Ilham Askia is a seasoned nonprofit leader with a deep commitment to advancing social justice and equity. As the President and CEO of the East Lake Foundation, she is responsible for leading the strategic vision and ongoing work with partners to ensure progress towards the Foundation’s mission.
The East Lake Foundation was established in 1995 to revitalize the East Lake neighborhood in Atlanta, GA by igniting new opportunities for families living there and creating a vibrant community where all residents thrive. The Foundation’s goal is to support programming that addresses mixed-income housing, the cradle-to-college and career continuum, community wellness and economic vitality.
Prior to her role at the East Lake Foundation, Askia served as Co-Founder and Executive Director of Gideon’s Promise, a national nonprofit public defender organization whose mission is to transform the criminal legal system by building a movement of public defenders who provide equal justice for marginalized communities.
She spent 15 years changing the culture of indigent defense representation in America. Under her leadership, Gideon’s Promise was also the subject of award-winning, HBO Documentary, Gideon’s Army.
Her career initially kicked off as a Teach for America Fellow in the District of Columbia Public Schools. She later taught, facilitated teacher training and wrote curriculum for public school systems in Washington, D.C. and Georgia. During her tenure in education, Askia worked with talented children who loved to learn, wanted to succeed and desired to feel safe.
However, many of her students were impacted by the effects of over-policing in their neighborhoods, limited resources and inadequate legal representation. The latter being a lesson she learned earlier in life when both her father and brother were sentenced to prison.
Follow East Lake Foundation on LinkedIn and Facebook.
What You’ll Learn In This Episode
- How business leaders can engage meaningfully – whether it’s through employee volunteerism, philanthropic investment, or supplier relationships – and be part of creating more equitable growth in Atlanta.
This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix.
TRANSCRIPT
Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studio in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio, brought to you by Kennesaw State University’s Executive MBA program, the accelerated degree program for working professionals looking to advance their career and enhance their leadership skills. And now, here’s your host.
Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here, another episode of Atlanta Business Radio. And this is going to be a good one. But before we get started, it’s important to recognize our sponsor, CSU’s executive MBA program. Without them, we wouldn’t be sharing these important stories today on Atlanta Business Radio. We have Illy Askia, who is the president and CEO of the East Lake Foundation. Welcome.
Speaker3: Thanks, Lee. Thanks for having me.
Lee Kantor: Well, I am excited to learn what you’re up to. For folks who aren’t familiar, can you share a little bit about East Lake Foundation? How you serving folks?
Speaker3: So the East Lake Foundation is located on the furthest east neighborhood in the city of Atlanta, in the East Lake community. Serving East Lake as well as some of Kirkland Kirk Kirkwood, excuse me. Community. And so we are an organization that is 30 years old this year that focuses on community development, mixed income housing. Cradle to college education, community wellness and economic vitality, and partnership with many organizations that work in the community. Ymca start Me Emory is a business school, Columbia Residential, Drew Charter School, Sheltering Arms, and all of our other early learning programs in the in the on the East side.
Lee Kantor: Now, can you talk a little bit about the Genesis? How did this foundation begin?
Speaker3: So, you know, over 30 years ago, you know, the East Lake community had a ton of struggles. It struggles. It wasn’t the most desirable place to live, to work, to play. Although there were many committed families living in what was then a public housing community called East Lake Meadows. Over the last 30 years, because of the vision of three plus all of their partners architects, Mr. Tom cousins, who is a philanthropist and a developer, is a developer in Atlanta. Miss Eva Davis, which was the president of the tenant association, which was then East Lake Meadows, now Villages of East Lake, and Miss Renee Glover, who was the CEO of Atlanta Housing Authority, along with many other political, public and private individuals, came together to reimagine this community. And so the East Lake Foundation was birthed to make sure all of the investment in education and resources and job training and wellness opportunities for families who have historically been denied access. Our role as the foundation is to continue that work, to make sure everyone has an opportunity to thrive. So the foundation was started by Mr. Cousins in 1995 and still continues to serve the families in East Lake and the families whose children attend Drew Charter School.
Lee Kantor: Now, these type of partnerships are kind of unique and special, aren’t they? This isn’t like if you just plopped yourself in another community around the country, you’re not going to find a lot of these are you.
Speaker3: Know, we are very unique. We are one of 27 neighborhoods through a national network called Purpose Built Communities. And so the East Lake Foundation was the catalyst to this holistic transformation of neighborhoods. And so we serve, as I know, we’re in a golf neighborhood, but we serve as the community quarterback for all of the services provided by our partners. Um, in to to ensure that the neighborhood thrives. So this ecosystem of partners across the neighborhood and across the city collectively make sure that this thrive. So purpose Built communities is taking this Eastlake model and adapting it to communities across the country. There are not many of us, but the ones that we do have in place in partnership with Purpose Built, make sure that those families get everything that they deserve.
Lee Kantor: Can you describe kind of the purpose built kind of mission and purpose? Like what? What would be kind of the dream? Is this something that you would like every neighborhood to be a purpose built community?
Speaker3: Well, I would like every neighborhood to define what success means for them. And so for the Eastlake Foundation, we worked with residents who lived here, legacy residents and partners, to say, what would you like to see in your community? You know, over 30 years ago, we did not have a high performing school. Our graduation rate was 30%. It is now 98% graduation rate the highest, one of the highest in the city of Atlanta. Um, we did not have, you know, a strong, robust early learning centers. Now, all of I call them the tiny people are now 96% of them are kindergarten ready to go into formal education. And so, with our partnership with purpose built communities, our goal is the East Lake Foundation is to inspire other neighborhoods to look at this four pillar or this four pronged model of what I mentioned before, implement them into their neighborhoods, what’s best for them, whether they start with education or they start with a health center like the YMCA and then build upon that foundation. So our goal, yeah, is every community that has not had an opportunity for investment or where investment has left is to be an East Lake, um, version, their version of East Lake across the country.
Lee Kantor: And and how um, it just it seems unusual and in a good way that you were able to to or at least the people who started this were able to kind of together, um, see a vision that was very inclusive, that made sure that nobody was kind of left behind. Um, whereas in a lot of communities nowadays there’s, you know, this kind of gentrification where it’s out with the old, in with the new kind of mentality.
Speaker3: So, you know, that credit really does go to Mr. Cousins and Miss Davis. And so Mr. Cousins, who was very deeply involved in the corporate business community in Atlanta, right, really encouraged to invest in the city. The one great thing about the city of Atlanta is the public, private, public private partnerships that have happened across the city. And, you know, Eastlake is not a is is a beneficiary of that collaboration. And so the vision of Mr. Cousins to make sure that the business community has its hands in supporting the work here. And Miss Davis’s vision of making sure a family is not left behind. And families have an entity like the Eastlake Foundation and its partners to turn to when there’s needs or desires of things in their community. And so the you know, sometimes I refer to him as unlikely allies for decades, continue to work together and bring on leadership in this community that understand those core values that we will always be resident centered. Our businesses, small businesses and large businesses will collectively work together to make sure every single person has access to the resources and tools needed to thrive.
Lee Kantor: So now that you’re leading the organization, how are you like, what’s your roadmap? What’s your vision for the coming years?
Speaker3: So one of the big things over the next 5 to 10 years is, you know, continue to ignite economic opportunity here in East Lake. We have a number of people who live here who have micro businesses and small businesses. We partner with Emory School of Business and the Start Me program to provide opportunities for, I say, the everyday person, the everyday working person to figure out not just how to build a business, but also to scale a business. So economic development is a big, big portion of our strategic plan right now, as well as to continue to invest in affordable housing, workforce housing on our in our neighborhood, but also to help influence other neighborhoods, um, in the city. And so those are two major economic development areas. We have the trust at East Lake in partnership with the Atlanta Land Trust. We are currently constructing 40 townhomes right here in East Lake for families who are now renting to have an opportunity to own their own home in a in a space that they can afford. So we’re talking about incomes between 68,000 and $103,000 a year to be able to have your piece of dirt. So that is a and support families along the way. So those are two big initiatives, I would say, on the economic development piece that we’re very excited about this year.
Lee Kantor: So what’s kind of a day in the life of Ili? Are you, um, kind of just building partnerships to, um. Are you serving the community directly? Individually? Um, like, what do you do kind of on a day to day basis?
Speaker3: My sister in law, who runs a nonprofit in Phoenix, always refers to me as a hands on CEO. You know, I’m a former educator. I have I spent 15 years in criminal justice reform. I am a hands on, on the ground kind of person. And so the life of Eli is having conversations like this and talking about the work that we’re doing in the East Lake Foundation, talking about the legacy, sitting and meeting with our residents. You know, we have decision day at the school where all of our students, our senior graduating class, are telling us where they’re going to college or what their post-high school plans are. That’s coming up. And so the day in the life of an East Lake Foundation CEO is to be on the ground, to be in the office, to work with his board and to build relationships. And that is the biggest part of my work, is understanding the uniqueness of this community, the legacy of the community and the amazing people that live, work and play here.
Lee Kantor: Now, what was it like the first time? Were you did you grow up in the area? Is that how you, um, got to where you are, or did you come from somewhere else?
Speaker3: No. I’m originally I’m a northerner. Um, but I consider myself a Southerner now. I’ve been in Atlanta for 20 years. I’m originally from Buffalo, New York, but I did grow up in, um, a community that was very similar to what East Lake used to be. And so in a public housing community, the way East Lake used to be. And so I really understand what it is like to be around family and friends and people that I care about, who, if they had the resources and the access, could have really thrived in the community. I was just a fortunate, a lucky person to be in the right place at the right time. I happened to be pretty smart and athletic and was able to find my niche and find my way, but it didn’t have to be that hard. And so for East Lake, the reason why this role is so important to me, and significant is I want to make sure every child has a seamless path to success as they define it. Um, the other thing I think to know is that I lived in Atlanta for 20 years. When I first got here, I knew no one, um, I had a baby and I lived on the south side, and someone told me about the East Lake family Y and that the Y, um, would watch your child, your infant, for two hours while you worked out or when you went grocery shopping. I was like, oh, my God, that’s so unique.
Speaker3: I’ve never heard of that. Let me try it. So I would travel from the south side of Atlanta, Campbellton Road, Cascade Road area all the way to East Lake to participate. And so my children actually grew up in the Y for a long time. I did not know until after ten years of going to the YMCA about the history of the community and why the the the childcare was so unique. It was to eliminate barriers for mothers, for caregivers, so that they can live their everyday life. And so the, the, the YMCA, the people who took care of my child, children who lived in the community, we grew up there. That was that is still my family YMCA. And so when this role, um, this opportunity came about, I wanted to give back to a community that gave so much to me and my family. And so I just think that it’s a special place. It’s a unique place. And if anybody gets an opportunity to visit or to live or to work here, they will feel the same way. And so, um, I just understand what it’s like to grow up, um, with in humble beginnings, I’ll say, and not have support and have to, you know, really fight your way through. And then I just don’t want any other child to have to live or experience in that. So if we can make it easier, that is what the East Lake Foundation is here to help do.
Lee Kantor: So that experience at the Y was your kind of this aha moment where hey, a community I can be part of something that’s bigger than me that I can. I can really take what they’ve done so far, which is amazing. And then, um, and then put your stamp on it and to expand the vision.
Speaker3: Exactly what are the real time needs of families? Because they evolve over time. What was once needed in the you know, the mid 90s looks a little bit different now. You know, in now in the 20 at the 2020s. So yes, that is that is the goal. And to listen to our residents, listen to our children, listen to our families.
Lee Kantor: Now when you’re thinking about affordable housing, is there any discussion about these, you know, the the tiny houses, the mini houses that they’re building in different communities?
Speaker3: Um, there’s discussion and I’ll say that there are people who are, um, expertise at this work. Um, and for us at the Foundation, we are very family focused. And so any new construction or Rehabilitative construction that we are a part of the foundation we want to make sure can serve families. Um, and then also we want to make sure for our population that’s aging so they can age in place, that is accessible for for seniors, for our active older adults. And so when, you know, tiny houses may have that, we have that discussion, but we really are looking to continue to build 2 to 3 bedroom, um, places for people or units so that families can grow and have the space, um, that they need to thrive.
Lee Kantor: So what do you need more of? How can we help you?
Speaker3: So, you know, I read it’s a nonprofit. So I think one is to continue. You know, I appreciate being on this show to continue philanthropic support for the community. Follow us on social media, go to our website, Eastlake Foundation.org. Come and visit and take a tour of the community and meet its awesome people and for the business community. I first I want to just leave. I’d be remiss remiss if I don’t say thank you to all of the businesses that have supported the East Lake Foundation and this neighborhood, whether it’s philanthropic support or programmatic support, we have a number of initiatives coming up. People can go and visit on our website. We would love for people to connect with us, to volunteer with us, um, and just learn more about the things that that are to come.
Lee Kantor: Now, what about folks who might be curious about the purpose built communities network? Is that something that they can kind of connect with you to learn more about?
Speaker3: Actually, Purpose Built has its own team, so you could also visit purpose built communities, um, on their website. And just to note, Lee, there are two other purpose built communities that I work with closely that the Foundation works with closely there. Grove Park Foundation on the west side of Atlanta, and focused community strategies in South Atlanta. And so there are actually three groups, three neighborhood holistic community groups that are working together in partnership with purpose built communities to make sure that all of our communities have access. Because I will say, when the three of us win, Atlanta wins.
Lee Kantor: But is is purpose built communities built around the East Lake Foundation model like is were you kind of.
Speaker3: Built so so purpose built was created to take the East Lake model and help implement it in neighborhoods across the country. So purpose built East Lake Foundation inspired the the purpose built model. So without East Lake there’s no purpose built so that we couldn’t be at every place at every time. The East Lake Foundation and so purpose built as an entity, as an organization goes across the country with a team of experts to help neighborhoods figure out the best strategy for their community to, to, um, to blossom into something similar to what the East Lake community has.
Lee Kantor: Well, it’s, uh, really important work. You must sleep well at night knowing the impact that you’re making.
Speaker3: I try, I try. Most nonprofit leaders will know we never sleep.
Lee Kantor: But the impact is real. I mean, the impact is real. When you’re affecting families like that, you can change the whole trajectory.
Speaker3: Yes. We are literally on, since our inception, our fourth generation of families coming through. And it’s great to see, um, many of our then children, now adults, graduate from grad school, graduate from undergrad, buy a house. And, you know, so it’s a long game. It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. When you’re talking about changing things, generation generations at a time. And so it is an honor to serve, um, this community. It’s an honor to serve in this seat. And I could not do this without our fabulous board and all of our business partners. So, yeah, it’s a great it’s a great thing. I sleep well at night till I don’t.
Lee Kantor: So if somebody wants, they’re.
Speaker3: Always on my mind.
Lee Kantor: So if somebody wants to learn more about Eastlake or connect with you or the team, is there a website? What’s the best way to connect?
Speaker3: They can follow? Uh, go to Eastlake, Foundation.org or follow us on social media. We are on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and you will see all of the real time things and also come and celebrate us. Celebrate with us for our 30th anniversary. We have a big five K coming up the first Saturday in August and a huge party with a purpose in partnership with the East Lake Golf Club on November 1st. So please, please, please, we would love to celebrate with everyone.
Lee Kantor: Well, thank you so much for sharing your story. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.
Speaker3: Thank you so much, Lee, for having me.
Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor. We’ll see you all next time on Atlanta Business Radio.
