South Atlanta High School social worker saves the prom

Twelfth grader Shakira James was dress shopping when it hit her. 

“For a while, I was wondering. I was getting sad,” James said. She realized she would not be able to afford to go to South Atlanta High School’s senior prom, and she wasn’t the only one.

“A lot of teachers were telling me we have babies who want to go to prom but can’t. We have babies who need some assistance,” the school’s social worker, Candace Strong, said. 

Strong was determined to provide that assistance. She took to social media and asked for donations.

And, in no time she had dresses, suits, shoes, purses, you name it. She even received cash to pay for some prom tickets. 

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She gave it all to students who otherwise would not have been able to go to the dance. 

“I’m not gonna lie. I almost cried,” twelfth grader Brandon Walker said.

Strong already runs a free food pantry and clothes closet out of her office. This school is in an underserved community and she is here to serve the students.

“I think her actions represent her name. Strong. She goes hard for our students,” principal Dr. Patricia Ford said.

“I have no children, so I feel like everyone is my children. I have so much to give,” Ms. Strong said.  What she gave to students like Shakira James are memories that will last a lifetime.

“It was wonderful. I felt very beautiful. I felt like I was in a Cinderella movie,” James said.

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