Five middle school students showcased their passion for civics and leadership during the recent Georgia Civics Bee held at the Carter Center. This statewide competition required participants to tackle pressing community challenges with innovative solutions.
Among the 24 competitors, Kaden Jawwaad, a 13-year-old from Bennett’s Mill Middle School in Fayetteville, emerged as the champion, securing his spot to represent Georgia at the upcoming National Civic Bee in Washington D.C. on November 10 and 11. His winning proposal focused on expanding public transit to reduce carbon emissions and alleviate traffic congestion in his community. Jawwaad expressed that increased public transportation is essential for both environmental and safety reasons, arguing that neglecting environmental issues poses a more significant threat.
“When we all ride in our individual cars, it produces a lot of CO2, which raises carbon emissions and [worsens] global warming,” he stated, advocating for rallying community support through social media, petitions, and collaboration with institutions like the American Public Transportation Association.
The Georgia Civics Bee, organized by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, encouraged students to identify civic challenges through essays and present their proposals to a panel of judges, including bipartisan state representatives. Following Jawwaad in the competition were Jackson Coleman, Vivienne Kim, Laqueet Shaik, and Keely Slaymaker, each bringing unique perspectives on key societal issues.
Second place went to Jackson Coleman, 14, a soon-to-be ninth grader at Newnan High School. Inspired by his love for the environment, especially while fishing on the Chattahoochee River, Coleman proposed a culture shift toward personal responsibility to combat littering and protect local ecosystems. He emphasized the need for locals to take accountability for their actions regarding waste and presented the idea of using advanced video surveillance and AI technology to monitor littering behaviors effectively.
Coleman shared, “Many drop trash and believe that someone else will get it for them. You need to open their eyes to the fact that they are the only ones responsible for their actions.”
Vivienne Kim, also 14 and a rising ninth grader at Lakeside High School, placed third with her proposal focused on celebrating diverse cultural identities through civic organizations. Aspiring to be a lawyer, Kim emphasized the importance of embracing equal rights under the law and fostering connections within communities, referencing the National Beta Club as a model for engagement. She stated, “All individuals have the same claims as human beings to natural rights and [equal] treatment under the law. Thinking more, rather than stereotyping people, can bridge the gap in our communities.”
Finalists Laqueet Shaik and Keely Slaymaker both addressed critical issues facing society today. Shaik, 14, a rising ninth grader at River Ridge High School, focused on gun violence, advocating for enhanced mental health resources and community engagement to reduce social stressors associated with violence. Shaik noted the connection between social challenges and gun-related incidents, citing the 2022 Safer Communities Act as a reference for potential solutions.
Shaik articulated his view by saying, “It can mentally make it so students won’t have any causes or need to actually use guns in the wrong way.”
Meanwhile, Keely Slaymaker, also 14 and from Lakeside High School, emphasized the need to protect equal rights across gender, race, and orientations. She highlighted homelessness as a key societal concern, advocating for support systems such as food banks while also calling attention to urban designs that criminalize homeless individuals, such as hostile architecture. “Laws criminalizing homelessness are unjust. Many police target homeless people, even if they’re not doing any bad things, for things such as loitering,” Slaymaker remarked, reinforcing her belief in justice and compassion for marginalized communities.
The Georgia Civics Bee not only stresses the importance of civic engagement among youth but also serves as a platform to amplify their voices in addressing crucial social issues. With students like Jawwaad, Coleman, Kim, Shaik, and Slaymaker showing keen awareness and leadership potential, the future looks promising as they advocate for transformative change in their communities and beyond.
As the competition concluded, it was clear that these middle schoolers are not only informed about their civic responsibilities but are also committed to fostering meaningful dialogue and action in a world that requires compassionate and informed citizens. Their innovative ideas and proposals have laid the groundwork for discussions on essential topics such as public transit, environmental protection, gun violence, and equal rights, ensuring that they are well-prepared to take on future challenges and responsibilities in civic engagement.
image source from：atlantaciviccircle
