THE CITIZEN BLOG

THE CITIZEN BLOG

Claire Arnold 1/31/23 Claire Arnold 1/31/23

9 Ways You Can Support Students Today!

It’s a true comment on Atlanta that we have so many schools, organizations, companies and individuals offering up creative solutions to help students be the best they can be. Want to make a difference for the next generation of leaders, but don’t know where to start? Read on to find the perfect way for you to serve.

It’s a true comment on Atlanta that we have so many schools, organizations, companies and individuals offering up creative solutions to help students be the best they can be. With over a million students in the metro Atlanta area (oh hey Gwinnett – we see you over there with the largest student body in the state!), and 64% of those families in Atlanta Public Schools being economically disadvantaged, these solutions are huge assets to our community. These programs allow our students to thrive, and grow, and succeed – and you can be a part of their success.

Want to make a difference for the next generation of leaders, but don’t know where to start? Read on to find the perfect way for you to serve.

1. Become a tutor.

Studies have shown that talking through assignments with a tutor helps students process and retain information better – so the couple hours you spend giving one-on-one attention, goes a long way. Our partners Star-C, LaAmistad, Agape Youth & Family Center, and Divine Reach Education & Counsel all need volunteers daily across the city to work directly with students & ensure they are keeping up with what’s going on in the classroom. Want to serve virtually? Mind Bubble has you covered.

2. Show off your STEAM skills.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math have come to the forefront to teach students how to think creatively & critically, and to prepare kids for high-growth career areas. We’re seeing more and more local schools adopt STEAM curriculums or even get STEM certified, and our nonprofit partners are keeping up by offering enrichment opportunities. During the school year, you could join us for Discovery on Saturdays and introduce local students to reptiles. Host a demonstration table at the Atlanta Science Fair or become a judge with the International Science & Engineering Fair, both hosted by ScienceATL. Or, head over to Johnson STEM Activity Center – founded by Lonnie Johnson, inventor of the Super Soaker – to support students in their state-of-the-art robotics + E-sports arenas.

3. Go all in for the schools.

Did you know that Hands On Atlanta has the largest AmeriCorps program in the state? Yep, last year our members supported 11 schools and managed a gang of impactful programs on top of that! Spend a half or a full year as an AmeriCorps member, working inside our local schools to support students academic and social emotional learning. This is a great way to make deep, lasting impact on the trajectory of a child.

4. Elevate the programs supporting students, behind the scenes.

Magnify your impact by building the capacity of organizations supporting students, so they can offer more of what they do best. Multiple times a year, 48in48 hosts a website building weekend marathon to help organizations increase the impact of their digital presence. You can code, create content, or design sites. Applications are open for Hands On Atlanta’s Civic Leadership Program too – apply to be matched with a local nonprofit, so you can support their staff & volunteers for a 10-month term.

5. Increase access to quality higher education.

Access and admission to college can be a barrier – but it doesn’t have to be. Help students break down those barriers by using your well-earned experience and wisdom to guide them to success. Breakthrough Atlanta needs regular volunteers on Saturdays during the school year & for summer school to mentor students along their path to college. Become a mentor with College AIM, helping students with their applications. Annually, our partner The Posse Foundation needs interviewers to help select their leadership & scholarship students.

6. Get Artsy!

Paint Love is looking for resident artists bring your unique workshops + programing to kids. ARTportunity Knocks hosts an annual showcase, and uses volunteer music & drama instructors. Get your friends or coworkers out to install a mural in a local school lead by Learning in Color. Oh, and don’t forget about our local arts institutions like Woodstock Arts, who use volunteers to make their concert series a smash hit.

7. Support the whole student.

Equally as important as academics, is social emotional learning (SEL). This type of programming exists to encourage students to develop strong relationships, and build skills like responsibility and self-confidence. Role models are needed always! Help kids grow as teammates and leaders as a coach for Soccer in the Streets. Dedicate your positive and uplifting energy to supporting grieving children as a regular buddy or Good Mourning Camp counselor with Kate’s Club. Develop healthy nighttime routines, and encourage literacy, with the Pajama Program, who’s mission is to ensure kids are well-rested and energized once they arrive to the classroom. Welcome new refugee families to the states by helping to set up Co-op housing or creating welcome baskets of basic necessities and comforts with New American Pathways.

8. Transform young women into leaders.

Throughout the year but especially in the summers, we’re looking for women to support younger women by taking on the uniquely important role of informal mentorship. You’re needed to tell your story, share your lessons learned and advice, and offer up encouragement to the next generation of girls. Black Girls Smile has year-round programming, supporting SEL and mental health. Girls of Excellence works directly in schools supporting at-risk girls during the school day, and can always use leadership speakers. Annually, join the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta’s Teen Leadership Summit, in partnership with Communities in Schools, to offer workshops on topics like entrepreneurship and netiquette to 100 elementary and junior high school girls. Girl Talk hosts a summer camp as well, with an emphasis on leadership skills & connecting girls to meaningful role models. If academics are more your style, you could spend the summer as a counselor at STEM Camp with Girls Inc, doing experiments and demonstrations with elementary & junior high school girls – they also use volunteer year-round.

9. Support local educational attractions.

Help our major educational & cultural institutions to be able to offer quality programming for local students and families. Whether you work as a greeter, a docent, with special programming or engaging with exhibits, there is plenty to be done. You can keep the people & animal operations running smoothly at Zoo Atlanta, or hang out with the dinosaurs at Fernbank. Harness the legacy of Atlanta’s history & shape the future for our students by supporting the Center for Civil & Human Rights, or work virtually helping out the Out of Hand Theater so they can continue to offer their Creative Kids programming.

Learn how we’re mobilizing the Atlanta community to build educational equity, and find more ways to support students at https://www.handsonatlanta.org/education.

Tim Adkins 1/19/23 Tim Adkins 1/19/23

AmeriCorps Spotlight: Touren Thurston

We’d like to take this time to focus on this month’s AmeriCorps Member Spotlight, Touren Thurston. Touren is originally from Miami, Florida and would eventually relocate to Georgia in the name of service. Touren serves as a Social Emotional Learning Coach at Brookview Elementary where he thrives not only in SEL but also as a true mentor and ally to students.

This month’s AmeriCorps Member Spotlight, Touren Thurston comes to you all the way from Miami, Florida! Touren would eventually relocate to Georgia in the name of service, he serves as a Social Emotional Learning Coach at Brookview Elementary. Touren thrives not only in SEL but also as a true mentor and ally to the students at Brookview. Touren leads by example and takes the initiative to truly get to know the people he interacts with. During his time with Hands On Atlanta, Touren has made a great impact, and has been willing to step in whenever needed. Thank you for your dedication and commitment towards making a difference in the communities we serve.

Why did you join AmeriCorps?

I joined AmeriCorps to give a part of me - and that’s compassion.

What do you like most about working with your students?

I like that the fact that they still like to play around and not trying to be older than they are.

What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I hope to gain and understand that I am going to leave an impact on scholars in more ways than just one. I hope to encourage students to keep going and don’t give up.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself in the neighborhoods giving back and continuing to encourage others, while fighting for those that can’t fight for themselves.

When you’re not mentoring/tutoring, what do you like to do for fun?

When I’m not tutoring or mentoring. I like to reflect on life (good or bad) and watch movies.

What do you love about Atlanta?

Hands On Atlanta is what I love about Atlanta! The knowledge I’ve gained from being a true volunteer has allowed me to flourish. I wouldn’t be flourishing without the opportunity to serve with mind, heart, body, and spirit.

Help us thank Touren for her dedication and commitment towards making a difference in the communities we serve by commenting below or sharing her spotlight!

Tim Adkins 1/17/23 Tim Adkins 1/17/23

5 Days of Building Dr. King's "Beloved Community"

Thousands of volunteers helped Hands On Atlanta and over 50 of our nonprofit and school partners improve food security and educational equity for families and students, improved the environment and sustainability across metro Atlanta and so much more throughout the 8 days in September - culminating on Sept. 27, 2022, Arthur Blank's 80th birthday.

From January 12-16, 2023, Hands On Atlanta convened over 2,000 volunteers to serve 5,000 hours in support more than 40 nonprofits and schools as part of the 2023 MLK Days of Service!

With the generous support of presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, volunteers joined more than 100 service projects and events that had a focus on improving educational and housing equity, food security, and the environment.

Check out some of our highlighted projects and events below and don’t forget to share your MLK Days of Service experience with us on our social channels, tagging #mlkatl.

Mega Hope Kit Pack

Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023

We kicked off our 2023 MLK Days of Service from our warehouse at 970 Jefferson with our friends and partners at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Hope Atlanta, Restoring One’s Hope, and MLK Resource Collaborative!

150 Volunteers from OneDigital, Kilpatrick Townsend, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Change Healthcare and the Atlanta Braves Foundation packed over 2,000 Hygiene Kits, Snack Pack Kits, and Welcome Home Kits with donated items from Brawny, Dixie and Angel Soft!

— Volunteer at Mega Hope Kit Pack

Meals4Kids Meal Pack

Friday, Jan. 13, 2023

Food insecure households are often challenged to access nourishing, healthy meals while also covering housing costs on a limited budget.

For Day 2 of our MLK Days of Service, 75 volunteers from Deloitte, the Braves Foundation and Towerpoint joined our partners at Urban Recipe to pack 1,000+ meals (600 meal bags and another 110 food boxes) for families in need across metro Atlanta.

— Volunteer at Meals4Kids Pack

Discovery + House Proud

Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023

We celebrated day 3 on a cold and windy Saturday morning with a couple of service projects and a lot of fun!

50 volunteers from US Bank/Elavon and Morris, Manning and Martin, LLP joined our Discovery program at Parklane Elementary for an educational and engaging morning with students. Georgia Power brought their Learning Power STEAM Truck and volunteers to Belmont Hills Elementary!

We then headed over to the Atlanta Community Toolbank, home of House Proud, where volunteers from Target cleaned and organized their warehouse, painted/branded tools and even built a storage shed!

Photo by Steve Swieter, www.swieterimage.com

9th Annual MLK Sunday Supper

Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023

Thanks to our presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, 150 corporate and community leaders joined us around the table for an authentic conversation about housing equity at the National Center for Civil & Human Rights.

Featured speakers included Mayor Andre Dickens, Rev. Natosha Reid Rice, and a panel including Renee Lewis Glover and Principal Jovita Wallace, moderated by 11Alive’s Cheryl Preheim.

In partnership with our friends at 11Alive, the evening will air as part of a segment on affordable housing Jan. 21 and 22..

— Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Truly Living Well Farm Beautification

Monday, Jan. 16, 2023

Celebrating the King Holiday with our 5th and final day of our 2023 MLK Days of Service at Truly Living Well - an agricultural hub for the West Atlanta community.

400+ volunteers from The Home Depot Foundation, Salesforce, Microsoft, Clark Atlanta University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, AmeriCorps, Most Valuable Kids and Breakthrough Atlanta joined Hands On Atlanta and our partners at Westside Future Fund to protect the farm over winter and into the spring months.

— Volunteer at Truly Living Well

More ways to celebrate the 2023 MLK Days of Service:

— Volunteer at Books for Africa

— Volunteer at the Wylde Center

On Thursday, Jan. 12, volunteers from Kia and the community joined a fun, virtual project from, where they wrote jokes and letters of encouragement to students in our partner schools. The jokes and notes will be placed in their Meals4Kids meal bags that will be sent when school is on break!
We’re collecting jokes and notes through Jan. 21, 2023. Sign up now and get everything you need to join from home.
In partnership with Inclusivv and as part of our MLK Sunday Supper call to action, volunteers stepped up to host their own “conversation that matters” about equitable housing on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.
You can find a conversation to join or host your own here!
Morehouse College hosted their Bonner Office of Community Service Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 16 as part of their King Day Commemoration, but they have a ton of events you can join, happening throughout January.
Explore all of their events and join them here.
Atlanta Public Schools challenged thousands of their students, families and staff to “take the day on” and join a family friendly volunteer project on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.
You can join the challenge all January long by serving with one of these projects appropriate for kids 14+.

Visit www.mlkatl.org for more information and to explore all of the MLK Days of Service projects and events happening throughout January.

Tim Adkins 12/5/22 Tim Adkins 12/5/22

AmeriCorps Spotlight: Di'Avian Foster

As the member service year continues forward, we’d like to take this time to focus on this month’s AmeriCorps Member Spotlight, Di'Avian Foster. We recently caught up with Di'Avian to learn a little more about her and why she’s chose a year of service with Hands On Atlanta:

As the member service year continues forward, we’d like to take this time to focus on this month’s AmeriCorps Member Spotlight, Di'Avian Foster. Di'Avian is originally from New Jersey and pursued her education at Georgia State University where she studied Political Science. Her passion for the success of scholars brought her to Hands On Atlanta, where Di'Avian serves as a tutor at Bunche Middle School. Di'Avian has gone the extra mile during her time with Hands On Atlanta where she’s exemplified professionalism, respect, and a high level of care for the work that she does. She has gone out of her way to implement the creative use of multiplication/division cards to assist her students in achieving their math goals. Additionally, Di'Avian has become a regular volunteer during our Saturday Discovery sessions. She’s a team player that makes the best of each opportunity to impact the lives of scholars within our partner schools.

We recently caught up with Di'Avian to learn a little more about her and why she’s chose a year of service with Hands On Atlanta:

What do you love about Atlanta?

I love that the opportunities are limitless in Atlanta and there is something for everybody.

Why did you join AmeriCorps?

During my final semester of grad school, I knew that I wanted to take a service year while I was preparing to go to law school. After doing some research I came across the AmeriCorps program with Hands On Atlanta and it just made sense for me to gain experience working with youth while also giving back to my community.

What do you like most about working with your students?

I love building relationships with my kids and seeing them come out of their shells. I also love when their faces light up when they finally overcome any obstacles they are facing.

What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I hope to learn more about myself and who I am as a person. I also want to make an impact, no matter how big or small, in the lives of my students that they will remember for years to come.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I see myself just finishing law school and getting ready to start my career as an attorney. I also see myself working in the nonprofit sector, either starting my own nonprofit helping the children of incarcerated youth or working for an already established nonprofit.

When you’re not tutoring, what do you like to do for fun?

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy volunteering, reading, and journaling.

Help us thank Di’Avian for her dedication and commitment towards making a difference in the communities we serve by commenting below or sharing her spotlight!

Tim Adkins 11/17/22 Tim Adkins 11/17/22

6 Ways to Give Thanks for Thanksgiving

Tis the giving season and we’ve got plenty of opportunities for you to do something good this Thanksgiving. From Saturday, Nov. 19-Saturday, Nov. 26 we have 125+ projects in need of extra hands. So, whether you’re looking to continue your family tradition of service or looking to start a new tradition with your friends, check out these featured opportunities to give back.

Fight Food Insecurity

Food is an urgent basic need – and those who struggle to feed their families, feel it each and every day. Students are unable to concentrate in the classroom, families who are food insecure experience more frequent and severe health issues, and socioeconomic growth is affected. The good news is, you can help. Our partner organizations on the frontlines of the fight for food security (often working on shoestring budgets) rely solely on volunteers to collect, organize and distribute food. Join our partners to support their work to feed Atlanta.

HELP FEED ATLANTA

Serve with the whole family

Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to reinforce service as a family value! Volunteering is also a fun, meaningful activity that builds community, empathy, self-worth. We’ve pulled together projects fit for the whole family.

EXPLORE FAMILY FRIENDLY PROJECTS

Discovery at Parklane Elementary

This Saturday, Nov. 19, join Hands On Atlanta volunteers at Parklane Elementary and provide enrichment activities, including lessons in STEAM, social-emotional learning, and health and wellness in a structured and fun environment.

Thanksgiving Feast and Food Giveaway

On Saturday, Nov. 19, help Ebenezer Baptist Church with their Thanksgiving feast and food giveaway! Volunteers will assist with breakdown and cleanup of the event and transport items to the respective areas.

Help Feed 500 Families

Join C.H.O.I.C.E.S. on Saturday, Nov. 19 to help them teach 500 families how to make a Thanksgiving meal. You’ll pack bags, load cars and perform other volunteer tasks to ensure they feed 500 families in Dekalb County for Thanksgiving.

Help Before Your Second Helping

Volunteers are needed at the Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5k, Mile and Dash on Thanksgiving Day. Fill the important role of ensuring runners are safe and have fun! Jobs vary from hydration stations to course monitors and cheering on runners! Volunteers are the heart and sole of Atlanta Track Club. Without the support of Atlanta Track Club volunteers, they would not be able to put on some of the most successful running events in the US.

BONUS - MAKE A DONATION

If you can’t get away to volunteer for Thanksgiving or if you want to let our hands be yours, consider making a donation! For every dollar donated, we’ll turn it into $6 of economic impact. Your donation can help support food security, educational equity and more impact across metro Atlanta.

DONATE NOW

Claire Arnold 11/9/22 Claire Arnold 11/9/22

Host a drive for the holidays!

The holidays are approaching fast and we’re already getting a lot of requests for donating items or hosting drives to help those in need across metro Atlanta. We’ve laid out a step-by-step guideline and best practices to make your drive a big success.

The holidays are approaching fast and we’re already getting a lot of requests for donating items or hosting drives to help those in need across metro Atlanta. Thank you for thinking of our neighbors and looking for unique and creative ways to help.

Below we’ve laid out a step-by-step guideline and best practices to make your drive a big success.

💥 Decide what kind of impact you want to make.

Think of who and how you want to help your community. For example, maybe you want to collect school supplies to support students returning to school in the fall, or maybe you’d like to support new mothers in need? There are a lot of impact areas where your network of friends, family and colleagues can help with! For a great list, check out the filter on our volunteer portal to find impact areas and organizations working to address them.

🔎 Identify a partner nonprofit to receive the donations.

Do a little research (we have a fantastic list of vetted nonprofit partner organizations you can browse) and find an organization that is working to solve the same community issues you want to make impact in with your drive.

⚙️ Work out the logistics.

Reach out to the partner, and find out if they’re up for receiving donations from your drive. You’ll want to get their specific request list of items, and find out when they need the supplies by. For example – did you know that the best time to deliver school supply donations is in early July? That gives the nonprofit the time to distribute them, before schools starts. Talk to the nonprofit partner about best times and dates for you to deliver, how the supplies should be packaged, and what items should not be avoided.

*NOTE: If you're doing a drive for holiday gifts, be sure not to collect wrapped gifts, unless the organization has requested this. Most organizations prefer for the parents or gift-giver to be able to wrap + give the gift directly to the recipient - and we totally agree with this!

⏳ Choose a timeframe.

Typically, 2 weeks is the ideal timeframe for a supply drive – meaning, the targeted participants have 2 weeks to purchase or find the supplies and deliver them to the collection site. Again, don’t forget to take into account the time when the nonprofit needs the supplies, and the time it’ll take you to inventorize and deliver the supplies – give yourself about a week to do that.

📣 Publicize the drive.

Sharing on social media and within group chats is the easiest and fastest way to spread the word. You can also create flyers with ALL information (supply lists, collection dates + locations, who to email with questions) and get these out to your group via email campaigns, passing them out at existing events like all-staff meetings or placing them in common areas like elevators and cafes. Asking group leadership to introduce the drive to the group can go a long way, too!

🗑️ Place collection bins out.

These should be in common areas, where your group will already be going – hallways and elevator banks are ideal. This also means your participants will walk by them frequently and be reminded.

🚀 Continue promoting!

Continuously remind your participants throughout the drive window, to participate. Remind them of the deadline, any incentives and the meaningful impact they are making!

📊 Take inventory.

After the deadline for donations has passed, count up the supplies and consolidate them into properly sized packaging. Give the nonprofit partner a heads up of the results via email, before delivering them.

🚚 Deliver!

Pack up the car and bring the donations to the nonprofit partner, at the previously arranged date + time!

Bonus tips and suggestions for an extra-awesome drive:

Make it competitive! Have different teams, departments or subgroups have their own collection bins – who’s will be the fullest, the fastest?
Offer incentives for all participants – a social media badge or even a sticker gives your participants a way to feel recognized as well as spread the word to others for you.
Take pictures, post and tag!

Tim Adkins 9/30/22 Tim Adkins 9/30/22

Introducing the 2023 Class of Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellows

Hands On Atlanta is thrilled to introduce you to the 2023 class of the Civic Leadership Program, powered by Constellation!

Over the next 9 months, these 23 Civic Fellows will build and develop leadership and professional development skills through workshops, trainings and hands-on learning while supporting the needs of 24 partner nonprofits and schools across metro Atlanta. The diverse cohort features award-winning community leaders, doctors, students, retirees, corporate leaders and entrepreneurs from all ages, skillsets, and education levels.

Hands On Atlanta is thrilled to introduce you to the 2023 class of the Civic Leadership Program, powered by Constellation!

Over the next 9 months, these 23 Civic Fellows will build and develop leadership and professional development skills through workshops, trainings and hands-on learning while supporting the needs of 22 partner nonprofits and schools across metro Atlanta. The diverse cohort features award-winning community leaders, doctors, students, retirees, corporate leaders and entrepreneurs from all ages, skillsets, and education levels.

Each fellow will be responsible for organizing at least 1 project a month, recruiting and managing volunteers, fundraising and supporting Hands On Atlanta’s Days of Service, like MLK Day. They’ll also connect and build relationships with each other through quarterly socials.

Meet the fellows:

Karen Machuca-Barboza

Serving with Discovery

Karen serves as the Sr. Administrative Assistant to three Vice Presidents of Southern Operations (GA & TN) at Southern Company Gas. Karen is the co-chair of Atlanta Gas Light’s – HOLA (Hispanic Organization of Latin Advancement) Employee Resource Group and actively supports the United Way of Greater Atlanta, Ser Familia, and the Latin American Association.

Dr. Sean Bethune

Serving with Hope Atlanta

Dr. Bethune is the Deputy Head of School at Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School. Dr. Bethune has been a recipient of several awards and recognitions including a 2021 Georgia Southern University 40 under 40 and the 2021 Association for Supervision and Curriculum (ASCD) Emerging Leaders Award.

Maranie Brown

Serving with Black Girls Smile

Maranie is the V.P., Data Platform & Solutions within the Technology & Operations organization at BlackRock. She has been recognized as a "Rising Star" for outstanding contributions to the tech community, one of the Marietta Daily Journal / Cobb Life Magazine's "Top 20 Under 40", and a Woman to Watch in STEAM by Women in Tech.

Jade Calhoun

Serving with Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta

Jade is an Events and Game Experience Analyst with AMB Sports + Entertainment. Jade has honed critical skills required to efficiently maintain great relationships with communities and organizations.

Tracy Dansby

Serving with Reflections of Trinity

Tracy is a “Georgia Peach” that loves to serve in Atlanta and on mission trips abroad. Her professional expertise is in the area of Finance, Logistics and Transportation. She currently serves as the Controller for her family’s Trucking business.

Dahab Hagos Fewell

Serving with Discovery

Dahab is a mission-driven leader with extensive experience leading complex and innovative initiatives across the social-impact sector. Through her strong commitment to community, over the past 15 years, Dahab has led program design and asset-based community development initiatives through her work with grassroots and mainstream organizations.

Snapper Freeman

Serving with Discovery

Snapper is a Community Relationship Manager with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the founder of Community Service Redirect, and he also serves as Chair of the Fan Ambassador Program for the Chick Fil-A Peach Bowl.

Chelsea Bynum-Grant

Serving with Discovery

Chelsea Bynum-Grant honorably served in the United States Army for nine years as an 88M (Motor Transport Operator) and a 25V (Combat Documentation/Production Specialist). She’s currently a Deputy Sheriff with the Community Engagement Unit of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

Brian Greene

Serving with Aglanta

Brian is the Business Capabilities Lead for Thought Logic Consulting, a management consulting firm based in Atlanta. He is responsible for the firm’s Finance, HR, Sales & Marketing, Change Management and Organizational Transformation, and for establishing the strategic direction of firm offerings for those services.

Dr. Sandy-Asari Hogan

Serving with Grady Health System

Dr. Sandy-Asari Hogan is a Director at ORS Impact, focused on evaluation and social impact strategy. She’s also the Vice President of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals (2021-2023) and as the chair-elect for the American Public Health Association (APHA) Intersectional Council Steering Committee (ISC).

Kiara Jones

Serving with Discovery

Kiara Jones is a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley that assists professionals and entrepreneurs in the serious stages of wealth accumulation with financial planning, investment strategy and risk management. Kiara currently volunteers with the Junior League of Greater Atlanta, United Way of Greater Atlanta, and other nonprofits supporting child well-being, women and homelessness.

Emelie Leveille

Serving with C.H.O.I.C.E.S.

Emilie is a Digital Communications professional and a yoga instructor. Her journey led her to organizations like AMB Sports and Entertainment, where she provided optimal support for events like the Democracy Class Atlanta, AMBlank Community Day, MLK Day of Service and more.

Kaci Palmore

Serving with Discovery

Kaci is the author of four poetry books When the Love is Real, This Heart of Mine, Like Water, Absurdly Tiny Steps—and most recently, a self-help memoir entitled Growing In Joy. As a full-time entrepreneur, she assists both companies and individuals with writing, editing, and content creation needs.

Jemima Peddie, PMP

Serving with Out of Hand Theater

Jemima is a Project Manager with over 20 years of marketing experience. She has worked in finance, healthcare, and publishing. She is skilled in strategic implementation, team building, and risk management.

Mary Catherine Pelham

Serving with Hope Atlanta

Mary Catherine is the Associate Director of Residential Services at CaringWorks, Inc. She has been involved in numerous volunteer activities around Metro Atlanta and has been a member of the Junior League of Atlanta since 2017. Although her career is service-focused, she has always had a heart for volunteering and has continued to give back to her community outside of her work.

Mael-Sanh Perrier

Serving with Atlanta Community Toolbank

Mael is a full-time student who’s dedicates much of his time to volunteering and is devoted to helping make Atlanta an even better place to live. Mael is a Volunteer Administrator for Team Rubicon, as well as an AmeriCorps alumnus.

Andre Person

Serving with Discovery

Andre Person has been constructing powerlines for Georgia Power for 15 years. He’s also the president of their local volunteer organization within Georgia Power.

Monica Saddique

Serving with Discovery

Monica is finishing her last year at Clark Atlanta University receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Spanish. She looks to pursue a career in legal affairs and become an International Human Rights attorney.

Chelsea Scarlett

Serving with Discovery

Chelsea is currently an Assistant Director with Xcenda Innovative Field Solutions. She enjoys volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta and Dress for Success Atlanta. She is a member of Northlake Toastmasters, Junior League of Dekalb and Clark Atlanta University Alumni Chapter and Clark Atlanta University Guild.

Sakshi Sehgal

Serving with Discovery

Sakshi a first-year MD candidate at the Medical College of Georgia. She enjoys serving her community and volunteered at COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites in the Atlanta area through the DeKalb Medical Reserve Corps during the pandemic.

Pam Sidhi

Serving with Clarkston Community Center

Pam is an innovative project and volunteer leader with a background in business management and international business. Now a full-time mom, Pam enjoys meeting new people and learning new perspectives, and digging into problems and solving them with modern technologies.

Christopher Stewart

Serving with the Wylde Center

Christopher H Stewart is a CyberSecurity professional in Atlanta, GA. and has been a volunteer in various organizations for over 17 years. Christopher has always prioritized volunteering, especially in the areas of bridging the education gap and financial literacy.

Erica Wyatt

Serving with Covington First

Erica is the Director of Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) for ThyssenKrupp Materials, One Source Group Division. Erica serves as a Board member for Junior League of DeKalb and a member of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Decatur-DeKalb Chapter.

Interested in learning more about the Hands On Atlanta Civic Leadership Program? You can get involved as a volunteer, sponsor a workshop or social, make a donation to support the program and more at https://www.handsonatlanta.org/civic-leadership

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Constellation is the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy and the leading competitive retail supplier of power and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the United States. Headquartered in Baltimore, its generation fleet powers more than 20 million homes and businesses and is helping to accelerate the nation’s transition to clean energy with more than 32,400 megawatts of capacity and annual output that is 90 percent carbon-free. Constellation has set a goal to eliminate 100 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 by leveraging innovative technology and enhancing its diverse mix of hydro, wind and solar resources paired with the nation’s largest carbon-free nuclear fleet. Constellation’s family of retail businesses serves approximately 2 million residential, public sector and business customers, including three-fourths of the Fortune 100.

Tim Adkins 9/29/22 Tim Adkins 9/29/22

8 Days of IMPACT - Looking back at the 2022 Hands On Atlanta Week

What does the city’s largest week of service look like? Well, for starters, it looks like a lot of fun!

Across the 200+ projects and events that took place, close to 1,000 volunteers sorted, packed or distributed 60,000 meals for local families, serving a combined 3,000 hours! That’s just some of the incredible impact made by volunteers. Here’s a closer look at a few of our highlighted projects and community events from across the week.

Westside Takeover at 970 W. Jefferson

About 100 volunteers from the Blank Family of Businesses and iVision came out to 970 Jefferson St. (home to the Hands On Atlanta warehouse and several of our nonprofit partners) for an action packed Westside Takeover, to support a variety of agencies alleviating food insecurity across Metro-Atlanta. Volunteers were greeted by Atlanta Community Food Bank founder, Bill Bolling, then sorted food and packed about 9,000 meals with Urban Recipe and Second Helpings Atlanta, sorted 7 boxes of seeds and filled 500 seed packets for donation and painted 70 garden tools for Food Well Alliance to use in urban gardens & farms, and partnered up with Westside Future Fund to clean up the surrounding Westside neighborhoods.

STEAM Pop-Up at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta

Hundreds of volunteers from the Blank Family Foundation, Chick-Fil-A, and the Braves Foundation built 20 little libraries & 1,600 STEAM kits at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. The STEAM kits were distributed to about 150 “Littles” during the Science ATL Pop-Up on September, 24. The libraries were built with the help of the Atlanta Community Toolbank and painted by the “Littles” then distributed to parks across Metro Atlanta in partnership with Park Pride.

Beautification at Centennial Academy and the Blank Family YMCA

Volunteers from Alston & Bird, Georgia Natural Gas, and HOK supported the Blank Family YMCA and Centennial Academy through the arts! Thanks to our partners at Paint Love and Learning in Color, volunteers painted and sealed little libraries, walls and rooms throughout both locations and 2 huge, motivational murals and 3 classrooms. Volunteers also read to over 100 students. Monique Lee, Associate Executive Director at the Metro Atlanta YMCA led the charge, with a big welcome and thank you to the volunteers!

Meals4Kids pack at the Hands On Atlanta Warehouse

Volunteers from the Blank Family Foundation and Georgia Power packed nutritious, shelf-stable food into bags for students at the International Community School in Dekalb County - many of who are refugees or otherwise immigrating from other countries. The volunteers also wrote notes of encouragement cards with candy to support literacy engagement.

Beautification at John Lewis Invictus Academy

Volunteers were greeted at John Lewis Invictus Academy by Principal Dr. Ramon Garner, Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, Dr. Lisa Herring, Garry Lowe, Vice Chair of the John Lewis Legacy Institute and Hands On Atlanta co-founder Elise Eplan. Atlanta Falcons players and cheerleaders were also on hand to help with a variety of beautification projects including building and painting 6 picnic tables, 6 garden bed builds, about 100 sidewalk paintings, and landscaping. This was the final project of Hands On Atlanta Week, helping to celebrate Arthur Blank's 80th birthday!

More Good that happened during Hands On Atlanta Week

The Komen Georgia More Than Pink Walk raised $450,000 for breast cancer research, care, support and advocacy!
The AIDS Walk Atlanta Festival and 5k raised close to $400,000 to support and care for Georgians living with HIV/AIDS
The 4th Annual Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival showcased 80 short and full feature films for an in-person and virtual experience. You can watch the trailers and purchase tickets to watch individual films here.
100 runners participated in the OneDigial Dash Corporate Crusaders team, racking up over 2100 miles from more than 290 runs throughout the week! Their team fundraised for Bert’s Big Adventure, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Safekids Georgia and Hands On Atlanta!