03/19/2024
Yay, Kim! We love having you on our Cobb Advisory Board. Thank you for all you do!
Today, we’re spotlighting Kim Blass, this week’s Voices United feature! She’s the Chief Impact Officer of Marietta City Schools and a 4th-generation Atlanta native who has lived in the City of Marietta for 25+ years! She took a moment to share her thoughts on child well-being and the future of Marietta.
📍 Neighborhood: Marietta
💭What do you remember most about where you grew up?
“Trees, trees, trees. Atlanta was truly a city in the forest when I was growing up, and I always loved that mix of nature but with all the amenities of a city.”
👶What does child well-being look like and mean to you?
“Good schools, safe places to play, fresh food, preventative health care, a comfortable home, a loving family--and, most importantly, hope for the future. Marietta City, despite its reputation as a wealthy suburb, contains some of metro Atlanta's highest-need neighborhoods, according to the United Way's Child Well-Being Map; almost 70 percent of our students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch. My team at Marietta City Schools draws on partnerships, programs, and philanthropy to bring resources to the children in our district, ensuring that they have the opportunity to unlock their full potential.”
❤️What do you love most about your neighborhood?
“Going back to the tree theme--my neighborhood is adjacent to the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, so thousands of acres of trails and streams and unspoiled land--and history--are literally in my backyard. And I love being able to see Atlanta from the top of the mountain--a reminder that, despite being OTP, we are part of a vibrant metro area.”
🏗️What do you hope to create or foster more of here in Atlanta?
“One of my favorite things about Marietta is that it is so easy to get involved--it's not about who your family is, or how much money you make, or where you went to school; it's about a willingness to show up and do the work. I am honored to volunteer with organizations that include the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, the Cobb Chamber, the Marietta Arts Council, and, of course, the United Way. My passion project is Literacy and Justice for All. Marietta City Schools is in the third year of this transformative, community-wide collaboration funded by the United Way of Greater Atlanta through support from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation. The United Way's investment in our educators is helping us close the literacy gap and ensure that every student reaches their fullest reading potential by third grade. Together, we are giving thousands of children in Marietta a better chance of success in school and in life.”
