Casey Foundation Civic Site: Atlanta
Our research shows that many of the most vulnerable children and families in Atlanta are concentrated in six of the city's oldest neighborhoods located just south of downtown. Since 2000, we have been working with a wide array of community partners to promote neighborhood-scale programs, policies, and activities that contribute to strong, family supporting neighborhoods. Residents and community-based organizations are mobilizing to establish community development corporations, job training programs, and new community centers. They are seeking to improve the local schools, playgrounds, and parks; to reclaim vacant land; to build new housing; and to attract new investments. Their efforts include reinvigorating spiritual and cultural institutions and strengthening the sense of community. Residents are working to make sure their children are prepared to enter school and ready to learn.
Casey believes the negative conditions surrounding these neighborhoods can be positively changed through a set of comprehensive, community-based strategies. Working with a diverse array of residents, community organizations, civic groups, foundations and governmental officials, we are supporting:
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School readiness activities for infants and toddlers to prepare them for school
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Student enrichment activities, aligned curricula and increased parent participation for school families to ensure that youth succeed in school, graduate from high school and go on to college and good-paying jobs
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Job readiness and career coaching to help residents secure employment with career advancement and wealth-building opportunities, including homeownership
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Community building to increase social networking and resident leadership
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Affordable housing and retail opportunities allowing families to remain in the neighborhood and thrive
Over the past three years, the Foundation's Atlanta team, with other partners, has spent considerable time successfully developing and launching The Center for Working Families, Inc. The Center provides coaching, job training, financial services, and wrap around supports to help residents secure employment, advance in their jobs, and build assets through savings and homeownership. Casey is also supporting a major school readiness initiative targeting early childhood learning programs and informal child caregivers. Part of this effort is focusing on working with local schools and child care centers to ensure a smooth and successful transition for children as they move into kindergarten classrooms and, later, as they move into middle to high schools.
To help advance these diverse and ambitious goals, Casey is working closely with a set of critical partners, including the Atlanta-based Pittsburgh Community Improvement Association, Salvation Army College of Officer Training, Gideons Elementary School, Parks Middle School, The Center for Working Families, Inc., and local funders. Recognizing the importance of data in empowering residents and community based organizations and influencing policy, we are working with Emory University, Georgia State University and other institutional and data partners to launch the Atlanta Neighborhood Indicators Project. We also are continuing our ongoing investment in Voices for Georgia's Children to help influence policy design, investment decisions, and service delivery in the Atlanta area.
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