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crawford county students who were selected to be part of empower

EMPOWER Class Brings 43 Young Leaders Together From Seven Georgia Counties

Crawford County Middle High School

September 29, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reynolds ▪ September 28, 2026

EMPOWER Class Brings 43 Young Leaders Together From Seven Georgia Counties

Forty-three high school juniors from seven Middle and Southwest Georgia counties are spending this school year learning what it means to be a leader — and how they can make a difference in the communities they call home.

Flint Energies recently welcomed its fourth annual EMPOWER Rural Regional Youth Leadership class, bringing together students from Crawford, Macon, Marion, Peach, Schley, Talbot and Taylor counties. The students applied for the program, participated in an interview process and were selected to take part in the eight-month leadership experience. Forty-two students attend public high schools in the seven counties, while one is homeschooled.

Each county has a returning EMPOWER graduate serving as a mentor. The mentors participated in the program last year and, as high school seniors, are now stepping into a new leadership role by helping guide this year’s juniors through their EMPOWER experience.

Throughout the school year, students will learn about leadership from a distinctly community-focused perspective. They will discover their individual strengths, explore servant leadership and learn about the cooperative difference and the role electric cooperatives play in the communities they serve. Students will also take a closer look at community and economic development and will create a service project designed to benefit their home county. Other experiences will introduce them to Georgia’s growing agritourism industry, while a trip to the State Capitol will allow them to meet with state senators and representatives and see government in action. The program also includes etiquette, communication and other soft-skills training — giving students practical tools they can use in college, the workplace and everyday life.

“EMPOWER gives these students the opportunity to learn about themselves while learning about the communities around them,” said Natalie Bradley, EMPOWER facilitator and Community Relations Specialist. “We want them to understand that leadership isn’t about having a title. Most often it is simply seeing a need, stepping up and being willing to make a difference.”

By bringing students from seven counties together, EMPOWER also gives participants the chance to build relationships with other young people who share a connection to rural Georgia. The program will continue through March, when the students will celebrate their accomplishments at a graduation ceremony at Flint Energies’ Service Center in Fort Valley. For Flint Energies, EMPOWER is one way the cooperative is investing in the communities it serves — by helping today’s students discover their strengths and encouraging them to become tomorrow’s community leaders.

2026-2027 EMPOWER Youth Leadership Class:

• Crawford County: Laiken Cawthon, Zakiyya Dowlen, Elly Frederick, Jett Huggler, Aleigha Robinson and mentor Bradley Joyner

• Macon County: Jeremiah Clayton, Montravius Gilbert, Jr., Carli Green, Gereon Jackson, Kayla Parker and mentor Jocabed Aguirre

• Marion County: Gauge Clements, Alexandria Lawson, Riana McKenzie, Olivia Perkins, Belen Romero and mentor Kylia Scales

• Peach County: Camille Clark, Haylee Coleman, E’Yohnna Davis, Abigail Netsereab, Carina Perez, Brisa Ramirez and mentor Fatima Lopez

• Schley County: Jackson Crowley, TJ DeVane, Ethan Gary, Laura Snider, Anna Weaver, and mentor Palmer Hughes

• Talbot County: Carmen Cheney, True Desue, Mez Hollis, Darriuna Leonard, Ava Whittemore and mentor Maddie Daniel

• Taylor County: Coley Gray Harris, Hannah Kirksey, Natalie Lawson, Hallie Joe Pandolfi, Lilla Beth Summers and mentor Daisy Burgess

About Flint Energies

Flint Energies is a not-for-profit electric cooperative owned by its members in parts of 17 central Georgia counties. Flint employs 221 employees and serves over 100,000 electric meters. We are 100% locally controlled and democratically governed by nine Directors elected from among the membership. In 1937, Flint Energies was created to bring people together to meet common needs like reliable electric energy, and our mission remains focused on improving the quality of life in Middle Georgia. Flint Energies is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Follow Flint on X, Instagram and Facebook.