Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens visits Booker T. Washington High School for discussion with student leaders

The best and brightest at Booker T. Washington High School were beyond prepared for last week’s visit from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who joined the students for a sit-down conversation covering a plethora of issues that matter to students.

The students took advantage of this open forum with the mayor of their hometown and asked important questions about issues ranging from human trafficking to food insecurity, transportation, crime and more.

“We encourage our students to be very vocal about all topics and to be very educated about all topics, so that they can speak wisely when they’re discussing these topics,” Booker T. Washington High School principal William Wade said. “What you witnessed here today was student-voice. These students are geared to lead. They’re leaders in our school community. They are our go to people, our positive influencers here in our building.”

Mayor Dickens not only answered the students’ questions and shared what the city of Atlanta has been working on to address the various issues raised by the students, but also encouraged the students to influence their peers to want to solve the problems as well.

“It really gave me a look behind the scenes as to how it’s not just one person solving all the problems and doing everything, and how it’s more of a group effort,” Washington High School ninth grade student Samiya Bryant said. “I saw how important it was to the mayor that we had these issues, and we are willing to discuss them and that we want to bring about change.”

Several students even offered alternative solutions for the mayor to consider when it came to addressing the Water Boys who are known to disrupt traffic while selling their goods on street corners.

“It meant a lot for me today to start off this year talking to high school students that care about their community and care about their school,” Dickens said. “They had great questions. They were very engaged, attentive; and they want to make change in society.”

“I think we’re raising a village of future leaders at APS and within the city of Atlanta, and I think that these kids understand the group project that we’re doing together to solve societal problems and move Atlanta forward together,” he added.

Booker T. Washington High School is celebrating 100 years of educating students in Atlanta. Many of our nation’s great leaders graduated from Washington High School, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose holiday will be celebrated the Monday, January 15, 2024.

“This is one of Atlanta’s treasures. Booker T. Washington High School has meant so much to so many,” Dickens said. “Coming to this school, this year is special to me, and I’m honored by them inviting me.”