Hidden Gems: Meet Miesha Adams of Operation Level Up Leadership Youth Edition

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miesha Adams.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story begins in middle school. One day, my brother and I brought home permission slips for upcoming high-school tours. When our mom looked at them, she immediately noticed they were for two completely different sets of schools. We hadn’t realized it, and when she asked why, we didn’t have an answer.
The next day, curious and confused, I asked my teachers why I wasn’t touring the same schools as my brother. No one gave me a clear explanation. So, I went to my principal, who was someone I trusted, and asked them directly. They told me the high schools had been chosen based on “what we noticed about you as students.”

At that moment, something clicked. My brother and I had the same upbringing, the same environment, and equal ability – yet the adults around us saw two different futures for us before we even had the chance to decide for ourselves. I was placed on a bus touring selective, test-based high schools; my brother was sent to tour traditional public schools. That was my first personal experience seeing how early students can be labeled, limited, and tracked, not by capability, but by perception.

As I got older and began working with students in school systems from Massachusetts to Georgia, I saw the same pattern over and over again. Too often, students aren’t seen as individuals first. They’re misunderstood, underestimated, and placed in boxes that don’t reflect their potential.

After graduating college, I joined Teach for America. During my time in the classroom, I realized another gap: students were being educated, but not always elevated. They needed leadership development, life skills, and opportunities beyond academics and athletics. So I created a Leadership and Entrepreneurship program at my school. The response from students, families, and staff was overwhelming and it gave me the courage to turn that program into a published youth-leadership curriculum and expand my work across Georgia.

That seed planted in middle school grew into Operation Level Up Leadership Youth Edition, a youth development organization focused on leadership, mentorship, college exploration, and career readiness for students in grades 6–12. With the support of a school that believed in my vision and the foundation Teach for America gave me, Operation Level Up became a reality. Their support mattered.

Today, I run both a nonprofit and a consulting company. I partner with school districts to provide youth leadership programming, curriculum implementation, and coaching. Outside the school day, students also participate in extended leadership programs that dive even deeper into personal development and mentorship.

My mission is simple: to ensure young people are seen, supported, and developed as leaders, not just students, so they feel empowered, prepared, and confident in every space they step into.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has definitely not been smooth. Growing up, I experienced homelessness, food insecurities, and a lack of access to resources. I had to actively seek out opportunities just to imagine a future for myself, let alone achieve one. There were moments when college didn’t feel like an option in fact, I didn’t think it was meant for someone like me. My plan was simply to graduate high school and get a full-time job to survive.

What changed my trajectory were the mentors who came into my life at pivotal moments. They saw potential in me long before I saw it in myself. One of those people was a college recruiter who truly listened to me and spoke to my strengths. That conversation opened a door I didn’t even know existed. I went on to study psychology and sociology, with a minor in leadership. From there, I obtained my Masters in Business Management and Leadership and another in Education. All decisions that shaped everything that came after.

After college, I moved to Atlanta and began teaching in Public Schools. That experience was eye-opening. I loved my students deeply, but I also saw firsthand the politics and limitations within the education system. I wanted to empower students beyond academics. To build their confidence, strengthen their identity, teach life skills, and help them become community leaders and advocates. But when I attempted to create those opportunities, I often met resistance. There wasn’t always room for innovation, even when the intention was to uplift students.

Despite the pushback, I stayed committed. While not everyone understood my vision, the people who did made a lasting impact and their support helped me keep going.

Some of the biggest challenges in building my organization have come from navigating school systems and advocating for programs that serve underserved students. I’ve had to send countless emails and pitches saying, “We have a solution. We have a program that works. Students are growing, expanding their mindsets, discovering possibilities, and developing pathways to real futures.” And still, sometimes the doors don’t open easily.

Funding has also been a challenge, especially today, when uncertainty around educational and community funding makes it difficult for youth-focused, equity-driven organizations like mine to thrive.

But beyond systems and funding, there’s a broader challenge: rebuilding the village. There’s a saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” We’ve drifted away from that. Supporting our youth takes more than one program or one school. It takes partnership, parents, mentors, community resources, and real access. There may be opportunities in Georgia, but are they affordable? Are they reachable? Do all students, regardless of zip code, have the ability to participate?

When we truly invest in community, when opportunities are equitable and accessible, and when we work together to uplift our young people, the barriers become smaller. Our kids deserve that. They deserve a world bigger than what they see in front of them and one where they’re encouraged to believe they belong in every space they dream of entering.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Operation Level Up Leadership Youth Edition?
Operation Level Up Leadership Youth Edition is a youth-focused nonprofit dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders through college and career readiness, mentorship, and hands-on leadership training. Our mission is to equip students with the confidence, skills, and exposure they need to thrive not just academically, but as empowered young leaders and engaged citizens. We partner with schools and organizations to deliver a comprehensive leadership curriculum that covers communication, cultural awareness, leadership development, and community engagement, culminating in student-designed community impact projects that put their learning into real-world practice. Beyond the classroom, we offer a robust mentorship and college-career readiness program that provides students with academic support, personal development coaching, college tours, professional certifications, paid internships, job shadowing, and exposure to both traditional and alternative career pathways. We meet students where they are, whether their goals involve college, trades, entrepreneurship, or entering the workforce and provide individualized guidance to support their unique journey.
In addition to student programming, we consult with schools, coaching educators and program leaders on building strong youth- leadership pipelines, strengthening student organizations, and fostering school cultures where student voice and leadership can thrive. What sets us apart is our personalized approach: each student receives an individualized development track and mentorship aligned to their specific interests, strengths, and long-term goals. We serve students from sixth through twelfth grade, ensuring consistent and meaningful growth during the most formative years of their lives.

What I am most proud of is our students, our consistency, and the trust our community places in us. We show up for our youth in all spaces – at games, events, milestones, and everyday moments – pushing them academically, supporting them personally, and celebrating their growth every step of the way. Watching students step into their power with confidence and authenticity is the core of our mission, and I am equally grateful for the parents, educators, and community partners who walk alongside us. We currently serve schools across Georgia and offer in-school programming, after-school mentorship, leadership consulting, and college-career readiness services. As we continue to expand, we are seeking partners, sponsors, and community collaborators who believe in investing in the next generation of leaders and expanding access to high-quality youth development opportunities. We welcome anyone who shares our passion for service, empowerment, and youth leadership to join us in shaping brighter futures.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is the impact we have on our students not in terms of test scores or traditional achievement metrics, but in their personal growth, confidence, and development as young leaders. Every student’s journey is unique, so we don’t measure success by a single baseline; instead, we measure progress based on the goals they set for themselves and the growth we witness as we walk alongside them. What truly matters is that our students have a safe space where they feel seen, valued, supported, and poured into. A place where they can be guided by mentors who show up authentically, without expecting anything in return. We want our youth to know they have a community to lean on for guidance, encouragement, and even moments of rest and reflection.

Above all, we are committed to empowering the next generation of leaders who will advocate for others, uplift their communities, and build systems that create equity, opportunity, and strength for those who come after them. Our mission is not only to develop leaders, but to nurture compassionate, confident changemakers who carry forward the values of service, advocacy, and community. We want families and communities to know that resources and support systems do exist, that there are programs ready to invest in them, and that we are here when they are ready to step into that journey. For more information, visit www.olul.org or follow us on Instagram at oluleadership.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.olul.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oluleadership
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miesha-adams