Maynard Jackson’s Vision Lives Through Atlanta’s Youth

By admin
Dec 17, 2009
6:56 am

David Whatley (North Clayton H.S. Junior)

The late Maynard H. Jackson, Jr. was Atlanta’s first African American mayor. Jackson served in that office during a period in Atlanta’s history when racial tensions were high, and the city’s African American population was approaching the majority status. With a new Atlanta emerging, Jackson was particularly attentive to the needs of the city’s younger residents. “If we teach our young people how to lead, they will build wealth and help find a breakthrough in the fight against poverty,'” the legendary mayor explained.

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.

MJYF program participants are encouraged to follow in the program founder’s foot steps to become responsible and impactful community and business leaders. “Leaders that are self-centered are delusional, and delusional leaders make bad decisions,” offers Dr. Walter E. Fluker of Morehouse College who teaches ethical leadership to teens.

“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.)