Three Oglethorpe University students have been selected to participate in the Emerging Dreamers leadership program. A collaborative effort between the Atlanta Dream WNBA team and The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, the program is designed to prepare the next generation of leaders to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
Oglethorpe’s participants are students Jackson Brown ’28, Laney Castillo ’28 and Maiya Robinson ’28. They will be part of the 24-member cohort that brings together students from Georgia’s colleges and universities.
The program gives students an opportunity to develop skills in leadership, community engagement, mentorship, storytelling and public speaking while deepening their understanding of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence.
For Brown, a biology major, the program is a chance to become a stronger communicator and leader while learning how Dr. King’s principles can inform everyday life.
“Through this four-month program, I hope to strengthen my leadership and public speaking skills and become more confident in expressing my ideas,” Brown said. “I want to learn how to communicate effectively, connect with people from different backgrounds, and become a more active member of my community.”
Brown already has opportunities to put those skills into practice as a resident assistant at Oglethorpe, where building relationships, supporting fellow students and navigating conflict are important parts of his role. He hopes the program will strengthen his ability to create an environment in which students feel supported and included.
“Ultimately, I hope to carry these lessons into my future career and use them to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others,” said Brown.
For Castillo, a business administration major and communication studies minor, Emerging Dreamers offers an opportunity to connect with other student leaders from across Atlanta while exploring how Dr. King’s philosophy can inspire action today.
“I hope to enrich my perspective by connecting with and learning from fellow student leaders across the Atlanta area,” Castillo said. “I am also eager to deepen my understanding of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence, his historical struggles, and how to apply those principles to inspire positive community action during challenging times.”
Castillo brings considerable campus leadership experience to the program. She co-founded the Eta Xi chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. and Oglethorpe’s chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America. She hopes to use what she learns through Emerging Dreamers to help strengthen those organizations and amplify the perspectives of the communities she represents.
“Being the Hispanic representation in this Emerging Dreamers cohort, I am committed to using storytelling, public speaking, and community engagement to serve as an authentic voice for the Hispanic and Latinx communities,” Castillo said.
For these students, the experience offers the opportunity to take leadership lessons beyond the classroom and apply them to the communities they already serve. Over the course of the four-month program, they will have the chance to build their communication and leadership skills while exploring how the principles that shaped Dr. King’s work can continue to guide a new generation of leaders.
