A community parade down Benjamin E. Mays Saturday gave Atlanta Public Schools youth across the southwest Atlanta area a chance to show their school pride.

The parade—sponsored by Councilman C.T. Martin, Mays High School and Embracing Mays Community and Cluster Schools (EMC2)—began at 10 a.m. at Hoosier Memorial United Methodist Church, 2545 Benjamin E. Mays Drive, and ended at Mays High School, 3450 Benjamin E. Mays Drive. Participants then enjoyed a cluster pep rally on the Mays track followed by a Mays High homecoming tailgate party. The event also included the annual fall festival at Young Middle School.

Despite the cold weather, Saturday's parade drew onlookers up and down Mays. Councilman C. T. Martin, dressed in winter gloves and hat, directed traffic at the start of the parade and complimented the young participants. "(This parade" allows our schools, community organizations, and individuals to show their pride in their communities and schools," Martin said in a news release about the event.

Embracing Mays Community and Cluster Schools (EMC2) was formed by parents in the Mays Cluster concerned about the negative perception of local public schools in southwest Atlanta. Emc2 joined with Councilman C.T. Martin and Mays to coordinate this kick-off event to foster a more positive energy in our community about public education.

In addition to Mays, EMC2 schools include Young Middle, Harper-Archer Middle, and the ten elementary schools that feed into those schools (see PDF for full list).

For more information about EMC2 e-mail info@emc2now.com.