Putting the Community Back at the Center of Community Service

By: Rodney D. Bullard

In the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to spend time with many organizations that are partnering to make an impact both locally and globally – from global social enterprises coming together at the NGO Expo in New York; to the launch of Fund II Foundation’s Intern X platform that connects highly qualified students from underrepresented backgrounds with meaningful internships; to faith-based organizations convening young men of purpose in my hometown of Atlanta. Seeing the ways these NGOs and foundations are working in their communities underscored for me fundamental lessons of making community service successful for everyone who stands to benefit – the residents, businesses in surrounding neighborhoods, and organizations driving positive change. The first lesson is an adage that has guided my own work: “don’t do anything for me, without me.” The most successful community service efforts respect and elevate the voices of those the programs seek to serve.

In our hometown of Atlanta, the Westside has become the primary focus for the Chick-fil-A Foundation because it holds the greatest need and most opportunity for impact. The median income for residents in the Westside is less than half of what it is for the city as a whole, but that doesn’t tell even part of the story. You quickly learn that the residents take pride in their rich history; are committed to improving the condition of their neighborhood and increasing the opportunities that exist for young people; and have great ideas on how to effect that positive change.

In particular, our partnership with Hollis Innovation Academy has underscored that those on the ground are best-positioned to identify what a community really needs. As the first Atlanta Public School to re-launch on the Westside in the decade, Hollis is a linchpin of neighborhood revitalization. For a community to thrive, its schools must thrive. And so we were committed to supporting the school from day one. But how? While it may be in vogue -- and necessary -- for corporations to underwrite science labs and football fields, Hollis administrators and teachers told us their need was much more fundamental.

Almost 100% of Hollis students qualify for reduced and free lunch, so mealtime for the children has often been accompanied by shame over their need and anxiety caused by food insecurity. We knew that we had to change that perception, so one of our first acts was to underwrite the Hollis cafeteria and give students a lively and beautiful place to gather.  We partnered with school leaders and artists to create a cafeteria adorned with murals that celebrate the accomplishments of Michael Hollis and Booker T. Washington, and highlight the legacy of the Westside community and Atlanta, making it a welcome and prideful place to connect with other students.

Affordable medical care is inaccessible to many Westside residents and it is even more difficult for students to succeed in school if they (or their caregivers) are struggling with health issues. Hollis told us that for their students to truly excel, an onsite nurse for students would not be enough – students needed the security of knowing their entire family could get care. Working together with the Blank Foundation, Chris 180 and other foundations and organizations, we’ve underwritten a full-service medical clinic onsite at Hollis – accessible to anyone living in the student’s household and other Westside residents. And that clinic – an unorthodox idea – is making a lasting impact in children's lives.

Hollis' teachers are all hand-picked and some of the most resilient and knowledgeable teachers in our public school system. Hollis administrators educated us about the toll that teaching in an underserved neighborhood can have on even the most devoted teachers. Armed with that knowledge, we knew that the teachers needed more than a mere lounge at Hollis. So we created a quiet retreat, a special place designed specifically for relaxation where teachers can go to restore balance and return to the school day with a renewed focus. The commitment to teacher well-being is important to Hollis, so it became important to the Chick-fil-A Foundation.

Hollis Innovation Academy -- a school that previously ranked in the bottom 5% of all Georgia schools -- has now become a beacon of education that focuses on wellbeing and success for the child and the broader community. As proud as we are of the impact we have made with our partners, we understand that the teachers, students and residents themselves played a crucial role in what we have been able to achieve at the school. Those who work and learn at Hollis charted the path; we helped pave the road.

While we will continue to work with Westside residents and community-based organizations so that the Westside can fulfill its promise, we recognize that other communities need support, and we have the privilege and responsibility to lend a hand. So I plan to continue to share the lessons of community transformation we and other change-makers have learned in a series of posts. We hope that you will be inspired to put these lessons to work in your own backyard.