After rocky journey, Atlanta executes two-year PAD contract
Months of unpaid work, a secret procurement process, “philosophical differences” and a brief suspension of services ended Jan. 6 when Atlanta executed a two-year, $5 million contract for community response agency the Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative, or PAD. It’s been a lengthy, troubled process for the long-standing diversion program due to multiple contract issues with existing and future contracts. But with the official contract execution, the organization can commit to at least six more years of its work.
Fulton County cuts arts and culture budget in half
Fulton County’s arts budget was cut by 56% on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Those same programs receiving roughly $3 million in prior years. “Unfortunately, we’d probably have to scale back. And I pray that we’ll be able to find continuous sources of revenue,” said Alex Acosta, founder of Soul Food Cypher, a non-profit that promotes free-style rap to bring the community together. Acosta last week urged the commission to maintain its funding for arts programs. “We’re keeping the culture alive in the city of Atlanta,” Acosta said in an interview with Atlanta News First on Tuesday. “We lose our flavor, we lose our funk, we lose our soul if we do not invest in the arts,” Acosta said.
The Art of Doing Good: Theater director Heidi Howard prepares teens for life
7 Stages founders Del Hamilton and Faye Allen were interested in further developing Youth Creates, the theater’s youth programming. After hearing how Howard’s experience as a teen was transformative, they put their newest contract employee to the task. Kids who enroll in Youth Creates might end up doing — and loving — something unexpected. Howard points out that students will often think they want to be actors, then find themselves excelling at things like lighting design. For five weeks, teens in the program are able to explore every avenue of a production through various workshops, from marketing to building sets with power tools. Then they apply their new skills to staging the show.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights opens virtual learning portal
In November, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights unveiled its “Learning Portal,” an innovative digital platform that highlights important stories about civil and human rights, while providing open access for teachers to explore key moments and topics in American history. The portal will provide teachers with access to photography, video and artifacts to create lesson plans. Savitt said the portal was beta tested for about nine months with the help of teachers, who vetted all of the data and documents.
Atlanta's diversion center promises to help and not punish people in crisis. Here's how it will work
The City of Atlanta's new 24/7 Diversion Center in the Atlanta City Detention Center building is now open! Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD)and Georgia Justice Project will be available on site to connect individuals to long-term services, like case management and warrant resolution.
Grady Health System President and CEO John Haupert said about 14% of individuals in the emergency psychiatric unit are also brought in by police, demonstrating how these are “health care issues, not criminal issues.”
What it takes to lead a nonprofit for 20 years!
In this interview on the Planting Seeds podcast, Kimberly Parker, Executive Director of Central Outreach and Advocacy Center, speaks with host Jeff Hillmire about her journey into a leadership role, imposter syndrome, ways to avoid burnout, and the importance of advocacy for people experiencing homelessness.
Helping Atlantans Buy a Home
On 11Alive News’ Atl&Co, Atlanta Land Trust highlights their ongoing work in helping Atlantans buy a permanently affordable home and find stability in the community of their choice.
Five Atlanta arts figures worth watching
Atlanta magazine has named five stars to in music, theater, and more that are influencing Atlanta and Alex Acosta, founder of Soul Food Cypher is among the five named. Founded in 2012, Initially intending to help children labeled “at risk” through photojournalism classes, Acosta noticed that they best expressed themselves outside of class, in “cyphers”—collaborative circles of rap, hip-hop, and freestyle meant to uplift participants and tell their stories. In October, Soul Food Cypher will bring back the ATL Park Jam, an event with the BeltLine to highlight the vibrant role hip-hop has played in the city’s culture.
‘Carrot versus stick’: Could developers be enticed to maintain affordable housing?
As North Carolina grapples with a growing affordable housing shortfall, a federal lawmaker is hoping new “carrot” incentives could entice developers to preserve the state’s current stock for longer. The Keep Housing Affordable Act, recently introduced by U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-Cary), would extend an optional affordability period for low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) projects up to 50 years.
Yolanda C. Winstead is president of DHIC Inc., a Triangle affordable housing developer. It’s behind projects like Broadstone Walk, a new 164-unit affordable housing complex along South Hughes Street in Apex. She welcomed the new legislation. “We need as many tools as possible,” she told The N&O in an email. “If passed, DHIC would look into this incentive on a case-by-case basis.” But she also remained realistic. “There is no single solution to the housing crisis.”
Atlanta Film Society executive director Christopher Escobar revives historic theaters
In 2010, the Atlanta Film Society was at risk of folding. Christopher Escobar volunteered to join the board. Soon, he became executive director.
Sending Unarmed Responders Instead of Police: What We’ve Learned
This analysis from The Marshall Project, examines the impact of the 100+ response teams nationwide, featuring input Atlanta’s Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD). Many people remain leery of dialing 911 in a crisis, especially when there’s no guarantee that someone will get an alternative responder instead of police. Instead of being dispatched through 911, PAD has opted to use a non-emergency line, 311. “People may have hesitancy about calling 911 because it might result in a police dispatch that they don’t want,” said Moki Macias, executive director of PAD.
Second Helpings Atlanta has appointed a new Board of Director member, Ben Halpern, executive vice president of Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors.
Ben Halpern commented, “I am so honored to be asked to join Second Helpings Atlanta, who is now celebrating their 20th year of service, providing free groceries, produce and meals to those experiencing food insecurity. Their mission is to eliminate hunger and food waste in metro Atlanta by rescuing surplus food and delivering it to those in need. That resonates deeply with Farmers & Fishermen’s dedication to the community at-large who are food-challenged.”
Protecting homeownership for Atlantans as the city grows
Amanda Rhein, Executive Director of the Atlanta Land Trust, penned an Op Ed piece in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on how Atlanta can remain an inclusive city that welcomes newcomers while protecting legacy residents. Rhein writes, “Atlanta is the best version of itself when we can open the door to newcomers while ensuring that those who are already here don’t have it slammed in their faces.” She goes on to share how the work Atlanta Land Trust is undertaking can keep housing permanently affordable and ensure “a livable, equitable and economically viable city where historically marginalized populations and communities of color can access and benefit from opportunities and prosper.”
Amanda Rhein, Executive Director of The Atlanta Land Trust, penned an Op Ed piece in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on how Atlanta can remain an inclusive city that welcomes newcomers while protecting legacy residents. Rhein writes, “Atlanta is the best version of itself when we can open the door to newcomers while ensuring that those who are already here don’t have it slammed in their faces.” She goes on to share how the work Atlanta Land Trust is undertaking can keep housing permanently affordable and ensure “a livable, equitable and economically viable city where historically marginalized populations and communities of color can access and benefit from opportunities and prosper.”
Tamira Benitez Wants to Help DC’s Grassroots Leaders Heal
Two years into her tenure, Tamira Benitez—Executive Director of Diverse City Fund, is leaning into healing support for on-the-ground organizers. Since taking leadership in spring of last year, she has bolstered the fund’s participatory grantmaking model, which puts organizers of color in the decision-making seat. She has also leaned into the fund’s longtime commitment to providing wellness and healing support for the frontline organizers who make up the bulk of the fund’s grantees.
Two years into her tenure, Tamira Benitez—Executive Director of Diverse City Fund, is leaning into healing support for on-the-ground organizers.
Impact100 Twin Cities Distributes First Grant Round
The new women's grant making group earmarked $100,000 to help the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center scale its Women’s Wealth and Equity Building Initiative.
Development on Auburn Avenue aims to revitalize historic neighborhood
HDDC’s The Front Porch on Auburn is a $37 million project that will bring affordable housing and new retail. HDDC is targeting graduate students and those in the entertainment and hospitality industries. Rents will be set for people making 80% of the area median income — or $60,200 a year for individuals and $86,000 for a family of four. Lease terms will range from three months to 18 months and Joseph estimates the average rent will range from $1,200 to $1,400, including utilities.
‘Truly affordable’ project comes to market in Southwest ATL
The Atlanta Land Trust’s 36-unit community of for-sale townhomes known as, Avenue at Oakland City, is located off Murphy Ave and only four blocks from the BeltLine’s Westside Trail. All townhomes are being reserved for buyers earning at or below 100% of the area median income. Buyers can also qualify for down payment assistance funds through Invest Atlanta, Atlanta Housing, and Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership.
Denied: Alabama's broken parole system
Redemption Earned, led by its Executive Director, former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, helped secure the release of Robert George. Mr. George, who is 85 and in failing health, has served 31 years in prison for manslaughter. The state fought his release despite the victim's mother's plea for clemency.
Cobb Co. Organization Expands Program To Help Serve Growing Homeless Population
Open Doors and The Center for Family Resources were recently featured on Atlanta News First (ANF). Their client Ravin O’Bannon talks with ANF's Asia Wilson about how she overcame homelessness through a new suburban initiative to help families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
New Homes in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward
The Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC) and Mercy Housing Southeast are proud to be part of an important partnership to redevelop a 1950s-era apartment complex in the historic Old Fourth Ward, one of Atlanta’s fastest gentrifying neighborhoods where increasing property values risk forcing long-time residents out of their homes. Built in 1951, the existing 58 uninsulated cinderblock apartments will be replaced with 76 newly constructed, energy-efficient apartment homes in a mixed-use development that will also include a grocery store or other retail to the property.