Who We Are

Love Beyond Walls is a movement birthed out of the hope that love is greater than walls.

Walls exist more than ever in our current society. We looked around and saw a nation-building higher and higher barriers between one another. These walls separated people people from each other. We are an organization that is unafraid to address these barriers and are committed to breaking them down.

We believe in action over words and making service a part of our daily lives. One of the most distinguishable characteristics of our organization is our focus on telling the stories of the unseen and building relationships with people to walk with them out of poverty and homelessness. We are committed to the people that the world passes by because we believe the people struggling with poverty and sleeping on the streets have lives and stories that are just as valuable as ours.

Another major distinguisher to our organization is simplicity in our response to helping people. We don’t believe that fear has a place to stop us from loving someone. We strive to view everyone as an individual with a story and a hopeful, better future. Humans are humans and we desire to show the same unconditional love to each of them.

Our vision is to create a world where no one is invisible!

We do that through our five-part process:

Discern Needs
Imagine Solutions
Collaborate to Provide
Move to Action
Impact the Future

Our Beginning Story

In 2004, Terence and Cecilia gathered two trash bags filled with clothes and walked through the streets of downtown Atlanta.

On Auburn Ave, Terence and Cecilia encountered a homeless woman.

“Do you know anyone who needs clothes or shoes?” Cecelia asked.

The lady immediately responded, “Of course, I need some right now!”

When this warm-hearted lady rummaged through the two bags, she came across a pair of black shoes and started jumping up and down with excitement. “I just prayed for a pair of shoes last night, and God answered.”

Terence and Cecilia looked at each other, and in that moment—the concept of “Love Beyond Walls” was born. On the ride home, they discussed ways to mobilize others to join them in moving past the walls that divide people and to take love to people in creative ways. That day, they both became compassionate about work in the trenches and the desire to love people where they were.

In 2013, Terence formalized the concept of Love Beyond Walls as more than just an idea by incorporating it as a nonprofit and living as a person experiencing homelessness in the heart of the City of Atlanta.

He was put out of shelters, slept under bridges, ate handouts, was put out of restaurants, stayed up countless days, and experienced every aspect of homelessness first-hand.

He wanted to wear the shoes of the people the organization serves. Since then the organization has focused on raising awareness of the realities and needs of those experiencing lack and vulnerability and using that vehicle to mobilize people to participate in those stories.

We continually raise awareness and mobilize an army of people who dare to get involved in breaking down barriers and dreaming up new solutions.

2013: Dr. Terence Lester, our founder, was dropped off underneath a bridge by his wife and two young children at the time, with only a cellphone, a book bag, and no change of clothes, during the wintery days leading up to Christmas and lived on the streets to start Love Beyond Walls. With no budget, faith, and a heart to ensure that people who were unhoused were seen and cared for in the city of Atlanta, he left the comforts of his home to raise awareness of homelessness and start the organization Love Beyond Walls.

2013: Cecilia and Terence launched the Love Beyond Walls headquarters in College Park, GA establishing a local hub that mobilized thousands of volunteers to serve the unhoused community with basic resources to survive living on the streets. This headquarters in College Park became the center from which many innovative ideas were born that have had local and national impact.

2014: Love Beyond Walls was the first in the state of GA to use mobile units to both house and provide grooming support and access to sanitation for the unhoused community. Using both a transformed bus as a Mobile Makeover Unit, and RV’s as Mobile Stay Units, Love Beyond Walls established innovative approaches to meeting people where they are.

2016-2018: Love Beyond Walls launched the March Against Poverty Campaigns that involved long distance walks to bring attention to poverty and homelessness in the U.S. and used these campaigns to further educate people locally and nationally on the importance of humanizing the stories of the unhoused. Both campaigns led to the creation of documentaries that have been featured in national museums around the country.

2019: Love Beyond Walls established the first museum that represents homelessness out of a shipping container named Dignity Museum. The Dignity Museum is an immersive experience that has educated tens of thousands of people on how to be empathetic toward those who are unhoused in the U.S. using research, scholarship, and storytelling to move people to be proximate to our unhoused neighbors.

2024: Love Beyond Walls is gearing up to expand its work to house a decade worth of community engagement initiatives with educational components to create The Dignity Center.

At Love Beyond Walls, Empathy Drives Us.

We stand in proximity to those without homes or those made invisible by society. Through the power of community, we offer love, dignity, and hope. Each person involved in our work is committed to breaking down barriers and building longer tables for those who are excluded.

Our Team

Together we can do the impossible.

Terence Lester

Dr. Terence Lester is a storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, and author who is the Founder and Executive Director of Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization focused on raising poverty and homelessness awareness and community mobilization. He received his PhD with a concentration in Public Policy and Social Change from Union Institute and University. His campaigns on behalf of the poor, have been featured in USA Today, CNN, Black Enterprise, Essence, and Reader's Digest. They have been viewed by millions of people globally on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS News, NBC, Upworthy, and "The Bright Side" with Katie Couric. He was named by Coca-Cola as one of their History Shakers. His forthcoming book with InterVarsity Press is set to release Spring of 2025, tentatively entitled, “From Dropout to Doctorate: What it Takes to Break the Chains of Systemic Injustice.” He and his wife, Cecilia, along with their family, live in Atlanta.

Cecilia Lester

Cecilia Lester currently serves as the Co-Founder & Project Manager for Love Beyond Walls. Known for her dedication to service, Cecilia volunteers extensively and is a compassionate advocate for women experiencing homelessness and young girls in need. Her deep empathy and commitment to empowering others are evident in every project she undertakes. Not only does she manage projects, but she also uses her exceptional planning skills to ensure the mission’s impact comes to life. Her unwavering belief in the dignity and worth of every individual drives her to create safe, supportive environments where they can find hope and begin to rebuild their lives. Cecilia is a proud wife and committed mother to Zion and Terence II, balancing her family life with her passion for service.

Melanie Wittenberg

With over 9 years of experience in professional office executive assistant positions and a track record of strong performance in high-volume, high-pressure environments, Melanie skillfully manages administrative duties and client relations for her colleagues. As the Executive Assistant and Community Leader at Love Beyond Walls, she ensures the smooth operation of the organization by efficiently handling office management and inquiries. In her free time, Melanie enjoys playing tennis and going for long runs. She is an enthusiastic supporter of The University of Alabama in any sport setting and a dedicated fan of the Cleveland Browns. Passionate about helping others, especially children, Melanie volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta, where her dedication to service shines brightly.

Ali Brathwaite

As a producer of films and a photographer for Love Beyond Walls, Ali captures the essence of the community and documents the organization’s work. He ensures that the voices of those who are unhoused and impoverished have a platform to share their stories with dignity. He is a dedicated filmmaker with 15 years of experience. His diverse work includes feature films, documentaries, classroom and workshop videos, and event videography. Ali’s extensive experience in the industry, coupled with his commitment to staying updated with the latest advancements in audio and visual equipment, makes him an invaluable asset to any team he’s on. Ali’s professional journey has led him to collaborate with a host of notable personalities, including Judge Mathis, Da Brat, Dr. Jeff Gardere, Malik Yoba, Anthony Hamilton, Rhyme Fest, Angie Stone, Anthony David, and Chad Coleman. These high-profile collaborations are a testament to his credibility and the quality of his work, making him a trusted choice for potential employers or collaborators.

Zion Lester

Zion Lester, a high school junior, is deeply passionate about serving those facing poverty and homelessness. Aspiring to become a medical practitioner, Zion combines her love for healthcare with her dedication to helping those in need.
She co-authored a children’s book called “Zion Learns to See,” which educates children about serving the community and showing compassion towards those experiencing homelessness. Zion’s writing aims to inspire young readers to make a positive impact on communities that are often overlooked and forgotten.
Recently, Zion joined Love Beyond Walls as a Junior Social Media Content Creator, furthering her commitment to social activism and community service.

Board of Directors

Harvey Strickland, US Postal Service, Board Chair
Stephan Smith, Board Member
Tiajuana Burns, Hospitality Industry, Board Member
Chuck Davis, Georgia Power, Board Member
Cecilia Lester, Board Member
Terence Lester, Board Member

Advisors

Pamela Hill-Wright
Lecrae Moore
Takia Lamb
Monica DeCristina
Mark DeCristina
Jennifer Hudson
Tedashii Anderson
Jeff Hilmire
Alaree Malone
Pete Westermann
Brian O’Neil
Attorney Robyn Miller
Attorney LaDawn Jones

Harmony Leland Elementary School
Contender’s Church
RockBridge Church
Graystone Church
Wadsworth Magnet for High Achievers
Tri-Cities High School
SG3 Media
Sheltering Arms (Welcome All location)
Fork Yeah ATL
Mission MAD (Kentucky)
Warehouse of Hope
RacTrac
Faith India Ministries
Grady High School
Soles 4 Souls
Dream, Live, Learn
LEGGOLAND
Nautica, Tanger Outlet
Tees & Quotes
Kangker
Tae’s Place Hair Salon
Option 13
Salvation Army
That Place Atlanta
Wheat Street Baptist Church
Southwest Airlines
Atlanta Airport Marriott
Embassy Church International
Urban League of Greater Atlanta
Central Baptist Church
Praise Academy
Bank of America
Woodward Academy
AKA Sorority (Upsilon Chapter)
Jiffy Lube
Pulse Church
Cozzee
Wells Fago
Helping Mamas
College Park Elementary School
Revolution Church
ATL 1×1
Reveal Magazine U.S.
United Way
Ga Tech
Voya Investments
Awesome Foundation (Atlanta Chapter)
The FIIIX

Dunville Christian Church
Lowe’s (Camp Creek Parkway)
Genesis Church (Orlando Florida)
Sistas Inspiring Sistas
SCLC Organization
Woodruff Library
Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta Hawks
Tyler Perry Studios
Zify.com
Green Forrest Baptist Church
Nissan South
Praise In The Park
Covered Bridge Church
ABL Radio
It’s Just A Dream Inc.
Hope Church
The Purple Phoenix Project, Inc.
NIKE
Edible Arrangements (Camp Creek)
Liberty Tax (Old National)
Clip Appeal
Sandtown Middle School
Paulding County High School
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice
Fulton County Government
North Metro Church
Love Joy High School
Kindezi School (both locations)
Tri-Cities High School
United Way (Gwinnett Chapter)
Humble Treasures
Northwestern Benefit
Wheat Street Baptist Church
On Mission Church

We continually raise awareness and mobilize an army of people to take love into places where it doesn’t exist.

Our Story

We are committed to the people that the world passes by each day. We believe the people struggling with poverty have lives and stories that are just as valuable as ours.

Volunteer

Volunteering is truly about one life impacting another. There are so many ways to volunteer your time, gifts, and talents to help us serve communities nationally and locally.

Learn

Fear has no place in love. We strive to view everyone as an individual with a hopeful, better future. All humans are worthy of dignity and we desire to show the same unconditional love to each one of them.

Donate

Everything we do is because of generous donors that see value in our impact. We ask you to consider giving to our organization. All financial gifts will be used to continue to do work that reaches people where they are and share their stories.

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