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Pastor Harris

Our Story

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
How We Serve

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

Michael Bryant

Chief Executive Officer

Rolanda Thomas

Rolanda Thomas

Chief Operating Officer

Kimberlee Barnett

Kimberlee Barnett

Program Director - After School Program

Shannon Brown

Shannon Brown

Case Manager

Karen Cotton

Karen Cotton

Food Pantry Assistant

Faith Danzey

Faith Danzey

MSW – Program Manager

Breana Figaro

Breana Figaro

MSW – Case Manager

Wendy Lovelace

Wendy Lovelace

Finance & Intake Assistant

Tawanda Moore

Tawanda Moore

Case Manager, Motel to Home Program

Carmela Pattillo

Carmela Pattillo

MSW – Case Manager, Career Services

Teresa Silva

Teresa Silva

LCSW – On-site Intern Advisor

Tammy Stanton

Tammy Stanton

LMSW – Manager of Case Management, Counseling & Career Services

Brandi Whitney

Brandi Whitney

MPH, MCHES Health Program Coordinator

Diana Williams

Diana Williams

Technology Administrator

Charissa Wright

Charissa Wright

MS Ed. – Lead Teacher, After School Program

Board of Directors – Officers

Marlin D. Harris

Executive Chairman of the Board

James Hutchinson, Secretary

Georgia Lottery

Gabrielle Jones, Treasurer

GDK Associates PR

Katerina Taylor, President

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Board Members

Rick Caffey

Entercom

Ashley Carson

Division President
Atlanta Commercial

Derin Dickerson

Alston & Bird LLP

Robert Dow

Edward Jones

Alan Ferguson

Atlanta Habitat for Humanity

Reginald Fowler, MD

Piedmont Healthcare

B. Donovan Golden

Golden Associates Wealth Management

Tara Hardy

YMCA of Metro Atlanta

Scott Hughes

Atlanta Mission

Dana L. Lemon

W.D. Lemon and Sons, Inc.

Gregory B. Levett

B. Levett & Company, Inc.

Gerald McDowell

ATL Airport Community Improvement Districts

Deborah Spooney

McKesson Corporation

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.

VOLUNTEER WITH US!