Entrepreneurship, scholarship and Killer Mike take center stage at Georgia peer-to-peer event – Youth Villages
LifeSet participant Micah Allen (left), a Youth Villages Scholar, networks with entrepreneurs Kris Hale (Dope Pieces Puzzle Company) and Sway Jones (Sway Art LLC) and her assistant.
Oct 27, 2025 | Blog, LifeSet
Fail forward.
Start with your why.
Discover your strengths – and learn how to turn them into something sustainable and profitable.
These were just a few of the powerful messages shared during Youth Villages Georgia’s DayOne College and Entrepreneur event for local LifeSet participants, Youth Villages’ signature program that helps break down obstacles for young adults transitioning out of child welfare.
It was an afternoon of making connections, learning and inspiration, featuring an entrepreneur panel discussion, face-to-face networking sessions, scholarship recognition, engaging activities, food, fun – and an exclusive motivational video from GRAMMY Award®-winning Atlanta rapper and activist, Killer Mike.
“I want to tell you… the work that you young people are doing for yourselves and for the greater community is amazing,” said Killer Mike (Michael Render) in his message. “Just know you have an advocate and an ally in me. Keep believing in yourself because you’re already achieving and proving stereotypes. You are leaders now – you’re not future leaders – [you’re] leading the way for the next wave of kids behind you who know they can, they must, they will.”
Peer-to-peer gatherings offer LifeSet participants a meaningful space to connect with one another, work on skills related to networking and social connections, and establish a peer support group.
There are 91 youth in Georgia served currently by LifeSet, with 23 of them attending Oct. 16’s Peer-to-Peer event.
“We bring you together to build a sense of community with other young adults – those who may not look like you or live like you, but who have faced similar struggles and share common experiences,” said Jameta Wheeler, state manager of community-based programs for Youth Villages in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. “One of our main goals is to help you find strength in that community, and to connect with others who, like you, are working to succeed despite the challenges life has thrown their way.”
A panel of local entrepreneurs answered questions from moderator Jewel Anderson, co-founder of Amorous Tacos, which also catered the event, and shared their journeys to owning their own businesses.
The hardest part of entrepreneurship is getting started, Anderson said, so she queried the panel on how they each got their start.
“When I was starting out as an electrical apprentice and I was on the job sites, I didn’t see many people that looked like me, making decisions and giving directives,” said Naomi Pittman, owner of electrical/technology business ELEKproTEK. “From the start, I wanted to be in those rooms making those decisions. So, start with your why, and from there figure out what your brand is.”
Following the panel discussion, the event transitioned into table networking rounds where the young participants met with the entrepreneurs in small groups. They rotated from table to table, engaging with different business owners seated at each station.
Micah Allen, a LifeSet participant and Youth Villages Scholar who is attending South College, networked with several of the entrepreneurs, asking questions, getting contact information and listening to advice.
Although he is studying respiratory therapy, he is keeping his options open.
The message of “failing forward” – learning from your mistakes and not being afraid to take risks – resonated with him.
“I have a fear of not being good enough, so it is always good to hear that you can fail,” he said.
Micah also had this advice for teens that are struggling to find their way.
“If you are dealing with problems and don’t know what to do, just reach out -there’s always people that will help you.” he said. “Just remember you are not alone, whatever you are going through. There are people out there that are very kind – and you’ve got this – it’s OK.”
In collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and Division of Family & Children Services, our work in Georgia focuses on strengthening families to prevent or limit the need for out-of-home placements (Intercept), supporting youth who age out of foster care or lack a stable caregiver as they enter adulthood (LifeSet), and providing short-term, intensive residential treatment for children whose needs are not met by traditional mental and behavioral health services (Residential Treatment Program).
Support the Elevate Campaign: Help expand access to life-changing residential care for children in Georgia. Your support brings proven treatment closer to home—where it matters most. Donate today!
Every day, Youth Villages serves thousands of troubled children and their families and we need your help.
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Youth Villages® is a national leader in mental and behavioral health committed to finding the most effective solutions to help children, families and young adults overcome obstacles and live successfully. Working through direct services, partnerships with innovative public agencies and advocacy, we collaborate to bring positive change to child welfare, children’s mental health and justice systems. Our 5,000 employees serve more than 47,000 children and young adults in more than 100 locations in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Youth Villages has been recognized by the Harvard Business School and U.S. News & World Report and was identified by The White House as one of the nation’s most promising results-oriented nonprofit organizations.
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