By Allison M. Slocum and Thomas Scott
The second annual Benjamin E. Mays High School Brotherhood and Sisterhood Summits. Photo credit: Allison M. Slocum and Thomas Scott, APS ©
Benjamin E. Mays High School asked its students who they wanted to hear from and delivered with the second annual Brotherhood and Sisterhood Summits.
Designed as a day of inspiration and guidance, the event brought together community leaders, educators, and alumni to offer mentorship, practical advice, and encouragement on topics ranging from leadership to personal well-being.
The event was conceived in response to an incident on February 14, 2024, where a tragic act of gun violence impacted four students on campus. Administrators launched the summit to support and strengthen their school community and create an environment where students could connect, learn, and envision their futures.
The second annual Benjamin E. Mays High School Sisterhood Summit. Photo credit: Allison M. Slocum and Brianna Mason, APS ©
Students played a central role in shaping the event’s programming, selecting topics they wanted to explore, while the school partnered with the Atlanta City Council, alumni, and local organizations to provide experienced speakers and mentors. The sessions covered a broad spectrum, including entrepreneurship, self-care, financial literacy, conflict resolution, college preparation, and healthy relationships.
“Our students were telling us that they wanted to hear from people that look like them that are successful,” said Mays High School principal Ramon Garner. “Because we have a plethora of great partners here at Mays, we were able to talk to them and get individuals in those career fields to come out and pour back into our students.”
Eshé Collins, a former Atlanta Board of Education member and newly elected to the Atlanta City Council, Post 3 At-Large, delivered the keynote address for the Sisterhood Summit. She encouraged students to embrace mentorship as a powerful personal and professional growth tool.
“Mentorship is one of the most powerful tools you can have on your journey to success, particularly as Black women,” Collins said. “A mentor is more than just a guide; they are someone who believes in you, who challenges you, who is going to ‘keep it 100’, ensures that you have direct, truthful conversations, and helps you see your own potential, even when you doubt yourself.”
The event featured additional speakers, including Atlanta City Councilmember Andrea L. Boone of District 10, Shirley Franklin, the 58th and first female mayor of Atlanta, and representatives from various industries.
One of the students who participated was Makiya Kleckley, an 11th-grade student and staff sergeant in the school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. As a student chaperone, she ensured her group stayed engaged throughout the day.
“I hope that my peers and I will be able to express ourselves more, think before doing things, and have a set plan for what we want to do with our lives,” Kleckley said.
The second annual Benjamin E. Mays High School Brotherhood Summit. Photo credit: Thomas Scott, APS ©
The following day at the Brotherhood Summit, students heard from barbers, business owners, realtors, and professionals in a variety of industries who shared how they navigated through their careers, social lives and relationships.
Several members of 100 Black Men of Atlanta came to volunteer their time and wisdom to the young men as well. Luis Negron, the executive director and chief operating officer of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, gave the keynote address for the Brotherhood Summit and encouraged them to believe that they can have a pathway to a career.
“We’re a part of the community, and it’s important for us to support Mays High School and the Brotherhood Summit,” Negron said. “No matter what obstacle may be in front of you or what conditions you may come from, there is always a way out. Especially if you ask for help or believe in yourself.”
Students spent time rotating through multiple breakout sessions that discussed a range of topics from how to be successful in college, how to manage personal relationships, mental health, and more.
“My experience at the Brotherhood Summit was interesting,” Mays High School sophomore Malicii Youngblood said. “Having the summit has shown me the different opportunities that I’m able to have no matter what background I’m from or what school I go to. There’s so many open opportunities, people to meet, and connections to make.”
With its focus on empowerment and opportunity, Mays High School plans to continue the annual Brotherhood and Sisterhood Summits and cement it as a defining event and platform for its young men and women to network, build confidence, gain knowledge, and take steps toward achieving their goals.
“We’re not in this work alone,” Garner said. “We have a village and a community of individuals who care about our school.”
