For the 2024 edition of Hands On Atlanta Week, presented by Delta Air Lines, more than 3,000 volunteers supported over 50 nonprofits and schools across 300 projects! The focus for the week prioritized projects around Food Security and Hurricane Helene relief efforts, but volunteers created meaningful impact in all kinds of areas including building bikes, park beautifications, tutoring elementary students and so much more!
We’re excited to introduce our newest Hands On Hunger cohort! Since 2018, in partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, we’ve led 10 cohorts of pantries through our intensive 2 year capacity-building program, with this being our 11th.
We’re so thrilled to celebrate 35 year of mobilizing the Atlanta community to tackle our city’s most pressing needs. From service trailblazers like Michelle Nunn and Bill Bolling to Mayor Shirley Franklin, Ann Cramer, and so many others, our work exists because of individuals who embody the example of the saying, “it takes a village.”
The Hands On Atlanta MLK Days of Service serve as a day ON to give back and create equitable change across Atlanta, and this year helped to push us forward in our mission to mobilize the Atlanta community to tackle our city’s most pressing needs!
Throughout January 11-15, 2024, over 3,000 volunteers supported 50 nonprofits. We recently caught up with a few partners (Atlanta BeltLine, Hope Hill Elementary, and Wren’s Nest) to talk about the impact MLK Days of Service 2024 provided for them.
Keep reading to find out what happens after the buzz and excitement of the King holiday slows and these organizations get back to supporting their communities.
We’re excited to introduce you to Kennedi Harris, a bold, passionate, and ambitious volunteer! ! Her passion for volunteerism shines through in her work as a member of our Civic Leadership Program, and with various organizations throughout Metro Atlanta.
We’re excited to introduce you to Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta, our nonprofit partner fighting food insecurity in our community! They began the 2022-2023 school year feeding roughly 800 children each weekend across 27 schools. With 2 years under their belt, we were excited to catch up with their team to discuss their mission, growth, and impact!
We’re excited to introduce you to Chantelle Hawkins, a member of our Civic Leadership Program! She shines brightly, reminding us of the power of collaboration and commitment to others. Through her words and actions, Chantelle embodies the essence of service, leaving an indelible mark on the community she calls home, here in Atlanta!
We are so excited to introduce you to this month’s AmeriCorps Member Spotlight, Myles Griffin! Myles is an academic tutor at Young Middle School, whose journey goes beyond the surface of service.
Myle’s joined AmeriCorps because he loves serving the community. He stated “the opportunity to help my local community is more than just a noble cause; it is a character-building experience that I wholeheartedly embrace. There's a unique feeling that comes with building bonds while working towards something greater than ourselves."
Delving into the day-to-day experiences, Myles expressed a deep appreciation for his role in working with students. He hopes to better understand the metro school system and the confidence to act when help is needed. What he enjoys most is how much the students love chess and their interest in Esports. Witnessing their commitment to something as complex as these activities has been truly fascinating in an academic setting.
“Over time, I’ve seen students undergo tremendous transformations, emerging from their shells and forming new friendships, all stemming from a shared interest.”
Outside of the AmeriCorps duties, Myles leads a dynamic life filled with various passions. For fun, he enjoys competing in tournaments, coding software, creating art, playing my saxophone, and spending time with friends. He envisions a future filled with entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors. In five years, he wants to either own a software business or running a non-profit organization.
Reflecting on what he loves most about Atlanta, Myles shares that this is his first time living in an area where the population is predominantly Black and feels empowered and inspired. He has learned a lot about himself, and feels like its genuinely made him a better person overall.
We appreciate Myle’s love for learning, ambition, and relentless effort to impact and transform the power of service.
Are you interested in learning more about a year of service through the Hands On Atlanta AmeriCorps program? Click here to see all the program benefits, what you’ll do and to start your application for the 2024-25 term.
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