In Our Own Words - Michael Davis

The Wonderland Gardens' co-founder share the inspiration and the meaning of Wonderland Gardens.

I moved back to Atlanta in the spring of 1994 and felt very unfulfilled because I had moved back to Atlanta prior to seeing an educational non-profit that I had founded in 1990 come to fruition. In June, I stopped by Sheldon's house to catch up and the discussion of experiences led to him sharing his dream for a Wonderland concept and to me sharing my non-profit experiences with youth. From that conversation, we knew we had something that was unique and something special. We have learned that Wonderland is bigger than our dreams and is meant to be in South DeKalb on the old Mathis dairy site. I see Wonderland as a way of giving back to the community that has given me so much.

I grew up two miles from the site that we chose for Wonderland Gardens in South DeKalb. I grew up and my parents still live across the street from Sheldon's family in Spring Valley. Growing up, the Fleming children and the Davis children were all close. I looked at Kelly as a big sister, so like for Sheldon, this project is in memory of Kelly and her spirit is with us. As Sheldon has stated Wonderland was a way to turn poison into medicine. My dream is for Wonderland be the destination in South DeKalb for the metropolitan Atlanta community for healing the mind, body, and spirit. I want to see the consciousness raised on the need to have and maintain these types of areas and the need to relieve stress and to for recreation not only for all people, but especially in African American communities where more green space is needed to escape from the day-to-day pressures. Wonderland is about bringing all people together to learn from each other, to learn about themselves all while communing with nature.