From left to right: Caleb Johnson (SND member, Georgia State student), Corey Sapp (Mary Mcloed Bethune Middle School Assistant Principal), Jimmie Conle Henderson (Georgia State alum, BftB Atlanta Hub coordinator, SND Atlanta co-founder)
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima earlier this month, Back from the Brink’s Atlanta Hub, Students for Nuclear Disarmament, and PEAC Institute hosted the “Paper Cranes & Pencils Back-to-School Drive.” In just 6 days, they raised $400 — enough to provide 20 fully stocked bookbags for students at Stephenson Middle School, Bethune Middle School, and the KIPP SOUL Boys & Girls Club.
The intention was to provide local students, particularly those from underserved communities, with the tools they need to start the school year with confidence and dignity. The event bridged remembrance with action, reminding us that investing in the future of our children is one of the most peaceful and powerful things we can do.
Here are some reflections from Jimmie Conle Henderson, who organized the event:
“What moved me most was how the gathering tied the global call for disarmament to the very real needs of families here in Atlanta. When we placed school supplies into the hands of young people, it was more than charity. It was a statement that education and truth are essential tools in the struggle for peace. Too often, students learn a version of history that glosses over or distorts the reality of nuclear violence. This event created space for honesty and for building a culture of peace while also meeting an immediate need.
Looking ahead, I hope this work continues to grow across Georgia. Disarmament will only succeed if it is rooted in justice, and that means addressing the daily inequities faced by our communities. By connecting with local institutions, schools, and faith leaders, we can nurture a generation that understands these issues as part of their own story rather than something far away.
What inspires me most is the gratitude we received from the administrations we donated to, as well as their staff like police officers and front desk representatives. I knew it would be a nice gesture but thought for sure these schools would have funding for the students that didn’t have school supplies – a big motivation behind the event.
Quite frankly, it was times growing up I didn’t have the proper materials, I know it to be a real truth. It reminds me that disarmament is not only about international agreements, but also about how we build community, care for one another, and imagine a different future together.”
