A lot of people who “make it out” don’t come back. That’s me saying the quiet part out loud. For those people, the neighborhood becomes a place they’re from, not somewhere they are. It may be home but it is not a place they pour back into or invest in. I found myself following that path. I did the corporate thing for a couple of years. I convinced myself this would be the key to achieve true success, stability and security.
But after recognizing I wanted more, I took a leap of faith and made a major career pivot. It was one that put me right back on the same streets I grew up on.
The west side of Atlanta, more specifically Adamsville (Photo via homes.com), was the first neighborhood that welcomed me when I moved from my small country hometown more than 20 years ago. So much so, it became and remained one of my homes long after I changed schools, moved around, and graduated. Along the way, I realized that I had ventured far away from what I truly wanted to do with my life, in pursuit of things I’d been programmed to believe were important above all else. In actuality, I wanted to give back, in a tangible way. I wanted to be the change that I wanted to see. The change that was needed. To do it for my people and those who needed it most.
The first time I heard about TimbuktuATL and its purpose, it made the return feel possible. As I laid eyes on the building for the first time, it validated the passion and commitment that caused me to pivot and cemented my choice to build there. On my drive there I passed H.E. Holmes train station.
I remembered taking that very train in high school to get to my job at Six Flags. Not too far down the street, I remembered my uncle running a wing shack at the corner near the Wayfield. It was a place I kept in my heart but had left behind. It brought back memories. Belonging. Familiarity. Confirmation.
TimbuktuATL evoked the same sentiment that I hold for the community. It looks exactly like something built by people who understood the neighborhood and the people in it. From the outside, you can see the hard work, raw materials, commitment, and effort that went into making it what it is today. From the artwork displayed on the interior walls as soon as you enter the space, curated by Black female artists, that are available for purchase. To the shelving lined from top to bottom with hygiene products, books, and jewelry courtesy of local artisans and authors.
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(Photos by author)
From the artwork displayed on the interior walls as soon as you enter the space, curated by Black female artists, that are available for purchase. To the shelving lined from top to bottom with hygiene products, books, and jewelry courtesy of local artisans and authors. To the shelving lined from top to bottom with hygiene products, books, and jewelry courtesy of local artisans and authors.
To the items donated from local businesses and contributors. To the multi-use space located on the lower level that hosts workshops and events.
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I learned that this space was designed and intended to pour back into the community, to serve children, men and women. A cultural exchange center, a movement, a safe space, a marketplace, a community.
That feeling didn’t stay a first impression. The more time I spent there, the clearer it became that I was becoming part of a family. It is the people that kept me coming back to continue to build toward the greater purpose.
From those that showed up in support, to the brains behind much of the operations, to the individuals who offered their gifts for anyone in attendance. The feeling of camaraderie, shared goals, passion and the capacity to take action is what transforms this space from being just a building into a hub of warmth, wellness, knowledge and encouragement — one that supports upward mobility, education and self development.
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(Photos by TimbuktuATL via Instagram)
Whether it is a book signing, a cookout, a back to school bash, block party, youth clothes drive, guided meditation, tech-free wellness event, open mic or youth program, there is consistency and emphasis on community. There is no other place like it.
TimbuktuATL has offered and allowed me to actualize my dreams and pour into the community that welcomed me when I didn’t know much about the city. The west side of Atlanta is still one of my homes. TimbuktuATL is one too now. It is a home to the community. A home within a home, if I may.
I am glad to have found my way back. I am even more grateful that TimbuktuATL provided a space for me to come back to.
If you are ever in the neighborhood or have the time, stop by and see for yourself.
Author: Jae Brooks
Jae Brooks is a multidimensional creator, entrepreneur, and lifelong student of personal growth, self-mastery, spirituality, and human nature. With a background in Marriage and Family Therapy and a wide range of personal and professional experiences, she brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective to conversations about identity, relationships, purpose, community, and the ways we navigate life. Her work explores what it means to live intentionally, understand ourselves more deeply, and continue evolving without being confined to a single definition of who we are. Through her content, conversations, and creative work, Jae creates space for people to think differently, see themselves more clearly, and explore what becoming fully themselves can look like.
