HUD Designates New EnVision Center in Atlanta

Left to right: (Region IV Administrator Denise Cleveland Leggett, HUD Secretary Ben Carson and Atlanta Housing President and CEO Eugene Jones during the HUD Atlanta EnVision Center designation and CN Planning Grant announcement events.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson and Region IV Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett announced the recent designation of the John Hope Community Center as the first EnVision Center in the City of Atlanta and third such center in Georgia. The EnVision Center will serve to strengthen residents with self-sufficiency services and skills as well as eventually expand to serve the surrounding community.

"Atlanta Housing President and CEO, Eugene E. Jones, Jr, City of Atlanta and partners can be proud of its national designation and recognition as a HUD EnVision Center," said Cleveland-Leggett. "EnVision Centers were created with a simple goal in mind: to empower people to reach their greatest potential by helping them become self-sufficient. These Centers take a holistic approach to community revitalization, going beyond brick and mortar investments and investing in what matters most - people."

The John Hope Community EnVision Center encompasses communities located in West Atlanta including the Villages at Castleberry Hills, Atlanta University Center, Ashview Heights, Just Us, Harris Chiles, Westview, West End, Washington Park, Vine City and English Avenue. These targeted areas are also a recipient of multiple HUD HOPE VI grants, Choice Neighborhood grants, Promise Zone, CDBG and other federal grants.

The goals of the John Hope Community EnVision Center are to provide services that support the following four pillars of self-sufficiency: economic empowerment, educational advancement, health and wellness, and character and leadership.

The economic empowerment pillar is supported by programs such as STEAMsport Higher Education and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta which will provide training in high paying tech fields for young adults' ages 16 - 24 years old and helps to place them in positions in technology. The Educational Advancement Pillar is supported by the Out of School Enrichment Program and STEAMsport.

This education endeavor will provide youth ages 4 thru 19 opportunities to build robots, learn coding, fashion design, urban agriculture, and to enrich their learning outside of the classroom. The Health and Wellness Pillars are supported by the Picture of Health Program, Urban Agriculture and CORE for all ages which will include health screenings, lessons on growing and preparing healthy food and weekly food distributions at the site. Finally, the Character and Leadership Pillar will be supported by - Seniors on the Rise, Soccer in the Streets and Atlanta Youth Rugby while allowing fresh air and exercise, these programs also build character, leadership, and encourage team building.

Atlanta Housing President and CEO, Eugene E. Jones, Jr., Shea Johnson, HUD Georgia Director of Operations and partners subsequently joined HUD Secretary Carson and Cleveland-Leggett as they announced the award of the HUD Choice Neighborhood planning grant of $450,000 to support the creation of a community-driven redevelopment master plan for the Atlanta Bowen Homes site, with a clear pathway to early investments in infrastructure, open space, and near-term housing and revitalization within an Opportunity Zone.

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