Congratulations to our 2026 Hands On Atlanta Civic Leaders!
On Thursday, April 23, we gathered at McKinsey & Co. to celebrate an inspiring group of changemakers—our 2026 Civic Leadership cohort. After seven months of service, growth, and impact, they have officially graduated from Civic Fellows and stepped into their new role as Civic Leaders.
From October through April, this dedicated cohort led hands-on projects not only within our Discovery Program, but alongside nonprofit partners, deepened their leadership through monthly professional development workshops, and collectively raised an incredible $21,003 to support Hands On Atlanta’s mission.
Now, equipped with sharpened skills and stronger community connections, they’re stepping forward to lead with purpose, helping build a more equitable and engaged Atlanta.
Check out the nonprofits supported this year:
Thursday was full of fun, with our proud sponsor of the Civic Leadership Program, Constellation joining us for the day! First their team served with nonprofit partner New Life Community Alliance, and later attended the graduation, bringing gifts for the graduates! The graduation ceremony included an energetic recap from graduates Kelvin Sharpe & Kristel Silang, sharing moving impact stories. We received a powerful keynote from Monisha Longacre, who spoke to the lasting value of civic leadership and community-driven change through time. The event concluded with program alumna Ashley Hunter (Class of 2025) returning to share insights on navigating “Life After the Civic Leadership Program,” inspiring this year’s graduates to carry their experiences forward and stay engaged.
Along with highlighting the impact created by our fellows and memorable words shared by leading Atlanta influencers, recognition was given to the top fundraisers and the recipients of this year’s Impact Award.
Impact Awardees
Shermika Dunner - C.A.R.E. Award
Clay Harmony Leland (Tyra Harper, Shanese Broadnax, Jonecia Williamson and Delonee McBride) - Discovery Impact Award
Stella Love (Tameka Mitchell and Kelvin Sharpe) - Nonprofit
Top Fundraisers
Jordan Cheyney ($3,550 from 43 Supporters)
Kristel Silang ($2,500 from 56 Supporters)
2026 Impact
We’re excited to see the impact our 2026 cohort continues to create across metro Atlanta.
Take a trip down memory lane from our cohort’s service year
To learn more about the Hands On Atlanta Civic Leadership Program visit https://www.handsonatlanta.org/civic-leadership
THank you to our Civic Leadership Program Sponsor - Constellation
The Hands On Atlanta Civic Leadership Program, powered by Constellation is 10-month, immersive professional development/leadership training program that builds community leaders while supporting the needs of nonprofit and school partners. Civic Fellows get hands-on experience and also participate in leadership training and mentoring provided by Hands On Atlanta staff, program alumni and partners.
Constellation is helping advance America’s clean‑energy transition as the nation’s largest producer of carbon‑free energy, while delivering reliable solutions that support homes and businesses every day. Backed by an industry‑leading generation fleet, we are focused on meeting today’s energy needs while building a cleaner future. In Georgia, Constellation serves customers through its retail natural gas business, offering dependable, customer‑focused products and services that provide greater choice and control in how energy is purchased and managed.
Constellation is committed to supporting local communities by investing in resources to help strengthen the places where our customers live and work. As the Proud Champion Partner who powers the Civic Leadership Program, Constellation is also a supplier of natural gas to Atlanta and surrounding areas. Using Offer Code HANDSON, our community members can find more information and a special offer here.