Westside Future Fund

Last month, community members and business leaders gathered at the June Transform Westside Summit to hear from local experts on the interconnection between housing stability and overall health outcomes. The Summit themed “Housing is Health" featured insightful discussions from key representatives of Kaiser Permanente, including Stefanie Hurst, Senior Director of Community Health, and Dr. Sylvia Morris, MD, MPH, Hospitalist and Area Physician Market Lead. Catch up with a quick recap or watch the full Summit on our Stories of Impact blog at https://lnkd.in/eWPv636z

As we commemorate National Homeownership Month, Westside Future Fund takes pride in celebrating the strides we’ve made in transforming lives and communities through our Home on the Westside program. Last year, we celebrated significant milestones that underscore our commitment to providing high-quality housing and financial stability to residents with deep ties to the historic Westside neighborhoods. Learn more about how we are transforming the Westside one home at a time at https://lnkd.in/eD9rtXtD #NationalHomeownershipMonth #WeAreTheWestside #OurNextChapter

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is proud to celebrate another member of our community finding a home on the Westside. Last month, Dr. Alix Pierre purchased a home in the English Avenue neighborhood. As a professor at Spelman College, Dr. Pierre meets WFF’s community retention guidelines for its signature high-quality, affordable housing program, Home on the Westside. HOTW prioritizes housing for those with live, work, and learn connections to the historic Westside. Dr. Pierre is a senior lecturer and resident scholar with Spelman’s Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator. He first learned about HOTW’s homeownership program for mortgage-ready buyers during a 2023 information session hosted by WFF’s HOTW team on the college’s campus. He looked forward to purchasing a home in the historic Westside to be closer to the academic institution. Learn more about Dr. Pierre and his journey to finding his Home on the Westside at https://lnkd.in/eHFxiWN2

We're grateful to CHRIS 180 for its continued work in providing key mental health and family services for the residents of Atlanta's Westside. Stable housing is key to quality of life, and we appreciate your work as an incredible community partner. Thank you to our Director of Home on the Westside, Tameka L. Askew, MSW,CLC, for sharing about your work leading our signature high-quality, affordable housing program, Home On The Westside. A special thank you to all of the participants of this week's advisory council panel!

One of the biggest barriers to equity is access to transportation. For many legacy residents on the Westside, owning a vehicle isn’t an option, and frequent ridesharing can be too costly. That’s why Auna Tyson started Strive Transit, a hyper-local, micro-transit shuttle service company for eight Westside neighborhoods seven days a week. In 2020, Strive Transit was the recipient of one of Westside Future Fund's Program Related Investments (PRIs). PRIs are low-cost loans made with favorable terms to support the growth of minority enterprises. WFF provided these PRIs to small, minority-owned businesses that are based in or serve Atlanta’s historic Westside. Unlike traditional banking institutions, PRIs offer a viable solution to organizations that are gaining traction and doing important work within the community. According to Auna, “The PRI funding has opened doors we had no idea would be possible. We’ve secured contracts and additional vehicles to expand our business. We’re now in the room with other Westside businesses who utilize our services for some of their events and other ventures.” Learn more about Auna, Strive Transit, and WFF PRIs on our Stories of Impact blog at https://lnkd.in/e7Akk2xu

The June Transform Westside Summit featured yet another insightful discussion you won't want to miss. This morning, we had the opportunity to hear from health experts Stefanie Hurst, senior director of community health, and Sylvia Morris, MD, MPH, hospitalist and area physician market lead, from Kaiser Permanente on the intersection of housing and health. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important conversation. If you couldn't make it, don't worry! You can still watch the full Summit on our YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gUhEdVAf

Join us tomorrow, June 21 at the Transform Westside Summit – a monthly event to convene the community for networking and informative conversations about and for the Westside. This month we will hear from Kaiser Permanente community health experts Stefanie Hurst, senior director of community health, and Dr. Sylvia Morris, MD, MPH, hospitalist and area physician market lead, on the intersection of housing and health. As always, this event is free and open to the public – we hope you will join us. Register now: https://lnkd.in/g-NUJJN2

As we commemorate Juneteenth, we honor a pivotal moment in American history - the end of slavery in the United States. This day of liberation is not only a celebration of freedom but also a reminder of the ongoing journey toward equality and justice for all. At Westside Future Fund, our vision for the historic Westside is a community Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would be proud to call home. Living in historic Vine City, I am deeply inspired by his legacy and the civil rights movement, which took root right here in Atlanta. Once the supply capital of the Confederacy, our city has transformed into the cradle of civil rights, nurturing leaders who have championed justice and equality. Juneteenth underscores the significance of our work in the historic Westside neighborhoods, where Dr. King lived, learned, and preached, alongside many others. We are dedicated to restoring these communities through initiatives that promote affordable housing, economic mobility, education, and community health. Our efforts aim to ensure that the Westside becomes a vibrant, equitable community where all residents can thrive. Today, as we reflect on the progress made and the challenges that remain, let us draw strength from our history and renew our commitment to building a brighter, more just future for all. #Juneteenth #FreedomDay #CivilRights

On this day 159 years ago, the last enslaved people in the United States were informed of their freedom, marking a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. Today, we commemorate Juneteenth, honoring the strength, resilience, and enduring spirit of the African American community. As we reflect, we recognize the ongoing journey toward true freedom and equality. This historic day serves as an inspiration for our efforts at Westside Future Fund and a reminder of both the progress we have made and the work that lies ahead. By addressing systemic barriers and investing in community-led initiatives, we aim to create a future where the promises of freedom and opportunity are fully realized for everyone in our community. Today, we reaffirm our dedication to building an equitable and inclusive Westside. Let us use this day to educate, reflect, and take action. Together, we can continue to drive positive change and honor the true spirit of Juneteenth. #Juneteenth #FreedomDay #WeAreTheWestside #OurNextChapter

Revitalizing the Westside, one block at a time. A huge thanks to the helping hands of the WFF Volunteer Corps who joined us this past weekend at our June Community Clean Up. Their hard work had a transformational impact, completely clearing blighted lots and removing hundreds of pounds of waste. Interested in volunteering? View upcoming opportunities to get involved at https://lnkd.in/gd3ausT