The community engagement arms of H.J. Russell & Company (Russell) and its sister company, Concessions International, LLC (CI), Russell CARES and CI Cares respectively, joined forces to give back to the Castleberry Hill community, a Westside neighborhood they have invested in and made a difference in for nearly 70 years, long before Atlanta’s Westside was trendy. 

The Russell Rocks the Block Community Day event was designed to show the community that Russell and CI are taking their commitment to Castleberry Hill area to another level by laying deeper roots that include, among several projects, the multi-million dollar renovation of The Villages of Castleberry, the impending opening of the Russell Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (RCIE) in the former Russell headquarters building at 504 Fair Street, and the recent renovation and conversion of Castleberry Inn to a Clarion across from CI-owned and operated Pascal’s restaurant and the Loft at Castleberry Hill event space.

“We believe a healthy community can’t exist without healthy, economically secure and empowered people,” said Paul Bryant, Russell CARES, Director of External Affairs, Russell. “During our Russell Rocks the Block event we showed that our commitment to Atlanta goes beyond constructing buildings and being an airport food concessionaire, we showed our commitment is to the people who live in the community we serve.”

CI Cares and Russell CARES neighborhood event on the grounds of The Villages of Castleberry (560 Larkins St.), collaborated to provide the following meaningful activities for members of the community against the backdrop of music provided by a DJ, food and drinks, a slushy truck and bounce house, live art painting by Miya Bailey, garden tours, and door prizes: 

• Health Screenings provided by Morehouse School of Medicine

• Work Source Atlanta Mobile Employment Unit, that can hire on the spot

• Fulton County Voter Education & Outreach to encourage mid-term and general election participation 

“Giving back has been in the founding fabric of both companies founded by my grandfather, Herman J. Russell,” said Mori Russell, CI Cares, Business Development Manager, CI. “This is an exciting time for the following generations to formulate how to give back in a personal and tangible way.”