EDUCATION BRIEFS

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Marist School presents the Marist Evening Series, three evenings of captivating courses for adults taught by the school’s faculty and staff on Mondays, Jan. 13, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. Registration for the series is open now and class topics include: art history; religion and spirituality; history and culture; science; college planning; ceramics; drawing/painting; photography; film; writing. For more information and to register by Jan. 12, visit marist.com/eveningseries.

Sprint and the 1Million Project Foundation plans to give free devices and internet access to every eligible high schooler in Metro Atlanta who does not have reliable broadband service at home. The program has expanded locally from two districts to seven, and nearly doubled the number of Atlanta area student participants to a total of nearly 20,000. The 1Million Project Foundation also announced a partnership with 100 Black Men of America to support the program by providing mentoring to participating high school students. Participating Atlanta Metro school districts are receiving an in-kind donation of free service from Sprint valued at almost $7.6 million, and free mobile devices from the foundation valued at $2.1 million.

►Wellspring Living, a non-profit organization founded in 2001 to provide victims of domestic sex trafficking with recovery services, has presented Atlanta Public Schools with the 2019 HOPE Award. Wellspring Living recognized APS because of the innovative and transformative work being done through the district’s partnership with Wellspring Living at Phoenix Academy and Forrest Hill Academy. At Forrest Hill, the Women’s Academy provides comprehensive services enabling women to move toward a pathway to living wage employment. At Phoenix Academy, a comprehensive model supports students by providing case management, therapy, and access to food and clothing. The school has its own food pantry and clothing boutique. Wellspring Living also hosts parent empowerment and healing circles at Dunbar Elementary. The organization estimates that the lives of over 300 individuals have been impacted as a result of this partnership.

Ground was recently broken in the Grove Park community for the future home of KIPP Woodson Park Academy, a YMCA Early Learning Center and a school-based health clinic. This $51 million investment in the Grove Park neighborhood is the result of a partnership between the community, Atlanta Public Schools, the Grove Park Foundation, KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. This represents the first major step in a series of investments in the health, arts and affordability in the Grove Park neighborhood intended to boost health, equity, affordability and economic mobility.

SunTrust has contributed $8.6 million to support the expansion of Atlanta Youth Academy’s pre-k – 8th grade private school campus, which will further provide high-quality primary education to low-income students across the Atlanta region. The 45,600 square foot expansion will allow Atlanta Youth Academy to serve more students, growing the current staff from 25 to 30 and enrollment from 150 to 225 students. In addition, the new campus will feature 15 classrooms, six breakout spaces, a renovated gymnasium and more.

ABOVE: INtown columnist and architect Melody Harclerode was recently awarded the prestigious Ivan Allen Sr. Trophy by the American Institute of Architects-Atlanta (AIA). The trophy is given to a member who has made a deep and lasting impact on peers, AIA and the built environment, and therefore sustained the highest ideals of the profession. Melody received her trophy from Chris Welty, AIA Atlanta President, and Jay Silverman, 2017 Ivan Alllen Sr. Trophy recipient.

TOP RIGHT: Prism: Winter Lights at Woodruff Park runs through February featuring light installations and sculptures by local artists in the Downtown greenspace.

BOTTOM RIGHT: The Dilweg Companies and partner BIG Outdoor have unveiled a large format digital display that wraps around the corner of the 101 Marietta Street building in Downtown. The signage is part of the Atlanta Arts & Entertainment District (AAED) initiative to merge digital media, public art and non-traditional advertising to fund cultural and public space programming in Atlanta’s city center.