Emmaus House Inherits a Building and Legacy

Iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright once commented, “We create our buildings and then they create us.” He went on to compare them to our communities, the way we construct our circle of friends and neighbors, and, in so doing, create a sphere of influence that leaves us all changed. Emmaus House is a part of one such circle, and we’re excited to announce that it is growing. 

For the past thirty-five years Emmaus House has worked alongside an educational nonprofit called The Study Hall. Recently, The Study Hall decided to move its operations to the westside of Atlanta. Because the building is owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, as a mission of the Diocese, Emmaus House will have the opportunity to expand its operations and participate in the building’s legacy of educational support.

This summer, the space will host our CDF Freedom School. This six-week program motivates young scholars to read and develop positive attitudes toward learning. During an average summer, students lose up to two months' worth of learning. That figure has been compounded by disruptions related to the pandemic. The Freedom School helps young scholars avoid the “summer slide” and instead jump forward, sometimes gaining more than a year in functional reading ability over the six-week program.

We’re still working out the ways we plan to use this space, but we’re excited to see the new possibilities it creates for our work. More space means greater impact, and we look forward to sharing this growth with our neighbors.