Alumni Spotlight: Cisely Marshall

I believe 21CL plays a pivotal role in the holistic development of the youth. They empower students by providing them with essential leadership skills, fostering self-confidence, and nurturing a sense of responsibility; students gain valuable experience in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, all of which are fundamental aspects of effective leadership.

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Alumni Spotlight: Ben Bryant

For our 35th anniversary, we’ll be sharing the stories of 35 alumni showcasing the leaders they are today and how 21st Century Leaders inspired and impacted their journey. Alumni will represent the 3.5 decades since our founding in 1989 – the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. Take a read and be inspired!

35th Anniversary Alumni Spotlight

1990’s Decade
Name
: Ben Bryant
H.S. Grad Year: Class of 1999
High School: Chamblee Charter High School
College: Washington & Lee University (BA); The George Washington University (MA, Legislative Affairs); Mercer University (JD)
Current Role: Vice President & Sr. Division Counsel for Financial Services and Marketing, InComm Payments | State Board Member, Technical College System of Georgia

How has your career unfolded and how did participating in 21CL help prepare you for your next steps going to college, taking on a new leadership role in community/college and after?

Professionally, I serve as Vice President & Senior Division Counsel for Financial Services and Marketing at InComm Payments, a global fintech and payments company headquartered here in Atlanta. Prior to joining the legal field, I spent three years working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. I also serve on the State Board for the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), a role I’ve had the privilege of serving in since 2013. 

As memory serves, I participated in three summers of the 21CL program back in the mid-to-late 1990s, which at the time was a single week of summer camp offered at Atlanta Christian College. One of the biggest takeaways for me from 21CL was coming to truly understand the importance of networking and the ability to find common ground in the moment with a wide array of individuals. The ability to communicate and make connections with the individuals we encounter daily is such a valuable skill whether it be interviewing for college or for a job, or in the workplace itself. Programs like 21CL serve as excellent incubators for developing these skills in a no-pressure environment.

What’s your memorable or ‘aha’ moment during your time at 21CL? 

(Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peer, speaking in public for the first time, etc.)

One of my favorite memories from my time participating in 21CL was the exercise where students formed teams to run our own small businesses in competition against one another in selling snacks and drinks to program participants. It was an incredibly fun and educational exercise allowing students to develop and hone a variety of skills including business strategy, marketing, and salesmanship. I also have memories of visits to Atlanta-area businesses, etiquette dinners, volunteering, and a talent show or two. Thankfully my time in 21CL predates smartphones, so hopefully no video footage exists from the talent shows – I definitely participated in one of the step shows Kyle Wingfield mentioned in his alumni spotlight and I imagine I don’t look quite as talented as I thought I did at the time (and certainly less talented than my 21CL colleague Carl, who was the drum major at Cedar Grove High School at the time…).

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so, how? 

My leadership style is one of collaboration, consensus, and camaraderie. I strongly believe that we’re better when we work together, fostering an environment of inclusivity where everyone not only feels like a part of the team, but is proud of the team and happy to be a part of it. Each of us brings different skills and perspectives to the table based on our backgrounds and experiences, and when we work together to craft solutions to the problems we face, we create better outcomes for all involved. Participating in 21st Century Leaders absolutely advanced my belief in the power of collaboration. This is something I get to put into practice as co-chair of InComm’s DE&I Council, as well as through my involvement in activities outside of my professional career, such as Scouting, TCSG, and various other community organizations.

Why do you believe programs like 21CL are important? And what advice would you give to a current or future student?

Programs like 21CL are important for several reasons. First, they provide an outlet for students who are likely already leaders in their respective schools and communities to grow their leadership skills alongside like-minded peers. Second, they afford students the opportunity to enhance their communication skills, which are critically important to future success in college and beyond. Other than Scouting, I can’t think of another program that helps students develop skills in effectively communicating with adults, a skill which is lacking in many youths that don’t regularly have the opportunity to engage with adults outside of the rigid student-teacher context. Third, these programs help students improve their networking skills, not only among high school peers, but among adults in a business setting. While the old mantra “it’s not what you know, but who you know,” is not entirely accurate, there is certainly some truth to the saying, and you’ll find at every step of your career it helps to know people. The good news for today’s participants, is that you have much more of an ability to stay connected to your fellow participants than we did in the dark ages before social media existed! 

Finally, and most important from my perspective (and this echoes what fellow alumni Brandi H. and Kyle W, both of whom I attended 21CL camps with, shared in their spotlights) the program brings together a diverse group of individuals from all across the state, giving participants the opportunity to appreciate, respect, and ultimately learn from the perspective of others. As far as advice, I would encourage current and future students to step outside of their comfort zones and place themselves in situations that afford the opportunity to learn and grow alongside a diverse mix of individuals at every step of their educational and professional careers.

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Alumni Spotlight: Kyle Wingfield

For our 35th anniversary, we’ll be sharing the stories of 35 alumni showcasing the leaders they are today and how 21st Century Leaders inspired and impacted their journey. Alumni will represent the 3.5 decades since our founding in 1989 – the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. Take a read and be inspired!

35th Anniversary Alumni Spotlight

 

1990’s Decade
Name
: Kyle Wingfield
H.S. Grad Year: Class of 1997
High School: Dalton High School
College: University of Georgia
Current Role: President and CEO, Georgia Public Policy Foundation

How has your career unfolded and how did participating in 21CL help prepare you for your next steps going to college, taking on a new leadership role in community/college and after?

After my time in 21st Century Leaders (21CL) (high school class of 1997), I graduated from the University of Georgia and pursued a career in journalism that took me to the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, including 4.5 years overseas in Belgium. In 2018, I changed careers and became CEO of an Atlanta-based think tank called the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. Looking back, I can see clear ways that my participation in 21CL helped me. For example, I became more comfortable speaking not only in front of groups, but also one-on-one with adult business executives. I also learned a lot about different personality types and how people within those various types see the world differently. And just generally, I would say 21CL was a key part in helping a small-town boy like me see a much larger world and understand more possibilities.

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

While I had a racially diverse group of friends growing up, my hometown overall was not a hugely diverse place during my childhood – although that has changed significantly over time. 21CL was an experience that helped me learn what it’s like to be among people of diverse backgrounds: not only in the small group that I might choose, but in a broader sense as well. I remember things like a member of the staff team one year teaching us in the evenings about step shows. Of course, we found that we had more things in common than not, but being exposed to some of the differences gave me a comfort level as well as an awareness that helped me be a better citizen of my surroundings as my surroundings changed.

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so, how? 

I try to lead by example and by consensus: I model the behavior I expect from my team, and I seek their buy-in for important decisions or changes. The exercises, discussions and experiences in 21CL contributed to those elements of my leadership style.

Why do you believe programs like 21CL are important? And what advice would you give to a current or future student?

Whether one grows up in a small town or an urban area, young people tend to take a more constrictive view of the world than they may realize. They are largely limited by their observations and experiences. That applies to their horizons, which dictate how they view opportunities and possibilities. But it also applies to their self-conception: They may believe they are only what they have been, which is shaped by the people and influences they’ve known. Today’s technologies may broaden their opportunities to know more people and influences than those nearby – for better and for worse – but young people still need ways to try out new versions of themselves in constructive, nurturing environments. I firmly believe programs like 21CL allow them to do just that, because these programs let them break out of the molds that have built up around them. These programs are opportunities for what we might call positive rebelliousness: going against what they’ve always known and been, but in ways that build them up rather than put them at risk.

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Alumni Spotlight: Brandi Harrison

For our 35th anniversary, we’ll be sharing the stories of 35 alumni, showcasing the leaders they are today and how 21st Century Leaders inspired and impacted their journey. Alumni will represent the 3.5 decades since our founding in 1989 – the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. Take a read and be inspired!

35th Anniversary Alumni Spotlight

 

1990’s Decade
Name
: Brandi Harrison
H.S. Grad Year: Class of 1997
High School: H.V Jenkins High School
College: Brenau University
Current Role: Owner, Launch Pointe Productions

How has your career unfolded and how did participating in 21CL help prepare you for your next steps going to college, taking on a new leadership role in community/college and after?

Brandi Harrison

I first participated in 21CL almost 30 years ago, and that experience continues to impact my career! Being exposed to business at an early age has meant I’ve always been comfortable stepping into board rooms, giving presentations to senior management, and building teams to succeed at a task. In my first position as an Associate Producer, I understood how to communicate well with my co-workers and manager because of the team challenges we were given in 21CL. Later, when I became a Director of Operations with direct reports, I knew how to set a clear vision for my team because of the leadership skills I had learned. And now, as an entrepreneur with 3 successful businesses with my husband, I’m not sure I would have had the courage to take on this challenge without having experienced success doing uncomfortable challenges with 21CL. The programs at 21st Century Leaders do an amazing job of honing in on the skills of the individual, while making you focus on the success of the group. It’s only now, looking back at my career, that I can connect the dots!

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

I spent two amazing summers during high school at the Summer Business Academy. For a week each year, I was immersed in a challenging environment with a diverse group of incredibly smart students and a high expectation of excellence set by the instructors. From trust falls to group projects, the time I spent with these other young adults was truly rewarding. During the second summer, as I was a rising senior, we were broken into groups and given a real business challenge at the start of the week. By the end of the week, we would need to present our solution to the professionals. Every minute that we weren’t sleeping, we were working on our presentation, tweaking after we learned new concepts in sessions throughout the week. Nerves were high when we arrived at the corporate location that morning. While I can’t tell you a single thing about the business challenge, I vividly remember stepping into the board room knowing that I belonged there and had something important to say. I’ve carried that memory with me, anchoring to it when needed in both big and small moments of my career. 

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so, how? 

21CL was the first place that I learned about leadership styles! Understanding how I naturally lead and communicate was empowering. And then being able to adjust to styles needed by my team felt like magic! My whole career has been focused around building the right team for the project and effectively leading that team can be pivotal to its success. 

Why do you believe programs like 21CL are important? And what advice would you give to a current or future student?

21CL bridges the gap in education for students to really learn about themselves and how their uniqueness can translate to success in college, their careers, and being a positive impact to their community. Even as a high performing magnet school student, there was no other place that I received this level of exposure to possibilities and focused internal growth. In order to meet the needs of future challenges, we need to teach the next generation the skills that they will need. And 21CL is essential to that process.

My advice for students attending the program is to push and challenge yourself to take on the leadership role that feels uncomfortable. Talk to the students you don’t think you have anything in common with. What feels awkward now could be a key to your success!

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Alumni Spotlight: Sara Gard

21CL Alumna Sara Gard is our first alumni spotlight for 2022. A graduate of Norcross High School (1999) and of Trinity University (2003), Sara is a wife and mother of two young children and currently works as the Manager of Talent and Organizational Development at APCO Holdings. In this post, she shares about how the reality check she had during her 21st Century Leaders days helped to get to a juncture she is at now where what she loves doing, what she’s good at doing, and what her company is glad to pay her for doing converge! 

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I am the Manager of Talent and Organizational Development, which is part of the Human Resources function for APCO Holdings. We work in the automotive Finance & Insurance industry. In my current role, I manage processes like talent requisition, training and professional skills enhancement, career pathing, and compensation planning. Additionally, I am the volunteer leader of our Diversity & Inclusion Council. APCO has decided to move to a permanently hybrid work model, so I split my time between my home office and my “office office.” This flexibility has been extremely important for maintaining my lifestyle – I have a husband and two young kids (ages 6 and almost 4).
As a manager of processes, I spend a lot of time thinking, planning, and organizing independently. I do a lot of research and reading so that I stay aware of current trends and hopefully ahead of our competitors. Even though APCO is a 35-year-old company, we have an entrepreneurial attitude, so we’re constantly striving to be the disruptor for our industry rather than responding to the latest disruption. It makes for a fast-paced, exciting work environment. It can be tiring, but also very rewarding.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, cross-stitching, and when my kids are fully vaccinated I look forward to traveling again.

I grew up thinking that my life experience was similar to everyone else’s, and 21st Century Leaders was one of my first opportunities to interact on a deep level with people who grew up very differently. My suburban, upper-middle class life was completely different from my 21CL peers, who came from urban, rural, privileged, and disadvantaged lives. It made me want to expand my personal definition of success, and put success within reach for as many people as possible. My career took a few detours, but when I found my way into Talent Management, I realized that it was what I was always searching for. Now, I am allowed to feed my spirit by making a positive difference in the lives of fellow employees while I make a positive business difference and get paid for it. A previous boss used to call it “finding your sweet spot” – I am at the juncture where what I love doing, what I’m good at doing, and what my company is glad to pay me for doing converge. If I hadn’t had the reality check of 21st Century Leaders, I’m not sure I would have made the right choices, done the hard work, and invested in the skills and experiences that have brought me to this place, this “sweet spot”.

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?

I was in 21CL way back in 1997, when we only had the summer on-campus program available. I remember staying in the dorms, taking day trips to various businesses, hearing from business leaders, and learning from my peers in the group. This was my first introduction to “instant team,” or a group of strangers who are grouped and given an objective, and you don’t really get a choice in the matter. In college and in business, these groups happen frequently, and rarely are we in control of who is in our group or how quickly we must learn to get along. I thought I would be the most knowledgeable, correct, and dynamic in any situation, but at 21CL, I learned that I was only a big fish in my little pond. The slice of humble pie was a healthy reminder.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (a particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc..)

My “aha” moment actually came after 21CL, but was directly related. I met a really cool leader at 21CL named Ebony. She was from the Valdosta area, and I knew which high school she attended. Not long after 21CL, maybe the next week, I went to the Governor’s Honor Program at Valdosta State University, and my roommate was from the same high school. The roommate and I didn’t get along very well, but we were polite to one another. At nearly the end of the 6-week GHP program, the roommate and I had what felt like a breakthrough in our relationship, and I asked her if she would say “hi” to Ebony for me when she got back to school. I will never forget her looking at me and saying, “No. I do not speak to her. She is black, and I am a racist.”

I had lived in the same room as someone who couldn’t see the value of people past the color of their skin, and in that moment I didn’t know what to do. I think I said, “Oh.”

That moment defined something in me. It forced me to realize that no matter how hard I wanted the world to be one way, every person is experiencing this life differently. Some of us are experiencing this life in such a way that we think others’ experiences are less worthy. That has helped to fuel my desire to work for companies and in a capacity that affirms the worth of every life experience, allowing for each individual to choose their path, their goals, and their own definition of success. I take the greatest satisfaction when I am part of the company’s actions and programs that lead to positive change for the most inclusive group of employees possible. It feels like putting dreams within reach and doing important work.

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!

I’ve already admitted that it was a long time ago when I was in 21CL, and I have changed and developed as a person and a leader in ways that would make me of today unrecognizable to that version of me. These days, I teach leaders about leadership, and I put my knowledge of leadership into practice in my own life. One big leadership lesson that is easy to implement was taught to me by Gerald Rakestraw. He is a Senior VP-level leader at a former employer, and I asked him one day to send an email regarding an issue that he was the voice of authority on. When he declined, he told me, “Sara, my voice is too loud for this issue. You have to know when your voice is the right volume for the message.”

As leaders, each of us has a certain volume to our voice. When the title is “Coordinator,” the volume is much quieter than when the title is “Senior Vice President.” What I needed to understand in that moment was that if Gerald said it, the issue would be made larger than necessary, with a spotlight shone on it, and our colleagues wondering who had caused the issue in the first place and what the fallout might be. There would be no room for error on the issue, and definitely no more discussion. This is because when the loudest person speaks, the discussion is over. In that instance, the message needed to be handled discreetly, at a softer volume and a more limited audience.

The chairman of the board at that time knew he had the “loudest” voice in the entire organization, which meant that he rarely spoke in meetings, and if he did it was always when the meeting was about to end. That style of leadership, knowing one’s own authority and making careful use of it, has molded me as a leader. It is an effectiveness tool that I enjoy sharing with others. In short, know the value of your own voice, and only speak when necessary.

Alumni Spotlight: Alisa Valentin

21CL Alumna Dr. Alisa Valentin is our second spotlight for December 2021. A graduate of Tift County High School (2008), she received a B.S in Telecommunications from the University of Florida (2011), an M.S. in Journalism from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (2013), and her Ph.D in Communications from Howard University (2018). She currently works as Special Advisor to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks at The Federal Communications Commission. In this post, Dr. Alisa Valentin shares about how participating in 21CL’s summer leadership institute helped shape her career!

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I am the Special Advisor to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. I work on broadband access and adoption, prison phone justice, and future of work policies that center on low-income and communities of color. We are a small but mighty team so I do everything from drafting speeches to providing technical assistance on legislation to Congressional staffers to organizing events with stakeholders in the tech policy community. I love being involved in the constantly evolving tech space because these issues impact everyone across the country and the globe.

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

The 21CL summer program I participated in solidified my interest in journalism and communications before my senior year of high school. My participation in this program led me to major in Telecommunications at the University of Florida which was then followed by an M.S. in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, and later a Ph.D. in Communications from Howard University. I have said many times that I have 21CL to thank for my career in tech policy.

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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?

I participated in the Leadership Unplugged: a CNN Experience (now called the WarnerMedia Institute for Future Leaders) in 2007. During that time I learned the importance of preparation, creativity, and thinking on my feet, which has served me well throughout college, graduate school, and throughout my career.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)

During the 21CL Summer Leadership Institute, we attended workshops and panels featuring television anchors, producers and senior executives. These guests led discussions on media and ethics, business etiquette and diversity in media. But what stands out the most is the diverse talent throughout the state of Georgia including rural Georgia that 21CL brought together. I can remember doing a group interview for the program at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in my hometown of Tifton, Georgia. I think it’s incredible how 21CL focused on cultivating talent from communities of color as well as communities outside of the Atlanta metropolitan area.

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!

During my summer program with 21CL, we were placed in teams to pitch an idea to CNN for an article about technology’s effect on the world. That process taught me how to collaborate with people you don’t know well to achieve a shared goal. I learned that the person who may appear to be the quietest can have the best ideas so it’s important to ask everyone if they have something to contribute. On that same note, I believe an effective leader is someone who recognizes that a good idea is a good idea regardless of a person’s title, degree-level, or seniority. I think that this speaks to the age-old saying of treating the janitor with the same level of respect as the CEO. What I know to be true in the policy space specifically is that we must do a better job of centering the voices at the margins that don’t have megaphones and that principle guides my work.

Alumni Spotlight: Jalen Q. Polk

Alumnus Jalen Polk is currently a fourth-year Economics major at University of Georgia (UGA) and is a graduate of Woodward Academy (2017).  During his high school years he participated in many of 21CL’s programs, and now gives back, recently serving on our summer leadership team as a staff member and alumni mentor for the summer leadership institutes in 2019 and 2020.

Jalen most recently received the UGA President’s 2021 Fulfulling the Dream Award at their annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Breakfast. The award recognizes individuals dedicated to making significant contributions to race relations, justice and human rights.

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I am currently a senior pursuing an Economics major at UGA. It is exciting, particularly due to the electives which I am enrolled in plus the opportunity to conduct research which has been a desire of mine since entering college. I am heavily involved on campus as it is a passion for me to give back to the spaces which uplifted me when I first stepped foot on this campus. I am the President of the Black Male Leadership Society currently on campus seeking to foster a sense of unity, strength, and love amongst black males on campus and throughout Athens.

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

I participated in 21st Century Leaders, and every step was uncomfortable. However, I gained confidence, insight, encouragement, and connections which have served as a solid foundation as I matriculated throughout high school and into college. It has transformed into a premiere opportunity for me to give back and truly examine my leadership capabilities. 21st Century Leaders is extremely service-oriented and intentional, so both mentors, speakers, and students are celebrating in a space of learning, growth, and diversity.

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?

21st Century Leaders exposed me to a new friend circle who demonstrated to me the importance of being coachable and giving one’s very best! My experience within 21st Century Leaders was enhanced with the real world challenges we solved, and these simulations required teamwork and effective communication. 21CL prepared me today because I grew out of my shell by trying new risks and I also realized my creative capabilities.

Jalen pictured in the blue shirt as a student attending SYLI@Goizueta in 2016.

Which programs did you participate in, and when? What skills did you gain or improve through those programs? 

I participated in the SYLI@Goizueta in 2016 and in the school-year leadership summits in 2016 and 2017. I also served as a Youth Ambassador during my senior year. These programs helped me improve in my openness as there were others who genuinely wanted to learn from me and share more about themselves. The relationships which formed at this organization are going strong until today! I am forever grateful.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)

A memorable moment in 21CL was when I was working on a project, and I was incredibly nervous to mention my idea. However, my team was more than receptive and they took my idea, ran with it, and added to it. I was impressed with our end result and amazed by how we all played a team effort. My investment was necessary no matter how many times I counted myself out in my own head!

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!

Leadership is not about me, but it is sincerely about leading others. Leadership is not consuming a position or working in any interest separate of the followers who look up to that person in leadership. Leadership will always be based on action, and I believe there should be a desire to lead others.

Alumni Spotlight: Cristy Jones

Our first alumni spotlight for April 2020 is Cristy Jones, a graduate of Westlake High School (2014) and of Spelman College (2017). After graduating from Spelman, Cristy was selected among many applicants for the Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship and served as a Culture and Strategy Fellow at Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) supporting the implementation and expansion of district-wide talent initiatives designed to improve educational outcomes for 39,000 of Cleveland’s public school students. Cristy currently serves as a Talent Management Partner with Cleveland Metropolitan School District and is a graduate student at Cleveland State University. She was also a 2014 Georgia Youth Leadership Award winner!

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

Currently, I serve as a Talent Management Partner with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in Cleveland, Ohio. By embracing the challenges of leadership, I have been able to successfully impact the lives of our scholars and flourish at Cleveland Metropolitan School District by assisting the Talent team in hiring excellent teachers, principals, and education administrators from diverse backgrounds. Working alongside CMSD leaders, I strategically support 88 central office hiring managers to improve staffing and talent management outcomes by counseling educational administrators on a broad range of human resources issues including professional development, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, retention and employee relations. My work extends from managing our Cleveland Teaching Fellows program to launching one of the District’s diversity pipeline and retention programs, Men of Color sHaping Academics (MOCHA), which was established in 2018 to create programming designed to increase engagement, retention and leadership rates for male staff of color within Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

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

21st Century Leaders played an integral role in my formation as a leader. Before participating in my first summer leadership camp in 2011, the G5 @ Goizueta Program (now called SYLI) at Emory University, I had great leadership potential but I was very insecure about my ability. G5 @ Goizueta was my first opportunity to cultivate relationships with like-minded individuals who shared similar college and career aspirations. Once I completed the program, I was hooked. From that experience, I participated in Leadership Unplugged, served on the 21st Century Leaders Youth Advisory Board, and with the Music Legal Department at Turner Broadcasting as the Turner Voices Intern. During my senior year at Westlake High School, I was honored at 21CL’s Georgia Youth Leadership Awards as a 20 Under 20 award recipient. Participating in 21st Century Leaders enhanced my self-esteem, my comfort with public speaking and challenged me to take on more leadership roles.

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’s leadership institutes enhanced my commitment to service and leadership within my school and community, and as a result I was selected to be a part of Spelman College’s Bonner Scholars Class of 2018. The Bonner Scholars Program is a service-based scholarship that is awarded to students who exemplify an attitude of servant leadership, a commitment to creating solutions for positive change in our society, and a passion for leading others in service. As a Bonner Scholar, I have served as a Teaching Assistant for Spanish classes at M. Agnes Jones Elementary, a Congressional Intern for Congressman John Lewis, and on the Summer Leadership Team for 21st Century Leaders. The Bonner Scholars Program has instilled invaluable life lessons and allowed me to engage in stimulating dialogue through seminars and workshops while bonding with other students whose passion lies in service.

While at Spelman, I interned with NBC Universal for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This experience was mainly inspired by my participation in 21st Century Leaders’ Leadership Unplugged Program with CNN in 2012. When I was in Leadership Unplugged, I was fascinated by CNN’s commitment to journalistic integrity during the summer broadcast of the 2012 Olympics and I desired to receive an international internship that provided similar leadership training and exposure that I received within 21st Century Leaders. The networking skills, elevator speeches, and business principles that I learned in 21CL helped me stand apart from my peers in Rio and led to my success in the NBC internship program.

After graduating from Spelman College in May 2017, I was selected as a 2017-2018 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellow and a Talent, Culture and Strategy Fellow at Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). The Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship provides recent college graduates the opportunity to immerse themselves in the public sector at a variety of agencies throughout the city of Cleveland. Out of 110 applicants from 20 states and 62 colleges and universities, only five fellows were selected for this program.

Which programs did you participate in, and when? What skills did you gain or improve through those programs?

The first program I participated in was the summer leadership camp at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in 2011; from then onward I participated in all the 21CL programs until I graduated from high school in 2014. I also served on the Youth Advisory Board during 2011-2013. From these experiences, I gained skills in public speaking, networking, facilitation, and time management.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)

My “aha” moment in 21st Century Leaders occurred after I graduated from high school. While I was in college, I interned with 21CL and was able to witness firsthand the amount of work and the dedication of the staff into the programming of each summer camp and event. From this experience, I realized that the success of the 21st Century Leaders program was due to the genuine leadership of Bob, Kate and Jasmine and their commitment to encouraging students to step outside their comfort zone and be fearless leaders

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!

My experience at 21CL has helped to showcase the determination, confidence, positivity, ingenuity, and collaborative nature that I exemplify as a leader. By embracing the challenges of leadership, I have been able to successfully flourish in my leadership roles.

30 for 30 Alumni Awards Announcement

 

21st Century Leaders Recognizes Outstanding Alumni in “30 for 30” Award Program

Awards Recognize Long-Term Impact of Organization’s Transformative Programs

ATLANTA – December 10, 2019 21st Century Leaders (21CL) announced today the recipients of the “30 for 30 Alumni Award” in celebration of the organization’s 30th anniversary.  This diverse group of exceptional program alumni are being recognized for leading the way in business, leadership, community, educational, and philanthropic endeavors. 21CL is a non-profit organization that connects, transforms, and inspires high school students across Georgia to leverage-diversity, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their schools, communities, and ultimately the workforce.

The honorees who all originate from Georgia and now represent organizations ranging from LinkedIn to NASA will be recognized at an awards reception on January 16, 2020 at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. A complete digital publication is available to view  highlighting the work of each of the 30 selected honorees.

“There are 30 unique stories to tell within this group of award winners.  However, we were excited to see several themes resonate among these alumni including a focus on servant leadership and a desire to give back to their communities,” said Matt Johnson, board chairman for 21st Century Leaders and Principal with KPMG.

He continued: “This is a distinguished group of individuals who began their journey as Georgia high school students and 21CL program participants. Today they epitomize 21CL’s 30 years of unyielding commitment to the power of diversity, corporate collaboration and the importance of inspiring the next generation of business leaders.  We were particularly impressed to see examples of alumni who now work for the same companies that initially invested in them during their time as students. It is incredibly rewarding to see the full-circle impact of our programs.”

About the 30 for 30 Recipients
The 30 award winners represent a diverse group of individuals at different stages in their careers and a wide variety of organizations. To learn more about the recipients, 21CL created a digital publication including images and their personal stories can be found here.

California

  • Julia Abelsky, San Francisco, LinkedIn
  • Charles Orgbon, Oakland, Deloitte
  • Nathan Puckett, San Francisco, Tesla
  • Brandon Williams, Glendale, NBCUniversal

Georgia

  • Khari Arnold, Atlanta, NBA.com (WarnerMedia)
  • Taylor Benford, Atlanta, Accenture-GA
  • Maria Blackburn, Woodstock, Southern Company
  • Greg Clay, Atlanta, Leineur Consulting Group
  • Jacque-Corey Cormier, Atlanta, Georgia State University
  • Clayton Dawkins, Kennesaw, City of Cartersville
  • Brandi Harrison, Atlanta, Turner Studios (WarnerMedia)
  • Victoria Lamar, Atlanta, Securing Degrees Debt Free, LLC
  • Quentin Marlin, Savannah, Ellis, Painter, Ratterree & Adams LLP
  • James Nixon, Vidalia, Meadows Regional Medical Center
  • Christiana Oshotse, Atlanta, Journal for Young Investigators
  • Timothy Parham, Marietta, The MAP Foundation
  • Dr. Jyoti Sharma, Atlanta, Piedmont Healthcare
  • Teryn Shipman, Atlanta, VIPKID
  • Randell Trammell, Cartersville, State YMCA of Georgia/Georgia Center for Civic Engagement
  • Natalie Walker, Atlanta, Cox Enterprises
  • Jewel Wicker, Atlanta, Freelance Entertainment and Culture Reporter

Louisiana

  • Tia Bolden, New Orleans, NASA, The Boeing Company

New York

  • Michael Asmelash, New York, Live Nation Entertainment
  • Arjun Sahgal, New York, Eazel

New Jersey

  • Lauren Flanigan, East Hanover, Mondelez International

Pennsylvania

  • Machmud Makhmudov, Philadelphia, Joe Biden for President

Tennessee

  • Moyo Jennifer Sonola, Nashville, Operations & Strategy Consultant

Texas

  • Brent Gills, Austin, Deep Seas Investment Group, LLC

Virginia

  • Katherine Bryant, Alexandria, St. Stephens & St. Agnes School

United Kingdom

  • Sara Dada, London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Nominations for this award program were the responsibility of a nine-member selection committee which was compromised of the organization’s advisory council and board of directors.  The nomination committee was comprised of the following individuals: Jon Neff, COO of Hire Dynamics, Michael White, director of HR at Cox Enterprises, Steven Staes COO & general counsel at K&G Superstore, Dennis Adamovich, CEO of the College Football Hall of Fame, Kathy Solley, partner at Nelson Mullins, Ellen Lindemann, assistant director at Lekotek GA, Rosalynne Price, former senior manager of diversity at Cox Enterprises, Art Evans, senior director of talent management for the Atlanta Braves and Mike Szalkowski, CPA, family office manager at Schejola Partners.

About 21st Century Leaders
Since inception in 1989, 21st Century Leaders has served more than 14,000 diverse high school students from over 250 Georgia high schools. 21st Century Leaders is a non-profit organization that connects, transforms, and inspires high school students across Georgia to leverage diversity, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their school, community, and ultimately the workforce. For more information about 21st Century Leaders, visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org.

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Media Contact:
Lauren Shankman
Trevelino/Keller
lshankman@trevelinokeller.com
404-214-0722 x 121

We would like to give a special thanks Trevelino Keller for their pro-bono work on this special initiative. 

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Alumni Spotlight: Jennifer Leyting

Our second Alumni Spotlight for October 2019 is Jennifer Leyting a graduate of Collins Hill High School (2007) and of The University of Georgia ( 2011). She currently works as an Administrative Specialist II at the University of Georgia. She is an artist who painted one of the big Athens bulldawg statues for the UGA Police Department and who is championing many other initiatives.  Jennifer says 21CL provided a safe space to just be and believe in her genuine self and have positive peer relationships.

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I am working as an Administrative Specialist II in the Department of Infectious Diseases at College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Georgia. I also work as the assistant to the department head and the digital media coordinator for the department. I handle records requests, records retention, and some ordering. I’m on the EITS Mentorship Council, which runs this program.

I also serve as Coordinator on the UGA Staff Council representing the College of Veterinary Medicine and I’m on the Steering Committee for the United Campus Workers of Georgia Local 3265. University of Georgia was where the union got started, now we have over 430 members across 9 campuses and we are currently working on a statewide campaign for cost of living raises for USG employees.

I’m living in Watkinsville, GA with my significant other, Alex Medina, and 3 stepsons, 2 of which are Eagle Scouts. Alex and I have volunteered for many years with Boy Scout Troop 44 out of Winterville, GA, which is the troop that all 3 boys were in. We both have volunteered in the Society of Creative Anachronism Kingdom of Meridies Barony of Bryn Madoc for many years, Alex still volunteers with this group. I’ve since started my art career, and I have painted one of the big Athens bulldawg statues for the UGA Police Department which is now housed in the Hodgson Oil Building. I also participated in the Lake Herrick Eco-Art Project where teams of scientists and artists created works themed around the clean-up effort and reopening at Lake Herrick on UGA’s campus. My team’s project was accepted at the poster session at the Georgia Water Resources Conference and is now on display at the River Basin Center. I’m also currently working on some pieces to submit to the Winterville Arts Council.

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

Participating in 21CL had a profound effect on my life. For the first time since the death of my grandfather the summer after 4th grade, something was able to get me out of my own head. The facilitators, teachers, and RA’s of 21CL saw value and potential in me and more importantly they were able to make me see these things in myself. I know that sounds super cliché, but I had already attempted suicide once by the time a representative came to my school to invite students to summer camp. I actually only applied because my mom said it would look good on my resume. 21CL was the first place in a long time where I was able to have positive peer relationships. I was outside of the bubble of influence of upper middle class Gwinnett County suburbia. I was exposed to people from all sorts of different backgrounds from across the state, folks that I would not have gotten the opportunity to interact with otherwise. These people became my friends. Friends who were actually concerned about my health and well-being. Friends who invited me to events and genuinely were excited to see me when I showed up. These experiences were so foreign and new to me. I think one of the greatest things that 21CL did for me was give me hope, which inspired me. It inspired me to live. As I took control of my own life instead of just living on the autopilot plan that had been chosen for me by public school and my parents of go to college, get a job and have one’s life entirely defined by one’s career, I started to comprehend what I had gained during my time in the program and how I could pay that kindness forward. I wanted to be a resource for others like 21CL had been for me. I majored in family financial planning and got a Bachelor of Science in Family Consumer Sciences. I had the knowledge so was able to serve as the Merit Badge Counselor in Troop 44 for the Personal Management Merit badge, which deals with consumer economics, saving & investing, project planning, and time management. These boys came from families where financial literacy was most certainly not being taught. I was in a position where I could help so I did. I’ve also used my own personal mental health journey to be an advocate for spreading awareness about depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. At work, I make sure to promote wellness and mental health awareness to our graduate students and my coworkers. For several years, I have celebrated May as Mental Health Awareness Month by putting out my own stories and struggles as well as resources on various topics to help end the stigma around mental health. The momentum kept going.

Through my leadership certificate from UGA, I learned more about different types of leadership and how leadership is influence. I wanted to be a positive influence on a grassroots level where ever I was, regardless of how small of an interaction I had with someone. I have done my best to teach my stepsons to respect all people, to care about issues of those less fortunate or less privileged than themselves, to take care of themselves and process their emotions is a productive manner, and solve conflicts by using their words instead of violence. Basically, I would not be the person I am today without 21CL. They saved me.

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?

 I think that 21CL took away some of that fear of interacting with people I didn’t know and also gave me the courage to put myself out there for opportunities, knowing that I might not succeed at all of them. I think that 21CL showed me that my perseverance could be applied to more than just surviving the daily grind. I applied to UGA’s Honors Program and was denied, instead of giving up I got a 4.0 my fall semester and reapplied and was admitted. I ended up graduating with an Honors Program capstone. I applied for the UGA Student Government Associate Student Senate and was denied, instead of having a pity party, I went into the SGA general body and joined the academic committee. After I was admitted into the Terry College of Business, I rushed for the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and was denied, but I joined the Medieval and Renaissance Society where I ended up serving as President, meeting Alex, and ultimately getting a part time job at UGA in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences IT department. Basically, life is strange and twisty, if I had just given up I wouldn’t be where I am now!

I still remember the “Model the Way” exercise and trying to fold that dang origami thing. I remember this when I am training people that everyone has a different learning style and showing people is often one of the best ways to give instruction.

I also remember the blind fold obstacle course activity. I’m reminded that precise communication is extremely important and also to have faith in your team. There have been a lot of individuals on the autism/aspergers spectrum that I have met in my adult life and it’s that level of exact communication that is sometimes needed. In fact, one of my stepsons has aspergers.

These are things that occurred over a decade ago. A week at summer camp. A weekend leadership trip. An evening networking event. Small amounts of time with huge impacts. 21CL really taught me to take the time and see situations from other people’s perspectives. This has been invaluable working in the union when we are talking about issues relating to non-administrative staff or employees on other campuses or traditionally underpaid workers in the Athens Clarke County community.

Also as silly as it is sounds, learning how to salsa made me realize I could dance. I went on to learn medieval and renaissance dances and even perform an Old English Country dance in costume in front of A LOT of people at the UGA Student Organization Involvement Fair.

Which programs did you participate in, and when? What skills did you gain or improve through those programs?

I participated in the summer leadership institutes; one of which was held at Oglethorpe University. I went on to work as an RA for the 21CL summer camps, specifically Oglethorpe, Berry College, & Emory, while I was in college. I think the biggest take away I got from 21CL was an appreciation for diversity in all of its many forms. Having been to camp and met campers from all different backgrounds gave me some perspective on life and encouraged my emotional maturity at time when I was immersed in the rather homogeneous culture of white middle class suburbia. I feel that 21CL gave me the confidence to stretch outside of my comfort zone and introduce myself to folks that I would have been too nervous to talk to otherwise. I learned to be more people oriented and to slow down and listen to others. Sometimes the problem isn’t the problem, sometimes the problem is that people just feel like they are not being heard.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)

I remember one of the summer staff members, Jessica, teaching us table setting and formal dining etiquette. That’s something I have passed down to my stepsons. Even when I’m at conferences or formal lunches, I still make a B and D with my hands to remember which drink is mine. It’s just simple stuff like that, that sticks with you.

Speaking of formal dinners, the pre-dinner networking was probably the scariest thing that I did at the summer program. But without it, I don’t think I would have forced myself to get over my fear of talking to people I didn’t know. Also having to introduce a speaker was terrifying but helped me get over speaking in front of a crowd. Though I haven’t had to specifically introduce speakers recently, I’ve had to present at faculty meetings. I challenge anyone to find a tougher audience than academics who don’t want to be in a meeting.

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!

I think the program helped me realize that there were different leadership styles and different situations could call for different styles and to remain flexible with each new project or new team so I could adapt my style to what was needed to accomplish our goals.

At the end of the day, you have to be okay with the decisions you make. You have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and be okay with the person looking back at you. You have to be to be able to sleep soundly knowing you stuck firmly to your ethics, regardless of what anyone else said, did, voted, etc. It’s easy to be that person when times are easy. It’s a lot harder to be that person when actually confronted with adversity. Being a leader is hard, especially when the stakes are high. You have to make the tough decisions, sometimes when you don’t have all the information or all the answers. Sometimes you are going to be the only one who votes on a particular side of an issue. I lived through that this past spring regarding a union conflict. No matter how much pressure or guilt or other tactics were applied, I had my conscience to answer to. The one thought that kept circling in my mind during the whole situation was that I was so thankful that Bob and Zeena and Jeremy and Mike and the whole 21CL family had raised me right and already prepared me for a moment like this.