East Lake Foundation > Who We Are > Our Approach

Impacting Lives of Residents

The East Lake Foundation helps families build better lives, and helps children reach their highest potential through a holistic approach to community revitalization that incorporates mixed-income housing, cradle-to-college education and community wellness.

Led by the East Lake Foundation, the redevelopment of the East Lake community is a landmark achievement in urban renewal, and now serves as the blueprint for Purpose Built Communities,  This unique holistic approach has been proven to provide residents with incredible opportunity for success.

Holistic approach, proven model

Model to holistic revitalization

Defined Neighborhood

The East Lake Foundation focuses on the East Lake and Kirkwood neighborhoods, where transformative programs and infrastructure have been established; if we can change the place, we can change outcomes for the people who live there.

Community Quarterback

The East Lake Foundation leads the revitalization by engaging community members, building partnerships, securing funding, managing programs and ensuring implementation of the housing, education, and wellness components of the model as part of the community’s vision.

Mixed-Income Housing

At the center of the East Lake neighborhood is The Villages of East Lake, 650 apartments, townhomes, villas and garden apartments, some of which are market rate, some of which are tax credit and some of which are publicly subsidized.

The East Lake Foundation’s Resident and Community Support Program, located at The Villages of East Lake, provides economic stability and community engagement programs and activities for residents.

Cradle-to-College Education

Establish an arena for student growth, learning, and achievement at every level starting at birth, and implement a rigorous and relevant curriculum to help ensure successful futures through college and beyond.

Studies show that the longer children stay in our programs, the more likely they are to excel. Educational programs offered:

  • Charles R. Drew Charter School serves more than 1,900 students from Pre-K through 12th grade
  • Drew Charter School College and Career Readiness
  • Drew Charter School Office of Extended Services and RISE After School Program
  • Scholarship programs
  • East Lake Early Learning Academy at the East Lake YMCA
  • Sheltering Arms East Lake

Community Wellness

Provide a community-specific mix of facilities, programs, and services that honor local history, reflect the priorities of residents, promote healthy lifestyles, create jobs, and reduce crime. From physical activity to micro-entrepreneurship, East Lake residents have opportunities to grow and thrive. Programs include:

  • The First Tee® of Metro Atlanta
  • East Lake Healthy Connections
  • Start:ME East Lake
  • East Lake Family YMCA
  • Charlie Yates Golf Course

A National Model

Communities Across the Country Are Building On the Success of the East Lake Model

Other cities are looking to transform their neighborhoods by implementing the East Lake model of mixed-income housing, cradle-to-college education and community wellness for best practices. Purpose Built Communities was established to take the East Lake model and use it to help catalyze and accelerate other holistic community revitalization initiatives across the nation. Purpose Built Communities is currently working with community groups in a number of cities.

Visit Purpose Built Communities for more details.

America’s greatest untapped resource isn’t hidden in the ground but is sitting in plain sight: the human capital trapped in poor neighborhoods of concentrated poverty…Investing in their well-being can be a social and economic game-changer, but only if done in a way that produces results.

Tom Cousins, East Lake Foundation Founder