We all deal with stress. In fact, a great portion of most people’s lives is spent trying to manage and mitigate its harmful effects. Exercise, therapy, mindfulness, support groups, and medication are just a few of the strategies we employ on a regular basis to keep ourselves mentally and physically well.

For people of marginalized backgrounds, however, not only are life’s various stressors often experienced more acutely, but there are a number of barriers that prevent them from accessing the resources necessary to cope.

Studies show that Black Americans living below the poverty line are twice as likely to report serious psychological stress than other groups. And due to barriers in access, the impact of that stress is also disproportionately high.

Black adults are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems such as major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. But the problem often begins well before adulthood.

Studies reveal that Black and Brown children are 14% less likely to receive treatment for their depression than white children. One reason for this is that behavioral challenges are much more likely to be addressed criminally rather than as mental health disorders.

Officials estimate that between 50% and 75% of youth in the juvenile justice system meet the criteria for mental health disorders. In communities of color, childhood depression has also been linked to increased welfare dependence and unemployment.

There are a number of complex, structural causes for the disproportional impact that mental health challenges have on marginalized communities, and it’s our responsibility as a society to name these issues and to advocate for change. At Emmaus House, we believe it’s also important to provide children and families with fun, wholesome, and culturally appropriate resources to manage their stress and emotions.

A New Partnership

For all of these reasons and more, we’re excited to partner with Mimi’s Yoga Kids to provide yoga classes and healing circles to our community. Ms. Camelia “Mimi” Felton has long worked to bring yoga therapy to underserved people through her B.U.M.P Project (Black Unified Mothers Pre & Postnatal) and now through her partnership with Emmaus House. To learn more about Mimi’s Yoga Kids, please visit the link below.

The issues facing marginalized people’s mental health are complex and not easy to solve. But by investing in resources for youth and families, we’re building change from the ground up and creating generational impact.

This past Sunday, we held our Annual Benefit on the Emmaus House campus. We had a lot to celebrate: it was the first benefit we’ve hosted since the start of the pandemic, we honored a new recipient for the Ethel Mae Mathews Courage and Character Award, and the event took place in our new building.

This year also marks Emmaus House’s 55th anniversary. What began as a collaborative effort between a priest, two nuns, and a seminary student, has grown into a vital institution for Peoplestown and surrounding areas. One of the reasons for this growth is that we don’t just serve the community, we are a part of the community.

None of our work would be possible without the network of volunteers and supporters who invest their time and resources into lifting up the families and neighbors we serve.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

At our Annual Emmaus House Benefit last Sunday night, we honored Ann Fowler with the Ethel Mae Mathews Courage and Character Award. This award honors individuals who embody the same spirit of strength and determination as Ethel Mae Mathews.

As a self-described “welfare mother,” Ms. Mathews sought to educate others about the struggle of those experiencing poverty. She headed Emmaus House’s first Welfare Rights Committee and went on to serve as Chairwoman on the Peoplestown Advisory Council, President of the Welfare Rights Organization, and a board member for both the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Georgia Citizens Coalition on Hunger.

“I’m rich with many things,” she once said. “Not with money, but with courage, with strength, with faith, with independence, with my belief in God, and that makes me very rich.”

This year’s recipient, Ann Fowler, developed and led many programs as Director of Education Services for Emmaus House. Throughout her 12 years, she tried always to be guided by the question: “How can I make the world a better place? How can I help my neighbor… in my city, and in the world?”

“I may not be able to do much,” she said. “But I can do something.”

She described her role at Emmaus House as being more than a job. It was a ministry.

The Ethel Mae Mathews Courage and Character Award means a lot to us, and we can’t think of anyone more deserving than Ann. We thank her for her service and for embodying Ms. Mathews’s strength and compassion. We are all better because of it.

We often think of holidays like Thanksgiving as a way to celebrate family bonds. However, we don’t always realize that it’s an important opportunity to solidify and support those bonds as well.

Families are the foundation of every community, and this year we want to make sure that families in south Atlanta can celebrate Thanksgiving at home.

We will be collecting bagged donations of holiday staples that families can prepare at home. Each bag should have the following items:

• 2 Cans of String Beans (English cut)

• 2 Cans of Corn

• 2 Cans of Peas

• 1 Can of Cranberry Sauce

• 1 Large Bag of Stuffing

• 1 Box of Brownie Mix

• 1 Bag of Rice (1 lb.)

• 2 Boxes of Cornbread / Muffin Mix

With your help, we’re hoping to assemble 200 of these bags for our neighbors in need.

To donate, please place the above ingredients inside of a large, reusable canvas bag with handles. Bags may be dropped off at Emmaus House from November 14-21, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 AM-noon. We will plan on distributing them on November 22.

We have so much to be thankful for. Be part of the reason someone else gets to celebrate this holiday season.

The holiday season has always been a special time at Emmaus House. Every year we accept donations to provide Christmas gifts for more than 500 children in Peoplestown and surrounding areas. With your help, we hope to continue that tradition.

As the holidays approach, we often say that it is better to give than to receive. The thing that we enjoy most about giving and receiving is that both acts tie us together in a community of love and mutual care. Your gift ensures that less advantaged children can experience that community this holiday season.

At Emmaus House, we’re committed to promoting and improving well-being in our community. But economic and social well-being—like so many things—begin with one’s health.

Food scarcity and diabetes are intimately connected. Due to increased food costs, households with low income are often forced to make unhealthy choices in order to feed themselves and their families. Studies show that individuals with low income are up to 100% more likely to suffer from diabetes than those with moderate or high income.

However, eating foods filled with nutrients has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. That’s why Emmaus House is partnering with the Diabetes Association of Atlanta to provide 100 bags of fresh produce to individuals and families in our community. This produce is all sourced locally from Eat Right Atlanta, a local fruit and vegetable co-op, and is funded by Fulton County.

“We are honored to support Emmaus House and their awesome work,” says a representative from the Diabetes Association. “We hope to continue to work together to combat food insecurity and risk of developing diabetes in our community.”

The Diabetes Association of Atlanta is committed to alleviating the medical, financial, and psychological impact that diabetes has on individuals and their families. We’re proud to partner with them to promote health and well-being in Peoplestown and surrounding neighborhoods. Click below to learn more about the Diabetes Association of Atlanta.

There is much to celebrate at Thanksgiving: friends, family, the many things we each have to be thankful for… and, of course, delicious food.

So much goes into this single meal, and at Emmaus House, we want to make sure our neighbors are able to share this special tradition at home with the people closest to them.

With your help, our goal is to provide dinner for 200 of our neighbors this Thanksgiving. We’re partnering with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Hands-on Atlanta to ensure that we have plenty of volunteers to help distribute meals, but we’re still collecting bags filled with ingredients that families can use to make their favorite Thanksgiving sides.

For more information about the ingredients and where to drop off the bags, please click below to visit our website. There is also an option to donate money for turkeys.

Join us as we observe one of Thanksgiving's most important traditions: that is, people helping one another.

Youth on the Move (YOTM) is a comprehensive out-of-school program that empowers middle and high school students by providing enrichment, education, and peer support.

This program is managed by Rakia Reeves. “I take great pleasure in being able to give back to the neighborhood where I grew up,” she says. “Serving and working with young people brings me joy and keeps me young in mind and spirit.”

We’re also excited to welcome Tiquisha Scott back as Program Coordinator for YOTM. As a former participant in the program, Ms. Scott has first-hand knowledge of how important holistic support is in helping students develop their voice and realize their potential. We’re delighted to have her back.

And lastly, a bit of unfortunate news: one of the three vans we use to transport students to and from YOTM was stolen recently. Because many of our students lack access to reliable transportation, having a means of getting them there is vital to the program’s success and, ultimately, to theirs.

If you are able to contribute funds to help us replace the van, please visit the link below.

We’re thrilled to welcome you all back to our campus for the Emmaus House 2022 Benefit.

The theme for this year’s event is Welcome Home. It will feature barbecue from Rodney Scott, homemade cupcakes, as well as a selection of beer and wine. The event will take place at our new education building, with plenty of space indoors and outdoors to mingle.

The pandemic put many things on hold the past several years, but the services we provide are more important now than ever. We’re excited to celebrate our successes these past several years, and to present Ann Fowler with the Ethel Mae Mathews Courage and Character Award for her 12 years of service.

Please join us as we celebrate the past and look forward to the future. Your support means the world to us. Welcome home.