For years, the residents of the Old Wheat Street encampment relied on each other to survive. After the tragic death of Cornelius Taylor, two of his closest friends — Allen Hall and Lolita Griffeth — stepped forward as powerful leaders in the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition. Today, they are fighting not just for their own dignity, but for the dignity of every unhoused neighbor in Atlanta.
Now, we have the chance to give something back to them.
Allen Hall is 71 years old. He spent 32 years living unhoused, surviving violence, winters, hunger, and neglect. Through all of it, Allen never lost his compassion. But he did lose his teeth. He dreams of being able to smile again — and of simply being able to eat comfortably, something most of us take for granted every day.
Lolita Griffeth was Cornelius Taylor’s fiancée. The man she loved was killed during a city-led encampment eviction, and yet she has turned her grief into strength. Like Allen, Lolita has no teeth, making eating difficult and painful. She is stepping into leadership with courage, but she deserves to step into it with confidence too.
We take for granted the comfort and confidence of having teeth.
Being able to smile without shame.
Being able to eat without pain.
Being able to speak boldly in public without fear of judgment.
Allen and Lolita deserve that dignity.
We are raising $7,000 to cover the cost of appointments, fittings, and maintenance.
Organizer
