Macon-Bibb County Government Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students

GCAPS NEWS

Our infamous year has been watched by several organizations, peer Youth Leadership Groups, and officials across the

state. As such, we have been successful in securing national motivational speaker and public servant, Alisha Thomas Mor-

gan to share words of wisdom and inspiration.

A native of Miami, Florida, Alisha began her call to leadership organizing

with the youth division of the NAACP during her teenage years, and eventually

rose through the ranks to become Georgia’s State Youth/College Division Presi-

dent. Alisha went on to attend Spelman College, where she led the campus

NAACP Chapter and earned degrees in Sociology & Theatre Arts. Years of so-

cial justice activism culminated in a historic moment when, at the age of 23, Ali-

sha answered the call for public service and became the first African-American

to represent Cobb County in the Georgia state legislature. Known for her passion

for getting people involved in the political process, throughout her career Alisha

hosted over 100 community town hall meetings and welcomed over 1,000 public

school students, community members and emerging leaders to the State Capitol

for policy briefings and advocacy trainings. After serving the people of Cobb

County for twelve diligent years, Alisha retired her seat in the legislature earlier

this year, passing the torch to a young woman she mentored for two years.

Continued on Page 3

Morgan Keynoting GCAPS End-of-Year Celebration It’s hard to believe that we are nearing the end of the Macon-Bibb

County GCAPS 2014-2015 Program Year. With 33 students, we have

explored civic responsibility, shadowed government departments, toured

public facilities, and networked with federal, state, and local representa-

tives. More than 1,000 hours have been spent performing community

service and over 500 hours spent in learning sessions. Yes, we have

something to celebrate!

End of the Year Celebration Thursday, April 30, 2015

6:30 Reception | 7:00 Dinner & Awards

Historic Terminal Station

200 Cherry Street | Macon, Georgia 31201

In This Issue

What’s Happening

Year in Review

Youth Leadership Benefits

Spotlight

2015-2016 Applications

Engaging in Youth Leadership

Macon-Bibb County Government Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS) Newsletter | APRIL 2015

Macon-Bibb County GCAPS | 2 | April 2015

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

6:00 p.m. Macon-Bibb County Commission Meeting at Government Center (700 Poplar Street)

Pledge of Allegiance: Alexis O'Dette (William S. Hutchings College & Career Academy) &

Jybreil Howard (Rutland High School)

Saturday & Sunday, April 18 & 19, 2015

Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Youth Commission Caucus

Savannah International Convention Center | One International Drive | Savannah, Georgia

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

6:00 p.m. Macon-Bibb County Commission Meeting at Government Center (700 Poplar Street)

Pledge of Allegiance: Caroline Anderson (Mount de Sales Academy) & Hitanshi Mehta

(Howard High School)

Thursday, April 30, 2015

6:00 p.m. Macon-Bibb County GCAPS End of the Year Celebration

Historic Terminal Station; 200 Cherry Street; Macon, GA 31201

This event has a mandatory participation and attendance.

Dress: Professional

Macon-Bibb County GCAPS (Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students)

Macon-Bibb County GCAPS | 3 | April 2015

Alisha became a force of principled leadership and leader in education during

her time in the House of Representatives, working across the aisle to play pivotal

roles in ushering through some of the boldest reforms in Georgia’s recent history.

Alisha’s crowning achievements were inspired by her passion for young people and

her belief that providing a high quality public education to every child, regardless of

their zip code, is the civil rights issue of our time. Education remains her deepest

passion and primary focus. Since leaving the legislature, Alisha has remained ac-

tive in education, besting thousands of applicants to become one of only eleven

chosen for the highly-competitive and prestigious Broad Superintendents’ Acade-

my, a coveted training fellowship for the nation’s most promising education leaders.

Outside of the legislature, Alisha is admired for working

to share her wisdom and passion with motivated young peo-

ple and professionals looking to make a positive impact on

society. Alisha’s immutable grace, style and class have land-

ed profiles of her leadership on the pages of The New York

Times, AOL Black Voices, and Essence, Marie Claire & Eb-

ony magazines. Alisha owns and manages A. T. Morgan

Enterprises, a boutique Atlanta-based consulting firm offer-

ing dynamic community and advocacy-fueled solutions to not

-for-profit organizations, government entities, school systems

and private enterprises. Alisha is the author of No Apologies:

Powerful Lessons in Life, Love & Politics, an acclaimed, semi-autobiographical

volume of inspiration that leverages her myriad of experiences as a young Black

woman in politics to offer readers a fresh perspective on the keys to living life

“unapologetically.”

In both elected office and as a concerned citizen, Alisha stands as a model of

courage for anyone who has been called to serve and lead. Alisha serves on sever-

al boards, including the Joseph & Evelyn Lowery Center for Human Rights. She is

a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a life member of the NAACP.

Alisha resides in Austell, Georgia with the light of her life, her seven-year-old

daughter Lailah.

Morgan Keynoting End-of-Year Celebration (Cont’d from Page 1)

Macon-Bibb County Youth Commission GCAPS

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to

each other.”

John F. Kennedy

Macon-Bibb County GCAPS | 4 | April 2015

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adven-tures that we can have if only we seek them with

our eyes open.”

Jawaharlal Nehru

Orientation (09/22/2014)

First Commission Meeting (10/09/2014) SELMA Reception (01/22/2015)

MLK Breakfast (01/19/2015)

Recreation Learning Session (03/11/2015)

Commission Holiday Reception (12/16/2014)

Youth Leadership Summit (10/10/2014)

With Fulton County Youth Commission (02/17/2015)

Macon-Bibb County GCAPS | 5 | April 2015

“Success is about dedication. You may not be where you want to be or do what you want to do when you’re on the journey. But you’ve got to be willing to have vision and fore-sight that leads you to an incred-

ible end.”

Usher SELMA Reception (01/22/2015)

Commission Holiday Reception (12/16/2014)

Meeting with Governor Nathan Deal at the Georgia State Capital (02/17/2015)

Juvenille Justice Learning Session (11/15/2015)

Animal Welfare Pet-A-Truck (10/09/2014)

Law Enforcement Learning Session (11/12/2014)

Fire Department Learning Session (12/09/2014)

Macon-Bibb County GCAPS | 6 | April 2015

Youth Leadership Benefits Developing youth as leaders is a core

principle of our GCAPS Youth Commission.

It is reinforced by best practices in civic

awareness, service-learning, asset build-

ing, and community engagement. Quality

standards for service-learning indicate that

youth voice is vital, involving youth as lead-

ers in planning, implementing, and evaluat-

ing their experiences, with guidance from

government leaders. This strong youth

voice not only ensures that the experiences

will be meaningful and relevant for them, but it also teaches them leadership, planning, deci-

sion-making, and community-building skills that will last a lifetime. Youth leadership focuses

on young people’s ideas, opinions, involvement, and initiative being a primary driver of plan-

ning, action, and reflection in public service.

Benefits of Our Youth Leadership Program

Taps into young people’s drive, determination, and practical wisdom for the benefit of the

community

Increases youth buy-in, their learning and growth, and the effectiveness of their efforts

Encourages and increases ongoing participation in service-learning by young people

Builds bridges between youth from differing neighborhoods and their schools and other

community organizations

Increases the opportunities for strengthening developmental assets with youth

We work hard to ensure that GCAPS meetings are a “safe space” for youth to share their

ideas, personalities, and opinions. We structure the lessons and learning opportunities so

that we match their leadership roles with their levels of experience, stretching them to grow a

bit beyond their comfort zones. Introducing the young people to our departmental leaders

and government officials provides additional opportunities for formal and informal leadership

training.

Our GCAPS Counselors serve as allies for the young people. The Counselors bring im-

portant perspectives, knowledge, experience, skills, and connections with them. Not only do

they work with the young people to accomplish the tasks, but they also build relationships

with the young people. Counselors recognize youth as valuable, with rights and responsibili-

ties for contributing to our community. They play the role of bringing the young people togeth-

er and mentoring them in overcoming obstacles. Building youth capacity and increasing their

sense of competence and confidence builds their commitment to the GCAPS Program.

“Today you are

you! That is truer

than true! There

is no one alive

who is you-er

than you!” Dr. Seuss

Macon-Bibb County GCAPS | 7 | April 2015

GCAPS Spotlight

Two Southwest High School students were chosen to

attend a medical camp this summer. The students will be

attending the Congress of Future Medical Leaders hosted by

the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Sci-

entists. They were invited by the former physician to the

President, Connie Mariano, who created the Academy to assist young students who want to

become doctors or medical scientists. Kyle Allen is a senior at Southwest and Sophomore

Ta’lareah Howard will be representing Southwest amongst the hundreds of other students.

Ta’lareah Howard is a member of the school’s chorus, Book Club and Beta Club. She

plays the clarinet for Southwest’s marching and symphonic bands. She is also an Upward

Bound student and participates in Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS).

Ta’lareah’s goals include becoming an obstetrician.

“I think the Academy will provide me with experience,” she said.

“It will give me a taste of what my future will look like in the medical field and maybe

broaden my interests.”

The students will have the opportunity to hear from several mentors, including leading

medical doctors and scientists, Nobel Prize winners, patients, and prodigies. They also will have the chance to view a live

surgery where they can interact with the surgeon. The students will attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders on June

24, 25 and 26 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Article from the Bibb County School District Newsletter (March 23, 2015)

Ta’lareah Howard (Sophomore at Southwest High School)

GCAPS 2015-2016 Applications We are looking for sophomores, juniors, and seniors who wish to

apply to be apart of our 2015-2016 Cohort of the Macon-Bibb County

Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students. The objectives and

goals of the program are simple: educate young citizens about the

importance of being actively conscious of their local government envi-

ronment and the opportunities available in the public sector. The

program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn

first-hand the roles and services that local governments fulfill and

offer to all citizens in Georgia.

By participating in activities, such as attending a Board of Commissioners’ meeting, talking with county professional

staff, visiting administrative departments, etc., students gain the knowledge they need to create a foundation on which they

can draw to educate their peers. In addition to training and learning activities, students have the opportunity to create and

implement civic awareness projects throughout the year. Youth are able to serve as leaders and liaisons within their com-

munities, while becoming engaged and informed citizens.

The window for accepting applications will be May 1 thru May 15, 2015. Additional details will be made availa-

ble at: www.maconbibb.us

Why Engage in Youth Leadership? The development of leadership contributes greatly to the positive devel-

opment of young people and our community.

Leadership skills, such as goal-setting, problem-solving and sound

decision-making, are not just necessary for leaders - these skills are

needed for success in today's world.

Helping young people develop leadership competencies makes them

better able to solve community problems and enhances their civic partici-

pation.

Young leaders also demonstrate higher career aspirations, increased

self-esteem, and improved high school completion rates.

By supporting and engaging young leaders, adults, organizations and

communities experience direct benefits, through stronger connections to

other young people in the community.

Youth have a greater understanding of the problems facing other

youth, and fresh perspectives for how to address these problems.

Young people help to re-energize adults and counteract negative

stereotypes of youth when they are successfully engaged in leadership

within their communities.

Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS)

Macon-Bibb County

Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students

700 Poplar Street

P. O. Box 247

Macon, GA 31202-0247

PLACE STAMP HERE

Contact Us

For more information about GCAPS:

Macon-Bibb County

700 Poplar Street

P. O. Box 247

Macon, GA 31202-0247

(478) 751-7170

gcaps@maconbibb.us

Visit us on the web at

www.maconbibb.us/gcaps

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/

MaconBibbCountyYouthCommission