How to get involved in your neighborhood in AtlantaA short guide: who to call first and what to expect.
To have a say in what gets built near you, go to your Neighborhood Planning Unit. Atlanta is split into 25 of them, called NPUs and named by letter. Each meets once a month, and anyone who lives or owns a business in the area can come and speak. NPUs vote on what can be built where, on liquor licenses and on city plans, and the City Council sees their vote before it decides. Each NPU sets its own rule for who can vote, and some ask you to attend a meeting or two first. Search "Atlanta NPU" with your address to find yours.
To report a problem, call 311 inside Atlanta, or 404-546-0311, about potholes, missed trash, water bills and broken streetlights.
To vote, check your registration, polling place and sample ballot at mvp.sos.ga.gov. You have to register about a month before an election. You need a photo ID to vote, and your county elections office gives a free voter ID card if you don't have one.
For free rooms, computers and classes, use your library. A card is free. Fulton County Library System branches have meeting rooms, computers and printing, and staff who can point you to help.
For neighbor groups, many small groups here share food, clothes and rides with no office and no forms. Some only post on Instagram. We list them when we can confirm they are active.
The Carter Center is a nonprofit started in 1982 that works on peace, democracy, human rights, and health around the world. It fights diseases like Guinea worm, watches elections, and works on mental health and support for family caregivers.S.
3 FM is a nonprofit community radio station in Atlanta that has been on the air since 1973. It plays progressive news and public affairs shows and many kinds of music, and it streams online all day and night. The station also hosts community events and takes volunteers.
This is the City of Atlanta's parks and recreation department. It runs neighborhood recreation centers across the city, and a few of them have indoor swimming pools. The department's page lists each center's address, phone number and hours.
Washington Park Branch is a public library on Atlanta's Westside. It is part of the Fulton County Library System. You can get a library card, borrow items, use computers and study rooms, and ask staff your questions. The library system's social services team can also connect you to other help in the community.
The Peachtree Branch is a public library in Midtown Atlanta, part of the Fulton County Library System. It has a computer lab, meeting rooms, and a book return that works after hours. The branch also hosts events such as family storytime and a teen design program.
The Black Achievement Fund is a nonprofit that collects monthly member contributions to build Black-owned land, community spaces and programs. Members get a free online African history course, and the group runs events and online programs, including some at its Kemet Club on Church Street. Membership is open to anyone who believes in its mission.
Everybody Eats Together is a faith-based group in Ashview Heights that works to bring food and ownership to the neighborhood. People who need food can take its survey to ask for free pantry pick-up or delivery. It also has garden volunteer days, Sunday community meals, and a pay-what-you-can grocery cart, and it is working toward a community-owned grocery store.
This is the city planning school at Georgia Tech, part of the College of Design. It offers bachelor's, master's and PhD programs in planning, mapping and data, and global development. It also holds information sessions for future students and some events on campus and in Tech Square.
Out of Hand Theater is an Atlanta nonprofit that uses short plays, information and group talk to work on social issues. It brings plays to homes and community spaces, runs free dinners with a play and a guided talk, and gives free theater classes in Atlanta-area schools.
org is a free website that explains everyday legal topics in plain language, like family law, housing, money problems, and immigration. It is run together by Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services Program, and it helps people find a lawyer, court forms, and other legal resources across Georgia.
404 Grounds is a Black-owned coffee shop inside The Ke'nekt Cooperative in southwest Atlanta. It sells drip coffee, lattes and loose-leaf tea. Part of what you spend goes back into community programs in the space.
Mobile Showers Atlanta is a nonprofit that parks a trailer with four private shower and restroom suites at a set spot each Saturday. Anyone who needs a shower can come, and visitors also get a hygiene bag and can look over clothing and other items. Volunteers also serve food and drinks to neighbors.
The Joan P. Garner Library at Ponce de Leon is a neighborhood branch of the Fulton County Library System. It has a computer lab, study rooms, meeting rooms, books and other materials, and kids' storytimes and crafts. It is also listed as an early voting location.
The Buckhead Library is a branch of the Fulton County Library System at 269 Buckhead Ave. NE. You can borrow books and media, use free public computers, printing and copies, and book meeting and study rooms. It also has a teen center and classes. The system's Social Services team helps people find referrals and apply for benefits.
This is the Louise Watley Library at Southeast, a public library branch on Pryor Road in Atlanta. It is part of the Fulton County Library System. The branch has a computer lab, meeting and study rooms, and GED testing. The system's Social Services team can connect people to longer-term help.
The Mechanicsville Library is a public library at 400 Formwalt St SW in the Fulton County Library System. It has a computer lab, two study rooms, and a large meeting room. The branch also lists craft sessions, tech sessions, storytimes, and visits with a social worker.
Dogwood Library is a neighborhood branch of the Fulton County Library System at 1838 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW. It has a computer lab, study rooms, meeting rooms, and a book return that works after hours. Staff help with research questions, and the branch hosts classes and events for adults, teens, and children.
West End Library is a public library branch of the Fulton County Library System in southwest Atlanta. People can get a library card, borrow books, use free computers and the internet, and join classes and events. The library's Social Services team also helps people get connected to benefits, housing, IDs, and other community support through referrals to partner agencies.
Northside Branch is a public library in northwest Atlanta, part of the Fulton County Library System. It has a computer lab, study rooms, a meeting room, and programs for kids, teens, and adults. The system's social services team can connect people to help with housing, benefits, jobs, and more.
The Auburn Avenue Research Library is a special library in the Fulton County Library System. It focuses on African American culture and history and on other people of African descent. Staff help with research, and the library has archives, art and history exhibits, and public programs such as lectures, film screenings and book talks.
