Sara Keith on Creativeness and Compassion to Make a Difference

As the President of Illuminate Atlanta and Owner of Atlanta School of Photography, Sara Keith is a force to be reckoned with. But beyond her professional endeavors, she is also deeply involved in various nonprofit organizations in Atlanta, including Hillside Inc, Cool Girls Inc, CHRIS180, AWARE, and Little Creek Horse Farm, where she volunteers her time and expertise to make a positive impact in the community. In this volunteer spotlight, get to know Sara and how she’s using her creative skills to give back.

When asked about her passion for volunteering, Sara says, "I'm hoping more will be done to provide equity in our communities for children's futures. Providing safe, healthy, and creative educational spaces for all Atlanta kids and teens is something I care deeply about."

“Providing safe, healthy, and creative educational spaces for all Atlanta kids and teens is something I care deeply about.””

— Sara Keith

One of the organizations she volunteers with, Illuminate Atlanta, holds a special place in her heart. "Illuminate Atlanta meets organizations where they're at and what their needs are. We fold photography into whatever their goals are and create comprehensive lesson plans for each individual," Sara explains. She has honed her skills in meeting kids where they're at and letting them experience learning in their own way, which has been a valuable lesson for her.

Sara shares a touching moment that motivates her to continue volunteering. "After a series of lessons was over, one young man wrote me a thank you letter saying how photography changed his life. He suffers from severe depression and he said, 'Thank you for inspiring me to live on.' I keep this letter pinned up next to my office," she says, highlighting the profound impact volunteering can have on someone's life.

Apart from her volunteer work, Sara is also passionate about Atlanta itself. "I always say this city is the closest to a Star Trek future I want to see. The amount of green space, diversity, culture, etc. is just unsurpassed. I love exploring different parks and conservatories across the city," she shares with a smile.

“You never know whose life you’re going to change, but you’re guaranteed to make a change for good. Not a lot of other things in life can do that!””

— Sara Keith

When asked for advice to those interested in volunteering, Sara's response is simple: "Do it! You never know whose life you're going to change, but you're guaranteed to make a change for good. Not a lot of other things in life can do that!"

Sara and Illuminate Atlanta are also taking their efforts online by creating photography lessons for teachers and parents through social media platforms. "These lessons tie in with existing lesson plans for a wide range of ages. We hope to take these lesson plans and transform it into a comprehensive teaching artist program with Atlanta Public Schools in 2024!" Sara enthusiastically shares her future plans.

So, if you're looking to make a positive impact in Atlanta, join Sara and Illuminate Atlanta as they continue to do something good for the community. You never know, you might just inspire someone to live on!

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Feeling inspired by Sara’s amazing volunteer work?

You can help others like her continue to make a positive impact in our community by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta, where every $1 donated turns into $6 of economic impact. Click here to donate now.