At the heart of Virginia Highland, Kay Stephenson stands as a dedicated advocate for community safety. Her journey to the neighborhood began in the mid-90s, when she and her husband found the perfect place to call home.
Both hailed from small, tight-knit communities—Kay from a town on the U.S. side of the border south of Montreal, Canada, and her husband Mark from southern Illinois. After briefly living in Buckhead during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, they knew they wanted to settle in Virginia Highland for its charm, walkability, and small-town-in-a-big-city vibe. By September 1996, they made their move, and since then, Kay has become a beloved figure known for her passion for safety and community engagement.
“Virginia Highland just felt like home from the very beginning,” she recalls.
Her commitment to safety blossomed when she first learned about the neighborhood’s Street Captain program through the Virginia Highland Civic Association (VHCA). After learning her street didn’t have a designated captain, she became one (she chuckles about that), but ended up at the helm of the program after the original organizer VHCA Public Safety chair John Wolfinger retired.
“I realized how important it was to get involved. Safety isn’t something we can leave to someone else. It’s up to us to look out for one another,” she emphasized.
Street Captains help disseminate information to residents and businesses on their streets by collecting contact information, then sending out a monthly newsletter, and forwarding safety reports. But it’s more than just safety, she said. Street Captains cultivate a sense of community by hosting street gatherings, letting neighbors know if a pet gets out, or if an alarm goes off when they’re away.
“I believe that when people know each other, they’re more likely to look out for each other,” she said. “Building those relationships is key to a strong, safe neighborhood.”
If you’re interested to know who your Captain is or are interested in becoming one, email info@vahipatrol.org.
Kay’s leadership has been instrumental in implementing even more proactive safety measures. She helped incorporate the Virginia Highland Security Patrol, formerly known as Fight Back Against Crime (FBAC), founded by Beth Marks and APD Police Sergeant Chris Clark. This program is supported by APD off-duty officers and includes neighborhood patrols, vacation home checks, and safe rides home from patrol officers for residents feeling vulnerable late at night.
“It’s the little things like these that make a big difference,” she explains. “When people know they can count on these services, they feel more secure in their homes and on the streets.”
Through this program, Kay helped the group raise $45,000 in 6 weeks to install license plate reader cameras across the neighborhood. These cameras have played a crucial role in recovering stolen vehicles and catching criminals.
Single-family homeowners can join the Virginia Highland Security Patrol for $300 a year, and other plans are available for apartment buildings, condos, and businesses. The organization is hoping to grow and help more residents this year. To learn more about how you can join and to see the coverage map, visit vahipatrol.org.
Beyond security, Kay’s passion for creating a connected and thriving neighborhood shines through her countless other initiatives. She regularly brings neighbors together for street-wide yard sales and block parties and can be seen walking her Siberian Husky-Pitbull-Boxer-Bulldog (what she calls a Super Mutt). She also loves quilting, planting, and spending time at some of her long-time favorite restaurants and entertainment venues like Atkins Park and Blind Willies in addition to the newer VaHi favorites like ASH Coffee.
Kay has also been active with the Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) for many years and most recently was appointed as the Public Safety Chair.
Throughout her years in Virginia Highland, Kay has witnessed the neighborhood evolve from older generations to a vibrant community bustling with families and young professionals. She delights in seeing children play at neighborhood events and takes great pride in the neighborhood’s ability to come together for causes they care about.
“There’s so much energy here now. It’s a wonderful place to live,” she says.
