ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Students from Activate Futures, a youth development and college readiness initiative of Gates County Community Partnership, joined students, educators, community leaders, and industry professionals at the 2026 Youth STEAM Summit on Thursday, July 16, at the Rocky Mount Event Center for a day of learning centered on science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics (STEAM), financial literacy, leadership development, and career exploration.
The summit, organized by the Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Project of Roanoke Cooperative Alliance and numerous community partners, featured interactive workshops, hands-on demonstrations, college and career exhibits, networking opportunities, and keynote presentations designed to prepare students for future educational and career success.
Members of Activate Futures spent the day engaging with representatives from colleges, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private industry while learning about opportunities in forestry, agriculture, natural resources, environmental science, engineering, animal science, and skilled professions.
The day’s first session, “Better Money Habits: Financial Empowerment for Your Future,” was presented by Jamaal Livian, Senior Vice President with Bank of America. Livian challenged students to develop healthy financial habits early by creating budgets, establishing savings goals, avoiding unnecessary debt, and understanding the importance of credit.
He reminded students that financial success is less about how much money someone earns than how wisely it is managed.
“Money management is a life skill,” Livian told students. “Track your money, name your goals, plan your treats, and talk about money.”
Students completed personal financial plans, identifying savings goals, spending habits they wanted to change and trusted adults who could help guide their financial decisions.
The afternoon keynote address, “Rise Up,” was delivered by leadership coach and Dream Builders Communication CEO Dr. Kenston J. Griffin, whose energetic presentation challenged students to take ownership of their futures.
Griffin urged students to pursue excellence rather than popularity, manage their time wisely, carefully choose their friends, and recognize the tremendous opportunities available through education.
“If you do the things today that others won’t do, you can have the things tomorrow that others won’t have,” Griffin told the audience.
He emphasized that students must become the authors of their own stories rather than allowing others to define them.
“You don’t have to let someone else write your story,” Griffin said. “Write your own.”
Griffin also challenged students to think differently about agriculture, forestry, and STEAM careers, noting that these industries provide tremendous opportunities for financial success and long-term career growth.
Beyond the youth programming, educators, mentors, nonprofit leaders, and community volunteers attended a professional development session led by Griffin and Shalamane Jones, Vice President of Executive Services at Dream Builders Communication, focused on improving relationships with young people.
The workshop emphasized that meaningful youth engagement begins with authentic relationships rather than authority alone.
Jones encouraged adults to listen actively before offering solutions, show genuine curiosity, communicate in ways young people understand, build relationships before attempting to correct behavior, remain consistently present and responsive, understand generational differences, and embrace diverse personalities.
“Listening builds connection before it builds solutions,” Jones explained.
He stressed that adults must first create environments where young people feel heard and understood before expecting meaningful conversations.
The session also explored how different generations communicate and process information, encouraging adults to adapt their communication styles rather than expecting today’s youth to respond the same way previous generations did.
Jones reinforced the importance of collaboration, reminding participants that lasting change requires entire communities working together.
“A school can’t change because of one teacher,” Jones said. “A community can’t thrive because of one extraordinary leader. Transformation happens when we come together, stay together, and work together.”
The professional development concluded with a personality assessment designed to help educators and mentors better understand themselves and the students they serve, enabling them to build stronger relationships through improved communication and trust.
Several Gates County students also served as Youth Ambassadors during the summit, representing their community throughout the day’s activities. Those students were London Barber, Elijah Jordan, Malana Jordan, Trinity Murray, J’Yanah Powell, and Indya Smith.
Benjamin C. Saunders Jr., Founder and Vice President of Gates County Community Partnership, also served on the summit’s planning committee.
Saunders said the experience aligned perfectly with Activate Futures’ mission of preparing young people for success beyond high school.
“The Youth STEAM Summit exposed our students to careers they may never have considered while reinforcing the importance of leadership, financial responsibility, higher education, and community involvement,” Saunders said. “Experiences like this broaden perspectives and help students see that their future is limited only by their willingness to prepare and pursue opportunities.”
Activate Futures is a youth development and college readiness initiative sponsored by Gates County Community Partnership, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to improving educational and social outcomes for young people through mentoring, leadership development, college readiness, and community engagement.