Atlanta Technical College Students Are Designing a Better Future for Georgia’s Youth

Two students enrolled in the design and media technology program at Atlanta Technical College are showing off their design talents in the IKEA Top Drawer Charity Event.  Connie Cross and G. Keith Gilmore designed and decorated IKEA 3-drawer TARVA dressers.  The one-of-a-kind art pieces were then donated to IKEA to raise funds for Devereux Georgia; a nonprofit organization that is licensed to serve children who are experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges brought on by abuse, neglect, mental illness, sexual exploitation, or intellectual/developmental disabilities.

From July 20-July 28, the dressers produced by Cross and Gilmore, and those crafted by design students from SCAD, The Art Institute of Atlanta and Georgia State, will be on display in the Atlanta IKEA store located at 441 16th Street, NW.  During the eight-day period, customers will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for their favorite art pieces.  The drawings for the dressers will take place on July 30 from 6-8 PM at the Atlanta IKEA store.  Organizers hope to raise $10,000 for Devereux Georgia.

The Top Drawer Charity Event is one of the many service-learning projects embraced by Atlanta Technical College students.  Carpentry students build affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity, barbering students provide complimentary grooming services to residents of local nursing homes, and culinarians prepare meals for the USO and the Chefs of the World Charity Fundraiser. Through these and other coordinated community service projects, students utilize the soft-skills and technical training acquired on campus, to address the critical needs of the community.