Last week I visited Thomasville, Georgia during the More than Murals, Creative Place Making workshop. Watkinsville, along with 11 other cities, received a grant to explore how public art coupled with responsive local officials can spur some amazing economic development in a community. Simple projects, like repurposing the derelict spot of an old building into an open art-filled community space, had revitalized an entire part of town. Multiple businesses and dozens of jobs were created due to the project. What was once an avoided part of town has become a thriving creative community. Speakers from cities as big as Savannah and Atlanta to as small as Suwanee shared their art projects and how they have positively changed the character and feel of their entire communities.

Everyone we heard from taught us helpful nuggets to bring back to our community. However, two women in particular were truly inspiring. Michele Arwood, the Executive Director of the Thomasville Center for the Arts, had taken the almost defunct Center for the Arts a little over a decade ago and transformed it into a thriving center fostering arts education from visual to performance for young and old and cultivating meaningful public art projects. Even in the midst of hours of speakers, when my brain felt too full to hold anything else, every time Michele spoke, I was captivated. I have no doubt her leadership fostered many of the changes in Thomasville. She clearly leads with a compelling confidence that actually made me consider moving there (which won’t be happening but I will certainly be back to visit 😉).

“Everyone needs a Darlene!” stood out in my notes. Darlene Crosby Taylor is the Public Arts director. She is a ball of energy and ideas and She. Makes. It. Happen! Darlene isn’t afraid to ask, and how could you say no to such passion and conviction? As we were planning what we might do in Watkinsville, she sat down to offer insight and ideas. Within five minutes she had outlined about ten possibilities. What a gift to Thomasville to have Darlene leading their exciting projects, from a real live game of Monopoly throughout their downtown, to beautiful temporary murals promoting the local arts.

You may be thinking, ok, so I should go visit Thomasville but what does this have to do with me?  The Darlenes and Micheles of this world might be rare gems and your community might not have one. But, you may be that person with ideas, or that person who is organized and gets things checked off lists, or that person who doesn’t mind asking people for things. We don’t actually need a roomful of Darlenes or Micheles to make our communities thrive (although we certainly welcome them). We need each of us to contribute the gifts and talents we have (because we ALL have them) and lean into what we are passionate about. What do you love to do? Consider how your passion might illuminate your community. I challenge everyone reading this to find one local committee or project that interests you and take part in it. And, if you live in Watkinsville or Oconee County, please reach out. I would love to connect you with the right people so you can be involved in transforming our community.

See a little taste of Thomasville below.