This month, as we pause to reflect on all we’re grateful for, I find myself thinking often about Tom Cousins. Tom was more than a visionary. He was fundamentally optimistic; a man of deep faith who believed every person was a child of God and deserving of the kind of opportunity that had shaped his own life. As a real estate developer, he understood that place matters, that the conditions surrounding us shape what becomes possible.
That belief, rooted in faith, optimism, and a deep appreciation for community, fueled his conviction that more people could be placed on a path to a prosperous, choice-filled life by transforming neighborhoods into lasting pathways to opportunity. Tom led with humility, kindness, and genuine respect. He was quick to give credit, always recognizing the partners, colleagues, and community leaders who contributed to making the work stronger.
I first met Tom in 1995 while serving at the Atlanta Housing Authority, and East Lake was one of my earliest projects. In those early days, working alongside Renee Lewis Glover, Eva Davis, Greg Giornelli, and Tom himself, what stood out most was his clarity: the obstacles to prosperity and opportunity were environmental – the people were not broken, but the systems creating obstacles and barriers were. He wasn’t content with what seemed probable. He insisted on striving towards what he knew was possible. That belief continues to guide our work today.
Tom trusted deeply in the power of collaboration. He recognized that we could do more together with best-in-class partners than we could do on our own. His bold leadership at East Lake sparked a national model for comprehensive neighborhood transformation, demonstrating that aligned action at the neighborhood level can open real pathways to the American Dream. But Tom didn’t just help launch a program; he helped establish a field. I know that no investment gave him greater pleasure, pride, or joy than the investments he made in East Lake and in Purpose Built Communities.
Today, that model is in high demand. Purpose Built is working in more than 60 neighborhoods across the country, with almost half having reached Network Member status. At the center of this work are our Network Members—local Community Quarterback Organizations who know their neighborhoods best and lead this work with extraordinary dedication, vision, and capacity. Purpose Built walks alongside them, providing deep, expert support in housing, education, economic vitality, community wellness, data, and long-term strategy. Together, we ensure that neighborhoods become places where residents can truly thrive.
This November, I’m filled with gratitude for our Network Members, our partners, and everyone on this journey with us. I’m grateful for the trust placed in Purpose Built Communities and for the opportunity to carry forward a mission shaped by Tom’s belief in people and in place. He understood long before it was widely acknowledged: when we invest in neighborhoods, we unlock the potential of those who call them home.
As we look toward the close of 2025, we know this work requires patience, persistence, and a steady commitment to the long view. We’ve made meaningful progress, and still, there is more ahead of us. The data affirms what we see every day: comprehensive neighborhood transformation is one of the most effective ways to expand economic mobility and improve health outcomes. And in a time when so many forces divide us, our model continues to bring people of goodwill together to create lasting solutions.
Prosperity Starts With Place™. When neighborhoods are strengthened through a comprehensive and aligned approach, communities become vibrant, hopeful, and full of possibility. Tom believed deeply in that promise. He felt the urgency of this work—and its joy. I feel it too.
If our mission resonates with you, I invite you to support Purpose Built Communities today. Your contribution helps us strengthen neighborhoods, expand opportunity, and ensure every family has a fair chance to thrive.
With gratitude,
