December, 2016
Dear Charis friends,
As Executive Director of Charis Circle, I have had the honor of helping to hold the space of Charis in community trust for many years and, in conjunction with our board of directors and Sara Look and Angela Gabriel, the co-owners of Charis Books, shepherd Charis’ path forward into the future. Because Charis is not only a home away from home for so many of you, but also for our staff and board, we’ve spent the last two years working thoughtfully and deeply on plans for Charis’ sustainability.
When I wrote to you at the end of 2015 it was to ask you for your continued support as we explored plans to sell our current home at 1189 Euclid Avenue. The building has now been sold, and you have probably noticed that our beloved purple house is a decidedly less fabulous white. I am writing to you now to invite you to celebrate and support the plans for our new Charis home: Charis at Agnes Scott College.
In January, 2017, Charis Books and Charis Circle will begin planning our move to a beautiful, freestanding Victorian house located at 184 South Candler Rd., Decatur, GA 30030, across the street from the historic Agnes Scott College campus. We will continue to be the Charis Books and Charis Circle you know and love: we will continue to be a home for independent and marginalized voices, and a popular education center for intersectional feminist justice.
The new building will be larger than our current home, with space for daytime events, reading groups, and social gatherings, which will allow us to expand the scope of our current program offerings. The house has historic Victorian charm, with a front porch, beautiful windows and high ceilings, but will need to be updated to be fully ADA accessible for all of our community members. The house features a cute back yard, a large, free parking lot, additional accessible parking spots, closer access to MARTA trains and busses (with better sidewalks to and from the Decatur train station). We are working with an architect to make the space both functional and beautiful; a feminist gathering ground where we can plan and dream, celebrate and scheme, for the long haul.
Agnes Scott will be making a significant investment in partnering to build this new home with Charis, but we need your help too. Now, more than ever, we need a secure physical place to gather, to explore ideas, plan for the future, build new strategies, and fight the coming tide of oppression and violence which threatens our already marginalized communities. For 42 years, Charis has been a shelter, a sanctuary, a home. Please dig deep and give as generously as you are able this year so that we can help ensure that safer spaces like Charis Circle can exist, grow, and thrive in these unprecedentedly dangerous times.
Please make your tax-deductible donation today at www.chariscircle.org or send your check payable to:
Charis Circle
1189 Euclid Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30307.
In gratitude, peace, and solidarity,
Elizabeth Anderson and Charis Circle Board of Directors
P.S. If you would like to get involved with Charis Circle or donate your time, talent or treasure in any way that moves you, please contact me at [email protected] and we will find a place to connect you to this work.
