The numbers are staggering. The youth of three zip codes – 30318, 30315, and 30310 - grow up to represent 80% of the men in the Georgia State Prison system, and are at the highest risk in our city for commercial sexual exploitation. The schools in these zip code areas have some of the highest failure rates in the state.
SWAN has joined with other proven youth development agencies in a coalition committed to re-identifying our regions as a places of promise for youth leadership. We are ready to be “on the map” for positive reasons!
An Inaugural Launch Event will be held
November 17, 7pm
Community Life Church, 1297 Jonesboro Rd 30315
The event will feature wine and cheese, soft drinks, coffee and tea.
Entertainment will include a jazz ensemble, aTalking Drum spoken word piece by the GOAL girls, and a slide show featuring our collaborative programs.
MC: Leroy Barber, President of Mission Year and Co-Executive Director of FCS Urban Ministries
Dress: after 5 festive
Dill Ave Clean Up
Saturday, August 20
Meet at the new Neighbors Abbey space
next door to the Sullivan Center
at 639 Dill Ave
In Partnership with CVNA,
The Shriners, Order of the Eastern Star,
Epicity Real Estate, SWAN (Southwest Atlanta Neighboring),
The Sullivan Center, and Neighbors Abbey.
breakfast provided at 8:30 am
and BBQ afterwards in the ECOPAAT Garden
SWAN August Cleanup
We are in the process of launching an online donation option. In the mean time please send donations to:
Southwest Atlanta Neighboring
c/o Troy Bronsink
FCS Urban Ministries
750 Glenwood Avenue, SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
Be sure and scroll down the blog for more details on our emerging community agency. Also feel free to direct further questions to Troy@SWAN-ATL.org or call 404.934.1115
Thank you!
As of March 15th, we are actively seeking 8 more women mentors to match the remaining unplaced seventh grade participants in the Sylvan Hills Middle School GOAL girls. If you or someone you know is 18 years of age or older and would like to commit at least 12 months to building a relationship with a young person from SW Atlanta and her family, please email Leslie at { mentoring at swan-atl dot org }.
Southwest Atlanta Neighboring Vision Statement
The vision of SWAN is to break the cycles of exploitation in SW Atlanta by building collaborative leadership skills from childhood to adulthood, block by block, championing the human dignity of the many races, cultures and classes represented in our historic communities. We aim to create a future distinct from SW Atlanta’s past by weaving a social fabric out of which leadership can emerge. In such a community, children of SW Atlanta can grow into adult leaders and find a compelling sense of ownership in this community’s future.
SWAN (Southwest Atlanta Neighboring) Youth Leadership Development
GOAL helps girls explore and develop the skills they will need to successfully navigate the uncertainties of adolescence. The GOAL® Core Curriculum is based on the premise that the most profound learning begins with real experiences. The girls learn collectively about: relationship, voice, leadership, diversity, body, and goals. GOAL is a research-based curricula designed to build confidence, competence, and connectedness.
SWAN currently facilitates GOAL Girls training in weekly after-school experiences at Sylvan Hills Middle School. This leadership development extends into outside excursions and special events as well.
SWAN also matches GOAL participants in grade seven and up with Community Mentors who model teachable leadership in every-day casual meeting as well as monthly mixers. SWAN Mentors also connect their Mentee GOAL girls and their families to Community Leadership Building opportunities where they learn and lead beside fellow SW Atlanta residents.
What started decades ago, and gathered momentum over countless conversations at a local coffee shop, neighborhood associations, and local houses of faith, is now beginning to take shape in living rooms around SW Atlanta and at Sylvan Hills Middle School. You, the residents and stakeholders of SW Atlanta are essential to these beginnings and to the steps that remain to be taken. Stay tuned for what’s next!
We are thrilled to begin getting the news out about our vision for Southwest Atlanta Neighboring. This community organization will not be complete with out the input and vision form our diverse neighbors. Will you join us for one of our 2 hour focus groups on February 2, 22, March 2, or 22? Click on the flier below to learn more. Please RSVP to troy@swan-atl.org
We would not be who we are with out the more than 50 people since 2010 who do everything from teaching classes, to making snacks, to hosting dinners, to mentoring girls.
Our founding board of directors is:
- Hakim Young | President
- Anne Chance | Vice President
- Derek Koehl | Treasurer
- Jennifer Snow | Secretary
- Christy McWilliams
- Tamara Pearson
- Troy Bronsink | Director
Our volunteer and part time staff include Dr. Folami Prescott Adams, Leslie Gerber, Anne Chance, Megan Warley, and Troy Bronsink.
We love to collaborate! We are thankful for the following agencies that have partnered with us thus far: Hands On Atlanta, Sylvan Hills Middle School, DOOR Atlanta, StreetGRACE, Metro Merge, The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, HOME Training Institute, Afterschool Allstars, and GOAL. Our board formed in October 2010 and we are pursuing our own 501(c)3 status. In the meantime we are especially grateful for the significant financial and volunteer support of Neighbors Abbey and the fiscal oversight and partnership of FCS Urban Ministries. Please be in touch if you or your agency has interesting in pursuing partnerships.
