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More About Lady Dunstan
 

Lady Dunstan serves as the President and Founder of The Culture Company, LLC and the 501 (c)3 The First Ladies Youth Leadership Foundation, Inc - two multidimensional organizations headquartered in the state of Georgia that have collectively trained 1,000+ rising leaders.

"Through the First Ladies Youth Leadership Foundation, Inc., I sought to create a safe space where female students could be transformed from being followers into leaders who are bold, courageous and purpose-minded rising women. A decade later I also welcomed the challenge of First Ladies being a viable part of the larger solution to the future narrative of women of color. First Ladies is my life's purpose work and it is an honor to serve the next generation of women." -Lady Antoinette L. Dunstan

 
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“The purpose of something determines its design, nature, features, potential, and abilities.
 
One of the most controversial issues of our modern times - is the role, position and rights of the woman. The question of a woman's status and the issue of equal rights for women are relevant to every culture and society on the globe. The worlds confusion over the place and worth of women manifests itself in a variety of ways.
 
Many women are struggling to discover who they are and where they stand today-in the family, the community and the world. In industrial nations, changing roles of women in the family and society not only have brought vocational opportunities for women but also unforeseen personal and social issues. Even though women are working the same jobs as men on average they earn less than men and have less opportunity for advancement. (As) women around the world are facing the dilemma of identity, there is a tremendous pull by our culture for women (and girls) to seek identity in all the wrong places.” - Dr. Myles Munroe
 
First Ladies is dedicated to women, girls, their families, schools and communities. We are committed to the advancement of the next generation of women and the communities they will live, learn and lead in. First Ladies is a response to society’s philosophy that a female’s identity is in her role as a daughter, sister, wife, or mother - when in fact, a woman’s identity is not in her role, but rather, her true identity is rooted in her purpose, function, and design.
 
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First Ladies' mission is to train and equip girls around the world to be positive global change agents and to dominate in the ten strategic cultures of the nations of the world with strength and dignity.
 
TRAIN  |  ˈtrān
verb - (1) to teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient; to form by instruction, discipline, (2) to direct the growth of (a plant) usually by bending, pruning, and tying, (3) to aim at an object or objective : DIRECT
 
EQUIP  |  iIˈkwip
verb - (1) to make ready : PREPARE
 
DOMINATE  |  dom· i· nate  |  ˈdä-mə-ˌnāt
verb - (1) RULE, CONTROL, govern, lead or to administrate (2) to exert guiding influence on, (3) to be predominant in, to have a commanding place or position in name; intransitive verb - (1) to have or exert mastery, control, or preeminence.
 
DIGNITY  |  dig· ni· ty  ˈdig-nə-tē
noun - (1) the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed, (3) high rank, office, or position, (4) a legal title of nobility or honor

 

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/train

 
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“We’re in this together. We should always have three friends in our lives - one who walks ahead whom we look up to and follow: one who walks beside us; who is with us every step of our journey; and then, one whom we reach back for and bring along after we’ve cleared the way. Nobody who has the words “first” and “black” attached to them ever…have an easy role…Knowing that despite their strengths these girls would need to work hard to be seen. I knew they’d have to push back against the stereotypes…all the ways they’d be defined before they had a chance to define themselves. They’d need to fight the invisibility that comes with being poor…female…of color. They’d have to work to find their voices and…to keep themselves from getting beaten down. They would have to work just to learn…They were me, as I’d once been. And I was then, as they could be. “ - Speech on international women’s day at Let Girls Learn Event  (2018), the national mentoring summit (2011), Elizabeth Garett Anderson School, UK Michelle Obama
 
History rarely addresses with accuracy the women's and the African American women's presence or contributions.
 
First Ladies seeks to break glass barriers and elevate the standards of our rising women of color. We envision First Ladies as being the public-school district's partner in leading change in school climate and culture. Our vision is to produce leaders that change their own school and community culture in a positive, unmistakable and distinguished way.
 
Each school year, we strive to expose 100+ middle and high school girls to several female thought leaders or “first ladies” in the local community and abroad who are the first to break glass barriers in ten strategic industries or cultures of influence.
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First Ladies ten strategic cultures of influence are:

Faith
Education
Government
Arts/Entertainment    
Media
Family
Economics
STEM/Medicine   
Sports            
Technology

Mentees will either interview, shadow or be mentored by women who are living lives of personal fulfillment or purpose and are making a significant impact in the ten sectors shaping our society today.

First Ladies' is centered around twelve pillars: (1) Purpose, (2) Mentorship, (3) Relationship Building/Sisterhood, (4) Etiquette/Soft Skills, (5) Leadership, (6) Cultural Awareness/Building Healthy Families, (7) Community Service/Social Justice Awareness, (8) High School Readiness/Mental Health, (9) College Readiness, (10) Career Readiness, (11) Financial Literacy/Health and (12) Entrepreneurship
 
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First Things First
Matthew 6:33. Colossians 3:23 . We seek God first. We do our work as unto the Lord.

Commitment
We keep our word and show up. Every time our students are asked to show up we show up on time, early and ready. No shows are not in our DNA.

Excellence
We work in a spirit of excellence with everyone we meet and every need that needs to be met.

True Leadership
We lead and take initiative.

Honesty. Integrity. Right standing
We believe character matters. All the time.

See All Our Values >

First Things First
Matthew 6:33. Colossians 3:23 . We seek God first. We do our work as unto the Lord.

Unconditional love
Mentees (and family) are treated with extraordinary love and compassion.

Commitment
We keep our word and show up. Every time our students are asked to show up we show up on time, early and ready. No shows are not in our DNA.

Crusade
We are crusaders doing work that matters.

Excellence
We work in a spirit of excellence with everyone we meet and every need that needs to be met.

True Leadership
We lead and take initiative.
 
Family
We balance family and serve well.

 

Dignity
We are role models of a lady.

Honesty. Integrity. Right standing
We believe character matters. All the time.

Courage
We do not make decisions based on fear.

Team
We are team members. We share the outcomes. We win together. We lose together.

Community SERVice
If we help enough people, we don’t have to worry about funding. It will always be attracted to our mission.

Momentum
We know that focused and intense mentor leadership over time, multiplied by God, creates unstoppable momentum.

Unstoppable Grit
We stick by our principles and shoot the sacred crows. We challenge ineffective traditions. We are unstoppable. Never giving up. We dominate in the 10 cultures of influence.

No Gossip. No Negativity.
We pass negatives up and pass positives all around.

Joy
Create happy and enriching moments for all of our stakeholders. Laughter is good for the soul.

 

Faith
Believe. All things are possible when doing what's best by our mentees.

 
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“Goal setting gives you the chance to experience the power of your imagination. Imagination is where all tangible values and intangible values begin…Personal development is a push. It’s a struggle. It’s a challenge. There wouldn’t be any winning without a challenge…life is...the struggle and the challenge to develop ourselves and our skills to see what we can create in the way of value in the marketplace.” - Jim Rohn
 
As a community of women and rising women, First Ladies is an incubator and safe space for emerging female leaders who may or may not know that they are leaders.
 
Because every leader needs a mentor, the leadership purpose is the vision, mentorship is the path-goal and the desired outcome is to strategically equip our student followers with a voice, a purpose, and a plan of action for personal leadership development and community awareness whereby they become pioneering disruptors ready to positively change the climate and cultures of their school buildings and consequently the advancement of our nation’s families, communities, and marketplaces.
 
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As a 21-week afterschool youth and economic development program headquartered in the state of Georgia, First Ladies trains and equips middle and high school girls in metro-Atlanta and Virginia.
 
Click below for more information on how we are pushing our creativity into the mentorship experience and how our learning framework, current programs and services are producing leaders who will change school climate and community culture.
 
 
Learn More
 

Headquartered in the State of Georgia, First Ladies Youth Leadership Foundation, Inc. has been providing the next generation of leaders with world class training and leadership development since 2008.

  • 2008The Beginning

    Our Founder, Lady Antoinette L Dunstan, and her mentor the late, Lady Earnestine (Tina) Vaughn create the mission for the soon-to-be-named First Ladies Youth Leadership & Etiquette Institute.

  • October 2009The Launch

    The First Ladies Youth Leadership & Etiquette Institute is chartered at Memorial Middle School in Conyers, Georgia. Six incredible Rockdale County Public School students begin receiving weekly mentorship.

  • 2010Growing Strong

    With 300% student participation growth at Memorial Middle School, First Ladies Youth Leadership & Etiquette Institute begins providing multi-grade and multi-level mentorship for grades 6-8 girls.

  • 2011Open Doors

    The First Ladies Youth Leadership & Etiquette Academy opens its doors. As a 21-day summer program, First Ladies begins providing middle and high school girls business start-up training and out of state college tour experiences. The robust curriculum is taught on the picturesque grounds of the private school, Eastminster.

  • 2012FLYLA Merger

    The afterschool and summer programs merged into one afterschool program. The new program is re-named the First Ladies Youth Leadership & Etiquette Academy and Institute.

  • 2013I Have a Dream

    Our Founder and select students meet with Congressman John Lewis to to discuss the significant impact of the mentorship he received by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, the necessity of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the importance of leadership and the role of government at his Atlanta office.

  • 2014In the News

    Grades 6-8 First Ladies ladies learn and unpack Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence at the SCLC sponsored Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Youth Conference. Middle School First Lady Cionne Gates shares her thoughts about Dr. King’s six principles and six steps of nonviolence on Channel 2 News.

  • 2015Advocating for Girls Mentorship

    First Ladies are special guests on Atlanta Live TV. Our Founder, Lady Antoinette L Dunstan, our Mentor Director, Lady Allison Penn and Rockdale County First Ladies Faith Shamley, Veronica VeVang, Kylie Smith, and others discuss the importance of mentorship during the live interview.

  • 2016 & 2017Local Program. Global Reach.

    Grades 6-8 First Ladies create a school supply campaign with the goal of donating 500 supplies. First Ladies exceeds expectations and donates 1000+ supplies to children at a local school in Ghana, Africa for two consecutive years.

  • 2016Global Change Agents

    Congressman Hank Johnson meets with First Ladies scholars and parents at the U.S. State Capital in Washington, D.C. to discuss issues concerning girl's education and equity.

  • 2018On American Airlines…Going to the United Nations

    First Ladies flies to New York City for a private tour of the United Nations and New York University.

  • 2018Huddles & Heels

    In partnership with Nalley Automotive and Soles for Souls, First Ladies hosts Huddle & Heels, a community fundraiser giving mothers and guests step-by-step plays on the game of football while collecting shoes for children in need.

  • 2019It's Official

    The genesis. First Ladies becomes a domestic nonprofit corporation with the state of Georgia. The 501c3 is now the First Ladies Youth Leadership Foundation, Inc.

  • 2019FLON

    Lady Shundra Green and the First Ladies of Newton High School join the First Ladies Youth Leadership Foundation, Inc.

  • 2020General Motors

    For 3-consecutive years, First Ladies Ladies receives the General Motors Community Impact Award.

  • 2021Madison News

    Morgan County Citizens publishes First Ladies inaugural Winter’s Tea Event at Proprietor Kathi Russell’s Merchants Hall in Madison, Georgia.

  • 2022Expansion

    First Ladies expands to Henry County. In partnership with the Counseling Department and Building Leadership, First Ladies begins mentoring girls at Stockbridge Middle School.

  • 2023History makers: Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council

    In September of 2009, under the leadership of our Founder and our 2009 First Ladies Charter Member, Lady Imani Williams, First Ladies partners with the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council (CREDC).

  • 2024Empowering Scholars

    In January, under the umbrella of CREDC, First Ladies establishes the inaugural community-based Junior CREDC Board for the City of Conyers and Rockdale County. In collaboration with Kappa League this Generation Z committee provides an exchange of ideas in the strategic planning and building of the city.

  • 2025Coming Next

    The Best is Yet to Come