New @Promise Center for Atlanta Youth Opens Friday

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Police Foundation will launch its fourth @Promise Center Friday afternoon near Martin Luther King Drive.

The @Promise initiative, run by the Atlanta Police Foundation, aims to steer “vulnerable youth away from mischief and minor criminal behavior, and toward more promising paths,” according to their press release.

The program, founded in 2017, has three other locations in Atlanta. The Atlanta Police Foundation website adds that it has already worked with more than 2,000 people.

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The organization achieves its goal of preventing teen crime through recreational activities for youth ages 12 to 24, as well as therapy, educational assistance, GED classes, art classes and music and much more. The Atlanta Police Foundation adds that the program also offers criminal record expungement services to those who need them.

The groundbreaking ceremony will feature speakers from the Atlanta community, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickins, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, City Councilwoman Andrea Boone and President and CEO of the Atlanta Police Foundation, Dave Wilkerson. Staff and young people from other @Promise sites will also be present.

The Atlanta Police Foundation statement added that an unnamed company donated $3 million toward the construction of the new center. This company will be named and thanked during today’s ceremony.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Friday June 14 at 3 p.m. at the new center. The center address will be 2175 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310.