Westside Works was proudly founded in the historic Vine City neighborhood in 2014. Many Atlantans are familiar with the largest and most notable project that was supported from its inception, the build-out of the Mercedes Benz Stadium whereby residents received training and credentialing in construction trades that led to employment. More than 700 residents have graduated from the program, placed into full-time living-wage jobs, and have collectively earned more than $20 million in wages for themselves and their families.
Training & Services
Since then, Westside Works has expanded its training and services to include a holistic menu; offering community-based resources, educational classes, training programming, and rapid placement to meet the needs of all metro Atlanta Job Seekers.
Westside Works emphasizes five, core high-demand career pathways: Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Transportation, Distribution, Logistics (TDL), Healthcare, and Skilled Trades. These pathways have been identified as Georgia’s high growth and high-demand sectors. Programs and Curriculums are designed in collaboration with employers to rapidly train new talent pipelines with qualifying job credentials that are essential to successfully get jobs that can turn into amazing careers.
Westside Works is committed to connecting residents to equitable, high-demand opportunities.
One person, One household, One community at a time.
Westside Works Advisory Council
Supported by its diverse Advisory Council representing several industry sectors and varied demographics, Westside Works is comprised of experienced workforce development professionals, community representatives, and program alumni committed to creating and promoting opportunities for customers to advance their economic mobility.
Darrell Booker
Microsoft Philanthropies
2021 – 2022 Council Chair
Meet Darrell, your “techie’s favorite techie” who leads one of Microsoft’s most important racial equity commitments, the Nonprofit Tech Acceleration of Black and African American Communities. It’s not merely his 25 years in tech that he brings to this role that’s important but instead his unconventional path that is at the heart of true community engagement. Darrell created this national program designed at leveling the tech playing field for nonprofits serving our most underserved communities. Prior to leading this program, Darrell served in an advisor role helping the world’s largest nonprofits such as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, American Cancer Society, and the Salvation Army on their digital transformation to the cloud. Darrell has served in CIO and CTO roles in the past leading teams of developers in nonprofit as well as other industries such as automotive and banking. Darrell also has an entrepreneurial spirit, co-founding a tech startup for the fitness industry used in hundreds of gyms across the U.S. and Canada.
MARTA
Atlanta City Council - District 3
Georgia Tech
Legacy Westside Resident
Comcast
Department of Juvenile Justice
GreenLight Fund Atlanta
Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Housing Authority
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta Falcons
Community Expert
WorkSource Fulton
Community Expert
NYATEP
Legacy Westside Resident
City of Refuge
Vice President, Mid-South Region at JPMorgan Chase Global Philanthropy
Suganthi Simon is the Vice President for the Mid-South Region at JPMorgan Chase Global Philanthropy. Prior to JPMorgan Chase, she was the Westside Senior Program Officer for The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation where she worked with residents and partners to leverage resources and programs that positively develop people and place in Atlanta’s Historic Westside Neighborhoods. Suganthi led the implementation of collaborative strategies in health, economic inclusion, workforce development, affordable housing, and civic empowerment and engagement. Suganthi has also worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in various roles during her 14-year career with a focus on environmental evaluation, green building, sustainable communities and development, and environmental justice. She has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Wellesley College and received her master’s degree in Industrial Environmental Management from Yale University.
Microsoft Philanthropies
Program Graduate
Accenture
Grove Park Foundation
WorkSource Atlanta
Our tuition-free training programs and services offer the credentials and coaching needed to jumpstart your career and advance skills in multiple high-demand industries. Access a personalized career building experience tailored to support you, your family, and neighbors.
We are here to serve!
Mission and Vision
The mission of Westside Works is to connect Atlanta residents to equitable, high-demand opportunities one person, one household, one community at a time. Our vision is to be a trusted resource and gateway to Good Jobs with livable wages.
Partners & Funders
We thank our partners and funders for making this work possible!
