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By teniso seanima | Fresh Oasis Community Garden at ArtsXchange In a world where nearly everything we eat and use comes pre-packaged and barcoded, it’s easy to forget that nature is our oldest pharmacy and pantry. Long before grocery stores and supplement aisles, communities thrived by gathering wild foods and herbs that offered both nourishment and medicine. Today, the practice of wild foraging —safely identifying and harvesting edible and medicinal plants—has reemerged as a cornerstone of sustainable living, holistic wellness, and food sovereignty. It’s more than just a hobby; it’s a reconnection to the land and to the ancestral wisdom that once sustained every generation before us. Why Fall Is the Perfect Season for Wild Medicinals Autumn is a time of transition—both in the environment and within our own bodies. As the temperature cools and plants begin storing energy in their roots, this season offers a prime opportunity to discover herbs that strengthen our immune systems, cleanse the blood, and prepare us for winter. Common fall medicinals include: Goldenrod  – a powerful anti-inflammatory that supports respiratory and urinary health. Mullein  – often found on hillsides, this fuzzy-leafed plant soothes coughs and lung irritation. Dandelion Root  – excellent for detoxifying the liver and improving digestion. Yarrow  – a traditional wound healer and fever reducer. Pine Needles  – high in Vitamin C and used to make revitalizing teas. These plants—and many others—are growing all around us, waiting to be recognized, respected, and responsibly gathered. The Return of Urban Homesteading Foraging fits beautifully into the modern urban-homesteading movement , where city dwellers are reclaiming small plots of land, balcony gardens, and community spaces to grow food, compost, and reconnect with the rhythms of nature. Learning how to identify, harvest, and use local plants empowers individuals and families to take wellness into their own hands—without depending solely on pharmaceutical or industrial systems. It’s also a way to reduce grocery costs , boost nutrition , and build community resilience  in uncertain times. Join the “Garden Like a Boss” Field Trip: Wild Foraging & Fall Medicinals If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to confidently identify edible and medicinal plants, this upcoming class is for you. Garden Like a Boss: Urban Homesteading Field Trip Theme:   Wild Foraging & Fall Medicinals Instructor:   Triztian Wolf Location:  Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, 3787 Klondike Rd, Stonecrest, GA 30038 Date:  Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 Time:  11 am - 2 pm During this immersive hands-on experience, participants will: Learn to identify key medicinal and edible plants native to Georgia. Discover how to harvest and prepare herbal remedies for immunity, detoxification, and vitality. Explore ethical foraging techniques that protect both the plants and the ecosystem. Connect with like-minded individuals passionate about self-reliance, community, and wellness. Registration is now open at www.artsxchange.org/communitygarden (Walk-ups are also welcome!) Presented by Nature’s Candy Farms, ArtsXchange, and Partnership for Southern Equity This event is a collaboration between organizations committed to food justice, wellness, and cultural empowerment. Together, they’re nurturing a movement where health, heritage, and sustainability  intersect—one field trip at a time. Final Thought Every plant has a story, and every walk through the woods is an opportunity to rediscover that story. Whether you’re new to herbalism or deepening your practice, this field trip invites you to reconnect—with the earth, with your ancestors, and with yourself. Come “Garden Like a Boss” —and see the wild side of wellness for yourself.

Oh, what a night! The Ebon Dooley Legacy Awards on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, saluted the visionaries who shaped and continue to impact Atlanta’s cultural landscape through art, advocacy, and community. The honorees were:   Shirley C. Franklin | Atlanta Arts World Changer  Sheryl Riley Gripper | Media & Bronze Jubilee  Deirdre McDonald | Media & BronzeLens Film Festival   John “Kole” Eaton | Arts Administration   Diane Carroll | Youth Development in Dance  Bem Joiner | Cultural Curation & Atlanta Influences Everything Take a look back at the beautiful evening with these photographs by Tafawa Hicks.

AXC Blog By Angela Oliver | ArtsXchange The Honorable Shirley C. Franklin presents the Change Maker Award to Moving in the Spirit during the 2024 Ebon Dooley Arts & Social Justice Awards. A longtime supporter of ArtsXchange, Franklin served as mistress of ceremony for the program in the Paul Robeson Theater. PHOTO BY SHARON B. DOWDELL. Atlanta’s cultural landscape — the jazz festival that pulses through Piedmont Park, the films carried into neighborhoods by a traveling movie-mobile, the arts centers that transformed shuttered schools into living canvases — didn’t happen by chance. It happened because, in the 1970s, city leaders insisted that the arts were not a luxury, but a necessity. One of the arts’ greatest catalysts will receive a special award at this year’s Ebon Dooley Legacy Awards on Oct. 12. Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Clarke Franklin  has been named Atlanta Arts World Changer  by the ArtsXchange for her role in building that foundation. Long before she made history as the city’s first woman mayor, Franklin was the first director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, shaping a civic commitment to arts and culture that still resonates globally. “It actually started as an office,” Franklin recalled in a recent interview. “Mayor Maynard Jackson campaigned on increasing city support for the arts, and he asked me to chair a committee of artists, civic leaders, and arts organizations to create a plan. From there, we established an office (led by Michael Lomax). That became a bureau. And when I was in the position, it became a department.” Maynard Jackson’s Vision The late Mayor Maynard Jackson  was one of the fiercest champions of the arts, Franklin said. Under his leadership, Atlanta shifted from treating culture as an afterthought — funded only if there was money left over — to making it a line item in the city’s operating budget. Previously, the city spent about $60,000 annually on arts programming. With the committee’s push, that figure jumped to $250,000, giving rise to artist grants, outdoor symphony concerts, film series in various neighborhoods, and the city’s now-renowned jazz festival. “We knew success was possible,” Franklin said, “but the success of what we see today far exceeds what I could have imagined.” Breathing Space for Artists Funding was only part of the equation. Franklin also helped negotiate with Atlanta Public Schools to repurpose closed school buildings as homes for arts organizations. That decision seeded several institutions, including the Neighborhood Arts Center, the Center for Puppetry Arts, and the ArtsXchange — two of which continue to thrive today. “The ArtsXchange is an example of how a good idea can be realized with collaboration and partnership,” Franklin said. Why the Arts Matter For Franklin, the arts are not a frill but part of the very fabric of a city. “From the earliest civilizations, art and culture have been as much a part of life as family, religion, and industry,” she said. “The expression of creativity is part of life. If you want a healthy community, you must incorporate arts and culture.” Atlanta’s flourishing creative scene — its theaters, murals, film festivals, music venues, and grassroots collectives — stands as proof of that philosophy. A Legacy That Endures Decades later, the impact of Franklin’s work is everywhere. The city’s cultural infrastructure continues to expand, with organizations from True Colors Theatre to the Alliance Theatre and countless community-based arts groups carrying forward the momentum. “The foundation was already here,” Franklin said. “It just needed to be amplified by the city’s work,  and the benefits have been many.” *** A special Award will be presented to Shirley C. Franklin during a VIP reception for the Ebon Dooley Legacy Awards. Join us in the Jack Sinclair Gallery at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. Your membership is your ticket! Become a member today at the $100 level or above for admission to the VIP reception and the Legacy Awards program. BECOME A MEMBER:   https://www.artsxchange.org/memberships RSVP TO RECEPTION: https://www.artsxchange.org/event-details/vip-reception-2025-ebon-dooley-legacy-awards Below, Shirley C. Franklin is pictured at ArtsXchange in December of 2024, as mistress of ceremony for the 7th Annual Ebon Dooley Arts & Social Justice Awards. ALL PHOTOS BELOW BY TAFAWA HICKS. (BLOG COVER PHOTO BY SHARON B. DOWDELL)

The ArtsXchange (Southeast Community Cultural Center) is a nonprofit, multicultural, multidisciplinary, multi-ethnic, inter-generational arts organization. Located at 2148 Newnan Street East Point, GA 30344 HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET INVOLVED? Donate Rent event space Attend an event Volunteer Visit the gallery ABOUT THE ARTSXCHANGE ArtsXchange is a cultural facility founded in the Black Arts Tradition that empowers artists, social justice activists, and creative entrepreneurs to engage communities through the transformative power of the arts. The pillars of our programming are Visual Arts, Literature and Literacy, and Land Conservation. We serve our communities through workshops, exhibitions, concerts, health and wellness classes, films, performances, and community gardens. We make the arts accessible to individuals traditionally excluded from creative industries, responding directly to community needs through partnerships and collaborations with like-minded arts organizations, social justice advocates, and people-led initiatives. Learn more EVENTS & CLASSES Wednesday, October 15, 2025 Coloring Conversations 10-15-25 Saturday, October 18, 2025 Scrabble Club Saturday, October 18, 2025 From Stono to Now: The Fire This Time | Opening Reception More events & classes Free | Open to the public Tuesday - Saturday | 10AM - 6PM From Stono To Now : The Fire This time Black Resistance in American Art, 1739 - Present October 14, 2025 - November 22, 2025 Learn more JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER Sign up for the ArtsXchange newsletter and stay up to date with the latest events and announcements. First name* Last name* Email* Phone I want to subscribe to the ArtsXchange mailing list. Join NEWS & UPDATES More news CONTACT US Got a question? Send us a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. First Name Email Last Name Phone Number Topic Your message I want to subscribe to the ArtsXchange Newsletter. Submit Your contact form has been submitted. Thank you! The ArtsXchange would like to give a special thank you to East Point Convention and Visitors Bureau. Learn more about East Point CVB

FOCG Garden Bed Purchase Form Complete the form below only if you have submitted an application and received an approval notice. For more information email naturescandyfarms@gmail.com . First Name Last Name Phone Email Please choose one. * Purchase 6' x 3' Garden Bed - $80 Graden Bed Annual Renewal - $50 I want to subscribe to the Artsxchange newsletter. COMPLETE PURCHASE Thanks for supporting the ArtsXchange!

ArtsXchange Gift Card $25 You can't go wrong with a gift card. Choose an amount and write a personalized message to make this gift your own. Amount $25 $50 $100 $150 $200 Other amount Quantity Buy Now