anything to do with housing and first-time homebuyer’s programs. We started having classes for potential homebuyers in the Wheat Street Gardens Enrichment Center. At that time, I was still working for the residents and not knowing that I would become one (homebuyer),” says Henderson. Unexpectedly, Henderson became ill while assisting others this time. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “My granddaughter took control of me and my relocation, and she began to work on the homebuyer’s program for me,” remarked Mrs. Henderson. “I never thought I would become a recipient of the program,” stated Henderson. “I’ve been out here in the vineyard working Ironically, the Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) – an ACoRA funded program and for other people just about all my life. I was surprised. I hadn’t the very program that Mrs. Henderson faithfully encouraged others to use throughout even given a thought as to where I was going and how I was the years – would now be of service to her. In 1994 when MAP originated as a down- going. I was working for everybody trying to get them situated payment assistance program, Henderson served as an at-large community volunteer, once we left Wheat Street Gardens.” part of the community residents that advocated for federal funding on behalf of the former Atlanta Empowerment Zone. July 2007 was a busy month of milestones for this unselfish, caring grandmother of 11, great grandmother of 21 and great, Today, MAP has afforded Mrs. Henderson the opportunity to own her first house. ACoRA great grandmother of one. Henderson received the harvest is hoping that MAP will duplicate its success from 1997 to 2003, by helping more families from the many seeds of help and concern she had planted. become Atlanta homeowners using the down payment assistance subsidy. Today, the On July 18, 2007, Henderson moved into her new house in MAP subsidy has increased and provides up to $50,000 in forgivable loans to qualifying Mechanicsville. Two days later, she celebrated her 89th birthday individuals to purchase a home in one of the 30 intown neighborhoods. in her new house. On July 26, she went into the hospital to have surgery for ovarian cancer. The surgery was successful, and The Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) provides deferred, she is doing great. “No chemo, radiation, none of that,” she forgivable loans of up to $50,000 to assist in the purchase of said with an endearing smile.
homes located within the original boundaries of the former Atlanta Empowerment Zone. MAP provides second-lien loans for eligible low-to-moderate income borrowers. The secondlien loan amount is based upon the borrower’s financial need, household income and household size. 22 22
“I can not express or put into words what MAP means to me. I now have something that I have never had in my life,” Henderson enthusiastically remarked. “I have a three-bedroom house with hardwood floors, two baths, a deck and a yard. This program is helping build up the community, one block at a time.”
The Atlanta Acquisition Pool $25.5 Million Loan Pool to Assure Affordable Housing for Changing Neighborhoods According to U.S Census Bureau Data and ESRI forecast in 2003, the average rent in Atlanta was $1,084 and the average cost of a home was $152,400. This housing cost is far out of reach for households in the Title XX investment area where the majority of residents have extremely to very low incomes. Demand for intown living coupled with escalating property taxes is putting a squeeze on quality affordable housing options for many residents. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, a longtime proponent of affordable housing, has monitored this movement since taking office in 2002. She has helped to usher in several affordable housing initiatives that bring an equal mix of housing options for all Atlantans. In January 2008, she announced one of the city’s most groundbreaking programs to create more affordable housing in Atlanta—The Atlanta Acquisition Pool. This funding assistance program is a partnership between the City of Atlanta, the Atlanta Renewal
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin announced the Atlanta Acquisition Pool, a $25.5 million loan fund targeting affordable homebuilders in January 2008. Joining her are from left Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation; Chris McGillis, senior vice president of SunTrust Bank; Ken Woods, senior vice president, Southern Region Sales Manager, Wachovia Corp.-Community Development Finance; (the Mayor); George Howell, chairperson of the Atlanta Renewal Community Board of Directors; Steven R. Cover, AICP, Commissioner of City of Atlanta Department of Planning and Community Development; and Clara Axam, Atlanta director, Enterprise Community Partners.
Community and Enterprise Community Partners
affordable housing developers meet the demand for housing by the average worker without
Atlanta. The Acquisition Pool offers a $25.5 million
sacrificing quality construction or profit margins. ACoRA has invested more than $3.5 million
loan fund for developers to finance property
in Title XX funds that directly support affordable housing construction in the 30 Title XX
purchases for the development of affordable and
neighborhoods. Enterprise Community Loan Fund, which will manage the fund through its
mixed-income housing in the city.
community loan program, solicited and received the support of private investors: Wachovia, $6 million; Living Cities, $6 million; and SunTrust Bank, $5 million. Additionally, Enterprise
“It is important that we continue our efforts
committed $2 million through the Enterprise Terwilliger Fund.
to provide quality affordable homeownership opportunities for the thousands of current and
“ACoRA sees this loan fund as imperative for keeping and creating affordable housing
future residents who will call Atlanta home by
options for long-time residents in the Title XX target area” says Catherine Foster-Rowell,
2009,” Mayor Franklin said in announcing the loan
senior program director for ACoRA. “This initiative truly brings a balance to all the other Title
program. “This pool of money can help qualified,
XX initiatives we have underway to revitalize these important intown neighborhoods.”
“It is important that we continue our efforts to provide quality affordable home ownership opportunities for the thousands of current and future residents who will call Atlanta home by 2009,” said Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. 23 23
City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Park Renovations Promote Solid Identity in Title XX Neighborhoods Life today involves constant change in our homes, communities and workplaces. When it comes to communities, city parks instill changing neighborhoods with a solid identity. Therefore, park development, design and maintenance are important to residents and to the City of Atlanta. The City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA) seeks to provide all residents with the highest quality parks and facilities. The ACoRA funding allows the department to pool all efforts and many different resources to complete a number of
outstanding projects, primarily in underserved neighborhoods. “We are able to leverage what we have with the ACoRA funds to upgrade or redevelop these parks in a more complete fashion than we would have been otherwise,” said Dianne Harnell Cohen, commissioner of the DPRCA. “With partners like ACoRA, we can make a difference in the communities.” Facilities will be renovated and park designs will be improved in six Atlanta neighborhood parks, including Vine City Park, RawsonWashington Park, Dunbar Park/Rosa L. Burney Pool Bathhouse, Four Corners Park, Chosewood
Park and Parkway-Angier Park. DPRCA’s overall goal in the six parks is to increase neighborhood greenspace and improve recreational facilities. The target completion date is 2009 for all park improvements. “With the design, our focus is to reduce the destructive elements of vandalism,” said Sushma Dersch, director of Park Design for DPRCA. “Also, we want to make the parks look inviting and safe for people to come and enjoy. It’s an opportunity to clear some wooded areas to create walkways so that we can improve the parks’ maintenance and safety.” The Office of Park Design began improvements in 2007 on Chosewood Park on Nolan Street, in southeast Atlanta, because the park was included in earlier work on a master plan. As a result of the ACoRA funding, Chosewood Park has overhauled the drainage system that had caused problems along the walkways and ball fields. Also, the retaining walls have been repaired with granite. Shortly, the rest of the improvements will be completed and the entrance will get a makeover. The impact of the ACoRA funds has been immediate and very visible. “The community is happy to see that we have used the kind of materials, like the granite, for the retaining walls that blend with the character of the neighborhood,” stated Dersch. “It gives a kind of class to the park, and it makes it more inviting. It’s very much a neighborhood park. People bring their dogs and they walk and meet neighbors they didn’t know before.” In addition, the vice president of the neighborhood association stated that the community is pleased with the improvement to the park’s aesthetics, which enhance the park’s appearance and make it more welcoming.
Friends of Chosewood Park and longtime residents, Matt Wingler and Simon Reynolds, stand proud of their efforts to help transform their neighborhood park into an inviting and safe place for fellow neighbors.
24 24
City of Atlanta Public Works Lights, Streets, Walkways Happen Through Partnerships A major part of creating safe and livable communities is infrastructure. Sidewalks, street lights, pedestrian corridors, traffic calming devices and landscaping are often considered standard neighborhood amenities provided by the government. Yet, these types of public investments are hard to come by — especially when scarce public dollars usually have to be allocated to public safety and waste services. Today, many local governments, at the urging of residents, are finding creative resources to help improve or maintain their communities’ infrastructure. The City of Atlanta Public Works Department has partnered with ACoRA to improve the physical environment in which people live.
ACoRA is also supporting a School Pedestrian Safety initiative, which facilitates public improvements to promote safety near schools located in the former Empowerment Zone. In partnership with the city, ACoRA has provided $291,000 for the installation of flashing lights, crosswalks and traffic calming measures around 15 schools.
ACoRA and the Public Works Department are working on several community improvement projects. These have been identified by residents and the city as needed upgrades to enhance aesthetics, safety and livability in several intown neighborhoods. The new Lakewood Heights Town Center is one of the targeted areas to benefit from the partnership. Streetscape improvements along Lakewood Avenue from Adair Drive to Livermore Street, Jonesboro Avenue from Whatley Street to north of Rhodesia Avenue, and Adair Drive from Lakewood Avenue to Jonesboro Road will provide needed pedestrian lighting, utility relocation, asphalt patching and landscaping.
The Pryor Road Streetscape Improvement Project, which is funded partly by ACoRA and the City of Atlanta’s Quality of Life Bond Program, is underway to provide a 1.1-mile pedestrian corridor.
For the Pryor Road Streetscape Improvement Project, ACoRA invested $1.2 million, which was leveraged with dollars from the City’s Quality of Life Bond Program. In 2008, this funding will provide an enhanced 1.1mile pedestrian corridor along Pryor Road, from the railroad bridge south of University Avenue to Pryor Circle/Ashwood Avenue. The project includes replacement of existing sidewalks, new crosswalks, utility upgrades, street tree plantings, trash receptacles, pedestrian benches and lighting (particularly near bus stops), and granite curbing in the commercial area. 25
Atlanta schools to benefit from pedestrian safety improvements made through ACoRA funding:
Elementary Benteen Dunbar Gideons John Hope Oglethorpe Slater D. H. Stanton Cook
Middle Kennedy KIPP West Atlanta Young Scholars Academy Parks Luther Judson Price M. L. King Jr.
High The New Schools of Carver
Private Ron Clark Academy
City of Atlanta Weed and Seed Sowing the Seeds for Safe Neighborhoods Weed out the bad and seed in the good. In short,
assistance to residents to develop and
while “seeding in” or bringing prevention,
that is what the City of Atlanta Weed and Seed
implement their own public safety initiatives.
intervention, treatment and neighborhood
Program is able to accomplish by implementing
“ACoRA’s investment seeks to empower and
revitalization services into the community.
a comprehensive, multi-agency approach to
mobilize residents around their public safety
tackle public safety concerns. The concerted
issues and provide resources and tools to
“The ACoRA funds will assist residents in
efforts of 14 agencies have proven effective in
offer sustainable solutions,” stated William
building their capacity to understand how
addressing crime in Atlanta’s neighborhoods.
McFarland, director of ACoRA.
to use the resources available to them. In essence, the funds are intended to create
Through the work spearheaded by Weed and Seed, three neighborhoods – Mechanicsville,
The Atlanta Weed and Seed coordinates federal,
better citizens who will learn empowerment
Pittsburgh and Vine City – are safer and have
state, municipal and community resources to
tools to make their communities strong,” said
reduced incidences of crime and drug use.
co-design neighborhood action plans that
Karen Rogers, director of the Atlanta Weed
Residents in these neighborhoods are better
reduce crime, monitor juveniles, keep students
and Seed.
equipped to work alongside law enforcement
in school, revitalize neighborhoods and build
to support crime prevention and neighborhood
community capacity. In order to support
ACoRA’s added support will help the program
revitalization efforts.
implementation of the plans, the Weed and
continue its work in communities that have a
Seed model uses a two-pronged strategy
history of public safety challenges.
Realizing the similarity of our goals to
to promote crime control and prevention.
revitalize and improve public safety in targeted
Law enforcement agencies and prosecution
Atlanta Weed and Seed works with grantees
neighborhoods, ACoRA has teamed up with
concentrate on “weeding out” criminals and
to set project goals, evaluate neighborhood
Atlanta Weed and Seed to provide technical
criminal activity from targeted neighborhoods
assets and manage the challenges of community organizing to ensure successful program
implementation.
Grantees
will
receive skills training on long-term planning, community organizing, asset mapping, and best practices in community-based crime prevention strategies that support proactive resident engagement. “Our goal is to help neighborhood residents to build their skills and motivate them to think holistically. Our purpose is to provide guidance, training and oversight,” said Rogers. She added that Weed and Seed supporters, including the residents, are enthusiastic about the community blueprint being developed and anticipation of its implementation remains ACoRA is helping the City of Atlanta Weed and Seed Program to engage residents of former Empowerment Zone communities—Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh and Vine city—to support crime prevention and revitalization by working alongside law enforcement.
26
high through the process. “When you coordinate and partner, the blueprints lay a solid foundation.”
Villages at Carver Family YMCA Investment Brings Much Needed Recreation to Pryor Road Corridor The Villages at Carver Family YMCA, located just south of downtown Atlanta in one of the city’s burgeoning communities, is all that its name implies and more. “This building is a community building first. We are not just a health and wellness center; we are not a swim and gym,” stated Monteil Nottage, executive director. “We are a community building. We sit in the center of the Pryor Road Corridor, and we tend to bring together all the surrounding communities in one facility,” The Carver YMCA, a partnership between the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta and historic Butler Street YMCA, has turned into a greater asset than ever imagined because of the community that surrounds the facility. Bringing together neighbors from surrounding communities, the Villages at Carver Family YMCA is seen as a bridge builder. “When you come here you get introduced to other people, other ways of living, and other discussions. It gives one an appreciation of what happens just outside his or her house. This automatically sets the tone for people getting along, understanding diversity and appreciating it,” says Nottage. “In this facility, you can workout next to someone on the left who looks completely different and then on the right have someone of a totally different age. Then, someone else may come in who is physically challenged and in a wheelchair. There’s no one judging anyone, and no one has to be cute here! We accept people for who they are and where they are.” Some 90 percent of the 5,100 membership roster of the YMCA, which opened March 3, 2007, comes from individuals living within a two- to threemile radius of the Pryor Road Corridor. The projected membership was expected to possibly reach 850 within one year. To the surprise of many, the goal was surpassed by reaching 1,500 members in eight months; and 75 percent of the membership base is families. . Nottage, who believes in a high level of service for all members, stated the
ACoRA also provided more than $2.2 million for the construction of
ACoRA funds enable them to hire talented, community-based individuals.
the family YMCA. The facility represents community and the community
“We hired 15 individuals from the community before we opened,” said
equals an outstanding team. “How ideal is it to have individuals teaching
Nottage. “Twenty-five to 30 percent of our staff comes directly from the
classes, working at the front desk or the play center, and they know
community. It was intentional, and we were able to identify people who
everyone coming in,” says Nottage. “It’s so great that they already have
live here who were interested in working and have great personalities and
these relationships which at the end of the day help the YMCA build trust
skills. And, they know all about the community.”
in the community.” 27 27
Atlanta Urban Garden
Urban Gardening Project Bridges Nutritional and Generational Gaps
Urban Gardeners at the Villages of Carver bring beauty and nutrition to their community with the help of funding from ACoRA to purchase supplies.
Who would have ever thought the primary benefit of a community gardening program would be bridging the generational gap? Heightened nutrition is indeed a benefit touted by the Atlanta Urban Gardening program, an initiative of the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Service. The community outreach program provides ongoing technical assistance and leadership training to community garden programs throughout metropolitan Atlanta. However, at the Villages of Carver, the urban gardening program has also prompted an unusual partnership— young African American men joining with senior African American women for the love of gardening. “With this additional (ACoRA) funding, we have attracted some young men to participate in gardening. I like to think of it as kind of bridging the generational gap,” said Bobby Wilson, program coordinator and master gardener. “I don’t think that these young men really want to garden, but they see the seniors out there and I think they feel a need to assist them in terms of what they are doing. So, the young men are starting to identify their own raised beds, and they are assisting the female seniors with their raised beds as well.” Atlanta Urban Garden shows residents how to organize their community garden programs. “We teach them how to grow their own fresh vegetables on small tracks of land within their community,” says Wilson, who has been coordinating community gardening programs for 17 years. “We are the catalyst that keeps the wheel turning. We like to think of a community garden as an open space. However, each community garden is autonomous. It has the right to do what the people in that community want to do.” The Villages of Carver community gardeners want a fence around their garden plots to protect their home grown vegetables from vandals. Also, they want to install additional raised beds to accommodate more vegetables and gardeners. They hope to purchase soon additional hand tools and “specialty raised-bed supplies,” such as smaller tillers, spades and shovels. As one of the oldest community gardening programs, Villages of Carver is outgrowing their current space with more than 30 raised beds. “We are going to add 15 more beds,” says 28 28
Wilson. “The intent is that each gardening member can have his or her own spot, a raised bed which is usually a plot that is 4’ x 16’. Since we can grow year- round, you can grow anywhere between $400-600 in produce annually.”Another key component of the Villages of Carver program is income development. The gardeners are able to generate income from the produce that they grow if they choose to participate in a farmers’ market. “Without the funds, the garden would remain at a stalemate and additional people would not have the opportunity to join and participate in the gardening program,” remarked Wilson. “Without the funds, we cannot bring the aesthetics and beauty to the garden that the community would want to see. Also, we are able to enhance and increase productivity of the garden that will allow more people in this community to be able to eat healthier.”
Investing in businesses
Ron Clark Academy Tax Incentive Boosts Prep Students When noted educator Ron Clark relocated to Atlanta several years ago, he was on a mission. He was scouting for a building to accommodate his new school – The Ron Clark Academy. Clark wanted the school to be in a community that was on the “cusp of a rebirth.” He was looking for an area that had great potential, much like the young people he would educate inside those academic walls. Clark, who has appeared on the Oprah Show, written a New York Times best selling book, and had his teaching experiences in New York City as the subject of the uplifting film The Ron Clark Story, found the perfect location in 2005. He decided a former printing facility on Margaret Street in the Lakewood community, just south of downtown Atlanta, would be the place he would fulfill his 10-year dream of opening a private school. The main two-story, brick building is 20,000 square feet and has 12-foot high ceilings, expansive windows and spacious rooms. With nearly an acre of land, there is ample room for a media center/library that will open next fall. This facility will include a student run café to introduce students to small business and entrepreneurial skills. The Academy’s construction plans for the next two years include a performing arts center, auditorium and renovation of the gymnasium, which is located across the street from the main campus.
As for the new Academy’s effect on the community, Clark confirms it is a dream come true as well. “It is a very rewarding experience to contribute to the rebirth of an area. Financially it was a smart decision, but to see the impact ACoRA staff assisted Clark with the application the school is having in the community and to be process and its submission to the ACoRA Board located in south Atlanta is all very satisfying,” of Directors and, subsequently, the Georgia concludes Clark. Department of Community Affairs for approval. The Atlanta Renewal As a result, The Ron Clark Academy received a Community, which $2,857,254 deduction in 2006. taking half of the entire allocation in the first year and allowing the remaining balance to depreciate on the normal schedule or pro-rating the entire award over a 10- year, accelerated period.
includes more than 100
“The ACoRA staff was really great and professional in working with us,” said Clark. “This tax savings “When I first saw the property, I knew it was definitively enabled us to free up more funds to the perfect place so we went for it,” said Clark. use on the renovation of the school.” He added that the property became even more attractive after he learned that his newly The newly renovated facility fulfills Clark’s purchased building qualified for a special federal long-held vision of opening a school “unlike tax incentive–the Commercial Revitalization any school” to serve students from low-wealth Deduction (CRD)–due to its location in the Atlanta communities. Clark’s dream is realized everyday as 60 curious, energy-filled fifth and sixthRenewal Community. graders arrive on campus to a state-of-the-art The CRD allows business owners, investors facility. To augment the students’ on-campus and developers who build new structures or learning experience, the Academy also exposes substantially rehabilitate dilapidated Renewal the children to cultures around the world. Each Community buildings to deduct expenses related year, every student will take international travel to these construction costs from their federal study adventures, and by the time students taxes. The awards can be deducted by either complete eighth grade they would have visited six different continents. 30
neighborhoods, provides federal tax credits to qualifying businesses, property owners and investors. Through these tax incentives, the Atlanta Renewal Community is helping transform some of the city’s most distressed neighborhoods into more livable environments for current and future residents. To learn more about the Atlanta Renewal Community tax incentives, contact the Atlanta Renewal Community at (404) 522-3970 or visit www.atlantarenewalcommunity.org
Hagar Civilization Training Missionary ACoRA Helps to Preserve Icon of African American Entrepreneurship During the 1940s and ‘50s, Hunter Street on Atlanta’s Westside was a retail, entertainment and political haven for many of the city’s African American residents. Hunter Street intersected with Ashby Street—a prestigious corner that held Bronner Brothers, a black hair care company that opened in 1947 and occupied the majority of some 16,000 square feet of storefront space. The building and encompassing stores were some of the first to be owned by African Americans. The Bronner building billboard, once advertised the company’s hair shows and products, was considered the gateway to the Vine City community and stood as a hallmark for African American commerce. Today, the Bronner Brothers buildings still stand with their name and the painting of its founders along the wall. However, the area has changed greatly; Ashby and Hunter Streets have taken the names of civil rights legends Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive respectively. Community residents and stakeholders refer to the area as the “M.L. King Corridor.” While the Bronner buildings have remained dormant for years, the site continues to serve as a historic landmark for passersby. With such a rich history, the surrounding community wanted to make sure the Bronner buildings and their historical significance are maintained. When it was learned that the Bronner Brothers board of directors was preparing to sell the property, possibly to large developers who intended to demolish the historic site, the community stepped in and rallied behind Precious Muhammad and Robert Zywiciel. The pair were interested in purchasing and rehabilitating the property. The pair hoped to rehabili-
tate the Bronner facilities and once again make them an integral part of the community. Muhammad summarized the community sentiment, “They have witnessed all the other historic buildings in this community being knocked down, and they saw us as a means to save these buildings and preserve some important community history.” The Bronner family and the Bronner board of directors supported Muhammad’s and Zywiciel’s vision for the property and eventually sold it to them. For years, the Bronner family leased one of the Bronner buildings to Hagar Civilization Training Missionary, an organization owned by Muhammad. The Hagar Ministry provides transitional services for juveniles and former prison inmates. According to Muhammad, Nathaniel Bronner Sr. for years had supported the work of Hagar and urged the Bronner board of directors to do likewise. Muhammad and Zywiciel have preservation plans for all the Bronner family buildings. Included in the planned spaces are an art center and culinary program and office space for the recent tornado displacement of the M.L. King Business Association and the Vine City Civic Association. There are also plans to renovate the former 12-room hotel on the property, providing shortterm residency for college students and senior citizens.
Negro League Baseball player and manager Nish Williams, a graduate of Morehouse College and former owner of one of the properties. Muhammad and Zywiciel, who consider themselves preservationists and investors, believed so strongly in the potential of the project that they bought the buildings using their retirement savings. Zywiciel says that was risky. “It was a gamble to acquire these properties because they were not in a performing state; however, we had a lot of community support and that was very important.” It was the partners’ community involvement, and subsequent attendance at an NPU (Neighborhood Planning Unit) meeting shortly after purchasing the properties that lead Mr. Zywiciel to the Commercial Revitalization Deduction (CRD), a special tax incentive marketed by the ACoRA. The CRD allows business owners, investors and developers who build new structures or substantially rehabilitate dilapidated Renewal Community buildings to deduct expenses related to these construction costs from their federal taxes. The awards can be de-
Other preservation plans include construction of a museum showcasing some of the Westside community’s history. This would include featuring the Bronner Family accomplishments and those of 31
ducted by either taking half of the entire allocation in the first year and allowing the remaining balance to depreciate on the normal schedule or pro-rating the entire award over a 10-year, accelerated period. In 2007, based on the redevelopment of one property facing Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard, Zywiciel was awarded nearly $370,000 in CRDs by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs on the recommendation of the ACoRA Board of Directors. Zywiciel added that he was not aware of the CRD initiative prior to purchasing the properties; but as a result of that NPU meeting, he would now share the tax tip with fellow investors. “There are opportunities that on the face look like they would not be to your financial advantage, but once you incorporate the other opportunities out there like the CRD, the net result is very positive.” Muhammad and Zywiciel are among 33 business owners, developers and investors who have been allocated more than $42 million in tax deductions by ACoRA since 2005.
ACoRA Title XX Awards 2005-2007 Priority 2.1 Implement Comprehensive, Neighborhood-based Public Safety Program Atlanta Fire Rescue ACERT Peoplestown Revitalization Corporation Crime and Safety Initiative Pittsburgh Community Improvement Association Project Color the Crime Atlanta Victim Assistance, Inc. Public Safety Initiative Neighborhood Planning Unit T Crime Task Force Vine City Civic Association Vine City Civic Association Sector Concept and Parent Patrol Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation Youth Working to Make Reynoldstown Safer and Healthier City of Atlanta, Mayors Office Atlanta Weed & Seed, Program Management City of Atlanta, Bureau of Code Enforcement Neighborhood Deputies Program
$121,210 $80,000 $80,000 $80,000 $5,000 $80,000 $15,000 $189,370 $40,700
Priority 2.2 Facilitate Improvements to Neighborhood Infrastructure City of Atlanta, Department of Public Works Pedestrian Safety School Improvement Project
$291,000
Priority 2.3 Increase Neighborhood Greenspace and Facilitate Improvements to Recreational Facilities City of Atlanta, Department of Parks Neighborhood Parks Improvement
$659,600
Priority 3.3 Continue the Asthma Surveillance, Education and Treatment Program Zap Asthma Consortium, Inc. CHASE Program West End Medical Centers, Inc. CHASE Program
$174,300 $175,700
Priority 3.4 Support After School / Youth To Work Programs The Study Hall at Emmaus House The Study Hall After School Program Covenant House Educational Vocational Program Raising Expectations Project D.R.E.A.M. Whitefoord Community/Meridian Family Learning and Community Development Beacon of Hope Teen Talk Youth Leadership Program Atlanta Workforce Development Agency Youth Summer Work Program Future Seekers Future Enhancement After School Programs
$8,395 $45,000 $44,968 $79,900 $79,939 $45,000 $40,075
Priority 3.5 Provide Scholarships for Students Atlanta Workforce Development Agency
$350,000
Mayor’s Scholarship Program
Priority 4.1 Implement Affordable Housing Initiative Utilizing a Land Banking Strategy Enterprise Community Loan Fund Atlanta Acquisition Pool
$3,500,000
Priority 4.5 Continue Mortgage Assistance Program [MAP] City of Atlanta Bureau of Housing Mortgage Assistance Program
$4,763,631
Priority 5.1 Butler-Auburn Corridor and Old Fourth Ward Neighborhoods Operation P.E.A.C.E. Positive Education Always Creates Elevation
$320,867
Priority 5.3 Pryor Road Corridor and Redevelopment of Southside Neighborhoods City of Atlanta, Department of Public Works Pryor Road Streetscape Atlanta Housing Authority Carver Family YMCA Upwards Connection, Inc. Atlanta Urban Gardening Program
$1,212,500 $2,250,000 $25,000
$14,657,155
Total Contracted Investment 32
Created by: J. Strickland Communications Co. Writer: Sherry D. Jackson Design: Visual Solutions Inc. Photographers: Kelly Mills Photography
King Imaging Media Services Inc.
Andisheh Nouree (The Study Hall at Emaus House)
Management entity for the Atlanta Renewal Community 34 Peachtree Street NE Suite 2360 Atlanta, GA 30303 404.522.3970 www.atlantarenewalcommunity.org