Atlanta, Georgia.  Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond declared May “Communities In Schools of Atlanta Month” during the nonprofit agency’s 7th Annual Choose Success Awards Luncheon earlier this month.

“The Atlanta City Council is honored to recognize Communities In Schools of Atlanta for its effective dropout prevention programs and positive impact on the community,” said Bond. “I have seen the amazing work of Communities In Schools firsthand. What this organization does to empower students to stay in school and achieve in life is powerful.” Bond’s sentiments about the thirty-nine year old nonprofit are supported by the results of an in-depth, five-year evaluation which recently concluded that Communities In Schools is one of the most effective dropout prevention organizations in the entire country.

Atlanta, Georgia. On Monday, Hilary Duff, actress, singer, and star of Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire,” visited Atlanta’s Bethune Elementary School to celebrate the success of the Atlanta launch of the Blessings in a Backpack program. The Blessings in a Backpack program, which began in 2005, provides students in underserved communities with a backpack full of healthy, easy-to-prepare foods weekly.  In October, Blessings in a Backpack brought its program to Atlanta with the support of Philoptochos, a philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Church, Financial Services Corporation (FSC) and Communities In Schools of Atlanta.

Atlanta, GA – Atlanta is the birthplace of Communities In Schools (CIS), which began serving young people in 1972. What started in Atlanta is now the largest community-based dropout prevention organization in the country, reaching close to 2.3 million young people and their families in 27 states with 108 affiliate offices. Currently, affiliate CIS of Atlanta provides direct support at 74 schools in Atlanta and DeKalb County, including 24 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, 31 high schools and 3 nontraditional schools, with combined enrollments of more than 46,000 students. Program Coordinators and Graduation Coaches identify students in each school who are most at risk of dropping out and recruit community support, for both academic and nonacademic services, to keep them in school and on track for graduation.

Atlanta, Georgia. Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta, The Villages at Carver Family YMCA, JaBarrCo Company, Project GRAD, and the P.T.S.A. of Price Middle School joined forces to host "A Community Resource Fair:  Education, Housing, Employment and Wellness” on January 20, 2011, at The Villages at Carver Family YMCA. This first-time event was free to the public and provided information and resources in the areas of education, employment and housing for metro Atlanta area youth and adults. Jordan Roberts and Martin Fuller, both residents of nearby Villages of Carver Apartments attended after hearing about the event through employees at the YMCA.