Street feedings; Thoughts on Volunteerism and Partnership

May 9, 2013

About a decade ago I was reading a book that changed my life. It was a young man’s reflections on his past and how he came to understand people, his family, his faith, and the entire world around him. It was my kind of book, perfect for the young college mind that is yearning to be set free into a world of fresh ideas and insights. The author told a story about a friend who wanted to serve the poor, so he bought a portable grill that he could throw in his truck and would drive across town to set up shop in a parking lot every Saturday morning and cook breakfast for anyone who wandered up. It sounded so beautiful to me, this idea. I wanted to be like this guy, a man who was not bothered by the walls that separate people of different financial classes, a man who took action and made friends with someone through eggs and toast and bacon. It was my kind of story, and I had never really experienced it for myself.

Now that I work in Downtown Atlanta I can see that this is something that people are doing frequently. There are many caring souls from local faith-groups, clubs, and the like who organize themselves in to mobile kitchens throughout the week and serve to the men and women who are often walking through the central parts of our city. I believe that each and every one of these has a big heart and desire to do right by the people in their community.

As we collaborate with our partners throughout the city who are seeking to end homelessness and help men and women transition into self-sufficiency, we become aware that there are many ways that all of us can work together for better outcomes. While feeding a meal on the street might seem helpful, in some ways it can be counter-productive. Of course, we want no man, woman, or child to go hungry for any reason in our city, but we desire for all to seek out the long-term solutions that come through entering trusted programs that create the support needed for eventual self-sufficiency. That is what agencies, churches, university groups, and city offices are doing every day throughout Atlanta. We ask that the incredibly driven and compassionate people who feed on the street partner with us by serving within our programs so that we might be able to reach more of those in need.

So, perhaps you are someone who participates in street feedings. Don’t misunderstand: we love you. We want to work together. Our city needs you. If you would, check out this www.PartnerForHopeATL.com. Consider coming inside and using those passions towards organizations that are compelled and set-up to help people achieve long-lasting success. Gateway Center serves over 600 meals every day to our program clients and welcomes organizations to come in to serve throughout the year.

Related Tag: Members

CAP Seeking Intern for 2013-14 Academic Year

March 19, 2013

Central Atlanta Progress seeks up to two interns who will each focus on one of the following topic areas: Economic Development or Transportation and Sustainability. Applicants must communicate via cover letter which of the two focus areas is preferred.

The typical internship is for a 12-month term – May 2013 through April 2014. More details on the application process can be found here.

GSU Students Help Rebrand 100 Peachtree

March 12, 2013

A collaboration between 100 Peachtree and Georgia State University, celebrating 100 years. Georgia State University (GSU) Earnest G. Welch School of Art and Design students are collaborating with America’s Capital Partners (ACP) and Five Mile, the owners of 100 Peachtree, as part of the building’s rebranding strategy. Students in the undergraduate programs are participating in a design competition titled “Identity 100: Rebranding 100 Peachtree” while the curriculum for the graduate students in the Interior and Graphic Design Studio includes marketing displays for the building’s 31st floor. As part of their commitment to the development of Downtown Atlanta, ACP and Five Mile are establishing a $28,000 grant for future students attending GSU that will be funded over a period of three years.

Below is a list of the locations where the Identity 100 art pieces will be displayed through April 15.

100 Peachtree
100 Peachtree Street NW
6th floor and 18th floor

GSU Arts & Humanities Building
10 Peachtree Center Avenue
Main lobby and elevator lobbies

Rialto Theater
80 Forsyth Street NW

Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker Street NW

GSU Library
100 Decatur Street SE
2nd Floor Display

You can view artwork submitted by the undergraduate students from the Georgia State University (GSU) Earnest G. Welch School of Art and Design online at www.100x100project.com now and vote for your favorite piece beginning March 18. The overall winner will receive an Apple MacBook Pro. You can also follow the project and related events on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/100Peachtree.

Related Tag: Members

CAP Annual Meeting on the Horizon

February 25, 2013

Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) will host its 2013 Annual Meeting on Thursday, March 28 at the Georgia World Congress Center’s Sidney Marcus Auditorium. Kicking off at 7:00 a.m., the breakfast event brings together more than 1,100 of the city’s top executives, elected officials and community partners, and will mark CAP’s 72^nd year of serving Downtown Atlanta.

www.atlantadowntown.com/membership/2013-annual-meeting

Related Tag: Members

We Love Woodruff Park

February 12, 2013

We've dyed the fountains at Woodruff Park in celebration of Valentine's Day! Show us how much YOU love Downtown with our Instagram photo contest, open between February 14 and February 19. It's as simple as 1-2-3!

1. Take an Instagram with the pink fountain and/or water wall in Woodruff Park

2. Tag @downtownatlanta on Instagram and use the hashtag #ilovewoodruffpark

3. The photo with the most "Likes" by Feb. 19 wins!

More details:

Competition Period
The competition will officially open on February 14, 2013 and will close on February, 19 2013 at noon EDT. No photographs submitted after the competition closing time will be accepted. The competition can be declared null and void at any time.

Entrants should:
• Take a creative photograph of the pink fountain and/or water wall in Woodruff Park.
• Give their photograph a title, preferably one that identifies the place or activity featured in the image.
• Tag their photograph with the “#ilovewoodruffpark” hashtag, @downtownatlanta account name and any other hashtags the author may choose to use.
• Preferably, geotag the photograph with Robert W. Woodruff Park as the location, although images not geotagged will not be excluded from the competition

.• Preferably, publish the photograph on Twitter mentioning the @downtownatlanta Twitter account, although photographs without this cross-publish will not be excluded from the competition.

• Upload the photograph to the Instagram network, under their own user name.

By tagging a photograph with the #ilovewoodruffpark hashtag, the author confirms that the image was taken in Woodruff Park in Atlanta, GA. There is no limit on the number of photographs that each entrant may submit, and comments on photographs left by other users will not be taken into account.
Photographs taken before the publication of these rules may be entered, as long as they are submitted within the dates established and comply with the conditions for participation.

During the competition period, Central Atlanta Progress may publish any photographs considered appropriate on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/atlantadowntown and on its Twitter account at www.twitter.com/downtownatlanta in order to promote the contest.

Characteristics of Photographs
By submitting photos to the competition, authors confirm that these images comply with the following conditions:
• They were taken at Woodruff Park in Atlanta, GA.
• They were taken by the entrant and are their own original work.
• They neither contain nor make reference to third-party brands.
• They feature no obscene, sexually explicit, violent, offensive, incendiary or defamatory content or material.
• The necessary permission was obtained from any individuals who may appear in them.

Central Atlanta Progress has the right to reject any photographs and messages that do not comply with the above conditions, that may harm the organization’s image or that discriminate on grounds of race, sex, religion, opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance.

Prizes
The public will select a winner from all of the eligible photograph entries by way of “Liking” a photograph. The prize of one (1) $50 dining certificate will be awarded to the photographer of the winning photo. On February 19 Central Atlanta Progress will contact the winner through their profiles on Instagram through the account of DowntownAtlanta – ‘downtownatlanta’, leaving a comment on the winning photographs and/or by any other means considered appropriate (for instance, through Twitter using the Downtown Atlanta account @downtownatlanta.)

Central Atlanta Progress will ask the winner to contact it before February 22, 2013 in order to supply their name, contact telephone number(s) and postal addresses. Central Atlanta Progress staff will coordinate with each winner to deliver the dining certificate by mail. The winning photograph will be published on the Downtown Atlanta Facebook and Twitter pages.