On Thursday and Friday, the Metropolitan Action Commission will officially kickoff the 2025 POWER Youth Summer Internship program at its annual MAC POWER Youth Summit at the Sheraton Music City Hotel (777 McGavock Pike).
MAC has 1,521 youth ages 13-22 participating in this year's summer internships and project-based work experiences at 150 Metro departments, non-profits and community organizations in Davidson County. This is an increase in the amount of youth and employer participation. Last summer 1,481 youth participated at 130 work locations
Each day of the summit, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell will engage the youth and elevate the agency's goal for the POWER youth program of supporting and encouraging youth development and safety in the city, which aligns with his vision to build safer communities for youth while providing a pathway for their successful transition from youth to adulthood.
The two-day summit allows for specific programming for the middle school and high school youth. Below is an at-a-glance schedule:
Day One -Thursday, June 5 (Middle School POWER Youth)
9 a.m. Opening Session:
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools students/recording artists will perform their Emmy-winning song "Every Student Known," followed by a panel discussion on their song writing journey and now as winners of an Emmy for the recording. Comedian Marcus "Squeaky" Barnes will serve as conference host.
11 a.m. Aspire, a human development company ranked number1 in the nation for college and career readiness will lead the youth in the mid-morning and afternoon sessions and team building activities on identifying their natural talents and abilities.
Day Two -Friday, June 6 (High School POWER Youth)
9 a.m. Opening Session:
Aspire will lead the high school students in a two-part session on Personal Branding. Youth will engage in breakout sessions on how branding can positively influence the rest of your life (Part two after lunch). Entertainer Joe Major, iHeart Radio will serve as conference host.
11 a.m. Your Voice, Your Advocacy Matters Panel Discussion:
Carlos Partee, founder of Nashville Black Market, District 17 Councilmember Terry Vo, Founder and President of Asian and Pacific Islanders of Middle Tennessee, Tanner Brown, founder of Return to Basics, Channing Bailey, Brand Design and Marketing Director of Channing and Company, Benny Cunningham, former Middle Tennessee State University and NFL football player and founder of "Keep the Dream Alive," Makayla Nash, founder of the Confidence Campaign Foundation. Local colleges will also be on-site.
On-air radio personality DJ Corey "C-Dub" Gray of Streetz 99.3 Streaming will provide music each day.