Swapping Suits for Hard Hats in Lovejoy
Building more than walls
On the morning of March 25, 2025, something remarkable took place in Lovejoy, Georgia. Corporate leaders, community champions, elected officials, and dedicated volunteers came together on Lot 23 of our Hannah Springs subdivision to do something that goes far beyond the job description of any CEO or executive — they raised the walls of a home.
Hannah Springs is a 28-home subdivision currently under development in Lovejoy, Georgia, anticipated to be fully completed by 2027. Each home represents a family’s pathway to stability, equity, and a future they can call their own. Our inaugural CEO Build was a powerful way for us to invite business leaders to roll up their sleeves and connect with that mission on the ground — literally.
A Community United: The Clayton County Chamber of Commerce
The CEO Build was made possible through a powerful partnership with the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Valencia Williamson served as the driving force behind mobilizing business leaders across the county, personally rallying corporate executives to show up, show out, and show what community investment truly looks like. Her energy and commitment set the tone for an incredible day.
Valencia’s leadership reflects what the Chamber stands for — not just economic growth, but the understanding that thriving businesses and thriving families go hand in hand. When community leaders invest in affordable housing, they invest in the workforce, the neighborhoods, and the long-term health of our entire region.
Words From Our Leaders
Before the first wall was raised, the site was graced by the presence of two extraordinary leaders. Mayor Marci Fluellyn of Lovejoy and Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson Henry honored us with their time and their words as they blessed the site and set the intention for the day. Their presence was a powerful reminder that this work is woven into the very fabric of our local government and community leadership.
A blessed foundation is an acknowledgment that every home we build carries with it the hopes and prayers of an entire community.
Events like this simply would not be possible without the generosity of partners who believe deeply in the mission of affordable homeownership. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors:
Kaiser Permanente — Thank you for your unwavering commitment to healthy, stable communities.
Clayton County Water Authority — Thank you for your continued investment in this community. The tap on the go water dispenser was a crowd favorite that day.
Your generosity made this CEO Build possible and your impact will be felt for generations inside the walls of this home and beyond.
Memorable Moments
Among the many highlights of the day, one moment stood out above the rest. The team from the Atlanta Airport Workforce Program arrived and got to work — but what made this build especially meaningful was discovering that they were building alongside the very homeowner who will one day walk through the front door of Lot 23.
That homeowner is an airport employee. To have colleagues show up — not just to support in spirit, but to literally put their hands on the walls of your future home — is the kind of moment that reminds all of us why this work matters so deeply. It was a moment of pure human connection, and it moved everyone on that site.
By the end of the day, the volunteers had raised the walls on Lot 23 — a milestone moment in the life of any Habitat home. This four-bedroom home will soon welcome a hardworking family who has completed our homeownership program and earned the opportunity to build equity and put down roots.
The corporate representation at this year’s CEO Build was nothing short of inspiring. We were honored to welcome teams from:
• Renasant Bank
• Atlanta Airport Workforce Program
• Geosam
• Atlanta Technical College
Each team came ready to work, ready to learn, and ready to pour something of themselves into the walls of a home that will shelter a family for decades to come.
Housing Affordabilty is Everyone’s Issue
The families we serve are not strangers. They are your neighbors, your colleagues, your children’s teachers, the first responders who show up when you call, and the essential workers who keep our communities running every single day. They are hardworking, dedicated, and deserving — and yet, in today’s housing market, the dream of homeownership feels further away than ever for too many of them.
Housing affordability is not a niche issue. It touches every zip code, every income bracket, and every community in this region. When a teacher cannot afford to live in the school district where they teach, we all feel it. When a first responder commutes two hours each way because rent near the station is out of reach, we all feel it. Stable, affordable housing is the foundation on which healthy communities are built — and without it, everything else begins to crack.
That is why the CEO Build matters. When business leaders show up and build, they send an unmistakable message: this community sees you, values you, and will stand beside you. And that message echoes far beyond the walls of any single home.
