CORNELIA, GA- The Brushstrokes of Change mural project, a community-driven effort honoring the history and legacy of Cornelia’s historic Black neighborhood, is moving into its next phase with a public workshop scheduled tonight.
Project manager Audrey Davenport updated commissioners during the Dec. 2 Cornelia City Commission meeting, sharing both the project’s progress and its personal significance. The mural is funded through a Vibrant Communities Grant which was awarded to the city in November.
“There’s nothing permanent except change, and that is part of why I named this project Brushstrokes of Change,” Davenport told commissioners. “This project continues to grow in ways that honor our historical Black community’s legacy, its people, and its future.”
Davenport’s late sister inspired the project
Davenport said the date of her presentation marked an important personal milestone.
“Last year on this day, my sister, Dora Davenport, transitioned from this life,” she said. “She inspired this project because of her love for our community, the neighborhood, and her belief in our stores and her constant reminder that our history deserves to be heard.”
Dora Davenport’s poetry and her work with the Legacy Collection at the Regional African American Museum of Northeast Georgia helped shape the vision for the mural. Davenport also praised the encouragement of City Manager Donald Anderson who has played a key role in moving the project forward.
Involving the community in the design process
The mural will be created through a series of community gatherings and workshops intended to preserve local stories and involve residents directly in the design process. The first meeting will take place tonight at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, and will be live-streamed for those who can’t make it in person.
“Brushstrokes of Change combines a collective vision,” Davenport said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to carry this work forward, and I appreciate your continued support as we bring this mural and the vision to life.”
The mural will be installed in Cornelia’s Ward 4, an area rich with African American history and central to the community’s cultural identity, City leaders say the project is party of a broader effort to persevere and celebrate the neighborhood’s stories for future generations
