Establishing a legacy of learning at 21 Newcastle St.
In April 2025, more than 70 community members, civic leaders, partners, donors, and longtime friends joined us to mark a powerful milestone in the history of Raising Expectations: the official groundbreaking of our first permanent home—a 10,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art STE(A)M learning facility right in the heart of Atlanta’s Westside.
This new building is more than bricks and mortar—it’s our love letter to the Westside and a lasting commitment to the youth and families we’ve served for nearly 30 years. It will house everything from a high-tech makerspace and STE(A)M labs, to a teaching kitchen, café, and even wellness and meditation spaces.
For 30 years, Raising Expectations has helped over 3,400 young people find academic success, career pathways, and economic empowerment. The new learning space will allow us to double our capacity to serve Atlanta’s youth.
We’re not just building a structure — we’re creating a launchpad opening more doors to economic mobility, generational stability, and community pride. This new space will be a place where students will dream big, gain life skills and build bright futures.
We are filled with gratitude for the incredible donors who have already joined us on the No Place Like Home Capital Campaign journey.
Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised $4.4 million—91% of our $4.9 million goal—bringing us closer than ever to making our dream a reality: a 10,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art STE(A)M learning facility that will double our capacity to serve Atlanta’s youth.
Your investment is helping us build a permanent space where students will explore new ideas, gain critical life skills, and chart pathways to a brighter future. This new building will serve as a community anchor and a place of hope for generations to come.
Gifts of $10,000+ will be recognized on a permanent donor wall inside the new building–a legacy of your belief in our mission. To invest in Raising Expectation’s future, contact co-founder & executive director, Maria Armstrong at maria@raisingexpectations.org

Board of Directors
Courts Foundation
Omar & Bianca Cassidy
Matt & Sarah Ryan
Matt Westmoreland
Justin Ward
Every dollar given, every dream sparked, every life changed—your support makes it happen.
Raising Expectations, an Atlanta nonprofit, empowers youth in crises by elevating academic, social and civic expectations to facilitate high school graduation and post-secondary plans.
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