Leadership Connect – 21st Century Leaders

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

Nicole Meadows — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:57:46 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

21st CENTURY LEADERS ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE FROM GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL FOR GEORGIA’S HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Atlanta, GA (December 4, 2024) – 21st Century Leaders (21CL), a non-profit and Georgia’s and premier youth leadership development program, and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School have leveraged their nearly 20-year partnership to present an opportunity for high school students to earn a Leadership Certificate from the business school through a capstone project focused on social enterprise and entrepreneurship. This is the only program through which high school students can obtain this certificate.

Through 21st Century Leaders’ proprietary online learning platform, Leadership Connect, students engage with gamified lessons that they complete at their own pace, earning points and unlocking rewards as they develop their leadership skills in an online community and “level up their leadership.” Leadership Connect’s four levels of content and curriculum, comprising over 170 lessons, focus on foundational leadership competencies; social-emotional learning and diversity, equity and inclusion; life skills including financial literacy and civic engagement; and the capstone of social enterprise and entrepreneurship. Over the past decade, 21CL has been developing Leadership Connect’s content, with the culminating level of curriculum, Level 4: Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Capstone, recently launched in fall 2024 in collaboration with Goizueta.

“At Goizueta, we believe in the power of leadership and innovation to drive positive change. We’re thrilled to extend this experience to high school students through our partnership with 21st Century Leaders,” shares Gareth James, John H. Harland Dean of Goizueta Business School. “This Leadership Certificate focuses on topics such as entrepreneurship and social responsibility, offering young leaders a unique opportunity to develop skills early on that are essential for thriving in the world today. We are excited to see the impact these students will make as they apply what they’ve learned in their communities and beyond.”

In its inaugural year, Level 4: Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Capstone is time-bound and project-based; students complete lessons and submit assignments between monthly meetings with a cohort of peers and Leadership Connect coaches, all of whom are current MBA candidates or graduates of Goizueta. Collaborating with Goizueta faculty and students, 21CL built out this customized social enterprise curriculum through interactive, gamified content and videos recorded by Goizueta professors and MBA graduates/candidates tailored to high school students.

Between now and April 2025, these 21st Century Leaders’ high school students will work with their assigned MBA volunteer coach to develop a social enterprise and business pitch together, which will be presented at the end of the school year. The experience will end with an exciting pitch day in person at Goizueta Business School on April 19, 2025. Those that complete Level 4 also receive a Leadership Certificate that is jointly presented by 21st Century Leaders and Goizueta, an exclusive credential for high school students to have as they pursue post-secondary education and career pathways.

“This is an extremely exciting time not just for 21st Century Leaders as an organization, but also for our students who are receiving an experience and education in entrepreneurship and leadership from an international-ranked MBA program – as high school students!” says Kate Hewitt, Executive Director of 21st Century Leaders. “Our partnership with Goizueta Business School has unlocked potential and opened doors for thousands of students over the last two decades, but this certificate and curriculum has the power to take students to a whole new level of opportunity, success, and careers.”

This year’s cohort includes 28 students from across Georgia – including Berrien, Emanuel, Jefferson, and Harris Counties – and 14 coaches representing Goizueta.

Please join us in congratulating and thanking our 2024-2025 MBA volunteers:

Prashant Patro, MBA Candidate ‘25
Mackenzie Heriford, MBA Candidate ‘26
Jeff Shibata, MBA Candidate ‘26
Taylor Green, MBA ‘21 (21CL Alumna)
Tom Moak, MBA Candidate ‘25
Simran Verma, MBA Candidate ‘26
Delaria Ridley, MBA Candidate ‘25
Benjamin James, MBA Candidate ‘26
David Azu, MBA Candidate ‘25
Harsh Tilwani, MBA Candidate ‘26
Braden Skripak Gordon, MBA Candidate ‘26
James Cochran, MBA Candidate ‘26
Alina Mencias, MBA ‘24 (21CL Board of Directors)
Nathaniel Okyere-Bour, MBA Candidate ‘26

Congratulations to the inaugural Level 4 cohort participants: Shail Avashia, Innovation Academy ‘26; Bella Burroughs, Harris County HS ‘26; Rishi Byakod, South Forsyth HS ‘26; Jerel Clark, Elite Scholars Academy ‘26; Sreepadha Daram, Innovation Academy ‘26; Sreya Donthineni, Innovation Academy ‘27; Carissa Hagood, Richmond Hill HS ‘27; Tessa Hayes, Jefferson County HS ‘27; Josie Herren, Berrien County HS ‘26; Sarah Ikaiddi, Arabia Mountain HS ‘26; Kaelyn Jin-Britt, Innovation Academy ‘26; Niki Karimifard, Northview HS ‘26; Anshuman Khadanga, Evans HS ‘25; Hannah Lang, Georgia Cyber Academy ‘25; Leia Lankford, Woodstock HS ‘25; Fucheng Li, Darlington School ‘26; Muhammed Marrie, Westlake HS ‘25; Ansh Mithani, Innovation Academy ‘26; Lokesh Pampatti, Chapel Hill HS ‘25; Vidhi Raiyani, Putnam County HS ‘26; Yasmin Rios, Swainsboro HS ‘26; Litzy Sanchez, Morrow HS ‘27; Anjika Shah, Lanier HS ‘27; Rhea Shah, GSMST ‘25; Sauyer Stewart, Arabia Mountain HS ‘25; Victoria Szczesny, Johns Creek HS ‘27, Ronak Vyas, Alpharetta HS ‘25; Jace Williams, Westlake HS ‘26.

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’re equipping and empowering young talent to lead in companies and communities, while fostering a culture of inclusion and service. Visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org to learn more about our transformational programs for high school students across Georgia.

About Goizueta Business School

Business education has been an integral part of Emory University’s identity since 1919. That kind of longevity and significance does not come without a culture built on success and service. Emory University’s Goizueta Business School offers a unique, community-oriented environment paired with the academic prestige and rigor of a major research institution. Goizueta develops business leaders of today and tomorrow with an undergraduate degree program, Full-time MBA (Two-Year MBA & One-Year MBA), Evening MBA, Executive MBA, MS in Business Analytics, Master of Finance, Master in Management, Master in Business for Veterans, Doctoral degree, and a portfolio of non-degree Emory Executive Education courses. Together, the Goizueta community strives to solve the world’s most pressing business problems. The school is named for the late Roberto C. Goizueta, former Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company.

For more information, visit goizueta.emory.edu.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mitch Leff

Leff & Associates

mitch@leffassociates.com | 404-861-4769

Nicole Smith

Director of Programs & Communications, 21st Century Leaders

nicole@21stcenturyleaders.org | 404-373-7441

Inspired? Share the good news with your network.

Fulton County + 21CL Present Youth Leadership Program

sherpa — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 18:00:01 +0000

NEWS RELEASE

Fulton County’s CONNECTED: Youth Leadership Program (CYLP) in Partnership with 21^st Century Leaders

Providing high school students with an experiential leadership and rewards program

August 1, 2023 (ATLANTA) – The Fulton County Department of Community Development is partnering with 21^st Century Leaders, Georgia’s premier youth leadership and non-profit organization, to connect, transform and inspire high school students from diverse backgrounds in Fulton County to become the next generation of leaders. Registration for participation in the program is from August 21 to September 18. Applicants must submit completed applications by Monday, September 18, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.

Fulton County’s CONNECTED: Youth Leadership Program (CYLP) is an experiential program designed to provide students with a full year of robust experiences, enabling them to develop critical leadership knowledge, explore future career interests, and make informed decisions about the necessary educational and training pathways to achieve desired future career goals. Participants will also have access to live and online leadership training, special incentives, and connection with diverse peers and professionals throughout Fulton County.

Through this collaboration, YCS and 21^st Century Leaders will follow an EPIC approach model: Engaging (fun and unique learning), Participatory (active and ongoing), Interactive (employer and training driven), and Connected (interest-driven/social developmental) utilizing 21^st Century Leaders’ (21CL) proprietary online learning platform, Leadership Connect®, which is housed on Rali, an Atlanta based learning management system and one of 21CL’s partnering companies.

For consideration, students must meet the following criteria:

● Must be enrolled in high school

● Must be a Fulton County Resident

● Access to a computer/tablet and Wi-Fi will be required to fully participate in this virtual leadership program

Leadership, recognition, and inclusivity describe just a few of the many qualities exemplified by CYLP. As such, there will be several opportunities throughout the year to provide incentives that encourage and reward participant engagement, including:

● $25 Sign-on

● $25 New Year Bonus

● $100 Weekly Gift Card Drawing

● $25 End-of-Year Bonus

● Technology Prizes (Ear pods, Laptops, tablets)

● Special Experiences

● Live Workshops + Leadership Summits

● Opportunity for paid summer internship (seniors only)

Completed applications may be submitted through the Fulton County website application link at www.fultoncountyga.gov/CYLP.

For more information, please contact Dionne Ferrell, Youth Coordinator, at dionne.ferrell@fultoncountyga.gov.

About 21^stCentury Leaders

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

For more Fulton County news, sign up for the weekly e-newsletter #OneFulton at https://goo.gl/Nb1L84. You can also visit Fulton County’s website at www.fultoncountyga.gov or connect with the Fulton County government on Twitter at @FultonInfo or Facebook at @fultoninfo.

###

Department of External Affairs
MEDIA CONTACT: Marc Baucom
404-374-9925 (cell)
mark.baucom@fultoncountyga.gov
141 Pryor St. SW, Suite 3090
Atlanta, GA 30303
www.fultoncountyga.gov

Tweets by FultonInfo

https://www.facebook.com/FultonInfo

DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE

Fulton County + 21CL Launch Youth Leadership Program

Nicole Meadows — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 00:10:00 +0000

NEWS RELEASE

Fulton County’s CONNECTED: Youth Leadership Program (CYLP) in Partnership with 21st Century Leaders

CYLP provides Fulton County high school students with an experiential leadership and rewards program

ATLANTA – The Fulton County’s Department of Community Development’s Youth and Community Services Division (YCS) is partnering with 21st Century Leaders, Georgia’s premier youth leadership and non-profit organization, to connect, transform and inspire high school students from diverse backgrounds in Fulton County to become the next generation of leaders. Applicants may complete applications until Monday, September 27, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Fulton County’s CONNECTED: Youth Leadership Program (CYLP), is an experiential program designed to provide students with a full year of robust experiences, enabling them to develop critical leadership knowledge, explore future career interests, and make informed decisions about the necessary educational and training pathways to achieve desired future career goals. Participants will also have access to live and online leadership training, special incentives, and connection with diverse peers and professionals throughout Fulton County.

Through this collaboration, YCS and 21st Century Leaders will follow an EPIC approach model: Engaging (fun and unique learning), Participatory (active and ongoing), Interactive (employer and training driven), and Connected (interest driven/social developmental) utilizing 21st Century Leaders’ (21CL) proprietary online learning platform, Leadership Connect®, which is housed on Rali, an Atlanta based learning management system and one of 21CL’s partnering companies.

For consideration, students must meet the following criteria:

● Must be enrolled in high school
● Must be a Fulton County Resident
● Access to a computer/tablet and Wi-Fi will be required to fully participate in this virtual leadership program

● $25 Sign-on
● $25 New Year Bonus
● $100 Weekly Gift Card Drawing
● Technology Prizes (Ear pods, Laptops, tablets)
● Special Experiences
● Live Workshops + Leadership Summits

Completed applications may be submitted through the Fulton County website application link at www.fultoncountyga.gov/CYLP.

For more information, please contact Reginald Crossley, Youth Coordinator via e-mail at Reginald.Crossley@fultoncountyga.gov.

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

For more Fulton County news, sign up for the weekly e-newsletter #OneFulton at https://goo.gl/Nb1L84. You can also visit Fulton County’s website at www.fultoncountyga.gov or connect with Fulton County government on Twitter at @FultonInfo or Facebook at @fultoninfo.

###

Department of External Affairs
MEDIA CONTACT: Erica Miller
404-713-5995 (cell)
erica.miller@fultoncountyga.gov
141 Pryor St. SW, Suite 3090
Atlanta, GA 30303
www.fultoncountyga.gov

Tweets by FultonInfo

https://www.facebook.com/FultonInfo

Alumni Spotlight: Asher Jones

sherpa — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 02:34:51 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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