It all began in the summer of 1996 – when Breakthrough Atlanta first opened our doors on the campus of @thelovettschool.

As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we’re taking a look at the three decades that shaped the programming we know today. 30 years ago, Breakthrough Atlanta - originally Summerbridge Atlanta - began with a bold idea: bring together talented middle school students from across Atlanta with college students who were exploring careers in education, creating a community where both could learn, lead, and grow. With the support of then-Lovett Head of School Jim Hendrix, founding Executive Director Keno Sadler built the program from the ground up, recruiting students, developing partnerships with Atlanta schools and colleges, and bringing together a community of young educators and volunteers to launch the first summer program. From the beginning, Summerbridge was made possible by people across Atlanta who believed in what the program could become - including Atlanta Public Schools leaders, teachers and staff; Lovett faculty and staff; college students from Morehouse College, Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University; and Lovett student volunteers who contributed their time and energy to helping the new program take root. What began that first summer would grow into something much larger: three decades of preparing Atlanta students for college while inspiring generations of young people to become educators and leaders. As we celebrate 30 years, we’re looking back at the people, partnerships, and community that built the foundation for what Breakthrough Atlanta is today. Read all about how we got our start, plus stories and quotes from the first ten years at the link in our bio!