A joint venture between Aramark Corporation and Supreme Fish Delight (SFD) to manage food service operations during the 1996 Olympics required the recruitment, hiring and training of staff. During this venture, Waleed Shamsid-Deen, SFD Vice President, discovered that many of the young applicants were not capable of completing the employment application or interviewing properly. As a result, Waleed - along with a group who shared his vision - decided to develop a program that would address the needs of youth planning to succeed in business.
In 1997, the original program was adopted as the South DeKalb Business Association's Youth Mentorship Program. In 1998, the organization was incorporated as a Georgia 501 (c)(3) non-profit and changed its name to Youth V.I.B.E. for Vision, Industry, Business, and Empowerment.
Utilizing an initial group of five youth from the community, the founding members dedicated themselves to building a comprehensive business and community oriented curriculum. For the first decade, the curriculum was a bi-weekly, summer program focusing primarily on resume writing, dressing for success and other workplace preparation topics.
After receiving a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant in 2006, Youth V.I.B.E. is poised to become the premiere free after-school program for teens interested in securing their futures through academic enrichment and "real world" business applications.
2008-2009 Board
Dedicated board members have continuously provided crucial strategic planning and fundraising for Youth V.I.B.E. to expand its operations and support base. The Youth V.I.B.E. board continues to represent some of the top corporations, political offices, and grass-roots organizations in Atlanta.
Elizabeth Andrews
Dekalb Co. Board of Education
Chairman
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Tony Smalls
CPA/ARE, Inc.
Treasurer
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Yolanda Shaw
Shaw's Administrative Services
Secretary
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Waleed Shamsid-Deen
Founder
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Mimi Getachew
University of Iowa
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Angela Lewis
Speaking Concepts & Publications
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Andrew Schutt
Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP
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Greg Cole
Chicago's Nancy's Pizza
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Mike Kelly
M.K. & Associates, LLC
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Alumni Board Members
Nat Long
Neighbor Newspapers
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Rochelle Jones
Kellen Company
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Karim Ziyad
TYT, Inc.
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Michael Johnson
Atlanta Gas Light |
Tonya R. Echols,
MD
Greater Atlanta Radiation Oncology Consultants,
LLC |
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Not pictured:
Christopher Goode - Goode-Van Slyke Architecture
Karen Goode - Hewlett Packard
Al Duncan - Startel Wireless |
Sponsors and Grantors
American Deli- Belvedere Plaza;
American Technologies;
Arnall Golden Gregory;
Atlanta Food Bank;
Bank of America;
Burger King-Memorial Drive;
Chick fil-A- Candler Rd.;
Chick-Fil-A;
Coke-Panola Rd;
Crystal Furlonge Photography;
Dallas Austin Foundation;
DeKalb County School System;
Delloite & Touche;
Emory University;
GA Radiation;
Greg Street;
Hot 107.9;
Intertruss Internet Services;
Johnny Payne;
Kroger- Park Lake Dr.;
Kroger-Belvedere Plaza;
Little Debbie Snacks- Tony McMillian Sr.;
Loehman Group- Belvedere Plaza;
Malcolm Cunningham Ford;
McDonald's - Candler Rd.;
Mohammed Schools of Atlanta;
Nancy's Pizzeria;
Papa John's Pizza- Columbia Dr.;
Publix- Emory;
Publix- Lavista Rd.;
Publix- Memorial Drive;
RBC Centura;
Sam's Club- Clairmont Rd.;
Sara Lee Bakery- Panthersville Rd.;
South DeKalb Business Association;
Stone Mountain Jeep Chrysler Dodge;
Supreme Fish Delight;
V103.3 ;
Wal-Mart- Panola Rd.
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