TransFormation Alliance Awards $50,000 in Grants to Seven Community Organizations in Southwest Atlanta? ? ? ? ? ? ?

?Grassroots Grantmaking? program targets nonprofits that improve quality of life

ATLANTA?? Aug 13, 2019

The TransFormation Alliance (TFA) today announced that seven organizations in southwest Atlanta have been awarded $50,000 in grants, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.

TFA?s Grassroots Grantmaking program provides resources to organizations that are working to improve quality of life in southwest Atlanta?s Lee Street corridor, from Fort McPherson to the Atlanta University Center.

?The TransFormation Alliance works to support our communities from the ground up,? said TFA Managing Director Odetta MacLeish-White. ?We?re excited to support these organizations, which are working hard to serve their neighbors and communities.?

The grant recipients were selected from 32 requests submitted through a competitive application process.

The TransFormation Alliance (TFA) is a partnership of more than 30 government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits that share a vision of changing how transit and community development investments shape the built environment and offer access to opportunity for all.

Grant funding comes from the?Strong, Prosperous, and Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC)which provides operating support, technical assistance, and a learning network to propel innovative local groups to execute on their visions for creating more equitable, prosperous, and resilient regions.

TFA member and Community Organizing Champion, Georgia STAND-UP, manages the local grant process and awards. Georgia STAND UP is a ?think and act tank? for working communities focused on organizing and educating communities to impact public policies affecting them, especially around sustainable growth, economic inclusion, transit development and community benefits.

?It?s a rewarding experience to be part of this strong community of leaders doing such great work despite limited resources,? said Georgia STAND-UP Project Manager Amari Foster. ?Reading the proposals and surveys has deepened my appreciation for the resilience and the creativity of the communities in the West End, Oakland City and Atlanta University Center.?

The following organizations are the 2019 grantees:

The Come Up Project

Gangstas to Growers, powered by The Come Up Project, provides holistic personal development training and immersive mentorship from local farmers and other community professionals to teach disenfranchised and formerly incarcerated youth the ins-and-outs of the farm-to-table supply chain. Trainees are paid a living wage while they learn transferrable skills and are integrated into networks of community members who are invested in their growth and development.

The South West Atlanta Growers Cooperative (SWAG Co-op)

SWAG Coop is supporting two farmers in this grant proposal: West End Urban Gardens newest growing location in Mozley Park and Patchwork City Farms located in Oakland City. SWAG will be using the grant to fund infrastructure for farm operations and community engagement and seed fund for labor to implement programming.

Insight Cultural Tourism

Through the Southwest Atlanta cultural tourism initiative, Insight will develop, promote and manage tours, festivals, art exhibits and lectures in Southwest Atlanta.

HouseProud Atlanta

HouseProud coordinates home improvements for legacy residents in rapidly gentrifying areas. Skilled workers donate their time for roofing, plumbing, electrical, and other repairs to homeowners in need.

Housing Justice League

Launching the Tenant Organizing Leadership Program in an effort to build and strengthen tenant associations across the city. Participants will learn how to build/strengthen their tenant association in an effort to strengthen a city-wide housing justice movement.

HABESHA

The grant funds will be used to provide support for the implementation of the HABESHA Works Program. The HABESHA Works program trains and certifies minorities and low? to moderate income adults in sustainable urban agriculture.

Gilliam?s Community Garden

Gilliam?s will launch Hunger Has No Color Senior Crock Pot workshop series to address the special food needs of seniors living in the neighborhood and surrounding food desert. Each month seniors will learn how to prepare simple crock-pot meals using seasonal produce selections from a professional chef. Each workshop the participant will receive a complete meal kit on that month?s lesson.

About the TransFormation Alliance

The TransFormation Alliance is a broad partnership of organizations from the private, public and nonprofit sectors dedicated to creating thriving, mixed-income communities anchored by transit and linked to all the opportunities and amenities that make Atlanta great. Our work is underpinned by racial equity that is responsive to people within impacted communities, by incorporating arts & culture-based community engagement, and by shaping better health and climate outcomes though housing, transit and jobs access.

For more information visit?www.atltransformationalliance.org.

Contact Name:?Odetta MacLeish White
Contact Phone:?(470) 378-1519
Contact Email:?[email protected]