The State of the District
March 18, 2025
The Just Brothers group gathered in March for their meeting, graciously hosted by Dr. Bryant Marks, founder of the National Training Institute on Race and Equity (NTIRE). The highlight of the event was a thoughtful and impactful dialogue with Superintendent Dr. Johnson of Atlanta Public Schools (APS), who shared his vision and key initiatives for enhancing educational outcomes within the district.
Superintendent Johnson introduced his guiding theme, “Back to Basics,” underscoring the importance of establishing strong educational foundations. He emphasized a critical concern: only 32% of third graders in Atlanta are proficient readers, a troubling statistic with implications for their overall academic journeys. Dr. Johnson explained that early childhood—from birth to third grade—is a pivotal stage that determines students’ ability to read and sets the foundation for future learning.
Addressing the challenges currently facing APS, Dr. Johnson outlined his efforts to rebuild trust within the school system and community. He stressed the importance of identifying and addressing the specific needs of students to better prepare them for the future, highlighting workforce development and college and career readiness as essential components. Additionally, he advocated for a thoughtful, empathetic approach to student discipline, aimed at supporting both immediate needs and long-term success.
A significant goal Dr. Johnson set is to increase the average APS teacher salary to $100,000 by 2030, aiming to attract and retain talented educators. He acknowledged ongoing difficulties, such as thousands of vacant student seats, indicating many students are either not attending school or enrolled in other districts. This issue is compounded by the current sociopolitical climate and uncertainties regarding the federal Department of Education, affecting programs vital to APS communities, including nutrition, Title IX, and special education.
Superintendent Johnson also highlighted the pivotal role of middle school years in student development and strongly encouraged community members to actively participate and provide consistent presence and support. Specifically, he requested additional community engagement in South Atlanta, Mays, and Washington clusters. He also advocated for Universal Pre-K access and affordable housing solutions to better support APS students and families.
Dr. Johnson concluded with an inspiring message of possibility, reminding attendees, “It’s never too late to be what you might have become.”
2024 Election: Where do we go from here?
December 9, 2024
The Just Brothers meeting on December 9, 2024, launched the 2024 HOPE Global Forums and Annual Meeting, centering on the next steps following the election and the importance of developing a focused, strategic game plan. Reflecting the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? The conversation examined how to move forward effectively in the current political and social environment. Ambassador Andrew Young joined the discussion, offering valuable insights to help frame the challenges and opportunities facing the community today.
Van Jones contributed by emphasizing how political pundits and the Democratic Party misread the electorate. He pointed out that they overlooked the long-held beliefs and values of voters, which significantly influenced the election outcome. His comments highlighted the importance of understanding these dynamics to develop strategies that resonate with people’s priorities.
Chairman John Hope Bryant reminded attendees of the need to stay focused and strategic in light of the economic pain many are experiencing. Using the analogy of a dog chasing an ice cream truck, he illustrated how some actions, while predictable, lack purpose or intent. He called on the group to move beyond the campaign phase, focus on holding the new administration accountable, and approach the moment with goodwill and wisdom. Bryant encouraged community leaders to lead with strategy and clarity, avoiding hysteria or emotional reactions while leveraging this moment to create lasting impact for their families and communities.
The meeting concluded with Senator Raphael Warnock joining the group for a photo and a closed-door political discussion, marking the session as a meaningful step toward charting a strategic path forward.
Leadership at the Tip of the Spear and How to Reach Back
July 23, 2024
This quarter’s Just Brothers meeting was held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, and featured Chris Womack, CEO of Southern Company, as our speaker.
Chris is the chairman of the board, president, and CEO of Southern Company, one of the nation’s premier energy providers. He previously served as chairman, president, and CEO of Georgia Power, the largest subsidiary of Southern Company. Before leading Georgia Power, he was the executive vice president and president of external affairs for Southern Company.
During our time together, Chris offered a rare and candid glimpse into his life, sharing how his worldview, hard work, and experiences have led him to lead one of the nation’s largest companies. He is currently the only African American leading a Fortune 500 company.
Some highlights and key takeaways from Chris’ talk and subsequent discussion with John Hope Bryant and Milton Jones were:
Prioritize Self-Care — It’s crucial for everyone to take care of themselves, but it’s especially important for brothers to prioritize self-care and mental health. Chris cited this as a tool he uses to stimulate his personal growth and development and its necessity to operate at such a high level. When we prioritize self-care and our mental health, we create space for others to do the same.
Faith is the Foundation — Recounting his life, starting with humble beginnings in Greenville, Alabama, Chris cited his faith as his anchor and grounding point for every stage of his journey as a person and businessman. He shared how essential it was to be rooted and grounded in something sure in an ever-changing world.
Be a Thoughtful Visionary — Speaking from the perspective of a CEO and as a man aware of the times, Chris discussed the development of AI and its future prominence in the workforce. He stated that as he begins to orient the organization towards a new norm, he is taking great care to be a thoughtful leader and equip his employees for the future of work.
Culture Matters — Developing a strong and empathetic workplace culture is a cornerstone of his organization’s growth. When you create a place where people want to work, excel, and feel comfortable, you create an environment where people thrive. Invest in your people, and you’ll invest in a strong work culture.
How We Save Black America
May 1, 2024
At the May 1st, 2024, Just Brothers meeting we welcomed guest speaker Mr. Van Jones, social entrepreneur, CNN Host, New York Times best-selling author, founder of the Dream Machine and recipient of the Courage and Civility Award, $100M grant from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. He was a key participant in a panel discussion on “How to Save Black America” with Former Mayor Bill Campbell, Joseph Handy and John Hope Bryant.
Ambassador Young opened the meeting with a powerful introduction, emphasizing the importance of integrity and truth in fostering growth and economic development. During the panel discussion, key points included the strategic necessity of engaging with all political sides and addressing problems like the Israel-Palestine conflict by focusing on solutions. Audience questions touched on the rise of female leadership, bipartisan strategies, and the importance of direct engagement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) efforts, underscoring the need to involve and present the best leaders in these conversations.
Press Conference with Mayor Andre Dickens in
Support of Public Safety
April 19, 2023
Based on what was communicated to us by the mayor’s staff this was one of the largest press conferences of support in modern history – something that has not been done involving black leaders in 15 years.
Brother to Brother: A Candid Conversation on the State of our City, with Mayor Andre Dickens
April 10th, 2023
This meeting began with videos shown by Mayor Dickens of the current training facility for first responders at Atlanta Metropolitan State College to emphasize the need for this new Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. Breaking ground for this new training facility stemmed from the maintenance and cleanliness issues of the current facility as well as lack of dedicated space. The current training facility at Atlanta Metropolitan State College is not at all comparable to training facilities in other major cities around the US.
Mayor Dickens stressed that his greatest frustration is the majority remaining silent on this plan, while he would like more public support on this initiative. The Brothers can be supportive by attending the public safety committee meeting(s) and the City Council meeting to speak in support of this initiative. The plan to build a new training center has already been approved despite public opinion and misinformation. Much of this misinformation has come from outside sources to cause hysteria for Atlanta. Mayor Dickens is urging the Brothers to help steer the correct narrative on this initiative in their communities, networks and households and place more of a public priority on public safety in Atlanta. He would like to coordinate a press conference soon with organizations such as Just Brothers, 100 Black Men, Faith Based organizations, AUC (Atlanta University Consortium) etc., in attendance.
A Casual Conversation with Tony Ressler; How I’ve Helped Buy and Build Businesses Around the World
October 20, 2022
How to Build an Empire: Opportunities and Challenges
August 2nd, 2022
The State of Leadership in America
February 22nd, 2022
The meeting began with a self-guided tour of the New Black Wall Street Market, a carefully curated destination to capture the entrepreneurial spirit of retail, entertainment, events, fine dining, and gourmet grocery shopping.
February 22nd’s Just Brothers Meeting featured the Honorable Mayor Andre Dickens, the Honorable Larry Johnson, the Honorable Calvin Smyre, the Honorable Michael Thurmond, the Honorable Vince Williams, and the Honorable Billy Mitchell. This distinguished panel spoke on the importance and responsibility of black politicians for the community and the imperativeness of citizens getting involved with their local governments. With some people losing hope and trust in the government on a federal level, it is important to note that getting savvy and involved with your local government officials is where your power lies.
Another insightful conversation sparked from a comment about the need to bridge the gap for the youth. It was Mr. Tommy Dortch’s response that made this a powerful conversation. “All of the work that people in this very room and I do is for the benefit and progress of all of our people including you (the youth).” Many young people assume that a gap exists without realizing that the privileges and opportunities they now have come from the work that was done and continues to be done by their elders. This conversation ended with a quote given by one of the brothers. “A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.”
Building Black Wealth and Building a Prosperous Black Atlanta
November 16th, 2021
