Skyhawks and Goodwill Bring Career Resources to West Clayton Elementary
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — The College Park Skyhawks are continuing to expand their impact beyond the basketball court, returning to West Clayton Elementary School for a second consecutive year to help connect families with educational and career resources.
The Skyhawks, the NBA G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, partnered with Goodwill of North Georgia on Thursday evening to support West Clayton’s Curriculum Night. The event was designed to strengthen the school’s role as a resource for both students and families while reinforcing the Skyhawks’ focus on education, health and wellness.
A key component of the evening was Goodwill of North Georgia’s Mobile Career Center, which gave parents and members of the surrounding community access to employment resources without having to leave the school.
The mobile center featured computer workstations, job-readiness and skills resources, connections to local employers and hiring events, and access to Goodwill career coaches.
For families attending Curriculum Night, the resources offered an opportunity to focus not only on their children’s education but also on their own professional development.
“Colli’s Classroom gives us an excellent opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the students, families and staff at West Clayton Elementary throughout the school year,” Janice Koon, senior vice president of G League operations for the Atlanta Hawks, said. “We’re grateful to continue our partnership with Goodwill of North Georgia to bring valuable career resources directly to the families in our community and we look forward to continuing to make a positive impact at West Clayton this school year.”
Building beyond the classroom
Thursday’s event marked another chapter in the Skyhawks’ ongoing support of West Clayton Elementary through Colli’s Classroom, the organization’s school adoption program.
Now entering its fourth year, the initiative is expected to impact approximately 490 students and 80 staff members throughout the 2026-27 school year.
Rather than limiting the partnership to a single annual event, the Skyhawks plan to maintain a consistent presence at the school. The organization will host at least two events each month, with programming expected to include P.E. takeovers, career expos, reading days, mentorship opportunities, holiday events and other educational and community-focused activities.
The approach gives the Skyhawks an opportunity to interact with students throughout the school year while providing resources designed to address different aspects of their development.
For West Clayton, the partnership also creates opportunities to support parents alongside their children.
“It takes everyone’s involvement to ensure that our scholars are successful,” West Clayton Elementary Principal Rochelle Harris said. “We’re grateful to have the Skyhawks and Goodwill as a part of our Curriculum Night because they help ignite dreams for parents and scholars while giving them the vehicle to strive for something more than what they may see on a day-to-day basis.”
A partnership with a broader purpose
The collaboration between the Skyhawks and Goodwill of North Georgia reflects a broader community approach to Curriculum Night.
While the school remains focused on helping families understand their children’s academic experience, the addition of career resources creates another avenue for families to pursue opportunities that can strengthen their households.
For the Skyhawks, it also extends the meaning of community engagement beyond game nights at Gateway Center Arena.
As Colli’s Classroom enters its fourth year, the organization will continue working with West Clayton throughout the 2026-27 school year, bringing educational, career, mentorship and wellness programming directly to the school community.
The goal is simple: create opportunities for students and families to see possibilities beyond what they encounter each day — and provide resources that can help them pursue those possibilities.