Global Scholar: Atlanta, GA - AMP Global Youth

Explore our history and present, to design our shared future.

Global Scholar: Atlanta, GA. July 12 – 18, 2026. Based at Emory University, Atlanta, GA (with travel to Montgomery, AL)

About The Program

Join us for a transformative experience in Atlanta, GA, and along the Civil Rights Train in Montgomery. Explore how history, systems, and movements intersect – and how young people can design what comes next. Based in Atlanta with travel to Montgomery, Alabama, this immersive residential program connects the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement with modern tools for systems change and social innovation.

Through workshops, site visits, and collaborative design sessions, Scholars examine systemic injustice, collective action, and the role of youth in shaping equitable futures. This experience blends history, creativity, and strategy – empowering participants to build bold, values-driven solutions grounded in community.

What You’ll Do

Explore global and domestic challenges through a systemic and intersectional lens
Participate in workshops on systems thinking, social entrepreneurship, and values-based leadership
Practice design thinking and collective action with peers from around the world
Visit key civil rights sites in Atlanta and Montgomery, AL
Build and pitch a prototype or project for real-world change

What’s Included

Residential housing at Emory University in Atlanta, GA
All meals, transportation (including Montgomery travel), and program materials
Dynamic workshops, guest speakers, and youth-led design sessions
Cultural outings and community care spaces
Ongoing mentorship and digital collaboration after the program

This experience is ideal for:

Youth interested in systems change, social justice, storytelling, entrepreneurship, or movement-building.

Apply Now

Details and Logistics:

Who is this program for?

This program is for rising 8th-12th graders who are curious, bold, and visionary. You do not need any particular prior experience or coursework; the biggest thing we look for is curiosity and eagerness to explore urgent global challenges and become change-makers. The program is held in English.

Where will this program take place?

We are based at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia with travel to Montgomery, Alabama. Emory is a beautiful and historic campus, with easy access to local shops and stores.

Housing: Scholars stay in a secure dorm on the Emory campus alongside our program staff. Most rooms are double occupancy, with a shared bathroom on the floor. Our residential staff: student ratio is about 1:8. Laundry facilities and vending machines are available in the dorm.

Meals: While we eat many of our meals in the Emory dining hall, we also eat in downtown Atlanta and Montgomery on the days we are visiting offices or sightseeing. We are always able to accommodate special diets or allergies; please share anything we should know on your welcome survey.

Price: We are committed to ensuring as many students as possible can benefit from this life-changing experience. In addition, we are fiercely committed to charging an honest price for this experience. We are significantly more affordable than any of our peer programs. This is not due to any difference in quality of programming. Rather, we are a mission-focused non-profit organization, not a business looking to extract huge sums from students and their parents.

How do I apply for financial aid? We will share the financial aid application with admitted students, and release aid decisions once/month. There is no application fee.

What’s included: The program fee includes room, board, materials and the program itself. Scholars are responsible for paying for transportation to/from Atlanta, supplemental meals or snacks, and spending money. Scholars are also expected to pay for lunch on the 3 days we are sightseeing downtown. Although it’s hard to estimate, a reasonable amount of spending money might be $50-75/week. Scholars can also opt for us to pick them up at their point of arrival (Atlanta airport) for a small transfer fee.

What else can I do with AMP Global Youth this summer? This summer, we are offering programs in Washington DC, Atlanta GA and Online. Here’s an overview:

Session 1: June 28-July 3. Based at American University, Washington, DC (weekend extension available)
Session 2 (Youth Summit): July 5-8. Based at American University, Washington DC and/or Virtual (weekend extension available)
Session 3: July 12-18. Based at Emory University, Atlanta, GA (with travel to Montgomery, AL)
Generation 250 (July 4th Extension): July 3-5. Based at American University, Washington DC [Sightseeing + Extension for Scholars in Sessions 1 or 2 only]

Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out! We are a virtual office, so email is usually the fastest way to reach us: GlobalScholar@AMPGlobalYouth.org. We are very happy to schedule a time to speak, too!

Program Highlights

Explore urgent global challenges

through seminars with experts. We offer unparalleled access to leaders and places where decisions get made. Click to see our speakers.

Build powerful skills

through our approach that gives you the knowledge and skills you need to become a global citizen and leader.
Click to see our impact.

Be bold and visionary

through becoming a global leader. Global Scholar builds skills that cannot be gained elsewhere, which you can immediately apply to your work and life. Click to see our curriculum.