East Lake Foundation

05/29/2026

Sometimes even already established business owners need support, strategy, and community.

Catherine Moon at East Atlanta Counseling (Cat) joined Start:ME East Lake looking to strengthen the business side of her growing company and feel more connected to the East Lake community.

What she gained was confidence, mentorship, friendship, and a network of fellow entrepreneurs cheering each other on.

One of Cat’s favorite takeaways?

Feeling more connected every time she walks her child to Drew Charter School because now she recognizes so many of “the brave people that are opening their own businesses.”

We absolutely love seeing our entrepreneurs grow together!

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Start:ME Atlanta is a 14-session business incubator in partnership with Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute at Emory University. Learn more below.

05/27/2026

The pool is open and we are officially outside!

Our recent Resident Appreciation Day at The Villages of East Lake was a big splash.

From major milestones and neighborhood investment to simple opportunities for neighbors to connect and enjoy time together, community building in East Lake happens every day in both big and small ways.

We’re proud of the continued progress taking place across East Lake and beyond grateful for partners like Columbia Residential who help create spaces where residents feel deeply valued and celebrated.

And one thing is for sure: we absolutely love our East Lake residents! 💛

Drop your favorite East Lake story below in the comments. We’d love to hear it!

05/25/2026

As we gather with family, friends, and community this Memorial Day, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

At the East Lake Foundation, we’re also grateful for the veterans in our community and among our staff, including Karis Williams, our Wealth Builds Program Manager, whose service and leadership continue to make an impact in East Lake.

If you’re a veteran living in, working in, or passing through East Lake, thank you for your service and sacrifice. We honor you, and we remember the courageous souls who gave their all.

05/23/2026

We know Mother’s Day has passed, but we just can’t celebrate our residents and mothers enough.💐💛

The Mother’s Day celebration at The Villages of East Lake was a full display of admiration, appreciation, and joy, and we were grateful for the opportunity to shower so many incredible mothers and caregivers with love.

Kudos to our dedicated East Lake Foundation - Resident & Community Support Program team for the heartfelt care they pour into our community and for always making our residents feel seen, valued, and celebrated.

05/22/2026

We’re continuing our National Small Business Month spotlights with a peek into Whitney Marshall’s East Lake story 💛

“I started my coaching practice at the outset of a global pandemic with a toddler at home and no formal business training.

The opportunity to participate in the Start:ME East Lake 2024 cohort was the biggest gift because it not only helped me learn the foundations of how to run and grow a business so I could more confidently grow my practice, but also connected me to a community of incredible mentors, entrepreneurs, and neighbors who wanted to support my success.

I am now celebrating my sixth year in business and have had the privilege of coaching hundreds of genuine and generous leaders living in East Lake and across the country who want more than career success; they want lives and livelihoods that feel aligned, meaningful, and intentional.”

Congrats on the success of Whitney Marshall Coaching LLC, and thanks for paying it forward as:

- an active member of the East Lake Women’s Alliance;
- Board Member & Giving Committee Chair of the East Lake Neighbors Community Association; and
- a proud Charles R. Drew Charter School parent.

The East Lake Foundation is proud to support our community members and their big business ideas!

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Start:ME Atlanta is a 14-session business incubator in partnership with Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute at Emory University. Learn more below.

05/20/2026

These bright, brilliant graduates definitely earned this moment!

Charles R. Drew Charter School just celebrated its 10th graduating senior class, and the Class of 2026 continued a powerful legacy of excellence.

From $19 million in scholarships to 6 The Posse Foundation Scholars—the most ever from a single APS school—this class showed what’s possible when students are supported, challenged, and encouraged to dream big. This class is also comprised of student athletes, diverse college acceptances, and many exciting plans for what’s next.

As proud partners and supporters of Drew, the East Lake Foundation is honored to celebrate this remarkable milestone and cheer on the next generation of leaders, scholars, and changemakers.

And huge kudos to Drew’s communications team for this amazing Senior Walk video. We're reposting ICYMI.👏

Congratulations, Class of 2026! We can’t wait to see how high you fly. 💛

05/19/2026

We want to see this peach sticker all over East Lake and across Georgia 🍑 because we’ve seen firsthand what happens when citizens lend their voices and votes to important issues and conversations.

The continued growth and success of East Lake has always been connected to neighbors showing up, staying engaged, and helping shape the future of their community.

If you haven’t already taken advantage of early voting, there’s still time to make your voice heard.

Every vote matters. Every voice matters.

Find your polling place: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

05/15/2026

The 2026 Run for East Lake 5K & Fun Run, presented by the East Lake Family YMCA. is almost here! 🏃💛

Whether you’re running, walking, cheering from the sidelines, or simply showing love for the community, there’s a place for you at the starting line.

This event is more than a race—it’s a celebration of the connection, energy, and spirit that make East Lake so special.

Every registration helps support the East Lake Foundation’s work in education, economic vitality, and resident support across the community.

And yes, your registration includes this year’s official race t-shirt featuring our 2026 winning design!

Register today: https://www.eastlakefoundation.org/signature-events/run-for-east-lake-5k-fun-run/

05/14/2026

Ilham Askia leads with heart, integrity, and a commitment “to make room for the full humanity of people.”

In a recent VoyageATL Inspiring Stories feature, she reflects on leadership, community transformation, and what it means to help build a thriving East Lake.

Dive into the convo to learn more about her and what she brings to the work of honoring the stories and voices that shape our beloved East Lake community.

05/14/2026

We are so thankful for Renee Lewis Glover's leadership.

As one of the architects of the East Lake revitalization, alongside Eva Davis and Tom Cousins, she is responsible for helping to transform lives not only in East Lake but also nationwide.

Renee Lewis Glover earned the nickname "the Terminator" for her relentless effort to transform the Atlanta Housing Authority, which by the 1990s was considered one of the worst-managed agencies in the nation.