We are heartbroken by the recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks and too many others who have lost their lives prematurely due to brutality, bigotry and racism. The Atlanta Land Trust (ALT) stands in solidarity with those raising their voices against the destruction and devaluation of Black life by structural racism. We support the big vision of societal transformation and the many voices moving America forward to demand systemic, positive and lasting change. We are taking affirmative steps to advance racial equity within our organization.
We acknowledge the work of Shirley and Charles Sherrod, who started the community land trust movement in the U.S. in Albany, GA in 1969. Their organization, New Communities Inc., is a grassroots organization that has worked for more than 40 years to empower Black families in Southwest Georgia and advocate for social justice. ALT’s work honors the vision and leadership of the Sherrods, and is grateful for and reliant upon their labor, sacrifices and that of generations of Black leaders. The Sherrods envisioned and gave life to the land trust movement.
ALT is committed to social justice and will do our part to dismantle the racist systems that have locked Black people out of homeownership for hundreds of years. Our newly approved Strategic Plan will help us do this. We also have two homes available through the West Atlanta Preservation Initiative, which seeks to promote historic preservation and affordable housing preservation in historic Black neighborhoods, and have five homes available in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh, founded by formerly enslaved people in 1883.
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