Art Inclusive

The Second Gathering

Amanda Harris — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Yesterday was so wildly wonderful! We had a total of five youth participating in Art Inclusive.

One person was drawing quite well, at a table with me and his mom. When the other four participants came in they were in two groups; each person only knew the other person they walked in with, and that was it.

The kids sat down, rested their brains for a minute or two, and then they got creative. They cut up magazines, scrapbook paper, and tore up tissue paper as well. They used Mod Podge to decoupage composition notebooks that they could take home to use as they see fit. It was really cool to see their amazing personalities come out and shine, while they worked with their hands.

By the end of the group meeting, you would have thought the four were old friends. It was just the best moment. THAT is why we have this group; so four individuals can walk in, sit down, and build there community. I literally had tears in my eyes when I left.

I need to add a few more things before calling it quits for the evening. Whitney, you are amazing, THANK YOU so much for all of your help last night. Keith, you are adding culture to The Square, and we need more and more of it! We thank you, Emma, and Jason!

Rescheduled Event

Amanda Harris — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Good morning, folx! We had to reschedule last week’s meeting on short notice. That was a bummer, but we were able to reschedule for this Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at 6PM. This week we will be decoupaging composition notebooks with gift wrap tissue paper, and magazine clippings. If you have a publication containing images you may want to have on the cover of your notebook, please bring it in with you, so you can customize your notebook. We cannot wait to see you there!

An Inspiration

Amanda Harris — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

My oldest son, Aaron, is a very talented young adult. I want to share with you something he made last night 🖌️ and photographed 📷 today, using my Canon Camera. I call Aaron “my Bug Guy” 🪲, which is really funny, because when he was little his Uncle Matt always called him his “Bug”. He loves bugs, of all types 🐜, and saves them when he can!! My Bug Guy has always wanted to work with animals, and currently works at a dog boarding facility 🐾. In his down time he likes to paint, draw, journal, spoil his dog, and play video games 🎮 with his little brother, Lucas, and their cousins. Much of the art that you have seen on this website was created by Aaron.

Our First Meeting . . . The After!

Amanda Harris — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I know I’m late getting this content out to everyone, however, life … First and foremost, thank you all for being here. Thank you for caring for these young people, in the same way that I care for them. Our first Art Inclusive Group was fantastic. One kiddo and their parent had difficulty finding us but once they made it into the studio, they fit right in with the others. I didn’t take many pictures because this was all so new to all of us. I’m thinking I need to create a photography consent form AND get creative with how I photograph things.

I feel so moved by how well this very FIRST Group went. I am thankful for Board Members, Whitney Biagiotti and Christine Bratton, for being my sounding board as I put this all together. I cannot wait to see, not only the visual art, but the COMMUNITY! At one point during the Group meeting, one kiddo moved their chair over to be near a person they had not known before this Group. <<THAT!!!! is my WHY. We are facilitating the young people meeting one another and feeling a little less alone. We are allowing them to be themselves, with no expectations, no interference, no ulterior motives. Just come as you are and be who you are. All are safe here.

Our First Meeting . . . The Before

Amanda Harris — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Wow, I feel so very lucky!! Last week, with our monthly dinner group, I let them know about Art Inclusive and my friend, Keith Sweat, immediately offered up his gorgeous Art Gallery, Georgian Gallery, as a safe space for our youth to participate in group. A week later, I walk into the gallery and we set a date for the first event! Just like that, our new friends have shown up for us in such a beautiful way.

About two weeks ago, a friend had shared an Art Inclusive post on her personal Facebook page. Her friend saw it and emailed me. We had a great zoom meeting that same day. Yesterday, we met for coffee at Queen Bee. Alicia Seymour, THE local Art Therapist and author of the book Artful Grieving is an incredible human who is interested in Art Inclusive’s mission to build community through art. Alicia will be attending the group meetings and helping us with planning behind the scenes as well.

This is what I am talking about, folx. Our community here in McDonough is so special to us. Thank you to each and every one of you who have offered your time and resources to help us help others.

Our first meeting will be held at Georgian Gallery (10 Macon St, McDonough, GA 30253) on July 9th, from 6:00PM to 7:00PM. Please check out socials and share our event so that others may join if they are interested. We will spend this meeting making introductions and making art!

Remember, you do NOT have to be an “artist” to participate. Much love, Amanda.

Building/Finding Community

Amanda Harris — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I finally made the time to sit and write out how I am feeling about everything coming together.

Since moving here, roughly 2 years ago, we have built such a warm, welcoming community. It all started with messaging a woman about an activism t-shirt in a Facebook Group at the end of last year. I felt compelled to tell her our story and she felt compelled to invite us to a monthly dinner group. Upon walking onto the restaurant’s patio we were excitedly greeted by faces we had never seen before. My husband and I were a little shocked to see so many smiling strangers welcoming us to their table. That is now our table too, and it’s amazing!

Building community is so important. It’s not just for us grown folx. Young people need community as well. They need to feel like someone always has their back, and sometimes they need those people to be outside of their family unit. Our oldest is thriving here in McDonough. He has a few different friends here, who he holds dear. He has his Florida friends, and he has his art community. Of course, he still has us - his parents, and his brother. He still enjoys going out to get coffee and chatting in the car, and family dinners are still a thing. Needing his own community does not mean that we are no longer a part of his life or in his inner circle, it just means he has more support as he travels through life. We ALL need that kind of support. We all need commUNITY.

Since meeting our people at our monthly dinner, we have added to our community through meeting various people in Henry County and forming a Book Club. This Book Club is so laid back, inclusive, warm, and free. I am free to be me, you are free to be you, and together we build something beautiful. I will share the name of the Facebook Group I just mentioned, once I ask the founders how they feel about it.

This community we have joined, has been so welcoming and SUPPORTIVE! At one of our first Book Club meetings, a friend asked us “if you knew your could not fail, what would you do?” I knew instantly - I would start a non profit that would combine helping LGBTQ youth and art. With the support of our community, this is happening, it’s really happening! I have friends who said they will be there to offer support “one hundo” percent, a friend lending his Art Gallery to us for meeting space, two other offers of space to use, should we need it. ENCOURAGEMENT!!! That is something I really needed. My husband has told me that I can do this, my kids are super supportive. Sometimes you just need a little push and a little bit of support, and then you can fly.

Anyway, if you made it this far, kudos to you! Thank you so much for being here and being invested in helping young people build their community. Ciao for now.