Right before I went on vacation (Sorry for the delay in posting...I was enjoying the Florida sun) we had the pleasure of hosting high school youth and their sponsors from South Acton Congregational Church, Acton, MA and First Presbyterian Church, Douglasville, GA. Below is a reflection from one of the youth on her time in Atlanta and what she learned during her mission trip to Atlanta.
~Jannan Thomas, DOOR Atlanta City Director
"Reds, yellows and blues leap from the canvas, layered one upon the other. This is not
merely a picture but a sculpture with texture. It’s called “The Orchestra” and, despite its
abstract nature, we can almost hear the music. This is the work of Bob, a quiet man with a
Master of Fine Arts and a debilitating mental illness. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Bob
travels two hours by bus to the Friendship Center, sketching what he sees as he goes. When
he arrives, he can create his masterpieces.
The Friendship Center is an organization that provides many services to the poor and
mentally ill of Atlanta. It is facilitated by a small Episcopal church, whose membership consists
largely of people with mental illnesses. My group visited the Friendship Center on
Tuesday, our second day working with DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach
and Reflection).
Many of the people who attend the Friendship Center live in group homes that don’t
provide enough activities or a community; many cannot work. As such, it is hard for them
to afford to leave the group home. The Friendship Center provides free meals, activities
and the opportunity to be part of a community.
We visited the art center housed in a Baptist church that partners with the Episcopal
church. Members of the Friendship Center can paint, make ceramics or participate in
woodworking. Bob showed us his paintings; as did Clifford and Gwen, other members of
the center. Clifford’s realist painting of a squirrel was amazing, as was the pride Gwen took
in the bust of Martin Luther King that she had painted.
Later, we attended a meeting that gave the members an opportunity to discuss the rules
of the center and have a say in how it was run. The meeting showed how much respect the
members have for each other and for the volunteers and staff who work there.
We also toured the organic garden and green house which employ members of the center.
These members learn valuable skills and develop self-esteem as they care for their flowers
and vegetables.
Aside from Bob, Clifford and Gwen, we met a woman named Theresa. She was somewhat
belligerent and hard to talk to. Apparently, she was in nursing school when she was
diagnosed with schizophrenia. It is hard to imagine the confusion and anger these people
must feel when they reflect on the lives they used to have and the things they accomplished.
We can easily assume that they have nothing now but they have not lost their identities.
They still create beautiful art, form beautiful friendships, and experience beautiful
love. They are still beautiful people. The DOOR program leaders asked us every night,
“How did you see the face of God today?” I saw the face of God in Gwen, Bob, Theresa,
Clifford, all the staff and all the volunteers.
So much good has come out of the Friendship Center. It led to the partnership between
the Episcopal and Baptists churches and the friendships between staff and members. As
the staff and volunteers teach the members of the center how to garden or make pots, they
in turn learn from the members. From my one-day visit, I learned the power of community
to strengthen and support its members and that a mental illness does not inhibit one’s ability
to love."
~ Meghan, DOOR Discover Participant
~Jannan Thomas, DOOR Atlanta City Director
"Reds, yellows and blues leap from the canvas, layered one upon the other. This is not
merely a picture but a sculpture with texture. It’s called “The Orchestra” and, despite its
abstract nature, we can almost hear the music. This is the work of Bob, a quiet man with a
Master of Fine Arts and a debilitating mental illness. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Bob
travels two hours by bus to the Friendship Center, sketching what he sees as he goes. When
he arrives, he can create his masterpieces.
The Friendship Center is an organization that provides many services to the poor and
mentally ill of Atlanta. It is facilitated by a small Episcopal church, whose membership consists
largely of people with mental illnesses. My group visited the Friendship Center on
Tuesday, our second day working with DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach
and Reflection).
Many of the people who attend the Friendship Center live in group homes that don’t
provide enough activities or a community; many cannot work. As such, it is hard for them
to afford to leave the group home. The Friendship Center provides free meals, activities
and the opportunity to be part of a community.
We visited the art center housed in a Baptist church that partners with the Episcopal
church. Members of the Friendship Center can paint, make ceramics or participate in
woodworking. Bob showed us his paintings; as did Clifford and Gwen, other members of
the center. Clifford’s realist painting of a squirrel was amazing, as was the pride Gwen took
in the bust of Martin Luther King that she had painted.
Later, we attended a meeting that gave the members an opportunity to discuss the rules
of the center and have a say in how it was run. The meeting showed how much respect the
members have for each other and for the volunteers and staff who work there.
We also toured the organic garden and green house which employ members of the center.
These members learn valuable skills and develop self-esteem as they care for their flowers
and vegetables.
Aside from Bob, Clifford and Gwen, we met a woman named Theresa. She was somewhat
belligerent and hard to talk to. Apparently, she was in nursing school when she was
diagnosed with schizophrenia. It is hard to imagine the confusion and anger these people
must feel when they reflect on the lives they used to have and the things they accomplished.
We can easily assume that they have nothing now but they have not lost their identities.
They still create beautiful art, form beautiful friendships, and experience beautiful
love. They are still beautiful people. The DOOR program leaders asked us every night,
“How did you see the face of God today?” I saw the face of God in Gwen, Bob, Theresa,
Clifford, all the staff and all the volunteers.
So much good has come out of the Friendship Center. It led to the partnership between
the Episcopal and Baptists churches and the friendships between staff and members. As
the staff and volunteers teach the members of the center how to garden or make pots, they
in turn learn from the members. From my one-day visit, I learned the power of community
to strengthen and support its members and that a mental illness does not inhibit one’s ability
to love."
~ Meghan, DOOR Discover Participant
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