We just finished up our inaugural year of the EMPOWER Youth Leadership Program, and what a year it has been!

Flint Energies is proud to celebrate the graduation of its inaugural EMPOWER Youth Leadership class after a transformative and successful year. The regional, rural initiative started with six counties this year – Crawford, Macon, Marion, Schley, Talbot, and Taylor Counties. 

The EMPOWER program is committed to providing education, opportunities, and experiences through self-discovery and experience-based learning. It encourages participants to discover their purpose fueled by passion and teaches them how to create meaningful change within themselves and their communities. Through hands-on experiences and projects, they learn that vibrant communities require strong leadership and dedicated volunteers. Participants also learn about Electric Membership Cooperatives, emphasizing the cooperative's focus on mission, service to the greater good, and innovation – factors that make programs like EMPOWER possible.

As we celebrate the success of this EMPOWER class, the program is expanding to include seven rural communities in Flint’s service area for the 2024-2025 academic year – Crawford, Macon, Marion, Peach, Schley, Talbot, and Taylor Counties.

The EMPOWER program is committed to molding the leaders of tomorrow, fostering collaboration, and contributing to the growth and prosperity of the communities it serves. Flint Energies is proud to be at the forefront of this initiative, driving positive change and empowering our youth.

Leslie Thomspon from 72 South Productions created a video highlighting some of the students' favorite moments from this year. They have all grown so much and we are proud of every single student. 

In the May issue of Georgia Magazine, you'll also find an article about the EMPOWER program, and we just released a bonus episode on our Front Porch Chats podcast featuring the program.