A place to call home
I remember my first visit to Frederick Douglass High School—learning was alive in the hustle of the hallways and the laughter of the students. “Without struggle, there is no progress” is a motto carried by every student. Walking through the school, I heard about aquatic gardening, the North Star newspaper, and the famous former students who once walked these halls. There was a sense of magic and pride.
My tour guide reminded me at the end of my visit, graduating from Doug meant you were “225 Certified!” My curiosity was heightened. Where did these students live? Who belonged to their family tree? Returning to my car, sitting in the school parking lot. I quickly opened the map, and saw nestled within the forest was Collier Heights—a neighborhood built on history.
I was honored to learn more about Collier Heights as my understanding of Atlanta deepened. Everywhere I went seemed to lead me back to Collier Heights. During my time at The Atlanta Voice, I sat with my dear friend Richard Dunn, listening as he reminisced about his days growing up there.
“Collier Heights is where blue-collar and white-collar Black families lived without knowing any socio-economic difference,” he said, gesturing toward the neighborhood’s architecture and the warmth of family gatherings.
As the time for community listening with Canopy Atlanta arrived, the voices and themes grew even stronger as we listened to the oral history of the Collier Heights neighborhood. Our guiding light for our storytelling is clear— to write stories to share the desire for the sons and daughters of Collier Heights to return and see Collier Heights as a place to call home once again.
—Ann Hill Bond, Collier Heights Guest Editor
Where did we listen?
We listened in areas within the Collier Heights boundaries and at businesses, parks and other communal spaces in the vicinity of the neighborhood.
- Collier Heights Park
- Mary Scott Shy Memorial Park
- Door-to-door (Collier Heights)
- Rainbow Shops
- Hair Masters Beauty Salon & Barbershop
- Hamilton E. Holmes MARTA Station
- Wayfield Foods
- ATL Coin Laundry
- C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center
- Hibbett Shoe Store
- Columbia Commons Apartments
- C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
What we heard
What Do You Love About Collier Heights?
Community Connections
- Neighborliness: “We take care of each other”; “We all know each other.”
- Supportive Neighbors: “We watch each other’s pets”; “The older folks look out for you.”
- Long-Term Residents: “My neighbors have been here since 1950”; “People have lived here a long time.”
Peace and Quiet
- Tranquility: “It’s peaceful. No issues”; “It’s quiet here.”
- Safety: “Peaceful, clean, safe for kids”; “Hardly any crime.”
Black Excellence and History
- Historical Significance: “Collier Heights was the ‘elite’ community”; “This community was the first to be built, financed, and designed by Blacks.”
- Cultural Legacy: “We marched. It was a glorious time”; “This neighborhood is keeping our history alive.”
- Prominent Figures: “Dr. King’s father lived here”; “Andrew Young’s kids grew up here.”
Convenience
- Location Benefits: “Close to downtown and Cumberland”; “Convenient to places like the highway.”
- Access to Amenities: “Close to Marta”; “A lot of food places and healthcare.”
Strong Community Involvement
- Engaged Residents: “We clean the park”; “We have balloon releases to support families.”
- Volunteerism: “I’ve been a volunteer coach for 51 years”; “We had a tree almost hit the house, and our neighbor helped us cut it.”
What Are Some Community Concerns You Care About?
Crime and Safety
- Description: High concern over crime rates, including gun violence, theft, and general safety at night.
- Sample Response: “Crime we hear too many gunshots at certain times, especially when people have conflict or beef in the neighborhood.”
Youth Engagement and Activities
- Description: Need for more activities and programs for youth to reduce idle time and potential involvement in negative behaviors.
- Sample Response: “We have to do better by the youth… The kids be out in the street too late at night.”
Infrastructure and Public Services
- Description: Complaints about poor road conditions, inadequate trash pickup, and the need for better maintenance of public spaces.
- Sample Response: “Roads are terrible and need to be resurfaced and widened. Narrow roads, wide buses.”
Housing and Homelessness
- Description: Issues related to vacant homes, homelessness, and the need for affordable and quality housing.
- Sample Response: “I would like to see better trash pick up and vacant homes. Homes are just sitting vacant.”
Community Cleanliness
- Description: Concerns about litter, general cleanliness, and the upkeep of neighborhood parks and streets.
- Sample Response: “Overall cleanliness, clutter, dirty, disorganized.
Who we heard from
What’s next
Canopy Atlanta is currently working with a Community Editorial Board, made of Collier Heights residents, to finalize story topics for our eighth community issue, due in May 2025.
Ways to Participate
Residents or people with ties to this community can complete this short 3-minute survey to tell us what matters to them to inform our reporting and the stories that are selected.
Explore more ways to get involved with Canopy Atlanta.
Editor: Stephanie Toone
Canopy Atlanta Reader: Mariann Martin
