HAPPY 188TH BIRTHDAY ATLANTA 2025

New initiative, designed by W. Calvin Anderson, MS. ED., introduces "The Atlanta Learning City," a P-20 educational model to galvanize the community annually.

ATLANTA, GA – June 9, 2025 – Atlanta Shoutout's, today announced the idea to propose to the city of Atlanta a mega initiative called "Happy 188th Birthday Atlanta" (Atlanta 188), a transformative, year-long celebration designed to unite all citizens around a shared vision for the city's future. If spearheaded by the city, this initiative reframes the city's anniversary from a single day of observance into a dynamic platform for civic engagement, education, and community empowerment.

The celebration is anchored by the launch of a new educational framework, "The Atlanta Learning City: A P-20 Model for Productive Civic Engagement." This innovative model serves as the cornerstone of the Community Empowerment Program, an adaptation of W. Calvin Anderson, MS. ED.'s historical Student Empowerment Program (c. 1992). The model's philosophy is to turn the city itself into a classroom, providing opportunities for every Atlantan—from pre-schoolers to university scholars—to engage directly with the people, history, and systems that shape their home.

"Atlanta's strength has always been its people and our capacity for progress," said Mr. Anderson. "The 'Atlanta 188' celebration is more than a birthday party; it's a call to action. It's an opportunity for us to connect with our rich history, celebrate our vibrant present, and co-create our future. This initiative will galvanize our city, fostering the intergenerational collaboration and forward-thinking vision needed to move Atlanta forward, together."

At the heart of the initiative is the Atlanta 188 Interactive Workbook, a digital and print resource that makes complex civic information accessible and engaging. The workbook guides users through Atlanta's leadership landscape, financial reports, cultural history, and neighborhood milestones. It is designed to be used in classrooms, boardrooms, and living rooms across the city.

The "Atlanta Learning City" model is an American interpretation of the renowned European "Productive Learning" philosophy, which emphasizes learning through real-world projects.

"We are transforming civic education from a passive subject into an active, life-long practice," said W. Calvin Anderson, the instructional designer behind the model. "By celebrating our 'place-based selves,' we empower learners to understand that their own story is intrinsically linked to the story of Atlanta. When a student can analyze the city budget, when a family can explore the history of their neighborhood hero, and when a business leader can partner with a local school on a conservation project, we are building the habits of mind for a generation of empowered, effective citizen leaders."

The celebration will unfold from June to December 2025 with a "Calendar of Participation," encouraging all Atlantans to get involved through a variety of fun and exciting activities, including:

• City-wide Art Contests and All Culture Weeks to celebrate Atlanta's diversity.
• Celebrity Motivate Celebrations featuring notable artists, athletes, and hip-hop scholars to promote the initiative's educational models.
• Curated Museum and Landmark Visits that connect our city's past to its future.
• An interactive "Vision Board" where all citizens can submit their ideas for the city's next chapter.

The success of the initiative will be measured by the "Atlanta Consecutive Community Galvanizing Metric," a new benchmark for tracking civic health through informed engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and intergenerational vision.

All residents are invited to participate by visiting the official hub for the celebration at www.Happy188thBirthdayAtlanta.com and www.Atlanta188.com.

About the Community Empowerment Program:The Community Empowerment Program, founded by W. Calvin Anderson, MS. ED., is an evolution of his nationally recognized Student Empowerment Program (c. 1992). Its mission is to apply proven educational models to a city-wide scale, fostering a culture of informed, active, and collaborative citizenship for all ages.

Contact:W. Calvin Anderson, MS. ED. (770) 912-8569 Wcalvinanderson@gmail.com

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