Preparing the Next Generation to Lead, Love, and Leave a Legacy
A six-month program rooted in faith and focused on developing Black and Brown leaders aged 21 to 40. Through mentorship, community, and five core leadership values, Apex equips the next generation to serve Knoxville and beyond.
About the Program
Investing in Knoxville's future
The Apex Leadership Initiative trains and mentors emerging city leaders through five core values, equipping participants not just to succeed, but to serve, inspire, and leave a lasting mark on their communities.
Grounded in faith and designed for ethnic minority leaders aged 21 to 40, the program brings each cohort into relationship with iconic, well-experienced community leaders who pass forward decades of wisdom, experience, and insight.
What We Build
Five core leadership values
Developing the art of self-leadership through self-care, balance, and boundaries — so leaders remain healthy enough to serve others effectively.
Understanding that community leadership begins at home. Charity starts with family, and leaders learn to serve their communities without abandoning that call.
Learning practical strategies to engage and serve Knoxville through God-given gifts, talent, resources, and influence — making our city a stronger, more vibrant family.
Intentionally developing cross-cultural relationships by becoming a student of other cultures, races, and ethnicities — and a bridge of reconciliation for all people.
Growing and expanding leadership influence beyond Knoxville — because our gifts can take us far above our local community and have the capacity to create global impact.
How It Began
A city that saw the need
The Apex Leadership Initiative was created to train, mentor, and retain Knoxville's best and brightest young Black and Brown leaders. Before the program launched, the Change Center partnered with several nonprofits to host a leadership conference as a prototype, assessing the true depth of need.
Over a weekend in August, 140 participants gathered under the teaching of Knoxville's most influential leaders, including Governor Bill Haslam, Phyllis Nichols of the Knoxville Area Urban League, and radio personality Hallerin Hill. Generations came together to witness living legacies passing the torch.
The response was clear. Partners including Haslam College of Business, KUB, and Overcoming Believers Church helped make it possible — and 100% of participants said the program was impactful and wanted to see it continue.
"100% of 140 participants found this program impactful and wanted to see it continue."
Needs Assessment, Apex Leadership InitiativeAnnual Fundraiser
The Sankofa Soiree
The Sankofa Soiree is the Apex Leadership Initiative's annual fundraiser, bringing together a community of change-makers, supporters, and partners to celebrate each cohort's courage in stepping forward as Knoxville's next generation of leaders.
Every dollar raised fuels the programs, opportunities, and experiences that shape lives and strengthen communities, ensuring that the work of developing intentional leaders continues long after each cohort completes the journey.
"Sankofa — the Adinkra principle of looking back to move forward — is the heartbeat of this gathering."
We celebrate what has been poured in, honor the leaders who are emerging, and invest in what is still to come. The name says it all.
Latest
Apex News
2026 Cohort
Apex Leadership Initiative Announces 2026 Cohort
The Apex leadership program, an initiative of the Change Center, welcomes its newest cohort of emerging Knoxville leaders.
Read MoreProgram Launch
Change Center Launches Leadership Program for Ages 21 to 40
The Apex leadership program has named a pilot cohort, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Knoxville leadership development.
Read MoreLeadership
Jenkins Arnold to Lead Development of Young Leaders
Carmeisha Jenkins Arnold has been named Program Coordinator for Apex, bringing her background in family and marriage counseling to the initiative.
Read MoreOur Vision
A robust six-month leadership program that provides next-generation thought leaders with mentorship from well-experienced, iconic leaders in our community — and culminates in a citywide service project hosted by the Apex cohort themselves.
Get in Touch
Connect with Apex
To learn more about the program, apply to a future cohort, or explore partnership and sponsorship opportunities, reach out to the Apex Leadership Initiative team.
Location
203 Harriet Tubman Street, Knoxville, TN 37915Phone
(865) 951-1567Donate to the Change Center
The Sankofa Soiree
The Sankofa Soiree is the Apex Leadership Initiative's annual fundraiser, bringing together a community of change-makers, supporters, and partners to celebrate each cohort's courage in stepping forward as Knoxville's next generation of leaders.
The name says it all. Sankofa, the Adinkra principle of looking back to move forward, is the heartbeat of this gathering. We celebrate what has been poured in, honor the leaders who are emerging, and invest in what is still to come.
Every dollar raised fuels the programs, opportunities, and experiences that shape lives and strengthen communities, ensuring that the work of developing intentional leaders continues long after each cohort completes the journey.
APEX NEWS
