FORT MEADE, Md. –
In a resounding display of community solidarity, over 1,000 students, parents, administrators, teachers, and representatives from 60 community organizations and businesses converged at Meade Middle School on Saturday, May 18, 2024, to show their unwavering support for the Meade Cluster schools.
The Meade Cluster Spring Event, organized by the dedicated members of Friends of Meade, a community group committed to enhancing pride and awareness of the opportunities available to all students in the Meade Cluster, drew widespread participation and acclaim. Vivianette Colon, lead coordinator of the event, hailed the collaboration between Friends of Meade and the Meade Cluster, emphasizing its profound impact on the community and its invaluable benefits for the students.
"The collaboration between Friends of Meade and the Meade Cluster impacts the community with great benefit to the students and ensures that we are thriving," said Colon.
The event, hosted at Meade Middle School, showcased the talents of students from all 13 schools within the Meade Cluster through captivating performances.
Distinguished speakers lent their voices in support of the event, including COL Michael Sapp, Fort Meade Garrison Commander; Daryl Kennedy, AACPS Regional Superintendent, Meade Cluster; Melissa Ellis, Anne Arundel County Board of Education Member, District 4; and Vincent Moulden, Director of Community Engagement and Constituent Services for County Executive Steuart Pittman.
"It is nice to have one community event, bringing community members together, that may have never met in one location," remarked Keyontay Lashley, a parent of a student at Meade Middle School.
During the event, COL Sapp recognized the exemplary efforts of Purple Star Schools within the Meade Cluster, including West Meade Early Education Center, MacArthur Middle School, and Meade High School, for their outstanding support of military-connected students and their families.
"By coming together and investing in the children of our community and of our nation, we ensure the next hundred years of growth and success," said COL Sapp. "By being present for these kids and for the schools, we can all be Meade Strong."
Multiple organizations and all Meade Cluster schools provided information on the diverse array of resources available to support students, while attendees enjoyed complimentary refreshments provided by AACPS and indulged in a variety of culinary delights from food trucks and vendors.
"I was blown away with not only the turnout, but the interest in the information and resources that our vendors provided at the Meade Cluster Spring Event," expressed Moulden.
The event also witnessed a touching moment as Vanessa Bass, Meade Cluster Leadership Coach, unveiled a plaque renaming the media center at MacArthur Middle School in honor of John M. Holt, the first black principal, symbolizing a commitment to inclusivity and recognizing the contributions of underrepresented leaders in education.
The Meade Cluster Spring Event stood as a testament to the power of community engagement and collaboration in nurturing the educational success and well-being of students, resonating with the collective spirit of Meade Strong.