AMERICUS — Young Gamechangers, an annual program that brings together approximately 30 young innovators, “doers” and thinkers from across the state, kicked off this weekend in Americus. The solutions-focused program that will tap into Georgia’s  state’s best and brightest,” will run over seven months.

The focus for 2012-13 is to examine and revision the future of Americus and Sumter County, and propose new approaches for the town’s future success and sustainability.

The Young Gamechangers class of 2012-13 includes five Americus residents, Ben Andrews, Community Development coordinator, City of Americus; Justin R. Arnold, assistant district attorney, Southwestern Judicial Circuit; Bardin Hooks, associate attorney, Gatewood, Skipper & Rambo; Heather Stanley, managing director, Rylander Theatre and Mandy Young, Community and Economic Development director, City of Americus. In addition, Andrea D. Oates of Plains, a mathematics instructor at South Georgia Technical College and Kyle Smith, an entrepreneur from Lake Blackshear are also in the class along with 15 representatives from Atlanta and representatives from Dublin, Savannah, Columbus and Athens.

What all of these people have in common is they are residents of Georgia, between 20 and 40, they’re dedicated to positive change in Georgia and their local community.

The Young Gamechangers program was launched on Sept. 12  in Athens. Events scheduled for this year follow up work and a formal presentation of proposed solutions and recommendation to local leaders next summer. In late summer 2013, a Georgia Forward Forum will be held and the Young Gamechangers will present their proposals.

GeorgiaForward is an independent, non-partisan organization working to improve the state of Georgia by engaging business, political, academic and civil leaders to collaboratively shape a statewide policy agenda.

“In keeping with our mission of bringing Georgians together to work on common goals, we’ve created a new, solutions-focused program that will tap into our state’s best and brightest,” says Amir Farokhi, director of GeorgiaForward in a recent press release.

“Sometimes a fresh perspective is what you need to solve a tough problem. We identified successful young innovators between the ages of 20 and 40 who work across multiple sectors of business, law, health, non-profit, arts & culture, education and urban development. As part of our work on statewide prosperity, we asked them to work with Americus and Sumter County to re-vision their future as a vibrant 21st century rural community.  30 of them accepted the challenge. This program, called Young Gamechangers, will run over seven months and kicks off in Americus on Nov. 16 & 17.”

One member of the group, Denise Grabowski, is president of the urban planning firm Symbioscity in Savannah. She is also founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council-Georgia and co-founder of Designing4Health, a non-profit working to increase understanding between design and public health.

 “One of the things that attracted me to the program is that it connects talented people from around the state to work on change in a specific location,” says Grabowksi. “I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity. I think we’ll need to be mindful of engaging the local community in Americus,” continues Grabowski. “It’s important that we are working with them, not for them. My hope is that we set realistic, achievable goals, and that the Young Gamechangers will stay actively involved.”

As the Assistant District Attorney for the Southwestern Judicial Circuit, Justin R. Arnold serves Americus and Sumter County. Born and raised in Americus, Arnold attended college in Mississippi, law school at Mercer University and returned home to work at a local law firm before taking the position in the DA’s office. He is president of Americus Literacy Action Council and an active member of the Rotary Club.

“The quality of life in Americus is wonderful, we just need to promote ourselves better,” says Arnold. “This project resonates with me because I moved away and experienced life in other cities, but returned home to try to make a difference. I’m investing in the future of this community.”

For more information about the Young Gamechangers program, visit their web site: http://georgiaforward.org/young-gamechangers