For our April Volunteer Project, the Brownieland Pictures team marked Global Volunteer Month by getting our hands dirty in the best way possible! We teamed up with Hands On Atlanta for a volunteer workday at the beautiful Wylde Center’s East Decatur Greenway.
Our crew, along with other local volunteers, spent the morning helping to maintain and beautify this vital greenspace as part of the ongoing effort to turn the East Decatur Greenway into a thriving community space focused on environmental education and sustainability. We couldn’t have done it without the amazing leadership of Kia Jones, our volunteer organizer for the day. Kia is a 2025 Hands On Atlanta Civic Leader, partnered with The Wylde Center, and she brought so much energy, expertise, and heart to the project. Workdays like these are critical to keeping the Greenway vibrant and accessible for everyone!
About Hands On Atlanta
Founded in 1989, Hands On Atlanta connects volunteers with flexible service opportunities across more than 400 schools and nonprofits throughout metro Atlanta. The organization empowers individuals, families, and companies to make a real impact through programs like AmeriCorps service, youth enrichment, and its Civic Leadership Program. Each year, they organize large-scale service events, such as Hands On Atlanta Week and MLK Day of Service, engaging thousands of volunteers to drive positive change. To date, Hands On Atlanta has mobilized over 300,000 volunteers, resulting in more than 1.5 million hours of service toward education, healthcare access, and economic opportunity. To get involved, visit handsonatlanta.org.
About the Hands On Atlanta Civic Leadership Program
The Hands On Atlanta Civic Leadership Program (CLP) is a dynamic 10-month initiative designed to cultivate emerging leaders through meaningful community engagement. Running from October 2024 to May 2025, this year’s cohort of 31 Civic Fellows is taking on a hands-on approach to leadership by organizing monthly volunteer projects, attending in-person workshops, and raising funds in support of Hands On Atlanta’s mission to mobilize the community to tackle Atlanta’s most pressing needs. The program not only provides fellows with the tools to lead, but also delivers real impact—last year alone, CLP projects engaged over 3,000 volunteers and generated an estimated $255,000 in labor savings for local nonprofits and schools. Fellows also raised a record $33,000 to further the organization’s work across the city.
At its core, the CLP program blends leadership development with community service, offering participants a robust experience rooted in action and education. Each month, Civic Fellows gather for in-person sessions that explore key topics such as Leadership Styles, Fundraising in the Non-Profit Space, and the Roles of Board Members. Through workshops, training sessions, and active service, the program empowers fellows to grow as civic leaders while directly supporting the needs of nonprofit agencies throughout Metro Atlanta. Check out this year’s Civic Fellows here.
About The Wylde Center
The Wylde Center is a nonprofit organization based in Decatur, Georgia, dedicated to connecting people with nature through environmental education and the preservation of urban greenspaces. Founded in 1997, it manages five distinct gardens across Decatur and Atlanta: Oakhurst Garden, Edgewood Community Learning Garden, Hawk Hollow, Sugar Creek Garden, and Mulberry Fields totaling seven acres of community-accessible green space. These gardens serve as living classrooms, offering programs for children and adults that focus on sustainability, organic gardening, and environmental stewardship. The Wylde Center also operates a plant nursery, growing approximately 80,000 plants annually to support local food equity initiatives and provide access to fresh produce in underserved communities.Through hands-on learning experiences, volunteer opportunities, and community events, the Wylde Center fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world and empowers individuals to engage in sustainable practices.
Meet Our Volunteer Organizer: Kia Jones
We are excited to introduce Kia Jones, who served as our volunteer organizer for the day at the Wylde Center’s East Decatur Greenway. Kia is a dynamic educator, gardener, and community advocate, bringing a rich background in urban agriculture, environmental education, and early childhood development. As the manager of the 55 Milton Community Garden and a gardening instructor at The Wylde Center, Kia is deeply committed to fostering sustainable communities and connecting people to the natural world.
In her role as a 2025 Hands On Atlanta Civic Leader, partnered with The Wylde Center, Kia organizes monthly service days at the East Decatur Greenway Food Forest and supports broader civic engagement efforts across Atlanta. Her leadership, passion for sustainability, and love of community building inspire everyone she works with. You can help Kia reach her goal and support Hands On Atlanta here.
Read Kia’s reflections on her journey with Hands On Atlanta in this guest blog post:
Hi, I’m Kia Jones, your garden bestie—a passionate educator, gardener, and community builder. I’m a proud mom to a five-year-old and a Pre-K teacher at my family’s preschool, Kids World, in Cobb County. Since 2022, I’ve managed the 55 Milton Community Garden, leading efforts to build a more sustainable and connected community through urban gardening. I also teach gardening classes at Wylde Center and serve as a 2025 Hands On Atlanta Civic Leader, where I organize monthly volunteer service days at the East Decatur Greenway Food Forest and raise funds to expand civic engagement across Atlanta.
Volunteering with local nonprofits, gardens, and beekeepers has given me real-world experience while growing my network in the spaces I’m passionate about. I draw constant inspiration from bees—nature’s original artists and architects—who create beauty, thrive through service to one another, and tend the earth with quiet devotion. Their way of living reminds me that true growth happens when we build together, move with purpose, and honor the natural world. Through gardening, art, and early childhood education, I’m committed to planting seeds of wonder, stewardship, and resilience in every space and community I touch. I believe food security and sustainability are powerful acts of reclamation, restoring connection, hope, and belonging.”
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