ATLANTA, Apr. 23, 2024 – Today, Purpose Built Communities, a national organization known for its proven solution for holistic and equitable neighborhood revitalization, announced Bakari Sellers and Pinky Cole Hayes as keynote speakers at the organization’s annual conference. Under the theme of Prosperity Starts with Place, this year’s conference will highlight Purpose Built’s partners, Network Members, and community leaders from across the country working to create healthy, sustainable neighborhoods that include deep, broad, and durable pathways to prosperity for the people who live there.
“Neighborhoods shape us in fundamental ways, impacting our access to educational opportunities, social networks, and upward mobility,” says Carol Naughton, Chief Executive Officer of Purpose Built Communities. “Research and data show that a person’s zip code is a greater determinant of health outcomes than their DNA, making neighborhoods a key unit of change in people’s lives. Prosperity starts with place, and Purpose Built Communities works closely with local leaders nationwide to help neighborhoods improve and become places where residents experience greater racial equity, improved health and wellness outcomes, and increased economic mobility.”
Conference attendees will hear from dynamic keynote speakers, including Purpose Built President and CEO Carol Naughton, Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative Co-founder and CEO Janelle Williams, former South Carolina state representative and current CNN commentator the Honorable Bakari Sellers, and restauranteur and philanthropist Pinky Cole. In addition, 19 session speakers will add their knowledge and experience as they offer valuable insights, practical strategies, and tools that participants can integrate into their organizations and local communities.
“I have built my career around putting often-overlooked communities front and center in our political system and national narrative,” said Bakari Sellers, CNN political commentator, former state representative and vice chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, and author of the upcoming book “The Moment.” “Being in a community with over 500 leaders gathered to share resources, learn, and collaborate on effective approaches to place-based economic transformation is humbling and energizing. These are the leaders we need to shine a light on that are galvanizing change in our communities.”
The event will foster connections between practitioners, policymakers, and funders dedicated to providing pathways to prosperity. Participants will engage in meaningful conversations whether over meals, during a neighborhood block party, or throughout conference sessions. Conference attendees will also tour the Birmingham Woodlawn neighborhood. The tour will showcase the achievements of Purpose Built Communities Network Member Woodlawn United, providing valuable insights and inspiration for those committed to making a positive impact in their communities.
“As a Baltimore native and thriving Atlanta-based entrepreneur, I know firsthand how critical it is to have organizations and funders deeply invested in embracing a community-centered approach to building healthy and thriving neighborhoods,” said Pinky Cole Hayes, entrepreneur and owner of the Slutty Vegan burger chain, 2023 Time Next 100 list member, philanthropist, and cookbook author. “I have a location in the Purpose Built Community of Woodlawn in Birmingham, Alabama, and am proud to be part of a community that has significantly contributed to improving the quality of life for residents.”
Purpose Built Communities, with its Network Members, has demonstrated the power of neighborhood-driven transformation over its 15-year existence. The organization has successfully created pathways to opportunity and prosperity in neighborhoods nationwide by fostering collaboration among residents and local partner organizations. Network Members are collaborative, innovative “engines of change” that bring the Purpose Built Communities model to life, built on the success of the transformation of East Lake, Atlanta. Purpose Built Communities operates in 27 communities across 14 states and partners with local leaders to develop, collaborate, and accelerate neighborhood transformation initiatives through its four pillars, which include mixed-income housing, cradle-to-college education, health and wellness programs, economic vitality ensuring, and a thriving neighborhood that creates economic vibrance. Purpose Built Communities and its Network Members strive to achieve greater racial equity, improved health and wellness, and increased upward mobility for people in the neighborhoods where they work.
To learn more about the Purpose Built’s National Conference, visit here. To learn more about the work of Purpose Built Communities and its network members, visit here.
Purpose Built Communities is a national nonprofit that coaches, connects, resources, and convenes local member organizations to strengthen neighborhoods where we are invited to work and demonstrate evidence of the model’s impact. Purpose Built’s network is comprised of Community Quarterback organizations that execute the work – along with many partners – at the neighborhood level and contribute to the health and vitality of the network as a whole. Every neighborhood will be the pathway to opportunity and prosperity for the people who call it home. Neighborhoods matter, and so do the people who live there. Investing in place is an investment in people, leading to a prosperous future for all. For more information, visit purposebuiltcommunities.org. Connect on Facebook @PurposeBuiltCommunities.
