On Saturday, September 25, the StoryCorps Atlanta team packed up its equipment and headed to the heart of downtown Atlanta to the second annual Neighborhood Summit. The event, a program by the Civic League for Regional Atlanta sponsored by the United Way and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, had the theme “Neighborhood Connections, Regional Voices.”

Throughout the day, Summit attendees sat in on workshops that focused on topics ranging from communities using social media technology to organize themselves, to learning about a new plan that, according to the organization’s website, “will determine how the region accommodates population and economic growth sustainability over the next 30 years.” Heady stuff to be sure!

We recorded stories from representatives and leaders of many of Atlanta’s community-based and civic organizations, homeowners’ associations, and members of Atlanta’s business, philanthropic, nonprofit and public sectors. One story from the day, a conversation between journalist Maria Saporta and Atlanta Community Food Bank founder and CEO, Bill Bolling was edited and aired on WABE. Take a listen.

Alicia Philipp and Lesley Grady (above), President and Senior Vice President of Community Partnerships, respectively, of the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta discussed what brought them to Atlanta and their work in philanthropy.

Zayra Alicia Fossee and former Atlanta City Council Member Clair Muller (pictured above) discussed their participation in public leadership.

The root of the day-long conference was found in a conversation between fellow Morehouse College graduates and friends, Charles Walker and Mandala Jones (pictured). They talked about learning the importance of community from churches and neighbors who celebrate individual and collective successes. Now, they both are involved in community building and through mentoring young people are passing on the sense of community they remember and cherish.