Rooted in Legacy: The Same House and the Words of John Lewis By Rodney Bullard

I still remember the 2019 Beloved Benefit like it was yesterday. It was Congressman John Lewis’s last public appearance, and his presence was a powerful reminder of what it means to lead with courage and conviction. He spoke the words that have since become the foundation of The Same House: “We’re one people. We’re one family. We all live in the same house. The house of Atlanta, Georgia.”

 

Congressman Lewis spent his life fighting to make the world a more compassionate place for all. He believed deeply in our shared humanity, in the idea that we rise and fall together, that we are responsible for one another, and that progress only happens when we come together.

 

At The Same House, we carry those words with us. They are our past, our present, and our future. Because if we truly believe we live in the same house, then we must also believe in not only caring for that house but also for everyone who lives inside.

 

Answering the Call of His Legacy

 

Today, those words can carry even more urgency.

 

Atlanta is a city of possibility and progress. It is home to world-class universities, Fortune 500 companies, a booming creative economy, and the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement. But it’s also home to the largest wealth gap in the United States. A child born into poverty in Atlanta has only a 4% chance of escaping it. Someone who lives in Grove Park has a life expectancy 20 years shorter than someone who lives in Buckhead.

 

These numbers, these lived realities, reflect how our social divides have become economic ones, where our zip codes play a huge role in determining our opportunity.

 

At a time when division is loud and unity feels distant, revisiting Congressman Lewis’s ethos is more important than ever. He taught us that hope is not passive, but active. His words challenge us to move beyond complacency toward tangible solutions. They ask us to see one another not as strangers or competitors, but as neighbors, as family.

 

Supporting Those Who Do the Work

 

That’s why The Same House exists: to close the gap between promise and reality. We convene leaders across sectors. We bridge the public and private. We invest in communities too often left behind, because a house divided cannot stand. But a house united can rise, rebuild, and reimagine what’s possible.

 

Our signature Beloved Benefit lifts up this vision by shining a spotlight on the organizations doing the work on the ground. This year’s beneficiaries represent a cross-section of Atlanta’s commitment to care for all who call this city home. They include:

• Atlanta Technical College, providing pathways to workforce development and economic mobility.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, investing in the power of mentorship and relationships.
• City of Refuge, offering support to help individuals and families transition out of crisis.
• Latin American Association, offering resources, support, and a sense of community for Latino families throughout Georgia.
• Morehouse School of Medicine, training the next generation of practitioners to improve the well-being of our communities.
• New Life Community Alliance, erasing the legacy of poverty in South DeKalb neighborhoods.
• Partners for Home, coordinating solutions to end homelessness across the city.
• Westside Future Fund, advancing a compassionate approach to neighborhood revitalization on Atlanta’s Westside.

 

The Beloved Benefit is not just a celebration of their work, but an opportunity for all of us to rally around it.

 

Be a Part of What Comes Next

 

The Beloved Benefit returns this year on August 14th at the Woodruff Arts Center with a renewed commitment to carry forward the legacy of Congressman John Lewis.

 

I invite you to join us and be a part of the moment when Atlanta comes together to celebrate and, most importantly, to act. Through performances, storytelling, and powerful calls to service, the evening lifts up those working tirelessly to close the gaps that keep our city divided.

 

John Lewis once reminded us, “Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society.” That kind of difference doesn’t come from one person or one moment. It comes from communities showing up for each other, again and again.

 

We hope you’ll join us in supporting these organizations and the future they are creating, together.