Bankhead Boys Association was established in 1990 as an organization for
young men in underserved areas of Atlanta
young men in underserved areas of Atlanta
OUR HUMBLE beginnings
Bankhead Courts is one of the first public housing projects in Atlanta. By 1990, Bankhead Courts had deteriorated to the point there was significant crime and gang activity. It was not a healthy environment for boys to grow up in.
In 1990, Dennis Love, former President of Printpack, saw the need to help these boys break the cycle of crime, gang activity, and dependence on welfare. He committed financial support to the founder of the organization Bob Kent if Bob would set up a program for these boys. Bob quit his job and took on this assignment full time. Since that beginning, the program was continuously improved and expanded to address the special needs of boys living in Bankhead Courts and other areas of concentrated poverty in the west side of Atlanta.
In 1990, Dennis Love, former President of Printpack, saw the need to help these boys break the cycle of crime, gang activity, and dependence on welfare. He committed financial support to the founder of the organization Bob Kent if Bob would set up a program for these boys. Bob quit his job and took on this assignment full time. Since that beginning, the program was continuously improved and expanded to address the special needs of boys living in Bankhead Courts and other areas of concentrated poverty in the west side of Atlanta.
our STAFF
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Marcus Johnson
Executive Director Marcus Johnson comes to Bankhead Boys Association with over 10 years of nonprofit leadership experience. He has spent this time working at community and youth development organizations in Boston and Atlanta, which have given thousands of youth opportunities to grow as leaders and productive citizens of society.
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A native of the Southside of Chicago, Marcus fell in love with nonprofits when he was only a teenager. At that time, he began volunteering at his local community center. This opportunity immersed him in the importance and value of giving back to his community, and set him on the path that he is on today. In college, Marcus was a part of the Bonner Scholarship Program, which a national scholarship program in which students emerge from their college experience with a greater understanding of communities and the problems that exist within them, as well as the skills and commitment to be effective in community problem-solving efforts.
Marcus Johnson served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Boston, focusing on community and corporate engagement, along with training and fundraising. After his service year, Marcus continued working in service as a manager of an AmeriCorps program. In this role Marcus expanded his talents and reach in the community by recruiting and training new members, building relationships with key stakeholders, and managing the AmeriCorps grant. Marcus has also worked in direct service experience with youth as a Program Director.
Marcus holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communications from the University of Illinois-Springfield, along with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, in affiliation of the Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. He is an AmeriCorps alumni, and is a former Board Member of the AmeriCorps Alumni of Boston organization.
In his free time Marcus loves rooting for his Chicago sports teams, reading, traveling, and cooking.
Marcus Johnson served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Boston, focusing on community and corporate engagement, along with training and fundraising. After his service year, Marcus continued working in service as a manager of an AmeriCorps program. In this role Marcus expanded his talents and reach in the community by recruiting and training new members, building relationships with key stakeholders, and managing the AmeriCorps grant. Marcus has also worked in direct service experience with youth as a Program Director.
Marcus holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communications from the University of Illinois-Springfield, along with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, in affiliation of the Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. He is an AmeriCorps alumni, and is a former Board Member of the AmeriCorps Alumni of Boston organization.
In his free time Marcus loves rooting for his Chicago sports teams, reading, traveling, and cooking.
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Lafreddie Smith
Program Director LaFreddie Smith is the Bankhead Boys Association’s Program Director. Some of his tasks consist of leading coordinating and leading the workplace mentoring program, and scouting program. LaFreddie has been a part of this organization since the tender age of seven. He has experienced the organization as a youth, volunteer and lastly as an employee. He is proud to say that this program has had a major influence on his success thus far.
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LaFreddie, the second youngest of ten siblings, grew up in Bankhead courts a public housing projects in Atlanta. He was introduced to the program by his five older brothers who insisted that he joined. Fortunately for LaFreddie, with the influence of my brothers he took advantage of all the opportunities that was forwarded to him, and currently is the only one out of my siblings to graduate from high school and start a career. Through the program is where he learned to trust individuals that he never knew. This program gave also gave him hope, where without it he’d probably be living a life of crime.
In addition to working for Bankhead Boys Association, he is also an employee of Atlanta Public Schools. He served as substitute teacher for two years, a Special Education Paraprofessional for two years and is currently the Dean of Discipline (Student Support) at Boyd Elementary School.
During his free time he enjoys hanging out with his wonderful family, playing card games, watching movies and cooking.
In addition to working for Bankhead Boys Association, he is also an employee of Atlanta Public Schools. He served as substitute teacher for two years, a Special Education Paraprofessional for two years and is currently the Dean of Discipline (Student Support) at Boyd Elementary School.
During his free time he enjoys hanging out with his wonderful family, playing card games, watching movies and cooking.
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Terrence Zachary
Program Director Terrence Zachary is the Bankhead Boys Association's Program Director. Some of his tasks consist of community engagement, outreach, leading scout meetings, and life skills programs. He spends a lot of his time in our service area getting to know the youths, parents and assisting in bringing awareness to current issues that affect the community.
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Terrence grew up in the Bankhead Courts Housing Project and this is where he was first introduced to the Bankhead Boys Association as a youth. After graduating from the program he attended college and opened a computer repair company. In 2013 after years of volunteering, he became a Program Director Things have gone full circle for Terrence as he was a youth in the program, became an adult volunteer and is now working for the program.
Terrence is also a employed as an electrician with a longtime supporter of the program Cleveland Electric Company, along with being a member of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) joining the electrical union and becoming a member of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). His personal goal is help youth find a path to becoming a productive citizens no matter what route they choose. A nerd at heart, in his free time Terrence likes to build and program computers and binge watch TV shows.
Terrence is also a employed as an electrician with a longtime supporter of the program Cleveland Electric Company, along with being a member of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) joining the electrical union and becoming a member of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). His personal goal is help youth find a path to becoming a productive citizens no matter what route they choose. A nerd at heart, in his free time Terrence likes to build and program computers and binge watch TV shows.
THE BOARD MEMBERS
Vincent L. Stewart, J.D.
Chairman of Board for Bankhead Boys Assn.
Associate Partner-VP Diversity & Inclusion
BrightWell Talent Solutions
Vic Anapolle
Recording Secretary for Bankhead Boys Assn.
Retired as Operations Mgr.
W.R. Grace, Dewey and Almy Division - Atlanta.
Wirt Jones
Controller for Bankhead Boys Assn.
Senior Director, Engineering
Printpack
Bill Lathem
Treasurer of Bankhead Boys Assn.
President/CEO
Lathem Time Corporation
Johann Artigas
Consultant for Packaging Industry
Artigas Consulting LLC
Lavina Moss
VP, Human Resources
Miller Zell
John Cleveland
President
Cleveland Electric Company
Bill Spackman
VP/Director of Fulfillment
Lathem Time Corporation
David Lane
Graduate of Bankhead Boys Assn.
I.T. Call Center Technician at TCS
Marcus Johnson
Executive Director
Bankhead Boys Assn.
Chairman of Board for Bankhead Boys Assn.
Associate Partner-VP Diversity & Inclusion
BrightWell Talent Solutions
Vic Anapolle
Recording Secretary for Bankhead Boys Assn.
Retired as Operations Mgr.
W.R. Grace, Dewey and Almy Division - Atlanta.
Wirt Jones
Controller for Bankhead Boys Assn.
Senior Director, Engineering
Printpack
Bill Lathem
Treasurer of Bankhead Boys Assn.
President/CEO
Lathem Time Corporation
Johann Artigas
Consultant for Packaging Industry
Artigas Consulting LLC
Lavina Moss
VP, Human Resources
Miller Zell
John Cleveland
President
Cleveland Electric Company
Bill Spackman
VP/Director of Fulfillment
Lathem Time Corporation
David Lane
Graduate of Bankhead Boys Assn.
I.T. Call Center Technician at TCS
Marcus Johnson
Executive Director
Bankhead Boys Assn.