Ask someone to recount their favorite holiday memories, and you’ll likely elicit more than just a passive list of what they ate—the turkey, the mashed potatoes, the pie. What you’ll probably receive instead is a rich descriptive tapestry of family stories, recipes passed down through generations, gatherings of beloved friends passing plates around carefully decorated tables, the sounds of raucous laughter, and the feeling of not just full bellies but full hearts. 

Food and culture writer Michael Pollan summed up the inextricable tie between food and human connection this way: “The shared meal elevates eating from a mechanical process of fueling the body to a ritual of family and community, from the mere animal biology to an act of culture.”

We all know that what we eat isn’t just about sustenance; it’s a rite of our shared humanity. Which is why, for those stuck in a cycle of food insecurity—or the experience of not knowing where your next meal will come from—the holidays can be painfully isolating. 

“If you’re a family that wrestles with food insecurity, with poverty, you want the same things for your family that everyone else does. You want to be able to celebrate the holidays, you want toys for your kids. You want to have a meaningful meal. You want to gather with your neighbors, see your family, build moments,” said Jon West, Vice President of Programs at the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB), one of Emmaus House’s long standing partners.

“It’s not just that you’re hungry when you don’t have food. It’s what else you’re missing,” he said. “You don’t just lose the food; you lose the connecting, the opportunity for joy.”

In Georgia, 1 in 7 people struggle with hunger. That staggering statistic grows even more dire when you zoom in on the youngest and most vulnerable, as 1 in 5 children in Georgia go hungry on a regular basis. This amounts to half a million undernourished children statewide and almost 300,000 in ACFB’s coverage area, according to West.

The 2014 Hunger in America study found that more than 14 percent of people in metro Atlanta and north Georgia turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families each year.

As a centralized food distribution hub, ACFB routinely serves 29 counties in northwest Georgia, including those in the metro Atlanta area, encompassing approximately 820,000 individuals. In partnership with ACFB and a slew of generous donors, Emmaus House’s Client Choice Food Pantry itself has distributed more than 60,000 pounds of food since 2016.

Out of more than 600 partners across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia, West said, Emmaus House has consistently impressed him because of the intentional relationship-building that lies at its core. 

“What makes a program work really well is when we find a partner who has high trust in a community and is known as a place that people can turn to for assistance,” he said. “Emmaus House is a model example of what that looks like for us.”

ACFB staff arrive at Emmaus House twice a week, to make sure that individuals in the neighborhood have access to the benefits already available to them - including community clinics, Medicaid and SNAP. They also work to ensure that no client gets lost navigating the bureaucratic paperwork required to enroll in many of these services. 

The Food First Pantry Model launched at Emmaus House three years ago, with an enrollment of about 50 households. Participating families were able to return once every week if needed.

“What a lot of people wrestle with when they’re food insecure is not just the physical reality of not having enough food, but also the mental and emotional anxiety of knowing they’re going to run out – not knowing where the next thing is coming from,” West said. 

Taking the problem of “where and how can I get food” off the table, by offering a reliable resource, in other words, may free up just enough mental and emotional bandwidth for a hard-working parent to be able to then attend to just a few more of the other millions of urgent tasks their family needs that week.

Thanks to the partnership with ACFB, Emmaus House, like other partners West works with, has been able to shift its pantry model from a more traditional “prescriptive model” to a “client choice model,” in which families can visit the pantry, select what they want, and even pick up the food items they know their kids will actually eat. (Rather than having to pick up a pre-assigned bag of whatever someone behind a desk in some far-off office somewhere has determined is the bare minimum to feed a family.)

“Shifting the power within that structure gives people a different sense of themselves,” West said. 

By expanding  hours, selection, and capacity, the food pantry at Emmaus House now feels even more like a supermarket, set up strategically to instill a sense of welcome and respect, and to encourage visitors to actually want to be there.

These days, during the chilly winter months, as utility costs climb higher, West says that ACFB routinely sees families experiencing even more shortages in food as they adjust what they eat to make up the difference. 

According to the 2014 Hunger in America study, 76 percent of clients served by ACFB reported having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities and 73 percent reported choosing between paying for food and paying for medicine/medical care.

The good news is that, at the end of the first year of their revamped food pantry program at Emmaus House, West said, families that were part of that program were 18% less likely to be food insecure than the families that weren’t. 

Best of all, West added, participating families also saw a reduction in being forced to make the impossible tradeoff between other necessities and food. 

Still, there’s much progress to be made. Some of that forward movement may come simply by continuing to value and prioritize the tenets of dignity and compassion, as we envision and foster the city and community we want to be.

“We aspire to do better than just helping people survive,” West said. “Surviving isn’t thriving. The meals that our partners like Emmaus House work to provide during the holidays and at the end of the year are meeting basic needs. But they’re also providing opportunities to be connected, to be known, to provide moments of celebration for their children.” 

To learn about Emmaus House’s food pantry hours and items on the donation wish list, especially during this critical holiday period, please click here.

We’re only a couple of weeks from Christmas and many of us are caught up in the busyness and hectic pace of the season. However, for those of us who observe the liturgical calendar, this is also the season of Advent. Advent invites us to a season of reflection. Yes, we prepare for the coming of Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth. But Advent is about much more than that. It’s about hope. And not just an otherworldly hope that lies somewhere in the distant future. It’s a hope firmly grounded in the realities of today. 

At Emmaus House, this Advent hope leads us to take to heart the words of the prophet Isaiah:

The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. (NRSV, Isaiah 5. 6-8)

Admittedly, the world that we hear about on the news each day is a far cry from Isaiah’s vision of a world marked by peace and equity. It’s a far cry from the world that I see when I look out my office window in Peoplestown or greet people in our help center. In a neighborhood challenged by material poverty and racial inequity, how does Isaiah’s vision inform our work?

I choose to see in Isaiah’s words a message of hope. Hope that our efforts are not in vain, hope that God is at work in the lives of the people that we serve, hope that the arc of the universe does indeed bend toward justice. That is the Advent hope – an unwavering belief that God is at work in Peoplestown, in your town, in towns throughout the world. Hope that violence, oppression, inequity, and whatever else separates people one from the other are not the end of the story.

What hope do you find during this season of Advent? Is it the hope of a brighter, more peaceful future where suffering is no more, where all people are treated as beloved children of God regardless of the color of their skin or the size of their bank account? I invite you to join me during this season to contemplate the ways that we can make Isaiah’s vision a reality in our part of God’s world.

Emmaus House works to improve the economic and social well-being of the residents of Peoplestown and our surrounding neighborhoods.

At its last meeting, the Emmaus House Advisory Board voted to approve a new mission statement. This comes in the context of a strategic planning process that will guide our work for the next couple of years. We’ll have much more to share about the strategic plan in the new year.

Our new statement is simple and easy to remember. It affirms our commitment to what we do (improve economic and social wellbeing) and where we do it (Peoplestown and surrounding neighborhoods). We believe that economic and social wellbeing go hand in hand and include movement towards self-sufficiency and educational success.

We’ve been doing this work for 52 years and our resolve is as strong as ever to help people create better lives for themselves and their families. Through our social service programs at the Lokey Help Center and our educational programs for children and youth, we will continue to work towards this end.

Maya Angelou wrote, “The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” As the weather grows colder, the idea of home - and returning home for the holidays - looms large in many minds. 

But in Peoplestown, the heart center for Emmaus House operations since 1967, the growing displacement of familiar faces, a bi-product of a new round of rampant gentrification across Atlanta, has challenged many long-time residents’ sense of place and belonging. Many are now grappling with how they can remain rather than succumb to pressure from developers.

About five years ago, Peoplestown resident Alison Johnson, Executive Director of the Housing Justice League (HJL) and an Emmaus House chapel member, began to witness firsthand the dramatic shift in the demographic makeup of her own neighborhood. She noticed more and more affluent white people moving in, while longstanding African American and Latinx community members moved away.

“I have been really concerned about the redevelopment projects that were moving into Peoplestown, and about the high rate of turnover in our community,” she said. Johnson’s mission with HJL, she added, is to “shine the light on people leaving our community.”

The rapidly changing landscape of Atlanta’s historic neighborhoods has been well-documented in recent years. This past July, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported that the “city too busy to hate” currently ranks as the fourth most “rapidly gentrifying” city in the country. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, this placed Atlanta “behind only Washington, D.C., Seattle and Portland.”

But these kinds of stats and figures don’t quite tap into the excruciating question facing longtime Atlanta residents and city officials alike: Who stands to benefit most from these “improvements?” This question is what drives Johnson and her colleagues.

HJL’s work includes eviction defense, tenant association partnerships, and a multitude of community organizing projects. Throughout the organization’s evolution, Johnson said that HJL’s partnership with Emmaus House has “heightened my awareness of where my intentional work continues to happen.”

“Emmaus House is always the first place where action happens, especially in Peoplestown,” she said. “It’s very important that we cross-pollinate these two organizations, since we tend to serve the same population of people. To make sure that staff knew what we were about and make sure we were preserving our communities. Make sure that our schools can remain open and improve, and that we can improve our housing conditions and economic situations.”

In November, the AJC reported that Atlanta had been ranked in the “bottom third” for housing affordability in major metropolitan areas in the U.S.. This drop in affordability didn’t just affect those looking to buy property. According to a 2018 article in The Guardian, Atlanta’s “median rents are up 28% since 2000, compared with just 9% nationwide over the same timespan.” 

Johnson said that 73 percent of people living in the most rapidly gentrifying areas of Atlanta are long term renters. “The way that Atlanta has changed, [the city] has not prioritized people who are living in these legacy communities.”

As a community-led organization, HJL operates on the belief that housing is a human right. Through a variety of initiatives, Johnson and her team aim to empower renters and homeowners to self-organize and defend their right to remain — or, in other words, their right to protest against the same pattern of displacement that has been repeated over and over throughout Atlanta’s (and Peoplestown’s) history.

Part of HJL’s strategy of community empowerment entails providing resources to residents on Atlanta’s west and south sides to build up tenant associations, “to make sure that they can really represent their interests in terms of policies that are going to prevent them from being displaced.”

In 2017, HJL launched their Beltline for All initiative to create awareness and opportunities for direct action toward equitable housing policies by the city, in response to one of the greatest gentrification drivers, The Beltline. This 22-mile loop of trails and parks built upon old railroad lines across Atlanta is often regarded as ground zero for the fancy restaurants, boutiques and luxury apartment complexes that comprise the tell-tale markers of gentrification and displacement.

Although “affordability” may be a buzzword right now, Johnson said she has yet to see the city take serious steps toward helping those making less than $20,000 a year find housing that fits their budget. “Atlanta is saying they’re creating mixed-income community housing, but what they’re actually saying is, ‘We don’t trust people who are living below the poverty line to make good decisions about where they are living and their homes,’” Johnson said.

HJL has also created an eviction manual for community members--a tool available for download on the HJL website which details tenants’ rights in the eviction process, eviction defense, and ways to reduce displacement and debt caused by eviction. Johnson said she has seen high rates of “unjust evictions” in areas like Peoplestown that are under high pressure from investors.

 Johnson said her favorite part of this work is getting to engage directly in conversations with her neighbors. “I love watching the people who haven’t been a part of organizing before,” she said. “I love to see how they flourish once they understand the need of organizing and how it’s more sustainable than a one time fix-all.” 

Are you interested in plugging into HJL’s work on housing equity? Then you’re invited to attend their monthly “mass meeting,” a community gathering focused on upcoming actions and projects that occurs every third Tuesday of the month. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., but newcomers are encouraged to arrive at 6 p.m. for a quick orientation. 

Thanks to you, we raised $37,593 for Youth on the Move with our 21 for 21 campaign! We are so grateful for every donation, share, and mention over the last few weeks. Because of you, we will offer even more valuable enrichment activities, advanced tutoring, and new learning experiences to our bright neighborhood students. You are helping them to succeed in middle school, high school, and beyond.

Dear Friends,                                                                              

On August 20th, it will have been 400 years since slavery began in Jamestown. In addition to suffering other unspeakable cruelties, those enslaved men and women’s voices and their futures were stolen from them.  Three weeks ago, a group of religious, educational and community leaders came together in Atlanta. Then and now, the hope was to join others all over the country in considering what this bitterly painful milestone demands of us in shaping our nation’s future. We are inviting you to join us.

The conversation over the past three weeks has come together in a collective effort now identified as Hear Every Voice with audio and video resources to be as widely shared as you see fit. We continue to believe that a failure by adults to acknowledge the persistent legacy of inequality and listen to the voices of all of our children lets them down in a profound way and carries our nation’s history of inequity forward. The science is unequivocal.  The impact of stereotyping on children of color begins early and impacts societal expectations. Inflicting silence on children rather than teaching them to listen and guiding them to use their words to engage with others is devastating to their ability to read and learn – and so much more.  This moment calls for our collective resolve to hear and honor our children’s voices, across our schools and houses of worship, across our city, our state and our country. It is time to make and keep a new promise of freedom for all of our children in the 5th century that begins this week.

We hope these resources -- which include age-appropriate extension activities for children -- provide a useful framework, spark ideas and start conversations that matter all across the city. Of course, all schools, faith communities and other organizations will decide individually how they are used, if at all, over the next month and beyond:

• Under the theme of “shine and share your light:” opera singer Tim Miller, who sings “God Bless America” at the Braves games, has arranged and recorded a special rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.” Please listen here: Timothy Miller Sings "This Little Light of Mine" We believe it forms the core of a meaningful and impactful experience for preschool through elementary age children and their teachers: celebrating each child’s “light.” One set of extension activities (see attachments) is designed for the younger children to enjoy at some point after hearing, singing and dancing to the song. Another set of activities is for older children – still to be used in response to the song. Lastly, and on perhaps the most important level, the intended audience is the adults who are responsible for charting our children’s courses. The more the children have the chance to “shine” and share their joy and their gifts, the more we hope that we, the adults in their lives, will finally get the message to see them in their full potential and hear them -- every one of them.  

• Students of Grady High School have produced a set of thoughtful school-wide reflections on the meaning of this juncture in their lives: Hear Every Voice: Grady Students. We expect these spontaneous interviews – as well as Tim’s audio -- will be embraced widely by adults, in the days and weeks ahead. For example, Grady’s history teachers plan to use the video throughout their classes so that they can engage as many of their students as possible and extend the experience of the several dozen who created it. Our hope is that Grady will share it and the extension activities they design with middle and high schools acrossAtlanta and well beyond it.

• Jerry Parker, principal of Usher Elementary School, has recorded a call to four minutes of silence and reflection for adults to act upon sometime during August of 2019 in remembrance and with resolve that our children will never be silenced again: Jerry Parker: Hear Every Voice.

Taken together, we hope all this work marks a beginning, as we embark on a new school year and a Fifth Century.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Peter S. Berg, Senior Rabbi, The Temple      
Mindy Binderman, Executive Director, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students
Stephanie Blank, CEO, the Naserian Foundation
Meria Carstarphen, Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools
Greg Cole, Executive Director, Emmaus House
Dr. Walter Gilliam, PhD, Director, Yale University’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy
Nancy Flake Johnson, President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Atlanta
Soumaya Khalifa, Executive Director, Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta
Dr. Ami Klin, PhD, Director, Marcus Autism Center; Professor and Division Chief, Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
Lauren Koontz, President & CEO, YMCA Metro Atlanta
Robin Kranz, Founding Partner, Brownieland Pictures
Milton Little, President, United Way of Greater Atlanta
Dennis Lockhart, President, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (ret.)
Malcolm Mitchell, Super Bowl Champion and Children’s Book Author
Christopher Moses, Director of Education & Associate Artistic Director, Alliance Theatre
Daniel Pedersen, Chairman Emeritus, Alliance for Early Success
Blythe Keeler Robinson, CEO & President, Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers
David Roemer, CEO, Ideas Unlimited
Mariela Romero, Regional Director, Community Empowerment, Univision Communications
Jill Savitt, President & CEO, National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Doug Shipman, President and CEO, Woodruff Arts Center
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD,  President Emerita, Spelman College
Dr. Julie Ann Washington, PhD,  Director, Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health and Human Sciences, Georgia State University
Rev. Raphael Warnock, PhD, Senior Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church
Arianne B. Weldon, Get Georgia Reading Campaign Director, Georgia Family Connection Partnership
Comer Yates, Executive Director, Atlanta Speech School

Please click here to download the Hear Every Voice activities.

In its fourth year, Youth on the Move is getting a makeover! While the 4 tenets of Enrichment, Empowerment, Education, and Experiences remain the pillars of the out of school time program for middle and high school students, we can now share that we have been named a 21st Century Community Learning Center by the Georgia Department of Education!

The 21st CCLC program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities for academic enrichment activities during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session, such as before and after school or during summer recess. The competitive grant application process is months long, and we credit the support of our neighborhood schools in making this opportunity possible. Through this new partnership, YOTM will increase community-school engagement, provide advanced tutoring, and expand our enrichment activities over the next 5 years.

What do you get when you pair 120 promising students, 12 amazing Servant Leader Interns, 10 certified teachers, and 1 fantastic school together? Year FIVE of our Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® Program in partnership with the Barack and Michelle Obama Academy! On June 10, we welcomed an auditorium full of bright minds for our signature 6-week summer literacy program, and things are off to a fantastic start.

Over the last 4 summers, 86% of students tested have maintained or increased their reading level through our Freedom School program. We anticipate an equally successful experience for students this year! Our program is stopping summer learning loss in its tracks and ensuring that students living in Peoplestown return to school prepared to achieve.

Want to join in the fun? Each morning, the program starts with Harambee, which is an activity that allows the students to pull together and get excited for a day of learning. We invite you to “pull together” with us. Click here to make a monthly contribution of $10 or more to help students reach their full academic potential.

If you happen to pass the corner of Farrington Ave & Farrington Place in Peoplestown, you will see precisely how Youth on the Move has left its mark! It has been an eventful year for students in Youth on the Move, our out-of-school time program for middle and high school students. From community service at our local senior center, to countless hours of academic tutoring and engagement in a variety of enrichment activities including dance classes, this year’s participants can also add ‘muralists’ to their resumes.

With the support of the Director of Education Services, Ann Fowler, and the Program Manager, Rakia Reeves, students added a pop of color to their neighborhood by completing a gorgeous community beautification project. As the spring semester ends, our students can look to this beautiful final project as a visual representation of the many colorful experiences that made up another successful academic year at Emmaus House.