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Message from the Executive Director...
Happy Holidays Friends of MJYF!
As the year comes to a close, we celebrate all of the wonderful accomplishments of 2012 and look forward to an exciting year in 2013. This year marked the 20th Anniversary of the Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation and we commemorated the milestone with an amazing fundraising gala. Ignite! 2012, the first major event for MJYF, highlighted the work of the Foundation and the accomplishments of the MJYF Leadership Academy's graduates, while remembering the legacy of our founder, Maynard Jackson. Thanks to the support of our sponsors and guests, we will be able to continue expanding the boundaries of our MJYF Leadership Academy for years to come.
As we prepare for 2013, we are looking forward to continuing to provide our students with the tools and resources they need to succeed. We are planning to take our students on the annual educational trip to Washington, DC as well as offering a study abroad opportunity.
We could not provide the service and dedication to guiding and coaching young people to become leaders without your continued support and are grateful for each of you. We hope this holiday season will be a wonderful one for you and your loved ones and we wish you a very Happy New Year for 2013!
Virgil Murray, Executive Director |
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Jackmont Hospitality's T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants
Raise Funds for MJYF
Jackmont Hospitality, a full-service foodservice company headquartered in Atlanta, hosted a series of exciting bartending competitions in the fall at their T.G.I. Friday's locations in search of the World Bartending Champion. For the "T.G.I. Friday's World Bartending Championship," the Jackmont T.G.I. Friday's locations held a series of competitions to validate their bartenders, at the store, NE regional (T.G.I. Friday's Greenbelt, MD) and SE regional (T.G.I. Friday's Camp Creek, Atlanta, GA) level. Winners emerging from the series then participated in the Franchise Divisional Competition in December at the T.G.I. Friday's in Greenbelt, MD.
In addition to celebrating the top bartenders in the industry, the purpose of the World Bartending Championship is to bring attention to a worthy organization that has strong and deep roots in the community while raising funds to support their continued efforts. For the 2012 event, T.G.I. Friday's selected the Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation (MJYF) as its franchise charity of choice. Proceeds raised from the championship events - in the amount of $25,000 - will benefit the mission and work of MJYF. With the help of their sponsor, Heineken USA, the Friday's restaurants were able to exceed their financial goal and made a $25,000 contribution to MJYF. The competitions were great team building experiences, allowing Friday's to continue to have the best bartenders in the industry and rally around a great cause, all while having a lot of fun. |
Meet the Leadership Academy 2013 Class
The Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation kicked off its 21st Leadership Academy class with 31 new students from 13 high schools in the Metro Atlanta, South Fulton, Clayton County, and surrounding areas. The students, who are all high school juniors, are already leaders in their schools and communities and are eager to receive all of the tools and resources they will receive through the Leadership Academy. The 2013 MJYF Leadership Academy Class includes:
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Zhadaa Alexander - Carver Arts
Asha Banks - Grady
Danika Banks - Carver Health Sciences
Abel Belete - Carver Arts
Deja Bolston - Maynard Jackson
Keith Crawford - Carver Early College
Sederika Duncan - Douglass
Ta'keda Eastern - Mays
Marqus Edwards - McEachern
Erin Fallen - Grady
Deja Fambro - North Clayton
Darius Hamlett - Maynard Jackson
Sydney Harrison - North Clayton
Malcom King - Washington (Early College)
Jessica McDowell - Washington (Health)
Stephanie Nembhard - Dutchtown
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Jayla Palmer - South Atlanta Law
Raven Powell - Mays
Sonia Qureshi - North Clayton
Brandi Raines - Langston Hughes
Zahrah Sabir -Carver Health Sciences
Lashawn Simmons -Langston Hughes
DeVante Singletary - Tri-Cities
Anna Smith - Carver Arts
Kadeeja Taylor - Washington (Health)
Austin Turner -Carver Health Sciences
Juwan Underwood - Mays
Amanda Watts - Mays
Taylor Williams - Grady
Asia Wright - Westlake
Titus Zeigler - Grady |
The first class was held on Saturday, November 3, 2012, where the students learned more about MJYF, what to expect for the coming year, and got acquainted with each other, the staff, and volunteers. As is the usual tradition for the first class, the students learned first-hand about "Maynard the Man" from Valerie Richardson Jackson, Maynard's widow, and Brooke Jackson Edmond, his daughter. Jackson and Edmond gave insights to the students on the person, leader, public servant, husband, and father that Maynard was so they could fully understand the legacy he left to the city and beyond.
MJYF is excited to welcome our Leadership Academy Class of 2013. We look forward to cultivating and developing their skills and talents to help them succeed now and for years to come. |
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MJYF Fall Leadership Retreat
 
On Saturday, November 17, 2012, the MJYF Leadership Academy Juniors and Seniors headed off to Mt. Berry, GA for a weekend of fun and leadership training at Winshape Wilderness. The purpose of the two-day overnight retreat was for the students to learn more about their personal strengths and talents to help become the best leaders they can be. During the retreat, the students took a strengths assessment, participated in team building exercises, completed high ropes course challenges, small group activities, and even had the chance to zipline.
The trip was the first time that the Seniors and the new students had a chance to meet one another. Each group even put their leadership skills to the test and selected names for their MJYF class. The Juniors selected H.A.L.O (Helping And Leading Others) and the Seniors chose U.N.I.Q.U.E. (Union of New Ideas Questing for Undefined Excellence). With the insights and skills learned, the students will be able to hone in on their leadership skills and build on them throughout the year. |
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Where Are They Now? The Recent Graduates of the MJYF Leadership Academy
We caught up with our most recent graduates who are now in college and wrapping up their first semester as college students. Here is a list of the schools where they are enrolled:
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Cassandra Abioye - Georgia State University
Paige Addison - Florida International University
Lasha Banks - Sweet Briar College
Montanez Baugh - Bard College
Destiny Bethea - Georgia State University
Shakira Carter - Atlanta Metropolitan College
Oshay Columbus - Columbus State University
Caitlin Cooper - Florida A & M University
Tiffani Davis - Georgia State University
Jade Goins - Voorhees College
Qotisha Haugabrook - Savannah State University
Trayana Jackson - University of West Georgia
Iman Kialueka - Howard University |
Decembray Lester - Savannah State University
Zasmine Lewis - University of Georgia
Makalani Mack - Brandeis University
Cierra Martin - Boston University
Elmer Moreno - Syracuse University
Amir Mills - Stillman College
Victory Phillips - Fort Valley State University
Mojid Salawu - Georgia State University
Frederick Sands - Howard University
Devin Shackleford - Clark Atlanta University
Dominic Stegall - Bard College
Ashley Thomas - Savannah College of Art & Design
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Although our alumni are no longer in the actual program, every student who comes through the Leadership Academy will forever be a part of the MJYF Family. As always, we are proud of our students and wish them much success in all their future endeavors. |
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WINTER 2012/2013
E-NEWSLETTER
In This Issue:
Executive Director's
Message
Jackmont T.G.I. Friday's
Restaurants Raise Money
for MJYF
Meet the New
Leadership Academy
Class
Senior Academy News
Leadership Retreat
Where Are They Now?:
Recent MJYF Graduates
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MJYF Senior
Academy News
One of the biggest changes the MJYF Leadership Academy has made over the last two years is to continue our work with our students throughout their senior year in high school - once they complete their
junior year in the program. We recognized that in order to meet our goal of having all of our students have the opportunity to attend a college or university and continue their
educational pursuits, our work must continue into their last year of high school.
This year, we are
currently working with
our 31 seniors as they prepare for college. We meet with them on a monthly basis to hold
College Sessions that
address a variety of
topics including college applications, scholarships, and more. We have also
held one-on-one help sessions with each of our students to provide them with the individual
attention they need
based on their educational goals. For
the group and individual sessions, one of our Leadership Academy alumni, Tianna Bailey
who is a college counselor at Ben Franklin Academy here in Atlanta, has been working with
our students to review their essays, help them with applications, and provide them with the tools and resources they need.
Many of our Leadership Academy Seniors have already been accepted to the colleges of their choice, are getting the scores they desire on the SAT and ACT, and are already receiving scholarship opportunities including being finalists for the Posse Scholarship.
We have seen the benefits of continuing to work with our students through our senior year and are proud that we are providing a great foundation for their future.
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The Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation was founded in 1992 by the late Mayor Maynard H. Jackson. The purpose and mission of MJYF is to build the foundation for youth today to become leaders of tomorrow.
The signature program of MJYF is the LEADERSHIP
ACADEMY - a two-year fellowship program. Over the course of their junior and senior years in high school, the Leadership Academy develops and teaches leadership skills and principles to metro Atlanta high schoolstudents by focusing on the areas of:
Leadership;
Critical Thinking;
Entrepreneurship;
Public Service and Civic Engagement; and
College and Career Readiness
The MJYF Leadership Academy provides a unique opportunity for students to gain valuable leadership experience and prepare for life after high school. This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate today's young leaders and strengthen their understanding of leadership and public service.
Since 1992, the Leadership Academy has trained hundreds of youth. More than 98 percent of the Leadership Academy alumni are either pursuing a post-secondary education, gainfully employed, or serving in the military. |
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CONTACT US
The Maynard Jackson
Youth Foundation
The Equitable Buidling
100 Peachtree Street
Suite 2275
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-681-3211
Fax: 404-523-8006
Email: vmurray@mjyf.org
Website:
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