Shaping the Future

How can we make the metro Atlanta area a better place to live? What can residents do to improve the cost of living, infrastructure and other issues relating to quality of life?

If you’re members of the Atlanta Regional Commission, you ask student leaders from DeKalb County School District (DCSD) and beyond.

Three DCSD juniors joined 45 other students from the 10 counties in the metro Atlanta area as part of the 2017-2018 Model Atlanta Regional Commission youth leadership program the week of Feb. 26.

As part of the program, Ciera Cummings and Alyssa Pettaway, juniors from Chamblee Charter High School, as well as Audrey Rader, a junior from Druid Hills High, presented innovative resolutions for making metro Atlanta a more dynamic place to live and work.

Cummings, Pettaway and Rader prepared for the presentation by conducting six months of study, debate and hands-on activities.

“I am so impressed with the hard work and thoughtful resolutions put forth by these young leaders,” said Kerry Armstrong, ARC board chair. “It’s evident that these students have a passion for finding new and creative ways to improve our region. The ARC Board committees will now review each resolution, looking for ways to advance their ideas.”

The three DCSD juniors served on committees that included the creation of multi-generational communities by connecting a member of the elderly community with a high school student; the adoption of a blue light system around major activity centers to deter crime; the creation of learning gardens at each metro Atlanta school; and the creation of a MARTA-related cell phone application, complete with incentives, to promote ridership.

The MARC program is currently accepting applications for next year’s youth leadership program. Click here for more information