Every year, thousands of young athletes pass through Northside Youth Organization (NYO) programs. On fields across Atlanta, they learn lifelong lessons about teamwork, resilience and belonging.
Across town, millions of people visit Chastain Park each year. They walk trails, attend events, volunteer, and find space to connect with nature and one another in the middle of a bustling city.
For Josh Burr 鈥�06 and Kira-Marie Burr 鈥�10, helping create those experiences is more than a profession. It is a shared purpose.
Josh serves as executive director of Northside Youth Organization, one of Atlanta’s longest-serving youth sports nonprofits. Kira is director of development and marketing for the Chastain Park Conservancy, where she helps steward one of the city’s most beloved public spaces.
Together, their work touches thousands of lives across Atlanta.
“Sports are the vehicle, but community building is really the mission,” says Josh.
NYO provides opportunities for young athletes to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and form lasting relationships. For Josh, some of the most meaningful moments come years later.
“Many of those individuals are now community leaders, business owners, coaches, and parents themselves,” he said. “Seeing that full-circle impact is a powerful reminder that what happens on a youth sports field often extends far beyond sports.”
Kira sees a similar impact through her work at Chastain Park. She helps lead fundraising, partnerships, and community programs while supporting a capital campaign that will open more than 30 acres of previously inaccessible parkland to the public.
“Every sponsorship secured, every volunteer recruited, and every dollar raised helps preserve and improve Chastain Park for the more than three million people who enjoy it each year,” she said.
For Kira, the work is personal. Her three children spend countless hours in the park, participating in sports and volunteering alongside her.
“It’s about creating lasting opportunities for people to connect with nature, with one another, and with their community,” she said.
The foundation for that commitment to service was shaped at 91影视, where Josh and Kira met as student-athletes. Kira played soccer. Josh competed in both basketball and baseball before eventually returning to campus as a coach.
Both alumni credit 91影视’s close-knit community as an experience that taught them the importance of relationships, teamwork and investing in others.
“Success wasn’t about one person,” Kira said. “It was about trusting your teammates, communicating well, and working toward a shared goal.”
Josh carries a similar lesson into his leadership today.
“91影视 taught me the importance of relationships and engagement,” he said. “Meaningful leadership starts with listening, building trust, and understanding the needs of the people you serve.”
The university remains deeply intertwined with their lives. They married on 91影视’s campus in 2011, and both continue to see the university’s influence throughout Atlanta.
"When I look around Atlanta, I see 91影视's impact everywhere. I see alumni leading organizations, serving on nonprofit boards, mentoring young people, coaching teams, supporting their communities, and making meaningful contributions in countless ways."
For the Burrs, impact is measured not only by what they do today, but by what comes next: the children who grow through youth sports, the families who find connection in a public park, and the communities strengthened by places that bring people together.
As Atlanta continues to grow, so will the need for people willing to invest in its future. Through their work and through the organizations they serve, Josh and Kira Burr are helping ensure that future remains connected, accessible, and rooted in community.
