Hands On Atlanta Awarded National Education Grant

Hands On Atlanta was awarded a competitive, national grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to support Hands On Atlanta’s school-based AmeriCorps program

Hands On Atlanta is honored to announce that they have been awarded grant from the GA Commission for Service and Volunteerism (GCSV)  The GCSV receives funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Hands On Atlanta’s AmeriCorps program, which has been running for over 20 years, was one of only two Georgia organizations to receive the national, competitive funding from the CNCS.

At Hands On Atlanta, AmeriCorps members support the academic, social and emotional, and basic needs of economically-disadvantaged elementary and middle school students in City of Atlanta, Fulton County, DeKalb County, and Cobb County, Georgia through two main programs.

First, AmeriCorps members serve with teachers and instructional coaches to provide small-group literacy and math tutoring during school hours for grades K-8. Second, using accredited curricula, AmeriCorps members help students increase social skill development, with a focus on peer-to-peer relationships, and teach students how to manage emotions such as anger or frustration.

In addition to these two programs, many AmeriCorps members also support Hands On Atlanta’s weekend enrichment program, Discovery, in which students in grades K-5 receive mentoring, STEM training, and fitness/nutrition lessons every other Saturday morning.

“We’re incredibly thankful for the continued partnership with GCVS and CNCS. With the increased funding and national recognition, we are able to expand our program’s reach and impact across Atlanta. It is inspiring to see our nearly 40 AmeriCorps members serve at high-need schools, dedicating their time, talents, and passion to improve the educational landscape across the city. Because of this funding we were able to expand to additional districts and schools this year, ultimately reaching more children with engaging tutoring and social emotional learning support,” said Lindsey Baker, Director of Programs at Hands On Atlanta. 

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Volunteer alongside some of our AmeriCorps members at one of our Saturday, Discovery sessions and get to know more about their work!

Atlanta top muralists join forces on MLK Day

Photo by John Spink Sr. for the AJC

Ten Atlanta artists join forces to creating mural at Frederick Douglass High School on Atlanta’s westside during the King Holiday on January 21, 2019. Organized by Atlanta artist Charmaine Minniefield, the mural is sponsored by Spelman College for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service with Hands On Atlanta.

The project will return the portrait of Douglass originally painted in 1972 by then art teacher, Mr.William Murray to the school. Mr. Murray will be present on Monday to meet the artists and to lend a hand. The project features some of the city’s most prolific artists, including Fabian Williams (Occasional Superstar), Joe Dreher (Joe King ATL), Sachi Rome, Lauren Pallotta Stumberg (Think Greatly), Michael Jones (Letter 75), Angela Davis Johnson, Krista Jones (Jonesy), Shannon Willow and Sean Irving (BlesOne aka DeeJay Rebellion).

All artists are donating their time, and leftover paint from murals past, to model community service and civic duty on the 2019 MLK Day of Service. Hands On Atlanta volunteers, Spelman College students, and Clark Atlanta University students will join the team on the day as well. Over the weeks to follow, artists will work with former Frederick Douglass HS art teacher Murray, current art teacher Dr. Mark Jones and students to complete the wall.

The Frederick Douglass High School Alumni Association, Frederick Douglass Ole School, staff and faculty will host this mural project during the 200th anniversary of the birth of abolitionist namesake Frederick Douglass to return the portrait of Douglass to the campus grounds after renovations covered its original image a few years back. Frederick Douglass High School is the alma mater of Atlanta’s Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms. Minniefield worked with non-profit, fiscal sponsor Culture Centers International to bring attention, support, and talent to this important effort as a continuation of its Westside Murals project which seeks to preserve important Atlanta cultural histories and legacies in the community through public art and creative programming.

This wall is the fourth wall in this series now on the Westside. The first, which honored Adrienne McNeil Herndon, was sponsored by DoSomething.org, Spelman College and Hands On Atlanta last year during the King Holiday on the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail. Since, other walls include a wall on the Adair Park Trail of the Atlanta BeltLine which honors Carrie Steel, matriarch and founder of the Carrie Steel Pitts Home for Children; and most recently the wall for Civil Right hero Ruby Doris Smith-Robinson, sponsored by the WonderRoot Off The Wall Project for the upcoming Super Bowl.

As an artist, arts administrator and producer for over 20 years, Charmaine Minniefield has worked with such arts organizations as the National Black Arts Festival, the King Center, Fulton County Department of Arts and Culture, Flux Project and the High Museum of Arts. She was a recent feature in the Mercedes Benz Greatness Lives Here Initiative and has been doing murals in schools during the King Holiday for many years with Hands On Atlanta. Minniefield states, “I am excited to collaborate with this group of amazing Atlanta artists. It is an honor to stand with as artist activists, working in communities as an example act of service during the King Holiday.

This is an exciting time in our city’s history. Each year during the King Holiday, we honor the shoulders on which we stand--the freedom fighters, the abolitionists, the suffragists, the organizers of resistance--who have come before us and are inspired by their example to use our work and our voices to affect change today.”

Participating Artists:

·       Fabian Williams (Occasional Superstar)

·       Joe Dreher (Joe King ATL)

·       Sachi Rome

·       Lauren Pallotta Stumberg (Think Greatly)

·       Michael Jones (Letter75)

·       Angela Davis Johnson

·       Krista Jones (Jonesy)

·       Shannon Willow

·       Sean Irving (Bro Sean aka BlesOne)

·       Charmaine Minniefield

Now Playing: The Weekly High 5 Podcast

I remember a time when the only question on anyone's mind was, "Is Adnan Sayed innocent or guilty?" In fact, I've been told this was an ice breaker for many first Bumble dates... Anyways, Sarah Koenig and Atlanta's sweetheart Mailkimp brought the world of podcasts out of the basement and into your living room, your car, your commute, and everywhere you went with "Serial." If you don't know what I'm talking about, surely you've heard someone mention "Serial" or maybe you've heard of "This American Life" or even Atlanta's own podcast empire, "How Stuff Works." Atlanta is also home base to one of my faves, Crazy Good Turns. Whatever your interests, guilty pleasures, or preferences to pass the time, chances are, there's a podcast out there waiting for you to press play.

If you're reading this, I'll assume your interests lie in doing something good, specifically here in Atlanta. Maybe you've volunteered in the past, or you're looking for the next, best service project? Whatever reason you're here, we're introducing a new way to stay engaged and to get involved. Introducing The Weekly High 5 presented by Hands On Atlanta! 

Starting today, we'll be releasing a weekly show full of Hot Projects, team news and notes, community events, interviews with Atlanta changemakers and more! I'll (Tim Adkins) be your host for each bite sized, 15-30 minute show - perfect for any commute! Click the icons/links below to subscribe to The Weekly High 5 wherever you listen.  

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In the way Netflix allows for endless streaming, podcasts do the same to attract your attention and keep it. Once you're hooked on a good podcast, it's hard to kick the habit. I know from personal experience, chasing Guy Raz around every corner of the internet. Here's a few of our staff favorites to subscribe to:

Jay Cranman, President and CEO

• Akimbo - Akimbo's a podcast about our culture and about how we can change it. About seeing what's happening and choosing to do something.The culture is real, but it can be changed. You can bend it.

• Reply All - A podcast about the internet, that is actually an unfailingly original exploration of modern life and how to survive it.

• The Moth - The Moth Podcast features re-airs of all new episodes of The Moth Radio Hour, plus additional stories from our vast archive recorded over the past two decades. Episodes are released every Tuesday.

Lara Wagner, Corporate Partnerships Manager

• Unladylike - Cultivating our best selves and dreamiest lives is un-equally accessible for women, girls and gender-nonconforming folks everywhere. But by better understanding our unique identities, diverse lived experiences and underlying injustices, we can claim our space and make more room for others as well. That's our Unladylike mission: To make inclusive, credible media that moves.

• Cocaine and Rhinestones - Cocaine & Rhinestones is a podcast about the history of country music made in the 20th century…

Candice White, Discovery Program Manager

• Skimm'd from the Couch - The gals from Skimm are talking to female entrepreneurs on a, yup, couch, to hear the real version of how they got off it. No BS, no cry. Actually, it’s fine to cry. We know some good spots for it around NYC if you’re interested.

• Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations - Awaken, discover and connect to the deeper meaning of the world around you with SuperSoul. Hear Oprah’s personal selection of her interviews with thought-leaders, best-selling authors, spiritual luminaries, as well as health and wellness experts. All designed to light you up, guide you through life’s big questions and help bring you one step closer to your best self.

Sara Dowdle, Salesforce Administrator

• Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People aka Beautiful Anonymous - 1 phone call. 1 hour. No names. No holds barred. That’s the premise behind Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, hosted by comedian Chris Gethard (the Chris Gethard Show, Broad City, This American Life, and one of Time Out’s “10 best comedians of 2015”). Every week, Chris opens the phone line to one anonymous caller, and he can’t hang up first, no matter what.

• Dr. Gameshow - Jo Firestone and Manolo Moreno play listener-created games with their comedian friends and listener call-ins.

Tim Adkins, Director of Marketing + Communications

• How I Built This - Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.

• The GaryVee Audio Experience - On his global top 100 iTunes podcast The GaryVee Audio Experience, you’ll hear episodes of Gary Vanyerchuck's mix of highlights from the DAILYVEE documentary video series, #AskGaryVee Show episodes, keynote speeches on marketing and business, interviews, fireside chats, and any of his new and current thoughts recorded specifically for this audio experience!

Want more? Our friends at ChooseATL put out a solid list of awesome podcasts created right here in the ATL. What podcasts do you listen to? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook and be sure to subscribe to The Weekly High 5!