21st Century Leaders, operated under the charter of Georgia Business Forum, Inc., is a non-profit organization that collaborates with business and education leaders to develop, inspire and nurture students with leadership potential to make a positive impact on their schools, communities and future places of work.
WHAT WE DO
The mission of 21st Century Leaders is to increase the number, skills and diversity of Georgia’s future leaders.
The program begins in the summer of sophomore year and continues during high school. 21st Century Leaders hail from over 90 high schools across the state of Georgia. They are truly a picture of Georgia; they are urban and rural, minority and majority, male and female. They come from differing economic circumstances and family backgrounds.
Since 1991, over 3,300 students have participated in 21st Century Leaders; 97% enter college and 72% report taking on formal leadership roles in their colleges and communities after high school. These students lead community service projects, take on high profile summer internships, and are hired as summer program leaders. Our students lead faith-based groups and mentor younger students; they are truly making a difference in their communities!
OUR PROGRAMS
The program is year round, with 11 days of leadership development; 7 of those days are comprised of our summer programs, which are held at college campuses across the state. Programs are held at Oglethorpe University, Savannah State University, and Georgia Southern University.
Major program initiatives include:
21st Century Leaders, our core program of long-term leadership training and development that includes a week in the summer on a college campus, retreats and service initiatives;
Youth Action Centers, our youth-managed and youth-led organizations within schools and community agencies that research, design and promote local service learning initiatives;
Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience, our broadcast journalism focused program in partnership with the leader in worldwide news, CNN;
Social Enterprise Initiative, our youth-managed social enterprise internship program for high school students.
We provide experience workshops and seminars with business executives from companies such as Turner Broadcasting System, Georgia Power, AGL Resources, and Bell South. They are designed to teach students how to work with other people, lead a project, and gain advanced business skills. During the fall semester, we have an event for National Make a Difference Day, and a leadership event, Fall Rally Day. In the spring semester, we hold our annual Winter Leadership Weekend retreat and participate in Global Youth Service Day.
If you want to be challenged, changed and developed into an outstanding leader, apply to our program and get involved today!
