Westside Future Fund Celebrates 10 Years of Community-Centered Restoration on Atlanta’s Historic Westside

Westside Future Fund (WFF) is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of community-centered restoration efforts across Atlanta's historic Westside neighborhoods. The milestone was commemorated with "Westside Proud," a celebration bringing together more than 300 supporters, residents, and community partners to honor the collective impact achieved since the organization's founding in 2015.

Over the past decade, Westside Future Fund has advanced a "restoration, not displacement" approach to neighborhood transformation across five historic Westside neighborhoods: English Avenue, Vine City, Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center, and Just Us.

"Atlanta cannot be what it ought to be until the Westside is what it ought to be," said John Ahmann, President and CEO of Westside Future Fund. "Today, we stand with partners who understand that we're all caught in Dr. King's inescapable network of mutuality."

Since its founding, WFF has focused on four core impact strategies: mixed-income communities, cradle-to-career education, community health and wellness, and safety and security. The organization's work has been guided by the Westside Land Use Framework Plan, developed through engagement with over 1,000 residents and unanimously adopted by Atlanta City Council in 2017.

Key achievements by WFF include:

• 50% reduction in blight across the historic Westside between 2017-2023
• 45.66 acres acquired and $130.6M invested in real estate to preserve affordability and create pathways for residents to stay and thrive
• 215 affordable rental units completed with 57 more under construction, and 59 new single-family homes sold with 14 more underway
• $613,000+ in property taxes covered for legacy residents through the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund, helping families remain rooted in the community
• $1.8M in down payment assistance distributed to help first-time and legacy-connected buyers achieve homeownership
• 20,350 volunteer hours contributed by 8,527 volunteers through the WFF Volunteer Corps, reflecting the collective spirit of neighbors, businesses, and partners building together
• Ongoing investment in the Booker T. Washington cluster schools supporting teacher development, classroom innovation, and student programming while connecting corporate and community partners to volunteer opportunities

Central to WFF's progress over the past decade has been the strength of public-private partnerships, bringing together corporate leaders, philanthropic organizations, and government partners with legacy residents to advance a shared vision for the historic Westside. This coalition of support has enabled WFF to create deeply affordable housing, preserve community stability, and invest in the long-term health of the neighborhoods.

"The story of Westside Future Fund is the story of Atlanta coming together with a shared commitment to equity and restoration," said T. Dallas Smith, Board Chair and Westside native. "This community raised me, and we're here to restore its story, building on what was always good here."

WFF's approach has been distinguished by its commitment to community engagement, including through monthly Transform Westside Summits which have convened more than 200 gatherings with over 35,000 attendees since 2015 to ensure resident voices remain central to the organization's work.

The "Westside Proud" celebration, held with presenting sponsorship from Chick-fil-A and legacy sponsorship from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, brought together the coalition of supporters who have made the organization's impact possible over the past decade. Their sponsorship was joined by: Georgia Power, The Coca-Cola Company, AT&T, Taft/Morris Manning, Cox Enterprises, Cadence Bank, The Home Depot, PNC Bank, Ameris Bank, Kilpatrick, The Same House, Truist, Progress Residential, and Fifth Third Bank.

In total, more than $700,000 was raised through corporate and individual sponsorships. Event proceeds support Westside Future Fund's continued work to restore the historic Westside into a community Dr. King would be proud to call home.

"Westside Proud reflects the spirit of restoration," said Ahmann. "It's a declaration of belonging - for those who've stayed, returned, or just arrived. It's the pride in legacy and the future we're building together."

As WFF enters its second decade, the organization is continuing in its $55 million capital campaign to accelerate its housing development goals. The "Our Next Chapter" campaign calls for 285 new multifamily units, with 185 available to residents at 60% AMI or less; 225 single-family homes for mortgage-ready buyers with community ties; and continued expansion of the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund.