As a sixth grader, Ja’Meen told Mr. Maruca he would one day serve on the board—and now he’s doing just that. “I’m 100% a product of AJC’s mission,” he shared. “I want to be an example of what’s possible.”

He’s been busy since we last connected with him in November, turning a vision into action. After pitching a trades program for East End adults to an executive committee at Woodfin, he successfully launched and led a five-week pilot with their backing. The program attracted dozens of applicants and combined exposure to careers in welding, HVAC, and plumbing with life skills like financial literacy and resume building. Today, several participants have landed jobs in their chosen trades, with opportunities to continue their training to achieve certifications—and Ja’Meen has stepped into a full-time role with Woodfin as a Work Force Development Specialist.

Pictured here, he recently returned to AJC to speak at Career Day—encouraging students to take advantage of every opportunity in front of them.

We’re incredibly proud to count Ja’Meen among our alumni and Board of Trustees and grateful that he continues to support the communities that helped shape him.