Youth Career and Leadership Institute

Youth Career and Leadership Institute.png

Ever wonder “what’s out there for me?” Academics, volunteering, workforce - all of these things make up the life we live now. But how does that connect to where you want to be in the future? The Career & Leadership Institute provides the opportunity to train with community leaders on things such as interviewing, teamwork, communication, problem solving, networking, and interpersonal skills. Get the chance to sit with and ask questions of business leaders as they discuss the job opportunities offered here in our county. Visit local and international corporations such as Westrock Coffee, Atrium Cabarrus Healthcare, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and many more while gaining a look behind the curtain of the innerworkings of the local powerhouses. Plug in to the network of individuals that will serve as mentors and resources for your future.

Each day is filled with interactive, hands-on activities that will broaden your knowledge and understanding about the multitude of careers available for you in Cabarrus County. Chances are if you aspire to a certain career, it is available for you here. This program will help you answer the question, “what’s next for me?”.

The ideal candidate is a highly motivated and engaged young man or woman who is a rising junior and would love assistance in the next steps. Don’t know exactly what you want to do after high school? Off to school or straight to the workforce? Either way, this program will assist by providing possibilities for the next steps. If your time has been spent dedicated to your job or dedicated to a cause, we want you! Ideal candidates will possess a highly curious spirit, desire to learn about the world around you and how it operates, dedication to the program and its opportunities, and aspiration to connect yourself to your community.

To learn more about the program, check out the graduation video from the 2022 class! 

2024 Session Dates:

  • Tuesday, April 16, 2024 (4:00 PM - 8:00 PM) - Orientation/Team Building
  • Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (4:00 PM - end of game) - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Game
  • Thursday, June 6, 2024 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) - Session 1
  • Thursday, June 13, 2024 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) - Session 2
  • Thursday, June 20, 2024 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) - Session 3 
  • Thursday, June 27, 2024 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) - Session 4
  • Thursday, July 11, 2024 (8:00 AM - 3:00 PM) - Session 5
  • Thursday, July 11, 2024 (3:00 PM) - Graduation/Reception

Meet the Steering Committee:

  • Page Castrodale - Cabarrus Economic Development Executive Director
  • Mike Downs - Cabarrus County County Manager
  • Bill Dusch - Concord Mayor
  • Diane Honeycutt - Community Leader 
  • Steve Morris - Cabarrus County Commissioner (Chairman)
  • Jennifer Parsley Hubbard - Concord City Councilwoman 
  • Lloyd Payne - Concord City Manager
  • Brittany Yoder - Cabarrus County Business Systems Analyst

View Community Partners:

  • Atrium Health Cabarrus
  • Cabarrus Center
  • Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce
  • Cabarrus County Convention and Visitor's Bureau
  • Cabarrus County Economic Development Corporation
  • Cabarrus County Government
  • Cabarrus County Schools
  • Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office
  • Capstone Climbing and Adventures
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway
  • City of Concord Government
  • City of Kannapolis Government 
  • Concord-Padgett Regional Airport
  • Concord Mills
  • Crossroads Church
  • Eli Lilly
  • FedEx
  • Kannapolis CannonBallers
  • Kannapolis City Schools
  • North Carolina Research Campus
  • RCCC Advanced Technology Center
  • Westrock Coffee

Meet the Alumni:

Class of 2022:

  • Nasira Auman - Jay M. Robinson High School
  • Asiah Banks - West Cabarrus High School
  • Konner Black - Northwest Cabarrus High School
  • Hunter Bost - Hickory Ridge High School
  • Paige Gaskins - A.L. Brown High School
  • Camryn Goodman - Concord High School
  • Sarthak Gupta - Cabarrus Virtual Academy
  • Owais Kamran - Central Cabarrus High School
  • Elijah Lambert - Mount Pleasant High School
  • Hillary Luc - Concord High School
  • Brodie McCartan - West Cabarrus High School
  • Ashley Montoya-Diaz - Cabarrus Early College of Technology
  • Makhi Nash - A.L. Brown High School
  • Keaton Newton - Early College High School 
  • Claire Schaefer - Cannon School
  • Andrew Smith - Mount Pleasant High School
  • Conner Solvason - Cox Mill High School
  • Taylor Tapp - Northwest Cabarrus High School
  • Jocelyn Vazquez Mota - A.L. Brown High School
  • Lourdes Vigil Salgado - Central Cabarrus High School
  • Scarlet West - Homeschool
  • Megan Wilcox - Hickory Ridge High School
  • Ethan Wolff - Central Cabarrus High School

Class of 2023:

  • Ashlyn Blue - Cabarrus Early College of Technology
  • Camila Avina Sanchez - Concord High School
  • Camille Brown - Cabarrus Early College High School
  • David Wirl - Concord Academy 
  • Drake Watts - AL Brown High School
  • Eliezer Huete - Hickory Ridge High School 
  • Ella Batson - Jay M Robinson High School
  • Emma Lloyd - Mount Pleasant High School
  • Emma Shea - Cox Mill High School
  • Jackson Riley - Jay M Robinson High School
  • Jaeda Watts-Nelson - West Cabarrus High School
  • Khamron Simon - Cabarrus County PLC
  • Kiersten Burden - AL Brown High School
  • Lathan Lopez - Central Cabarrus High School
  • Lee Victoria - Concord High School
  • Matthew Torres - Cox Mill High School
  • Melanie Ortiz Torres - AL Brown High School
  • Michelle Kpeli - Northwest Cabarrus High School
  • Molly Bobrek - Mount Pleasant High School
  • Priya White - West Cabarrus High School
  • Rylea Ross - Central Cabarrus High School
  • T'Mia Powell - Hickory Ridge High School