The first class of students recently graduated from DeKalb County’s Youth Leadership Academy.

County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton launched the program to focus on children and families on community development programs.

Students from all over the county participated and were honored at a breakfast in July featuring U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Atlanta, as the keynote speaker.

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Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)