21st Century Leaders Announces Winners of 2023 Georgia Youth Leadership Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Top 21 High School Students of 21st Century Leaders Selected for Outstanding Leadership

(February 13, 2023) Atlanta, GA – 21st Century Leaders, a Georgia-based non-profit youth leadership and talent development program for high school students from diverse backgrounds across the state, announces the top 21 youth leaders selected for its annual signature event, Georgia Youth Leadership Awards, presented by Warner Bros. Discovery, to be held on Saturday, March 25, 20232 at the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta, Ga. 

21st Century Leaders (21CL), in partnership with the event’s corporate sponsors and partners, brings together business and civic leaders to raise support for 21st Century Leaders’ year-round leadership programs while also recognizing 21 of their outstanding high school students throughout Georgia who have made a significant impact on their schools, communities and beyond.

21CL serves over 1,600 students annually and this year’s 21 awardees – all in high school and all members of 21st Century Leaders – include non-profit founders, entrepreneurs, content creators, advocates, and volunteers who truly represent the diversity of Georgia with students from DeKalb to Emanuel to Columbia counties. The nominated students exhibit 21CL’s leadership qualities of being service-oriented, forward thinking, resourceful, passionate and of leveraging diversity. The 21 awardees were carefully chosen by a 16-member selection committee of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 members, 21CL Board of Directors, 21CL corporate volunteers and community leaders, and 21CL alumni and student peers. The full selection committee is listed below and on 21CL’s website.

21st Century Leaders is proud to announce the following 21 outstanding youth leaders for the 2023 Georgia Youth Leadership Awards:

  1. Pranita Akella, Lakeside High School (Evans, GA)
  2. Raveena Alli, Atlanta Girls’ School
  3. Sterling Cho, The Walker School
  4. Yireh Fonesca-Gopar, Forest Park High School
  5. Julius Hunnter Goins, Druid Hills High School
  6. Shreyas Gupta, Wheeler High School
  7. Benjamin Harper, Charles R. Drew Charter School
  8. Lilian Huynh, Jonesboro High School
  9. Akhil Kalva, Chattahoochee High School
  10. Payton Key, Cambridge High School
  11. Annie Lin, North Atlanta High School
  12. Tanvi Mehta, Lambert High School
  13. Ify Obianwu, Pebblebrook High School
  14. Eva Rahman, Wesleyan School
  15. Reece Robinson, Westlake High School
  16. Salter Sliger, Midtown High School 
  17. Zoie Stevenson, North Atlanta High School
  18. Troy Steward, East Coweta High School
  19. Gabrielle Walthour, DeKalb Early College Academy
  20. Quintus Williams, Swainsboro High School
  21. Samuel Woldegiorgis, Decatur High School

Through corporate sponsors’ support, each youth leader will be presented with a $500 grant, with one student awarded the Warner Bros. Discovery Student Leadership Award – the event’s top award which includes a $1,000 grant from the presenting sponsor, Warner Bros. Discovery. Students are also paired with coaches who mentor the students throughout the event season. Our Georgia Youth Leadership Award Coaches are recognized and accomplished community leaders and/or members of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 alumni, maintaining a partnership established with the group in 2008 when 21st Century Leaders first launched this event. The student  winners and coaches met at a private Meet + Greet luncheon on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Emory’s Goizueta Business School, a sponsor and supporter.

This year’s event is being led by Co-Chairs and 21CL Board of Directors members Okema Jackson, previously of Warner Bros. Discovery, and Mari Sifo of Host Hotels and Resorts. For more information about the Georgia Youth Leadership Awards or to purchase a ticket to the event, please visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org. All proceeds from the event will support 21CL’s ongoing efforts to provide youth leadership and talent development programs for high school students across Georgia at little to no cost to students.

Georgia Youth Leadership Awards Coaches: 

The Georgia Youth Leadership Award coaches for the 2023 student winners are Maranie Brown, BlackRock; Greg Clay, Partnership for Southern Equity, 21CL Alumnus*; Whitney Deal Marshall, Whitney Marshall Coaching*; Chandra Farley, City of Atlanta, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience; David Felfoldi, SHERPA Global*; Marty Fleischmann, All Electric Racing Organization (AERO), 21CL Board of Directors*; Matt Johnson, KPMG, 21CL Advisory Council*; Dr. Jyoti Sharma, Piedmont, 21CL Alumna; Dr. Alicia Shelly, Wellstar; Mari Sifo, Host Hotels and Resorts, 21CL Board of Directors; Tamika Stokes Goins, CareHalo*; Antrell Tyson, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services*; Ryan Woods, Beck Architecture*; DeAndre Wynn, T.A.N. Tech Solutions; Anqi Zou, Truist

*Coaches who also served on the Selection Committee

Georgia Youth Leadership Awards Selection Committee
All nominations were reviewed by our 16-member GYLA Selection Committee, comprised of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 under 40 members, 21CL Board of Directors, 21CL corporate volunteers, and 21CL alumni and student peers. Committee members included the coaches indicated above, along with LaSandra Boykin, Wellstar; Jeanette McWilliams, IdeasUnited; Trenton Spindler, GreenPrint, A PDI Company; Chi Nguyen, retired, 21CL Board of Directors; Chris Reynolds, RiskBridge Advisors, 21CL Board of Directors; Ila Prabhuram and J’Avani Stinson, 21CL members and 2022 GYLA Student Recipients.

About 21st Century Leaders
Since 1989, 21st Century Leaders has served more than 16,000 diverse high school students from over 250 Georgia high schools. 21st Century Leaders’ mission is to connect, transform, and inspire high school students from diverse backgrounds across the state of Georgia to leverage diversity, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their school, community, and ultimately the workforce. 

21st Century Leaders is currently accepting student applications (until March 1st and March 15th) into their leadership and development program and for their summer leadership institutes for the 2023 summer. The summer leadership institutes are residential one-week programs hosted on a college campus with our corporate partners and business professionals. 21CL accepts rising sophomores, juniors and seniors. For more information about 21st Century Leaders, visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org/student-programs.

# # #

For media inquiries, please contact:
Nicole Meadows
Director of Programs & Communications, 21st Century Leaders
nicole@21stcenturyleaders.org | 404.373.7441

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Alumni Spotlight: Jestini Jordan

21CL Alumna  Jestini Jordan is a graduate of Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology (2018) and of Texas A&M University (May 2022); now she owns and operates a digital business company – Jess My Creations. Throughout high school, Jestini attended many of our student programs, was a 21CL Youth Ambassador and was one of our 2018 Georgia Youth Leadership Award winners. She prides herself in being a great listener-the skill she acquired from 21CL programs!

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I just graduated from Texas A&M University with an engineering degree in Industrial Distribution! I also own and operate a digital art and digital services business called Jess My Creations where I make custom digital portraits, stickers, and more! Over my college tenure, I’ve been a resident advisor, a campus tour guide, and an active member of a women’s organization. Being involved throughout my college career has served me well but has specifically taught me the importance of building a community. Since graduating high school, I’ve moved to a new state, met people with incredible backgrounds, and strengthened and developed long lasting connections and networks.

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

Being involved in 21CL transformed the way I looked at leadership and groomed me into the young adult I am today. Being a part of 21CL taught me the true meaning of selfless service and being able to be confident in my ability to shift the paradigm. By being able to explore and refine my skills as a leader through 21CL programs during my high school, I’ve been able to excel and be confident in college in settings such as group projects, campus-wide events, and in specific leadership roles like being a resident advisor and a tour guide.

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 SYLI program in the summer of 2016, the Turner Voices Youth Media Institute program in the summer 2017, and I was a member of the Executive Council as a 21CL Youth Ambassador for the 2017-2018 school year. I was also a 21CL Georgia Youth Leadership Award recipient in 2018. By participating in 21CL programs, I gained the strength and confidence to take leadership roles on my college campus, vocalize my thoughts, and feed my passions. By being able to partake in the 21CL programs, I learned the true meaning of leadership early and built a foundational knowledge to eventually grow upon in college. Whether it was the speaker panels during the Turner Voices program, or the case study in the SYLI program, I learned the skill and value of public speaking. I also had the opportunity to be a moderator in my role as a Youth Ambassador, which taught me a lot about how to convey myself in a collected manner and projecting my voice.

Do you have a 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.?)

My most memorable moments from my time at 21CL was meeting the likeminded peers and students from across Georgia. I loved being able to have conversations with student leaders from Savannah while also chatting with student leaders from North Georgia, all in one sitting! I loved the diversity of the program and how everyone had their own special distinction. I was able to build relationships with students that I am still connected with and talk to today! Building a community of leaders is something that I learned during my 21CL days and having friends who were also leaders, helped to propel and challenge me as a leader. 21CL did a real great job at filling the room with individuals that were innovative, exuded confidence, and were active listeners!

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!

Yes! 21CL helped me refine and develop my leadership style that I still utilize and lead with today. I lead through listening and 21CL set the foundation for being a leader that listens first and then acts. As a young adult, listening provides clarity, allows me to create a calculated solution, and most importantly it allows for me to make sound decisions. 21CL fostered the ideas of active listening and engagement early in my career as a leader, allowing me to flourish in my roles today!

Alumni Spotlight: Matthew I. George

21CL Alumnus Matthew George is our alumni spotlight for April 2022. A graduate of Alpharetta High School (2019) and a third year student at Young Harris College  (2023), Matthew was one of our 2019 Georgia Youth Leadership Award winners and is currently interning for The Council of State Governments as a public policy analyst. In this post he shares about his great experience during 21CL days, the connections he made and how it all impacted him! 

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now

Hello, I am Matthew and go by Teo! I am a third year student at Young Harris College and recently I embarked on a journey to Washington DC interning for The Council of State Governments as a Policy Analyst. I communicate public policy research and engage in ongoing policy projects focused on providing state leaders policy options and solutions via non-partisan research. Working with the national policy shop on federal grant projects with the Department of Defense, Department of Labor, and Department of Education.

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

21st Century Leaders was a great way to make connections, both with fellow 21CL peers, mentors and the members of corporate organizations at each of the events I attended. This catalyzed the creation of a robust network of professionals that assisted me in many ways including advancing my portfolio and resume experience.

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 several 21CL programs throughout my high school years – summer, fall and winter leadership programs, all! In tandem with the previous question, it is all about the connections! One of the programs, the WarnerMedia Institute for Future Leaders, fostered an internship with Adult Swim the following summer. I’ve maintained these contacts and now applied to a new program with CNN in Washington DC!

During my senior year of high school, I ran for student body president and later applied as peer leadership for incoming freshman. In college, I actively participated in leadership positions within our Student Government Association and some of our local organizations on campus. Additionally, a fellow 21CL partner from the Turner program is also at Young Harris College!

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.?)

There’s this one moment I distinctly remember walking out into the hallway at CNN and bumping into Carl Azuz. I froze in my tracks. After hearing him speak about his time at CNN, I realized broadcast news, writing, and/or analysis would be the way, consequently leading into a position with Adult Swim. EarthCare was my first 21CL program and I am not going to lie, I registered for it as a mistake (tehe). Nonetheless, it was SUCH a great experience, and I really enjoyed my time there! Additionally, I moved to the United States in 2016 and the experience helped with my transition, opening ideas of career pathways I had not considered in the past.

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!

Since 21CL days, I have been a shift supervisor at Starbucks in multiple locations, a Peer Leader, Orientation Leader, and involved in local politics – there has never been a consistent day with a steady workflow and I must say that the servant leadership skills developed and honed with 21CL have been crucial to every experience. 21CL is near and dear to my heart, and I loved the entire experience!

 

Alumni Spotlight: Caylin Carter

Alumna Caylin Carter is currently a student at Clark Atlanta University (Class of 2023) and is a graduate of Hardaway High School(Class of 2019) in Columbus, GA .  During her high school years she participated in the Warner Media Institute for Future Leaders in 2018 and several other 21CL’s programs and received the 2019 Georgia Youth Leadership Awards. At her college, Caylin is involved in many student activities, holds various leadership positions and currently serves as Clark Atlanta University’s United Negro College Fund Miss Empowerment 2022-2023. She gives back and recently served as a roundtable speaker on our 2021 Leadership exCHANGE fall summit.

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I just finished my internship for CNN Commentator Angela Rye this past semester while attending Clark Atlanta University where I’m a majoring in Mass Media Arts with a concentration in Radio, TV, and Film and a minor in History. I am also the host of “The Scoop”, a show I started at Clark Atlanta University, and I occasionally guest host “Blackout”, another show at CAU. I am Vice President of Broadcast for CAU’s National Association of Black Journalist and President of Drop Frame Production and I currently serve as Clark Atlanta University’s United Negro College Fund Miss Empowerment 2022-2023.

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

Participating in the 21st Century Leaders program transformed me; it introduced me to people who would forever be in my corner. I met mentors at WarnerMedia that I still have today who have helped me with my resume or preparing for opportunities, which is something that I would be forever grateful for. I also met amazing friends at 21CL that I still talk to today. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who have goals really transformed me as a person, because when I see other people working hard every single day it makes me want to work harder too.

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 several 21CL programs including the 2018 Turner Youth Voices Media Institute now known as Warner Media for Future Leaders, a lot of the school year training events, including the Goizueta Youth Leadership Summit and I was one of the awardees of the 2019 Georgia Youth Leadership Award . During my time during the summer leadership institute, I learned a lot of skills that I still use today, one of them is to always be ready, so you don’t have to get ready. I am constantly working on my elevator pitch and my resume to be prepared whenever an opportunity comes my way. I also understand the importance of professional and dining etiquette and manners, and it wasn’t until I got to college that I realized that those are skills that not everybody has. I am extremely grateful to 21st Century Leaders for instilling that in me.

Do you have a 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.?)

A memorable moment during my time at 21st Century Leaders would be when we had our final projects during the summer leadership institute and my group came in third place. It was really a challenge completing that project because it was my first time being around people who weren’t really depending on me to take charge, and they were willing to work with me which is hard when you’re so used to being a leader. So, after all the going back and forth on the ideas that we had for the project it was amazing to see it pay off, and it really taught me that leaders have to consider everybody’s ideas no matter what.

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!

As I continue to build my leadership career, I keep learning that even when it might be easier and probably faster to get some things done by yourself, it doesn’t help the people you’re leading when you take control of everything. A good leader must delegate assignments and give others a chance, if one person disappoints it doesn’t mean others will do the same. I also learned that communication is key and when people aren’t communicating with you, you must take the lead and ensure that you reach out to them.

21st Century Leaders Announces Winners of 2022 Georgia Youth Leadership Awards

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Top 21 High School Students of 21st Century Leaders Selected for Outstanding Leadership

(February 11, 2022) Atlanta, GA – 21st Century Leaders, a Georgia-based non-profit youth leadership and talent development program for high school students from diverse backgrounds across the state, announces the top 21 youth leaders selected for its annual signature event, Georgia Youth Leadership Awards, presented by WarnerMedia, to be held on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta, Ga. 

21st Century Leaders (21CL), in partnership with the event’s corporate sponsors and partners, brings together business and civic leaders to raise support for 21st Century Leaders’ year-round leadership programs while also recognizing 21 outstanding high school students throughout Georgia who have made a significant impact on their schools, communities and beyond.

21CL serves over 1,000 students annually and this year’s 21 awardees – all in high school and all members of 21st Century Leaders – include non-profit founders, educators, content creators, researchers, and community advocates who truly represent the diversity of Georgia with students from DeKalb to Effingham to Columbia counties. The nominated students exhibit 21CL’s leadership qualities of being service-oriented, forward thinking, resourceful, passionate and of leveraging diversity. The 21 awardees were carefully chosen by a 23-member selection committee of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 members, 21CL Board of Directors, 21CL corporate volunteers, and 21CL alumni and student peers. The full selection committee is listed below and on its website.

21st Century Leaders is proud to announce the following 21 outstanding youth leaders for the 2022 Georgia Youth Leadership Awards:

  1. Amelia Akins, South Paulding High School
  2. Alexandra Audrain, Marietta High School
  3. Ajay Balasubramaniam, Lambert High School
  4. Raul Bejar Mejia, Gainesville High School
  5. Gabriel Blanding, Greenbrier High School
  6. Esther Ceballo, Westlake High School
  7. Sanjna Desai, North Gwinnett High School
  8. Zora Felix, New Manchester High School
  9. Asanshay Gupta, Atlanta International School
  10. Ansh Jain, Milton High School
  11. Joon Kwon, Northview High School
  12. Olivia Li, Chamblee Charter High School
  13. Benjamin Loong, Campbell High School
  14. April Moss, Effingham County High School
  15. Swetha Pendela, South Forsyth High School
  16. Juliana Claire Ponciano, Ware County High School
  17. Ila Prabhuram, Etowah High School
  18. Anne Robinson, Midtown High School
  19. Avijit Singh, Westminster Schools
  20. J’Avani Stinson, DeKalb Early College Academy
  21. Gabrielle Tobin, Lovett High School

Through corporate sponsors’ support, each youth leader will be presented with a $500 grant, with one student awarded the WarnerMedia Student Leadership Award – the event’s top award which includes a $1,000 grant from the presenting sponsor, WarnerMedia. Students are also paired with GYLA Coaches who mentor the students throughout the event season. GYLA Coaches are members of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 alumni, maintaining a partnership established with the group in 2008 when 21st Century Leaders first launched this event. GYLA winners and coaches met at a private virtual Meet + Greet reception on Thursday, February 10, 2022.

This year’s event is being led by GYLA Co-Chairs and 21CL Board of Directors members Okema Jackson of WarnerMedia and Maria Flores Blackburn of Southern Company, also a 21CL Alumna. For more information about the Georgia Youth Leadership Awards or to purchase a ticket to the event, please visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org. All proceeds from the event will support 21CL’s ongoing efforts to provide youth leadership and talent development programs for high school students across Georgia at little to no cost to students.

GYLA Selection Committee
All nominations were reviewed by our 23-member GYLA Selection Committee, comprised of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 under 40 members, 21CL Board of Directors, 21CL corporate volunteers, and 21CL alumni and student peers. Committee members included Monique Bell, Bobby Dodd Institute*; Stacey Betz, Mercer; Susannah Darrow, Purpose Possible*; Chandra Farley, ReSolve*; David Felfoldi, SHERPA Global*; Dr. Shaneeta Johnson, Morehouse School of Medicine*; Jesse Lindsley, Thrust Interactive*; Ying McPherson, Unifi*; Amanda Mewborn, Navicent Health*; David Minnix, CineMassive Displays*; Dr. Adriane Randolph, BrainLab, Department of Information Systems, Coles College of Business, KSU*; Shawana Rapp, SHRM-ATL; Dr. Alicia Shelly, Wellstar Health Systems*; Mari Sifo, SWM International*; Antrell Tyson, WorkSource Atlanta*; Stephen Vault, Wellstar*; Rachel Weitz, Delta*; Ryan Woods, Beck Architecture*; Stephen Smith, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency*; Marty Fleischmann, Response Media, 21CL Board of Directors*; Shelton Guinn, MarketSource, 21CL Board of Directors; Tomi Oladeji and Sabrina Zhu, 21CL members and 2021 GYLA Student Recipients.

*GYLA Coaches; additional coaches include April Jackson, Truist; Kari McFarlane, Google, Akinship; Kat Taylor, Nelson Mullins, 21CL Board of Directors

About 21st Century Leaders
Since 1989, 21st Century Leaders has served more than 16,000 diverse high school students from over 250 Georgia high schools. 21st Century Leaders’ mission is to connect, transform, and inspire high school students from diverse backgrounds across the state of Georgia to leverage diversity, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their school, community, and ultimately the workforce. 

21st Century Leaders is currently accepting student applications (until March 1st and March 15th) into their leadership and development program and for their four summer leadership institutes for the 2022 summer. The summer leadership institutes are residential one-week programs hosted on a college campus with our corporate partners and business professionals. 21CL accepts rising sophomores, juniors and seniors. For more information about 21st Century Leaders, visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org/student-programs.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Nicole Meadows
Director of Programs & Communications, 21st Century Leaders
nicole@21stcenturyleaders.org | 404.373.7441

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Alumni Spotlight: Skylar Nicholson

Our Alumni Spotlight for April 2021 is Skylar Nicholson, a graduate of Central Education Center in Newnan, Coweta County (2017), and of the University of Georgia (2020). She is a multimedia journalist completing her master’s degree at the University of Georgia where she doubles in as a teaching assistant in Communication Law. During high school, Skylar participated in many of 21CL’s programs and was a 2017 Georgia Youth Leadership Award (GYLA) recipient. This summer she will be a Fellow with The Wall Street Journal in New York City! 

“I still cannot believe that 21st Century Leaders facilitated the opportunity for me to intern with CNN on the Morning Express with Robin Meade just after graduating high school! Once I was in college, I realized just how hard it is to get internships with organizations like CNN. It is highly competitive. Not only is it hard to get an internship at such a coveted organization, but it is unheard of to have one at such a young age… I got to shadow with the anchors, learn how to edit, pitch story ideas, and even help plan future shoots. It was not just a passive internship. It was an actively engaging experience where I got critical feedback on my skillset to help me grow as a storyteller and journalist.” -Skylar Nicholson

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I am a multimedia journalist, completing my master’s degree at the University of Georgia. I am a graduate teaching assistant working with undergraduate students who are taking communication law courses. This summer, I will be a fellow with the Wall Street Journal in New York City.

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

21st Century Leaders taught me to learn how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable. In my graduate studies, what I am learning is completely outside of my comfort zone and forcing me to dive headfirst into uncharted territory and new research. It is also putting me in a position of leadership among other undergraduate students to help guide them to success in their own individual studies.

Participating in 21st Century Leader also gave me confidence in questioning social norms and established ways of operation. There are new ways to approach industry problems, and how things have always been done may not be the best route to approach problems now. It gave me the ability to look at an issue or goal from a 360° perspective and then choose the best course of actions with not only end results in mind, but how the goal is achieved with success in terms of teamwork relations, new technology, and how this individual project plays into the grander scheme of operations. Immediate success is not always the best thing; continued perpetual growth is the most important.

And 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 feel very fortunate to have been involved with 21st Century Leaders since my sophomore year of high school. 21st Century Leaders gave me the professional skills to have a jumpstart in my career field. It gave me mentors that I am still connected with to this day. It also gave me friendships that I value and would not have established without the summer camps. I met one of my best friends, Willie Daniely (we were interns on the Morning Express together), through this program and we still support each other every step of the way as we pursue our individual careers in the same industry.

In addition, I still cannot believe that 21st Century Leaders facilitated the opportunity for me to intern with CNN on the Morning Express with Robin Meade, just after graduating high school. Once I was in college, I realized just how hard it is to get internships with organizations like CNN. It is highly competitive. Not only is it hard to get an internship at such a coveted organization, but it is unheard of to have one at such a young age. Not only were they able to establish this incredible opportunity, but they made it very individual to my particular interests. I was able to work on a morning show and report to work every morning at 4 am. I got to shadow with the anchors, learn how to edit, pitch story ideas, and even help plan future shoots. It was not just a passive internship. It was an actively engaging experience where I got critical feedback on my skillset to help me grow as a storyteller and journalist.

Completing this internship gave me some credibility on my resume and helped me secure future internships. In all of my future internships and fellowships, I was the first person in that role. 21st Century Leaders taught me to pave the way for new opportunities and to ask, “What might else be out there?” I completed an internship with Newsy (Scripps) in Washington, D.C., covering Capitol Hill’s politics. During my time, I got to report daily packages, cover congressional hearings, and even got to ask a question to the president in a White House press conference. It gave me confidence in my skill set and to take charge of new opportunities.

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

Public speaking skills, interview skills, and proper business etiquette were some of my favorite skillsets to learn more about.

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.?)

Getting to shadow Robin Meade and working with the production team was an eye-opening experience. It was my first opportunity to really get to see how a newsroom operates and look into what a future career in this industry might be like one day. The team that I worked with was candid with me and provided honest insight into how to start a career with a trajectory for success. I saw female leadership at HLN. This was something that was really inspiring and exciting for me to watch. There was a diverse team, where women and different ethnicities all have an equal voice in the conversation. Everyone had access to share their opinions and feedback was openly accepted. I did a project where I interviewed different anchors, producers, and show staff on how they got to where they were in their careers. Hearing their individual stories was inspiring. Watch her video about interning after high school at HLN.

 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?

21st Century Leaders taught me the importance of listening. Truly being present, hearing the people around you, and then choosing how to react. There are many different types of leadership, and it is essential to find what your individual strengths are that make you unique. With my new role as a graduate teaching assistant, I have learned the power of having empathy. Especially in the times of COVID-19, where everyone is dealing with new working conditions and unique external stress, it is vital to approach every situation with compassion and understanding. People are human first, outside of the specific tasks that they complete for a job.

I have gone on to complete additional leadership courses and trainings at the University of Georgia. I was a Levin Leader in 2019 for the Cox Institute. Leadership is something that I want to actively pursue and gain new skills in. No one is born a leader, everyone has an equal chance to become one and step into that position of power, and it is up to us to individually pour the time into enhancing our skillsets, so we are ready when the time arrives.

In the wake of the tornado damage (March 2021) that hit her home city of Newnan, Skylar produced a series of stories highlighting the strength of residents and community recovery. 

View some of Skylar’s other productions and multimedia projects online:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxfLitrEdCU&t=1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2ecBbjTaEQ&t=33s

Alumni Spotlight: Jennifer Rice

Alumna Jennifer Rice is a graduate of Providence Christian Academy (2018), a sophomore transfer student and a journalism major at North Carolina A&T State University  and has been making major contributions in the media industry and in her communities.  In her post she shares how 21st Century Leaders taught her to make a positive contribution to each situation and inspired her to live each day to the fullest. 

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

My work experience and memberships at North Carolina A&T State University includes recently developing a multimedia network called “THE HUB”, content creator for HBCU Pulse, campus media manager for Bumble, article contributor to The A&T Register, SGA Senator, Honors Ambassador, NAACP, and voter registration.  As a journalism major, I have also had the pleasure of interviewing Film Producer Kevin Wilson, NBA Player Chris Paul, TV/Radio Personalities Roland Martin and Angela Rye, Democratic Presidential Candidate Elizabeth Warren, and North Carolina Democratic Congresswoman Candidate Rhonda Foxx.  I will also be starting a Planned Parenthood chapter at Greensboro, NC.  “I have learned that success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  I am so excited about what the future holds!

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

Participating in 21st Century Leaders helped to polish my public speaking , elevator pitch/communication and networking skills. In my freshman year at Florida A&M University, I was WANM 90.5 radio personality “J Live,” Assistant Producer for FAMU TV20, Presidential Ambassador, and Student Relations Committee Liaison.  I also received the FAMU Outstanding Freshman Award.  This past summer, I was a Roving Reporter for Dekalb County TV23.

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 prepared me for college and leadership roles.  I was more than prepared for any interview with resume and business cards in hand as well as executive style dress.

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

I participated in several 21CL programs including two summer leadership institutes and all of the school-year programs; including, Turner Voices Youth Media Institute at GA Tech, Summer Youth Leadership Institute (SYLI) at Goizueta, Emory University, the school-year summits, and served as a Youth Leadership Council/Youth Ambassador for a couple of years.

I was also a 2018 Georgia Youth Leadership Award Winner and top student fundraiser for 21CL on Georgia Gives Day.

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.?)

A memorable moment for me was when Mr Bob Watson told our 21CL group to always leave our environment better than we found it.  His words always ring in my mind and inspired me to live each day to the fullest, to always give and do my best, to make a positive contribution to every situation, and to realize that life is full of “teachable moments.”

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!

Servant leadership has been an effective leadership style for me.  It is a leadership style in which you set the example serving others first.  The leader makes sure that the needs of the team or surrounding community are met before hers.  The team/community benefits by growing wiser, healthier, wealthier, etc and hopefully picks up the example of serving others.

Alumni Spotlight: Sydnie Cobb

21CL Alum Sydnie Cobb is a graduate of DeKalb Early College Academy (2018) and currently a student at Harvard University with a concentration in social studies – this summer, she is interning for Georgia Congressman David Scott! Even at a young age, Sydnie has won several leadership awards including 21CL’s Georgia Youth Leadership Award (GYLA) in 2018, and the Girl Scout Gold Award. She shares about the impact 21CL has had on her and a quote that has shaped her leadership role and stuck with her since participating in 21CL:“A leader is comfortable with being uncomfortable.” READ ON

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I graduated from high school in May 2018 and spent my summer interning at CNN, an opportunity that I learned about through my participation with 21st Century Leaders. I am currently at Harvard University with a concentration in social studies and this summer I am interning for Congressman David Scott.

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

Prior to 21st Century Leaders, I was a timid student who had not tapped into or realized my leadership potential. After one week at a 21CL leadership institute, I remembered leaving feeling confident and empowered, ready to pursue any leadership opportunities that came my way. The confidence and empowerment I acquired from 21CL led me to represent my school as student body president, become a Georgia Youth Leadership Award winner, and earn my Girl Scout Gold Award.

And 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?

A quote that has stuck with me since participating in Turner Voices Youth Media Institute is, “A leader is comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Whenever I am overcome with apprehension before taking on a new leadership role, I refer back to this quote and remember all the benefits stepping out of my comfort zone has reaped. I am certain that this mindset, along with the other skills I have gained from 21st Century Leaders, will help me evolve into a better leader in college and in my career.

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

I participated in Turner Voices Youth Media Institute in 2016, served as a Youth Ambassador from 2016-2018, and interned with the Turner Voices program at CNN in summer 2018.  One of the greatest skills I learned from all of these programs is public speaking. From elevator pitches to impromptu speeches, 21st Century Leaders’ programs prepared me for every circumstance of public speaking I will encounter in my professional life.

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 came as I was working on my Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. My project aimed to provide girls in the Kasungu region of Malawi with sanitary napkins to prevent them from missing school due to their periods. A huge obstacle I had to overcome in this project was the exorbitant cost of shipping items from Georgia to Malawi. Utilizing the contacts I gained through networking with 21st Century Leaders, I was able to contact Patrick Solomon, a 21CL Board of Directors member and former CARE executive, who absorbed the shipping costs associated with my project. This experience showed me the importance of networking and using your resources wisely.

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!

To me, an important component of being a leader is helping to foster the next generation of leaders. Throughout my time with 21st Century Leaders, I received guidance from both professionals and my peers that ultimately helped me to secure internships, get into the college of my choice, and complete large-scale volunteer projects. Now, as an alumni of the program, I strive to provide the same level of support and encouragement to younger leaders. To whom much is given, from him much is expected.

Alumni Spotlight: Tessa Szalkowski

Alumna Tessa Szalkowski is our first spotlight for May! A graduate of Henry.W.Grady High School (2016) and currently a junior at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a chemistry major with a minor in marine science and currently works in a laboratory that studies air chemistry in the Galápagos Islands. Tessa says that 21CL gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams and give back to community. Read on about Tessa and don’t forget to fill out the alumni career update form and share about your career progress, connect with other alumni and let us know if you would like to be featured on 21CL alumni blog post.

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

In my freshman year of high school, I joined 21CL’s school-based club at Grady, where I began a project to collect children’s books for the Kigali Public Library in Rwanda. 21st Century Leaders helped me expand from a small, local project to a state-wide fundraiser. They organized lectures for me to speak about the Kigali Book Project with students and teachers, developing my public speaking skills.  With 21st Century Leaders’ help, I rounded up over ten thousand books! In 2014, I was awarded their annual Georgia Youth Leadership Award. 21st Century Leaders gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams and dream big.

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 developed my networking skills and taught me how to give back to my community. With 21CL, I participated in many volunteer events at my high school and spoke with adults in the Atlanta business community on a regular basis. 21CL contributed valuable life skills that I continue to use to this very day.

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

In 2013, I attended their EarthCare, summer leadership institute. This institute taught me how to talk to professionals, give presentations to business executives, and collaborate with my peers.

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

During the EarthCare institute, my team won the Clean Air Campaign challenge. We were given the task to come up with the best school campaign to decrease air pollution. My teammates and I worked hard on the assignment, brainstormed and came up with with a great presentation. When I heard our names called as the winning team, I realized that putting in the time and effort to a noble cause truly pays off. I discovered my true passion for environmental science during this project. I now work as an air chemist in a research lab, so I never gave up on that dream.

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 has taught me how to think on my feet and go with my gut instinct. To further promote my Kigali Book Project, 21CL asked me to collect books and make bookmarks with the students at their annual winter training, Goizueta Youth Leadership Summit. Upon arrival, I was asked to share a few words after the Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, Stacey Abrams. (Little did I know she would make a run at Georgia governor!) I was so nervous to address this room of bright students without a speech prepared, but after a gracious introduction, I took the stage and began to speak. Public speaking on the spot was something I would not have dared to do even a few years before. However, 21CL gives you the skills to face your fears with the utmost confidence. I have utilized these public speaking skills and ability to think on my feet as a leader in my academics and research.

Alumni Spotlight: Sara Dada

Sara Dada is our first Alumni Spotlight for the month of November! She is currently a Fulbright Scholar at Royal Veterinary College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Sara shares about her leadership journey and the skills acquired from 21st Century Leaders such as the value of developing a personal brand and more… She is a graduate of Wheeler High School (2013) and of the Georgia Institute of Technology (2017). Read on!

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I am just finishing up my MSc in One Health (Infectious Disease) at the Royal Veterinary College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. For the past year, I have been in London studying as a Fulbright scholar. During this time, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to meet other prestigious scholars studying in the U.K., attend a variety of talks and events in my field of work or at the US Embassy, conduct field work in Sierra Leone and India, and contribute to a number of development and research projects.

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

While participating in 21CL feels like a million years ago, I do think this organization had a great impact on my confidence and ability as a leader that heavily influenced my involvement in college and beyond. 21CL camps were among my first experiences with groups of other leaders and change-makers and being a part of that network was inspiring. One of my most memorable and impactful experiences was when the entire cohort at Georgia Southern in 2011 came together to support the non-profit organization I had started. In February 2011, I started “Give Hope: RSD” and sold wristbands to raise money for research on Reflexive Sympathetic Dystrophy. I had presented this cause one night of camp and by the end of the week, everyone surprised me by donating a total of around $200-300 dollars. The whole group had been pooling their donations to present at one of our final evenings (where I shamelessly cried). I was unbelievably moved by this show of support and motivated by the kindness and inspiration of the leaders around me.

And 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 do think 21CL prepared me for my next steps in college by giving me the leadership development skills and confidence to take on leadership roles from the moment I stepped onto campus.

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

I attended G5, now called the Summer Youth Leadership Institute (SYLI), at Emory in 2010 and the summer leadership institute at Georgia Southern in 2011.

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 21CL “aha” moment is still with me EIGHT years later! I can’t remember the particular name of the session, but I remember sitting in that lecture hall at Emory one very hot summer day in 2010 discussing personal brands. The speakers mentioned the value in setting up and running a blog. I think they explained the value in a blog developing your personal brand and providing a unique experience in writing and other skills that could be marketable down the line. That was the moment that I decided to start my own blog. And while activity on the blog has fluctuated over the past 8 years, it has been an amazing place to look back on my journey. Even more importantly, it has been a vital channel through which I communicate and express my view of the world. My blog posts have had everywhere from 8 to 2000 views and it has consistently served as a place for me to develop both personally and professionally. I have recently actually challenged myself to turn my blog into a website and have been working on this project all summer – you can check it out here: www.ramblindada.com

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 introduced me to various types of leadership styles and roles and allowed me to try them out in different ways. But my last five years in college and beyond challenged the typical understanding of leadership that I had. One of the most important lessons I have learned from a book called “Leadership on the Line” has been “Meaning derives from finding ways to love and contribute to worldly enterprise.” I read this statement at a time when I was really struggling. I had just lost not one, but two presidential elections for campus organizations I was heavily involved in. I was feeling not only that I had failed as a leader in those organizations but also helpless that I would be unable to serve my community in the upcoming year. This quote, and other lessons from this book and experiences in my life at the time, pointed me in a new direction. I soon realized and truly appreciated that meaning does not derive from the positions or leadership “roles” that we fill, but from what we do and the actions we take. Since then, I have reminded myself that I can find meaning and contribute to worldly enterprise in a variety of traditional and non-traditional ways such as by writing on my blog, serving as a mentor, and being a positive energy in the teams to which I contribute.