neighborhood empowerment
OUR PLACE-BASED STRATEGY
Community Resource program
We are leveraging place-based strategies and public-private partnerships to address resource and food access gaps at our Community Resource Events. This program seeks to earn trust and empower neighborhoods by establishing safe spaces for residents to gather and access resources.
2024 Impact Data
91
Community Resource Events Hosted
10,211
Household Units Served
208
Volunteers Engaged
112
56
Public & Private Partners Engaged
Countries Represented by Attendees
MYCITY ATL program
MyCity ATL started in 2016 and is designed to inform and empower the immigrant and refugee population in Atlanta to directly engage and interact with city services on topics that are important to New Americans. Once a month over the course of six months, MyCity participants from the Atlanta Public Schools Adult ESOL program hear from City departments, gain a better understanding of how City agencies work, and learn how to resolve issues. Through these sessions, participants learn and become ambassadors who build strong communities by not only using the gained knowledge but sharing it as well. Since 2016, Individuals from over 35 different nations participated in MyCity ATL.
Interested in participating? Contact Valerie Mills at vmills@atlantaga.gov.
Mycity atl topics
In addition to empowering New Americans to interact with City Government, MyCity ATL helps Welcoming Atlanta and Metro officials to identify immigrant and refugee issues of concern.
Major topics participants discussed include:
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The Power of Volunteering
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College Readiness
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Know Your Rights
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Immigration Law: Immigrant Family Preparedness
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Driving Rules, Violations and Police Stops
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Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness
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Community Resources and Social Services
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Domestic Violence and Emotional Well-being
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Credit Worthiness and the US Banking System
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US Job Readiness
goals of mycity atl
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To introduce New Americans to Atlanta City Services
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To develop new leaders who embrace their relationship with the City and take an active role in shaping it for the better
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To build networks between different communities to strengthen the fabric of Atlanta as a whole
“Useful and relevant information from great and kind speakers”
“Visiting City Hall and experiencing how approachable government can be”
“Presentations are very practical”
"I became empowered. I received advice on how to integrate into the community, and how to access opportunities that could transform my life."
“Provides me with yet another opportunity to improve my English”
“Learning about how to thrive in Atlanta"
participant testimonials
Community navigator program
In partnership with the Latino Community Fund - Georgia, our Community Navigators are working to foster relationships and improve trust with Atlanta residents. This program empowers leaders to support their neighbors and communities through meaningful connection and resource navigation.
Navigators receive training and participate in professional development opportunities, and they play a key role in developing essential relationships with our immigrant neighbors. This innovative program builds connectivity and access, offering key access points to resources, services, and programs from the City of Atlanta and external partners.
navigators in 2024
9
In-Language Trainings Hosted
31
External Events Supported
28
Partners Engaged, Including 9 City of Atlanta Departments
Faviola M.
“As a Community Navigator, I have come to understand the immense value of accessing information and effectively communicating it to the community. People place their trust in us and reach out for assistance. I truly enjoy engaging with the community, learning about their needs, and hearing how our support impacts them because they have someone they can rely on."
Anabel A.
"I have seen how the support we provide through our program contributes to improving people's lives. It is gratifying to see the positive impact that having access to health services, education, food, etc. has for them. This program not only benefits the recipient, but also makes me as a Community Navigator more empathetic towards others. Seeing their happy faces when they see us and supporting them fills me with happiness."
career pathways guide
As part of the 2020 World Education Services (WES) Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) cohort, Atlanta created the Career Pathways Guide for Nurses in Georgia to address the existing barriers to workforce integration for nurses in Georgia. This toolkit spotlights the work being done by the Mayor’s Office of International & Immigrant Affairs – Welcoming Atlanta to support New Americans in their pursuit of employment commensurate with their skills and experience.
Download the Career Pathway Guide