Will you join our book club?

At the Community Foundation, we are proud of the knowledge base of our incredible team. We have experts in family dynamics, community issues and grantmaking. Do you ever wonder how they inform and grow that expertise to offer you the very best in philanthropic know-how? Well, our team reads a LOT! And in 2018, we are rolling out a new way for you to engage with us. Each month, a different member of our team will share a book with you to inform your giving of time, talent or treasure. We aim to help you discover a new book or inform your interests. And along the way, you’ll get to know our team a little bit better. Won’t you join us on this journey? Our first installment by Barrett Coker Krise, senior philanthropic officer, is below.

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Community Foundation Book Club: City on the Verge, Mark Pendergrast
By Barrett Coker Krise, senior philanthropic officer

I’ve developed a recent obsession with the Atlanta BeltLine. It’s possible that it’s because I live in Cabbagetown. The BeltLine will run across the top of my street, less than two blocks from my house, and I’ve been avidly watching the construction. It’s possible that it’s because I was born here, as was my mother, and her mother, and this is one of the most ambitious urban redevelopment projects in the nation. It’s possible that it’s because Atlanta is dotted with unique and exciting neighborhoods and there’s nothing like a grounds-eye view to really experience them. While the book has been out for a while, I recently picked up a copy of City on the Verge by Mark Pendergrast because I wanted to know more about the project. I’d heard the basics – that it was Ryan Gravel’s thesis while at Georgia Tech and that it utilized the unused rail beds ringing the city. But I was curious to hear more about how the BeltLine went from idea to implementation, and what it means for the future of our city. City on the Verge captures all of that and ties it to the history of Atlanta. It helps you understand how this project is uniquely suited to this place we call home. I invite you to grab a copy and hit the BeltLine to see our city as it was meant to be seen –  at the human level. Learn more about the book here.