Macon Magazine

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021 | maconmagazine.com 53 serve, and that it is important to walk in integrity. Challenges will come, but we can never compromise character," she said. "The academy left a mark with this question: 'Not what if you fail, but what if you succeed?'" Bethany Rogers, executive director of NewTown Loans, is also an academy graduate. "The ULA is an important resource for Macon-Bibb," she said. "The training program not only equips participants with the practical financial and business planning tools that are needed to be successful as entrepreneurs, but it also carefully walks participants through the personal, historical and even spiritual challenges that arise." Now in its sixth year, the ULA currently is grooming its sixth cohort, set to graduate in 2022. This class of leaders will help to drive program expansion by their response to the program's new hybrid model, said Johnson. In-person and virtual sessions, registered agent services and a new session on effective communication and public speaking highlight the model. "No other entrepreneurial program locally offers that personal development alongside the professional development piece," Rogers said. "That has proven to be an exceptionally relevant and valuable training combination for Urban CEO alums over the years." One of the greatest resources of The Urban CEO is the ULA alumni network, Rogers said. "The ULA team does an excellent job of maintaining an active alumni group, and as the group grows and more ULA graduates experience success, they will be able to empathize with, advise and maybe even invest in some of their cohorts who are just starting up their ventures," she said. "I believe in another 10 years, we will hear stories about ULA graduates teaming up to make successful investments and improving the trajectory of the ULA grads coming up behind them." REACHING BEYOND LEADERSHIP Much has been accomplished through The Urban CEO in the last decade, including the development of not only the ULA, but also two other signature programs. RaiderFest is conducted in partnership with the Bibb County School District, community businesses, charitable and faith organizations and others to provide the Northeast High School feeder zone with school supplies and support services designed to increase the probability of student success. RaiderFest provides backpacks, school supplies and personal hygiene items to about 2,000 students attending the elementary, middle and high schools in this zone. Big Man on Campus is another signature program. Once targeting young black men entering college, the program has reorganized to partner with the Bibb County School District's E3 initiative to prepare all graduates for both college and career paths. Big Man on Campus helps students to "own their college experience," according to Johnson. "It prepares recent high school graduates and current college students to be leaders inside and outside the classroom." The one-day boot camp for young men features interactive sessions on time management and goal setting, personal and college finances, strategic choices and leadership involvement and professionalism, he explained. Over the years, one or two young women also have participated in the program, which by mid-2022 will be revamped and renamed to represent the inclusion of females. "The intention was never to exclude women," Smith said. "The data demonstrated that young women were more likely to attend college and do very well socially and academically, while young men were less likely to consider college and showed a greater risk of drop-out, criminal activity and high mortality rates at a young age due to lifestyle, disease or violence." Beyond these signature programs, The Urban CEO has gone above and beyond expectations to provide for countless members of the community during times of need. The organization's mentorship outreach initiatives, for instance, allow children and young adults to gain greater knowledge and experience in both personal and professional endeavors through college tours, free one-on-one tutoring and professional luncheons, according to Smith. The Urban CEO also provides one-on-one consulting sessions for emerging leaders and teams who desire a more intimate and customized path toward leadership development and growth. In addition, organizations may license The Urban CEO curriculum for use during company retreats and workshops, said Smith. Additionally, The Urban CEO has worked with the Rosa Jackson Center Advisory Board to fundraise, develop programming and provide volunteer opportunities. "Our neighborhood centers often struggle in urban communities due to the disparities that limit a family's resources," Smith said. "Municipal budgets, too, tend to provide capital and personnel costs, but don't necessarily

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