The Fulton County Department of Community Development is partnering with 21stCentury Leaders, Georgia’s premier youth leadership and non-profit organization, to connect, transform, and inspire high school students from diverse backgrounds in Fulton County to become the next generation of leaders.

Participants may register for the program beginning Monday, August 25 through Wednesday, September 17, 2025. With the program orientation kicking off on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

Fulton County’s CONNECTED: Youth Leadership Program (CYLP) is an experiential program designed to provide students with a full year of robust experiences, enabling them to develop critical leadership knowledge, explore future career interests, and make informed decisions about the necessary educational and training pathways to achieve desired future career goals. Participants will also have access to live and online leadership training, special incentives, and connection with diverse peers and professionals throughout Fulton County.

Through this collaboration, Community Development’s Youth and Community Services (YCS) and 21st Century Leaders will follow an EPIC approach model: Engaging (fun and unique learning), Participatory (active and ongoing), Interactive (employer and training driven), andConnected (interest-driven/social developmental) utilizing 21st Century Leaders’ (21CL) proprietary online learning platform, Leadership Connect®, which is housed on Rali, an Atlanta based learning management system and one of 21CL’s partnering companies.

For consideration, students must meet the following criteria:

Must be enrolled in high school

Must be a Fulton County Resident

Access to a computer/tablet and Wi-Fi will be required to fully participate in this virtual leadership program

Leadership, recognition, and inclusivity describe just a few of the many qualities exemplified by CYLP. As such, there will be several opportunities throughout the year to provide incentives that encourage and reward participant engagement, including:

Gift card prizes from $25 to $100

Technology Prizes (Ear pods, Laptops, tablets)

Live Workshops + Leadership Summits

Opportunity for paid summer internship (high school seniors only)

Completed applications may be submitted through the Fulton County website application link atwww.fultoncountyga.gov/CYLP.

For more information, please contact Dionne Ferrell, Youth Coordinator, [email protected].