(Atlanta, GA) – For 35 years, Georgia Power has been investing in youth leadership development for communities across Georgia by supporting and partnering with 21st Century Leaders (21CL) to inspire youth to lead. In three and a half decades, this legacy partnership has served over 20,000 of Georgia’s high school students with workforce readiness and leadership development, including volunteer opportunities, paid internships, diversity, equity and inclusion training, and careers for 21CL alumni.

21st Century Leaders was established in 1989 as the Georgia Business Forum by a community of business leaders with the purpose of meeting a noticed need in the workforce: to prepare diverse, young talent to take on leadership roles in the workplace. In 1996, the organization changed its name to 21st Century Leaders (21CL), a result of the strategic planning and branding vision of John Varner who served as 21CL’s Board Chair and a Georgia Power executive in the early 90’s. Today, 21st Century Leaders is known as Georgia’s premier youth leadership development organization.

As a partner from the beginning, Georgia Power’s commitment to business education partnerships strengthened the foundation of 21st Century Leaders with educators, community-based organizations, and other youth-focused organizations. In 35 years, much to the credit of partners like Georgia Power and their community-serving initiatives, 21CL has served students in 95% of Georgia’s counties, enabling equitable access to high quality leadership development programs for students with passion and potential in communities large and small.

“Georgia Power has been at the forefront of serving its community and investing in our youth and future workforce, so it’s no surprise that they’ve remained committed to 21st Century Leaders for the last 35 years,” says Kate Hewitt, Executive Director, 21st Century Leaders. “It’s an incredible testament to their values and to the power of investing in young people. We’re proud and grateful for their partnership and the collective impact we’re making together for the next generation of leaders right here in Georgia.”

“At Georgia Power, our commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders is unwavering. For 35 years, our partnership with 21st Century Leaders has embodied Our Values of Intentional Inclusion and Superior Performance, driving our mission to empower Georgia’s youth,” says Rachel Williams, Vice President of Transmission Field Operations, Georgia Power, 21CL Board of Directors. “By investing in their potential, we are not only shaping the future of our workforce but also enriching the communities we proudly serve. Together, we are creating a legacy of leadership, innovation and opportunity that will resonate for generations to come.”

Over the years, Board Members and community affairs champions from Georgia Power have been instrumental in developing the organization through opportunity, innovation, and collaboration. In 1991, 21CL launched its first “summer business academy” which provided business education and diversity training for Georgia’s high school students. When Ellen Lindemann, former Senior Vice President with Georgia Power, joined the 21CL Board of Directors in the 2000’s, she was instrumental in establishing EarthCare: The Leadership Challenge for the 21st Century in 2008. 

EarthCare is 21CL’s one-week residential summer leadership institute focused around STEM and environmental stewardship, supported by Georgia Power and the Georgia Power Foundation, which connects students with over 70 Georgia Power employees who volunteer during the program week. Thanks to this partnership, over 1,400 high school students have attended EarthCare at no cost over the past 17 summers.

Additionally, Georgia Power has supported access to youth leadership through support of all of our year-round programming, including free enrollment into our Leadership Connect program, school-year training events, honoring Georgia Youth Leadership Awardees with scholarships, and placing graduating high school students in paid summer internships within their community partners through 21CL’s job shadowing and internship programs. 21CL alumni have even found employment with Georgia Power, following career exploration through our programs into a workforce talent pipeline for Georgia’s top companies.

“Attending EarthCare in the summer of 2009 was a transformative experience for me. Thanks to the unwavering support from Georgia Power, I was able to participate in this incredible weeklong camp through 21st Century Leaders,” said Maria Flores Blackburn, Project Controls Supervisor, Transmission, Georgia Power, 21CL Alumni and 21CL Board of Directors. “The skills and confidence I gained during that time inspired me to take on leadership roles in my school and community, shaping my journey through high school, college, and beyond. As a CPA and finance professional, I am proud to now work for Georgia Power in a leadership role, and to serve on the board of 21st Century Leaders as Treasurer. This partnership has truly come full circle, and I am honored to be a part of it. The legacy partnership between Georgia Power and 21st Century Leaders has empowered over 20,000 students across Georgia, and I am a testament to the lasting impact of their commitment to youth leadership development.”

As 21st Century Leaders moves forward off their 35th anniversary in 2024, Georgia Power continues to support the organization as a legacy partner, sustaining their partnership for EarthCare each summer, hosting over 300 students for a Summer Orientation at their headquarters in Atlanta, and contributing support for 21CL’s charity golf outing and as a gold sponsor for 21CL’s annual fundraising gala, The Be the Inspiration Gala, taking place on March 15, 2025 at Zoo Atlanta.

Several of the featured Alumni Spotlights share the impact this company has had on them whether during a program or now as an employee.

Written by Nicole Smith, Dir. of Programs & Communications, 21st Century Leaders (21CL Alumni)

(Atlanta, GA) For 35 years, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), formerly Turner, has been supporting and partnering with 21st Century Leaders (21CL) to inspire youth to lead. In three decades, this legacy partnership has served over 17,000 of Georgia’s high school students with career and leadership training, including volunteer opportunities, paid internships, a student-led social enterprise business developed by students and Cartoon Network managers, and even employment for industry-inspired 21CL alumni!

21st Century Leaders began in 1989 as the Georgia Business Forum, changing names in 1996 to 21st Century Leaders (21CL). The organization launched its first “summer business academy” in 1991, focusing on business education and diversity training for Georgia’s high school students to prepare for leadership roles in the workforce and in their communities. Since its beginning, 21CL has partnered with companies to provide equitable opportunities for youth to access professionals, career knowledge, resources for service and leadership, and confidence for their future pathways.

It was the early 1990’s when a community affairs executive at Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), Terri Tingle, solidified the collaborative relationship between 21CL and the Atlanta-based media company, establishing a legacy of support that continues today through sponsorship, program development, employee engagement and Board membership.

Then, it was Dennis Quinn, Executive Vice President at Turner at the time, and 21CL’s Board Chair in the early 2000’s, whose forward-thinking passion for leadership drove the creation of 21CL’s first co-branded summer leadership institute in 2006 called Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience. That became a pivotal turning point for the organization. Bob Watson, Founding Executive Director of 21st Century Leaders says, “He is a really great example of what committed leadership could do.”

Warner Bros. Discovery had been sponsoring corporate exploration days and year round programming including, for several years, the Cartoon Network Closet, a unique work experience for high school students. This student-run social enterprise gave high school students a paid or credited work experience running a storefront on eBay selling branded items donated by the network to support 21st Century Leaders, as well as the opportunity to work with network managers and executives on collaborative special projects. Dennis Adamovich, who currently serves on 21CL’s Advisory Council, led this Initiative when he was SVP of Marketing for Cartoon Network during the early 2000s, proving once again that committed leadership drives impact. Building on years of support and collaboration, WBD’s sponsorship of a week-long program introduced a new level of impact and sustainability to the partnership.

For 18 summers from 2006 to 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery’s support of this media-focused summer program allowed nearly 1,800 high school students to participate at no cost in a curated, premier residential program and gain invaluable insights and access into the media and entertainment industry that continues to expand in Georgia. The name of the institute changed over the years as the company evolved, but their commitment to investing in future talent and youth leadership stayed consistent and even grew with the inclusion of a paid summer internship exclusively available to high school senior students from WBD’s organizational partners (like 21CL). 

“Warner Bros. Discovery is proud of our longstanding partnership with 21st Century Leaders, and we celebrate their achievements over these last 35 years. Throughout our partnership, we have been fortunate to work with the incredible 21CL team to co-create engaging in-depth student programs focused on building career pathways in the media and entertainment industry. I am proud to have witnessed first-hand the impact of the work, seeing so many 21CL students pursuing careers in the media industry and even joining our company as interns and full-time employees. We look forward to elevating our reach this year and remaining a source of mentorship and inspiration for the future leaders of our industry,” says Sydney Langdon, Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at WBD.

“Warner Bros. Discovery’s commitment has never waivered for three decades. Not many nonprofits can say that about their partners. To me, that only shows their committed and passionate leadership, shared values, and strong belief in the work 21st Century Leaders has done and continues to do for Georgia’s youth,” says Kate Hewitt, Executive Director for 21st Century Leaders. “Our collective investment in inspiring and developing diverse storytellers and leaders has left, and continues to leave, an indelible mark on Georgia’s communities and beyond.”

As we celebrate our 35th anniversary in 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery continues to support 21CL as a legacy partner. In addition to producing in-kind videos highlighting our Georgia Youth Leadership Award winners, they will be one of our partners for our new Film & Entertainment Institute launching in summer 2024, and they are the presenting sponsor of our annual fundraising event, the Be the Inspiration Gala, taking place on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Zoo Atlanta.

Several of the featured Alumni Spotlights share the impact this company has had on them whether during a program or now as an employee.

Written by Nicole Meadows, Dir. of Programs & Communications, 21st Century Leaders (21CL Alumni)