Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniella Petrone.
Hi Daniella, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Mend Culture was born from a vision and a prayer—and from witnessing too many unhoused individuals fall through the cracks in Metro Atlanta’s service system. Co-founders Lynique McFaddin (CEO) and Daniella Petrone (CPO) saw the gaps firsthand. They watched people cycle through services without finding lasting stability. They saw the barriers, the broken systems, and the missed opportunities. And they decided to do something about it. In 2022, they took a leap of faith and launched Mend Culture Inc. We started as a transitional housing program, but we quickly learned that housing alone wasn’t enough. Our participants needed more than just a roof—they needed resources, support, and opportunity to truly stabilize their lives. So we expanded.
Today, Mend Culture provides comprehensive, wraparound services to youth ages 18-24 and adults over 25 experiencing homelessness:
Housing Solutions – both transitional and affordable housing, partnering with local Continuums of Care and property managers.
Workforce Development – connecting participants with local employers and job training.
Academic Support – collaborating with colleges, high schools, and trade schools to facilitate educational growth that leads to employment
Case Management & Supportive Services – addressing the holistic needs of each individual.
Our mission is clear: to end the cycle of homelessness and transform lives by providing servant-led interventions to youth and adults. We exist to INSPIRE, SUPPORT, and STABILIZE lives through housing solutions, wraparound supportive services, and workforce development.
We don’t just address homelessness. We MEND Communities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It certainly hasn’t been an easy journey, but the challenges we’ve faced have strengthened us and shaped us into a more resilient organization.Early on, we experienced the normal growing pains that any new nonprofit goes through. We were building infrastructure from the ground up: developing policies and procedures, establishing credibility with partners, learning how to scale our impact while maintaining the quality and depth of our services. We were figuring out systems, refining our model, and proving ourselves in a competitive landscape. Those early days required tremendous faith, persistence, and adaptability.
One of our most significant ongoing challenges has been securing consistent funding sources, especially in this political climate. The homelessness sector is facing unprecedented pressure as funds are being diverted elsewhere. We’ve watched funding streams we depend on shrink or disappear entirely, even as the need in our community continues to grow. It’s forced us to become incredibly resourceful and strategic—diversifying our funding portfolio, building strong relationships with private donors and corporate partners, and making every dollar stretch further than we ever thought possible.
But here’s what we’ve learned: challenges reveal what you’re really made of. Every obstacle has pushed us to innovate, to be more efficient, to advocate louder, and to prove our value through undeniable results. We’ve refused to let funding constraints compromise the quality of care our participants receive. Instead, we’ve gotten creative, leaned into partnerships, and doubled down on what we do best, transforming lives.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been worth it. Every person we’ve housed, every life we’ve stabilized, every community we’ve mended, that’s what keeps us going, regardless of the obstacles in our path.
We’ve been impressed with Mend Culture , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mend Culture Inc. is a faith-based nonprofit specializing in comprehensive homelessness intervention in Metro Atlanta. We’re known for our high-impact, high-retention model—we don’t just house people; we walk alongside them until they’re truly stable.
At our core, we operate as a full-spectrum homelessness solution, providing everything from street outreach to permanent housing placement. Our programming spans transitional and affordable housing with supportive services, direct street outreach including our innovative Dignity Bus mobile program, workforce development with job training and employment connections, academic partnerships with colleges, high schools, and trade schools, and wraparound case management that addresses mental health, physical health, legal barriers, and life skills. We serve youth ages 18-24 and adults over 25 experiencing active homelessness.
What truly sets us apart is that we don’t do surface-level interventions. We recognized early that handing someone keys isn’t enough. Our model addresses the whole person—employment, education, mental health, life skills, community connection. That’s why our retention rates are so high. We’re relationship-driven and trauma-informed, with an approach rooted in servant leadership and dignity. We see people, not problems. We build trust, not just case files.
We’re most proud that “Mend” isn’t just our name—it’s our practice. Every part of our organization reflects restoration, healing, and wholeness. We’re proud of our reputation as a trusted partner to local governments, Continuums of Care, property managers, employers, and educational institutions. We’re known for showing up, following through, and delivering results. We’re also deeply proud of our veteran and first-generation leadership. Our co-founders bring lived experience, clinical expertise, and unwavering commitment to this work. That authenticity resonates with our participants and our partners.
What we want readers to know is this: homelessness isn’t just a housing problem—it’s a systemic issue that requires systemic solutions. Mend Culture exists because we believe every person deserves more than a bed—they deserve opportunity, dignity, and a real chance at a transformed life. We’re not interested in quick fixes or surface-level metrics. We’re building sustainable pathways out of homelessness through employment, education, stable housing, and community. If you’re looking for an organization that’s making measurable, lasting impact in Metro Atlanta’s homeless community—we’re it. And we’re just getting started.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Mend Culture’s success is absolutely a collective effort, and there are so many people who deserve credit for where we are today. First and foremost, our participants deserve recognition. They are the heartbeat of this organization. Their courage, resilience, and willingness to trust us with their journeys have taught us more than any textbook or training ever could. They’ve shown us what’s possible when people are given genuine opportunity and support. Every success story, every milestone, every life transformed—that’s their victory, and we’re just honored to be part of it.
Our partnership with Partners for Home has been instrumental in our growth and impact. They’ve believed in our model, opened doors, and provided critical support as we’ve expanded our services. Working alongside other organizations in the Continuum of Care has strengthened our approach and amplified our reach in ways we couldn’t have achieved alone.
We’re also deeply grateful for our local employer partners, property managers, and educational institutions—colleges, high schools, and trade schools—who’ve embraced our mission and created pathways for our participants. These partnerships aren’t transactional; they’re transformational. They’ve believed in the potential of the people we serve and given them real chances to succeed.
Our board members and advisors have provided invaluable guidance as we’ve navigated organizational growth, strategic planning, and the complex landscape of nonprofit leadership. Their expertise and wisdom have helped us avoid pitfalls and seize opportunities we might have otherwise missed.
We can’t overlook our funders and donors—both institutional and individual—who’ve taken a chance on a young organization with a bold vision. In a challenging funding climate, their support has been lifesaving, literally and figuratively. They’ve invested not just in programs, but in people and possibility.
And honestly, we have to acknowledge each other as co-founders. Lynique and I bring different strengths, perspectives, and experiences to this work, and that partnership has been critical. We challenge each other, support each other, and push each other to be better leaders and better servants. This organization exists because we dared to dream together and had the faith to act on that dream.
Ultimately, Mend Culture’s success belongs to an entire community of believers—people who saw what was possible and decided to be part of the solution. We’re standing on the shoulders of advocates, cheerleaders, partners, and participants who’ve poured into this vision. We don’t take that lightly, and we’re committed to honoring their investment through the quality and integrity of our work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mendculture.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mendculture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mend-Culture-100088951451045/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mendculture
