FCS Staff Member Moves Into the Neighborhood: Homeowner Profile

We believe a home is essential to a family's health and success, and so we've been creating mixed-income housing opportunities for almost 30 years. Even with decades of experience, we still get excited when a new family moved into the neighborhood!

You may have seen our previous profiles on James, the Bridges, Tanisha and Khairi, or the Quezadas. Today we're eager to introduce you to a recent South Atlanta homeowner who also happens to be on our FCS staff team. We're delighted to have Krista, her husband Peter, and their daughter Lenora living in the neighborhood!

Krista serves as our FCS Development Coordinator, and she and her family moved into South Atlanta a little over a month ago. She says, "Joining the neighborhood is central to our work as an organization. However, it is certainly not a requirement all staff live here. For our family, the timing was right, and it really was an easy decision to move into South Atlanta. We wanted to put down roots in a place where neighbors talk to each other, differences are embraced, and people are authentically and unapologetically themselves. This is a strong community and we are thankful to be a part of it."

Her current favorite thing about living in South Atlanta is the fact she walk home for lunch! But Krista is eager to see what the future holds for the neighborhood. "We are excited to see more people taking interest in South Atlanta. As parents of a young child, we are particularly interested in the change that's happening in the public schools," she says, referring to a recent partnership between Atlanta Public Schools and Purpose Built Schools. This connection has brought increased attention and resources to the local schools in South Atlanta, and the community is eager to see stronger schools for local students. Finally, she adds, "It's also really nice to see vacancies decrease as more families move into the neighborhood."

We know there is something special and grounding for families to be able to own their own home. "This is the first home we have owned," Krista says, "and it is already a very different feeling. We feel like we have the time and freedom to really create a home here. Peter loves to experiment with plants, and we are figuring out where to plant blackberry bushes and peach trees even though they probably won't bear fruit for another couple of years. We never would have done that before. Little things like that add up and make a big difference."

We agree whole-heartedly. All the small actions of building a home serve to create stronger communities. We are thankful to be a part of this work, and we appreciate your support that makes it possible for families like Krista's to join the community.  

4 Reasons You’ll LOVE Our Open House

Three times a year, FCS opens our doors and invites folks in to see up close and personal what we do and how we do it. Our Open Houses are for pastors, nonprofit leaders, students, and community developers who want to understand what healthy charity and community develop look like in practice.

If you've heard of FCS and would like an honest, practical look at the work we’ve done, the lessons we’re learning, and the ongoing desire to serve and love our neighbors well, then Open House is for you!

We’ve still got a few spots remaining for October’s event. Here’s four reasons you won’t want to miss it

1. Hear Bob Lupton Speak

Dr. Bob Lupton has authored many ground-breaking books that are changing the charity paradigm for people all over the country. At Open House you will get to hear him speak about lessons learned from 40 years of urban ministry experience. It’s a challenging message that anyone seeking to love the poor needs to hear!

2. Get Practical Help in Changing Your Charity Paradigm

If you have read Bob’s books and are asking, “Now what?!” you won’t want to miss this follow-up workshop with FCS Director of Training and Education, Shawn Duncan. He will lead you through interactive and dynamic training to prepare you to change and/or establish responsibility models of charity in your context.

3. See Our Ministries Up Close

We not only will talk you through the why’s and the what’s of our community development model, we will walk you through our neighborhood and our ministries. We’ll introduce you to our local coffee shop, Community Grounds, the South Atlanta Bike Shop, and our brand-new grocery store, Carver Neighborhood Market. You’ll also be able to see housing diversity strategically developed by our housing division, Charis Community Housing.

4. Ask Your Questions

We keep our Open House events small to truly create an interactive event. You will have opportunity to ask questions of FCS leadership, as well as other on-the-ground ministry directors. Get behind the stories and down to the nitty gritty of launching and supporting innovative community programs.

Our Open Houses are always a time of great connection and mutual encouragement. It’s a joy to be in a room with so many people seeking shalom in the neighborhoods where they live and work. Come visit us in October!

Can’t make these dates? Be on the lookout for our 2016 Open Houses. They are scheduled for the following dates: March 10-11, July 14-15, and October 20-21. We’d love to see you!

Letter from the President

We have a wonderful privilege at FCS. We are surrounded by a dynamic group of supporters and volunteers who believe in our work. We also have the opportunity to connect with organizations around the country who share our mission in their neighborhoods. With all these relationships, we’ve noticed two questions that we are often asked.

First, What does “FCS” stand for? If you go way back with FCS, you know Bob Lupton started the organization as Family Consultation Services. When he set up the official non-profit, though, the name had evolved into simply FCS Urban Ministries. As Bob has handed off leadership and mentored young leaders, the initials “FCS” have been reframed to provide a more holistic description of our work: with “Focused Community Strategies”.

The second question is, What does FCS do? We partner with under-served neighborhoods to provide innovative and holistic development that produces flourishing communities where God’s Shalom is present. There are four areas of focus that allow us to accomplish this vision: Mixed-income Housing Development, Economic Development, Community Development and Training & Education. We align our programming within this four pillar structure.

This month, we are rolling out a new logo that expresses our vision with an image demonstrating the strength of a pattern woven from our four areas of focus. Bob has used the idea of reweaving the fabric of community for years, and we are excited to incorporate that image as foundational to our brand. The logo also forms a cross, communicating a clear stance in regard to how our Christian faith motivates our work.

Our aim continues to be to reweave the fabric of communities through innovative and holistic development practices. We know the work requires commitment, creativity, and patience. Decades of work at FCS have shown tremendous impact in Atlanta neighborhoods.

Thank you for walking with us during this leadership transition over the last year. Our board and staff teams have dreamed big dreams about our direction and strategy for this next season in the life of FCS. We are energized by the strength of our four pillars and the engaging work going on in our current neighborhood of South Atlanta. FCS continues to be an innovator in the field of neighborhood-based community development. Thank you for your ongoing support that makes it possible for us to empower neighborhoods to thrive!

Jim Wehner
President, Focused Community Strategies

Ben Teague
Chair, Focused Community Strategies