Hands on Atlanta -Public Service Announcement

Looking for a fun summer activity to bring life and color to kids and families impacted by foster care. Join Artist Arshaad Norwood & Hands on Atlanta as a volunteer to help paint Graceland community Mural in Union City Ga for #Fostercare awareness month and earn community service hours throughout the Summer. The official Kickoff event is scheduled for June 11th and the following Volunteers days will be every Wednesday & Sunday from 8-11 OR 1-4 PM. ALL VOLUNTEERS  are eligible to apply for Apprentice Design contest to win up to $2000 in Cash Prizes!  Scan QR code below for more info!

Graceland Community Mural Project

In the year 2020, amid the chaos of the pandemic, a group of alumni from my former foster home reached out to me with a heartfelt request to create a mural for the newly renovated Graceland thrift store. Their vision was to enhance the sense of community and promote the reunions of alumni. Fast forward three years, I found myself sitting down with new CEO Keith Horton to delve into discussions about the mural's theme, design, and all the intricate project details that needed to be addressed. Once the design received the green light, we eagerly shared it with Atlanta News First, AJC, and ArtsATL to initiate the promotional efforts. As a result, interest in the project surged, and numerous individuals connected with me across social media platforms, sharing their own foster care stories and expressing appreciation for my candidness about returning to the complexities of a challenging past. Although the project encountered unexpected delays due to budget cuts, I was fortunate to receive an invitation to feature my story with Living Stories TV  at the 2025 Community Champion Award and auction my mural design which won top bid for $25,000.

My mission is to create a captivating Community Mural, Kick off event and unveiling ceremony that embodies Christian City’s core principle of Loving People, Loving People. The goal of the Hands on Atlanta Mural volunteer campaign is to engage community leaders, vendors, sponsors, foster children, and at-risk youth in Metro Atlanta to contribute to this transformative endeavor, raise awareness and provide a platform for individuals and families impacted by family trauma to transform their experiences into opportunities for healing, growth, and reconnection. This historically groundbreaking mural project is not only the very first mural commissioned by Christian City since it was established 60 years ago, it  proudly stands as the largest foster care mural commission in the entire state of Georgia. While the main goal is to successfully organize dedicated volunteers to beautify the Graceland thrift store and to develop a vibrant vendor market for aspiring entrepreneurs the bigger picture is to to create a thriving, safe space where the entire community is empowered to celebrate foster children and  embrace seniors who often feel ostracized, abandoned, and neglected.