PAACT: Promise All Atlanta Children Thrive is a citywide alliance of public and private partners collaborating to improve learning, health, and well-being outcomes for Atlanta’s youngest children and their families. PAACT is led by GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students.
The opportunity divide in Atlanta starts as early as birth. Families with young children face housing, health care, and child care costs that are increasingly out of reach. Many of Atlanta’s youngest children are impacted by systems of inequity, stunting their ability to reach their full potential. No child should be deprived of their opportunity to thrive.
Our Origin Story
PAACT was born from a leadership council convened by GEEARS in 2018. The Atlanta Early Education Leadership Council (AEELC) consisted of leaders from both public and private sectors including local government, state agencies, business, faith, health, philanthropic, and early education communities. By bringing this group together we developed a shared vision, bold yet actionable strategies, and the funding and citywide commitment needed to sustain this work to ensure that all children in Atlanta have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Mission
To improve outcomes for Atlanta’s children ages birth through five, we develop partnerships to secure commitments from Atlanta’s leaders in government, education, community, and business sectors.
Vision
Atlanta’s families have what they need to ensure children are healthy, learning, developing, and entering school ready to thrive, succeed, and reach their full potential.
Our Role
We convene and work alongside Atlanta’s leaders in government, education, community organizations and the business sector to support and fund programs aimed at providing high quality educational opportunities and resources for every family with a child under 5 years old in the City of Atlanta.
In an era of inequity and at a time where we invest the least during the age at which a child develops the most, our goal is to ensure that a child’s zip code does not determine his or her outcome.
Our Goals
Our Partners
Get Involved
Meet the Director: Schedule a chat to learn more about the initiative, share ideas, and provide feedback. We want to meet you, even if it’s virtual! Send an e-mail the Director of PAACT, Shawnell Johnson, at sjohnson@geears.org
Subscribe to the PAACT Newsletter:
Advisory Board Members
Stephanie Blank, GEEARS, Board Chair
Mindy Binderman, GEEARS, Executive Director
Adam Harrell, NEBO Agency
Robyn Wallace, Local Green Atlanta
Eshe’ Collins, Southern Education Foundation/ Atlanta City Council
Commissioner Amy Jacobs, Department of Early Care and Learning
Donna Davidson, Easter Seals North Georgia
Dr. Ryan James, Atlanta Speech School
Rashida Winfrey, Atlanta Underserved Entrepreneurs, JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Janean Lewis, Mayor’s Office
Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim, Social Sector Executive
Doug Shipman, Atlanta City Council
Lauren Koontz, YMCA of Metro Atlanta
Blythe Robinson, Sheltering Arms
Ellyn Cochran, Quality Care for Children
Cori Cain, United Way of Greater Atlanta
Michele Hill, KIDazzle Child Care and Learning Center, Inc.
Chris Demko, Southern Company Services
PAACT STAFF
Shawnell Johnson, PAACT Director
Gbemi Famule, Program Manager
Dawan Barfield, Community Outreach Manager
Makhia Williams, Communications Associate