“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” – Frederick Douglass
These words spoken by the legendary educator, author, and race man now encompass Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ Year of The Youth Initiative. Launched in January of 2023, attendees gathered almost one year to the day of the kickoff, on January 31st, to reflect on the progress made thus far.
Ayan Hickman, 20, a Georgia Tech business analytics major and Year Of The Youth ambassador took the stage first, sitting with Dickens, his fellow Year of the Youth ambassadors, and city officials. Hickman spoke of his experience in the program in the Atlanta City atrium to attendees made up of sponsors, mentors, and participants in the program: “We are not just the future; we are the architects of today. We are capable and will produce as much change as our successors,” said Hickman.
Following Hickman, Dickens took to the stage and thanked Atlanta City Council, who he cited as currently in session, before highlighting the accomplishments of the program, which included:
– A first-of-its-kind, $20 million investment in our city’s early childhood education development system.
– $1 million in safe spaces for the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta.
– 5,418 youth registered for the Summer Youth Employment program with an average hourly wage of $17.27.
Speaking about the inception of the program, Dickens gave appreciation to two of his transition team members, Lisa Cunningham and Jennifer Keenan, who were presented with their plaques for the work that contributed to the program, “Our commitment to our young people has in no way ended,” Dickens said before exiting the stage.
There were several guest speakers during the presentation, one of whom included John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE founder, and entrepreneur. Galvanizing the audience with the words, “Anything Is Possible,” Bryant spoke to the importance of financial literacy within the Black community by solidifying its importance for the youth. Listing Atlanta as the tenth largest economy in the United States and the biggest economy in the south, Bryant said, “Half of Black Americans have a credit score of 620; you can’t get a decent home loan with a score of 620. You can’t get anything without a credit score of at least 700.” Bryant then recounted meeting Dickens for the first time post-election and discussing the matter of financial literacy, “The Mayor (Dickens) is the only Mayor I know who understands credit scores,” Bryant continued.
Atlanta native Courtney English, Chief Policy Officer, and Senior Advisor to the Mayor, as well as Morehouse and Columbia University graduate, listed some of the wider effects the Year of The Youth had on the city, “Last year during the Year of the Youth, the city saw a 19 % reduction in violent crime,” English said, “Last year our city received a 21% reduction in homicide,” English continued before capping the crime-related accomplishment, “During the Year of the Youth, we saw a 46% reduction in youth homicide. More of our younger people are living to see older age,” English said.
Following the statistical breakdown, English gave a call to action to the attending audience to thank Janean Lewis, Senior Policy Advisor of Youth Development & Education, as well as Senior Director of Youth Engagement Office of the Mayor for all the work she did for the 2023 program year, “The Year of the Youth exceeded my expectations. We served over 30,000 youth through City programs, community outreach, jobs, and internships and in collaboration with hundreds of implementation partners. The Atlanta community truly answered the call to action and in every corner of the City, there were programs for youth of all ages and interests. I am humbled to lead this initiative on behalf of Dickens and inspired by the work we will accomplish for children, youth, and young adults—in 2024,” Lewis told The Atlanta Voice.
Following Lewis’s standing ovation she spoke about the historic educational achievements made during the Year of The Youth, such as:
- Atlanta public schools had the highest graduation rate in Atlanta public school’s history at 86.6%.
- Atlanta public schools surpassed the state graduation rate.
- Frederick Douglass High School has the highest graduation rate gain (7.2 % gain from 2022).
“It’s been an honor – I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities to meet a lot of people and I got put in situations where normally I didn’t think I’d be in. It’s opened me up and given me more confidence,” said Hickman.