Page 10 - 2012 SDCA Project

PROCESS:

THE CLIENT MEETING

THE PROCESS their perspective and local as well as regional goals for the
City of Lithonia. It was obvious that these ladies were firmly
Our collaborative outreach effort began with the approval committed to make Lithonia a destination.
of the project by the Red and Green Scene Strategic We were introduced to the Georgia Conservancy
Committee, and an initial meeting with the client, club Blueprints study for the City of Lithonia. This study provides

members and neighbors. We included the City of Lithonia recommendations for revitalization and good reasons for a
in our conversations as well. We were moved by the stories positive vision. Their goal is for smart regional planning and
told by neighbors and club members alike who, once divided well thought out community development.

by racial differences, are united in their desire to see the
Lithonia Woman’s Clubhouse serve the entire community However, the most important component of the day was
and re-establish its’ place as a community center. The hearing from the former club members and neighbors.
stories were compelling. They relayed their stories which were both inspirational and
sometimes breathtaking. They set the tone for the work that

THE CLIENT MEETING lay ahead of us, and for the team work and vision that it
takes to make something happen.
Our Client is the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance,

but the recipients of our work will be all of the residents Out of the Client Meeting developed the Project Description.
of and visitors to the City of Lithonia. Therefore, it was The Primary goal for this project is for the Lithonia Women’s
appropriate that we received input at our next client meeting Club (LWC) to become re-established as an individual
from the following: Katherine Moore, Blueprints Program resource of value. Through remodeling and renovation,
Manager for the Georgia Conservancy who introduced us to the LWC will be given a new direction, while allowing it

the project; Mayor Deborah Jackson who represented the to continue to serve the community which it inhabits. The
Lithonia city leadership and brought with her a vision, energy secondary goal was to establish, as a service resource,
and excitement for the abundant potential for the City of what this venue can do to best serve the city.

Lithonia; Mera Cardena, the Executive Director of the Arabia
Mountain Heritage Area Alliance. Each of them shared

10 RAGS 2012 Taking a Tour of the Downtown Area