450 Leaders Connect at the 2015 Neighborhood Summit

Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Presents its Sixth Regional Neighborhood Summit

ATLANTA – September 28, 2015 – Over 450 community leaders joined together Saturday for the Neighborhood Summit, a transformative event hosted by The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. The Georgia International Convention Center became a breeding ground for new ideas, creative thinking and energizing discussions. From grassroots volunteers and representatives of homeowners associations to civic, business and nonprofit leaders – there was something for everyone who wanted the tools to improve and change their community!

“What makes the Neighborhood Summit so unique is its regional reach and deep geographic scope,” said Alicia Philipp, president – the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. “We had participants from each of the 23 counties that the Foundation serves. The Summit is an incredible chance for these leaders to learn ways to strengthen their neighborhood, while also building a collaborative and effective regional voice. We are all so much stronger together.”

The 2015 regional Neighborhood Summit theme was a universal one –programming focused on Embracing the Power of Education and improving learning from birth to career. The best of both neighborhood-based and state-wide efforts were showcased, inspiring attendees to engage, activate and advocate for education priorities in their community or county.

”Greatness is defined by a willingness to serve,” said the morning plenary speaker, Michael Thurmond, recent superintendent of DeKalb County Schools. Mr. Thurmond’s passionate remarks set the tone for the day. “Please continue to answer the call to this unique service. The purpose of today is to provide you with insights and encouragement to take with you for your work. To embrace and reaffirm the power of education – the great equalizer.”

New education efforts were unveiled at the Summit, including the launch of a new initiative from Great Schools Atlanta, a national nonprofit helping over 50 million parents find high-quality schools and resources. Great Schools lead an interactive lunchtime session on a new web tool for parents, GreatSchoolsAtlanta.org. This mobile-friendly tool helps parents in the Atlanta metro area (including Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties) understand their K-12 school options and access resources to help support their child’s education.

At the Neighborhood Summit, participants attended workshops, enjoyed exhibits from organizational partners and had the chance to sit down with an expert consultant or a seasoned nonprofit professional one-on-one to ask questions and tackle challenges. Attendees also networked with peer community leaders and elected officials.

“In communities across Atlanta, we need to get back down to a level of passion in our communities, driven by honesty and integrity. The Summit is real people that want to make a difference,” said Lois Collins, an attendee and active volunteer from Clayton County. “The Neighborhood Summit is a catalyst for community good at the grassroots level,” said Tene Traylor, senior program officer – the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. “We are so appreciative of our partners, such as the Atlanta Regional Commission and Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and our sponsors, like Delta Airlines, Georgia Pacific, Georgia Power Company and Kaiser Permanente for making this amazing and fun event possible!”

About The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Since 1951, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has been connecting donors, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen the 23-county Atlanta region through philanthropy. By uniting the passions of donors with the purposes donors strive to improve, The Community Foundation provides quality services and innovative leadership on community issues. Led by four goals: engaging philanthropists; strengthening nonprofits; advancing public will; and practicing organizational excellence; in 2014 The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta received more than $79.8 million from donors (unaudited) and the Foundation distributed more than $106.2 million to support nonprofits throughout the region and beyond.
For more information, visit: www.cfgreateratlanta.org.

For more information:
Erin Dreiling
Marketing and Communications Manager
404-588-3207