The Project
Learn about all things related to the Aster Project. It’s origin, scope, mission and what is needed for its future impact.
The Reason
The Aster Project exists because of and for the family members of the lost ones. The only reason this project is happening is because they believe it is helping them heal and re-humanize their beloved children lost to violence. Each precious life makes this project worthy of our attention and resources.
The Team
Meet the Aster Council, comprised of family members who lost a loved one to police brutality or racial violence. Learn their stories and learn about the growing team of activists, artists, counselors and community leaders coming alongside of them in their journey toward healing and justice.
Featured Volunteer
Ms. Annie Mcfadden LPC, ACBC
Annie McFadden is a licensed professional counselor in Georgia with over 15 years in the mental health field. With an integrative and intuitive approach, she has worked with clients experiencing the emergence of first and secondary trauma, mental, emotional, anxiety, grief/loss/bereavement. depression, and more. Annie has offered to facilitate a monthly group therapy session for family members of victims being honored in the Aster Project at no cost.
“The healing circle has helped me see that my son would not want me to sit in the wounds of his unjust murder but continue to live my life to the fullest and love myself more than being consumed by hate for his murderers”
-Aster Project Mother
Upcoming Healing Circles
11:00AM-12:30PM
- SATURDAY. 11/12/2022
- SATURDAY, 12/10/2022
as’ter: a fall-blooming daisy like flower symbolizing love, wisdom, valor, and faith.
“when lives are taken through violence, they are de-humanized and their dignity is stolen. they must be re-humanized…”
-KIMBERLY JONES
This is how we, their loved ones, will heal…
This is how the world will not forget their faces…
This is how violent systems will be helD accountable…
This is why the Aster Project exists…
Project Comp0nents
- 600+ SQ FT MURAL IN DOWNTOWN ATL
- PUBLIC UNVEILING CEREMONY
- INTERACTIVE WEBSITE
- DOCUMENTARY SERIES
- AN ALBUM CREATED BY LOCAL ARTISTS
- CREATIVE WRITINGS OF EACH STORY BY LOCAL AUTHORS
- COUNSELING AND COMMUNITY
What is the Aster Project?
Introduction
20+ Georgia families who have lost children to racial violence stand united in an effort to challenge police brutality and racial violence through the power of art.
These families, now known as the “Aster Council”, reached out to portrait artist Maisie Thompson and community-building non-profit Restore Life to help re-humanize and immortalize their lost loved ones through a mural in downtown Atlanta and a documentary series sharing their stories. A community of artists, activists, authors, counselors and local leaders are walking with them on their journey toward justice and healing in their own hearts. This effort to assuage loss and incite change would become known as The Aster Project.
The Mission
Though born of tragedy, The Aster Project aspires to prevent that very thing. With your support we can join hands in fulfilling The Aster Project’s three-part mission:
- Provide a safe community for the families of the lost ones to heal, and a helpful community to resource them in their journey toward justice.
- Raise awareness to the need for life-saving policy changes — accessible mental health resources, prison reform, voting rights, and an end to qualified immunity
- Spark dialogue that compels community activism and engagement.
POINTS OF FOCUS
QUALIFIED IMMUNITY
VOTING RIGHTS
PRISON REFORM
MENTAL HEALTHCARE
TRUTH AND TRANSPARENCY
The numbers reveal Georgia still has many challenges ahead in the fight for justice and racial equity. Nearly half the 184 Georgians shot and killed by police since 2010 were unarmed or shot in the back. Over 60% of those victims were black.
THE PROBLEM
Each person memorialized in The Aster Project had their life unjustly taken and due process delayed by miscarriages of justice.
Many of their cases involve egregious police violence, misconduct, and allegations of corruption.
Today, their families persist in the pursuit of justice they have been repeatedly denied.
“Racially unequal exposure to the risk of state violence has profound consequences for public health, democracy, and racial stratification.”
-Frank Edwards, Ph.D.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
CAN WE LIVE WITH THIS?
WHERE’S THE ACCOUNTABILITY?
“Dear Zadok, we will get justice… and we will dance again…”
-mother of zadok williams
MemorialiZation and Mobilization
through the power of art
After the murder of George Floyd, we watched as communities across the world erupted in anger and action. His unjust death echoed through the streets of our cities, uniting voices for change across color, culture, and class. His likeness, immortalized in powerful murals, stood as a constant reminder of state brutality and racism.
The Aster Project will continue this tradition of wielding art as a weapon for change, honoring 22 victims of police brutality by painting their portraits over a 600 square foot mural in downtown Atlanta.
The Aster Project will also amplify the voices of the victims through their families, releasing a documentary film that tells each soul’s story — an expression of collective grief and a call to action against police violence and racial injustice.
Our mission is to ensure that these lives remain a part of our collective consciousness. The Aster Project seeks to rouse hearts with united passion and empower hands to take action, celebrating the lives of those we’ve lost and sharing their stories with a watching world longing for reconciliation.
Finances and Transparency
The Aster project is ever growing in its scope and impact. while much of the work being done is pro-bono, certain aspects of a project this size require funding and resources.
The Aster Project is fiscally sponsored and managed by Restore Life Inc, a recognized 501 c 3 non-profit organization per IRS Code 432.56.215-B. Restore Life is committed to absolute financial transparency and uses a third party accounting firm, Shiela CPA, to manage all finances according to federal and state standards. All donations are Tax Deductible. 100% of your donation (minus transaction fees) will be distributed to support The Aster Project.
For the aster project to succeed we are targeting these fundraising goals
Support us and help this grow.
Sow
Phase 1
Sep-Dec 2022
Every vision needs seed money to help make it a reality. Phase 1 focuses on raising the initial donations needed to fund the artist cost, supplies, studio space rental, grant writing, and marketing. This initial “sowing of seed” is what determines the harvest.
- Recruit Family and Friends’ monthly support
- Solicit sponsorship from Businesses and Churches
- Vision Dinner Fundraiser Monthly Vision Chat and Chew Lunches
- Solicit partnership with other justice organizations.
$30k
Grow
Phase 2
Dec-june 2023
The seed money invested begins to grow and produce more opportunities and avenues for funding. As awareness of The Aster Project spreads, more investors are invited on board and new funding sources and donors commit to helping fund the project.
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- Grant and funding proposals
- Funeral Home solicitation
- Involve local universities and HBCU’s
- Launch Social Media and Press Campaign
- Pursue celebrity Endorsements
- Continue with Vision Chat and Chew lunches
$40k
Harvest
Phase 3
July-Dec 2023
As the funding continues to nurture this vision, the harvest is released. The portrait panels are completed, the mural painting begins and the documentary is edited and finalized for release. A final marketing campaign ensures maximum exposure and impact for the unveiling ceremony, website and media. The music and written stories go viral and fuel momentum of the vision as the team continues to grow in its purpose and support.
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- Final Vision Dinner
- Larger scale Fundraisers
- Documentary prescreening
- Aggressive Press Campaign
- Mural Unveiling Ceremony
- Social Media Campaign
- Add new partners and sponsors.
$30k
The Team
The Aster council
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Grow Team
The Aster Project Grow Team is made of a group of activist, artists, counselors, and comunity leaders who have united to serve the families of those lost and assist them in their healing and pursuit of justice.
Maise Thompson
Lead Artist
Bio here
Clarence (St. Claire) Adams
Lead liason to artists and community
Bio here
Danny Iverson
Lead consultant and developer
Bio here
Renitta Shannon
Aster Council Chair
Bio here
Jynnx Johnson
Lead of Marketing
Bio here
Kimberly Jones
Lead Author
Bio here
Annie Mcfadden LPC
Lead Counselor
Bio here