David Whatley (North Clayton H.S. Junior) |
In 1992 Jackson established the Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation which is a non-profit leadership program for at-risk high school juniors in the Atlanta Public School System. The Foundation, now under the direction of Jackson’s daughter Brooke Edmonds/CEO has three program components: The Leadership Academy, Atlanta Role Models for Youth and Youth Summit Series. “The program which lasts one calendar school year, had 16 out of the 19 original students go straight into college, the remaining three went into the military with many others now serving as doctors, lawyers and preachers in our community” says foundation president, John Holley.
“We take at-risk students with a spark of leadership and build on that. After completing the program they’re able to deal with certain situations in school differently, as well as have a different approach in life,” explains program CEO Brooke Edmonds. –condia perry
(L-R) Jayme (S.W.Dekalb H.S.), Kanetria (N. Clayton H.S.), Kamberly (Tri-Cities H.S.) |