As a long-standing member of the ATL Advisory Education Committee volunteer organization (AAEC), Jameel attends monthly meetings where he is provided with options for community outreach, which he then shares with ATL team members. “Getting involved in community affairs was one of the points that I took home from the Areas Leadership Summit,” says Jameel. The committee establishes connections with many local organizations and provides opportunities for its members to get involved. Jameel selects events from the choices provided and then offers his managers a chance to participate with him; making provisions in their schedules to do so. “The AAEC organization really gives us visibility for volunteer opportunities,” he says.
On March 30th Jameel and ATL Admin Manager Felisha Powell, showed the ATL community how Areas Cares, by volunteering their time and promoting public education with Page Turners Make Great Learners. The local non-profit partners with schools in and around Atlanta with a motto to “encourage and motivate students to read through a variety of supplemental experiences.” Jameel and Felisha read books to students in multiple kindergarten classrooms at Deerwood Academy Elementary School. “I’m a reader, I like to read and I saw this as a great opportunity to give back,” says Jameel on his choice to participate in this specific program. “The kids get really excited to have guests come in and read to them. It reminds me of when my son was little.” To learn more about opportunities to volunteer with Page Turners, visit their website: pageturnersgreatlearners.org. Prior to the Page Turners event, Team ATL supported educational outreach for a high school student essay contest for Woman’s History Month, sponsoring gift cards for the winners.
Future Team ATL participation is planned later this month for the “Flint River Cleanup,” a sustainability project at a river located on the south side of Atlanta. “Sustainability is something that I like to get involved in,” says Jameel on selecting this event for April. The timing of this event aligns perfectly with Earth Day, which falls on April 22 this year. “As a stakeholder in the airport, we need to do more than just business here. We need to be part of the community,” says Jameel. Areas USA’s CEO, Carlos Bernal had this to say when he learned about the active community engagement by the ATL team“Team ATL’s selflessness and giving is a great example of our Areas Spirit. Leaders do, all others wait to be told. Thank you Jameel for showing us the way.”