21st Century Leaders Announces First Ever Leadership Certificate from Goizueta Business School for GA H.S. School Students

21st Century Leaders and the Goizueta Business School launched a social enterprise and entrepreneurship curriculum for Georgia’s high school students to earn a Leadership Certificate from the business school, a first-ever program of its kind.

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21st Century Leaders Partners with City of Atlanta on Youth Climate Action Fund

FROM THE CITY OF ATLANTA

 

Mayor Andre Dickens Announces Atlanta’s Youth Climate Action Fund to Activate Young People in Driving Climate Solutions

Post Date:07/11/2024 10:45 AM

Mayor’s Office of Communications

Mayor Andre Dickens Announces Atlanta’s Youth Climate Action Fund
to Activate Young People in Driving Climate Solutions

ATLANTA—With 84 percent of youth around the world reporting that they are worried climate change threatens people and the planet, Mayor Andre Dickens announced the application window is open to apply for Atlanta’s new Youth Climate Action Fund. Launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Youth Climate Action Fund will provide technical assistance and funding for 100 mayors to activate tens of thousands of young people ages of 15 – 24 years to design, produce and govern urgent climate solutions in their cities. Atlanta joins the Fund alongside 100 cities from around the world, which together spans 38 countries across six continents, representing over 62 million residents.

“With the launch of Atlanta’s Youth Climate Action Fund, we can empower our city’s young innovators to develop youth-led climate solutions designed for the future,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “Our Administration has made priorities both of investing in our youth and addressing the climate crisis on the local level. Thanks to Bloomberg Philanthropies and additional partners, this is an opportunity to foster the next generation of climate leaders while advancing our efforts to build a more sustainable and resilient Atlanta.”

As part of this program, the City of Atlanta received $50,000 to provide microgrants and convening opportunities in support of youth-led climate initiatives. The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience is partnering with 21st Century Leaders, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that has been delivering youth leadership development programming in Georgia for 35 years, to serve as the fiscal sponsor to award microgrants from $1,000 to $5,000. From mobilizing tree-planting or public education campaigns to launching recycling or waste reduction initiatives, efforts stemming from the Youth Climate Action Fund will help advance Atlanta’s sustainability goals.

Young residents ages 15 – 24 years are encouraged to visit Atlanta’s Youth Climate Action Fund webpage to learn more about the Youth Climate Action Fund, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, and how to submit ideas for the opportunity to receive funding. Applications close Friday, July 25, 2024.

“There’s no age requirement for leadership and we love that the Mayor’s office is investing in the city with this same mindset.” said Kate Hewitt, Executive Director of 21st Century Leaders. “When youth are provided access and opportunity, incredible things happen. We’re proud to partner with the City of Atlanta’s Youth Climate Action Fund where, together, we will advance young leaders to create real change for their local communities and beyond.”

The program will be delivered by United Cities and Local Governments in partnership with the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy will collaborate as learning partners. Cities that respond to the urgency of the moment and commit the initial $50,000 within six months will receive an additional $100,000 to support more youth-driven projects over the course of one year.

Young residents ages 15 – 24 are encouraged to visit Atlanta’s Youth Climate Action Fund webpage to learn more and submit ideas for the opportunity.

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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta

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21ST CENTURY LEADERS CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF EMPOWERING STUDENTS WITH A $1 MILLION SUSTAINABILITY FUND CAMPAIGN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

21ST CENTURY LEADERS CELEBRATE 35 YEARS OF EMPOWERING STUDENTS WITH A $1 MILLION SUSTAINABILITY FUND CAMPAIGN

Atlanta, GA (June 4, 2024)—21st Century Leaders, Georgia’s premier youth leadership development program, announced its Empowering Our Future: Sustainability Campaign, which aims to raise $1 million to endow its transformative leadership programs with long-term sustainability and impact. This campaign, coinciding with the organization’s 35th anniversary, will not only provide scalable and accessible programs for all high school students across Georgia but also change the trajectory of their lives, empowering them to become the leaders of tomorrow. 

“As we celebrate this milestone year for the organization and how we’re impacting today’s youth, we’re also thinking about the next 35 years and how we will inspire and support those students,” says DeRetta Rhodes, Ph.D., Chairperson, 21CL Board of Directors and EVP Chief Culture Officer, Atlanta Braves. “Ensuring our future schools, communities, and places of work are filled with diverse, empathetic, and talented leaders is a cause we should all want to support.”

In 1989, a group of Georgia-based executives observed a growing and critical need to prepare their employees for leadership and promote collaboration across class and racial barriers. To address this, they founded 21st Century Leaders, aiming to build the next generation of leaders by providing young people with training, guidance, and encouragement to enter college and the workforce with highly developed leadership skills.

“For over three and half decades, 21st Century Leaders has empowered and inspired over 18,000 high school students to reach their full potential,” said Kate Hewitt, Executive Director, 21st Century Leaders. “This campaign will ensure we continue to provide accessible programming for all while strategically scaling our leadership development programs for more youth across Georgia to meet the demand of our growing student body.”

The $1 million Sustainability Fund will directly support the annual expansion and enhancement of 21st Century Leaders’ programs. These include:

  • Fully Funding a Summer Leadership Institute: Providing a transformative week-long residential experience for 75-100 students, free of charge.
  • Enrolling an Additional 500 Students in Leadership Connect: Expanding access to this cutting-edge, gamified online platform that equips students with essential leadership skills, badging, and certifications.
  • Launching 10 New School and Community-Based Clubs: Reaching 30% more students with peer-to-peer learning and leadership development opportunities across the state.

Investing in the Future Leaders of Georgia

21st Century Leaders is committed to fostering the next generation of Georgia’s leaders. The ​​Empowering Our Future: Sustainability campaign will ensure long-term stability by investing in staff, programs, and partnerships. It also awards scholarships to graduating seniors. This campaign provides an opportunity for individuals, corporations, and foundations to invest in the future of our state.

How to Get Involved

To learn more about the 21st Century Leaders Sustainability Fund and how individuals, corporations, and foundations can contribute to empowering Georgia’s future leaders, please visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org/endowment or contact Kate Hewitt, Executive Director at kate@21stcenturyleaders.org. 

About 21st Century Leaders

21st Century Leaders is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect, transform, and inspire high school students from across the state of Georgia to leverage and promote diversity and inclusion, explore career opportunities, and become leaders across their schools, communities, and, ultimately, the workforce. Through innovative programs and experiences, we cultivate the skills and knowledge necessary for students to thrive in a globalized world. Visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org to learn more about our transformational programs for high school students across Georgia. 

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21st Century Leaders Receives ‘2023 Excellence Award’

The Georgia Afterschool & Youth Development Awards, led by GSAN (Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network), honor outstanding professionals, programs, and youth and recognize honorees for their efforts and excellence in the afterschool and youth development field.

21st Century Leaders was honored to received the 2023 Excellence Award on October 27, 2023. The Excellence Award is for an outstanding afterschool or youth development program that meets the highest standards of quality in the field and demonstrates capacity to meet the needs of children, youth and families in their community.

“For 35 years, 21st Century Leaders has been inspiring thousands of high school students across the state of Georgia and this recognition is a testament to the service that hundreds of community members, partners, supporters, and staff have dedicated to our students,” said executive director, Kate Hewitt. “We’re grateful for GSAN’s support in uplifting all non-profits across Georgia.”

The 2023 Georgia ASYD Award finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges. All award recipients were announced during the 2023 Georgia ASYD Awards and Professional Learning Summit at Middle Georgia State University. Learn more about GSAN and their AYSD Awards.

Alumni Spotlight: Keyla Cabret-Lewis

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: Keyla Cabret-Lewis
H.S. Grad Year: Class of 1997
High School: Carver High School (Columbus, GA)
College: Columbus State University
Current Role: Vice President, DEI + Talent Development, Aflac

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?

I started in corporate America very young -a sophomore in High School- so going into the 21st Century Leaders program was very timely and appropriate development training for me.  Some of lessons that I learned during the program were brand new but more importantly much of the content in the program detailed working in teams, etiquette, etc., and I was already experiencing this at work.  This made the program very applicable and appealing.

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.)

It’s hard to pick one moment out of the experience…this was my 1st time away from my home overnight and meeting teens from out of town was not common so the exposure to so many different young people of like minds was cool.  That we were all there to learn about being leaders was eye opening too…so many commonalities, many differences but we all wanted to do more for ourselves, families, communities.  Humbling even at that age.

Keyla is third in from right at a 21CL summer institute.

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

I would say that the fact the organization still exists with the sole purpose to lift young people up and teach them more about leadership and themselves…that’s an effective leadership characteristic that I believe in.

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

Programs like 21st Century Leaders are key to the development of young people’s soft skills. Many times, academia focuses on technical skills but does not always spend time on the skills that help young people interact with adults during interviews, during lunches/dinners, communicate with people via email professionally, work as a team…all these skills are critical in the workplace and lead to success.  Why not start cultivating these skills in high school.  I often tell young people that I come across, “find a good internship, co-op, or program that can help you prepare for the workplace”.  21st Century Leaders does that and more.