Jamel McKenzie, Mayor Professional Tem of School Park, is dedicated to fostering significant engagement between the private and non-private sectors to assist residents in want. As Vice Mayor, McKenzie goals at assuaging financial stress for native households. On Friday, March 7, town of School Park held “Collectively We Thrive Feeding Hope” a group giveback occasion for the residents of town on the Keith James Auditorium.
Picture by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
A number of sponsors got here in to assist the occasion, equivalent to Amazon, Ashley Furnishings, and Home Of Ramirez, led by Meals within the Metropolis ATL, a nonprofit devoted with the aim of serving to the much less lucky and strengthening the group by feeding the hungry. Jakeem Smith, founder and CEO, helped lead the cost in bringing collectively a number of sponsors & companies to assist make a tangible distinction within the metropolis.
Smith, whose group has been serving the group for 5 years, emphasised the significance of holistic assist past simply offering meals, “You gotta feed the center, and there’s so many alternative methods to be fed, not simply common meals,” Smith defined.
Meals within the Metropolis supplied important home items, together with recent produce drinks like Celsius and Gatorade, and even beds from Ashley Furnishings. Clothes and sneakers have been donated by singer and songwriter RL Huggar of the R&B group Subsequent and his spouse Lena, making certain attendees had entry to brand-new objects nonetheless of their unique packaging.
Planning such an occasion requires in depth coordination and Smith stated she believes the method is guided by religion and generosity.
“I enable God to maneuver,” he stated. “I simply made some cellphone calls, and other people need to assist.” The group additionally focuses on long-term help, deciding on about ten folks monthly to obtain beds, prioritizing these within the best want, “Plenty of them are nonetheless sleeping on the ground, so we’re positively making an attempt to alter that narrative for the group,” Smith acknowledged.
McKenzie highlighted the need of constant outreach past main holidays.
“Folks have wants all year long,” McKenzie stated. “Even when folks have jobs, they nonetheless have wants, and that is only a method to ease a number of the financial stress and rigidity placed on our households and residents.”
Mckenzie added, “With 76% of School Park residents being renters and a median earnings of $40,000, many households battle to make ends meet, ” McKenzie cited.
Along with offering materials assist, the occasion additionally inspired civic engagement. Kemo O’Riley, a senior canvasser for the New Georgia Mission, attended to register voters and stress the significance of native elections.
“We even have a number of elections occurring this 12 months, and we even have an necessary election subsequent 12 months that impacts Georgians,” O’Riley stated. “Lots of people didn’t come out for the presidential race, and we actually want you guys to come back out for Georgia.”
Her message to attendees was clear: “Love your group, love your self, and get out to vote.”
Past addressing financial wants, the occasion additionally introduced consideration to School Park’s Black historical past and ongoing preservation efforts. Charles Dill, a consultant from “Preserving the Historical past of Authentic African People” (P.H.O.A.A.), devoted to preserving the historical past of African People in School Park volunteered for the occasion to advocate for the safety of town’s Black heritage.
“The Black group has been desecrated round right here, and we’re making an attempt to protect the historical past of the unique Black neighborhoods,” Dill acknowledged.
With a turnout anticipated to succeed in between 100 and 200 attendees, McKenzie expressed her hope that members would really feel valued and supported by their metropolis.
“I would like them to really feel like their metropolis cares. I would like them to really feel like they matter,” she stated.
Volunteers have been inspired to deal with each visitor with dignity and respect, reinforcing a way of group solidarity. Shifting ahead, School Park goals to carry comparable occasions at the least ten months out of the 12 months, excluding summer time months when the venue is used for different applications.
Associated
