Brooke Jackson-Edmond is a co-founding partner and senior vice president of Jackmont Hospitality Inc. In addition to leading one of Atlanta’s most successful food service companies, she’s also the CEO of the Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in honor of former Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson. On Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, rapper B.o.B will help Edmond celebrate the 20th anniversary of MJYF with a sure to be show-stopping performance at the Woodruff Arts Center. It’s the first major event for MJYF and the first public event to pay tribute to the legacy of Jackson, Atlanta’s first black mayor, since his death in 2003.
“The Ignite! 2012 event celebrates 20 years of providing service to the youth and will cap off our fundraising program,” shares Edmond.
“Founded in 1992 by the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, the Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation has helped train hundreds of young people from across metropolitan Atlanta to become leaders for tomorrow. MJYF has positively impacted the lives of youth through its signature program, the MJYF Leadership Academy. High School students learn the skills and principles of leadership, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, community service, and how to prepare for their continued education and careers while participating in the Leadership Academy,” the organization stated in a press release.
“Through the program, we teach the students who Maynard was and encourage them to develop the character traits he embodied: honesty, persistence and perseverance. The Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation is a Foundation for the Future – for Atlanta, for Georgia, and for the world. One hundred percent of the Leadership Academy alumni have the opportunity to attend college. The 20th Leadership Academy class is currently in session with 31 high school juniors from nine high schools in Metro Atlanta, South Fulton, and Clayton County areas – our largest class to date. We also have 25 high school seniors from our 2011 Leadership Academy class that we are continuing to work with as they prepare for college. We wish to expand the boundaries of our Leadership Academy in the coming years.”
The Ignite! 2012 evening commences with an awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in the Rich Theater, recognizing MJYF scholars and individuals who have demonstrated leadership, vision, and commitment to their communities. Each community honoree previously met with a student honoree to share their stories of success and impart wisdom.
Honorees include Shirley Franklin, former Atlanta Mayor and CEO and chairman of the board of Purpose Built Communities, who will receive the Maynard Jackson Legacy Award; Charles Brewer, founder and managing partner, Las Catalinas, who will receive the Lamp Award; Pastor Rosa Arnold, founder and CEO of the Albert T. Mills Center, who will receive the Life Boat Award; and Joey Reiman, thinker, founder and CEO of BrightHouse, a global consultancy, who will receive the Ladder Award. The awards’ names were culled from one of Mr. Jackson’s favorite quotes by the great Persian poet, Rumi. It reads: “Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.”
Following the awards ceremony, guests will move into the High Museum at 7:30 p.m. to be treated to exciting and memorable entertainment with fabulous food and drink. All proceeds from Ignite! 2012 will be used to ensure that promising young people have the tools they need to prepare for future leadership and to realize their dreams. –yvette caslin
For more information about corporate and individual sponsorships and details for Ignite! 2012, please visit www.mjyf.org/ignite or call 404-681-3211, or visit them on Facebook.
