Brookhaven, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities

Description: Immigrant communities along Buford Highway face barriers like language isolation and limited access, leaving older adults disconnected from resources and cultural engagement. To address this, the project installed a painted newsstand as a permanent hub for multilingual newsletters and hosted an open-street event with story-sharing and health services. The event gathered 41 new stories and provided screenings, vaccines and essentials to hundreds of families. The initiative created a lasting platform for cultural storytelling and trust-building. A project organizer noted that the project inspired a mother and daughter to share touching stories and helped open an emotional conversation about their hopes for the future.

Stone Mountain, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Immigrant and refugee growers in Stone Mountain needed better resources and infrastructure to farm collectively. The grant funded upgrades at two sites-Indian Creek MARTA Station Farm and North Dekalb Mall Garden-adding land improvements, garden tools, seed bins and picnic tables. These enhancements created safer, more functional spaces for older adults and strengthened community engagement. Both gardens are now part of long-term plans, including a partnership with Atlanta's transit authority and integration into a major mixed-use redevelopment. This helps position growers to sell produce locally and sustain food access.