David Meyers, senior public service associate at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, was honored recently with the Mark Chaffin Award at the 2025 Georgia Conference on Child Abuse Prevention.

The award, named for pioneering researcher and child welfare advocate Dr. Mark Chaffin, honors individuals who demonstrate sustained leadership and collaboration in child abuse prevention by applying research-based strategies, advocating for safe and nurturing environments, motivating diverse stakeholders and securing resources to achieve measurable, positive outcomes for children and families in Georgia. Chaffin’s legacy reflects ethical leadership and a deep dedication to supporting vulnerable children and families, values that Meyers exemplifies every day.

For more than 30 years, Meyers has focused his career on improving outcomes for youth in the child welfare system. At the Fanning Institute, he specializes in youth leadership development, focusing on young people who have experienced foster care or homelessness and the systems that support them. He directs the Embark Georgia Center, which leads a statewide network connecting college campuses to provide resources and support for these youth. The initiative, which launched in 2012, also includes the Embark Precollegiate Summer Program, which builds leadership and college readiness skills for foster youth.

The Embark team also established partnerships that formed the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program, offering critical financial assistance for higher education. Embark Georgia administers the ETV program through a partnership with the Georgia Department of Family and Children’s Services. The vouchers provide up to $5,000 annually for educational expenses to eligible students. Embark Georgia has spent $10 million on behalf of students using ETV funds, with 500 students receiving ETV support since 2015.

Over the past 10 years, Meyers has secured more than $25 million to support Embark Georgia.

Through these programs, Meyers works at multiple levels to expand access to education and strengthen foster care systems across Georgia, creating pathways to stability, success and self-sufficiency for vulnerable youth.

“This award is a reminder that collaboration matters,” Meyers said. “Every success we’ve had with Embark Georgia comes from working together to ensure that young people have the support they need to thrive. I’m deeply grateful to the entire Embark team for their dedication and creativity that make accomplishments like this possible.”

Meyers’ achievement reflects the broader goal of UGA Public Service and Outreach, which envisions Georgia as a network of vibrant, prosperous communities where leaders of all ages and backgrounds are equipped to drive positive change. The Fanning Institute embodies this vision by strengthening individuals, communities and organizations through leadership development, training and education. Fanning faculty and staff design and deliver programs that empower emerging and existing leaders to address complex challenges and build resilient communities.

The Chaffin award, which began in 2018, is sponsored by Positive Childhood Alliance Georgia, the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy and the Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Writer: Roy Parry, roy.parry@uga.edu

UGA announces third Youth Lead Georgia™ cohort

Twenty-eight high school students representing 28 counties across Georgia graduated from the second cohort of Youth Lead Georgia™, a program that equips youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to become future leaders of the state. This program is facilitated by the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development in partnership with Chick-fil-A.

The graduation took place Nov. 10 at Trilith Studios near Atlanta.

Vivian Reyes, of Cartersville, plans to study Public Policy and International Relations in college. Reyes, a senior at Adairsville High School, will be the first in her family to attend college.

“As a first-generation college student, Youth Lead has given me the confidence to start meaningful conversations and share my voice,” she said. “In the future, I hope to return to Georgia and help guide the next generation of leaders.”

Reflecting on her experience, Reyes added:

“I’ll carry with me the importance of connection, collaboration, and continuous growth. This program reminded me that leadership is a lifelong journey—you never stop learning.”

Over the past year, Youth Lead Georgia students traveled across state while developing their leadership skills. In addition to leadership training, they participated in experiential learning activities, met with local business and community leaders, and engaged in dialogue on current issues and challenges facing the state.

“It’s been inspiring to watch our second Youth Lead Georgia cohort grow into confident leaders,” said Lauren Healey, senior public service faculty at UGA’s Fanning Institute for Leadership Development who oversees the program. “These students are leaving with the skills and connections to make a real impact in their communities, which is exactly what this program is designed to do.”

The yearlong leadership cohort of 30 youth met five times throughout the year, including four leadership sessions in different areas of the state, a weeklong bus tour visiting other areas not captured in the sessions, and a summer leadership summit with 159 youth from across Georgia.

Additionally, at the end of the year, cohort participants are invited to apply for a Bullard Community Champion grant. These grants, awarded at graduation and made possible by gifts from Regions Bank and Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House, allow students to put their leadership skills into action by accessing financial resources to coordinate service projects in their local communities.

A $1.5 million pledge from Chick-fil-A to the UGA Fanning Institute provides financial support for Youth Lead Georgia. Thanks to this support, Youth Lead Georgia is available at no cost to participants.

Congratulations to the 2025 Youth Lead Georgia graduates:
Mia Burnett, Sale City
Timothy Carter, Augusta
Victoria Alexis Clark, Smyrna
Ryan Clark, Albany
Brodie Combs, Grovetown
Paige Folette, Blackshear
Abigail Garland, Mansfield
Nathaniel Guidry, Athens
Kenwin Hayes, Lilburn
Zoe Hill, Between
Chandler Lewis, McDonough
Davis Markham, Newnan
Londyn Miller, Atlanta
Elaina Parker, Lawrenceville
Brooks Potter, Americus
Vivian Reyes, Cartersville
John Rice, Roswell
Yasmin Rios, Swainsboro
Najah Saadiq, Cairo
Caroline Sawhill, Rome
Mason Scoville, Carrollton
Sneha Singh, Warner Robins
Abigail Sulkowski, Rincon
Andrew Taylor, Griffin
Holden Walton, Valdosta
Jonas Wei, Cumming
Colin Williams, Colquitt
Adalyn Winder, Summerville

The 2026 Youth Lead Georgia class will be announced later this month and will begin programming in January.

For more information on Youth Lead Georgia, click here.

Writers: Catherine Elrod, Catherine.Elrod@uga.edu.; Mary Hotcaveg, Mary.Hotcaveg@uga.edu.
Contact: Lauren Healey, LaurenG@uga.edu.

Thirty youth from across Georgia have been selected to participate in the 2025 class of Youth Lead Georgia, a statewide leadership program facilitated by the University of Georgia.

These 30 10th- and 11th-graders, representing 29 different counties, were selected by an external committee from more than 340 nominations received by UGA.

“Building on last year’s inaugural class, we saw an even greater level of interest for the 2025 program,” said Lauren Healey, UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development senior public service faculty. “That interest created a very competitive selection process through which the program aims to reflect our state. We are excited to welcome these young people to the Youth Lead Georgia program.”

A partnership among UGA’s Fanning Institute; Chick-fil-A, Inc.; and The Same House organization, Youth Lead Georgia is designed to equip youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to be the future leaders of the state.

A generous $1.5 million pledge from Chick-fil-A to the UGA Fanning Institute is providing financial support for both Youth Lead Georgia and an annual youth leadership summit. Thanks to the support from Chick-fil-A, Youth Lead Georgia is available at no cost to participants.

“Chick-fil-A’s investment in Youth Lead Georgia represents our continued commitment to developing and empowering the next generation of leaders,” said Brent Fielder, Vice President of Global Impact, Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Members of the 2025 Youth Lead Georgia class are:

• Mia Burnett, Sale City
• Timothy Carter, Augusta
• Victoria Alexis Clark, Smyrna
• Ryan Clark, Albany
• Jerel Clark, Morrow
• Brodie Combs, Grovetown
• Emma Douglas, Eastman
• Paige Folette, Blackshear
• Abigail Garland, Mansfield
• Nathaniel Guidry, Athens
• Kenwin Hayes, Lilburn
• Zoe Hill, Between
• Chandler Lewis, McDonough
• Davis Markham, Newnan
• Londyn Miller, Atlanta
• Elaina Parker, Lawrenceville
• Brooks Potter, Americus
• Vivian Reyes, Cartersville
• John Rice, Roswell
• Yasmin Rios, Swainsboro
• Najah Saadiq, Cairo
• Caroline Sawhill, Rome
• Mason Scoville, Carrollton
• Sneha Singh, Warner Robins
• Abigail Sulkowski, Rincon
• Andrew Taylor, Griffin
• Holden Walton, Valdosta
• Jonas Wei, Cumming
• Colin Williams, Colquitt
• Adalyn Winder, Summerville

Youth Lead Georgia 2024 class members participate in team building activities. (Photo credit: Cat Elrod/UGA Fanning Institute)

Beginning in January, the 2025 class will participate in four weekend retreats held in different communities across the state as well as a four-day summer bus tour of south Georgia.

Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House, fellow Georgia business leader Fred Hicks, and faculty at the UGA Fanning Institute collaboratively designed the concept of the program. UGA Fanning Institute faculty developed the programming and curriculum and facilitate Youth Lead Georgia.

“Leadership is a lifelong learning opportunity,” said Beverly Johnson, interim director of the UGA Fanning Institute. “Helping young people begin developing the skills of effective leadership early equips them to build on those skills throughout their lives and prepares them to have a positive impact on their communities and our state.”

Experiential activities, in-depth dialogue on current issues and challenges facing Georgia, and opportunities to interact with prominent business and community leaders will complement the leadership training.

Furthermore, Youth Lead Georgia will also offer opportunities for these youth to put their new knowledge and leadership skills into action in their communities.  A generous gift from Rodney Bullard and The Same House will enable selected Youth Lead Georgia participants to take on community service projects in their local communities.

For more information on Youth Lead Georgia, click here.

Thirty high school students representing 29 counties across Georgia have built their leadership skills and knowledge through a statewide youth leadership program run by the University of Georgia.

The students graduated from the inaugural Youth Lead Georgia class on Nov. 4 at Trilith Studios near Atlanta.

“This was a very insightful program,” said Erin Stanford of Swainsboro. “It made me more confident and helped me understand what I need to do for my community.”

A partnership among UGA’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development; Chick-fil-A, Inc.; and The Same House organization, Youth Lead Georgia is designed to equip youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to be the future leaders of the state.

A generous $1.5 million pledge from Chick-fil-A to the UGA Fanning Institute is providing financial support for Youth Lead Georgia and an annual youth leadership summit. Thanks to the support from Chick-fil-A, Youth Lead Georgia is available at no cost to participants.

“Chick-fil-A’s investment in Youth Lead Georgia represents our continued commitment to developing and empowering the next generation of leaders,” said Brent Fielder, Vice President of Global Impact, Chick-fil-A, Inc. “We congratulate the inaugural graduates of this program and look forward to seeing how the skills and connections they have fostered will help them enact meaningful change in their communities in the years ahead.”

These 30 students began the program in January as 10th and 11th graders. Now 11th and 12th graders, they have attended four weekend retreats held in different communities across the state and a four-day summer bus tour of south Georgia.

“It was great to see some places for the first time and also learn things about communities I had been to that I never knew before,” said Mary Burke Smith of Rome.

At graduation, the program also announced the inaugural class of Bullard Community Champions. This generous gift from Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House, to UGA enables Youth Lead Georgia participants to take on service projects in their local communities, offering them the chance to put their leadership and citizenship skills into action.

“The Same House extends much deserved congratulations to the 2024 Youth Lead Georgia graduates and to the Fanning Institute for its leadership in developing this program that will pay incredible dividends for the participants and their communities,” said Bullard. “We are looking forward to supporting and working with the graduates as they undertake projects as Bullard Community Champions.”

Bullard, fellow Georgia business leader Fred Hicks and faculty at UGA’s Fanning Institute collaboratively designed the concept of the program. UGA Fanning Institute faculty developed the programming and curriculum and are facilitating Youth Lead Georgia.

“Through Youth Lead Georgia, these youth have had a chance to develop the leadership skills, build the connections and gain the understanding to engage in their communities as future leaders,” said Lauren Healey, UGA Fanning Institute senior public service faculty. “We appreciate these young people for their efforts, and we are grateful for the partnership with Chick-fil-A and The Same House.”

Along with the leadership training, the youth participated in experiential learning activities and in-depth dialogue on current issues and challenges facing Georgia. They also had the opportunity to interact with prominent business and community leaders.

The 2024 Youth Lead Georgia class is:

• Amelia Claire Anderson, Trenton
• Ethan Barlay, Stockbridge
• Samantha Barrera-Morales, Lilburn
• Jake Bennett, Thomson
• Louden Busbee, Macon
• Evan Cornish, Athens
• Gabrielle Culbreath, Atlanta
• Presley Douglas, Metter
• Addie Drinnon, Americus
• Grayson Faircloth, Carrollton
• Elizabeth Ann Hobby, Moultrie
• Claire Jefferson, Byron
• Mason Johnson, Albany
• Hannah Kelly, Hephzibah
• Riley Kennard, Acworth
• Kailyn King, Statesboro
• Lilly Lanier, Newton
• Christina Mack, Stone Mountain
• Jawhon Moye, Atlanta
• Owen Osborne, Newnan
• AAshi Patel, Cordele
• Mary Hollis Pugmire, Madison
• Mary Burke Smith, Rome
• Erin Stanford, Swainsboro
• Grayson Taylor, Douglas
• Carolyn Thomas, Eatonton
• Tierney Walton, Valdosta
• Walker Woolard, Leesburg
• Carrie Wright, Sandersville
• Ethan Yang, Cumming

Meanwhile, the 2025 Youth Lead Georgia class will be announced later this month and will begin the program in January. Nominations for the 2026 Youth Lead Georgia class will open in May 2025.

For more information on Youth Lead Georgia, click here.

Contact: Lauren Healey; 706-542-7350; laureng@uga.edu
Writer; Charlie Bauder; 706-542-7039; cb07066@uga.edu

For Tanya Calderon, a rising junior at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, attending the InnovateU summer program at the University of Georgia this past June gave her a chance to think differently about her community and learn more about the award-winning public university in her backyard.

“I really loved getting to know other people and sharing our perspectives,” Calderon said. “The program also helped me learn more about studying business and finance at UGA and got me thinking about attending school here.”

Calderon was one of 24 Athens-Clarke County high school students to attend InnovateU, a summer program at the UGA Innovation District that is sponsored by the UGA Office of the President. InnovateU is coordinated by the UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development and College of Family and Consumer Sciences in partnership with the Clarke County School District.

At InnovateU, students develop as leaders and problem solvers by innovating answers to real-life challenges through learning leadership and human-centered design skills.

This year’s challenge asked the students to work with college and industry mentors to identify sustainable ways to increase civic engagement in Athens-Clarke County.

Ideas ranged from organizing regular events to building apps for volunteering to creating a day-long competition where students would volunteer and earn points for their respective school.

“Getting involved in the community can seem hard, but we want to get more involved,” Calderon said. “Through this program, we learned that we could help others get involved too.”

UGA Fanning Institute public service faculty members Lori Tiller and Jason Edwards worked with students on leadership skills such as effective communication, public speaking and group decision making. Meanwhile, UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences faculty member Dee Warmath and doctoral student Jordan Bell led students through the human-centered design process, which generates ideas to solve problems by focusing the process on the needs of the people who encounter the challenge.

“We had to be willing to work as a team,” said Emery Freeman, a rising ninth grader at Clarke Central High School. “All of us had a solution, but we had to work together. Our final solution included contributions from everyone’s ideas. It was interesting.”

The students also work with college and local industry mentors, who help guide them through their projects. This year’s industry mentors represented Caterpillar, Inc.; Adaptive Medical Partners; Terrapin Blue; Golden Mist Consulting; the Clarke County School District; and the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

InnovateU represents just one of several youth programs that the UGA Fanning Institute leads both on campus and in communities across Georgia.

Another example of how the UGA Fanning Institute supports leadership development took place in Woodstock. Faculty members Lauren Healey and Jason Estep facilitated the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Academy for the city of Woodstock.

During the program, the 10 students explored topics such as individual leadership styles and conflict management.

“The program has been very educational, hands-on and fun,” said Lavanya Shankar, academy participant. “I hoped to learn how to grow in my leadership as far as learning what my leadership styles are and I’ve been able to learn so much about conflict management. For example, I want to be more collaborative in the future to invoke everyone’s ideas.”

Shankar also wanted to better understand how Woodstock city government has dealt with growth in the community.

“We have had the chance to work with city council members and the mayor and hear how leadership is very personal and has different styles has been very eye-opening for me in my leadership at my school,” she said. “Programs like this are important for young leaders because it teaches you to reflect on yourself and help you change as a leader to benefit yourself and your community in the long run.”

The students also had the opportunity to explore city government, see how the city serves its constituents and learn how they might be able to get involved over time.

“If we’re going to keep our eye on what’s next, we need to keep our eye on who’s next,” said Michael Caldwell, mayor of Woodstock. “This program is about building our next generation of leaders here at home and making sure they are not just invested in and excited about where they live today, but they are also envisioning and preparing to lead Woodstock tomorrow.”

Whether on campus or in a community, developing youth to be future leaders is part of the life-long leadership mission of the Fanning Institute.

“We are excited to partner with communities like Athens and Woodstock to help young people develop skills vital to their success both in school and in the workforce,” said Lauren Healey, UGA Fanning Institute public service faculty.

For more information on how the UGA Fanning Institute helps communities and organizations build youth leadership programming, click here.

Young people from across the state are developing their leadership skills thanks to a summit at the University of Georgia.

As part of the Youth LEAD Georgia program, more than 100 high school students representing more than 75 counties attended the inaugural Youth LEAD Georgia Summit June 18-19 at UGA.

“The summit provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with my peers and have some really good discussions using skills I have learned in the program,” said Amelia Claire Anderson, an inaugural Youth LEAD Georgia class member from Trenton who also attended the summit.

Summit attendees participated in a discussion about concerns and opportunities they see as high school students in Georgia, facilitated by UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development faculty with assistance from members of the inaugural Youth LEAD Georgia class.

Participants listen to a presentation during the 2024 Youth LEAD Georgia Summit. (Photo credit: Cat Elrod/UGA Fanning Institute)

In addition, the youth attended sessions to build leadership skills such as emotional intelligence, communication and digital citizenship.

“I have never been to something like this before and it was really fun,” said Alicia Jenkins of Lee County. “I learned life skills that will help me step up in my community to be a leader.”

Youth also had an opportunity to network with each other and build relationships.

“It was nice getting to know other people and the sessions on communication and emotional intelligence were interesting and gave me skills I can apply in my job,” said Makyn Childers of Heard County.

The UGA Fanning Institute organized the summit in partnership with Georgia 4-H. The Youth LEAD Georgia Summit, which is part of the Youth LEAD Georgia program, is made possible by a $1.5 million contribution from Chick-fil-A, Inc., and an additional charitable investment by The Same House, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization.

Rodney Bullard, CEO of the Same House, speaks to participants at the 2024 Youth LEAD Georgia Summit at the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel on July 19. (Photo credit: Cat Elrod/UGA Fanning Institute)

Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House, emphasized to the youth that they have an opportunity to make a difference in his keynote address.

“You learn the lessons of leadership at this summit,” Bullard said. “The magic is when you decide you have something you can give back. Anyone can be a leader.”

Through both the annual summit and the year-long program, Youth LEAD Georgia is designed to equip youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to be the future leaders of the state and then learn how to put those skills and knowledge into action and work together to tackle the challenges that impact Georgia’s future vitality.

“Leadership development is about more than learning skills,” said Lauren Healey, UGA Fanning Institute public service faculty. “It involves working with others and applying those skills. Youth LEAD Georgia and this summit create opportunities for these young people to prepare themselves to lead in their schools and communities both now and in the future.”

Youth LEAD Georgia program goals include supporting youth in developing and improving leadership skills, helping youth explore opportunities and develop skills for success after high school, enhancing awareness and understanding of the challenges and opportunities of communities in Georgia, building relationships across the state for young leaders to use as a future resource, and empowering youth to become more involved in community issues.

2024 Youth LEAD Georgia Summit attendees (Photo credit: Cat Elrod/UGA Fanning Institute)

“Youth LEAD Georgia has taught me a lot about collaborating, active listening and servant leadership,” Anderson said.

Nominations for the 2025 Youth LEAD Georgia class are open through Sept. 1 and nominated students will have until Sept. 30 to apply. The 2025 Youth LEAD Georgia class is open to any student who is entering 10th or 11th grade in the 2024-25 academic year.

For more information on nominating a student for Youth LEAD Georgia, click here.

The next Youth LEAD Georgia summit will take place in July 2025 at UGA.

One in three young people growing up today do not have a mentor, meaning they are less likely to enroll in college, volunteer regularly, or take on leadership roles compared to youth with a mentor, according to information from MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership. However, an annual University of Georgia summit aims to shrink that gap by investing in mentoring efforts statewide.

MENTOR Georgia, coordinated by the UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, hosted its third annual MENTOR Georgia Summit June 28-29 at the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel in Athens.

For the first time, the event included a one-day youth summit for young people and their mentors, made possible by a grant from the Starbucks Foundation and MENTOR National. The MENTOR Georgia Youth Summit featured workshops by youth on topics specifically designed for youth ages 14 to 24.

“I learned ways to communicate better with my peers through activities in the sessions,” said Denise Faulks, a rising 10th grader from Macon. “Overall, I had fun attending the summit and learned a lot of things that I will use in the future.”

Sessions at the youth summit, attended by nearly 80 youth, mentors and youth development professionals, covered topics that included navigating conflict through communication, maximizing their relationship with their mentor, managing stress, utilizing tools for college access, and identifying personal strengths and purpose.

Attendees to the 2024 MENTOR Georgia Summit listen to a presentation from Julie Meehan, Fanning Institute faculty member.

“Helping youth develop the skills to engage and make their voices heard contributes to building stronger communities,” said Leslie Hale, MENTOR Georgia executive director. “I am grateful for the generosity of the Starbucks Foundation in supporting our youth summit and all of our sponsors, whose support was crucial to making the summit a reality this year.”

Other sponsors of this year’s MENTOR Georgia Summit included Georgia Power, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Brad and Kay Bryant, and The Mentors Project of Bibb County.

While the summit’s second day focused on youth, the first day of the summit focused on practitioners in the youth mentoring field: professionals, volunteers, board members and partners of youth mentoring organizations.

Approximately 75 attendees from across Georgia heard presentations on topics such as program evaluation, mentoring others as a leader, organizational capacity-building and understanding one’s role as a mentor while also learning more about tools that mentoring programs can use.

“The summit gave me so many ideas, tools and tips to take back and not only share with my co-workers, but also to use directly with students to help work with them and build stronger mentoring relationships,” said Tiffany Vaught, a school safety advisor for the Paulding County School System. “For example, a session on using music as a tool to enhance engagement with teens is something that I could see benefiting students that I work with. The summit was an amazing experience.”

The summit represents one way in which MENTOR Georgia supports youth development by providing professional learning, capacity-building, and training in evidence-based best practices to youth mentoring programs around the state. MENTOR Georgia launched at the UGA Fanning Institute in 2021 as the statewide affiliate of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership.

“By supporting mentoring agencies and investing time and resources in the leaders who run those programs across the state, we are opening doors for Georgia’s next generation to succeed and helping to invest in our future leaders,” Hale said.

Writer: Charlie Bauder; 706-542-7039; cb07066@uga.edu

Students in the inaugural Youth LEAD Georgia class, run by the University of Georgia, saw their state in a whole new light this summer.

The youth participated in a bus tour across south Georgia as part of Youth LEAD Georgia, a program housed at UGA’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. This innovative program was made possible by a $1.5 million contribution from Chick-fil-A, Inc..

Starting and ending in Macon, the June 4-7 tour also made stops in Savannah, Waycross, Tifton, Albany and Warner Robins.

“The tour gave me a chance to bond with my classmates as friends and fellow young leaders,” said Tierney Walton of Valdosta. “Also, I learned a lot about Georgia and also learned more about possible career opportunities in our state through the tour.”

Students tour the Okefenokee Swamp via canoe on the bus tour (Photo: Cat Elrod/UGA Fanning Institute)

Along the four-day tour, the class visited the Port of Savannah, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, UGA Tifton campus, and Warner Robins Air Force Base to learn more about many of Georgia’s major industrial sectors. In addition, trips to UGA Marine Extension on Skidaway Island and the Okefenokee Swamp highlighted the state’s natural resources and a trip to Albany State University continued to offer the students a chance to visit other postsecondary education institutions.

Spending four days together traveling through south Georgia also allowed the students to continue building on the leadership skills they explored during their first two sessions earlier this year at UGA and in Cartersville.

Along with the leadership training, the 29 students—representing 28 Georgia counties—are participating in experiential learning activities, discussing current issues and challenges facing Georgia, and engaging with community and business leaders.

Students learned about healthcare using virtual reality tools at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany. (Photo: Cat Elrod/UGA Fanning Institute)

“By working with these students to develop the skills needed to lead others and address issues while also helping them better understand our state, we are equipping Georgia’s next generation of leaders,” said Lauren Healey, Fanning Institute interim associate director and public service faculty. “We appreciate Chick-fil-A and The Same House for investing in this important program and partnering with UGA.”

The inaugural class will meet twice more this year, gathering next in Columbus in September and then graduating in Atlanta in November. Meanwhile, nominations and applications for the 2025 program, which kicks off in January, are open now.

“The program has been a great experience so far,” said Owen Osborne of Newnan. “It has been interesting to not just learn about leadership in a classroom but to get out, meet people and learn how they have developed their leadership skills and used them in their communities.”

Adults can nominate any rising 10th and 11th grade student in Georgia for the program. Nominated students will then receive an invitation to apply. Nominations for the 2025 program will close Sept. 1, with nominated students having until Sept. 30 to complete their application. UGA will announce the 2025 class in mid-November.

To nominate a student for Youth LEAD Georgia or learn more, click here.

Writer: Charlie Bauder; 706-542-7039; charlie.bauder@fanning.uga.edu
Contact: Lauren Healey; 706-542-7350; lauren.healey@fanning.uga.edu

Professionals across the state are strengthening regional connections to better improve educational outcomes for students who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness following a University of Georgia conference.

Participants discuss their thoughts about an exercise at the opening session of the 2024 Embark Georgia Leadership Conference. (Photo credit: Cat Elrod/UGA Fanning Institute)

More than 175 individuals registered for the 2024 Embark Georgia Leadership Conference, held Feb. 26-27 at the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel in Athens, Georgia.

Coordinated by the UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, Embark Georgia works to increase college access and retention for students in Georgia who have experienced foster care or homelessness.

This year’s conference marked the first time new Embark Georgia regional coalitions met in-person, following initial meetings online. These seven geographic coalitions allow individuals to connect and collaborate more directly with nearby colleagues to support students in their regions.

“The coalition and particularly meeting at this conference is helping me make tremendous connections with others in southeast Georgia where I serve,” said Ishmael Rouse, an independent living specialist with the Georgia Department of Human Services. “I learned about resources that I previously was unaware of and was able to introduce resources I have that others in my area were not aware of. This conference has been impactful for me, and I am leaving with a renewed sense of purpose.”

Each regional coalition will have separate meetings and areas to share resources unique to that region, while also participating in the statewide Embark Georgia network. Funding to support the creation of these regional coalitions and other aspects of Embark Georgia’s work has been provided by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The Joseph B. Whitehead Child Well-Being Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has also provided funding to support the expansion of Embark Georgia’s work across the state.

“These smaller peer-to-peer communities will help foster more direct relationships and increase capacity to serve these students quickly and more effectively,” said David Meyers, UGA Fanning Institute public service faculty member and Embark Georgia network co-director. “We appreciate the generosity of both the Hilton Foundation and the Joseph B. Whitehead Child Well-Being Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and their commitment to helping ensure that every student who wants access to college has it, regardless of their circumstances.”

Moving forward, the regional coalitions will meet on an ongoing basis, either online or in-person, as scheduled quarterly.

Along with the regional coalition meetings, the conference included statewide and national leaders in the areas of higher education, child welfare, and K-12 education sharing research, programmatic best practices and policy updates.

“Knowledge in this field continuously expands and evolves,” said Lori Tiller, UGA Fanning Institute public service faculty and Embark Georgia network co-director. “Providing the latest research and policy information at one event helps everyone best support students who have experienced foster care or homelessness.”

The conference provided an opportunity for both networking and professional development.

“Attending for the first time, it was a wonderful learning experience,” said Michelle Blackburn, social worker for the Habersham County school system. “I gained a lot of knowledge from everyone in all areas of the work.”

Events like this conference help Embark Georgia develop leaders ready to engage in building a stronger Georgia for all.

“Leading effectively includes providing confidence and support for those who need it the most,” said Matt Bishop, director of the UGA Fanning Institute. “In helping professionals develop their own skillset and engage with others, Embark Georgia is helping to develop leaders across the state be ready to support students who have experienced foster care or homelessness.”

For more information on the regional coalitions and Embark Georgia’s work, visit www.embarkgeorgia.org.

Writer: Charlie Bauder; 706-542-7039; charlie.bauder@fanning.uga.edu
Contact: David Meyers; 706-542-5062; dmeyers@fanning.uga.edu

The Georgia Possible program is helping high school students like Cedar Shoals High School 11th grader Jamar Bailey envision their futures.

On a recent visit to Athens Technical College, Bailey had an opportunity to visit the welding department and meet with faculty and staff about the program.

“Without Georgia Possible, I would not have learned as much about college,” Bailey said. “I have seen a path for the future laid out in front of me and through the program I can expand on what I want to do after high school.”

Created by the University of Georgia and the Clarke County School District, Georgia Possible began as an initiative from University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead. Launched in 2019, an inaugural class of 36 students graduated from the program in April 2022.

The current class of 30 students began in fall 2022. Students participate in the program for three years, starting as 10th graders. Georgia Possible is the result of a collaborative effort across the UGA campus that includes the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, Office of Community Relations and Office of Academic and Community Engagement, along with the Clarke County School District.

Faculty at the UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, facilitate leadership skill development sessions. The students also explore postsecondary and career options available beyond high school graduation while meeting with local leaders.

“We help the students understand themselves better and give them tools to use that understanding in order to work more effectively with each other and succeed in the classroom,” said Lauren Healey, UGA Fanning Institute public service faculty. “Then beyond the classroom, the program exposes the students to college and career possibilities here in Athens and helps them learn to engage with their community.”

Lori Tiller, UGA Fanning Institute public service faculty, helps Clarke County high school students participating in the Georgia Possible program work through a design thinking project that combines teamwork and entrepreneurial concepts on Nov. 10, 2023, at the UGA Innovation District. (Photo: Catherine Elrod/UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development)

For Bailey, learning among a group of leaders has been a key part of the program.

“Everybody is working together as one collective mind and I am not the only one stepping forward,” he said. “I have learned how to work within a group of leaders to put forth ideas, take constructive feedback and respond to others’ ideas.”

Clarke Central High School 11th grader Kiareiyah Paschal has learned lessons in Georgia Possible to help her as she pursues her interest in political science.

“The program has shown me different ways to think about and solve problems that I can apply anywhere,” she said. “As a leader, it is important to always grow, and Georgia Possible is helping me broaden my leadership skills in many ways.”

Paschal also said she enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about her community during the session on local government. “The visit confirmed to me that I could follow it as a career path and made it feel attainable,” she said.

The program aligns with the goals of the Clarke County school district.

“Our mission is to create educational journeys that empower all students to fulfill their potential, with a goal of ensuring that they are also ready for what comes after graduation, whether that is going on to college, entering the workforce or joining the military,” said Robbie Hooker, Clarke County School District superintendent. “We are very fortunate to be able to partner with the University of Georgia through the Georgia Possible program in pursuit of that mission and goal as it works to expand our students’ understanding of the world beyond their classrooms.”

For more information on Georgia Possible, visit here.

Writer: Charlie Bauder; 706-542-7039; charlie.bauder@fanning.uga.edu
Contact: Lauren Healey; 706-542-7350; lauren.healey@fanning.uga.edu

Thirty high school students from across Georgia are developing leadership skills and building knowledge about the state through a statewide youth leadership program at the University of Georgia. The 10th and 11th graders from 29 counties, selected from more than 300 nominations, are participating in Youth Lead Georgia.

A partnership among UGA’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, Chick-fil-A Inc. and The Same House organization, Youth Lead Georgia is designed to equip youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to be the future leaders of the state.

In all, Youth Lead Georgia will consist of four weekend retreats held in different communities across the state and a four-day summer bus tour.

A generous $1.5 million pledge from Chick-fil-A to the Fanning Institute is providing financial support for the weekend retreats, bus tour and an annual youth leadership summit that will take place beginning in 2024. Thanks to the support from Chick-fil-A, Youth Lead Georgia is available at no cost to participants.

The program held its opening retreat Jan. 20-22 at UGA, where participants had an opportunity to meet with UGA President Jere W. Morehead, who shared his thoughts on leadership and noted the importance of leadership development to Georgia.

“Leadership is a lifelong calling,” Morehead said. “Though you might be at the start of your journey now, we need young people such as yourselves to step into important roles and learn to become problem solvers. At every level, from your local community to our state, nation and beyond, the future will be determined by individuals and organizations with creative solutions to our toughest problems.”

The program held its opening retreat Jan. 20-22 at UGA, where participants had an opportunity to meet with UGA President Jere W. Morehead, who shared his thoughts on leadership and noted the importance of leadership development to Georgia. (Photo credit: Catherine Elrod/UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development)

Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House, fellow Georgia business leader Fred Hicks and faculty at UGA’s Fanning Institute collaboratively designed the concept of Youth Lead Georgia. Fanning Institute faculty developed the programming and curriculum and are facilitating the program.

“This was an awesome beginning to what we hope will be a legacy for our state, building our young people into the inclusive and collaborative leaders we need for Georgia to continue to lead the nation,” Bullard said.

Bullard also introduced the Bullard Community Champions program to the youth, funded by a generous gift he made to UGA. His gift will enable Youth Lead Georgia participants to take on service projects in their local communities, offering them the chance to put their new knowledge and leadership skills into action.

Along with the leadership training, the youth will participate in experiential learning activities and in-depth dialogue on current issues and challenges facing Georgia. They also will have the opportunity to interact with prominent business and community leaders.

“Equipping these youth with the skills to engage in their communities, connecting them with their peers to support each other and enabling them to apply those skills through real-life projects is supporting the development of our state’s future leaders,” said Matt Bishop, director of the Fanning Institute. “The Fanning Institute is excited to partner with Chick-fil-A and The Same House to support UGA’s mission to build leaders for our state.”

At the kickoff, participants got to know their classmates through team-building activities and explored their own individual leadership styles.

“It was really fun to meet different people from different places and learn about different schools,” said Samantha Barrera-Morales from Lilburn. “I loved how we all communicated together.”

The youth also experienced several UGA campus activities, received information regarding the college application process, learned more about Athens-Clarke County and discussed leadership with a host of local community leaders.

At the kickoff, participants got to know their classmates through team-building activities and explored their own individual leadership styles. (Photo credit: Catherine Elrod/UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development)

“I enjoyed how we meshed together,” said Mason Johnson from Albany. “An important part of leadership is coming together and understanding not just what you bring to the table but also what people from all different walks of life bring to the table.”

The J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, trains, inspires and equips community leaders of all ages to lead positively and meaningfully in community and civic affairs, address critical challenges, bring people together and develop solutions that will lead to stronger and more vital communities across Georgia and beyond.

For more information on Youth Lead Georgia, click here.

Writer: Charlie Bauder, 706-542-7039, charlie.bauder@fanning.uga.edu