Benjamin E. Mays High School Hosts Mayors @ Mays, Encouraging Civic Engagement

Leading up to an exciting midterm election, Benjamin E. Mays High School invited an impressive panel of mayors and former mayors to speak to students about the importance of civic engagement and understanding the importance of local government.

The Mayors @ Mays event welcomed former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Mayor Teresa Thomas-Smith (Palmetto, Ga.), Mayor Donya Sartor (Jonesboro, Ga.), Mayor Keisha Chapman (East Point, Ga.), Mayor Beverly H. Burks (Clarkston, Ga.), Mayor Shakeena Reeves (Fort Valley, Ga.), and Mayor Travis Rush (Americus, Ga.) to share their insights and experiences with Mays High School students.

“This Mayors @ Mays event is about encouraging young people to be engaged in their communities and encouraging them to vote in the midterm elections,” Franklin said. “As a former mayor of the city of Atlanta, I recognize the value of having every person who is eligible and registered to vote. Your vote is your voice. It’s your voice in public policy. It’s your voice in how the government operates. We live in a democracy, and democracy depends on public engagement, so go vote.”

In addition to getting the opportunity to ask questions to the panel, the event gave students a chance to learn more about the democratic process, review sample ballots, and discover additional ways they can contribute to improving their communities.

“We have 100% of students who are eligible to vote registered, and that’s a really big deal,” Mays High School principal Dr. Ramon Garner said. “Not only do we want kids registering to vote, but the next level is to actually go out and do it. We want to take away and remove all the barriers, so students aren’t intimidated when they get in the ballot box.”