Usher's New Look Disruptivator Summit: Day 1

Whitney Geathers
Jul 24, 2024
3 min read

It goes without saying that the children are our future and now more than ever it's crucial to provide them with necessary resources and guidance to help lead them in the right direction. In 1999, Usher Raymond IV, along with his mother Jonnetta Patton, founded Usher's New Look. UNL is a 501c3 organization that affords underserved youth the opportunity to unlock their full potential by providing mentorship and guidance over a 10-year span. Celebrating 25 years of UNL, the organization hosted it's 10th Disruptivator Summit in Atlanta, GA. The Disruptivator Summit is an annual youth leadership conference that brings in high-school-aged youth from all over the country.*

It's clear that the Disruptivator Summit is for and about the youth, even the 16-year old DJ who welcomed the high-schoolers in with a variety of current hits. The hosts of the morning were former Disruptivator Summit attendees, who expressed gratitude for the program and mentioning that just last year, they were in the same seats as this year's attendees. This year's summit was sponsored by IBM SkillsBuild, a FREE tech software program that allows students to develop their future in tech with job skills, courses, and credentials. Resources like these are essential for students who are looking to gain more knowledge about tech in a world that is continually evolving towards more and more technology.

Not only is UNL valuable for the guidance and resources that it provides, but it has proven to be effective. Tony Betton Jr. is a former UNL student and is now a multi-award winning news, entertainment, and lifestyle journalist. Tony graced the stage at this year's summit and is continuing to be an example of the positive direction that being a part of this organization can lead. Not limited to just educational growth, UNL cares for the mental health of it's youth as well.

Marsha Shackelford took to the stage to offer a few minutes of meditation while sharing with the students a few breathing exercises. When asked about the importance of instilling mental health practices in the youth, Masha says "I want them to be able to have tools to be able to function and thrive in the world. There are so many things that are pulling for their attention from the outside and [it's important] to be able have a tool to regulate themselves internally in order to stay grounded". Marsha teaches yoga and is also partnered with Silence the Shame, another non-profit organization established by music exec, Shanti Das, to empower and educate communities on mental health and wellness.

One aspect of UNL, is introducing the youth to various careers. On Day 1 of the summit the students heard from a business panel consisting of Greg Davis Jr. of Davis Broadcasting Inc, Milan Harris, founder of Milano Di Rouge (clothing line), Kayla and her mother Theresa, founders of Kayla's Italian Ice, and Stephan Miller of Young King Haircare. The panel spoke on how each of them came to be in their respective businesses, the importance of OWNING our businesses, and having the confidence, no matter where you come from, to do big things.