Read about the special upcoming Community Cinema screening of TAKING ROOT: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, which tells the story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a global movement. The screening will be at Whole Foods Market Briarcliff in Atlanta, GA, on Thursday, July 2, at 8:00 PM. Amy Wheeler of Whole Foods Market explains her interest in Community Cinema.


I am so excited to bring Community Cinema to Whole Foods Market Briarcliff in Atlanta, GA. After serving one year with AmeriCorps and having the privilege to work with ITVS and Community Cinema, I hoped that my move from the non-profit sector to Whole Foods would provide me with an outlet for my passion for community and volunteerism.
While in Boston with AmeriCorps, our film screenings went from having no more than ten attendees to well over 100 attendees once we partnered with ITVS. The excitement and passion that came with this success was overwhelming. ITVS’s films ignite conversations and bring people of all cross-sections together to meet and discover ways to improve the community. It is an amazing and inspiring thing to be a part of.
Moving back to Atlanta, I could not have been any luckier to transfer to a store where the leadership has great passion for food, community and local farmers and producers. This passion can be seen throughout the store where local farmers and vendors are highlighted, discussed in our educational classes and featured in front of the store with a garden that is thriving with tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, jalapeños and pepper plants. The message is clear––we are not only here to provide wonderful food, but also provide a space where community members can learn about where their food comes from, how to cook it and how they can get more involved.
I was thrilled when given the opportunity to bring Community Cinema to Whole Foods Market. This is just one of many steps we have taken and will continue to do to be a positive force in our neighborhood.
Our first film screening TAKING ROOT: The Vision of Wangari Maathai will be at 8:00 PM, Thursday July 2, at Whole Foods Market in Briarcliff, GA. Beginning at 6:00 PM, food will be served hot off the grill and information will be available from Oakhurst Community Garden, Georgia Organics and Farmer D.
I hope to see you there.
- Amy Wheeler
Whole Foods Market
For more information and to sign up please email:
amy.wheeler@wholefoods.com