Community Corner

APS Redistricting: Summerhill And Peoplestown Need To Work Together

Communities should have the same goal: creating an educational foundation for success in all children.

by Micah A. Rowland

Greetings to all our neighbors:

As we approach the final hour and come closer to finalization for our Atlanta Public Schools redistricting maps, I would hope that we could come to solidarity as a unified community in reaching our victory. We will all find that living together in a community builds strong relationships and friendships that I hope will last and live with us for an entire lifetime. Now that the time is upon us, it is time to lay down our different viewpoints and work together to bring our dreams to fruition. Let this be our time, our opportunity to find common ground and take the first step in building a lasting relationship across community boundaries.

It’s important as we move forward through APS for a more vibrant and prosperous Neighborhood Planning Unit-V. As we define our victory, may we also define who we are and what we stand for and I hope that Summerhill's and Peoplestown's residents can find common ground. A task is set before us in rebuilding our educational institution of D.H Stanton Elementary.

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"We must show them that through diversity we will find common ground..."

We must now rely and trust one another and understand that this is one of many obstacles that we will all face. We now must join hands and move forward and remember that in the heart of our struggles are our children. We all hope to have a brighter future for our youth and now is that time to mold that future. We must remember that as adults we set an example for our youth. We must show them that through diversity we will find common ground and that we lay down our differences and work with our neighbors through collaboration, not fighting.

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This is the time to show that we are made of sterner stuff than that what those who look upon us perceive. What example will continued infighting set for our children if we do not show them that we can compromise and move forward hand in hand? It’s now up to you all to show the youth that we all desire a brighter future for them — every one of them, not just our own children. It's now up to you to show the youth that no entity shall ever separate us. Not only with D.H. Stanton ES but also with Parks Middle School. We must find a path for the future of our youth as their voices sound loudly to us that they want a future.

Thank you all for your motivation and desires as we move forward and seek our Victory!

Mr. Rowland is president of NPU-V, the neighborhood planning unit that represents the interests of the Summerhill, Capitol Gateway, Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh and Adair Park communities.


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