What a difference seven months can make. In February, Christi Jackson demanded more attention from the Westside Communities Alliance (WCA) for the Washington Park neighborhood.  On September 14, The Conservancy at Historic Washington Park presented its inaugural “Excellence in Leadership” award to the WCA. 

"This year, the WCA has stepped up to become a true resource for the entire Historic Washington Park District,” said Jackson, who is executive director of The Conservancy. “Whether it is providing technical assistance or volunteers, we rely on the expertise provided by our growing association with the WCA. Ultimately, the Westside Communities Alliance helps us be successful as an organization."

The brainchild of Ivan Allen College Dean Jacqueline J. Royster, part of WCA's core mission is coordination and communication among communities. Since Jackson’s appeal last February, the WCA has connected Washington Park leadership with other neighborhood organizations and resources.  The result has been more robust participation and impact for Washington Park initiatives.  For example, at the Jody Brooks Memorial Movie in the Park, international athlete Qiana Martin hosted the first Pop Up + Play event, where neighborhood youth learned soccer skills. This collaboration came about through introductions by the WCA. 

Sheri Davis-Faulkner in the Ivan Allen College dean’s office is Community Liaison for the WCA. “This is what the WCA does:  We facilitate these kinds of connections and provide expertise and volunteers.”

Through the WCA, Georgia Tech is involved in several Washington Park projects: a design studio led by Herman Howard in the College of Architecture; a white paper on the re-use of the historic E.R. Carter school that is being developed collaboratively with IAC advisory board member, Haywood Solomon; and a neighborhood canvassing project and a playground clean-up with student volunteers from the Georgia Tech Office of Minority Educational Development--an event that served as a catalyst for a community grant from Park Pride.

“The WCA is excited about the next stages of the relationship with Washington Park as a full and active partner in the Alliance,” said Davis-Faulkner. “This kind of relationship is what we strive for, because this is how, together, we can do better as a community.”