Neighborhood Collaborative - The Atlanta Project (TAP)¹
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Georgia State University transferred The Atlanta Project (TAP) into the university family as a means of enhancing research, teaching, and service through more effective partnerships with its urban environment and neighborhoods. Former president Jimmy Carter established TAP in 1992 as part of The Carter Center, where it operated until its move to GSU in 1999. TAP initiated the development of a university-wide unit called The Neighborhood Collaborative. The collaborative assists in implementing the GSU commitment to work in partnership with the community to improve the lives of Atlanta residents. Its goals are: 1) to build community capacity, 2) to focus additional research, teaching and service on community capacity building and improved social policy and programs, and 3) to improve access to human services for families and children, especially in low-income neighborhoods. Douglas Greenwell is the Director of the Neighborhood Collaborative and The Atlanta Project. Donna Bulbulia is Director of the Senior Corps Programs.

During 2004, the Neighborhood Collaborative has been successful in engaging the university and community in partnerships, especially those relating to the senior population. In addition, students have been recruited and employed as graduate research assistants, Learn and Serve students, Work Study students and student assistants.

Projects

Senior Corps Programs is funded through the Corporation for National Service. Since January 2002, The Neighborhood Collaborative has earned three grants from the Corporation for National Service to administer three senior corps programs: Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and Retired Senior Volunteer Program. The Senior Corps programs recruit, place, and train volunteers aged 55 years and older in volunteer positions within the community. The programs operate in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. Ten employees are joined by two graduate research assistants to carry out this exciting program with more than 1,500 senior volunteers.

Foster Grandparent Program is funded through the Corporation for National Service as a senior initiative through which people 60 years of age and older provide a service to young children with exceptional or special needs. By providing assistance in schools, hospitals, detention centers and early childhood centers, Foster Grandparents often provide services that limited staff cannot. The volunteers who meet income guidelines receive a stipend ($2.65 per hour) for the work completed. Foster Grandparent volunteers serve 230 children and their families. In 2004, 120 Foster Grandparents provided service at 14 different educational settings including a new "3 o’clock" project in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Of these 120 volunteers, 14 seniors have provided over 10 years of service to the children and their families. The annual federal grant is $488,547 plus approximately $143,000 in matching funds from various sources.

Senior Companion Program is funded through the Corporation for National Service. The Senior Companion Program is a senior initiative through which people aged 60 years and older provide assistance and friendship to elderly individuals who are homebound and often living alone. Senior Companions provide the services that frail elderly persons need to live independently. The volunteers who meet income guidelines receive a stipend ($2.65 per hour) for the work completed. Senior Companion volunteers served 176 fragile seniors and their families; many acted as an umbrella of support for seniors who receive services through the state Medicaid waiver program. In 2004, 53 Senior Companions provided services at six different service agencies in Fulton and DeKalb counties. The annual federal grant is $203,010 plus approximately $99,000 in matching funds from various sources.

Retired Senior Volunteer Program is funded through the Corporation for National Service. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program invites adults, aged 55 and older, to use their experience and skills to assist communities in need. RSVP volunteers serve in various capacities such as mentoring, companionship, administrative, Meals on Wheels, advocacy, tour guides, neighborhood watch, etc. The RSVP program serves 5 Metro Atlanta counties, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett. The RSVP program in DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties serves as the official source for senior volunteers in the county. A total of 426 new volunteers were recruited and placed during 2004 for a grand total of 1,325 volunteers. The annual federal grant is $180,935 plus approximately $111,000 in matching funds from the several counties and other sources. The GSU Rialto Center for the Performing Arts has been added as a station for utilization of senior volunteers through the RSVP program.

Senior Corps Matching Funds. Each of the three senior volunteer programs requires matching funds. The agencies that volunteers work for provide both cash and in-kind resources to support the program. Local county governments also provide grants to support the programs. The United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and other charitable organizations provide additional dollars. These sources generate approximately $350,000 annually.

City of Atlanta Weed and Seed Program. TAP was commissioned to provide an evaluation of the Weed and Seed Program implementation. The Weed and Seed Steering Committee is co-chaired by the Mayor of Atlanta and the U.S. Attorney. The project goal is to maintain and strengthen the combined efforts of law enforcement, residents and community agencies to weed out drug abuse and establish drug prevention strategies. For more than three years, TAP has been the external evaluator to measure the results of the Weed and Seed goals and objectives. Partners in the program include the Federal Drug Enforcement agencies, the City Law Enforcement agencies, Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta Housing Authority, MARTA and a host of community service providers. Residents from Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh and Vine City neighborhoods, the target communities for the program, provide direction on priorities and encourage participation from the neighborhoods. Current funding is $16,000.

Youth Enrichment Project. GSU Learn and Serve student Kehli Faulkner developed a summer youth enrichment program funded by the Enterprise Foundation. The project operated for 12 weeks at the Dunbar Elementary School facility, and worked with about 85 children. The youth engaged in creative art, dance, drama, academics and recreation. They visited local enrichment sites and produced a pageant to demonstrate their learning at the conclusion of the summer. The staff was comprised of seven college students and five high school students, who provided leadership and role models for the youth. The Enterprise Foundation is seeking to repeat the program in summer 2005.

Atlanta Community Access Coalition. The Atlanta Project facilitated the development of a coalition of community health providers and linked them with a social service network. The purpose was to increase access to health care for the uninsured and underinsured. This coalition successfully competed for federal assistance to implement this cooperative system that brought health care to a population with little or no access to care. The coalition includes Grady Hospital, Fulton Department of Health and Wellness, West End Medical Center, Southside Medical Center, Oakhurst Medical Center, St. Joseph Mercy Medical Center, Palmetto Health Council, Morehouse School of Medicine, Emory School of Public Health, The Atlanta Project and the Pathways Network. TAP has kept the contract to develop the Geographical Information System through the TAP data and policy analysis unit for over four years.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Earned Income Tax Credit. This project was implemented by the Atlanta Fulton Family Connection coalition of which the Neighborhood Collaborative is a member. The project provided free income tax preparation to families with limited income. In addition, the project promoted knowledge of the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is available to working families with children and low income but often is not utilized. The Neighborhood Collaborative took this project to the Atlanta Outreach Consortium (Clark-Atlanta University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University) for sponsorship in recruiting volunteer faculty and students to support the VITA tax preparation. Student volunteers from the four universities assisted with tax return preparation for low income Atlanta families.

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). The Neighborhood Collaborative in partnership with the Office of Community Outreach and Partnership continues to sponsor VISTA volunteers in their yearlong service requirement. One new VISTA volunteer was placed at the Neighborhood Collaborative. The VISTA was involved with the community capacity building efforts of the Neighborhood Collaborative, developing public relations, and recruiting volunteers for the Senior Corps.

The Atlanta Project continues to focus on building capacity in urban neighborhoods. TAP works to facilitate partnerships between residents and connect them with the resources they need to carry out plans for their neighborhoods and families. Two primary tools for this work are:

1. Data and Policy Analysis. The Atlanta Project established this unit in 1993 through a contract with a Georgia Institute of Technology professor. Staff and students are hired to produce vital geographic and statistical data that can be extracted by address throughout the urban geographic area. TAP has developed a philosophy and practice of assisting community groups in understanding both the value and the ways in which data supports planning and implementation of change. The concept of Democratization of Data is the goal of this activity.
2. Carter Collaboration Center. This computer lab has 30 workstations, software for training, access to the Internet and the Group System V software to assist group planning and decision-making. Groups from various neighborhoods, local non-profits, the United Way, Georgia State, and Atlanta and federal governments have utilized this resource during 2004. The Group System V software was used in an off-site organizational development retreat with the Georgia Department of Corrections last summer. Specialized training for volunteers to staff the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program was conducted in the lab.

Community Capacity Building

The Neighborhood Collaborative Community Capacity Building activities are headquartered at City Hall East. Satellite offices in the metro Atlanta area include Gwinnett County, Cobb County, and Clayton County. These offices enhance Community Capacity Building, with activities such as the following:

• Recruited, trained, and placed 526 senior volunteers into Senior Corps Programs to volunteer in their communities.
• Senior Corps volunteers participated in the 2004 Mayor’s Walk in the summer; they also traveled to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.
• NC hosted five "Senior Corps Recognitions" and four special events for senior volunteers. An average of 100 people attended each event. The events support the collegial relationship between the volunteers as well as recognize the outstanding work they accomplish.
• RSVP volunteers in DeKalb and Cobb counties made baby blankets, sweaters, booties, dolls, cancer pads and lap robes. These articles were given to hospitals, child advocacy agencies and hospices in five local counties. Some of the lap robes were sent to a nursing home in North Carolina.
• NC sponsored GSU service-learning and VISTA students from the Office of Community Outreach and Partnership. The students are involved in recruiting volunteers, creating the Neighborhood Collaborative Web site, and evaluating community programs.
• Gwinnett County RSVP participated in the Holiday Helper Program sponsored by GUIDE. The volunteers gathered items to fill bags to be distributed to children in need throughout the county. The bags contained not only toys but also essential items like clothing and hygiene products.
• Gwinnett County has been involved in Senior Day Out and the Senior Health Fair. Several displays are located in senior centers, residential facilities and grocery stores throughout the county.
• Gwinnett County placed volunteers in the Georgia Cares program, a horse farm that provides therapy for autistic children and a work center for the mentally disabled.
• Fulton County has volunteers involved in two literacy programs at Antoine Grave High Rise and Wheat Street Towers.
• A partnership has been established with Cobb County School System to support the RSVP program. They will provide tutors and mentors for students throughout Cobb County, from pre-kindergarten through high school.

1. For a complete listing of AYSPS Active Research Sponsored Grants from CY2004, see the Appendix: Report on External Funding.