2019 Unveiling

Thanks to everyone involved in the class, the unveiling event, and all those who came to experience the reveal of these great projects!

Go check out all of the 2019 final projects here.

Second Helpings Atlanta

Working with Atlanta printmaker Jamaal Barber, Emory students created a series of prints emphasizing Second Helpings Atlanta‘s message of love and compassion for the hungry. Read more about the project here.

Below, explore a selection of the 100+ prints made for Second Helpings.

Second Helpings Atlanta

009 Art + Social Engagement Project Unveiling 04302018

010 Art + Social Engagement Project Unveiling 04302018

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074 Art + Social Engagement Project Unveiling 04302018

233 Art + Social Engagement Project Unveiling 04302018

017 Art + Social Engagement Project Unveiling 04302018

019 Art + Social Engagement Project Unveiling 04302018

First Step Staffing: Final Project

Emory students partnered with Atlanta photographer and filmmaker Melissa Alexander to create a video that captured First Step Staffing‘s mission to employ the homeless, the recently incarcerated and veterans, as well as showing the impact of the nonprofit’s work on individuals. Read more about the how this project came to be, here.

Below, view the group’s final project.

Read other posts about this project:

2018 Final Project Unveiling (5/1/2018)
First Step Staffing: Final Project (5/14/2018)
First Step: Final Thoughts (5/3/2018)
Nonprofit Partner: First Step Staffing (4/17/2018)
Partnering Artist: Melissa Alexander (4/10/2018)
Project Planning (4/18/2018)

G.E.E.A.R.S.: Final Project

Artist Tara Olayeye, Emory graduate and filmmaker, partnered with Emory students to create a film that G.E.E.A.R.S. (Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students) could use as promotional material, and that demonstrated the importance of early education. Read more about how the project came to be, here.

Below, view the final project.

Blog posts related to the project:

2018 Final Project Unveiling (5/1/2018)
G.E.E.A.R.S.: Final Project (5/14/2018)
Nonprofit Partner: G.E.E.A.R.S. (4/17/2018)
Partnering Artist: Tara Olayeye (4/10/2018)

Nonprofit Partners

All of the nonprofits that the class has worked with.

2014-15

ForeverFamily– provides care for and services to children in foster care and/or with incarcerated parents
Trees Atlanta– a nationally recognized citizens group that protects and improves Atlanta’s urban forest by planting, conserving, and educating.
Gateway Center– provides a supportive and compassionate setting where individuals can receive the tools, programs, and services they need to end their homelessness.

2015-16

Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition– a community-based wellness organization committed to promoting health and dignity by HIV/AIDs, STI, and substance abuse within vulnerable communities
Partnership Against Domestic Violence– works to end domestic/intimate partner violence through education and awareness, while also offering safety and shelter for battered women and their children.
Solomon’s Temple– provides support, education and transitional housing to women and children facing, in the midst of, or emerging from homelessness.
Wholesome Wave Georgia – improves access to fresh, nutritious food for those receiving SNAP benefits (food stamps) through their 2-for-1 program at farmer’s markets across the state.

2016-17

Global Growers– connects the agricultural talent of the local refugee community to opportunities in sustainable agriculture
United Health Initiative– educates Atlantans about issues of health disparity, advocates for change, builds collaborative partnerships, and develops the best practice models for under-served communities in Metro Atlanta to advance equity in health and well-being.
Alliance Theatre– aims to lead the national field by deeply engaging with its local community, modeling radical inclusion and catalytic experiences on our stages, in our classrooms, and throughout Atlanta.

2018

First Step Staffing– provides jobs & transport for the homeless, former convicts, and veterans
Second Helpings Atlanta– distributes unused food from grocery stores & restaurants to homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other community service providers
G.E.E.A.R.S.– promotes the importance of quality early childhood (ages 0-4) education and advocates for better access & standards across Georgia

Artist Partnerships

All of the artists who have collaborated with this class.

2014-15

Deborah Sosower– printmaker
Kelly Kristin Jones – sculptor (installation), photographer
Paper Frank– painter, digital artist

2015-16

Michael Reese– artist and photographer
Masud Olufani– mixed media and installation
Darci Rodenhi Jaret– mixed media
Jerushia Graham– printmaker and fiber artist

2016-17

Ross Oscar Knight– photographer
William Feagins Jr.– filmmaker
Laura Asherman– sculptor, filmmaker

2018

Melissa Alexander– photographer, filmmaker
Tara Olayeye– filmmaker
Jamaal Barber– printmaker

Film, Media & Social Engagement

Instructors: Carlton Mackey, Center for Ethics and Department of Film and Media Studies; Edward L. Queen, Center for Ethics

Overview: Collaborating with leading Atlanta-area filmmakers, photographers, and community nonprofit organizations, creative undergraduates produce and learn about socially-engaged art. Engaging art in all its forms, the course is designed to support meaningful educational and communal experiences.

In the Spring 2018 class, the groups were as follows:

Second Helpings Atlanta group mentored by printmaker Jamaal Barber
GEEARS group mentored by filmmaker Tara Olayeye
First Step Staffing group mentored by filmmaker & photographer Melissa Alexander
Project Documentary Group which created a written and visual view of the entire process

Course description: Students explore the role of film and media in addressing major social issues. Class sessions first push students to engage with the topic of art and social engagement. Students then pair off into teams to work with local artists and nonprofits, producing films, blogs, websites, and other forms of media. The course is part of the Center for Ethics’ Southwest Airlines Art and Social Engagement Program.

Featured Story: Fall courses offer fresh perspectives on high-profile issues

This program is unique in that it directly highlights Southwest Airlines’ commitment to social issues that affect the communities we serve. Our partnership with Emory University can, through visual art, creatively display the importance of recognizing Atlanta’s social issues and challenges.

-Quinnie Jenkins-Rice, Regional Leader of Community Affairs & Grassroots at Southwest Airlines

First Step: Final Thoughts

(Carly Besser) We’re two out of the five students that created this project and it was such a pleasure working with both Melissa Alexander and First Step Staffing to make our short documentary. The filmmaking experience was relatively new to all of us on our team. Some of us came into this class with photography experience and minor editing skills, but we were able to pick up the skills needed to execute this project with the help of our amazing mentor and artistic guide, Melissa. I learned so much about how important it is to embrace the unexpected when creating a film and to be open to hearing the stories around us to gain new perspectives. We heard many incredible stories from First Step employees and clients that challenged all of our perceptions of what we identified with homelessness. We hope our film did the same for you all.

(Edward Hernandez) Our goal with this project was to tell a story that explained what homelessness is, what the common misconceptions of homelessness is, and how First Step Staffing is impacting homelessness in Atlanta and other cities. We decided to approach this goal by showcasing the experiences of one of First Step’s clients, Dale, and intermixing it with interviews from First Step employees. As a group, we felt that it was important to build an overarching story around Dale’s life because his experiences challenges common notions of homelessness, it shows the ups and downs of someone transitioning out of homelessness, and it shows the impact of First Step.

2018 Final Project Unveiling

Monday, April 30 was the grand unveiling of this year’s final projects! Held at the Center for Ethics, the event was a great success. After a half-hour of mingling and viewing the poster exhibit, each student group and artist presented their final works and reflected on their experiences over the semester. Representatives from each nonprofit were also in attendance, and shared their hopes for how these projects will help promote their work in the future.