2023 21CL Annual Report

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 Director

Our 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 21CLub

Skill 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.

21CLub at Midtown HS leading a service project at Atlanta Community Food Bank

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 2024

of 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 Tech

11 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

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