December 2020 FLA Forward eMagazine! Introducing our new branding direction!

December 2020 eMAGAZINE

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Hello FLA Family,

As we prepare to close out this year, we are very excited about a series of new branding and communication initiatives within Fulton Leadership Academy. Though things have been very challenging for our community, I am very confident that these lessons are making us stronger and more determined. We will continue to troubleshoot and problem solve all of the details pertaining to educating our scholars at the highest level.

This is life and we will find out who we are by how we handle our challenges and thrive regardless of the circumstances before us. With the help of our amazing parents, community partners, leadership team, educators and staff we will continue to show Atlanta why we are FLA Strong.

Our updated communications is being centralized at our new website FLAForward.org and we are urging you to follow us on all of our social media platforms to stay updated on everything FLA related. Our original website Fultonleadershipacademy.net is still active, however our new platform will be used to usher our academy into an elevated new age of outreach to our community. In addition to our new platform we are curating this monthly E-Magazine to keep you and family updated on everything within FLA.

As a family we will continue to stand strong and united. This is our academy, our sons and our future so success is the only option.

Building Leaders with Integrity,

Nash Alexander, III, Principal

Fulton Leadership Academy

Where Young Men Soar to Greater Heights

Visit our new website now!

FLA SPOTLIGHT

THE KING MAKER

The Superintendent of FLA 'helps young men find their purpose'

through education and leadership enrichment programs.

By Nailah Herbert

Superintendent of Fulton Leadership Academy (FLA), Mrs. Richardean Golden Anderson, Ed.S, says she was "born to love and help young men find their purpose." Golden Anderson has more than three decades of experience working with children and families in the sectors of education and community outreach. Founding member and head of FLA, Golden Anderson has a deeply rooted purpose in helping young black men in her community succeed in their educational studies and personal lives.

Golden Anderson started planting seeds of nourishment as a young woman who, by partnering with her church, provided enriching after-school activities and a breakfast program to feed those who needed meals outside of the school supplied lunches. The breakfast program was a small gesture of love to the young children in the community who needed the care, love, and attention. Golden Anderson's pivotal act of starting the breakfast program has led her to plant seeds of universal change for the forthcoming generation of men.

"It was very important to set aside a place where young boys could truly understand that they had a purpose here on this earth and that they are loved and encouraged [especially] in terms of brotherhood." Golden Anderson describes the groundwork to start FLA, remarking,“Fulton Leadership Academy was created to help male scholars establish leadership and to help them have confidence and tap into the strength within them."

Today, FLA is a historical landmark, being the first all-male state-charter school in Georgia serving young men in grades 6th through 12th. FLA's school's mission is to help their scholars "soar to greater heights" as they instill the values of scholarship, leadership, and brotherhood. Along with Golden Anderson's direction, FLA's principal, Mr. Nash Alexander, III, also leads the young men to become high character scholars and to beat the odds of systemic oppression that plagues many young men of color.

Addressing the systemic, generational, and historical traumas that afflict communities of color is a task that FLA has willingly taken on. "We can break these generational traumas; this does not need to be continued. We can change this as a community if we address it and do something about it," said Golden Anderson, which is what the program, Passport to Manhood, aims to accomplish. The advocacy component of this program allows young men a safe and resourceful space to discuss a wide range of topics supporting their psychological, emotional, and social well-being.

When Golden Anderson began her mission of creating an all-boys academy, she understood the challenges that lay before her. However, she committed to offering young men a unique experience. Within FLA, scholars would increase their caliber of education, receive guidance on their journey to manhood, and become beacons of light in the world.

In 2017, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement recognized FLA as a "Beat The Odds" school due to their test scores being significantly higher than similar schools across the state of Georgia.

Presently, FLA maintains the standard of having a 100% graduation rate for the third consecutive year. The alumni have continued their educational studies at prestigious universities, including Howard University, Morehouse College, and New York University.

FLA is in partnership with the illustrious historical black college, Morehouse College, to empower middle school scholars at FLA to receive a collegiate level experience. "The [Morehouse] partnership opens doors for our young men to be engaged in the activities that are there and to understand the brotherhood," said Golden Anderson. "Right now, we have four young men at Morehouse receiving some form of scholarship."

FLA provides scholars with a rigorous curriculum including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while cultivating students' experiences with aviation and aeronautics.

FLA's board members, staff, parents, and notable leaders like the late former US Congressman John Lewis and former Fulton County Sheriff Jacquelyn Barrett Washington are valuable sources of encouragement and support for its scholars. "It's like building a pyramid, and everyone has a [small] part in building this pyramid," says Golden Anderson, who is humbled and grateful to the many influences who instill a sense of purpose within each of the scholars.

FLA's vital piece in providing students scholars with first-class exposure is giving them cultural and social enrichment programs. A prime example is the partnership with former Fulton County Commission Chairman, Dr. John Eaves’s Global Youth Ambassadors Program, where FLA scholars traveled to Germany, Costa Rica, and Mexico for a cultural learning experience. Another successful program includes the Moot Court Debate Team, who won the state championship for the third consecutive year. FLA’s academic and enrichment programs prepare its scholars for college, career pathways, and leadership opportunities in

all facets of life.

Fulton Leadership Academy

Fine Arts Director provides exposure of art to

young black and brown men.

By Nailah Herbert

Fulton Leadership Academy (FLA) Fine Arts Director Ms. Allison Gay equips scholars with the tools and knowledge to sharpen their artistic gifts. Gay has more than two decades of teaching experience and is currently in her fifth year teaching at FLA. Gay holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, a top-ranking college in film, art, and design. She credits her college for the exposure she received in arts and holding the students to the highest standard of excellence in the educational and professional arena. Gay impresses upon the duty to give the young men at FLA the same exposure and opportunities to thrive in any creative career they choose to pursue.

Gay's most significant contribution is providing "exposure of art to young black and brown men" who had "no idea of career opportunities in the field of arts," said Gay, who teaches classes that include theatre, visual arts, digital media, and photography. "Through the exposure, we allowed kids for the first time to be a part of the August Wilson competition."

In 2017, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recognized Gay as the "Teacher of the Year" for her outstanding commitment to fostering the students' artistic talents and creative abilities at FLA. "I was grateful, but I'd rather the kids had gotten [an] award," said Gay. "I don't need the stage time. I don't need the crown, and if I have the crown, I'll break it into pieces so each of them can have one."

An influential figure to the FLA community, Gay, enables scholars to explore the world around them through art. She pulls from each of her scholars their most distinguishing qualities to help them find their purpose and sense of direction inside and outside the classroom. Gay's selflessness has aided in the transformation of a familial bond.

"The family and the brotherhood and how it is expanding with FLA right now is a phenomenal thing to watch," said Gay. "I've watched so many of the graduates come back and form an alumnus to be a big brother to the younger men who are [entering] the school."

Gay's ardent teaching style has helped the scholars to learn that art goes beyond merely photographing, painting, and acting; art is an expression of life. Art education is beneficial in several ways, such as improving communication skills, navigating self-expression, and gaining problem-solving abilities. The Fine Arts program is a contributing factor to why FLA continues to surpass academic expectations yearly.

Although there is a new virtual reality transpiring globally, the FLA theatre scholars encourage one another to become even more incredible at their roles, whether actors, stagehands, or technical crew. The scholars refuse to allow their new virtual reality to hinder their performance. "We are working on our first virtual showcase," said Gay. "We are working on two tributes—a tribute to August Wilson and Denzel Washington."

FLA's first Virtual Theatrical Showcase premiered on Wednesday, November 18, 2020