I spent one Saturday last month at our board retreat for Next Gen, a nonprofit that works to close the opportunity gap for under-resourced Atlanta high schoolers. We heard from Next Gen alumni who powerfully spoke about the impact the organization has had on their lives. Each one of them shared heartfelt testimonies of the peer support, mentorship, knowledge, and confidence they gained through their time in Next Gen. They were emotional sharing about how their lives would be different without the organization, and expressed their desire that all students who are struggling would be able to join the Next Gen family. 

Next Gen connects high school students to college and career options so they have the relationships and opportunities needed to achieve their goals after graduation. We build a supportive community by connecting students to mentors and like-minded peers who meet twice-weekly in small groups after school.

After graduating from Duke, I taught high school science in Hillsborough, North Carolina. A number of my students dropped out after they turned 16, and it was hard to sign their withdrawal paperwork knowing how limited their future opportunities would be. Next Gen's program model resonates with me because I believe that if these students had benefited from a similar program, they might have been able to stay in school.

2024 Sponsor-A-Student Campaign

This year marks a decade of Next Gen building opportunities for Atlanta youth, and we’re celebrating with our most ambitious goal yet. We aim to raise $230,000 by October 31st to sponsor 100 students and cover all their program expenses for the 2024-25 school year.

Why Your Support Matters

• Empower Future Leaders: Your contribution directly funds essential career and college preparatory programs in Atlanta and our newest location, Macon.

• Close the Opportunity Gap: Help us ensure every student, regardless of their background, has the resources to succeed.

• Make a Tangible Difference: See the direct impact of your support in the success stories of our students and alumni here.

Our vision for the next decade is even bigger, and we can't achieve it without you.

DONATE TODAY to sponsor a student for $2,300 and be part of a village that's changing lives and shaping futures in Georgia.

About Next Gen

Established in 2014, Next Generation Men & Women (Next Gen) is an education nonprofit that closes the opportunity gap for high school students by creating a path to graduation and success after secondary education, through exposure to college, career options and support. Next Gen believes that if every youth can see it and experience it, they can become it. The program partners with under-resourced high schools to create student cohorts, led by teachers and mentored by college students. 

Over the past decade, we've made a significant impact with:

• Six Atlanta High Schools Served: Banneker, Booker T. Washington, Carver STEAM Academy, Maynard Jackson, Therrell, and South Atlanta.

• 1,346 Students Supported since 2010 with 404 students actively enrolled in 2023-2024. 

• 320 Hours of Professional Exposure per student.

• 213 Alumni with a 99% High School Graduation Rate and 100% Post-secondary Attainment, compared to 75% and 78% at partner schools, respectively.

Next Gen helps connect student interests to the world, local colleges and companies, and executes a plan for student success after high school, whether that be college or a career. Learn more at our website Next Gen.

Listen to Our Mission