FCS

Last call for Start:ME Atlanta applications!

Applications for the 2027 cohort close October 1. Start:ME is a free four-month program that helps Atlanta entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses through training, mentorship, and access to capital.

If you’re ready to grow your business alongside other local entrepreneurs, this is the final week to apply.

Learn more and apply: https://www.startmeatl.org/

We are remembering a giant of Christian Community Development and a dear friend of FCS, Dr. John Perkins.

More than 45 years ago, Dr. Perkins and FCS founder Bob Lupton found a kindred spirit in one another, sharing a conviction that lasting change is rooted in place, relationship, reconciliation, and a commitment to stay for the long haul.

Dr. Perkins deeply influenced FCS’s mission, values, and philosophy, and his legacy continues through the countless leaders and communities he shaped.

A memorial honoring Dr. Perkins will be held this Saturday at 5 PM at Refuge Church in Atlanta. We encourage our community to join us in celebrating his life and extraordinary legacy.

Brownsville Pointe is going vertical!

For months, FCS President Marvin Nesbitt Jr has been documenting the view from across the street as Brownsville Pointe takes shape.

“I know a construction site might not sound especially photogenic. In some of the photos, there’s dirt. In others, there’s more dirt that has moved to a different place. But I also know what this little stretch of land is becoming.”

And now, that vision is becoming easier to see.

Vertical construction is now underway on Brownsville Pointe, which will bring 18 new apartment homes, including 12 dedicated affordable units, and 1,790 square feet of commercial space to Historic South Atlanta.

Take a look at the progress and the story behind this next chapter on our blog: https://fcsministries.org/2026/9/14/brownsville-pointe-is-going-vertical-my-view-from-across-the-street/

This September marks 120 years since the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre, an important chapter in our city’s history that continues to call us to remembrance, reflection, and community.

From September 20–26, the Praise House Project, in partnership with the Coalition to Remember the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre and South-View Cemetery, will host a weeklong Days of Remembrance featuring community gatherings, exhibitions, conversations, film, and nightly illuminations.

The week begins Sunday, September 20, with an interfaith service at First Congregational Church, followed by a historic tour, Praise House activation, and Ring Shout at South-View Cemetery.

We invite our community to take part in this meaningful week of remembrance and honor the lives, stories, and legacies that are part of Atlanta’s history. For more information, visit https://1906atlantaracemassacre.org/

What can $100 a month become? 💰

Last month, a new group of Carver Neighborhood Market and Community Grounds staff and South Atlanta Civic League members kicked off a new cohort of FCS’s Financial Achievement Club!

For the next six months, participants are committing to save at least $100 each month while building their financial knowledge and planning for the future. Those who reach their goal will save $600—and, thanks to a dollar-for-dollar match, finish the program with at least $1,200 in emergency savings.

In partnership with United Way of Greater Atlanta, HouseProud Atlanta, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB), and Bank OZK, we’re bringing together resources, expertise, and relationships to help neighbors build greater financial security and create opportunities for the future.

Because this is about more than the math. It’s about building habits, creating a financial cushion, and turning meaningful work into greater opportunities for long-term financial security.

👉 Meet our newest Financial Achievement Club cohort and learn how this work fits into FCS’s vision for Economic Vitality in Southeast Atlanta:

https://fcsministries.org/2026/9/11/small-steps-to-a-stronger-financial-future/

We’re honoring the life and legacy of Wesley Johnson Jr., who grew up on Bowen Avenue in Historic South Atlanta.

Mr. Johnson was an incredible man, and his story is part of a family legacy deeply connected to this neighborhood. His brother, Herman Johnson Sr., owned the gas station that once stood where Brownsville Pointe is now taking shape.

We’re grateful to remember his life, his roots, and the generations of history tied to this community.

Learn more about his life and legacy: https://goolsbymortuary.com/obituaries/wesley-johnson-sep-2026

What becomes possible when we invest in the next generation?

Southeast Atlanta faces an estimated shortage of 540 early-learning seats, and FCS is working alongside partners to expand access and strengthen educational opportunities close to home.

Through 30 Days of Giving Forward, your support helps us keep listening, building partnerships, and investing in what comes next.

Give today and help us reach our $50,000 goal: https://bit.ly/30DaysOfGivingForward

South Atlanta entrepreneurs, this one’s for you.

If you’re growing a business or ready to turn an idea into something bigger, Start:ME Atlanta Southside offers the tools, connections, and support to help you take your next step.

Through training, mentorship, and a community of fellow entrepreneurs, you’ll have the opportunity to strengthen your business while building alongside others who are doing the same.

📅 Applications close October 1.
Ready to see where your business can go?
👉 Learn more and apply today: https://www.startmeatl.org/

Food is one way we build community.

Through our partnership with Urban Recipe, the South Atlanta Food Co-op helps neighbors increase access to fresh food while creating space to connect, support one another, and lead.

The co-op is run by neighbors, for neighbors, and every gathering is an opportunity to build food security and strengthen community.

We’re grateful for the neighbors and partners who make this work possible. 🥕🥬

Learn more about the Co-op here: https://urbanrecipe.org/impact/

What does it take for a neighborhood to thrive?

In our FCS neighborhoods, we’re hearing from neighbors about the challenges of managing chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes, and the need for better access to health resources.

That’s why Neighborhood Health & Wellness is a focus of our 30 Days of Giving Forward campaign. Help us invest in healthier neighborhoods and reach our $50,000 goal.

Give Forward today: https://bit.ly/30DaysOfGivingForward