On Wednesday,

Alternate Life Paths officials received a proclamation at the Fulton County

Commission's meeting during National Community Development Week. The Atlanta-based

program, which helps redirect youth who are homeless, runaway, dropouts,

or in trouble with the law, will be recognized for outstanding service

to citizens.

Alternative

Life Paths helps redirect "on the brink" youth by offering four

levels of housing, counseling and other services: Emergency Housing Program,

Girls Group-Home, Higher-Grounds Program, and Independent Living Skills

Program. Participants come in by themselves, or are referred by the Fulton

County Juvenile and Adult Courts, Department of Children and Youth Services,

Department of Family and Children Services, Atlanta Public Schools, and

Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless.

Audrey Nelson

was the first deputy executive secretary of the National Community Development

Association, a nonprofit organization of more than 550 local governments

across the U.S. A Chicago native who grew up poor, Nelson helped low-income

people until her death from cancer.