At least 800 people attended the Parent Power Back to School Bash in Athens on Saturday, August 2nd, including WVEE's Porsche Foxx, who signed autographs and posed for photos with the excited students and their parents for nearly two hours.  More than 150 parents took Rev. Jesse L. Jackson's pledge to increase parental engagement by getting to know their children's teachers, limiting television time, encouraging homework completion and character education. 

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mike Thurmond provided 600 bookbags.  Other supporters include the Athens-Clarke County Sheriff's department's DARE program, the local office of Child Support Services, Family Connection, Cities in Schools, Friends for Life Mentoring Program and the Athens Housing Authority, WBKZ and WXAG radio stations, Athens elected officials Keith Heard and Harry Sims challenged the crowd to make a special effort to stay involved with their children's education, while Mike Thurmond rallied fathers who were present to continue to be good examples.

The event was organized by the 6th Co-Convener of One Athens, a group whose aim is to fight poverty, which hovers at 31% in the Classic City, home to the University of Georgia.  The 6th Co-convener is chaired by attorney Janice L. Mathis and includes Hope Iglehart, who chairs the Hancock Corridor econmic development corporation, New Freedom pastor Larry Fort, Athens Community Agenda founder Robert Finch and Institute of Government veteran and former Athens-Clarke Comissioner John Jeffreys.

The Back to School Parent Power Bash was held at the Family Life Center of Hill Chapel Baptist Church, whic donated its modern family life center to the effort free of charge. Brotha performed, as did the Amazing Grace and God's Little Angels dancers from New Grove Baptist Church where Dr. James Washington is the pastor.  The event was underwritten by the Citizenship Education Fund, a charitable research and education organization founded by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson.