SHAPING ATLANTA’S FUTURE TOGETHER

 “The mission of Gateway Center is to connect people experiencing homelessness with the support necessary to become self-sufficient.”

Gateway Center would like to cordially invite you to attend our 14^th Annual Human Clay event as we celebrate 21 years of proudly serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Atlanta.

The name Human Clay derives from a line in The Novels of Balzac by French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac which states:

“And a conviction brings a salient indefinable beauty into faces made of the commonest human clay.”

We are proud to announce that Gateway Center’s 14th Annual Human Clay Event will be held in person at The Foundry at Puritan Mill on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

For over two decades, Gateway Center has been a driving force for progress and possibility, serving as a beacon of hope for approximately 5,000 individuals each year. Our vision comes to life by creating pathways for our guests to rebuild their lives and by fostering partnerships that inspire our entire community to take an active role in creating transformational opportunities for those we serve.

As we connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to stable housing and sustainable income, we invite all of Atlanta to unite with a shared purpose, embracing the mindset of Everybody Vs. Homelessness. Together, we can break down barriers, uplift our most vulnerable neighbors, and build a stronger, more compassionate city – because shaping Atlanta’s future is a collective effort.

“The mission of Gateway Center is to connect people experiencing housing insecurity with the support necessary to thrive in a permanent home.”

Gateway Center continues to deliver programs and services through partnerships that are designed to provide a collective impact approach to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness in transitioning to stable housing.

Event Co-chairs – Anna Roach & Kashi Sehgal

Gateway Center is incredibly grateful to Anna Roach and Kashi Sehgal for serving as Event Chairs for our 14th Annual Human Clay – Shaping Atlanta’s Future Together – fundraiser.

Anna Roach is the Executive Director & CEO of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), where she leads the agency’s mission to create One Great Region through collaborative, data-informed planning and investments that improve quality of life across metro Atlanta. Anna is focused on bringing people, organizations, and communities together to build a stronger future for all. A nationally recognized leader, Anna has been named among Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians, Atlanta Magazine’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders, and Engineering Georgia’s 100 Most Influential Women. Anna’s commitment to regional collaboration and inclusive growth makes her an outstanding Event Co-Chair for Human Clay. She embodies the belief that Atlanta’s future is shaped when leaders work together across sectors to create opportunity, strengthen communities, and drive meaningful impact throughout the region.

Kashi Sehgal is an entrepreneur, strategist, investor, and community builder dedicated to Shaping Atlanta’s future through collaboration, innovation, and ethical leadership. As a leader in Atlanta’s tech and innovation ecosystem, she helps organizations build authentic relationships with stakeholders through innovative mobile engagement solutions. Kashi is Founder And CEO of Retaaza, a social impact company reimagining local food supply chains by supporting local agriculture and creating equitable food access for our neighbors. Kashi’s unique ability to connect people, ideas, and resources has made her a trusted leader across Atlanta’s business, nonprofit, technology, and civic communities. Kashi’s passion for bringing diverse stakeholders together to solve complex challenges makes her an exceptional Event Co-Chair for Human Clay. She embodies the belief that Atlanta’s strongest future will be built through collaboration, inclusion, innovation, and a shared commitment to community impact.

Franklin-Hardin Award Recipient – Mayor Andre Dickens

Each year we honor an individual or couple who have distinguished themselves through their meaningful contributions to the community, which have made a direct impact through the promotion of equality and compassion for all. In addition, their advocacy has inspired others to fight for our most vulnerable communities, including the homeless community.  These honorees have exhibited courage, leadership, and a personal commitment to promoting equality, compassion, and the belief that housing is a fundamental right.

The Franklin-Hardin award allows Gateway Center to honor our history and the transformational leadership of two people who inspired the founding of Gateway Center. These individuals include former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and our Board Chairman Jack Hardin. Gateway Center chose this name for our annual award to celebrate the legacy of Mayor Franklin and Mr. Hardin by recognizing individuals and organizations who have distinguished themselves through their service to the community, promotion of equality, corporate citizenship, and generosity. This year we will honor and celebrate an individual who has prioritized Shaping Atlanta’s Future Together their advocacy of a strategic plan to end homelessness in Atlanta.

This year, we are honored to recognize Mayor Andre Dickens, 61st Mayor of the City of Atlanta. His belief that “Atlanta is a group project” speaks directly to the spirit of Human Clay and this year’s theme, Shaping Atlanta’s Future Together. Through his leadership and commitment to housing, opportunity, and stronger communities, Mayor Dickens has shown what is possible when Atlanta comes together to work together.

Gateway Center proudly presents the Franklin-Hardin Award each year to a leader whose service has helped shape a more compassionate and equitable Atlanta. Named in honor of former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Gateway Center Founder and Board Chairman Emeritus Jack Hardin, the award reflects a legacy of leadership rooted in service, partnership, and lasting impact.

At Gateway Center, we know that every new beginning is shaped by opportunity, dignity, and the support of a community willing to help someone move forward. Mayor Dickens embodies that shared responsibility and the belief that Atlanta’s future is something we all have a hand in shaping.

We are proud to honor Mayor Andre Dickens with the Franklin-Hardin Award for his leadership, service, and commitment to building a stronger Atlanta for all.

Emcee – Condace Pressley – Emmy Award-Winning Journalist

Gateway Center is excited to announce that Condace Pressley will be joining us as our Emcee for Human Clay 2026. Condace is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and lifelong storyteller with deep roots in Atlanta media. She held leadership roles at powerhouse stations including WSB-TV and News 95.5 WSB Radio, earning top honors along the way—including an Edward R. Murrow Award, multiple Associated Press awards, and, of course, that coveted Emmy. Condace is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism, where she’s been named a Grady Fellow and honored in the Centennial Class. She’s also been inducted into both the Georgia Radio and Georgia Association of Broadcasters Halls of Fame. A former president of both the Atlanta and National Association of Black Journalists, Condace has long been a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the newsroom and beyond. Her impact on the industry is so significant, she’s even been profiled by The HistoryMakers—the nation’s largest African American oral history archive. When she’s not leading or advocating, you’ll likely find her at a live concert or in the garden, coaxing tomatoes and peppers into something delicious. Condace also gives back through service on the boards of United Way of Greater Atlanta, Wellstar Foundation, Cobb Community Foundation, and Leadership Atlanta. Gateway Center is excited to have Condace as our Emcee for Human Clay!

Auctioneer – Jordan Campbell 

Gateway Center is excited to announce that Jordan Campbell will return as our Auctioneer for Human Clay 2026. Born is his native Scotland, he excels in engaging audiences in a professional and interactive fashion. An award-winning Event & TV Host, Emcee, and Auctioneer, Jordan loves connecting with guests in a professional and lively fashion. He is passionate about getting on stage and creating a memorable rapport with audiences while truly captivating the crowd. Jordan’s charismatic and engaging personality allows his events to be lively, entertaining, fun, and professional. He is on a passionate mission to help raise revenues for non-profits while elevating their impact as they seek to change lives and make a difference in community. Jordan loves to support the causes closest to his heart, and he is driven to help them succeed in carrying out their missions. He is proud to support these wonderful nonprofits and aims to resonate their mission with guests at every event, so as to maximize the occasion and to truly engage their communities. Gateway Center is excited to have Jordan as our Auctioneer for Human Clay!

We encourage you to learn more about Gateway Center by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and by attending Human Clay – Shaping Atlanta’s Future Together at The Foundry at Puritan Mill on Thursday, September 17 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

We invite you to support our cause by attending our event and by making a sponsorship commitment. If you are interested in sponsorship, please contact the Resource Development Department at fundraising@gatewayctr.org. Please see the following Sponsorship Levels and Commitment Form.

Tickets can be purchased here.