THE CITIZEN BLOG
THE CITIZEN BLOG
Introducing the 2021 class of hands on atlanta civic fellows
We’re so excited to introduce to you our 12th class of the Civic Leadership Program! Our Civic Leadership Program, powered by Constellation combines positive community impact with personal and professional development to provide great things for everyone involved -- and we have found some amazing changemakers in Atlanta to make that happen.
It’s been a tough year all things considered, but we are proud to introduce 13 fantastic Civic Fellows who are ready to help the Atlanta community get through all those challenges and changes.
This year, our Civic Fellows are helping with our Disco Program which was made to help elementary school students feel a little more connected to people right now. It provides game style learning to keep them engaged and a little less isolated. With some help from the Hands On Atlanta staff, Civic Fellows will help bring really important academic enrichment to around 300 students in Atlanta.
“I’m really proud that we were able to transition CLP into a virtual model keeping our fellows safe while also meeting the pressing needs of the students through our beloved Disco Program. While this year has been challenging in so many ways our Civic Fellows give me hope that we will come out the other side stronger, better, and more aware of the inequities plaguing our community and how to address them. ”
“Especially with this isolation piece, this ever changing system for the students, being able to see that familiar face of those adults that are willing to invest in you and support you and show you that learning can definitely be fun. That involvement from CLP members is very, very important.””
On top of the incredibly important impact our fellows will have on those students, they also get to learn more about the critical role nonprofits play in the Atlanta community, understand how fundraising keeps nonprofits sustainable, and explore their leadership skills through hands-on learning. This combination will create a class of Civic Fellows prepared to graduate into Civic Leaders who can keep making Atlanta a better place.
“I wanted to take the next step and dive into some things that not only I could do, but I could also inspire my friend circle or professionals that I work with on how we can take some action steps to do what we all talk about: to make the world better.” ”
“I’m really one who believes that quote that service is the rent we pay for our time here on earth. For me the impact I have is just to bring that service to life. .... I don’t have to be loudest voice in the room, but if I just have a seat at the table, I plan to use that to influence and add value to the communities we serve” ”
So, it is with great honor that we ask you to help us welcome the newest class of Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellows!
Anissa H. Meachum
Anissa H. Meachum is a litigation manager for Porsche Cars North America. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Fordham University. She earned her M.B.A with a concentration in International Business and Finance from Argosy University. Now, she is involved in the Porsche Care Network America program and engaged in volunteer work at Hapeville Elementary School, Meals on Wheels, and CURE Childhood Cancer.
Eula Lewis-Spivey
Eula Lewis-Spivey has continuous leadership and service as an educator for DeKalb County School District in Stone Mountain, Georgia as an ESOL Educator. She is a fervent leader that has a proven track record. She has proactively made a difference by disseminating knowledge and educating all she’s encountered in her 30+ years of service within her school district and her community.
Daedrea D. Fenwick
Daedrea D. Fenwick is a civil litigation attorney with Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys in Atlanta, Georgia. When she is not practicing law, Daedrea actively volunteers with several Atlanta area service organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the United Way of Greater Atlanta and the Junior League of Atlanta. She also volunteered for several projects with Hands On Atlanta since graduating from college, and is excited to continue serving as a Civic Leadership Fellow!
Emily Furbish
Emily Furbish is an Atlanta native, currently working as a nurse. She spends most of her free time hiking with her dog, Wally, riding horses, and volunteering with a cancer survivors group and a women empowerment organization. Giving back to the community holds a special part in her heart, and she is excited to work with the Hands On Atlanta Disco Program to help students feel connected and engaged through our virtual learning sessions.
Aisha Harrison
Aisha Harrison currently works as the Talent Development Manager of Southern Company Gas and is a member of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, as well as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Her passion for service includes delivering and packing meals with Open Hand, volunteering at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and helping high school students to transition into adulthood by way of organizing college tours and workshops that introduce life skills.
Jenelle Chiang
Jenelle Chiang currently works as a Senior Consultant at Triage Consulting Group, specializing in healthcare revenue cycle management and graduated from Emory University-- serving on the executive board for the Emory Alumnae and Women Network. She’s passionate about photography, healthcare and helping her community. In her free time, she enjoys baking the perfect batch of cookies and dreaming about attending concerts again.
Keisha Leslie
Keisha Leslie is the Lead Radiation Therapist at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. She has joined many patients in their fight with cancer. Keisha stays active in the community by calling on her work colleagues, family, and friends for support in fundraisers and donations to various organizations in the surrounding areas. On the weekends, you can find Keisha taking a mental break by picking fresh vegetables out of her garden.
Amna Mahmud
Originally from Pakistan, Amna Mahmud is currently a Manager with PwC in their Operations Practice. At PwC she helped establish and currently leads a Diversity and Inclusion Network for 100+ people. Outside of work, Amna serves as the local committee lead for the Professional Chapter of Atlanta for Engineers without Borders. In her spare time, she loves to go hiking with her husband and trying out new vegan recipes.
Jasmine McKeiver
Originally from Newport News, Virginia, Jasmine McKeiver relocated to Atlanta, Ga in 2012, and one of her first volunteer experiences in Atlanta was with Hands on Atlanta's TeamWorks! Currently, she is a Marketing Manager at Ballard Designs. She is the current 2020-2021 President of the Georgia State University Young Alumni Council and a mentor for the Georgia State University, Robinson College graduate program. Jasmine has a Bachelor of Arts, Journalism degree from Norfolk State University and Master of Science, Marketing degree from Georgia State University.
Heather Patton
Heather Patton is a young professional with years of commitment to community service for many organizations including The American Red Cross, The American Cancer Society, Mental Health America, and more. She currently works for SCP Health as a marketing and communications advisor. Heather’s ultimate goal is to open her own nonprofit to provide accessible, affordable, evidence-based psychological and lifestyle support to oncology patients, survivors, and caregivers throughout the cancer journey—and educate the community about cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment as well.
Christina Paul
Christina Paul is an internal medicine physician passionate about improving health and wellness. She enjoys broadening her impact by lending time and resources to work with volunteer organizations making a variety of positive community changes.
Joiya Smith
Joiya Smith is originally from a small country town full of big love called Bogalusa, Louisiana. Filled with creative career aspirations, she went to Grambling State University to major in the field of Visual Arts where she concentrated in Graphic Design. In 2018 she relocated to the Atlanta area for better artistic opportunities. Now the 26 year old freelancer spends her time doing what she believes God has called her to do in this season, growing in the arts and being a servant to her community.
Jyll Walsh
Jyll Walsh works for Prevent Child Abuse Georgia which is housed by Georgia State University where she is also completing her Doctorate in Public Health. She can’t think of a more worthwhile way to spend her time than to help kids learn digitally as barriers to education increase due to the pandemic.
The Hands On Atlanta Civic Leadership Program is powered by:
HIGHLIGHTS FROM A Week OF UNITY
Looking back at the 2020 edition of Hands On Atlanta Week
In a word… wow!
Atlanta, you’ve done it again. You rose to the occasion and answered the call. You battled a global pandemic, racial, political and economic divide, hurricane season, and constant uncertainty to unite in service for Hands On Atlanta Week. Together, 5,000 people came together to do something good at 225 projects and events from 55 nonprofit and community partners during the week of Oct. 3 - 10, 2020!
who you helped
You supported over 50 nonprofits, schools and community organizations doing important work across our communities! Here are just a few.
What you did
With a focus on food insecurity and engaging virtual projects, here’s a snapshot of some of the impact you created throughout the week.
You Fed
Distributed 35,000 pounds of food to 1500 families
Packed and distributed over 1,000 meal bags for students and families
You Engaged
Hosted 48 hours of civic engagement on topics of racial + education equity in America
Spent time with 60 students in Title 1 schools with the launch of our Disco program
You Worked
Spread 1 ton of mulch at Piedmont Park
Ran over 1,000 miles from the northside to the southwest side
You Recognized
Wrote 600+ cards and letters for seniors, students, teachers and healthcare workers across metro Atlanta
Watched 4 days of self-producing black theatre companies, artists, and writers
Projects and Events
With 225 projects and events, we can’t recap them all, but there were a few that stuck out and made an impact on the week.
Volunteers from Norfolk Southern came together (virtually) to write and mail over 200 letters to healthcare workers across metro Atlanta!
The Center for Puppetry Arts hosted a puppet show for Dunbar Elementary School's second grade class. The kids learned about two of Aesop's Fables and the show was supported by volunteers from Alston and Bird.
Volunteers from LexisNexis teamed up with Career Village for a virtual Advice Mob, where they answered more than 50 questions on career and college readiness from students in metro Atlanta.
In partnership with the ACLU of Georgia, Hands On Atlanta hosted a poll worker recruitment webinar for employees at OneDigital. Attendees learned how to sign up, but more importantly, why poll workers are in such high demand heading into the election.
In partnership with The Center for Civil and Human Rights, Hands On Atlanta hosted employees from Home Depot to learn more about education inequities locally and nationally.
Volunteers from Chick-fil-a packed and distributed meals to Atlanta families at Action Ministries and Whitefoord Elementary.
Hands On Atlanta staff came together with family and friends to pack meals for students at Brookview Elementary!
SHARE CULTURES
AMIS's Amigo Friendship Program matches an international student with an American individual or family for friendship and sharing of cultures. Your support can help them in their adjustment to American life, language and culture, as well as enrich your understanding of the world. We ask you to meet (virtually) at least once and continue your friendship over the school year as you are able. AMIS offers support throughout the year as needed. This is a wonderful opportunity for singles, couples or families!
MENTOR A REFUGEE YOUTH
The Refugee Youth Mentoring Program pairs a volunteer with a refugee child age 12 to 17 in one-on-one, "big brother/big sister" relationships. Mentors and mentees then meet weekly in the child's home or in the community and spend time together working on homework, exploring the city, or trying new things.
Currently this opportunity entails "meeting" with kids virtually, with the hope to eventually meet in person once it is safe. Most of the refugee families we serve live in Clarkston, Tucker, or Decatur.
Volunteer mentors commit to meeting with their mentee for at least two hours per week for one year.
DISCO Supply Drive
In response to the impact of COVID-19, Disco is an Olympic themed, team-based virtual experience created for students in grades 3-5 to engage in fun and interactive activities while at-home. Our goal is to beat isolation in the virtual education space and provide a safe space for students.
During these sessions, students will have the opportunity to do educational activities, connect with fellow classmates, and create a space of team comradery and creativity. The supplies are essential as they allow our students to complete the weekly activities and broaden their knowledge around important themes such as math, financial literacy, STEAM, history, and other focus areas. Traditionally, this program is known as Discovery when in-person.
How it Works
Click here to review the list of items needed
Order new items with the quantity and retailer of your choice
Upon checkout, have the items shipped to:
Hands On Atlanta
Attn: Tasia Limonius
600 Means Street, Ste. 100
Atlanta, GA 30318
thank you for supporting our disco partner schools!!
Disco’s Title 1 Partner Schools:
Brookview Elementary School
Clay-Harmony Leland Elementary School
Harper Archer Elementary School
The Kindezi School at Old Fourth Ward
The Kindezi School West
Parklane Elementary School
Scott Elementary School
Usher Collier Elementary
Basic Materials Needed
300+ Small Clear bags
300+ Scotch Tape Rolls
300+ Plastic Jars
25 Boxes of Craft Sticks
25 Bags of Pom-Poms for Crafts
10 Large Bags of Googly Eyes for Crafts
300+ Boxes of Crayons (24 total)
300+ Boxes of Thin Markers (10 total)
10 Large boxes of Pencils (150 count)
300+ Boxes of Colored Pencils (12 count)
300 Elmer’s Glue Sticks
300 Bottles of Elmer’s Liquid Glue
300 Olympic themed metals
300 Composition Books
300 Folders
25 Boxes of Straws
25 Boxes of Small Sandwich Bags
25 Packs of Construction Paper
25 Packs of Scissors (300 total)
10 Balls of Yarn
10 Packs of Pipe Cleaners
10 Cases of Printer Paper
Stickers
Hands On Atlanta Week Hopes to Inspire Unity Across Metro Atlanta
Hands On Atlanta Week will feature over 200 unique and meaningful ways Atlantans can unite in service from Oct. 3-10, 2020. Participants can expect traditional in-person volunteer projects, engaging virtual projects and more during Atlanta’s largest week of service.
Hands On Atlanta will deliver seven days of in-person and virtual service opportunities for people in metro Atlanta to unite in support of Covid-19 relief efforts, food assistance, racial equity, voter access and more.
ATLANTA, GA – Hands On Atlanta Week will feature over 200 unique and meaningful ways Atlantans can unite in service from Oct. 3-10, 2020. Participants can expect traditional in-person volunteer projects, engaging virtual projects and more during Atlanta’s largest week of service.
Atlantans will be encouraged to host and attend virtual “Bridging the Racial Divide” Civic Dinner conversations, attend the virtual Atlanta Black Theater Festival and participate in The Race: A virtual & digital half marathon that supports black-owned businesses, neighborhoods, and charities. In an effort to increase voter accessibility and turnout, Hands On Atlanta has partnered with the ACLU of Georgia, Vote Early Day, and other nonpartisan organizations to recruit poll workers and raise awareness for early voting options. Technologists and creatives can join 48in48’s global hack-a-thon for good to build over 48 websites for 48+ nonprofits in 48 hours! These are just a few of the ways Atlantans can participate in Hands On Atlanta Week.
“2020 has been a challenging year for everyone in Atlanta, but the shining light across our community has been the thousands of changemakers stepping up to help their neighbors in need. Hands On Atlanta Week will give anyone and everyone a way to discover new, safe, and unifying ways to do something good,” said Jay Cranman, Hands On Atlanta President and CEO.
Hands On Atlanta Week will also focus on Covid-19 relief and food insecurity – from in-person food distributions and meal packing with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to letter-writing campaigns for healthcare workers. Sponsor, Coca-Cola USA, will join the fight against food insecurity and support several virtual projects throughout the week.
“Throughout our 134-year history, Coca-Cola has always been there to make a difference in local communities,” said Alba Baylin, Vice President of Community and Stakeholder Relations, Coca-Cola North America. “Serving communities in need has never been more important than right now. That's why we're pleased to support Hands On Atlanta Week, which will truly make a difference for so many people throughout Atlanta.”
Hands On Atlanta Week will take place from Saturday, Oct. 3 through Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. To get your company or organization involved, or to serve with your family and friends, visit www.handsonatlanta.org/week
Thank a metro Atlanta Health Care Provider
In an effort to engage community members of all ages, Hands On Atlanta is teaming up local hospitals and offering a turn-key letter-writing campaign. Take a minute to thank and send gratitude to healthcare professionals working around the clock to keep our city healthy and safe.
Powered by
How it Works
Grab a card, postcard or piece of paper for the letter - don't forget an envelope!
Write your letter or letters, there's no limit to how many you can do!
Take a video or picture of your letter encouraging others to join and share on social media using #writesomethinggood
Mail your letter!
Mail Your Letters
Grady Health System
C/O Leigh Reece, Office #1C122 80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive Atlanta, GA 30303
Northside Hospital
C/O Imann Ostien, Marketing 1000 Johnson Ferry Road NE Atlanta, Georgia 30342
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
1968 Peachtree Road, NW Building 1984; Human Resources department Atlanta, GA 30309
Wellstar Foundation
805 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 100 Marietta, GA 30066
Letter Writing Tips
Start with a salutation, such as "Dear Healthcare Provider" or "Dear Healthcare Hero".
Share a personal thank you or gratitude for their work like "Thank you for your service to keep our city healthy" or "We are grateful for your service and hard work".
Please avoid glitter or additional items in the envelope.
Please mail all letters to addresses provided above.
Purchase and print stamps from home or have them delivered from the US Postal Service.
Host a Virtual Civic Dinner
Now more than ever, it’s vital that we come together. Social distancing doesn’t have to mean social disconnection. The team at Civic Dinners has built a new feature to allow for people to come together for meaningful conversations, group happy hours and family gatherings, to reconnect around what really matters.
Take advantage of social distancing’s best apps (FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Zoom, Facebook, Slack, etc.) and rally around the dinner table to have an important conversation by hosting a virtual Civic Dinner!