Atlanta’s commitment to youth opportunity and public safety took another step forward with the opening of the City’s fourth At-Promise Youth Center in historic Southwest Atlanta. The new center expands access to services designed to help young people thrive while strengthening neighborhood safety through prevention, opportunity, and community partnership.
Led by Mayor Andre Dickens, the grand opening marked a milestone in the City’s growing At-Promise initiative, a public-private partnership focused on supporting young people before challenges turn into crises. The center is operated in collaboration with the Atlanta Police Foundation, the Atlanta Police Department, and private-sector partners, including QuikTrip.
A Neighborhood-Based Approach to Public Safety
Located along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW, the new At-Promise Youth Center serves young people ages 12 to 24 and is designed to meet them where they are. Instead of sending families across the city for services, the center brings tutoring, therapy, job training, GED support, arts programming, and recreational activities together under one roof.
The At-Promise model is rooted in the idea that Atlanta’s youth are “at promise,” not “at risk.” By offering consistent support, mentorship, and opportunity close to home, the City and its partners aim to reduce youth involvement in the justice system while building stronger, safer communities.
“Every year in Atlanta is the Year of the Youth, and we are backing that up with real investments,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “When a young person can walk into a place like this and find a mentor, a counselor, and a pathway to a job, that’s how you change outcomes citywide.”
Built Through Partnership and Trust
The Southwest Atlanta center reflects a broad coalition of partners committed to youth development and crime prevention. City leaders, law enforcement, community organizations, long-time residents, and private donors worked together to bring the facility to life.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum joined community leaders and youth ambassadors to highlight how At-Promise fits into the City’s comprehensive public safety strategy, which combines enforcement with prevention, diversion, and opportunity. Programs like Midnight Basketball, youth cadet initiatives, and summer employment all connect back to the same goal: keeping young people engaged, supported, and on a positive path.
These investments are showing results. Youth crime continues to trend downward, and Atlanta Public Schools recently reached the highest graduation rate in the city’s history.
Designed for Young People, Powered by Community
During the opening, attendees toured the new facility and heard directly from At-Promise participants and program leaders about how access to safe spaces and supportive adults can change lives. The center is expected to serve hundreds of young people each year and will operate as a hub for learning, healing, and growth in Southwest Atlanta.
For Mayor Dickens, the moment was both professional and personal.
“As a father and as someone who grew up in Atlanta, I know how powerful it is when a city invests in its young people,” he said. “This building exists to help them thrive, and to remind them they are central to our plans for Atlanta’s future.”
What’s Next
With four At-Promise Youth Centers now open across the city, Atlanta plans to continue expanding youth-focused programming and partnerships that support safe neighborhoods and long-term opportunity.
