The South Atlanta community (originally called Brownsville) is a historic African American neighborhood. The neighborhood was created and designed by Clark University (now Clark Atlanta) and Gammon Theological Seminary. The former college is now the beautiful campus of the New Schools of Carver. It was at one time the mecca of the African American community in Atlanta. Until the end of segregation in Atlanta, the community building at the top of the neighborhood also served as one of the few movie theater options for African Americans in Atlanta.
In the 1950′s, these two historic black educational institutions were forced to relocate to keep their doors open. In the 1980′s, the GM Plant less than a mile away closed it doors. And what was left in the wake of those two institutions leaving was a void of jobs for people living in the community. When these institutions left, many of the professors, teachers, mechanics, technicians, etc.who were also the homeowners and community leaders followed suit to places outside the community. What was once the community center and haven for positive activity in the community became a liquor store and a hub for drug distribution.
Not all community leaders and concerned residents left the neighborhood though. A group of seniors in the neighborhood, who lived in South Atlanta most of their lives, prayed for years for their community. When they heard about the work of FCS Urban Ministries in East Lake, the seniors asked FCS to purchase and rehab the community center, now called the Gateway Building. The Gateway Building houses the South Atlanta Marketplace, Community Grounds Cafe, and is available for rental by churches and community members for different events, once again making it a hub of positive activity for the community.
The Pride for Parents sale takes place at the South Atlanta Marketplace, at the entrance to our community and is grateful to have such tremendous community involvement and support. We are proud to be helping in once again making the Gateway Building a positive place in the community.