The Augusta Chapter of New Leaders Council recently held their 3rd Annual Movers, Shakers, and Change Makers Affair. NLC is a 501(c)(3) that works to recruit, train and promote the progressive political entrepreneurs of tomorrow — trendsetters, elected officials and civically-engaged leaders in business and industry who will shape the future landscape. Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. is the founder of the Augusta Chapter and launched it in 2013 after visiting the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Each year the organization hosts a class of NLC Fellows who are challenged to present a personal capstone and host a fundraiser as a group project. This was the first class in Augusta to add an award presentation to their fundraiser. The class of 2016 wanted to honor various progressive and community leaders in the CSRA by creating criteria for three categories; Movers, Shakers, and Change Makers.

The Movers category is described as a powerful and influential person who inspires others in the community and builds from within to get things done in the community. A Shaker is an individual under 35 that has shown a strong commitment to the CSRA’s growth and consistently initiates and encourages positive change to services and/or programs. A Change Maker is a person that actively seeks to produce societal change, follows through plans to do so and executes those changes.

Among the nominees this year, were three Augusta Technical College employees. Andrew Jefferson, recently retired Continuing Education Director, was a nominee in the Movers category.

Tiffany Brooks, One Stop Coordinator for Augusta Tech was a nominee in the Shakers category.

Al Steele, Veterans Education Coordinator for Augusta Tech/August Warrior Project was a nominee in the Change Makers category.

They were all in attendance for the award presentation along with Bonita J. Jenkins, 2016 Fellow and recent graduate of the class.