Empowering Young Men to Excel Conference

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Empowering Young Men to Excel Conference

Hosted by Commissioner Natalie Hall, District 4 and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Commissioner Natalie Hall, District 4 and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners presents The 2nd Annual Empowering Young Men to Excel Conference on March 23, 2022 at the Loudermilk Center.

The Empowering Young Men to Excel Youth Conference is a 1-day experience for young men graduating high school that will include life-changing presentations and workshops: promoting enrichment in healthy lifestyles, marketable skills, well-balanced relationships, and successful careers beyond their graduation. The experience includes:

Keynote Speaker - Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Former U.S. Congressman and Former City of Atlanta Mayor, Andrew Young
Greetings - Mayor Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta
Interactive Workshops
Panel Discussions
Industry Exhibitors

empowering young men to excel conference

exhibitor resource guide

empowering young men to excel conference

workshops

Real Talk: From Boys to Men

Dyrell Carr & Brianna Brooks, Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

The workshop is brought by the Fulton County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities with a discussion on emotional intelligence, stress management and the stigma surrounding mental health challenges that exist for young men. Other workshop highlights will include focus on the needs and tools that young men have to create, sustain and/or develop to maintain healthy mental states throughout their transition from teens to adulthood. The presenters will connect and dialogue with an aim to embrace and spread “male magic” together.

VIEW PRESENTATION

Personal Branding: Looking the Part, Acting the Part

Reggie Jaye, Clothier/Designer

The objective of this workshop is to stress how important personal branding and image is in our everyday lives. This will include the importance of creating and maintaining a professional social media presence and the impact it can have regarding employment. Also included will be brief candid discussion on how to dress for success.

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Secure the Bag

Camalyn Turner, Atlanta Public Schools

Keith Lewis, I’m A Father F1rst

This workshop will cover two specific ways to “Secure the Bag”. For the college bound student part of the workshop will provide students with the necessary information to successfully complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid while preparing them to overcome the common obstacles that students face. The other part of the workshop will introduce investing in a new way by sharing how Crypto Camps combine emerging technology with financial literacy to create a unique educational experience that not only improves upon these conventional programs, but stands in a lane of its own.

VIEW PRESENTATION - Keith Lewis

VIEW PRESENTATION - Camalyn Turner

The Power of Choosing

Tomiko Williams, Fulton County Juvenile Court
Kevin Block, Fulton County Juvenile Court
Julious George, Fulton County Juvenile Court
Chief Ronald Applin, Atlanta Public Schools Police Department
Deputy Chief Shannon Brown, Office of the Fulton County Solicitor General
Major Deirdre Orange, Fulton County Marshal’s Office
Jawara Mars, Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office

The CHOICE is yours. In this workshop, youth will hear about the power of their choices going forward in life. Law enforcement and Court Officials will discuss how the choices youth make impact their lives while interacting with them in their respective agencies.

VIEW PRESENTATION

empowering young men to excel conference

panelists and presenters

Keynote Speaker Andrew Young will deliver this year's address. The panelists have prepared a teen-centric and engaging panel experience that will teach the young men about life skills and how to achieve success.

commissioner Natalie Hall, district 4

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Natalie Hall is Fulton County Commissioner of District 4, which encompasses the heart of Atlanta, downtown, Midtown, Old 4th Ward, and neighborhoods west of downtown Atlanta to Fulton Industrial Boulevard. The unique attribute about this district is that it’s completely inside of the City of Atlanta.

Mayor Andre Dickens, greetings

Mayor of Atlanta

Andre Dickens is the 61st Mayor of Atlanta. Prior to becoming mayor, he served as an at-large City Council member for two terms. In addition to serving in public office, Mayor Dickens has been a businessman and nonprofit executive and is an engineer, deacon, father and native Atlantan. His career follows his passions and his impact follows his commitment.

AMBASSADOR Andrew JACKSON Young

Keynote Speaker

Ambassador Andrew Young is nothing less than a living legend. An icon of the Civil Rights movement, he worked as executive director of SCLC, the Southern Christian
Leadership Council, where he became a top strategist and trusted friend to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and witnessed his assassination. In 1972, a predominately white district
in Georgia elected Andrew Young as its representative to the United States Congress, making him the first black man to serve the state in Washington since the Reconstruction era.

Ronald Applin, presenter

Chief of Police, Atlanta Public Schools Police Department

Ronald Applin has over 32 years of law enforcement experience and is the current Chief of Police of the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department. As a graduate of Atlanta Public Schools, he went on to serve 6 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.

Greg Bannister, panelist

Site Director Boys and Girls Club Metro Atlanta

I am currently the Executive Director for the At-Promise West Boys and Girls Club. I am from Roanoke, Virginia. I attended George Mason University, where I received a Bachelor's degree in Community and Preventive Health.

Brianna Brooks, presenter

Associate Professional Counselor, Fulton County School System

Brianna Brooks is a graduate of Brenau University with a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling with a specialization in Neuropsychology. She holds an active license as an Associate Professional Counselor and currently working at North Springs High School serving the Fulton County school system.

deputy Shannon Brown, presenter

Deputy Chief of Investigations, Fulton County Solicitor General's Office

Deputy Chief of Investigations Shannon Brown, Office of The Fulton County Solicitor General is a veteran Global Security leader with over 25 years of law enforcement experience. Shannon began his career in 1996 as a Special Agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Dyrell Carr, presenter

Associate Professional Counselor, State of Georgia

Dyrell Carr strives to help those who seek progress and exploration within their life to create the reality they desire. Dyrell graduated from North Carolina Central University with his Bachelor’s Degree of Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from Columbus State University.

Michelle Dawes-Birt, panelist

Executive Director, Real Chicks Rock!

Michelle Dawes-Birt is an Entrepreneur, Speaker, Community Service Activist, Philanthropist, Podcaster, Talk Radio Personality, and Professional Mentor. Michelle
earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Sciences from DeVry University and her MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Kevin Block, presenter

Probation Officer at Fulton County Juvenile Court

I'm Kevin Block a Probation Officer at Fulton County Juvenile Court in the Programming and Grants department where my primary responsibility is bringing in appropriate programs to the court that help our youth succeed.

Julious George, presenter

Founder, Young Generation Movement

Born and raised on the west side of Atlanta and living with his mother and 3 siblings in a low-income neighborhood Julious George Robles was faced with the responsibility of being the man of the house at a young age and was ultimately raised by the streets. He was friends with leaders of gangs who dealt with weapons, illegal substances and violence.

Lisa Herring, panelist

Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools

Dr. Lisa Herring began her position at Atlanta Public Schools on July 1, 2020, coming home to make a difference in the state that raised her, and in the city that made her an educator. A Macon, GA, native and graduate of Spelman College, the Univ. of South Carolina, and Georgia Southern Univ., Dr. Herring’s enduring career includes experience in both public and private, and urban and rural settings, notably serving as Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, Chief Academic Officer for Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY, and Deputy Superintendent of Academics for the Charleston County (SC) School District.

Alpachino Hogue, panelist

Senior Strategic Advisor, Atlanta Public Schools

Alpachino Hogue is the Senior Strategic Advisor to the Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. This May, he will complete his Doctorate in Education Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Reggie Jaye, presenter

Founder, Reggie Jaye Signature Apparel

Reggie Jaye is a custom clothier and designer, born in Memphis, Tennessee. After high school he attended Jarvis Christian College (a HBCU) before enlisting in the US Air Force.

Keith Lewis, presenter

Founder, I'm A Father F1rst

Driven by his lifelong passion to serve, Keith is dedicated to partnering with communities and brands across the globe to define and deliver the just and balanced reality we all deserve. His unique mix of experience includes high-level marketing as well as hands-on mentorship and job creation for families across Atlanta.

Jawara Mars, presenter

Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney, Fulton County District Attorney's Office

Jawara Mars has served the Fulton and DeKalb County communities as a prosecutor for his entire 8 year career. ADA Mars spent time serving in Fulton County Juvenile Court where he was awarded the Juvenile Court Attorney of the Year in 2014 by the Georgia Conference on Children and Families.

Erika Y. Mitchell, panelist

Board Member, Atlanta Board of Education District 5

Erika Y. Mitchell, a native of Atlanta, grew up in the southwest community in Atlanta. She attended Alabama State University, taking advantage of a full athletic scholarship. She won numerous awards for her stellar athletic performance, including the Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Captain Aprille Moore, presenter

Community Engagement Unit Commander, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office

Captain Aprille Moore serves as the Community Engagement Unit Commander for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office under the leadership of Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat. In this role, her focus is on implementing innovative community outreach strategies that actively engages citizens and employees.

Major Deirdre Orange, presenter

South Bureau Commander, Fulton County Marshal’s Department

Major Deirdre Orange is an Atlanta native and product of the Atlanta Public School System, graduating from D.M. Therrell High School. Major Orange began her law enforcement career in July 1998 and currently serves as the South Bureau Commander in the Fulton County Marshal’s Department.

Camalyn Turner, presenter

Coordinator, Student Discipline at Atlanta Public Schools

Camalyn Turner is a licensed attorney with 14 years of experience in classroom teaching and leadership roles in K-12 public education. She currently serves as Coordinator for Student Discipline at Atlanta Public Schools, and for the past year, she has served as Special Assistant to the Superintendent at Atlanta Public Schools.

Tomiko Williams, presenter

Court Programs Administrator, Fulton County Juvenile Court

Tomiko Williams became passionate about Juvenile Justice at the age of 11 after she watched her mother navigate a complex system that ultimately took her brother from his family for more than 20 years. With over 15 years of experience in the juvenile justice field, Tomiko continues to connect youth and their families to services and programs within the community that focus on rehabilitation.

Aakeem Woodard, panelist

Youth Advocate, Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Aakeem Woodard is an author a certified speaker, coach & trainer for The John Maxwell Team. A certified Behavioral Consultant with Personality Insight Institute. A sought after youth transformational coach who has mentored over 800 youth.