2026 Call for Nominations: Join the SWATS CST Stewardship Board

Related links: 2026 Stewardship Board Candidates

Contents:

Summary of the SWATS CST

The SWATS Community Stewardship Trust (CST) is a community-owned model for mixed-use and commercial real estate. Developed by The Guild, the CST takes property off the speculative market and places it under democratic community control. Our mission is to build shared wealth, ensure permanent affordability, and create community-anchored spaces in Southwest Atlanta.

Our first project, the 918 Dill Avenue pilot, transforms a vacant building into a community-owned asset featuring a grocery store, commercial kitchens, and 18 affordable housing units. This is just the beginning of our long-term vision for resident-led investment and community-centered development.

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The Stewardship Board: The Community’s Voice in Governance

Our governance is built on a dual-board model that balances community vision with financial responsibility.

Fiduciary Board (Board of Directors): Holds legal and financial oversight, ensuring the CST remains stable, compliant, and well-managed.
Stewardship Board (This Board): Sets community direction, guiding property decisions to reflect our mission and shared priorities. Think of it as the “community compass” for our collective assets.

The Stewardship Board functions in relation to other parts of our governance ecosystem:

To the Fiduciary Board: We work collaboratively on strategic planning, property acquisitions, and major developments. The Stewardship Board has consent authority on many of these issues, ensuring community interests are protected. Fiduciary Board members also co-lead several working circles alongside Stewardship Board members.
To the Stewards (You!): The Board is accountable to all CST Stewards through an annual election process, regular community forums, and transparent decision-making.
To the Working Circles: The Board’s work is carried out in partnership with our four working circles. Each Stewardship Board member is expected to take a leadership role in one of these circles, connecting the Board’s strategic vision to day-to-day community action.

Circle	Focus Area
Governance Circle	Oversees elections, charters, decision-making processes, and community standards.
Property Management Circle	Guides property use, tenant relations, and property upkeep.
Partnerships Circle	Develops strategic partnerships and oversees tenant/partner agreements.
Organizing Circle	Leads community engagement, outreach, and Steward recruitment.

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Job Description: Roles, Duties, and Requirements

Stewardship Board members are community ambassadors and key decision-makers for the CST’s future.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Direction: Participate in quarterly board meetings to make consent-based decisions on property use, community standards, and resource allocation.
Circle Leadership: Actively participate in and help lead one of the four CST working circles (Governance, Property Management, Partnerships, or Organizing).
Community Engagement: Serve as a liaison between the Board and the community, attending events, gathering input, and communicating board decisions.
Mission Alignment: Ground all decisions in the CST’s core mission of democratizing property ownership and building community power.

Time Commitment:

Quarterly Board Meetings (4 per year): Mandatory attendance, 2-4 hours each, for strategic decision-making.
Circle Meetings: Regular meetings (typically monthly) for your assigned working circle.
Annual Meeting Prep Session: Mandatory attendance on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Get more info and RSVP here.
CST Annual Meeting: Mandatory attendance on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Additional time for reviewing materials, community events, and occasional strategic sessions. Get more info and RSVP here.

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Eligibility Criteria and Desired Attributes

To be eligible for the Stewardship Board, you must be a CST Steward (a Class A or B shareholder) in good standing. In addition, you must the CST Education Requirement, completing either the online course or a qualifying CST Workshop.

We are seeking candidates who embody the following skills and attributes:

Commitment to Mission: A demonstrated passion for community development, affordable housing, and racial and economic justice.
Community Connection: Strong ties to or investment in the Southwest Atlanta community.
Collaborative Spirit: Willingness to work in a consensus-based, sociocratic environment where diverse perspectives are valued.
Communication Skills: Ability to listen deeply to community members and clearly communicate board decisions.
Relevant Experience (Valuable but Not Required): Experience in areas like real estate, property management, finance, community organizing, law, or nonprofit governance.
Availability: Capacity to fulfill the time commitment outlined above.

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Term and Compensation

There are four (4) open seats for this election. To ensure continuity, these seats are for staggered terms:

Two (2) seats for a one-year term (expiring June 2027)
One (1) seat for a two-year term (expiring June 2028)
One (1) seat for a three-year term (expiring June 2029)

All candidates will be considered for all term lengths based on their interest and the needs of the Board. Preference for term length can be indicated in your application.

Compensation for the First Year:
This is a volunteer leadership position. For the inaugural year, there is a small stipend to reduce barriers to participation that we plan to continue in future years.

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How to Apply: Nomination Process & Timeline

The nominations process is now closed. To vote in the Stewardship Board election, invest in the SWATS CST.

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Key Dates & Timeline

~~Nominations Open: March 30, 2026~~
~~Nominations Close: April 26, 2026~~
Nominee Review & Ballot Prep: April 26 – May 8, 2026
CST Stewardship Board Candidate Forum (Mandatory for Candidates): May 16, 2026
Voting Period: May 13 – June 13, 2026
CST Annual Meeting & In-Person Vote (Mandatory for Candidates): June 13, 2026
Results Announced: June 13, 2026
New Stewardship Board Member Onboarding & Transition: June 13 – 30, 2026

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Nomination Form Questions

The nominations process is now closed. To vote in the Stewardship Board election, invest in the SWATS CST.

If you have questions, please email the Elections Committee at cst@theguild.community or sign up for a Help Desk session.

Nomination / Application Form

Nominator Information:
- Your Name:
- Your Email:
- Are you nominating yourself or someone else?
  - Myself
  - Someone else (Please provide their name and email below)
Nominee Information (If nominating someone else, please complete this section with their details):
- Nominee’s Full Name:
- Nominee’s Email:
- Nominee’s Phone Number:
- Nominee’s Neighborhood(s):

Nominee Application

To be completed by the nominee. Your answers will be published along with your bio for all CST Stewards to review before voting.

Bio: Share a brief biography to introduce yourself (usually in the third person tense, i.e. “[Your Name] is …”).
Statement of Interest: Why are you (or your nominee) interested in serving on the SWATS CST Stewardship Board? What excites you most about this opportunity to shape community-owned real estate?
Community Connection & Experience: Please describe your connection to the Southwest Atlanta community and any relevant skills or experiences you would bring to the board. Do you live and/or work in the community? This could also include professional background, lived experience, community organizing, or other forms of engagement.
Vision for Community Stewardship: In your view, what is the most important role the Stewardship Board plays in ensuring the CST remains accountable to the community and true to its mission?
Term Preference: We will be filling seats of varying term lengths. Please indicate your preference by selecting all that apply:
- I am open to any term length (one, two, or three years).
- I am primarily interested in a one-year term.
- I am primarily interested in a two-year term.
- I am primarily interested in a three-year term.
- I prefer not to serve on a one-year term.
- I prefer not to serve on a three-year term.
Comments: Please feel free to share anything else you want us to know.

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Questions? We’re Here to Help.

Get in Touch:
For any questions about the Stewardship Board, the election process, or your eligibility for the next election, please email the Elections Committee at cst@theguild.community.

Attend a Help Desk Session:
Prefer a conversation? Sign up for a virtual Help Desk session. This is an informal space to ask questions, talk through the investment process, or just learn more about CST governance and the Stewardship Board.

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