As South Downtown undergoes its most dramatic transformation in decades, Brianna Jackson is working to ensure the neighborhood's original community isn't left behind. As CEO of Heart of South Downtown, Jackson leads a nonprofit that connects businesses with mentorship, funding, and workforce talent while linking residents to training and job opportunities.
The organization, which began its work around August 2024, oversees cultural programming in public spaces with the aim of fostering engagement and pride in the neighborhood. With the World Cup drawing international attention to South Downtown's 16-acre revitalization, Jackson's work takes on heightened urgency.
Heart of South Downtown operates at the intersection of Atlanta Ventures' massive historic restoration — 58 buildings across 10 blocks — and the existing community that has called the area home through decades of disinvestment. The nonprofit's mission is to ensure the revitalization creates opportunities for all, not just new arrivals.
Jackson was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in its 2026 40 Under 40 class, highlighting her role as an emerging leader shaping the city's future. Her background spans human resources, operations, and community-driven innovation, skills she now applies to one of Atlanta's most watched neighborhoods.
The work extends beyond the World Cup. As South Downtown transitions from construction zone to functioning neighborhood, Heart of South Downtown is building the social infrastructure — job pipelines, small business support, cultural programming — that determines whether revitalization benefits the community or merely displaces it.
Sources: Hypepotamus, SaportaReport