How A Statewide Program Turns Teens Into Community Leaders: Part #2

If leadership is a muscle, this conversation is the workout plan. We sit down with the team from UGA’s Fanning Institute to unpack Youth Lead Georgia—a statewide program that starts with a three‑day kickoff in Athens and expands into a year of hands‑on learning, industry immersion, and post‑secondary exploration. From team building and self‑awareness to a multi‑day bus tour across Georgia, we trace how students grow from curious participants into confident contributors who can read a room, read a community, and take action.What makes this model stand out is its intentional mix of access and relevance. Selection hinges on short‑answer reflections, not GPAs, opening the door to students with emerging potential. Each session pairs leadership skills with local context: visits to technical colleges and universities, insights from the military, and on‑site industry experiences that reveal the jobs powering Georgia’s economy. The Phoenix Air visit in Cartersville—a company that transported Ebola patients and handled a high‑profile repatriation—shows students that global impact can start right here at home.We also get practical. Hear how Oconee County High School tailored modules, shifted to student‑led group interviews, and balanced grade levels to keep momentum strong. Learn how districts around the state adapt schedules to avoid class conflicts, run leadership councils that span middle and high school, and even introduce K‑5 students to age‑appropriate leadership. The Youth Lead Georgia Summit takes it further by inviting representation from all 159 counties, elevating youth voices on the issues they face today and turning those insights into direction for schools and communities.Ready to bring this to your campus or district? Connect with UGA Fanning on LinkedIn and social at @UGAFanning, and reach out to Lauren and Jason via the UGA Fanning website to set up a Zoom. If this conversation sparked ideas, subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more educators and community leaders can find it.