Welcome to FWAmily!

First, let me express my extreme gratitude to you for dedicating your valuable time, energy, and skills towards enhancing our organization! Your commitment means the world to us at FWA, which has always been a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, driven solely by volunteers with immense hearts.

Your choice to join our team fills me with joy! Together, we’re not just striving to better our team but also to uplift and positively impact our wider community. Your presence and dedication are invaluable, and I’m thrilled to embark on this journey alongside you.

Let’s start with our mission statement:

“Furry Weekend Atlanta is a community-driven, volunteer-led organization that is devoted to providing memorable, educational, inclusive, and safe experiences where our community is encouraged to explore and express their true self.”

Let me start by assuring you, our commitment isn’t just words - it’s the heartbeat of our team. At FWA, our mission isn’t just a statement; it’s a shared belief that drives each and every one of us. We dedicated substantial time and effort, involving staff and leaders, to craft a mission and values that authentically mirror our passion for what we do and aspire to be a part of.

When we ask our dedicated volunteers (staff) why they close to join us, their reasons echo a common theme: “I wanted to give back to the community”. “Furry has given me so much; it’s my turn to pay it forward”. “Furry provided me a space where I could truly be myself. I want others to experience that too”.

Okay, let’s be real, that last sentiment was me entirely. Growing up in the south, I never felt I could truly be myself. I stumbled across furry, immediately made lifelong friends, and found an entire community that supported and loved me. They wanted me to be me. That’s something I had never experienced before. Furry and Furry Weekend Atlanta hold a special place in my heart because it helped me come out of my shell, it embraced me for who I was, it encouraged me to be my true self. I love this community and I love this convention because that is what we’ve always done. Brought a safe place for our friends, our family, our community to come together under one roof to celebrate one thing. Being genuinely ourselves.

At Furry Weekend, stagnation isn't in our vocabulary. We're committed to continuous improvement. We're always striving to introduce new experiences, forge stronger connections, foster education, and cultivate a thriving community within Furry. Volunteering for a Furry Convention isn't always a walk in the park. We have tough conversations, make challenging decisions, but every action is rooted in our community's well-being.

So again, thank you for helping us hold true to our mission. From the Board Game Room to Registration, each and every one of you contributes to making our organization extraordinary. I'm thrilled to be a part of this community and to collaborate with all of you.

-Ranan, CEO

This organization and our conventions happen because of all of the work and collaboration we put in together. We are volunteers, but that does not mean you do not deserve to be rewarded for your dedication and efforts. Every year we do our best to find unique ways to say thank you to everyone who is a part of this FWAmily. Check the 🍵 Benefits and Rewards page for a list of what to expect.

FWA has a physical office and community space in Georgia! Spaces in the office include conference rooms, breakout rooms, constore, a printshop, a workshop, a tech room (3D printing and innovative tech), a studio, a warehouse, and a kitchen/break room. You can count on the office being filled with people most weekends throughout the year and weekdays as we get closer to each year's convention. We host our meetings in person and broadcast online from the office.

• If you are a local we hope you can make it to the office whenever you have time. Be sure to check the discord announcements for meetings, events, and workdays.

• If you are not local, but want to stop by the office, let your lead or director know and we will do our best to help find you a place to stay for during your visit.