This Week's Program: LaShay Wilson, Executive Director of StepStone Family & Youth Services of Georgia
Please join us Friday, May 29th, as we welcome LaShay Wilson, Executive Director of StepStone Family & Youth Services of Georgia, as our guest speaker.
LaShay is recognized for her energetic, people-centered leadership and was named Executive Director of the Year for her outstanding service. At StepStone, she helps lead work that connects children and youth in need of safe, supportive homes with foster families committed to providing care, stability, and encouragement. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to supporting both young people and the families and staff who serve them.
Known for beginning meetings with positivity, stepping in when her team needs support, and finding meaningful ways to recognize and encourage staff, LaShay sets a powerful example of working smart and doing good. Her message will offer insight into foster care, youth services, and the importance of leadership rooted in compassion, teamwork, and service.
We look forward to hearing from LaShay and learning more about StepStone’s impact across Georgia.
JOIN ONLINE: Zoom Link - Click here Meeting ID: 874 0116 4307 Passcode: Service | One tap mobile: +13052241968
KeyWay Report
KeyWay Report on Sonia Hantman
At the May 15th meeting, the Atlanta West End Rotary Club had the pleasure of hearing from departing member Sonia Hantman, who shared a moving and wide-ranging reflection on her personal and professional journey across Bulgaria, Sweden, and the United States.
Born in Bulgaria, Sonia moved with her family to Sweden at age 12 following the fall of communism. She spoke about adapting to a new country, language, and culture in Stockholm, where she completed her education and became a licensed optician, one of only 40 trained in Sweden at that time. Her remarks offered members an interesting look at Sweden’s education system, which she described as publicly funded, highly practical, and closely connected to vocational training.
Sonia’s life journey has also been shaped by resilience, service, and deep devotion to her son, Dennis. After the loss of her husband shortly after Dennis was born, Sonia transitioned professionally and personally to create a life centered on family, education, and community. She became an outdoor nursery teacher, founded a children’s social club called “Besties,” and volunteered with a Swedish organization supporting children with disabilities.
A highlight of Sonia’s presentation was hearing about Dennis, a gifted Georgia Tech graduate with a passion for technology, learning, and adaptive sports. Dennis graduated with a 3.97 GPA and participated in wheelchair tennis, sit-skiing, and sailing, including international competitions. He has now been accepted into a master’s program in Computer Science and Engineering at UC San Diego, choosing the program because of its quality and fit over several other prestigious offers.
Sonia also shared that she and Dennis are pursuing an EB-5 investor visa as a pathway to permanent residency and eventual citizenship. As she prepares for her next chapter in San Diego, Sonia expressed her hope to join a Rotary club there while remaining connected to the Atlanta West End Rotary family.
During the Q&A, Sonia brought humor and warmth to the conversation, sharing that her first stop when returning to Sweden is always the 7-Eleven at Arlanda Airport for a Swedish hot dog, followed closely by a shrimp sandwich known as a “räkmacka.”
Sonia’s presentation was a meaningful reminder of Rotary’s values of resilience, service, connection, and global fellowship. We are grateful for her time with our club and wish Sonia and Dennis continued success in their next chapter.
Atlanta West End Rotary Club
Atlanta West End Rotary at Atlanta Streets Alive — May 31
The Atlanta West End Rotary Club will be participating in Atlanta Streets Alive: West End to Grant Park on Sunday, May 31, 2026. This is a day when streets are transformed into shared community space filled with music, movement, and connection, and we’ll be there to meet the people who make the West End special.
Look for our tent and table outside — we’ll be ready to say hello and talk with neighbors. For us, showing up at events like this is about more than presence: it’s about visibility, relationships, and service. Rotary has always believed strong communities are built when people know one another, support one another, and work together to make life better for everyone.
What we hope to do at the event:
- Let neighbors know the club is active and available in the community,
- Share information about what Rotary is and how we serve, and
- Listen, connect, and continue building trust with the people we proudly serve.
If you’re walking, riding, rolling, or exploring on Sunday, May 31, 2026, stop by and say hello — we’d love to meet you.
Event details
Atlanta Streets Alive: West End to Grant Park
Sunday, May 31, 2026
2:00–6:00 p.m.
Calander, Agenda, Connections, & Four-Way Test
Never a Bad Time to Catch Up (ON DUES)!
District 6900 has updated to a new Stripe ACH payment process. The new method is more convenient and more secure. If you pay your dues via ACH (and you should!), go to YOUR PAGE on our club website (Click here) and use the Setup ACH button to relink your account. Should you encounter any problems, click the Contact Webmaster link in the page footer.
