Where Possibility Meets Access

The Ludacris Foundation | United Way of Greater Atlanta | Banneker High School

GEN NEXTFEST is a two-event career exploration, mentorship, and opportunity initiative presented through The Ludacris Foundation, United Way of Greater Atlanta, and Banneker High School.

GEN NEXTFEST connects students with the industries, careers, professionals, education pathways, training resources, and employment opportunities shaping the next generation of work.

The Festival begins with a high-energy stage experience that expands students’ understanding of available career paths and introduces the people, industries, skills, and technologies driving the future of work. The event combines a traditional career and job fair with industry roundtables and interactive activations. Students meet employers, colleges, training providers, workforce organizations, entrepreneurs, and working professionals while exploring jobs, internships, educational pathways, certifications, and career sectors.

GEN NEXTFEST builds upon TLF’s established youth mentorship and technology programming and UWGA’s CareerReady ATL work-based learning framework, consolidating those assets into a concentrated Banneker High School experience. The model aligns with UWGA’s CareerReady ATL progression from Learning About Work → Learning Through Work → Learn at Work and establishes a pathway from career awareness to tangible workforce and educational opportunity.