Cindy Bowden Named Executive Director of Clarkston Community Center

Photo by Kathy Riley

Cindy Bowden, a Decatur resident and long-time Atlanta arts and non-profit leader, has been named executive director of the Clarkston Community Center, according to Martha Talbott, chairman of the Center’s Board of Directors. In her new role, Bowden will oversee the Center’s numerous community services, especially those in the areas of art, recreation, education and community building.

“The Board of Directors is thrilled to have found a new director with the depth of experience Cindy brings to the Clarkston Community Center,” said Talbott. “Thanks to her many years of working in the non-profit arena, Cindy has a track record of success leading and managing staff and volunteers, securing grants and other types of financial support, developing programs and growing the mission and outreach of community-focused organizations. Cindy is also extremely well-connected in the arts, non-profit, cultural and educational community, which will open the doors to new partnerships and programs for the Clarkston Community Center.”

Bowden served for nearly two decades as the Executive Director of the American Museum of Papermaking, located on the Georgia Tech campus. She also served as Executive Director of the American Association of Woodturners in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is the Founding Director of Bright Ring Foundation, an organization that assists artists and non-profits with sustainability and marketing. She has been an active member of the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries for over three decades and is currently serving as the North American President of the World Craft Council, UNESCO. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Bowden and her husband, Tom, live in North DeKalb and have a grown daughter.

About Clarkston Community Center

Established in 1994 and headquartered in the beautifully renovated former Clarkston High School building at 3701 College Ave. in Clarkston, Ga., the Clarkston Community Center offers programs for children, teens, adults and seniors, centered around art, recreation and community building. The Center serves over 40,000 individuals annually, primarily from Clarkston and greater DeKalb County, Ga., and many of whom have immigrated to the United States or are newly-arrived refugees. The Center’s programs are designed to bring people together and bridge divides of language, customs, culture and faith. In addition to the headquarters building, the Clarkston Community Center includes an activity field for sports and recreation, acreage for a planned community garden and an additional structure for future development. Angora Hall, the Center’s renovated auditorium and stage, is available for public rental for parties, weddings and other special events. A new fundraising program, Friends of Clarkston Community Center, offers individuals the opportunity to financially support the work of the Center. www.clarkstoncommunitycenter.org