Our featured guest is creating brighter futures for children and families across the Metro Atlanta area. Dr. De’Andre S. Pickett is one of the leading community and educational activists in the state of GA.
De’Andre’s community ties run deep within organizations that are building educational improvements and financial stability. In 2013, De’Andre was appointed as a Commissioner and Chairman of the City of East Point Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Though not a native Atlantan, De’Andre has worked tirelessly for the last 12 years to advocate for the families and children within his community. De’Andre is a proud alumnus of Benjamin E. Mays High School and went on to study English, Sociology and African-American Studies at Morehouse College.
On top of being author of many commentaries, forwards, and academic journals, he is also a devoted son, father, and sibling. De’Andre continues to serve his community through clothing drives, feeding the homeless, offering free tutoring to struggling students, and championing the fight towards HIV/AIDS awareness for the Black and brown communities.
Education allows us to create brighter futures for our children. This is one of the best ways that not only teachers and educators give back to our society in efforts to make this world a better place. It takes special educators like Dr. Pickett who don’t simply teach and lead but mentor, coach, tutor and help scholars and families beyond the school. Dr. Pickett speaks to us on how we all play a role, a thank you note to brothers and a message to the community.
We All Play A Role
I have seen firsthand as an educator and administrator the difference it makes when males are involvement with the cultural development of the school. We must continue to keep positive role models in the faces of our young boys and girls.
The media will continue to do its job by advertising negative influences. We each must do our job and create a positive success pathway for our children. We all play a role!
I started the Courageous Man, Inc Foundation which works with younger and older men of all ages to advocate for positive images of men. I have also been a basketball coach in the Southwest Atlanta area for the last 10 years and created a year-round program to keep young people off the street and out of trouble. I have had to serve as a surrogate father for many of the young men I coach because their fathers are either not around or not interested in what they are doing.
A Thank You Message to Brothers:
I am forever grateful to the men who make it their business to be present. We hear so often about all of the bad things that Black men aren’t doing but we rarely take a moment to honor and thank those mentors, teachers, administrators, big brothers, neighborhood uncles, step dads and even our dads who stay in the game. We know it gets tiring and we understand that there are moments where you want to take a break but thank you for not quitting on the game. We appreciate you!
A Message to the Community:
I didn’t have my father growing up. As I got older, I made it my business to be there for young men in the community who just want someone to be there to celebrate them. Here are three ways to get involved within the community.
1. Mentor in the schools or tutor in the after-school programs
2. Become a Big Brother
3. Link with local organizations
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Jason has worked in education for over 15 years as a teacher, blogger and community advocate. He speaks and writes primarily about the need to improve education for Black boys, particularly increasing the number of Black male educators in schools. In addition to blogging here at EdLanta, Jason is also a featured writer at Education Post.