On a Monday morning in Atlanta, 29 high school students gathered at Chick-fil-A headquarters as a cohort for the last time. The 2026 Youth Lead Georgia graduates, who began as strangers from across the state, had spent the past year on a shared leadership journey spanning thousands of miles, dozens of communities and countless hours of immersive activities, discussions and reflection.

The graduation marked the end of an unforgettable year for our third cohort of Youth Lead Georgia, a program designed to equip young people with the tools, confidence and vision to lead in their communities today while developing the skills to become leaders of tomorrow.  

Over the course of a year, the cohort traveled across the state, meeting six times in Athens, Cartersville, Columbus, and Atlanta, taking a weeklong summer bus tour through small towns and bustling cities, and joining 151 other high schoolers at a statewide summit. 

Traveling the state together meant far more than just visiting new places, it meant stepping out of their comfort zones, asking tough questions of local leaders, and realizing how their hometown issues fit into a much bigger picture. 

“Youth Lead Georgia connected me with other youth leaders whose experiences and perspectives helped shape my own. It helped me develop leadership skills I once struggled with and taught me that some of the best lessons in leadership come from learning from those around you,” Quentin Cherry of Fulton County said. 

For Meera Patel of Floyd County, the yearlong experience changed how she viewed leadership and the importance of building relationships. Along the way, she formed close friendships with fellow participants and discovered how much she could learn from their different backgrounds and experiences. 

“The most impactful aspect of YLG is all the different perspectives and scenes we encounter,” Patel said. “This program has really shown me how impactful the communities around us are, and sometimes you can find the best opportunities and meet the best people if you just take that one small step out of your circle!” 

For these students, leadership won’t end with graduation. At the conclusion of the program, the youth get to put their leadership skills to the test by applying for a Community Champions Grant. Awarded at graduation, these gifts from Regions Bank allow students to put their leadership skills into action by coordinating service projects in their local communities. 

This year, $10k in funds went to 10 Community Champion projects across 10 unique counties. Grant recipients worked with their selected community partners to identify and develop these projects, which they will implement together. 

With a growing interest in youth leadership initiatives across Georgia, the demand for these kinds of transformative experiences is higher than ever. Facilitated by the UGA Fanning Institute, Youth Lead Georgia was made possible by an initial $1.5 million commitment from Chick-fil-A. Thanks to this support, Youth Lead Georgia has been available at no cost to participants. Program organizers continue seeking additional support to provide these leadership experiences to students across Georgia at no cost.  

“We are hopeful and excited for the opportunity to continue this impactful program. Seeing these young leaders gain confidence, build lifelong connections across Georgia, and take real action in their communities proves how vital this work is. With the right funding partner, we can keep this momentum going and continue empowering the next generation of leaders who will shape our state’s future,” Lauren Healey, program lead and Fanning associate director, said. 

Please contact Anne Moser ([email protected]) if you would like to learn more about partnering with this program. 

Congratulations 2026 Graduates

The 2027 Youth Lead Georgia class will be announced later this month and will begin programming in January. 

For more information on Youth Lead Georgia, click here.