Our Story
Invest in South DeKalb was born out of a simple but powerful need — a place to serve the community.
Lindsey Crawford and Maurice Raeford, co-founders of BF Fund Inc., an emerging Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), were working to bring free financial workshops and technical assistance to South DeKalb residents when they ran into a common problem: there was nowhere to host them. As they searched for space, a bigger conversation began to take shape.
Both deeply rooted in South DeKalb, Lindsey and Maurice saw firsthand the disinvestment and blight that had long been overlooked in the area. Rather than work around it, they decided to address it head on, by investing in the community itself. What started as a search for workshop space became a movement to shine a light on South DeKalb's untapped potential and bring residents, leaders, and resources together under one roof.
Invest in South DeKalb is the result of that vision. A collective commitment to building a community where every resident has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and be heard.
OUR TEAM
Invest in South DeKalb is led by a passionate and diverse team of community advocates, media professionals, urban development experts, and civic leaders united by a shared commitment to the growth and empowerment of South DeKalb County.
Together, Maurice Raeford, Lindsey Crawford, Evyn Harris, and Ieisha Fuller bring a wealth of experience spanning urban planning and community finance, public education, environmental justice, and political engagement. This blend of expertise allows ISD to approach community development from every angle — from the classroom to the boardroom, from the environment to the halls of government.
Rooted in South DeKalb and driven by its people, the ISD team believes that lasting change comes from within the community. Their collective work is guided by one simple principle: when South DeKalb is informed, inspired, and invested in, everyone wins.
Evyn Harris
Advocacy Director
Maurice Raeford
Economics Director
Lindsey Crawford
Education Director
Ieisha Fuller
Environmental Director
ABOUT US
Invest in South DeKalb is a community development organization, advocacy, and economic development platform dedicated to highlighting the people, places, businesses, organizations, and opportunities that make South DeKalb County a vibrant place to live, work, learn, and grow.
Founded on the belief that communities thrive when residents are informed, engaged, and connected, ISD serves as a trusted voice for community and environmental advocacy, small business promotion, civic engagement, and neighborhood storytelling across Stonecrest, Lithonia, Decatur, Ellenwood, Panthersville, and surrounding South DeKalb neighborhoods.
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OUR PARTNERS
