Earlier this month, I went to see an incredible play — Pearl Cleage’s “Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard” — at the Alliance Theatre. Amazing!
It’s a beautifully written story that gives a view into the election of Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first Black mayor and that of any major city in the South. While listening to the characters, I couldn’t help but think about how old Mayor Jackson was when he decided to be the change he wanted to see and run for office.
At 30, he ran for the U.S. Senate against the incumbent, Herman Talmadge. After an unsuccessful attempt, he ran for Vice-Mayor two years later. Then, at the age of 35, he was elected with 60 percent of the vote and became mayor, unseating the incumbent, Sam Massell. He was a young professional when he began these pursuits, serving as a bridge between two generations. Many of us strive every day to demonstrate that same leadership and commitment to service today.
When I think of excellence in community engagement, I immediately think of organizations like Outstanding Atlanta. Formed in 1968 as The Outstanding Young People Of Atlanta organization, Outstanding Atlanta (OA) is the City’s premier honor for community involvement, annually recognizing 10 young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 for distinguishing themselves in their careers and service to Atlanta’s community.
Having grown from its initial involvement with the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, OA soon became an independent organization devoted to recognizing some of the most actively involved and dynamic young people in Atlanta who, in turn, helped to promote the leadership qualities that have made Atlanta such an outstanding place in which to live and work.
Today, OA is a collective of over 500 alumni who are informed servant leaders of action. We are trusted advisors and stakeholders in this city and region. Across multiple sectors, OA alumni have demonstrated the leadership and modeled the service and dedication required to move Atlanta forward.
In 2023, Outstanding Atlanta also became the first community partner of Atlanta Way 2.0. We are committed to its purpose of strengthening the civic fabric of greater Atlanta. I love being an Atlanta native and am proud to call it home today. I know first-hand that the people of this city make it what it is. It’s our ability to connect and work together. That spirit of collaboration and curiosity sparks solutions that exist beyond what was or what is – into what could be. Atlanta Way 2.0 is convening thought leaders and doers across industries, generations, ethnicities, organizations, backgrounds, and parts of the metro area to ensure that Atlanta has a thriving civic culture where all people are connected, engaged, and empowered. By bringing together people with common goals and having the courage to challenge old norms, we can bring about true change that is transformative and sustainable.
Outstanding Atlanta is one of the many young professional organizations in this city that has the passion and ability to convene diverse networks of leaders who are building careers and stronger communities. They too can join the Atlanta Way 2.0 movement. Organizations like LEAD Atlanta, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Atlanta (YNPN Atlanta), the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals, collegiate alumni networks, and more are excellent examples of potential partners and activators. They are educating their members on the most pressing issues, setting strategies, providing forums for meaningful dialogue, advancing a number of causes, completing service projects, obtaining mentorship, and more. They are bridging generations — sharing the learnings from the past and providing historical context — and reminding their members that they are the ones poised and ready to lead today.
Who says we have to wait our turn? Can you imagine what would have happened if a 30-year-old Maynard Jackson waited? What would have happened if another native son had not chosen to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was 26 years old in 1955 when he led the coordinated effort that lasted 385 days and ended when the United States District Court issued a ruling that prohibited racial segregation on Montgomery public buses.
We’re a city too busy to hate, and we’re also filled with the urgency of purpose that cannot wait. We understand the “fierce urgency of now.” Minister, former Morehouse College President, and mentor to both Mayor Jackson and Dr. King, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, once said, “Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive, and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.” I can only imagine him saying these words to his mentees, and their legacies undoubtedly indicate how they were called to act. We know how these giants served and see their lasting impact. The question is what will you do to make Atlanta the best city it can be?
Leaders of action know that contributions don’t have to be grand. You and other young professionals can embody the Atlanta Way 2.0 spirit every day as an activator. Whether connecting organizations with similar missions, hosting a brainstorming session to generate new ideas for a community need, or collecting backpacks and supplies for your neighborhood schools, it’s important that we do our part to strengthen our city’s civic fabric. Who’s missing from the rooms where you have influence or make decisions? How are you using your voice to amplify the needs and concerns of those not heard or overlooked? How will you lead by example?
I’ve come to appreciate the unique position that my peers and I are in. We are sandwiched between two generations. We’re climbing the ladder of success that was built before us while lifting up those just beginning their journeys. We’re doing the work while regularly seeking the guidance of those who came before and simultaneously coaching the next generation. Both are watching, and we owe them our commitment to make positive change and leave the city better than how we found it. Ms. Cleage was right. Something is moving. It’s all of us getting in formation and accepting the call.
Learn more about the Atlanta Way 2.0 mission and decide how you can help advance its mission.
Brown served as the 2023 President of Outstanding Atlanta and currently serves on the organization’s Board of Trustees. She is a technology executive and an active community leader.
Why aren’t there any other than Black young people tapped into this organization ?