Mayor Shirley Franklin hosts “Saturdays with the Mayor”

for Class of 2009 APS Seniors

Fall 2008

Atlanta Public School Seniors are filtering into the offices of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency on Saturdays, to register for the Mayor’s Youth Program. The program helps students outline their plans for after high school graduation, whether they are interested in attending a four year or two year college, technical school, going straight into the workforce, or joining the military.

 

During the day, students participate in workshops covering topics such as financial literacy and workforce readiness.  They meet with representatives from various colleges and fill out applications. They sign up for SAT/ACT prep classes and receive waivers to re-take the exam based on their scores. They meet with college students who have gone through the Mayors Youth Program in previous years and who talk to them about their experiences while preparing for college.

After a full day of workshops and activities, each student sits down with Mayor Franklin and designs a plan for after graduation. Mayor Franklin asks questions that students need to start thinking about, like “how many scholarships have you applied for?” or “if you take out an incredible amount of loans to afford a certain college, how will you afford to attend graduate school afterwards?” Questions that every child needs to think about when navigating their post-secondary education options. Questions that when answered, create a plan of action that help each of them reach their career goals.

After the day is over, students are asked to stay in touch with the program. Program counselors are assigned to each school, and students can begin working with them to prepare for summer internships based on their interests. Some students return to participate in opportunities such as the Police and Fire Rescue Cadet Programs, College Writing classes, and SAT/ACT prep class. Some return for assistance in filling out their FAFSA applications and writing essays for college acceptance boards. Some return with fears that while their tuition will be covered by scholarships, they still will not have enough money for room and board or books. Regardless of their needs, all students are required to keep in touch with the Mayor’s Youth Program throughout the year, so that they can reap the benefits of the program.

Mayor Franklin will continue to meet with Atlanta Public School seniors at “Saturdays with the Mayor” through the end of the year.