Four months ago, this year’s Start:ME Southside cohort walked into the program carrying bold ideas, ambitious dreams, and a commitment to their communities. On graduation

Reflections on Co-Governance, Trust, and Community Transformation By Marvin Nesbitt,President of Focused Community Strategies A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend Purpose

What happens when you bring together local food, music, small businesses, community partners, and people passionate about South Atlanta? A joyful celebration of community and

If we had to sum up last year in one word, it would be together. Together, we revitalized properties and built new affordable homes. Together,

Insights on my time with Atlanta’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative Commission The Maasai, an ethnic group along the Nile River, have a greeting they share: “How

Lasting neighborhood transformation begins with people, not programs.  It starts with listening, learning, and walking alongside neighbors to understand what is already strong and where

What does it take to turn an idea into a thriving business—and a neighborhood into a place of opportunity? Programs like Start:ME, in partnership with

On March 4, 2026, FCS, alongside Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Councilman Jason Winston, Dr. Eloisa Klementich, community leaders, partners, and longtime neighbors, celebrated the groundbreaking

The 2026 Southside cohort of Start:ME is officially underway, marking FCS’s ninth year of investing in local entrepreneurs. In partnership with Emory University’s Goizueta Business

Thriving neighborhoods don’t happen by accident. They’re built through opportunity, local businesses, and pathways to long-term stability. In Historic South Atlanta and Thomasville Heights, that

Since 2019, FCS and neighbors in Historic South Atlanta have dreamed about what this corner could become. Now, that dream is moving forward! We are

In 1997, Leroy and Donna Barber followed a calling and moved their family from their hometown of Philadelphia to Atlanta to join FCS. They had

We recently celebrated one of FCS’s most meaningful milestones of 2025: the launch of our first-ever Early Learning Space, welcoming 16 young learners into a

As the calendar flips toward 2026, we’re celebrating a year that repeatedly proved one thing: real transformation happens together.  At FCS, 2025 wasn’t defined by

If Breakfast on the Block reminded us of anything, it’s this: true community transformation is never a solo effort. It takes partners willing to “combo

Breakfast on the Block is our annual celebration of community, collaboration, and the impact we achieve when we work together.  This year’s theme, “Stronger Together: