Experience Prosperity in Practice

We’re excited to host you for an exclusive Purpose Built Communities gathering in Atlanta on October 7–8, 2026. This experience convenes a select group of philanthropic partners, foundation leaders, and national changemakers for an immersive exploration of sustainable neighborhood transformation, beginning in East Lake, Atlanta, where the Purpose Built model first took shape.

Day 1 Agenda

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

East Lake Golf Club


9:00 AM | Breakfast

Breakfast and Networking

9:20 AM | Welcome and Opening Remarks: Why Are We Here?

Zenith Houston, Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer of Purpose Built Communities, welcomes guests and provides an introduction to the organization.

Carol R. Naughton, CEO of Purpose Built Communities, welcomes participants and introduces Atlanta Network Member leaders.


9:35 AM | The Blueprint that Started the Movement: East Lake

Ilham Askia, President & CEO of East Lake Foundation, shares an overview of East Lake and its neighborhood transformation journey.

9:45 AM | Empower Your Neighborhood: Grove Park

Gavin McGuire, Executive Director of Grove Park Foundation, shares an overview of the organization and its neighborhood transformation work in Grove Park.

9:55 AM | Building Thriving Neighborhoods: Focused Community Strategies

Marvin Nesbitt Jr., President of Focused Community Strategies, introduces the organization and its neighborhood transformation work in Southeast Atlanta.

10:05 AM | The Neighborhood Effect: Fireside Chat

Carol R. Naughton, CEO of Purpose Built Communities, is joined by Dr. David R. Williams, Professor of Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, for an opening fireside conversation.

10:45 AM  |  BREAK

10:50 AM | Beyond the Blueprint: Residents in Their Own Words

Ilham Askia, President & CEO of East Lake Foundation, introduces a conversation centered on residents’ experiences and perspectives on neighborhood transformation.

11:30 AM | Lunch Served

Served onsite at East Lake Golf Club

12:15 PM | East Lake Transformation Tour

A guided neighborhood tour highlighting East Lake’s transformation and its interconnected approach to creating pathways to prosperity.

1:15 PM | Drew Charter School Tour

Drew Charter School student ambassadors lead participants through the Junior and Senior Academy and share their perspectives on the school and community.

2:15 PM | Debrief & Wrap-Up

Carol R. Naughton, CEO, or Zenith Houston, Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer of Purpose Built Communities, leads a closing discussion reflecting on the day’s experiences and takeaways.

3:00 PM | Day One Concludes

Return transportation departs from East Lake Golf Club for the Loews Atlanta Hotel.

Location: Day 1

East Lake Golf Club
2575 Alston Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30317

Day 2 Agenda

Thursday, October 8, 2026

United Way of Greater Atlanta

Education at the Center: Advancing Housing, Community and Education Philanthropy
Presented by Grantmakers for Education


8:00 AM | Breakfast

Breakfast and Networking

8:30 AM | Welcome and Reflections

Kyle Malone, Director of Network Engagement and Partnership at Grantmakers for Education, and Zenith Houston, Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer of Purpose Built Communities, invite participants to reflect on observations and takeaways from Day One.

8:50 AM | Why We’re Here—and Why It Matters

Kyle Malone, Director of Network Engagement and Partnership at Grantmakers for Education, and Catalina Sibilsky, Senior Vice President, Model Integration at Purpose Built Communities, explore how education intersects with housing, health, and economic opportunity to create the conditions for children and families to thrive.

9:00 AM | Education at the Center

Dr. Kenita T. Williams, Chief Operating Officer of the Southern Education Foundation, and Katrina Mitchell, Director, Atlanta Civic Site at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, explore education within cross-sector strategies and the connections among housing, place, educational opportunity, and child and family wellbeing.

9:10 AM | Panel Discussion

Catalina Sibilsky, Senior Vice President, Model Integration at Purpose Built Communities, introduces a conversation exploring what it takes to place education at the center of a neighborhood strategy and how philanthropy can help align the systems surrounding children and youth.

10:00 AM | Funder Discussion: What Does This Mean for Our Grantmaking?

Kyle Malone, Director of Network Engagement and Partnership at Grantmakers for Education, and Catalina Sibilsky, Senior Vice President, Model Integration at Purpose Built Communities, facilitate a discussion about incorporating cross-sector approaches into grantmaking and identifying opportunities to advance the field.

10:20 AM | Closing Reflections and Next Steps

Kyle Malone, Director of Network Engagement and Partnership at Grantmakers for Education, and Zenith Houston, Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer of Purpose Built Communities, share key themes and invite participants to continue the conversation within their organizations and networks.

10:30 AM | Program Concludes

For all participants requiring transportation back to the Loews Atlanta Hotel, buses depart at 10:45 AM

Location: Day 2

United Way of Greater Atlanta
40 Courtland St NE #300
Atlanta, GA 30303

Accommodations

Loews Atlanta—where Southern Hospitality meets luxury and grace. Located in the heart of Midtown, Atlanta, the hotel offers a comfortable and convenient home base for your stay, with thoughtful service and easy access to our event experience. Please reserve your room by September 1, 2026.

Loews Atlanta Hotel
1065 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

Book Now

Getting Around

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

8:30 AM: Transportation departs from the Loews Atlanta Hotel for East Lake Golf Club.

3:00 PM: Return transportation departs from East Lake Golf Club for the Loews Atlanta Hotel.

Thursday, October 8, 2026

7:30 AM: Transportation departs from the Loews Atlanta Hotel for United Way of Greater Atlanta.

10:45 AM: Return transportation departs from United Way of Greater Atlanta for the Loews Atlanta Hotel.

Please contact us with any transportation questions.

Contact Us

Join Our Growing Guest List

  • Ilham Askia
  • Staci Brill
  • Laura Yates Clark
  • Marla Clark
  • Jimmy Craft
  • Brittany Collins
  • David Daniels
  • Curley Dossman
  • Doug Jutte
  • Cynthia Kuhlman, Ph.D.
  • Steve Macadam
  • Kyle Malone
  • Gavin McGuire
  • Edwin Nelson
  • Marvin Nesbitt, Jr.
  • Rashawn Ray, Ph.D.
  • Paul Reville
  • Terry Anne Scott
  • Gabby Sheely
  • Courtney Smith
  • Annie Koppel Van Hanken
  • Ann Woodward

Questions?

For questions about the Prosperity in Practice event, please contact:

Kim Graves
Executive Coordinator, Strategic Partnerships
Purpose Built Communities

kgraves@purposebuiltcommunities.org

Email Us

Purpose Built Communities