Annual Report
Letter from the Director
It’s truly remarkable to consider that 2023 signifies the initial complete year of resuming ‘normal’ programming since the onset of the pandemic three years ago. Following numerous organizational and community challenges, along with programmatic changes and shifts, we have successfully navigated these hurdles, culminating in a return to serving students with newfound stability and clarity.
We are proud to announce that our organization is reaching new heights in our programs, our partnerships, and our purpose! 21st Century Leaders achieved extraordinary milestones and accomplishments throughout the past year
Record Student Enrollment:
We have achieved an all-time high in enrollment across all programs, reflecting the growing interest and trust our community places in the impactful work we do. We saw a 49% increase in students served in 2023, including a record number of 30 school and community based clubs across Georgia for the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
Expanding Program Offerings
In our pursuit of excellence and access, one of the highlights of the year was the launch of our inaugural paid summer internship and scholarship program, providing a transformative experience for 11 graduating seniors. These exceptional students were granted a unique opportunity with a 4-6 week paid summer internship, coupled with a $2,500 scholarship to each of them to support their journey into postsecondary education. This initiative not only marked a significant step forward in our commitment to fostering talent but also exemplified our dedication to creating meaningful pathways for the next generation of leaders.
New Board Chair
Leading us in this work is DeRetta Cole Rhodes, chairman of our board of directors. DeRetta was appointed in October 2022 and has accelerated our mission through her passion and recognized leadership.
Beyond the numbers and statistics, it is the positive impact we have had on the lives of our students, alumni, and the community at large that truly defines our success. From empowering individuals to fostering a sense of belonging, our organization continues to be a catalyst for positive change.
As we reflect on the past year’s achievements, thank you to each member of our organization—students, staff, board, volunteers, donors, and partners. Your passion, dedication, and collaborative spirit have been the driving force behind our success.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the opportunities that the future holds. With your continued support, I am confident that we will build on this foundation of success and reach even greater heights as we enter our 35th year of service to the state.
Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.
Sincerely,
Kate Hewitt Executive DirectorOur Leadership
2022-23 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DeRetta Cole Rhodes, Ph.D., Board Chairperson
EVP + Chief People Capital | Atlanta Braves
Katelyn Fredericks, Board Secretary
Partner | Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough, LLP
Maria Flores Blackburn, CPA, Board Treasurer, 21CL Alumni
Sr. Financial Analyst | Southern Power
Chris Caldwell
Vice President of Power Delivery | Georgia Power
Carla Chandler
VP and Market CFO | Geisinger
Arjun Chowdri
Senior Vice President Membership, Hagerty
Martin Fleischmann
Founder + CEO, All Electric Racing Organization (AERO)
Shelton Guinn
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Innova Solutions
Bridges Holmes
Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Social Responsibility | The Adecco Group
Okema Jackson
Vice President of Media, Operations, Programming and Traffic, WABE
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Kathy Solley | Special Counsel, Parker Poe
JP James
Chairman | Libreum International
Jon Neff
Chief Central Solutions Officer | EmployBridge
Chi Nguyen Swallow CFO | Insight Global
Scott Riggs
COO | White Cap
Chris Reynolds Community Volunteer
Mari Sifo
EVP, Chief Human Resource Officer, Host Hotels & Resorts
Katerina Taylor
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion | Nelson Mullins
Michael White
Senior Director, HRBP | Cox Operations
Dennis Adamovich | Chief Development Officer, Times Square Live Media Enterprises
Corey Dortch | Ph.D., Executive Search Consultant, CarterBaldwin Executive Search (21CL Alumnus)
Matt Johnson | Principal, KPMG
Tyrone Johnson | Operating Partner, Trive Capital
Ellen Lindemann | Retired Sr. Vice President, Southern Company
Kevin Sessions | President, TalentQuest
Patrick Solomon | Founder, The Collective 180
Mike Szalkowski | Chief Financial Officer, The Zalik Family Office
ALUMNI BOARD
Chance Mack, Chair
Account Executive, Workday Higher Education
Lauren Flanigan, Vice Chair Head of Partnerships and Portfolio Marketing | Mondelez International
Michael Lee, Secretary Senior Director, Public Affairs, Metro Atlanta Chamber
Bridget Gorta
Digital Operations & Transformation Scrum Master, Delta
Kiah Davis
Sr. Project Lead, Continuous Improvement, Chick-fil-A
William Holley, IV
Associate Product Manager, Warner Bros Discovery
Imani Holmes
Senior Account Executive, Health, Edelman
Cristy Jones
Talent Management Specialist, University of Georgia
Brandon Ona
Business Services Director, Technical College System of Georgia
Jalen Polk
Software Implementation Lead, PwC
Kalin Tate
Sponsorship & Partnership Management, NFL (National Football League)
Amara Tennessee
Workforce Development and Outreach Coordinator, Vanguard Consulting Group, LLC
Tavari Turner
Vice President, Youth Development Programs, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee
Alfonzo Washington
Teacher, DeKalb County School District
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ALUMNI BOARD
Our Mission and Values
VISION
To inspire youth to lead MISSION
21st Century Leaders® is a non-profit organization that connects, transforms, and inspires high school students across Georgia to leverage diversity and inclusion, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their schools, communities, and ultimately the workforce.
21st Century Leaders provides opportunity and access to all students with our programs centered around three main pillars that unlock students’ leadership potential.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
CAREER READINESS
Leadership Values
• Resourcefulness
• Resilient
• Inclusion
• Service-Oriented
• Forward-Thinking
Leadership Competencies
• Communicating Effectively
• Problem Solving
• Action – Oriented
• Self-Development
• Building Effective Teams
• Integrity/Trust
• Career Ambition
INCLUSION
2023 by the Numbers
PROGRAMS OVERALL
2,427
Total Students 2023
49% Increase in students served over last year
21CL PROGRAMS & EXPERIENCES
21st Century Leaders’ programs engage high school students in interactive leadership training facilitated by 21CL staff, alumni, subject matter experts, and corporate partners.
Students can join 21st Century Leaders through any of our three premier programs: Leadership Connect, 21CLubs, and our Summer Leadership Institutes.
Once a student becomes a 21st Century Leader, they have access to additional experiences and opportunities that will inspire them to lead throughout high school and beyond.
1,672 Total Students 2022
62% Femaleidentifying
38% Maleidentifying
88% of students identify as Persons of Color
1% Otheridentifying
56% of students receive free/reduced lunch
100% Graduation Rate $38,500
Grants and postsecondary scholarships provided to students
493
Live or virtual leadership events and experiences across all programs
(not including Leadership Connect which provides access year round with an average of over 50 engagement hours per student) (including first generation college bound, first generation american, learning or physical disability, single parent household, etc)
53% of students face barriers to success
2023 by the Numbers
59% Black/African American
13% White/Caucasian
9% Hispanic/Latin American
8% Asian
6% Indian/South Asian
3% Other/Bi-Multi Racial
1% Middle-Eastern/North African
0.15% Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
0.05% Native American/Alaskan Native
of graduating seniors said they now see themselves as a leader
100% of graduating seniors reported that they took on more leadership roles after joining 21st Century Leaders
96%
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS of students enrolled in Leadership Connect received free access to it
90%
94% of students said their confidence as a leader increased because of 21CL’s programs
Student Programs
LEADERSHIP CONNECT
Established in 2014, Leadership Connect is 21CL’s online learning platform designed to make high-quality leadership development training accessible and engaging for students anywhere in Georgia. Leadership Connect’s self-paced, interactive curriculum is focused on our 7 core leadership competencies and provides students with online training resources and community for peer-to-peer engagement. Leadership Connect allows students to begin or continue their leadership journey through its engaging, virtual learning community with over 130 gamified modules and “to-do” activities covering leadership skills, career exploration, social-emotional intelligence training, diversity and inclusion training, STEM pathways, and life ready skills focused on financial literacy, civic engagement, and health and wellness.
Growth chart of students - year-over-year enrollment
2023
2022
2021
2020
Enrollment numbers
1,670
total enrolled at EOFY
Incentives & Rewards- When students learn, they earn!
$4,750 in gift cards awarded
6 laptops + technology
44 tickets to sporting events
21st Century Leaders renewed several collaborate partnerships through Leadership Connect and its 21CLubs, including Atlanta College & Career Academy, Science ATL, and Fulton County Government. The Fulton County’s CONNECTED: Youth Leadership Program (CYLP) hosted through our Leadership Connect platform specifically impacts 260 students across Fulton County with additional incentives, rewards, and experiences.
[Leadership Connect has helped me because] I feel so much more confident because of the exposure that I have gotten from 21st Century Leaders. I have learned how to interact with very diverse groups of people who quickly transition from strangers to great friends.”
- Lindsey Sanders, Campbell HS
21CLUBS
21st Century Leaders Clubs (or 21CLubs) are community- and school-based programs designed to build leadership and career pathway skills for students through student-led meetings, service projects, and leadership forums. Each 21CLub serves a dedicated group of students who are supported through the efforts of an advising teacher or faculty member. Plus, through our online learning platform Leadership Connect - which 21CLub students have access to at no cost - and our live school-year summits, 21CLub students are developing the competencies they need to be competitive in college and career.
We are grateful to the following partners who support our 21CLubs: Nordson Corporation/Foundation, Cox Enterprises, Aflac, Noble Investments, Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, DeKalb County, Fulton County, Science ATL, and the City of Savannah.
660 Total Students
30 21CLubs
Including 8 STEM+21CLubs
Leadership in Action
328 Meetings
105 Service projects and forums
I’ve seen the students become leaders and become more involved in the planning as well as various other areas this semester. I’ve also seen the students’ confidence grow due to the positive feedback that they received from their peers and the staff about the events that they carried out this semester.
- Orithius Hardge, 21CLub Advisor, Kendrick 21CLubSkill Growth / Competency
Before their involvement: 28% of students did not see themselves as a leader
After their involvement: 100% of students noticed growth in 21CL’s core leadership competencies:
Communicating Effectively, Problem Solving, ActionOriented, Self-Development, Building Effective Teams, Integrity/Trust, Career Ambition.
100% reported that 21CL has provided them opportunities to network with people that will have a positive impact on their career and post secondary plans.
90% of students reported their time in a 21CLub taught them practical skills to be a better leader
81% of students felt more connected to 21CL after being involved with a 21CLub
62% of students went on to hold one or more leadership roles due to their involvement with their 21CLub
58% of students enrolled in Leadership Connect said their involvement in their club/ LC introduced them to a new career they otherwise wouldn’t have known about.
HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW OR SIGNIFICANT 21CLUB ACTIVITY
Clarkston 21CLub created an ongoing service project in Nov/2022 known as Vote for Equity where they created posters and videos to raise the awareness of the importance of voting and how to do so.
Swainsboro and ECI 21CLub took a field trip in Nov/2022 to Nordson Corporation where they were able to tour the facility and participate in job shadowing. There were about 30 students and 6-8 volunteers.
Northview 21CLub In the spring of 2023 Northview 21CLub hosted a forum where they had current seniors that were committed to a college come on a panel and speak to the attendees on how they got there and answer any questions. Over 100+ parents and students attended.
Grayson 21CLub hosted a Letter Writing (9/21/2023) event. They wrote brief letters of encouragement to both hospital patients and employees. About 50 letters were delivered.
Villa Rica STEM+21CLub has an ongoing project that started in August of 2023 VRHS has been very busy establishing a presence of STEM in the High School and Community. They started this year with creating a Science Fair for the county. They had to find local STEM professionals to judge, preview, and validate research projects. This was after they wrote to get permissions from the local principals, County Curriculum directors, and superintendent. They established a local county board and science fair and have been accepted to regionals in Feb 2024.
This experience was amazing and I wish I could do it again! It really has allowed me to reassess myself and continue to grow as a leader. Thank you so much for an amazing experience I will never forget.”- Kezia Kotey, DeKalb Early College Academy, Class of 2026
329 High School Students Student Programs
SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES
21CL’s flagship program, running since 1991, comprises week-long summer leadership institutes designed for diverse high school students from various regions of Georgia to develop leadership skills and career knowledge. In 2023, we successfully conducted three one-week summer leadership institutes on a college campus as residential programs and one single-day summit, engaging a total of 329 high school students from across the state.
In addition to their dynamic program week, students were given free access to Leadership Connect for the school year so they can continue developing their leadership skills among an online peer community.
All Summer Evaluation Report
ALL SUMMER
94% of students say they now see themselves as a leader after attending a summer program and 90% agree they are now more likely to seek out leadership roles
58% of students reported that attending a 21CL program was their first time participating in a program focused on developing their leadership skills
51% of students reported that attending a 21CL program was their first time creating or giving an elevator speech
50% reported that attending a 21CL program was their first time visiting a corporate campus
45% of students reported that attending a 21CL program was their first time seeing someone who looks like them in a career or position they want to be in
28% of students reported that attending a 21CL program was their first time interacting with peers outside their geographic area
80% of students say that after participating in 21CL programs, they are clear in knowing their career path after high school
57% of students said their career interest was reaffirmed, while 52% of students said they discovered a new career field that they are now interested in that they didn’t realize prior to attending
SUMMER YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (SYLI@GOIZUETA)
June 4-9, 2023
Since 2011, 21st Century Leaders has partnered with multiple corporations to host our Summer Youth Leadership Institute (SYLI), a dynamic week-long program focused on business leadership. SYLI takes place annually in June at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
Throughout the program, a total of 78 students participated in hands-on business workshops, networking sessions, and gained valuable insights from professionals at well-known organizations such as The Coca-Cola Company, Emory’s Start:ME program, MarketSource, and Cox Enterprises. These industry experts generously shared their knowledge and experience, helping the students to develop both personal and professional leadership skills while offering them valuable insights into various career paths.
SYLI 2023 Evaluation Report
HEALTHCARE & IT INSTITUTE (HII)
June 25-30, 2023
The Healthcare & IT Institute, in its 4th year, was hosted at Kennesaw State University. Throughout the institute, 73 students embarked on a journey to explore clinical careers and discover ways to make a difference in the healthcare sector. They gained valuable insights through partnerships with Piedmont Healthcare, witnessed the clinical aspect of hospital work through live demonstrations at Kennestone and Paulding Hospital with Wellstar, and explored healthcare staffing solutions with LocumTenens. Students had the opportunity to expand their professional horizons by networking with alumni and professionals while enriching their understanding of leadership and diverse career pathways.
HII 2023 Evaluation Report
There are many roles within the healthcare industry and it is important to be a leader in all of them.”
- Shane Chailektrattanakul, North Gwinnett HS, Class of 2026
Summer Programs
WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY YOUTH MEDIA SUMMIT
Sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery
July 17, 2023
Since 2006, 21st Century Leaders and Warner Bros. Discovery have collaborated on one-week summer leadership institutes, directly serving a total of 1,631 students. In 2023, they hosted a one-day Warner Bros. Discovery Youth Media Summit, the first in-person event since 2019. The summit, sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery and in partnership with 21st Century Leaders, focused on leadership and media career development. Held on July 13th at WBD’s Techwood campus in Atlanta, GA, the event brought together 84 high school students from Georgia, Alabama, and Pennsylvania. The summit exposed students to various media careers and allowed them to interact with Warner Bros. Discovery professionals. They learned about production jobs, networked, had lunch with the recruitment team, and attended sessions with former interns and current WBD executives. Warner Bros. Discovery provided this valuable experience at no cost to the students.
WBDYMS 2023 Evaluation Report
98% 91%
Seeing a diverse team in terms of experiences, stories, and backgrounds was really amazing to see and I loved the experience of talking to them and asking questions.”
- Anastasia Obideny, Milton HS, Class of 2024of attendees agree that their knowledge of Media Production expanded because of this program
reported they are now interested in pursuing a career with Warner Bros. Discovery
EARTHCARE: THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Supported by Georgia Power Foundation June 11-16, 2023
For 16 years, 21st Century Leaders and the Georgia Power Foundation have formed a successful partnership to bring EarthCare, our energy and STEM-focused summer leadership institute, to life. Since 2008, we’ve had the privilege of serving nearly 1,400 students through this initiative. Thanks to the generous support of the Georgia Power Foundation, we accept 100 students each year, granting them access to a week-long leadership development program at absolutely no cost.
In 2023, EarthCare hosted 94 students from across Georgia who explored various energy, sustainability, and STEM topics, while also taking on leadership challenges through engaging speakers, informative panels, roundtable networking, workshops focusing on diversity and inclusion, GiANT’s 5 Voices, and communication exercises facilitated by Middle Georgia Speaks Toastmasters. An exciting highlight was their visit to a nuclear power plant! All of this was made possible through the invaluable support of the Georgia Power Foundation, ensuring that these life-changing experiences remain accessible to our students at no cost.
EarthCare 2023 Evaluation Report
I would recommend this program to others because of the incredible friendships, experiences, and leadership skills you will gain…You define your own success, and I met many successful people who have had similar and diverse upbringings from myself.”- Gambler Dollar, Bainbridge HS, Class of 2026
75% of students reported that attending EarthCare was their first time participating in a program focused on developing leadership skills.
Student Experiences
ANNUAL SCHOOL YEAR SUMMITS
LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE
Sponsored by MarketSource
Saturday, November 12, 2022
Leadership exCHANGE is one of 21st Century Leaders’ live leadership training experiences held annually in the Fall. Leadership exCHANGE focuses on the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and career options on a range of topics and themes.
Leadership exCHANGE 2022 was hosted on Saturday, November 12th at Morehouse College, a Historically Black College & University (HBCU) in Atlanta, GA. The summit focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). During the one-day summit, 85 high school students joined together in person to learn about stereotypes, social justice, and utilizing DE&I in their community and workforce. 21CL alumni and volunteers spent their time to come and network with these students at our roundtables. Student attendees heard from summit sponsor MarketSource about stereotypes, learned the importance of HBCUs, and heard from Partnership for Southern Equity about social justice and DE&I.
2022 Leadership exCHANGE Evaluation Report
GOIZUETA YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Goizueta Youth Leadership Summit (GYLS) is one of 21st Century Leaders’ immersive leadership experiences hosted at the beginning of the second school semester to provide students with master-level business acumen, introduce students to career paths, develop their personal and professional leadership skills, and construct a compelling business pitch.
This one-day summit at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School featured a marketing presentation and case competition led by the Goizueta Gives community service group of MBA candidates at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School – an annual summit partner since 2007. During the 2023 winter summit, students learned about leadership values, career pathways, and industry insights from speakers using marketing in their careers. Students then divided into teams for a case competition to solve the problem of diversifying outdated marketing campaigns, for which they developed a pitch with guidance from MBA students who volunteered for the day.
2023 GYLS Evaluation Report
Graduating Class of 2023 Impact: 2023 Senior Bragbook
After attending the summit, I am inspired to share the messages of diversity, equity and inclusion and incorporate the foundations of service, communication, equality, and equity in my work as a leader in my community.”
- Aurora Flegel, Campbell High School
Overall, I loved my experience and I would 10/10 recommend it to prospective future cohort members of the internship + scholarship program! My coworkers were the best and provided me with the information to succeed during those six weeks and beyond!...After this internship, I believe I am well set up for future internships, careers, and life experiences! I absolutely loved my experience!”
- Jalana Smith, Dublin H.S. ‘23, Georgia Tech11 Interns
7 Host Companies
$27,500
In scholarships awarded
PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP & SCHOLARSHIP
Our inaugural paid summer internship and scholarship program served 11 graduating seniors with a 4-6 week paid summer internship and a $2,500 scholarship to their postsecondary institution. During summer 2023, our 11 seniors gained work experience at host companies The Atlanta Braves, Hire Dynamics/EmployBridge, Emory Hospital, HOT COFFEE, 21st Century Leaders, and law firms Nelson Mullins, Riley & Scarborough and Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske, LLP.
Thank you to our funders and partners in this inaugural program to provide these paid internships, stipends, and collegiate scholarships: MarketSource, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and State Farm Good Neighbor program, Jeff + Okema Jackson Family, Atlanta Braves, Board of Directors, and individual donors for making this program possible.
2023 Internship & Scholarship Impact Report
YOUTH AMBASSADORS
100% of students agreed with the following statements:
I feel prepared to succeed in a diverse workforce
I am interested in seeking additional leadership roles
My involvement with 21CL has provided me with opportunities to meet and network with people that can have a positive impact on my career and post-secondary education
91% of students agree with this statement: I am more confident about the skills and abilities I bring to the workforce as a result of this program.
46% of students reported that this internship was their first job
The Youth Ambassadors are a motivated group of 21CL students selected to represent the diverse perspectives of our statewide student body. When students apply for this leadership role, they are given an opportunity to serve as 21CL advocates to empower other high school students across the state to join 21st Century Leaders and to connect students, volunteers, alumni and supporters.
We relaunched the Youth Ambassadors experience for the 2023-2024 school year, with 30 students chosen to serve in this influential capacity.
Special Events
GEORGIA YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Presented by Warner Bros. Discovery
March 25, 2023 at Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta, GA
Event Co-Chairs + Board Members: Okema Jackson, WABE + Mari Sifo, Host Hotels & Resorts
Breaking Barriers
21st Century Leaders’ signature fundraising gala was held at the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta on March 25, 2023 to raise support for our year-round leadership training programs, while recognizing and honoring 21 extraordinary high school students from across the state who are all members of 21st Century Leaders. More than 250 people were in attendance for this record breaking fundraising event!
Sponsors
Warner Bros. Discovery
Georgia Power, MarketSource, Atlanta Braves, MERCER Government, KPMG, Aflac, Goizueta Business School, EmployBridge, Cox Enterprises, Deloitte, Nordson Noble Investment Group, Chris + Susan Reynolds and Jason + Catherine Wallace, SCANA Energy, Delta Community Credit Union, Host Hotels & Resorts, WellStar, Bressemer Trust, Arjun + Prathi Chowdri
In-kind: Oreo/Mondelez International, Savannah Distributing Co., Faith Flowers, The Color Spot
ALUMNI SPEAKER AT GALA
21st Century Leaders is not just a non-profit organization, it is a movement. Being a part of this program challenged me at 16 years old to reach for the stars and land on the moon. Breaking Barriers starts with a great foundation of support that will push you and believe in you to succeed. I am so glad that 21st Century Leaders is a part of my foundation as it helped change my life.”
- Kalin Tate, 21CL Alumni Board of Directors, Sponsorship and Partnership Management at National Football League (NFL)
21 High school students recognized
$11,000 In student grants awarded
$158,655 Raised
LEADERBOARD AT RIVER CLUB
21st Century Leaders’ 10th annual charity golf tournament. Location at The River Club in Suwanee, Georgia
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Event Chair + Board Member: Scott Riggs, White Cap
Corporate Sponsors: Dayton Superior, Euclid Chemical, MarketSource, OCM-Inc, Quickrete, WhiteCap 3M, Coastal States Bank, DeWalt, DuPont, Georgia Power, Hive Financial Assets, Leviat, Makita, Milwaukee, Owens Corning, Pike Electric, PrimeSource, Pyramex, RiskBridge Advisors, Stego
Construction, Simpson-Strong Tie, Werner, Wire-Bond
Hole Sponsors: 3M, Coastal States Bank, Euclid, EmployBridge, KPMG, Leviat, Simpson Strong-Tie, and Natalie and Natasha Walker
111 Players
27 Corporate Sponsors $94,590 Raised
SPECIAL ALUMNI SPEAKER AT GOLF RECEPTION
I can honestly say that from the moment I stepped into a program and was welcomed by the incredible 21CL staff, my world opened up. The thing that never changes about 21st Century Leaders is the feeling of opportunity that fills the room when young people of all different backgrounds come together to share what they all have in common — A hope for something better for those around them.
I wake up everyday grateful to this state and organization, because I get to work to fulfill the promise that brought my family here in the first place: that no matter where you came from or who you are, there is a pathway to success through opportunity and hard work.”
- Brandon Ona, 21CL Alumnus, Director of Business Services, Office of Workforce Development, Technical College System of Georgia
Volunteers
As a true collaboration of business and professionals, 21st Century Leaders’ partnerships and volunteer involvement is a big part of what makes 21CL special. Our programs would not be possible without their support, talent, and commitment to the development of youth leadership.
2,328
Total Volunteer Hours
$74,030 Volunteer In-kind Value
$247,459
Total In-kind Value
IN-KIND
457
Total Volunteers
20% of volunteer hours were contributed by 21CL Alumni
In addition to volunteer hours, 21CL received in-kind support of food, beverages, venue space, and program supplies, which enabled us to deliver high-quality experiences to our participants.
Thank you sooo much, thank you to all the volunteers and guest speakers who came today, this is an important experience that I’ll be thankful for and never forget. From this experience I was able to communicate with like-minded individuals and boost my ambition for life.”
- Adamaris Reducindo, North Atlanta HS
Financials
1, 2022 - September 30, 2023)
*A full copy of our independent Auditors Report performed by Reed, Quinn & McClure is available online at www.21stcenturyleaders. org/our-impact
Donors
CORPORATIONS
Aflac
APCO Holdings
Atlanta Braves
Attento Counseling
Bessemer Trust
Coastal States Bank
Coca-Cola Company
Cox Enterprises
Deloitte
Delta Community Credit Union
DeWalt
DuPont Company
Emory University’s Goizueta Business School
EmployBridge
Equifax
Euclid Chemical
Georgia Power Company
Host Hotels & Resorts
IBM
KPMG LLP
Kroger
Leviat
MarketSource
Mercer Government
Noble Investment Group
OCM-Inc
Piedmont Healthcare
Pike Electric
PrimeSource
Pyramex Safety Products
Riot Games
Savannah Distributing Co. Inc.
SCANA Energy
Simpson Strong-Tie
State Farm
Stego Industries
Styro Systems
The Mosquito Masters
The QUIKRETE Companies
Truist
Warner Bros. Discovery
Wellstar Health Systems
White Cap
FOUNDATIONS
ASFIP Foundation
Atlanta Foundation
The Carlo and Micol and Schejola Foundation
The Club of Hearts, Inc.
Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation
Bright Funds Foundation
Georgia Power Foundation
Homestead Foundation
Kiwanis Foundation of Atlanta, Inc.
James Hyde Porter Testamentary Trust
The Keenan Foundation
Nordson Corporation Foundation
The Scott Hudgens Family Foundation
Tunstall P. Rushton Charitable Fund
GOVERNMENT
DeKalb County Government Human Services Department
Fulton County Youth and Community Services Division
Georgia Department of Education
IN-KIND SUPPORT
Atlanta Braves
The Coca-Cola Company
Chick-fil-A
Cleveland Golf
Christy Associates
Cox Enterprises
The Color Spot
Dayton Superior
Georgia Power
Greenhouse Agency
Goizueta Gives
Heaven Hill
Emory University’s Goizueta Business School
Inspire Brands - Arby’s Foundation
KPMG
LocumTenens.com
Nelson Mullins
Nordson Corporation
Mondelez International
Piedmont Healthcare
PGA of America
Pro-Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Pyramex
Rali
SCANA Energy
Society of Human Resource Management - Atlanta
Warner Bros. Discovery Studios
Warner Bros. Discovery
Wellstar Health System
*We thank all donors and companies for their in-kind donations for our 2023
Georgia Youth Leadership Awards Auction
21st Century Leaders is proud to manage SCANA Energy’s Homework Centers
Donors
INDIVIDUALS
Dennis & Amy Adamovich
Srinivas Akella
Hayley Alli
Raveena Alli
Adwoa Awotwi
Andrea Bader
Aditya Bagchi
Clarissa Barron
Christopher Bean
Akil Bektemba
Thomas Bickes
Maria Blackburn
Lisa Boren Sivey
Celeste Bottorff
Valerie Brown
Latroy Brown-McCormick
Brad Bryant
Charles Burke
Chris Caldwell
Rich Cannon
Richard Cannon
Steve Cave
Nicole Champion
Carla Chandler
Arjun Chowdri
Cabral Clements
John Cornelius
Edwin Cruz
Kristin Curylo
Sara Dada
Charles Davis
Kiah Davis
Vani Doddla
Corey Dortch
Sheila Dunn
June R. Edelstein
Taylor Fairman
Chandra Farley
Daphne Flanigan
Lauren Flanigan
Marty Fleischmann
Katelyn Fredericks
Andrew Freedman
Ishola Gaba
Sailaja Gadde
Ariyanna Gay
Courtney Geib
Timothy Giannoni
Ross Gillis
Joanna Giordano
Bridget Gorta
Taylor Green
Brenda Greene
Cheryl H Hahn
Carol Hahn
Walter Hancock
Juanika Harper
Brandi Harrison
Arden Henderson
Morgan Hermes
Kate Hewitt
Shannon Higdon
Ben Hill
Kristy Hoffman
Betsy Holland
William Holley, IV
Bridges Holmes
Joyette Holmes
Joseph J. Iarocci
Emily Jackson
Okema Jackson
Prentiss Jackson
Farzad Jalil
JP James
Kennard Johnson
Matt Johnson
Thomas Judge
Padma Kalva
Natalie Kelly
Dionne Lackey
Sydney Langdon
Wei Lin
Ellen Lindemann
Erica Lubetkin
Lanita Lucas
Chancellor Mack
Amit Malik
Elizabeth McCune
Nancy McKinnon
Nicole Meadows
Alina Mencias
Erika Morton
Jon Neff
Amber Obianwu
Mike Parisi
Kimberly Penz
Patrick Perrefort
Rosalynne Price
Michael Quigley
Fernando Quinones
Jay Ramsay
Dr. Adrienne Randolph
Dan Redler
Chris Reynolds
Christopher Reynolds
DeRetta Rhodes
Roald A. Richards
Scott Riggs
Mike Ripley
Jonathan Rowe
Tunstall Rushton
Dileep SAHU
Greg Sale
Nicole Schwartz
Mindy Schweitzer-Rawls
Kevin Sessions
Jyoti Sharma
Mari Sifo
Brian Sivy
Shannon Sliger
Tim Sliger
Brian Smith
Kerry Smith
Scott Snipes
Kathy Solley
Patrick Solomon
Taylor Spicer
Caralin Stepp
Chi Swallow
Mike Szalkowski
Ashley Tackett
Alice Tang
Katerina Taylor
Denise Tennessee
Anu Tharakan
Gloria Tobin
Randell Trammell
Tavari Turner
Tracey Underwood
Assi Van Bastelaar
Roy Wagner
Natalie Walker
Jason Wallace
Lisa Walsh
Brian Wander
Kevin Washington, Jr
Emilia Waszkielewicz
Shawn Welch
Shaun Wells
Michael White
Eric Wilder
Hunter Williams
Leslie Williams
James Wilson
Carol Wood
Paul Wood
Xianwei Wu
Bo Zhang
Anqi Zou
100% of our Board of Directors made a financial contribution