Mrs. LaJoi Young

lyoung@cisatlanta.org

Our Mission

At Communities In Schools^® (CIS^®), we surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Our History

Founder Bill Milliken began CIS in New York City in 1977. He came up with the idea of bringing community resources inside public schools—where they are accessible, coordinated, and accountable.

“It's not programs that are transforming young people's lives, it's relationships,” Bill once said. “A great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children. Young people thrive when adults care about them on a one-to-one level and when they also have a sense of belonging to a caring community.” 

With over 45 years into our mission of surrounding students with communities of support, Bill’s principles continue to guide our work and serve as a beacon in the movement for educational equity and student success.