Athens Community Helpers

Blue and white background. Moms Demand Action logos top and bottom. Center text reads, “Everyone deserves to live a life free from gun violence. Moms Demand Action is a grassroots organization with over 11 million supporters, and a chapter in every state. We are a movement of moms, dads, students, survivors, educators, gun owners, and concerned citizens working together to fight for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. The Athens group is an integral part of the Georgia chapter, participating in advancing a mission of education, advocacy, awareness, and policy change.”

Photo collage of Moms Demand Action members speaking, lobbying legislators, and demonstrating. In the lower middle, text reads: The Athens Moms Demand Action chapter participates in: Advocacy at the capitol where we fight for safer gun laws;

Photo collage of people at marches and rallies supporting Moms Demand. In lower right corner, text reads: Disarm hate, an initiative driven by the deadly intersection of guns and hate crimes—10k+ hate crimes in the US involve a firearm in the average year.

Photo collage of various GA legislators endorsed by Moms Demand Action, including Senator Raphael Warnock, Mokah Jasmine Johnson, and Mayor Kelly Girtz. In lower right corner, text reads: The Gun Sense Candidate Program, an effort to train, support, and volunteer for candidates who take the Gun Sense Candidate pledge. We know that in order for change to happen, we need lawmakers who listen and make decisions based on data and research.

Moms Demand is an org especially dear to us, as volunteering with Moms is what led one of our organizers to the idea for the Volunteer Fair. This grassroots movement shows what’s possible when committed people work together for change. Come to the fair this Saturday and say hi!

Abstract mountain shapes in various shades of blue in the background. In the lower left corner, a black and white photograph of JRR Tolkien in old age, smiling with a pipe in his mouth. In the upper right corner, a yellow text box with a red frame, enclosing the quote “Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. It is the e small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” —JRR Tolkien

Small acts of kindness and love are where it’s at. More manageable and often more effective than grand gestures. Listen to JRR and come to the volunteer fair THIS SATURDAY from 1-5 at 585 Barber Street, and keep the darkness at bay with your fellow Athenians.

Light blue, hot pink and white wavy background. Progress Pride flag top center. Athens Pride and Queer Collective logo bottom center. In the middle, text reads “Athens Pride + Queer Collective is dedicated to the advancement of equity, affirmation, diversity and wellness of queer populations in the greater Athens area by working with historically marginalized communities through outreach, social connection, education, and events.” In the bottom left corner, small white text reads: Athens Volunteer Fair April 26th 1-5 pm In the Treehouse/Buvez courtyard

Photo collage of people at the Athens Pride Parade, waving rainbow flags, giving free mom hugs, and a gorgeous drag queen. At the bottom right, text reads: [APQC seeks to] educate and raise awareness around issues and diverse identities related to trans, queer, and gender diverse populations using an anti-racist and gender affirming lens.

Collage of people at Athens Pride Fest, including rainbow chalk drawings, people lying on the grass laughing, drag queens and kings and more folks waving rainbow flags. In the bottom left corner, text reads: [We] advocate alongside and in alliance with all LGBTQIA2S+ populations with particular focus on intersectionalities and queer identities that have been historically silenced, stigmatized, and marginalized within and outside of dominant queer culture.

Photo collage of participants in various APQC events at City Hall, in downtown Athens, at a street fair, and at Terrapin Brewery. Includes an image for Athens LGBTQ Youth Group, with a pastel rainbow and unicorn. In the bottom left corner, text reads: And affirm our communities through support/community groups, including but not limited to LGBTQ Youth Group, QTBIPOC Group, Trans Support Group, and Religious Trauma Support Groups.

Locals know Athens Pride and Queer Collective through the Pride Parade and Pride Fest, but APQC does so much more than that for our community! Come meet them at the Athens Volunteer Fair on 4/26 and see how you can be a part of the action!

A blue, pink and white wavy background. The Love.Craft logo is bottom center, and the heart from that logo is top center. In the middle, text reads “We are working to facilitate a future where people with developmental disabilities are encouraged and included in the community around them, and have equal opportunities and resources to achieve their own goals and ambitions.” In the lower left corner, small text says, Athens Volunteer Fair April 26th 1-5 pm In the Treehouse/Buvez Courtyard

Photo collage of the Love.Craft crew making art, showing off paintings, and smiling for the camera. Text in the lower right corner reads “Our number one goal is to promote and foster inclusivity of adults with disabilities throughout our community.”

Photo collage with a group photo, and photos of individual crew members working with clay. Text in the lower left corner reads “By empowering our crew to express themselves through art and find their voice, we are providing important tools for them to identify with our community.”

Photos of the Love.Craft Band, and a crew member holding a rainbow sign that says “Nobody else can do it like you do, ‘cause you’ve got to be YOU!” In the lower right corner, text reads “We also work with the local community and businesses to educate them on how to support our crew.”

Today’s spotlight org is Love.Craft Athens, which supports and celebrates adults with developmental disabilities through art, music, and work skills development. Come and meet them and other amazing orgs on 4/26 from 1-5 pm at the Athens volunteer fair!

Blue, green, and white wavy blocks of color in the background. Hand drawn dog (the Sweet Olive Farm logo) top and bottom. In the middle, the quote “Our mission is to provide a forever home for farm and exotic animals that are unwanted, injured, elderly, homeless, and need a safe place to land.” —Sweet Olive Farm In the lower left corner, text reads: Athens Volunteer Fair April 26th 1-5 pm In the Treehouse/Buvez courtyard

A collage of rescued animals: donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, alpacas. A text box in the middle reads: Founded in 2010, Sweet Olive Farm is now home to over 250 rescued farm animals.

Photos of kids interacting with the animals and doing farm work. At the bottom right corner, text reads: Our mission also includes creating a nurturing and healing space for animals and humans, with a special focus on children.

Photos of the farm sign, a goat yoga session, and the farm owners. Text reads: The animals give back with unconditional love, which feeds the souls of all who enter our grounds.

Today’s featured org is Sweet Olive Farm, a sanctuary for human and nonhuman animals alike. Come and meet them on 4/26 at the Athens Volunteer Fair!

Blue and yellow background with the yellow and black bird from AIRC’s logo. In the center, the text “AIRC seeks social transformation and the creation of a community that lives in harmony and solidarity.” -Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition. In sideways text at the bottom left corner, small white text reads: Athens Volunteer Fair, April 26th 1-5 pm, in the Treehouse/Buvez courtyard.

Photos showing groups of people meeting, cooking, eating, and coloring. Text reads, “AIRC is a collection of Athens-based groups with a shared goal of asserting justice for immigrants, regardless of legal status. We partner with Dignidad Immigrante en Athens, U-Lead Athens, Support for Immigrant Families in Crisis, Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition, and the Diaper Bank.”

Photos of protesters holding signs about diversity and humanity and a woman speaking at a microphone outdoors. Text reads, “[The AIRC] strives to highlight the collective vision of human rights and immigrant rights advocates in Athens, GA, channeling and organizing their efforts in the areas of labor and human rights, solidarity, education, migrant youth, spirituality and culture.”

At the top, a black and white photo of demonstrators carrying a banner that reads “no human is illegal.” At the bottom, demonstrators carrying a banner that says “don’t break our families.” I. The middle, text reads, “A chief effort of the AIRC is support for Immigrant Families in crisis. We support local immigrant families who have limited access to other resources. Whether experiencing the trauma of forced family separation, violence or persecution in their home country, financial loss or medical crises, we connect these families with networks of solidarity and support while fostering the creation of safe spaces for healing.”

From now until 4/26, we’re featuring some of the amazing organizations joining us at the volunteer fair. Today’s org is the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition. www.athensimmigrantroghts.org

A dark blue background with an image of the globe in lighter blue over it. At the bottom right, a black and white photo of Alice Walker, leaning forward with her mouth open as if speaking. Abover her, the quote, “Whatever has happened to humanity, whatever is currently happening to humanity, it is happening to all of us. No matter how far off the screams of pain and terror, WE LIVE IN ONE WORLD.”

This quote feels especially relevant today. It’s a heavy day, and it feels like there have been a lot of those lately. Alice Walker knew: We live in one world. We belong to each other and we must take care of each other. Join us on the 26th as we commit to community care right here in Athens.

A yellow background with blue silhouetted hands cupping the center quote. In a white circle, the quote “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections one a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.” -author unknown. Around the circle is the text April 26th, 1-5 pm at Treehouse, Athens Volunteer Fair.

Volunteering is bringing the future you hope for into the present. We hope you'll join us on April 26th to connect with the local orgs doing work that speaks to you, so that you can put your intentions into tangible steps towards a better Athens for everyone.

A white background with a wavy rainbow swooping along the bottom. Above, in black letters, “I felt like it was important to use my life to help others. I think we all feel that, to some degree. I believe we all have a contribution to make. We have all come here with a specific intention to contribute something to unique to who we are. And our job is to identify as best as we are able what that thing is that we are meant to do. What is our gift. What is our contribution.” In bigger blue letters, it reads, “AND WHEN WE DO THAT, THE WORLD CHANGES.” In smaller black text, the quote concludes, “There’s a shift that happens that would not be there if it weren’t for you, doing what you are meant to do.” —Levar Burton

Seriously, who doesn’t love Levar Burton? From Roots to Reading Rainbow, Burton has been a light in the world for generations of fans. Like most of us, Burton felt called to make a contribution to the world. Do you feel that call? What’s your contribution?

A black and white photo of Angela Davis against a blue background with lighter blue stars. White cursive text spells out “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” —Angela Davis.

When we look around and see inequality, it can be overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to begin, how to push back. Volunteering is a way of taking action towards the community you want to exist for everyone. It’s a way to change the things we can no longer accept.

A stylized drawing of an anatomical heart, in red, centered on a white field. Above the heart, a quote: “The practice of love is the most powerful antidote to the politics of domination.” Below the heart, on the right: —bell hooks.

Love, as bell hooks knew, is a powerful force for good. And love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a PRACTICE. Leaning in to our passions frees us to be our most joyful selves. It’s also the best antidote to a politics of domination. Domination isolates; love connects. Be a helper! Feel the love!

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight Trans Athletes: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

John Oliver's new segment on trans people in sports is pretty good. On content I give it like 7 or 8 out of 10, but you should def go watch it. It's so surreal seeing a high production quality media team actually do some research and treating trans people as human

youtu.be/flSS1tjoxf0?...

A rainbow radiating outward in the background; in the foreground is a black and white photo of Dolly Parton from the late 1980s, with the text “if you don’t like the road you’re walking, pave another one.”

We are big fans of Dolly here at ACH, from her music, to her philanthropy, to her inclusive embrace of ALL her fans. This quote speaks to us because it is PAST TIME to pave a new path in this country. Join us on 4/26 and let’s start paving!

Asked and answered.

A blue background with the outline of a house in white and light blue. Two silhouetted hands come up from the bottom, cupping the words “It is in the shelter of each other that people live.” —Irish Proverb

After seeing 5.3 million people in 1400 cities SHOW UP across the country, we thought this was the perfect quote for today. Being part of a community means living in the shelter of that network of care. We hope you’ll be able to join us on 4/26 and find your place among the helpers of Athens.

Anti-Trump protests are underway across America

This is BOSTON

45 years ago on April 5, 1980, the band played their first show at friend Kathleen O'Brien's birthday party. Sandra Lee Phipps took these photos that historic night in Athens at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Oconee Street.

Protests show that people are paying attention. Protests show that people aren’t going to go along with things. Protests matter.

Athens GA Hands Off Demonstration. 1000 people, I’m sure.

Leah and I closed out the DC rally with 100k there, hopped on a bike, got some McDonalds fries, and are now headed back home to the kids.

Feeling so lifted. Millions came out today. Feel good - today was historic.

Fascists want us to feel alone. Well, so much for that.

We will win. ❤️💪♥️

Athens, Georgia Hands Off!!!!!

#HANDSOFF #NYC

Resistance 💪🏽 🇺🇸 in Athens, GA.

Seeing all the #HandsOff protests is bringing me so much joy in this moment. I love to see it. Community is so powerful. Keep it up. We're in this together. 🤝

Breaking, per NBC News @garygrumbach.bsky.social --

Judge Paula Xinis in the District of Maryland has ruled that the United States Government must return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States by April 7 at 11:59p

#Handsoff Athens Georgia. Around 1000 people. Feeling stronger when together.

We were thrilled to participate in our local Athens Hands Off rally today. Seeing the huge crowds all
over the country gives us hope for a better future. People are showing up in droves to defend our communities. We’ll be carrying this energy into the volunteer fair on 4/26—hope to see you there!

YouTube video by Elise Robinson Athens Community Helpers: The Why

Meet another one of our organizers, social media queen Elise Robinson, with her thoughts on why this volunteer fair is important right now. #AthensCommunityHelpers

A square image with a light blue background and a black and white photo of Senator Cory Booker speaking at a podium with his right hand raised, index finger pointing up. In large type, the quote “The power of the people is greater than the people in power” is overlaid on the image.

We were inspired over and over again during the 25 hours that Cory Booker spoke on the Senate floor. His words align with our mission and remind us that we can heal our communities one act of kindness at a time. We hope you'll join us on 4/26 and find an org doing the work that speaks to you.

That would be fantastic!! If you want to email me (Elise) at Elise.laura.erika [at] Gmail.com, I can send you the details and get you on the list of attendees.