Westside Communities Alliance

A partnership between Atlanta's westside communities and institutions of higher education.

“How Can Colleges and Universities Engage in Community Development: A Communities Perspective.”

by

You’re invited to attend the first Westside Communities Alliance (WCA) Discussion Forum entitled “How Can Colleges and Universities Engage in Community Development: A Communities Perspective.” 

Event Flyer: WCA_Panel_Nov15

The forum will take place Friday afternoon, November 15th, 3:00-5:00pm at 590 North Avenue NW, Atlanta, 30318. We are pleased to have Dr. Harley Etienne, one of the founders of the Westside Communities Alliance and author of Pushing Back the Gates: Neighborhood Perspectives on University-Driven Revitalization in West Philadelphia moderating the discussion.

The City of Atlanta has prioritized the development of the Westside through a commitment to support the new Atlanta Falconʼs stadium, advances with the BeltLineʼs Westside Trail, and more. There are at least seven colleges and universities located in West Atlanta, and more than half of all Atlanta college students are educated on the Westside. We believe hearing Westside community voices and understanding resident perspectives is essential for lasting community transformation. Through this forum the WCA seeks to provide a platform for community organizations and active residents to share concerns, interests, and wishes for responsible partnerships with Atlantaʼs area colleges and universities. Together, we believe, we can bring about community transformation that has lasting benefits across all Westside communities.

The WCA provides a mechanism for sustained partnerships with city officials, relevant funders, higher education institutions and community stakeholders. Together, we can develop comprehensive solutions for complex community challenges. Together, we can rebuild thriving urban neighborhoods on Atlantaʼs westside. Together, we can do better.

Tackling Vacancy in Atlanta: A Starting Point

by

In early September, Sheri Davis-Faulkner, of the WCA, participated in the Center for Community Progress’s Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference in Philadelphia, PA with the support of the Ford Foundation.  The conference offered best practices and tools for assessing vacant properties and blight in communities across America that have been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis.  There were sessions about addressing blight through community land trusts and land banks, community programs to maintain vacant properties, data collection tools for quantitative and qualitative assessments of vacant properties, and more.  There were representatives from City of Atlanta Planning Office and Code Enforcement, Fulton County Land Bank, HELP.org, Occupy Our Homes, Rights to Da City, and the Westside Communities Alliance.

Learn more about the 2013 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference: http://www.communityprogress.net/2013-reclaiming-vacant-properties-conference-pages-356.php

 

The WCA held a follow up meeting with the two community organizations from Washington Park and English Ave./Vine City interested in community land trusts to discuss ways that we might be supportive with their assessment.  We are continuing to explore community land trust models with our partners and invite graduate students and faculty to share their expertise in this area. Learn more about

 

A month later, Davis-Faulkner and fellow WCA staff member Mackenzie Madden, attended the Piece by Piece Neighborhood Investment Conference in Atlanta. The half-day event convened institutional investors, regional government leaders, affordable housing stakeholders and others for a collaborative discussion about recent real estate investment trends and strategies to ensure long-term health and viability of metro Atlanta neighborhoods. It was broken up into five panels:

–        Understanding the Issues and Context

–        The Role of Private Equity Investors

–        Learning from Phoenix, AZ

–        The Role of Code Enforcement

–        Vision for the Future of Atlanta Neighborhoods

Some interesting facts they picked up were:

–        52% of Metro Atlanta resale homes were purchased by investors.

–        Most PEIs (private equity investors) deferred the definition of “affordability” to a consultant underwriting service.

–        Public/private partnerships are successful in making a neighborhood look more attractive to investors.

–        There are currently 3,100 active/open cases in Atlanta for Code Enforcement.

    • 800 of those have been forwarded to In Rem
    • 25 cases are vacant/dilapidated

–        The biggest challenge in Code Enforcement is locating absentee landlords – almost $50,000 a month is spent on this.

–        It costs the City upwards of $25,000 to demolish a property.

–        The second biggest challenge is the state law and available resources.

–        2,020 properties are currently on the Vacant Property Registration.

Find links to all of the presentations (slides and audio) here: http://www.piecebypieceatlanta.org/nic/index.html

#AMarchForEducation

by

On Saturday, October 5th, Region 3 NSBE students from universities across the Southeast as well as students, faculty, and parents from local schools marched from Centennial Olympic Park to Georgia Tech’s campus.

Marchees descend Tech Walkway

Following the march, which was well-received, apparent by the resounding car honks the group garnered, was a series of speakers at the Georgia Tech Kessler Campanile amphitheater. First up, were two Kindezi School students Carlos Williams and Nubia Udoh, that won a speech-writing competition inspired by civil and human rights activist Ella Baker. Next, was the the National Society of Black Engineers Atlanta Chapter Pre-College Initiative Chair Raymond Alan who spoke about the hurdles to becoming a black engineering student and why it’s important to stick with it. Finally, Reverand Dr. Gerald Durley recalled his time as an activist in the  Civil Rights Movement alongside Dr. Martin Luther King and gave a moving talk about overcoming labels.

Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley addressing march attendees

The Georgia Tech Walkway was host to a tabling event with information on getting into college, testing, and other education-related organizations.

View the Facebook album here.

Rise Up Atlanta Event in Ashby Circle Playlot

by

On Tuesday morning, September 17th 2013, as a part of Rise Up Atlanta, hard-working volunteers coordinated by Park Pride showed up to revitalize Ashby Circle Playlot.

The whole volunteer crew!

Completed work includes:

  • Sanding and painting the playground
  • Removing invasive species from the perimeter of the park
  • Planting native species
  • Installing wattles to prevent soil erosion caused by stormwater run-off
  • Building birdhouses

Volunteers included:

  • Cheerleaders, players, and staff from the Atlanta Falcons;
  • Akamai Technologies staff for Danny Lewin Community Cares Day
  • Staff from YP

The next Rise Up Atlanta event in the Westside will be held on Tuesday, October 29th in Washington Park. Find more information here: http://www.handsonatlanta.org/HOC__Volunteer_Opportunity_Details_Page?id=a0CA000000ReePFMAZ

Mulching and sanding/painting the playground!

Read the story from the Atlanta Falcons.

See more pictures in our album and in Park Pride’s album.

Organizers of Ashby Rise-Up
From left:
Kendyl Moss, Vice President of Community Relations for Atlanta Falcons
Christi Jackson, Executive Director of The Conservancy at Historic Washington Park
Gwen Mason, Associate Director of Training Operations at YP
Gloria Smith, Resident of Washington Park
John Ahern, Volunteer Manager with Park Pride

WCA Staff at Proctor Creek HIA Workshop

by

Source: WAWA

WCA staff members Sheri Davis-Faulkner and Mackenzie Madden attended the Health Impact Assessment Workshop on May 23rd at the U.S. EPA Region 4 Headquarters downtown that focused on green infrastructure in the Proctor Creek communities. An HIA is a tool used to objectively evaluate potential positive and negative health impacts of a policy or project before it is implemented and provide recommendations to minimize adverse health impacts and maximize beneficial impacts. The goal of conducting such an assessment is to ensure that health and equity are considered in the decision-making process and that impacted communities are engaged. Please see the Health Pathways link below for more information.

The workshop was facilitated by representatives from Georgia Health Policy Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Environmental Protection Agency. We were joined by community members Yvonne Jones, Tony Torrence, and Shaheed Dubois among others. In addition to learning about the Health Impact Assessment process, we learned about the Boone Boulevard Street Project. This project has been chosen by the City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management to address some of the community’s flooding concerns and will be implemented in collaboration with planned road diet improvements. The proposal includes a combination of planter boxes, permeable pavements, bioretention areas, and planting strips. Please see the HIA Proctor Creek link below for more information.

The Advisory Committee (37 members) will hold their next meeting will be held on July 23, 2013 from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm. The next Community Engagement meeting will be held at a date TBD.

For more information, please contact Tami Thomas-Burton at (404) 562-8027 or at Thomas-burton.tami@epa.gov.

 

HIA Proctor Creek Health Pathways

HIA Proctor Creek