Housed in the School of City and Regional Planning in College of Architecture, the Social Justice Committee addresses issues of inequality in metro Atlanta through action and advocacy in planning. They provide planning-specific skills to community-led initiatives in areas that lack resources, power or voice. We seek to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with communities and raise social justice awareness at Georgia Tech. The goal of the SJC is to create opportunities for students to apply their education and experience through planning projects in underserved communities. Membership is open to all GT students. Current projects are focused on food access and transportation safety issues in the Pittsburgh neighborhood. Past projects include a redevelopment plan in a small block in English Avenue, a brownfield clean-up of Peoplestown, crime prevention through urban design in Home Park, and town hall meetings on the impact of a new Falcons Stadium.
CORe
CORe volunteers help students with their academics, and work to create a mentoring relationship. The volunteers work with individual students or small groups and help them with simple tasks such as homework and class lessons. In addition, volunteers engage in fun activities. The program requires volunteers to mentor at least one day a week for an entire semester. Tutoring takes place at City of Refuge approximately 15 minutes from Georgia Tech.
Project ENGAGE
Robert Nerem, Professor Emeritus in the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience
A new science education program developed in partnership with the Coretta Scott King Academy and B.E.S.T. Academy that exposes both students and teachers to biotechnology through real-world hands-on research projects led by top Georgia Tech scientists. Students will be paid to work in the lab through a 12 month research experience and present their completed project at a science fair competition. Teachers will gain exposure to bioengineering research and acquire laboratory skills. This project will expose participants to new concepts and ideas, equip them with new skills and knowledge ,and develop important university and industry connections. ENGAGE stands for Engaging New Generations at Georgia Tech through Engineering.
GT NOMAS (National Organization for Minority Architecture Students)
The goal of the organization is to foster opportunities for minority architecture students. Audrey Plummer, a member and graduate Architecture and City Planning student, volunteers with other members at Centennial Place Elementary to teach students about architecture and design, to make students more aware of architecture as a field, get them to think in 3D, and learn software programs such as AUTOCAD and SketchUp.
Enhancing Internet Access & Digital Literacy: Planning Group
As part of the Atlanta Promise Neighborhoods Initiative, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) was gifted the technology by One Ring Network to provide broadband internet access to every student household affiliated with four Westside public schools. A small working group of relevant Georgia Tech faculty and staff are participating in a collaborative planning process with MSM, the AUC Consortium, and Atlanta Public Schools to develop a sustainable plan to provide internet access and accessible technologies to assist parents with supporting their children’s education.