South of Atlanta, something extraordinary is happening—and it’s unfolding quietly across chessboards in community centers, schools, and living rooms. What many see as just a game is becoming a powerful tool for transformation.

“In South Fulton, I’ve found that chess is more than a game. It’s a bridge,” says Darius Frost, a multi-talented Achieve Atlanta Alumnus and previous Ambassador. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communication and media studies from the University of West Georgia and MBA in Operations Management at Georgia State University. Currently he works as a Chess Coach and Operations Associate at KIPP Atlanta Schools. For many like Darius, the bridge connects young players to strategy and competition, but also real mentors. Adults in the community are stepping up—not only to teach how to play, but how to think, grow, and believe in themselves.

“I had a kid come up to me and say, ‘Mr. Frost, you’re telling us to move two or three moves ahead, I actually use that when it comes to being in class or being around kids or being in an environment in general.’” says Darius.

For numerous people, that encouragement is life changing. It’s about more than winning a match; it’s about knowing someone sees your potential and is willing to guide you toward it.

As one of the voices behind this movement, Darius is living proof of the power of mentorship and perseverance. His journey reflects the very values chess imparts: strategic thinking, patience, resilience, and the drive to keep pushing forward.

“I see myself in so many of these young minds,” he says. “Just like chess changed the way I saw the world, I hope it gives them the tools to shape theirs.”

Confidence isn’t handed to these players. It’s built, one move at a time. Every game teaches something deeper—like resilience after a mistake, the patience to think before acting, and the satisfaction of learning through practice. The board becomes a mirror, reflecting back not just ability, but identity and self-worth.

The game also opens up new ways of thinking, providing an opportunity to learn more than just how to win. Players start seeing multiple possibilities, weighing long-term consequences, and considering perspectives they hadn’t before. These are skills that reach far beyond the 64 squares, shaping how they approach school, relationships, and life’s bigger choices.

And what’s perhaps most beautiful is the way chess is stitching the community together. In parks, after-school programs, and living rooms, people gather to play, watch, teach, and learn. It’s not just about the moves, but about being supported and connected. Each game played is another link in a growing chain of trust, mentorship, and pride.

As Darius puts it, “Every piece on the board is a lesson, and every move is a step toward growth.” 

When Tabius McCoy stepped onto Georgia Tech’s campus as a freshman, he had no idea that the Achieve Atlanta Scholarship would do more than just help pay for college—it would help him discover his voice.

As a proud graduate of Atlanta Public Schools (APS) and an Achieve Atlanta Scholar, Tabius began his college journey focused on business. But it wasn’t long before he found himself drawn to storytelling. As a writer for the Technique, Georgia Tech’s student-run newspaper, he uncovered a passion that would shape the rest of his life.

That opportunity led him all the way to Columbia University, where he earned a master’s degree in journalism. There, he sharpened his skills and embraced the power of visual storytelling. His talent earned him a coveted spot as a Visual Journalism Fellow at The Connecticut Mirror, where he covered statewide stories and created compelling visual features.Tabius admits he didn’t take photography seriously until grad school, but writing for Technique opened a door he didn’t know existed.

One of his most powerful pieces to date tells the story of Eriberto Deleon Jr., a formerly incarcerated man rebuilding his life. Through both words and images, Tabius captured Deleon’s resilience and humanity.

“During my time documenting Deleon’s story…as a journalist, I became deeply inspired and motivated by his internal drive and optimism,” Tabius shared on LinkedIn.Now back in Atlanta, Tabius is channeling that inspiration into building his photography portfolio and pursuing freelance journalism. But even as he leans into his creative future, he hasn’t forgotten the foundation that helped him get here.

Achieve Atlanta offered him more than a scholarship. It provided a sense of community and courage throughout his undergraduate career. “Having that peace of mind helped me to focus more on school,” he says.

That support meant Tabius didn’t have to work during his first two years at Georgia Tech—an opportunity that allowed him to explore, grow, and ultimately pivot toward his passion.“It was cool to know other students on campus who were [from] APS,” he recalls. “It [felt] like a safe haven.”

Today, Tabius encourages other students to explore their options and follow their passions early.

“College is the time to take risks,” he says. “Follow what you love doing.”

From a business student with a camera to a journalist with a mission, Tabius’ story is a testament to the power of opportunity, community, and ambition.

By Hope Baptiste, Aggie Newsroom

When she arrived at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University four years ago, Re’Onna Vines sought to grow her clothing brand and study abroad.

Now, having graduated May 10 with a B.S. in public relations from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Vines is extending her transformational Aggie experience to others on an international scale.

Though she was born and raised in Atlanta’s Techwood Homes community, historically known as the first public housing project in the country, Vines’ family roots run deep in North Carolina, particularly in Princeville — one of the first towns established by freed Black people after slavery — and Tarboro.

One of four children in her family, Vines distinguished herself in high school and had multiple offers of admission from exceptional institutions, including many notable historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). But she said her connection to the state, combined with the allure of attending the nation’s largest HBCU, ultimately drew her to N.C. A&T.

“I didn’t really know much about A&T until move-in day freshman year,” said Vines. “We hadn’t been able to tour schools because of COVID, so I hadn’t really seen the campus. But I quickly became immersed in the culture of pride, resilience and community that defines this university.”

At A&T, Vines was inspired to elevate her clothing brand from Flier Attire to Flier Inspired, providing resources for students to explore global education, and embraced opportunities to broaden her horizons exponentially.

“During my time here, these dreams evolved and came to life in ways I never imagined. I’ve maintained Chancellor’s List [academic] honors, founded Humans First, an organization focused on bridging the gap between students and our University Police Department, and studied abroad twice. My first experience was a summer program in San Jose, Costa Rica, in 2023 and my second was in Barcelona, Spain, in Fall 2024.

“My experiences abroad exposed me to the stark disparities in access to these opportunities — I was the only HBCU student in both programs. That realization sparked the evolution of my business into Flier Inspired, a platform designed to help students, especially those from underserved backgrounds, win scholarships and study abroad. What started as selling attire, defense keychains and syllabus organizers on campus grew into offering coaching services in time management, public speaking and scholarship preparation. Today, Flier Inspired is committed to equipping students with the resources, knowledge and confidence to reach new heights — academically, professionally and personally.”

Vines said her global experiences wouldn’t have been possible without generous support from the Gilman International Scholarship and the Weaver Endowment Scholarship. Thanks to this funding, she was able to immerse herself in the Spanish language and expand her perspective.

“That [support] changed everything for me,” she said. “While in Spain, I traveled to seven countries, gained an irreplaceable educational experience, and built relationships with friends around the world.”

Vines earned several other scholarships over the course of her academic career. These provide not just financial assistance, she said, but truly life-changing support for students’ persistence and success to graduation.

“I’ve been fortunate to attend, and now graduate from, A&T debt-free, thanks to a mix of A&T endowment scholarships and private funding,” she said. “I’m proud to be a UNCF Target Scholar, Ernst & Young College MAP (Mentoring for Access and Persistence) Scholar, Achieve Atlanta Scholar, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholar and a City of Atlanta Mayor’s Youth Scholar. These scholarships lifted the financial burdens that often weigh students down and enabled me to fully explore my passions. I am extremely grateful for this support and it fuels my aspirations to help others have these opportunities as well.”

Vines spoke at A&T’s endowed scholarship luncheon May 2 where more than 400 guests gathered to celebrate the donors and beneficiaries of scholarship endowments. She emphasized the importance of scholarships in all forms, which can determine whether a student is able to go to college.

“Looking back, I know none of this would have been possible without N.C. A&T,” she said “This institution gave me the foundation, network and environment to chase my dreams. Because my financial needs were met, I had the space to focus on my passions, and that’s the same gift I hope to give to others through Flier Inspired.”

Vines has begun her third fully funded global experience — an internship with CIEE in Barcelona to assist their high school study abroad students and contribute to their social media and blog efforts.

“Following that, I’ll begin a full-time role as a business analyst with Accenture in Atlanta,” she said. “And, of course, I plan to continue pouring into Flier Inspired, supporting students like me every step of the way.”

After nearly a decade, Achieve Atlanta is unveiling a refreshed brand that embodies our growth, reflects our values, and boldly envisions a future where race and income no longer dictate postsecondary success. Crafted in collaboration with our stakeholders and the team at Sensemakery, this transformation is not just about aesthetics—it’s a reflection of our unwavering commitment to Atlanta’s students and our strategic plan.

We’re especially proud of our new video below, which features members of the Achieve Atlanta community–all committed to achieving our mission.

What’s New?

• A Fresh Look, A Clear Purpose: Our updated logo, colors, website, and visual identity are more than design elements. They represent the work we’re doing to support our Scholars and align with our organization’s future direction.
  

• Our Messaging about Our Impact: This refresh is not limited to updated visuals. It also simplifies how we talk about our organization, our progress, and the services we provide beyond our scholarship.
  

• Emphasis on the Scholar Journey: We’re focused on setting every Scholar on a Pathway to Upward Mobility, and we now have a visual that displays what our students should experience on their path to success. 

With more than 6,700 Achieve Atlanta Scholars supported and more than 1,800 alumni, we are proud of our results thus far. Our new slogan, “Providing Possibilities. Supporting Success. Fostering Futures.”—will serve as a beacon for the Achieve Atlanta community’s focus and aspirations.

As we embrace our refreshed brand and bold vision, we’re thrilled to step into the next chapter of Achieve Atlanta—a chapter filled with possibility, progress, and impact. Together, we will continue breaking barriers and building opportunities that can improve the lives of Atlanta’s students.

We hope you will join us on our journey.

Achieve Atlanta is thrilled to welcome three incredible new team members to our growing team! All of them start their new roles today. Their diverse expertise and passion will strengthen our efforts to support Atlanta students on their journey to postsecondary success:

• Dr. Kimberly Walker-Browner is our new Vice President, Strategic Operations.
• Dr. Yarbrah Peeples joins Achieve Atlanta as Director, College Success.
• Brian Graham is our new Manager, Data Analysis.

Dr. Kimberly Walker-Browner: Vice President, Strategic Operations
Kimberly is a proud Atlanta Public Schools graduate of Midtown High School (formerly Grady High School) and a seasoned nonprofit leader with deep cross-functional experience. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UGA, a master’s degree in Urban Policy, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in Education Policy Studies. 

As Achieve Atlanta’s Vice President, Strategic Operations, Kimberly will guide the organization’s internal systems, financial processes, human capital, cross-functional project management, and data-informed insights that drive Achieve Atlanta’s success. Additionally, Kimberly’s role is focused on scaling our strong foundational approaches across functional areas to ensure that the processes for strategic planning, budgeting, goal setting, continuous improvement, and human capital are best-in-class and implemented with fidelity.

Dr. Yarbrah Peeples: Director, College Success
Yarbrah brings more than 17 years of experience in higher education and nonprofit leadership, having dedicated her career to expanding access and success for first-generation, economically diverse, and underrepresented students. She has held key roles helping to scale college access initiatives nationwide, including at our partner College Advising Corps and, most recently, Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and an MBA from Florida A&M University, a master’s degree in Higher Education from Florida State University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Georgia. 

In her role as Director, College Success, Yarbrah will manage the organization’s college persistence and success work, translate and oversee the implementation of our college success strategy into actionable plans and timelines, and drive the effective allocation of resources. She will also engage with postsecondary institutions and nonprofit partners to support Achieve Atlanta Scholars in earning a postsecondary credential.

Brian Graham: Manager, Data Analysis
Brian is a recent graduate of Emory University and most recently worked as a Data Analyst at Thinkable Holdings. As part of Achieve Atlanta’s Data Analytics & Insights team, he will focus on data collection, cleaning, storage, and creating insightful visualizations. His work will help answer critical programmatic questions and track our progress toward organizational goals. 

These new additions align with our strategic plan, reinforcing our commitment to supporting Atlanta’s students through our scholarship and support services. They will each play a vital role in advancing our mission to ensure that Atlanta students have the opportunities, resources, and support to succeed in college and beyond.

A senior Achieve Atlanta Scholar at the University of Georgia (UGA), Talib Spearman is majoring in civil engineering with aspirations to work in the railroad industry. His growth as a student has been enriched by hands-on experience in the field. This past summer, he completed an internship with Norfolk Southern, a major railroad company. His time with Norfolk Southern provided valuable industry experience and reinforced his career goals. 

“One of Achieve Atlanta’s partners was telling me about the railroad industry because he has family members working in it. He was telling me it was a great opportunity, and if you get it, learn all you can,” Talib said. “That really hit home because it made me feel like I’m on the right path.” 

Impressed by his work, Norfolk Southern invited him to intern again during the summer of 2025. Talib feels one of the standout features of Achieve Atlanta’s support is its comprehensive approach, which extends beyond financial aid. He has benefitted from the guidance of Achieve Atlanta’s partners, whose support followed Talib from California to Georgia. This holistic support system has helped him remain focused on his academic and personal well-being, as opposed to financial stressors.

He is committed to building a career that merges his academic interests with his desire to make a lasting impact on his community. In that way, he feels a connection to Achieve Atlanta beyond the scholarship it provides for students.

“Being a civil engineer, you have to think about people and helping them. It kind of goes hand in hand with Achieve Atlanta’s message,” said Talib.

Talib transitioned into UGA by connecting with the Achieve Atlanta Scholars on his campus. Through monthly meetings and events, he strengthened his bond with fellow Scholars and felt motivated by their shared commitment to success. This allowed him to feel more comfortable advocating for himself and others around him.

“Achieve Atlanta brought me into a community of like-minded individuals,” he shared.

Inspired by his mentors and peers, Talib joined the Student Advisory Board for Beyond 12, Achieve Atlanta’s partner organization dedicated to providing students with the academic, social, and emotional support they need to succeed in higher education. Through this one-year experience, he acted as a voice for his peers while learning other skills, such as leadership and graphic design.

Reflecting on his journey thus far, Talib believes that his college experience would have been very different without Achieve Atlanta’s support and the Scholars he met through accepting the scholarship. Being able to form long-lasting relationships with students from similar backgrounds helped give him the confidence he needed to succeed in more than just academics.

“I don’t think you can beat it,” Talib said. “[Achieve Atlanta] has been beneficial all around – socially, mentally, emotionally, and academically.”