Terri Block doesn’t just talk about change; she makes it happen. For 25 years, she’s led social-impact initiatives that ensure Atlanta’s small businesses and charitable foundations thrive. As Atlanta market executive for Bank of America, she has directed millions in local grants, mobilized employees to contribute more than 300,000 volunteer hours, and championed partnerships creating lasting stability and growth across the metro area. “We can’t solve all our communities’ problems, but I am proud of how our team has helped make a difference,” Block says. However, for her, this work is more than just a professional mission—it’s deeply personal.
Raised in a single-parent home with her mother and grandmother, Block experienced the effects of financial insecurity throughout her life. “I know firsthand the challenges that come with finding affordable housing, understanding credit, and securing a good-paying job,” she says. “These are not abstract policy discussions; they are real, everyday barriers that determine whether families can thrive or remain in a cycle of financial insecurity.” Her personal experience fuels her commitment to expand access to affordable housing, workforce training, and small-business development in Atlanta.
Through partnerships with organizations such as Atlanta Land Trust, Enterprise Community Partners, CareerRise, and the United Way, she is working to bridge opportunity gaps to build a stronger, more inclusive Atlanta. Under Block’s leadership, Bank of America has distributed over $40 million in local grants since 2018. She cochaired a fundraising campaign with Sweet Auburn Works that exceeded its $6 million goal and spearheaded a collaboration with the Grove Park Foundation, leading Bank of America to invest over $2.7 million for revitalization projects in the northwest Atlanta neighborhood.
With an unwavering commitment to philanthropy, Block is helping to shape a future where all Atlantans have access to opportunities that foster economic stability. “In metro Atlanta, where affordability and economic disparities continue to grow, these focus areas are crucial in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future,” she says.
– TYRA DOUYON
