BriaJhane Davis

Review of LaAmistad, Inc.

On 2/12/19, I called LaAmistad to inquire about re...

On 2/12/19, I called LaAmistad to inquire about registering my son. He attends Garden Hills Elem. and is in the third grade. He d been bothering me for weeks about getting him enrolled into the program as all of his friends from school attend. When I called and spoke with one of the workers (someone named Sophia); I was told that students would need to be on the Free or Reduced lunch program in order to be eligible. No problems there. My son is on that program. The next stipulation shocked me however: He had to be Latino! Excuse me , I said.

I began asking questions: doesn t the program receive government funds (grants)? If so how can you all do this? It s discrimination! She quickly informed me that I d need to speak with the Director. I gave her my contact information and about 30-minutes later received a return phone call from that Director, Catrina MacAfee. In short, she repeated what Sophia said; that my son needed to be Latino. Well don t you recieve food through the Free Lunch Program , I asked. She never responded to that question, but did tell me that they weren t a school but rather, a community program. So their exempt?!

None of that matters! They are publicly funded and even if they weren t, children who want to enroll shouldn t be discriminated against! I am appalled. My son s feelings were so hurt when I told him.

Their kids for Christ s Sake! And not only are they government funded, but they re operating out of a church! Yeah, I know. The church is the most segregated place in the country...

This is Atlanta. Maybe it s becauese we re new (we just moved here from Houston) and that I m just not used to how they do things (I mean both are Southern cities though...) But I won t get used to it. This program needs to change its policies. Why wouldn t they want to diversify? Why wouldn t they want to help children of all races? That s BS!

I plan to take this matter all the way to the top. Perhaps nothing will changs, but I m wiling to risk that and call this organization (they re a non-profit by the way) Out!

This is discrimination, plain and simple and Atlanta Public Schools need to either remove themselves as a participant or demand that they change their old Dixie policies! If White or Black folks fanagled in this mess, it d be all over Fox and CNN!