Alumni Spotlight: Ashley Carter

21CL Alumna Ashley Carter is a graduate of Midtown High School (2016), of University Of Georgia (2020) and headed back to University of Georgia for her PMBA, She currently works as a Software Instructor for Blackbaud and has previously worked as a multimedia journalist in Atlanta, Georgia. Ashley enjoys volunteering and uplifting others and believes that growth and learning never end.  “When I was at a low point in my life during high school, I remember joining the 21CLUB at my school. We gave back to the community, got to hear from different speakers, gaining life lessons at each meeting and grew as leaders. Eventually I joined the 21CLub’s leadership because I felt better overall while uplifting others.” – Ashley Carter

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I am a software instructor for a technology company called Blackbaud. I train hundreds of accountants each month, from non-profits around the world, how to navigate and use Blackbaud’s software solution, Financial Edge NXT. I previously worked in television news in Atlanta and Myrtle Beach. The skills I utilized in the news business have been essential to me striving and growing in my role.

Which programs did you participate in? How did the skills/tools/perspectives you acquired from 21CL prepare you for your next steps, going into college, taking on new leadership roles in your community, college and after?

The 21st Century Leaders community is unmatched! When I was at a low point in my life during high school, I remember joining the 21CLUB at my school. We gave back to the community, got to hear from different speakers, gaining life lessons at each meeting, and grew as leaders. Eventually I joined the 21CLub’s leadership because I felt better overall while uplifting others, as I was growing into womanhood. Those strong values of service have been instilled in me. Ms. Van Atta (the 21CLub Advisor) at Midtown High School played a key role by taking us in as we were and never judged. That made my time in the club so much nicer! I later got to attend one of the 21CL Summer Leadership Institutes, Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience, currently known as Future Leaders Institute – an experience I will never forget! That week was so fun and insightful, and it’s a huge reason I went on to study journalism at the University of Georgia! Those skills I gained from that camp are still used up to today even in my current role. On top of all of that, the friends I have made during my 21CL days are still in my life!

Do you have a memorable or ‘aha’ moment during your time at 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)

Something I will never forget about 21st Century Leaders is when I was home one summer, following my senior year of high school and after an internship ended abruptly; I called 21st Century Leaders’ office to see if they had work that I could help with. They immediately created a position for me, and during that summer I got a real world work experience before college! I got to see behind the scenes of how tough their work is to support thousands of high school students, yet the staff does it with such grace. I knew from that point forward, that 21st Century Leaders’ mission was bigger than just programs and meetings… it is truly to make a better tomorrow! I will never forget that!

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so, how? And have you recently learned something else about leadership? Please share!

Overall, in each role I have held, I can adapt and pivot quickly. I also have been commended for taking feedback and promptly applying that to my workflows to make outcomes greater.  Something I have learned through 21st Century Leaders is that it is important to adapt to continue growing. Growth and learning never end. I also know, as I continue to elevate, it is important to reach back to uplift others. Community service continues to be at the center of my life! I am so grateful for that.

21CL Launches STEM Leadership Program with Science ATL

https://scienceatl.org/launch-stem-leadership-program/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

21ST CENTURY LEADERS AND SCIENCE ATL LAUNCHES STEM LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ACROSS METRO ATLANTA HIGH SCHOOLS

Partners with Cox Enterprises

ATLANTA (September 8, 2021)– 21st Century Leaders (21CL) and Science ATL, in partnership with Cox Enterprises, have launched a STEM leadership program for metro Atlanta high school students.

The collaborative program will include a version of 21CL’s school-based program tailored for STEM and Science ATL’s Chief Science Officers program. It will also include a self-guided online STEM Leadership curriculum module within 21CLs’ Leadership Connect®. This online platform is housed on 21CL’s partnering company, Rali, an Atlanta-based learning management system.

21CL and Science ATL will launch five STEM+21CLubs across Metro Atlanta counties and school districts for the 2021-2022 school year including:

  • Banneker High School in Fulton County
  • Forest Park High School in Clayton County
  • South Cobb High School in Cobb County
  • South Paulding High School in Paulding County
  • Tucker High School in DeKalb County

Each STEM+21CLub will serve up to 25 students throughout the school year while engaging the larger student body through STEM-focused and student-led service projects, leadership forums, career coaches, and leadership and STEM online curriculum. Following this pilot year, the program’s goal is to open up to additional schools throughout Georgia for the 2022-23 school year.

“Every young person, no matter their background, has the ability and the potential to become a leader in their school, community and ultimately the workforce. They just need the opportunity, resources, and confidence to believe it,” said Kate Hewitt, executive director of 21st Century Leaders. “We’re grateful for partners like Science ATL, Cox Enterprises, and our five piloted high schools who recognize and believe in that same vision.”

The new program builds on the strengths of Science ATL’s Georgia Chief Science Officers program that empowers youth to lead STEM enrichment activities in their communities. It also leverages 21CL’s 33-year history of year-round youth leadership development programs that collectively connect, transform and inspire students to embrace diversity, explore career opportunities and develop as leaders. The impact of the program, while measurable in real-time, will also provide long-term impact results with employability skills, enhanced college and career readiness, scholarship opportunities, and internship and professional connections.

“Partnering with 21st Century Leaders is a great way to broaden access to STEM careers and to empower more youth to use STEM to make the world a better place,” said Jordan Rose, executive co-director of Science ATL. “I am so proud of the two student leaders from our Chief Science Officer program who helped to develop the new STEM curriculum for 21CL’s Leadership Connect platform – what a great example of youth voice in action!”

Cox Enterprises’ funding, along with support from the United Way and Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, will help ensure these opportunities come at no cost to the students while also providing financial support to the partner schools and faculty members overseeing the STEM+21CLubs.

 

About 21st Century Leaders
21st Century Leaders® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that connects, transforms, and inspires high school students from diverse backgrounds across Georgia to leverage diversity, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their school, community, and ultimately the workforce. Since inception in 1989, 21st Century Leaders has served more than 16,000 diverse high school students from over 250 Georgia high schools through year-round leadership development, diversity and inclusion training and career exploration programs. For more information about 21st Century Leaders, visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org.

About Science ATL
Science ATL Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing people together through the wonder of science. Our mission is to cultivate an equitable community of lifelong learners across metro Atlanta who are connected and inspired by the wonder of science. Through public events like the Atlanta Science Festival, and community-building initiatives like the Georgia Chief Science Officers youth leadership program and the STEM Professional School Partnership program, we are improving access to STEM/STEAM learning opportunities and building community around science. Learn more at http://scienceatl.org.

Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is dedicated to building a better future through our leading communications, automotive and media companies. Our major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Automotive, and we are strategically investing in new industries and emerging technologies, with sizeable interests in clean technology and health care. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cox is a global company with nearly $20 billion in annual revenues and brands that include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Cox Homelife. Founded in 1898 by Ohio Governor James M. Cox, the company is a family-owned business committed to its people, communities and planet. To learn more about Cox, visit coxenterprises.com, view our collective impact report at coxcsrreport.com, or follow us on Twitter via @CoxEnterprises or @AlexTaylor_Cox.

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Alumni Spotlight: Asher Jones

21CL Alumnus Asher Jones is our first Alumni Spotlight for the month of November! He is a graduate of Roswell High School (2013) and Georgia State University (2017). Asher works as Program Manager for Leadership Connect at 21st Century Leaders Inc., managing several programs including, Leadership Connect – the online learning platform, 21Clubs, our Youth Ambassadors, Summer Immersion Program, and collaborates with our other Program Manager on all other 21CL programmatic efforts! Asher is a football enthusiast turned into a great leader, he says that 21CL inspired him to look into other interesting careers and transformed him into a more collaborative leader and team-player. 

How did participating in 21CL transform you and lead you to where you are?

Participating in 21CL in high school greatly improved my understanding of careers outside the ones I was initially interested in. Before 21CL, all I really cared about was football and basing everything in my life around football. After I attended a 21CL program, I was able to understand the wide range of careers that also peaked my interest.

I came back to work as part of the staff for the Summer Leadership Team in 2017 and luckily found a full-time role with 21st Century Leaders soon thereafter. I joined 21st Century Leaders because as an alumnus of the program I know first hand what a great experience it is for high school students. The relationships and contacts I cultivated as a result of 21st Century Leaders have been very impactful. I am so excited to now be able to be an integral part of contributing to the development of those relationships on the other side!

How did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What skills/tools/perspectives have helped you along the way?

21CL helped prepare me for college and the next steps in my life simply by exposing them to me. I had never stayed in a dorm room, networked with a professional or really spent much time on a college campus before 21CL, so to be able to combine all those things in one week, through the summer leadership institutes, was truly transformative. Along with enhancing my public speaking skills as I am a naturally outgoing person, 21CL also helped me develop my critical thinking skills as well as my team building skills by putting me in situations that forced me to evaluate and analyze situations while also relying on others for assistance – which I wasn’t necessarily great at before.

Which programs did you participate in and what stood out to you? 

I attended Leadership Unplugged in 2011 and Leadership Plugged In 2012 (both are merged to our Youth Media Institute). While I can’t really recall a true “aha” moment, I do remember all the conversations and experiences I had with peers and professionals to this day and I value them greatly.

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so, how? And have you recently learned something else about leadership? Please share!

21CL did help me enhance my leadership style by instilling in me the importance of team building and reliance on others. I was (and still am) am a pretty stubborn person who likes to do things his own way and always thought other people would hinder rather than help me in the end. 21CL showed me it’s quite the opposite and how to properly value the contributions of others in order to be a more effective leader. It is something I still grow in everyday but there has been definite improvement and I have 21CL to thank. If you need proof, ask Nicole (our other Program Manager)!