Youth LEAD Georgia: Planting Seeds of Leadership Across the State

We often say that young people are the leaders of tomorrow. It is a comforting phrase. It gives us hope. But what I have seen through Youth LEAD Georgia reminds me that leadership is not a far-off promise. It is already happening, right here, right now.

Youth LEAD Georgia was born from a partnership between Chick-fil-A Inc., The Same House, and the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. This collaboration was rooted in a simple belief: If we give young people the tools, trust, and time to lead, they will rise to the occasion. They do not need to wait for their turn. They just need to be given the chance to put their ideas into action.

Turning Vision Into Action

This year, we named 18 students from across the state as Bullard Community Champions. Each of them was selected from the inaugural class of Youth LEAD Georgia, where rising 10th and 11th-grade students learned about Georgia’s history, economy, and people through four weekend retreats and a four-day tour across the state. They met with local leaders, visited communities different from their own, and began to understand what leadership looks like when it is rooted in service. At the end of the program, students were invited to submit proposals for community projects they felt passionate about leading in their hometowns.

The Bullard Community Champions initiative was created to take those ideas a step further. It provides funding, mentorship, and ongoing support to help Youth LEAD Georgia graduates bring their projects to life. These students are not just dreaming about change. They are building it. The projects are as varied as the students who lead them, but they are all rooted in one thing: service.

Some projects focus on education. Others tackle food insecurity, mental health, veteran support, and youth empowerment. What they all have in common is that they come from a place of empathy. These students looked at the communities around them, saw where people were struggling, and asked, “What can I do to help?”

Leading with Heart

Ethan Yang from Cumming and Riley Kennard from Acworth answered that question by starting a mentorship program for immigrant students. Both of them have family members who immigrated to the United States. They know what it means to feel out of place. They also know how powerful it is to feel a sense of belonging. Together, they partnered with Mentor Me North Georgia to create small group sessions where students could connect, build friendships, and grow confidence. By the end, students who had barely spoken to each other were laughing and working together. That is the power of intentional community.

I think about Tierney Walton in Valdosta, who is hosting regular activity days for adults with Down syndrome. She is creating a space where people feel included and celebrated. I think about Mary Hollis Pugmire in Madison, who is working to redesign the teen center at her local Boys and Girls Club to help more students feel welcomed. These are not large-scale policy changes. They are personal acts of care. And that is what makes them so powerful.

Lessons from the Next Generation

As we prepare to welcome the next class of students, I find myself reflecting on what these young people have taught me. They have reminded me that leadership is not about titles. It is about responsibility. It is about choosing to care. It is about believing that small acts can lead to big change.

If we want a more connected Georgia, we need more leaders like this who are ready to listen, ready to serve, and ready to build something better.

Visit https://thesamehouse.org/youth-lead-georgia/ to learn more about how you can get involved.