Tuesday, August 30, 2011
An inside look at the much-deserved, multi-million dollar project
This morning, community leaders, government officials and philanthropic Atlantans gathered to celebrate the 30 years of positive change CHRIS Kids has made in the lives of young people and the unveiling of the nonprofit’s new facility known as The Graham Circle Project—a $12.1 million permanent counseling and education center as well as supportive housing for 17-24 year old youth who are aging out of foster care, homeless and/or parenting. The apartment community (called Summit Trail) is EarthCraft certified, while the services building and CHRIS Counseling & Education Center are both LEED certified. The keynote speaker was Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal. A proclamation and Phoenix Award was awarded to CHRIS Kids by City Council …
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Looking inside CHRIS Kids' TransitionZ program and Summit Trail housing
“When I needed my real mom the most, she wasn’t there for me. I go to bed every night just thinking about her. It’s tough,” said Tracy Joachim, a 21-year-old Atlantan who spent his childhood in the city’s foster care system. Joachim’s story is painful, but things have been looking up for him since he entered the CHRIS Kids’ TransitionZ program and moved into Summit Trail, the EarthCraft-certified apartment complex in East Atlanta where the young adults in the program live. While CHRIS Kids has been helping heal children, strengthen families and build community for the past 30 years, the TransitionZ program and Summit Trail housing began in April 2010 and has already impacted a number of young folks in need. The 1- and 2-bedroom apartments …
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The nonprofit publication is artist advocacy at its best
Atlanta’s art scene is inspiring, unique, flourishing and ever-changing. Yet, some city dwellers aren’t quite sure how to experience it or look deeper beyond gallery exhibit openings and the occasional review in the Journal-Constitution. Burnaway, an online arts publication (and 501c3) headquartered in Grant Park, launched in 2008 with the purpose of educating and engaging the community. “It’s an entry point that’s wide enough for people to get involved and not be intimidated,” said editor-in-chief and co-founder Jeremy Abernathy. “Our mission is to provide access to the arts, but to always challenge people. To be exciting enough for people to want to be challenged.” In the publication, you might find an article on the Four Coats …
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sopo Bicycle Cooperative helps youth stay active
With child obesity a national epidemic (just ask Michelle Obama) and so many ways to keep kids inside instead of playing outdoors (ahem, Sony Playstation), it’s so important that the community takes strides to keep our youth active. No one realizes the importance more than Sopo Bicycle Cooperative. The non-profit, community-based bicycle repair shop has a goal of making transportation affordable, accessible and sustainable for folks of all ages, and summer is when youth can really benefit while they're out of school. This Saturday, May 14, Sopo will be on site at the Brownwood Bike Rally. This all-ages biking and fitness event benefits the East Atlanta Kids Club, an organization that also shares a mission of keeping youth active. Kids as…
33.741411
-84.346787
465 Flat Shoals Ave SE # C, Atlanta, GA
/articles/keeping-kids-on-the-streets
/locations/4279205
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Church of the Holy Comforter's Friendship Center empowers the mentally ill
A friendly man named Brian asked if he could assist me while I perused the flowers at the Holy Comforter’s plant sale Saturday. While chatting, he told me about his newfound passion for gardening and all the knowledge he’s acquired about the craft in the past year. He shared the Red Begonia was his favorite flower and after examining all the colorful goods, that’s what I ended up taking home. Brian, along with about 10 others, is part of the gardening portion of Holy Comforter’s Friendship Center, a day program for people in the community marginalized by poverty, mental illness and/or other disabilities. The church, located at Woodland and Ormewood avenues in Ormewood Park, has been running the Center since 1997. The folks in the …
33.733943
-84.351274
Holy Comforter Episcopal Church
737 Woodland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA
/articles/finding-a-purpose-through-plants
1680103
/locations/4009401
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Raffle during Inman Park Restaurant Week benefits Project Open Hand
You may have noticed folks from all over the city flocking to a specific ‘hood seriously concentrated with restaurants for fantastic, affordable meals. Yes, Inman Park Restaurant Week started yesterday (March 28) and is in full swing until April 3. Restaurants like Wisteria, Sotto Sotto, Rathbun’s and the new Victory Sandwich Bar will all be offering $15, $25 or $35 prix fixe meals, some with limited options and others offering up almost everything from their regular menus. The best part (besides the incredible food, of course) is that the special dining week benefits Project Open Hand, the admirable Atlanta nonprofit that prepares and delivers nutritional meals to seniors and those in need and also provides nutritional and wellness …
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
East Atlanta's Neighbor in Need initiative works wonders for seniors in the community
A friend in need is a friend indeed, as the saying goes. It's a philosophy at the heart of an East Atlanta initiative designed to help fellow Villagers through the friendship of community. By unanimous vote in May 2010, the East Atlanta Community Association (EACA) began its Neighbor in Need initiative, modeled after the Neighbor in Need program which serves the East Lake, Edgewood and Kirkwood communities. The mission is to raise funds and complete emergency home repairs for seniors who don’t have the financial means to do so. In today’s recession, many older folks in our communities struggle making ends meet on fixed incomes. They have spent their lives working and building their neighborhoods into what they are today, but often find …
