It was a balmy evening in September 2024 when nearly 1,000 Alpharetta citizens made history by packing out a newly created parade route in conjunction with Cambridge High School’s Inaugural Homecoming Parade and JamBEARee.
The brainchild of a handful of Cambridge moms who volunteered their time, talent and treasure, the JamBEARee aimed to build community and start an annual tradition that would be a highlight for not only current students, but alumni, future bears and the city of Alpharetta. Cambridge, the newest of three high schools in the area, was the first to build such an event.
“A group of moms were chatting at a JV football practice last summer to see if we could create some new events that we enjoyed when we were in high school, but that had not yet been instituted here," says planning committee member Jamie Powell. "One idea that resonated was the creation of a parade to kick off homecoming week. Many of us fondly remembered our own homecoming parades as teens, so it only made sense to try to create something similar here.”
Powell elicited support from other mothers who wanted to join forces. Now affectionately named “The Mama Bears,” each volunteer on the planning committee shared a desire to create an evening that would not only foster excitement about homecoming week among current students and faculty, but would also help to facilitate communication and camaraderie between school groups, clubs, sports, feeder programs and local businesses.
“We initially pitched the idea to our school principal, who was incredibly supportive but warned us in advance that efforts had been made years prior with limited success. We didn’t let this deter our efforts, and only became even more resolute in creating a groundswell of support,” said Mama Bear and Committee Member, Shelley Massey, whose son Ford, plays varsity football and whose daughter, Ella, is a freshman at Cambridge.
“In less than a month, we raised nearly $8,000,” says Megan Bowman whose daughter, Sarah, (a junior) is a band leader, and daughter, Brooke, an officer of the school’s “Women in STEM” program. “Much of which came from families and residents to help pay for police presence, signage and festival-type activities.”
Volunteers also had to apply for permits from the city, select which carnival-type activities would be best received, determine food trucks, invite vendors to fill a shopping area and communicate with parade participants, spectators and elected officials.
Stephanie Huffman, a Mama Bear who was instrumental in the planning process and whose son, Luke, plays football at Cambridge, commented, “The most inspiring aspect of this experience for me was seeing how many groups, not only within Cambridge High School, but also feeder programs, feeder schools and local businesses, all registered to participate in the parade. Watching everyone decorate their floats and the joy they showed while doing it was infectious.”
CHS JamBEARee Mama Bears
Chelsea Blevins
Megan Bowman
Kirsten Doughty
Stephanie Huffman
Colleen Kirkland
Jamie Liptak
Kimberly Littlehales
Leslie Malone
Shelley Massey
Amelia Phillips
Jamie Powell