INTRODUCTION
Student Leadership Johns Creek (SLJC) is designed to empower young minds, cultivate leadership skills, and foster a deep sense of community engagement.
Studies have shown that student leadership programs like ours have a significant positive impact on communities. According to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Student Councils, schools with comprehensive leadership programs report a 24% increase in student engagement, leading to higher academic performance and lower dropout rates. Our program aims to follow this trend by providing our students with hands-on experiences that not only build their leadership abilities but also instill a strong sense of responsibility towards the community they live in.
Throughout the program, our students actively participate in a wide array of projects that make a tangible difference in Johns Creek and beyond. From organizing community service events to spearheading innovative projects that address local challenges, our aspiring leaders showcase their dedication and creativity. These remarkable young individuals develop essential skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making, ensuring they are well-prepared to lead and inspire others in their future pursuits.
MISSION
To develop, energize, and activate community leaders in Johns Creek by providing insight into and interaction with city, business, and government executives to affect positive change.
PROGRAM GOALS AND ADVANTAGES
College Perceptions and Opportunities:
Mentorship and Business Engagement:
Sponsorship that Supports Positive Community Impact:
GRANT PROJECTS
They Were Here Documentary Films
As a collaborative effort with Student Leadership Johns Creek, Mercer University and the Johns Creek Historical Society we worked to receive a generous grant from the Georgia Humanities to produce 4-documentary films about a local cemetery here in our community. The Macedonia Cemetery is home to about 105 graves of former slaves and their descendants. The films were completely done by students in our first-year program (all 15-17 years old), including filming, researching, script writing, voice over recording and editing the films. We had our premiere at Johns Creek High School and many dignitaries attended including United States Congresswoman Lucy McBath who gave all the students a Congressional Recognition Certificate for their hard work on this project.
Film 1: https://youtu.be/roUVxIAA2IY
Film 2: https://youtu.be/DnrEnB1v0FY
Film 3: https://youtu.be/yRL60hGCC7E
Film 4: https://youtu.be/KWW-gNhaHSM
Same Storm, Different Boats Traveling Exhibit and Book
Student Leadership Johns Creek again partnered with Mercer University Tift College of Education and the Johns Creek Historical Society to receive grant funding to work on a unique project documenting the living history of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant project, Same Storm, Different Boats was sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region Program, coordinated by Waynesburg University. This project focused on how the coronavirus impacted people across the world, especially in our local community of Johns Creek. Although we all lived through this worldwide pandemic, everyone experienced it differently. Students from Student Leadership Johns Creek conducted primary and secondary source research by acquiring and analyzing resources such as photographs, art, poetry, videos and oral histories that documented the various experiences and perspectives of community members during the pandemic. Their research was included in a travelling exhibit that is available for educational programming about the pandemic for events in Johns Creek as well as at Mercer University and the students created a book further documenting their efforts.
CONCLUSION
In summary, the Student Leadership Johns Creek program enhances students' lives by imparting essential skills, positioning them favorably for college admissions, and fostering mentorship opportunities with local businesses. Donors and businesses play a pivotal role in shaping students' futures and the community by supporting and mentoring these aspiring leaders. Together, we create a positive cycle of growth, opportunity, and community enrichment.
Leadership Johns Creek thanks our generous sponsors for their continued support of our program: Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Arthur Holst and Robyn Kanner Grant, KKC Investments, and Renasant Bank for their generous support of the program.