The Global Shapers Community is an initiative of the World Economic Forum consisting of a network of city-based hubs developed and led by young leaders between 20 and 30 years old who want to develop their leadership potential towards serving society. To that end, hubs undertake local projects to improve their communities. Hubs are present in over 150 countries and have over 7,000 active shapers.  The Atlanta Hub was founded in 2012 with an organizing committee consisting of, Former Mayor Kasim Reed, City of Atlanta, Ambassador Andrew Young; John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Operation HOPE, Dennis Lockhart, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Thomas Dortch, Jr., Chairman and CEO of TWD, Inc., Jamail Larkins, Founder and CEO of Ascension Aircraft, Judith Pickens, Former Senior Vice President of Boys & Girls Club of America.

The Atlanta Hub has consisted of young leaders who represent diverse backgrounds and interests but share a common love for our city and the world. Most hub members have extended networks globally and work to activate and advocate for marginalized communities. In doing such our members have been featured on platforms such as Forbes, NY Times, Atlanta Business Chronicle, TED, and WEF to name a few. Members have gone on to join LEAD Atlanta and Leadership Atlanta in an effort to continue building and helping to shape the city.  Beyond the accolades, our group is rooted in public service, centered on project based work. In the past we’ve held programming such as SHAPE Atlanta, FRY ATL, and gathered millennial voting dating with Elect ATL. On May 18-19, 2018 with a partnership with Atlanta TechStars, we’ll be hosting Start-Up Weekend Atlanta at Atlanta Tech Village. We believe in using our collective talents to serve as an opportunity hub for the city of Atlanta to tap into and utilize to assist in solving problems that challenge our city.

The hub is currently led by Jewel N. Thompson who serves as curator and Grace Lee who serves as vice-curator. Annually, we recruit the most promising young leaders in the city who have a desire to not only make a local impact but a global impact. After a three-month process spearheaded by membership team leads Harry Goldberg and Crystal Purnell we were able to select and welcome ten new members:

Global Shapers, Atlanta Hub: New Members, 2018:

• Alex Western- Hedge Fund Analyst, GMT Capital

• Ashley Overholser- Course Administrator, Institute of International Human Affairs

• Belinda Gadri- Investment Associate, Heritage Securities

• Evey Wilson- Freelance Journalist/Filmmaker

• Jasmine Burton- Founder, WISH for WASH

• Jon Goldman- Strategy and Operations Consultant, Deloitte

• Kelsey Gray, PhD- Education Postdoc, Emory University

• Paulina Guzman- International Affairs Coordinator, City of Atlanta

• Roman Mendes- Management Consultant, Accenture

• Sam Martinez- Director of College Innovation, Goodie Nation

Current Members:

• Amelia Davis-Sandbox Communities LLC, Program Manager

• Ayan Ahmed-The Whole Hearted LLC - Founder; Brighthouse - Strategist

• Crystal Purnell- Analytics Consultant

• Danielle McKinley- BeCreative. C - Principal, Chief Storyteller

• Durantae Lucas- Atlanta Ventures - Accounting & Finance Manager

• Gillen Heisler -ATL Activate - Founding Member; Deloitte - Business Analyst

• Grace Lee- Korean Kids & Orphanage Outreach Mission - Chief Administrator; Director of Diversity - Eagle's Landing Christian Academy

• Grace Williams- Mary & Martha's Place - Director of Operations

• Ian Cohen- Next Generation Men/Women - Co-Founder, Former Executive Director

• Ian Wong- Emory University Hospital - Pulmonary / Critical Care Doctor

• Jacey Lucus- Leadtimr - Marketing Manager

• Jason Crain- Partpic, Inc - Co-Founder, COO, Amazon, Entrepreneur in Residence

• Jewel Thompson- Operation HOPE - Small Business Program Coordinator; Ashesi University, Adjunct Professor

• Keeya-Lee Ayre- GSMA Mobile for Development - Marketing Manager

• Khanjan ("Kuki") Gandhi- Emory University - Sr. Bioinformatics Scientist

• Lindsay Trinkle- Wiled Co. - Co-Founder

• Malika Whitley- ChopArt - Founder, CEO

• Meghan Cook- Operation HOPE – Youth Empowerment Program Manager

• Nirvana Archer- Enviroscent - Assistant Manager, International Partnerships

• Rahoul Ahuja- Emory Hospital - Internal Medicine Resident Physician

• Rupal Patel- CVS Pharmacy - Pharmacy Manager

• Sasha Thompson- Scribe America - Medical Scribe

• Simone Grant Esq.- Mobilitie - Network Real Estate Specialist

• Sonia Sequeira- FlatIron Building in Atlanta - Programs Manager

• Tayo Adeyefa- Deloitte - Consultant

• Terp Vairin- re: imagine/ATL - Project Manager