For two decades, Marlin D. Harris, Senior Pastor of New Life Church, has nurtured a bold vision for our home community of South DeKalb
Both New Life Church and NLCA have been dedicated to restoring dignity and building opportunity for our neighbors in need. Started with resources provided by New Life Church members, community partners and donors joined together to make important strides over the past 20+ years. Services have been established with a focus on addressing urgent and emergent needs to keep people fed, clothed, housed, and connected them to career support, education and opportunities. With a small, but dedicated staff, and countless volunteers, NLCA changed lives for the better in South DeKalb, providing hot meals, clean clothes, haircuts, medical screenings, bill payment support, financial literacy, and hope to those who came to the doors, seven days a week.
In the face of persistent economic inequality, a dearth of affordable housing, and the absence of basic goods and services in the community, NLCA leaders knew that they could further expand their impact by addressing the root causes of generational poverty.
22
Years of Service
Changing Lives for the better By Providing
- Case Management/Counseling
- Homeless Prevention
- Career Services
- GED
- Health Education/Screenings
- Food Services
- Clothing
- Barbershop and Beauty Services
With the original vision of building better lives for the people of South Dekalb as their guiding light, the Board of Directors of New Life Community Ministries spent the last year mapping out a vision for expanded and coordinated housing, education, workforce development, and wellness offerings that will create sustainable, large-scale change for South DeKalb residents. The Board knew that it needed leadership experienced in community revitalization, new and deeper partnerships, increased resources, and an integrated service plan to meet the moment head on. Early signs of gentrification and legacy resident displacement in South DeKalb only accelerated their commitment to ushering in a new chapter of New Life’s impact.
In April 2023, NLCA officially debuted to the broader Atlanta community with a new brand, mission, and partnerships, but fueled by the same passion that has been its strong foundation.
With roots at New Life Church as the ministry’s outreach arm, New Life Community Alliance continues to be an independent nonprofit organization with competent leadership and a strong governing board. NLCA is grateful for the Church’s ongoing support as a grantor, implementation partner for several programs, and point of entry for many community members seeking services.
Our Team
New Life Community Alliance Staff
NLCA has 8 full-time and 6 part-time staff members.
Michael Bryant
Chief Executive Officer
Rolanda Thomas
Chief Operating Officer
Kimberlee Barnett
Program Director - After School Program
Shannon Brown
Case Manager
Karen Cotton
Food Pantry Assistant
Faith Danzey
MSW – Program Manager
Breana Figaro
MSW – Case Manager
Wendy Lovelace
Finance & Intake Assistant
Tawanda Moore
Case Manager, Motel to Home Program
Carmela Pattillo
MSW – Case Manager, Career Services
Teresa Silva
LCSW – On-site Intern Advisor
Tammy Stanton
LMSW – Manager of Case Management, Counseling & Career Services
Brandi Whitney
MPH, MCHES Health Program Coordinator
Diana Williams
Technology Administrator
Charissa Wright
MS Ed. – Lead Teacher, After School Program
Board of Directors – Officers
Board Members
Our Partners & Donors
We are grateful for our ever-growing community of donors and partners who make New Life Community Alliance’s work possible. Our supporters include:
Donors
- AEC Trust
- AstraZeneca
- Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation
- Chick-fil-A
- Cousins Foundation
- DeKalb County Community Development
- DeKalb County Government
- FEMA
- Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority
- HEAL Collaborative
- Levett & Company
- MedCura
- New Life Church
- Public Health Institute
- Snapping Shoals
- United Way of Greater Atlanta
Partner Organizations
- AARP
- Action Ministries
- Atlanta Community Food Bank
- Clark Atlanta University
- Decide DeKalb
- DeKalb County Continuum of Care
- Emory Healthcare
- Enterprise Community Partners
- Georgia Department of Public Health
- Georgia State University
- Goodwill of North Georgia
- Hands On Atlanta
- Leadership Atlanta
- Morningstar Urban Development
- National Kidney Foundation
- NephCure
- PeopleShores
- Purpose Built Communities
- United Way of Greater Atlanta
Volunteers
Our volunteer force is integral to our work to erase the legacy of poverty in South DeKalb by providing our neighbors with the resources they need to achieve stability and resiliency. In 2022 alone, 566 unique volunteers gave their time to our organization. They contributed nearly 15,000 hours of service, a value of $433,000 in volunteer time!
Our volunteers come from all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome the broader metro Atlanta community to engage with our work.
