Meet Maranie Brown, student of the community

Maranie Brown is a dedicated volunteer and civic leader focused on creating equity-minded leaders and promoting technical skills in underrepresented communities. Maranie is the 2023 Program Co-Chair for LEAD Atlanta and President of Outstanding Atlanta, in addition to serving with several other organizations and programs, including the Hands On Atlanta 2023 Civic Leadership Program. In this spotlight, Maranie shares her passion for service and the importance of being a student of the community.

"I established a partnership with Spelman College’s Department of Computer Science and my previous company, SapientRazorfish, and developed a course on experience design and technology," Brown said. "For two years, I led the team that exposed young women to in-demand skills and provided mentorship opportunities for continued advancement and growth in our industry."

Brown also shares her passion for STEM by working with over 2,000 girls every year at the STEM Expo through organizations like Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. "The girls leave with heightened confidence as they extract DNA from a strawberry or program a robot to make music," Brown said. "That boost of confidence influences the courses they take in school, the majors they consider, the career they choose, and so much more."

“I’m focused on developing the next generation of equity-minded leaders and growing the city’s pipeline of skilled talent at the intersection of business and technology.””

— Maranie Brown

Through her work with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – MECCA Chapter's Apple partnership, Brown trained middle and high school students on the Swift coding language. "By the end of the program, these students of color put their new technical skills to use by developing an app for the national organization to leverage for member retention," Brown said. "When I invest in them, I’m investing in the generations yet to come. I'm focused on developing the next generation of equity-minded leaders and growing the city's pipeline of skilled talent at the intersection of business and technology."

Brown's love for volunteering stems from her passion for learning about issues and their origin. "I rely on the data to inform focus areas and to help prioritize," Brown said. "These organizations provide a space to act and innovate based on that education in a very thoughtful and intentional manner. It's about the impact."

“There are a variety of transferable skills that I have acquired while planning a fundraiser, managing volunteers, coordinating a service project, writing a strategic plan, etc. that I applied in my profession,””

— Maranie Brown

She believes that volunteering has not only had a personal impact on her life but has also positively impacted her professional career. "There are a variety of transferable skills that I have acquired while planning a fundraiser, managing volunteers, coordinating a service project, writing a strategic plan, etc. that I applied in my profession," Brown said. "It's made me a better leader that can set a vision and develop a plan to execute on that vision."

Brown's advice for those interested in volunteering is to be an active and engaged volunteer, but also to look to understand the root cause or origin of the issue and how it connects to others. "Strive to be a student of the community," Brown said. "I strongly believe that an informed leader is a more impactful leader."

As for why she loves Atlanta, Brown says, "I’m just a girl from Southwest Atlanta. This city is home. My roots are here. It’s my foundation. It’s everything to me."

For those looking to volunteer in April, Brown suggests checking out Hands On Atlanta's website for upcoming volunteer opportunities. "There are always opportunities to give back and make a positive impact in our communities," Brown said. "I encourage everyone to find a cause they're passionate about and get involved."

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Feeling inspired by Maranie’s amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like her continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.

Spreading Joy and Making a Difference with Mary Catherine Pelham

Mary Catherine Pelham is a force of good in Atlanta, spreading joy and making a difference through her volunteer work with various nonprofits. She is a 2023 Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellow, serving with HOPE Atlanta. In this Volunteer Spotlight, Mary Catherine shares her passion for volunteering, the impact it has had on her personal and professional life, and why Atlanta holds a special place in her heart.

When asked about her favorite part of volunteering, Mary Catherine exclaims, "I love seeing the direct impact on an individual or family." She volunteers with organizations such as Paws Between Homes, where she helps reunite pets with their owners after they have secured better housing, and Meals on Wheels, where she brings a friendly face to seniors who may not have anyone else checking in on them. For Mary Catherine, volunteering is a way to take care of each other as a community, a responsibility she takes to heart.

“Volunteering gives me perspective, joy, and a purpose.” ”

— Mary Catherine Pelham

Volunteering has always been a significant part of Mary Catherine's life, even from childhood. She describes how it has given her perspective, joy, and a sense of purpose. Through volunteering, she has connected with people outside of her regular social circle and gained empathy and compassion towards those facing challenges that she may not experience herself. Mary Catherine is also passionate about inspiring others to volunteer and find their own passion in giving back to the community.

Mary Catherine believes that volunteering should be fun and impactful for everyone involved. She recalls receiving follow-up texts and emails from volunteers thanking her for hosting events and expressing their interest in getting more involved. This motivates her to continue sharing the amazing opportunities that Atlanta has to offer and inspiring others to join the cause. Mary Catherine believes that the more people who are inspired to volunteer and make a difference, the better the city of Atlanta will be as a whole.

Mary Catherine's love for Atlanta is evident as she gushes about the city's culture, arts, food, diversity, sports, and nature. She chose Atlanta to be her home because of the abundance of things to see and do, and she is committed to contributing to keeping it a great city in every way possible. From visiting new exhibits at the High Museum to trying out new restaurants, Mary Catherine enjoys the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere of Atlanta.

“Volunteering in Atlanta is great because there are so many different types of services to be involved with.””

— Mary Catherine Pelham

When asked for advice to those interested in getting involved in volunteering, Mary Catherine shares her excitement about the diverse range of service opportunities in Atlanta. She recommends starting with Hands On Atlanta. From direct service to behind-the-scenes work, and from group activities to individual efforts, there is something for everyone in Atlanta's volunteering scene.

Mary Catherine's upcoming volunteer events include HOPE Atlanta's food packing program and delivering Meals on Wheels on a Saturday mornings.

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Feeling inspired by Mary Catherine’s s amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like her continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.

Snapper Freeman is a man on a mission

Snapper Freeman is a man with a heart for volunteering and a passion for making a difference. Snapper proudly serves as a 2023 Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellow, leading projects with their Discovery program. He’s also the Community Relationship Manager for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the founder of Community Service Redirect, and the Chair of the Fan Ambassador Program for the Chick fil-A Peach Bowl.

But what impact areas or pressing needs facing Atlanta does Snapper care about most? Atlanta's youth and pancreatic cancer. Snapper's work has taken him into underserved communities where he has seen the disadvantages youth experience. He firmly believes that there is no reason why these youth shouldn't have the opportunities in life that everyone else does. This led him to create Community Service Redirect, which recognizes and rewards students in Clayton County for making a positive impact in their community.

But Snapper's passion doesn't stop there. He is also committed to fighting pancreatic cancer, which is a disease that only has a 12% five-year survival rate. "If we have 100 people in the room and ask 88 to leave, those 12 people left would be representative of our five-year survival rate," he explains. He started volunteering with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network after seeing one of his mentors, a perfectly healthy track coach, pass away from the disease in less than three months. Snapper believes that more work needs to be done to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer and to find a cure.

“Volunteering introduced an industry and world to me that I did not know existed. It is work I believe in and can see is needed,””

— Snapper Freeman

So, what does Snapper love most about the organizations he volunteers with? "The organizations I volunteer with are actively making a difference in our communities. You are able to see how your work translates and actually helps people in a positive way," he says.

Volunteering has had a significant impact on Snapper's personal and professional life. "Volunteering introduced an industry and world to me that I did not know existed. It is work I believe in and can see is needed," he shares. Through his experience as a volunteer, Snapper has honed his skills in servant leadership. He believes that you do not always need to be in charge or have a title to make a difference.

When asked to share a memorable moment from his volunteering experience, Snapper recalls a Saturday afternoon at Usher Collier's Discovery Program. "A parent pulled into the parking lot, with tires screeching like something out of a movie. The student had gotten on the bus to get to school, and their older sibling didn't relay the message. Could the parent really be upset? Their kid was coming to school on a Saturday, and they said they would get there whether their parent got up to take them or not. This was a reminder that these students could be anywhere in the world, doing anything at all, but they wanted to be at school on a Saturday. If you get a chance, please make sure to volunteer with the Discovery program!"

“I believe if we’re going to change the world, it starts with changing your community.””

— Snapper Freeman

When asked why Atlanta, Snapper explains that although he was born and raised in Houston, Atlanta has become home. "Atlanta has a culture and swag that others want to replicate. When you see people Swag Surfin' across the country, it's because they wish they were in the A!" he jokes.

So, what advice does Snapper have for someone who is interested in getting involved with volunteering? "Make an impact. Big or small, make an impact. Something you consider very small or meaningless could mean the world to another, and you never know how far your help goes. You always hear ‘one person can change the world’, but I believe if we're going to change the world, it starts with changing your community. Changing our community is how we change the world.

You can volunteer alongside Snapper on April 29th at PurpleStride Atlanta to help raise awareness for Pancreatic Cancer.

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Feeling inspired by Snapper's amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like him continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.