William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity

About William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity

The William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity (WALIPP), a non-profit organization created to extend the work of Rev. William A. Lawson, who had provided passionate leadership through service and sacrifice as founding pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church for more than 40 years. WALIPP continues Rev. Lawson’s community engagement to bridge the gap between the powerful and the powerless. The Lawson Institute operates The Lawson Academy, a single-gender public charter school. The Academy — on both campuses — uses a creative academic curriculum to build student success and to develop the whole person. The majority of students are low-income, qualifying for the Federal Free Lunch program. Another important program is the WALIPP Senior Residence, an independent living community for active elders. The 52,000 square foot apartment building was constructed to address the housing plight of seniors who desire a safe and comfortable community experience. On-campus beauty and barber services along with effective programming enable our residents to enjoy fellowship and camaraderie minutes away from the Medical Center, downtown and local events.