Aaron Mitchell ’22

Since graduating as The Bush School’s first Black male student who attended from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade, Aaron Mitchell Jr. ’22 has moved to Georgia and wears multiple hats in the Atlanta community.

He’s in his third year at the nation’s only historically Black college for men, Morehouse College, and serves as secretary of the school’s Entrepreneurship Club, budget manager for its First Generation-Forward Initiative, and is a member of the Morehouse Business Association. He’s absorbing everything he can about entrepreneurship and innovation to provide the best support for youth in the area. 

“I’ve recently been inducted into the Morehouse chapter of Collegiate 100, a student-based organization focusing on youth empowerment,” Aaron shared. “I try to be a positive role model for kids who may not have one in the communities that they live in.”

Each role he manages centers on uplifting primarily African American youth socially, emotionally, and educationally. This beneficial program aims to develop quality community leaders, encourage Black excellence, and help first-generation college students blaze new trails in their families. An active philanthropist, Aaron is heavily involved in community service and has lent a hand to Atlanta Community Food Bank and Leading Youth Through Empowerment, a social group focused on mentorship and camaraderie.

“My life mission is to have a positive impact,” he said. “That’s what keeps me going, and I think that passion comes from my family upbringing. I was reminded to care for others and bring people up with me. Especially in our community, people might make it for themselves and not reach a hand back to help the next person out, which doesn’t breed any progress.”

 

Aaron credits Bush with inspiring him during his early days as a student and providing incredible experiences and projects that sparked his innate curiosity for business and entrepreneurship. 

 

“Bush was a great school,” Aaron shared. “You get to experience so much that people don’t get to in their entire lives. I think back to Fourth Grade—we had a Market Day where we created our own business and sold different stuff. Our Eighth Grade project led me to start my first business, Royalty Association, so everything came full circle.”

Aaron admired Bush’s community aspect and inclusive curriculum, which is designed to foster connections through organic interactions in family and affinity groups and circle conversations. 

“I’d say the impact is felt more when you can interact with people who can identify with you; having that space is rare. It was a positive aspect, but I think there should be more of that, not only for Black students but for students across different identities. That’s how you build the next generation of great leaders.”

 

Now a mentor for youth in his community, Aaron recalls his mentors from Bush, who led by example and helped provide a place of belonging for him.

 

“Having leaders like (Head of School) Dr. Percy (Abram) and Ray Wilson (former Upper School Director) there during my time at Bush was essential for the school,” Aaron said. “Percy served as a role model; there were times when I was able to speak with him about various subjects. He was able to showcase his sense of care not only to me but to others as well. His leadership is marked by kindness, empathy, and a willingness to do what it takes to make a community better.”