Historic Westside News

Feeling the Love at Hollis – An Interview with Dr. Diamond Jack

February 14, 2017February 14, 2017 adminBethune Elementary, Community, Education, Hollis Inovation Academy, STEM, Youth0 comment

By Sigele Winbush Sigele Winbush is an Atlanta native and true believer in the power of connected communities. She serves the Westside through her work with the Westside Future Fund, supporting the organization’s PR and communications efforts. While the doors of Hollis Innovation Academy have only officially been open for less than eight months, the results would suggest otherwise as students at the Westside’s newest K-8 public school are thriving and seem right at home. The STEM-focused Academy is one of the first of its kind in the state –…

Education Youth

The Wren’s Nest Helps Groom Young Authors

February 14, 2017February 14, 2017 adminCommunity, neighborhood, West End, Wren's Nest, Youth, Youth Program0 comment

Author Byline: Kalin Thomas is Program Director of the Wren’s Nest and an active resident of Historic West End. Kalin studied Broadcast Journalism at Howard University and she is a former on-air reporter and producer for CNN. The Wren’s Nest, Atlanta’s oldest house museum, is helping to groom young authors in our community. The museum’s Scribes writing program is sponsoring students at Brown Middle School and KIPP STRIVE Academy. The 12-week program pairs the middle school students with writing professionals and semi-professionals, who help them learn how to…

National Politics Politics Youth

Education Secretary Confirmation Hearing for Betsy DeVos

January 31, 2017February 14, 2017 adminBetsy Devos, Community, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Politics, Senate Confirmation, Senate Health0 comment

Via C-SPAN January 17, 2017 Betsy DeVos testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on her nomination for secretary of education in the Trump administration. ]She answered questions on a wide range of issues, including the nation’s public education system, charter schools, school choice and vouchers, post-secondary education, student loan debt, special education programs and funding, and her financial holdings and potential conflicts on interest. Ms. DeVos was introduced by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and former Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT). Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) limited the…

Ashview Heights Community

Ashview Heights Community Call to Action

January 31, 2017February 14, 2017 adminCommunity, Community Association, neighborhood0 comment

What would you like to see for Ashview Heights in 2017? Kids playing in the front yard, adults hanging out on the front porches and dogs running freely in their own park…… ALL of that is possible in Ashview Heights when there’s a sense of community. It starts with a simple “Hello” as you pass by or an invitation to a neighbor to walk along with you or a stop to chat or becoming a member of the Ashview Heights Community Association and by attend our monthly meetings. Membership is…

Entertainment

The Last Mile: Westview Drive

January 29, 2017February 14, 2017 adminart and entertainment, literautre, Poetry0 comment

Author: Brent Brewer Whose route this is I think I know Though we’re always busy and on the go For that long last mile before we get home We’ll soon slow down the traffic flow. Folks kept alive by affordable care Taking their pills with their daily three squares They struggle with chronic “black” diseases While driving that last mile before they sleep. The car commuters think it queer To hear bold bikers shift their gears, Zipping downtown in under thirty minutes And cycling the last mile before they sleep.…

Business & Finance

You Can Buy a House for $350

January 9, 2017February 14, 2017 admindown payment assistance, financing, home ownership0 comment

By Jesse Phillips Jesse has lived in English Ave for 4 years. He got married and bought a house last year. He owns a business selling calendars at NeuYear.net. Right now is a GREAT time to stop renting and buy a house! When you rent a home you give your hard earned money away to someone who can kick you out anytime and usually doesn’t take care of the place. The benefits of buying are huge: 1) There is up to $80,000 available as down payment asisstance if you buy…

Culture

10 Points Poem

January 9, 2017February 14, 2017 adminCulture0 comment

50 years ago Bobby and Huey met somewhere ‘round Oakland. Today I find myself writing for my community wanting to say the things we need to hear, but can’t get around the echo of these Panthers who said it first: We Want Freedom. We Want Power To Determine The Destiny Of Our Black Community. We Want Full Employment For Our People. We Want An End To The Robbery By The Capitalists Of Our Black Community. We Want Decent Housing Fit For The Shelter Of Human Beings. We Want Education For Our…

Community Community Organizations

Top-to-Bottom, Bottom-Up or … Bottom-to-Bottom for change?

January 9, 2017February 14, 2017 admincommunity organization, Historic Westside Gardens, urban gardens0 comment

Gil Frank, Historic Westside Gardens neighbor “Yes we can do head counts but we have only little knowledge if people’s lives have changed. We have ‘metrics mania and impact mania’” -The head of evaluation at a major National Foundation We are familiar with the lingo of ‘top-to-bottom’, ‘from-the-ground-up’ or ’bottom-up’ as used to define how community change is produced (or is not). It is widely accepted that community change from top-to-bottom is the least effective and many players will say that they don’t believe in it. So I will not…

Uncategorized

Gentrification-Displacement- Transformation – Opportunity

January 9, 2017February 14, 2017 admin0 comment

gen·tri·fi·ca·tion ˌjentrəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/ noun noun: gentrification; plural noun: gentrifications the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste. “an area undergoing rapid gentrification” the process of making a person or activity more refined or polite. “soccer has undergone gentrification” Gentrification of urban American cities is a complex phenomenon with social, political and economic implications. It represents a double edged sword with both opportunities and challenges. The infusion of higher income individuals into urban centers generates increased renewal investments in blighted communities and…

Youth

STEAMsport, Inc. First Lego League Robotics Tournament

January 9, 2017February 14, 2017 admin0 comment

December 10, 2016 What if I told you that over 40 youth from the Westside Communities representing M. Agnes Jones Elementary, Brown Middle School and Hollis Innovation Academy competed in a tournament where they displayed their skill, hard work and dedication to their craft? What if I also told you that Westside Communities residents and stakeholders including Atlanta Public Schools, The Atlanta Housing Authority, University Choice Neighborhood, Atlanta University Center Neighborhood Association and private residents would come out on an early Saturday morning to welcome and support students during…