2010ANNUAL REPORT

Dear Members, Donors, Friends, Volunteers and Partners,

As this year comes to an end, we are overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement for the support and impact you have offered. The number of people WonderRoot served is staggering. In 2010, more people walked through our doors than in 2008 and 2009 combined. We put even more resources into working with youth and partnered on Atlanta’s largest ever public art exhibition.

Six years ago, three friends set out to forever impact the ecology of the arts community. We can say with pride and appreciation that we have been successful on our journey. As WonderRoot looks to this next year, we approach it having recently examined the evolving world around us. The people we serve have told us how we can help. There is a clear vision for the future and we see a path to get there.

WonderRoot is stepping into the next stage of our life cycle. We care deeply about the city of Atlanta, and are confident that our time ahead will be even brighter than these past few years. On behalf of the WonderRoot Board of Directors, we would like to say thank you to all who have joined us on this journey of creating a better Atlanta through the arts. We are forever indebted. We look forward to reaching far and wide with our artists, volunteers and partners in this necessary effort.

Best Regards,Chris AppletonExecutive DirectorWonderRoot

FOUNDERSfrom our

Alex WestBoard ChairWonderRoot

WonderRoot is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organization committed to uniting artists and community to inspire positive social change.

WonderRoot was founded in response to Atlanta’s need for an organization that unites artists and community advocacy. We believe that artists have the potential to change the world. Musicians, photographers, writers, filmmakers, and artists of all other mediums have the ability to create lasting change for Atlanta, its businesses, and its residents. We imagine a city where the arts are a vital part of all of our lives.

Art changes lives.

our

mission and vision

valuesWonderRoot is an inclusive community of diverse individuals who are dedicated to inspiring sustainable change through the arts. We advocate for resourceful action and ethical decisions in everything we do.

Our history:

WonderRoot was founded in 2004 in response to Atlanta’s need for an organization that bridged the gap between art and community. Since 2005 WonderRoot has worked with artists and schools, volunteers and businesses throughout the metro Atlanta area. In February 2008, we moved into our home in Reynoldstown at the WonderRoot Community Arts Center. Since the doors opened on May 5, 2008 at the arts center, WonderRoot has hosted more than 350 classes and workshops for youth and adults and over 400 music, literary, and visual arts events, and continues to expand our service programs in the Atlanta community.

WonderRoot has received awards for its programming and services each year from Creative Loafing, Atlanta Magazine, Alarm Magazine and others. In just 27 months, more than 1200 artists and youth have joined as members of the WonderRoot Community Arts Center. Over 1500 people visit the center each month to use the studios, participate in classes and attend performances, exhibitions and screenings. We have forged partnerships with arts and community organizations large and small -- from the Atlanta BeltLine to the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League. WonderRoot has established itself as a leading advocate for the arts in Atlanta and has emerged has an enormous force in the arts community.

What we do:

A community arts center, a television show, youth programs, film series, a record label, literary magazine... the list goes on.

WonderRoot’s scope is broad and the REACH is far. By providing tools and opportunities to artists and facilitating arts-based service programs, WonderRoot empowers artists to be proactive in engaging their communities through arts-based service work.

WonderRoot REACHES artists, volunteers, youth, and communities in-need through an array of programming. The impact extends into universities, businesses, neighborhood associations and 100-year old institutions.

What does WonderRoot do?

We are changing Atlanta forever.

WonderRoot and Everyday Leaders: Mural project with East Atlanta Charter Middle School

Who we serve:

WonderRoot is proud to celebrate the diversity of whom we serve. WonderRoot REACHES Atlantans from age 4 to age 76. With 489 new members joining WonderRoot this past year, no single ethnicity accounted for the majority of our member base. This means, WonderRoot REACHES people of all backgrounds.

WonderRoot works with youth across Atlanta, specifically targeting young people who are in disadvantaged and underserved communities. From immigrant and refugee youth in Doraville to students at King Middle School, WonderRoot provides youth with important life changing opportunities and experiences through the arts.

Creative LoafingAtlanta’s Best Advocate for the Arts 2008, 2009, 2010Atlanta’s Best Public Art Project 2009, 2010Atlanta’s Best New Trend in the Arts 2009, 2010Atlanta’s Best Underground Art Space 2010 runner-up

Atlanta Magazine Atlanta’s Best Place to Create Art and a Better World 2008

Alarm MagazineTop 10 DIY Music Venues in the U.S. 2008

People served:450 Youth489 New Member Artists816 Bands36 Exhibiting Artists19,000 Visitors240 Concerts12 Art Exhibitions144 Education Opportunities

>> Launched Loose Change Literary Magazine, Atlanta’s community driven literary publication.

>> Created Atlanta’s only locals only filmmakers’ series at the Plaza Theatre.

>> Hosted Gather Atlanta, an emerging creatives conference for the second consecutive year.

>> Teamed with American Friends Service Committee to offer art classes to homeless veterans.

>> Placed more than 230 original pieces of public art throughout Atlanta in just one night through our own Art Sign the BeltLine project.

>> Offered a summer art camp to youth from Soulshine Youth Program, many of whom suffer with learning and developmental disorders.

>> Offered a series of arts enrichment programming to youth affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS with H.E.R.O. for Children.

>> Hosted the youth arts camp at the Reynoldstown Wheelbarrow Festival for the fourth consecutive year.

>> Facilitated an inter-generational public art project with the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League around the issue of non-violence and crime prevention. Participants from age 15 - 75 presented oral histories at a new sculpture alcove in the neighborhood.

>> Teamed with American Friends Service Committee to host a city-wide art contest for high school students. The five winners participated in a mentoring program with professional artists.

A WonderRoot Year in Review

>> Installed a mural at Families First, Georgia’s leading nonprofit family services agency.

>> Partnered with StoryCorps and VOX Teen Communication to teach youth the power of storytelling.

>> Co-organized Art on the BeltLine, the largest public art exhibition in Atlanta’s history.

>> Partnered with Emory Universities Center for Ethics to produce the 2nd Annual Ethics Arts Cafe.

>> Partnered with Georgia Watch, the state’s leading consumer advocacy organization, on an affordable access to healthcare awareness campaign.

>> In fiscal year 2009-2010, WonderRoot volunteers logged more than 9500 volunteer hours.

>> With the support of the Metro Atlanta Arts Fund, Georgia Center for Nonprofits, and Common Focus, WonderRoot created its first strategic plan. With a renewed vision for the future, WonderRoot will place its energy and resources into five major focus areas: creating better artists, creating community change, developing youth voices, becoming stronger advocates for the arts and opening new arts centers.

REACH - the extent or range of application, effect, or influence

At WonderRoot I have a network of friends and artists who seek beneficial change for the city. And the best part is anybody and everybody is welcome to be a part of the family. -Suzanne B., volunteer

I stayed in Atlanta because of WonderRoot. -Gary E., musician

Atlanta is lucky to have WonderRoot. -Carter G., artist

WonderRoot is a conduit for my passion. It’s hard to imagine what the arts community would look like without its impact. -Shannon S., volunteer

WonderRoot presents: Axiom, The New Alchemy, A Cheap Paper Show

WonderRoot is very grateful for the generous support of our sponsors and community partners:

Program Partners:215 Entertainment Alternate Roots American Friends Service Committee Americorps Artlantis ASIFA-Atlanta Atlanta After-School All-Stars Atlanta Ballet Atlanta BeltLineAtlanta Bicycle Coalition BURNAWAY Center for Pan-Asian Community Services Cheap Paper City of Refuge Dashboard Co-op Dodekapus Druid Hills Neighborhood Association

Sponsors:Air Traffic ControlBaum and BloomBerry College Community Foundation for Greater AtlantaDesign Apart StudioDynamic DishEastworks, LLC Fulton County Arts CouncilGeorgia Perimeter CollegeGoodSearch Grainger GroovemuseHome Grown Restaurant

Emmaus House Emory University Center for Ethics Eyedrum FUEL Media Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition Georgia State University Georgia Watch Hammonds House Museum HERO for Children Living Walls Ministers of Sound MINT Gallery New Roots New York Foundation for the Arts People TV Plaza Theatre Project Generation D

Public Acts of Art Resources for Residents and CommunitiesReynoldstown Civic Improvement League Soulshine Youth ProgramSpelman College Storycorps The Testify Project ThoughtMarker Volunteer Emory WE Design Youth Arts Connection

Kingsford Capital ManagementMetro Atlanta Arts Fund Northwest Presbyterian Church Park GroundsSam Flax Art & SupplyShapiro Capital ManagementSteelcase CorporationThe Magnetic Theatre Trees Atlanta Turkheimer & HaddenTurner Foundation Unboundary Vinings Rotary ClubWRGC Radio

WonderRoot’s REACH is not possible without the extremely generous support of our donors. Each person, business or foundation on the list below has made a lasting imprint on Atlanta’s arts and service communities through supporting WonderRoot.

Thank you for the magic.

Shapiro Capital ManagementPriscilla SmithMarilyn SomersGail StaubShannon StauntonDick and Elizabeth SteedSteelcase CorporationStefan TurkheimerElizabeth SteinhausSam and Nancy StewartTerry and Ellen SullivanDouglas and Al SutoThe Turner FoundationTom and Meg ThrashTurkheiimer and HaddonStefan TurkheimerStacie UhinckCynzia UrreaVinings Rotary ClubNancy VoshellKatie and Ian WalkerAllie WallRobert WashingtonJoe and Margaret WatkinsJeff and Heather WeeseAlex WestTom and Laura WestJinean WestJim and Leslie WheelerScott and Darlene WhitmireRichard WilbanksPete WilliamsAnn WinegardnerMatt and Kathy WocheleKristy WoodRuth WoodlingCatherine WoodlingWRGC RadioAnna WynneJohn and Susan Zdencanovic

Air Traffic ControlAustin AppletonJoann AppletonJack and Kathy AppletonChris AppletonAlbert and Diane AshkoutiAshley AshkoutiWill AustinJeff and Ann BachmanSusan BixlerDaniel BourdaClaire BowenPeter and Louise BrayTaylor BronikowskiBronikowski Family FoundationJim ChildressSuzanne ChildressLisa ChildressDee Dee CoganChip and Susan ColeCommunity Foundation for Greater AtlantaBoyd CoonsRon and Sharon CoppockLouis CorriganLiz CoyleJohn DayRebecca and Garrett DeHartCraig DerosaDesign Apart StudioDynamic DishVicki and Allen FilsteinTim FranzenKerry and Meg FrederickSandy FreemanFulton County Arts CouncilRoger GelderGeorgia Perimeter CollegeGoodSearchMarsha GordonMatt and Britney Gove

Helen C. GriffithGroovemusePajera GrossaKafia HaileJimmy HamiltonJim Hamilton Jr.Charles HeinzRoanna and Frank HernandezRoy HinshawHome GrownShaun HoulihanGeorge and Sally HovisYahaliel IsraelJALS FoundationStephen and Dean JohnstonKaveh KemoonehKathy KingKingsford Capital ManagementPick and Libby LindsayAstrid LyonsCarlton MackeyCharles McNairGerry and Lisa McNearnyMcWhirter Family FoundationDusty and Rhonda MilnerSam and Sharon MizeDoug and Susan MurphyRebecca NewtonNorthwest Presbyterian ChurchEla OrnsteinNan OrrockDanny OrrockPhilip PalmerAshil ParagPark GroundsAlicia ParkerAngel PoventudSteve and Valerie RalphAllan and Nancy RayChristopher RussellSam Flax Art and Supply

IMPACT - the effect or influence of one person, thing, or action, on another

WonderRoot has enabled me to make a living as an artist. -Rod B., visual artist

My dad drops me off at WonderRoot everyday because he knows its a safe place for me to be. And because he believes WonderRoot will give me a chance at a career in music. -Devonte H., youth hip-hop musician

Without WonderRoot’s guidance and support, the quality and impact of Dashboard’s programming would not be where it is today. -Beth M., Managing Director, Dashboard Co-op

value story

For just $60 you can sponsor a year-long membership for one of the more than 75 youth scholarships WonderRoot will issue in 2011.

For just $150 you can sponsor the electricity cost of firing the kiln for three months in WonderRoot’s pottery studio.

For $500 you can cover the cost of the darkroom chemistry for an entire year.

And if you want to do even more…

For $5,000 you can sponsor WonderRoot’s public art projects for all of 2011.

For $10,000 you can sponsor 100% of the necessary upgrades and updates we will make to our facilities and equipment. ...and if you are feeling extremely generous, $25,000 will pay the rent at the WonderRoot Community Arts Center for the next year.

Request for Support. We dream big -- real big. And to go to places we’ve imagined, we cannot go alone. Please consider joining WonderRoot, our artists, volunteers, youth, and the rest of Atlanta as we continue this journey of building a better Atlanta through the arts. WonderRoot is growing. We are strengthening our programs. We are strengthening our communities.

WonderRoot Board of Directors

Tina ArbesMatt ArnettLaura ClappierRebecca DeHartTim GoldsmithJames Hamilton, III, TreasurerCarlton MackeyAshil ParagAngel PoventudStefan TurkheimerJoe WatkinsAlex West, Co-founder and ChairmanCatherine Woodling, Secretary

WonderRoot Staff

Chris Appleton, Co-founder and Executive DirectorKristy Breneman, Operations ManagerGary Eddy, Performance Venue ManagerKwajelyn Jackson, Program Manager

WonderRoot Advisory Board

Lucinda Bunnen Louis CorriganHelen C. GriffithWilliam C. Warren

MailingP.O. Box 89018, Atlanta, GA 30312

WonderRoot Community Arts Center982 Memorial Dr, Atlanta, GA 30316

404.254.5955wonderroot.org