After more than eights weeks of community conversations and listening in Clarkston, Canopy Atlanta hosted the Clarkston Community Social to honor the diversity of life experiences, cultures, and stories of Clarkston residents.

Alongside community partner Refugee Coffee Co., we shared insights from our community listening work, uplifted voices too often left out of media and civic spaces, and celebrated the heart of Clarkston with delicious Afghan food from Baran Kabab, games, and storytelling. We also had a special market featuring Amani Women Center’s variety of handmade jewelry, apparel and more.

The evening included an audio presentation “Clarkston Speaks,” a collection of conversations on immigration, community development, and the cost of living with Clarkston residents. Guests also enjoyed the Clarkston scavenger hunt, sponsored by Clarkston Repair Center.

We had a moment of observation for World Refugee Day, which took place on June 20, from Stephanie Solvig, Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator at Refugee.

Beyond sharing what we learned from our listening, we invited attendees to take part in the Clarkston Community Issue by joining the Community Editorial Board or becoming a Community Journalism Fellow. Find out more about those opportunities here.

“If you love Clarkston, you’re the person to write the story,” Genia Billingsley, Canopy Atlanta Community Engagement Coordinator and Bankhead Fellow, explained at the event. “What’s important to me, and what’s so different and unique about Canopy for me, is (it’s) your community, your narrative. You get to write the story in your own words in a way that no other journalist would write. It’s not an outsider. It’s your story. You’re controlling the narrative about your community.”