Our Mentors: Our program is unique in that the three mentors are chosen to lead each class of LEADers for the full six years of the program.
Mentors are chosen based on experience and passion for working with children, demonstrated leadership ability, trustworthiness, resourcefulness, and accountability.
Michael Berg
Michael graduated from Texas A&M University with an engineering degree in Industrial Distribution. During high school and college Michael served as a leader with church youth groups in Houston and Brenham, Texas. He mentored and educated junior high and high school students while they traveled through various parts of Mexico to serve the local communities. Michael has participated in camping and outdoor activities throughout his life in Texas, California, and Colorado and enjoys using the outdoors to help build the relationships and skills that the leaders of tomorrow need to be successful. Michael can be reached at MichaelBerg@camplead.org.
Kimberly Berg
Kimberly is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a business degree in Marketing. She has participated in mentoring activites at local elementary schools and in youth groups throughout her high school and college career. As a camp counselor in North Carolina she saw the impact the outdoors can have on young students. Kimberly has a passion for helping under privileged children turn into the leaders of tomorrow. She believes every child can succeed through education and opportunity, and in turn, have a major impact on the communities in which they live. Kimberly can be reached at KimberlyBerg@camplead.org.
Cory Jackson
Cory graduated from Texas A&M University in 2000 with a business degree in Marketing. Upon graduating from school he moved to Austin, Texas where he began working for Dell Computer Inc. Through his career he has had the fortunate opportunity to travel the world and gain knowledge and experience of other cultures. He comes from a very underserved background himself and feels a passion and responsibility to work with LEAD in every effort. He is looking at this opportunity as one in a long string of commitments to the community for the future. Cory can be reached at CoryJackson@camplead.org.
Our Founders: In the spring of 2005 Jamil and Carter Higley became mentors to LEAD’s inaugural class of 6th grade students.
The inaugural class of 16 students participated in their first summer program in Kelly, Wyoming that summer. Jamil and Carter were inspired by their individual experiences to give financially-challenged youth the opportunity to travel far beyond the inner city and to provide them with enrichment outside the classroom to prepare them for college and life beyond. LEAD was started through the collaborative efforts of Jamil and Carter Higley, and Jamie Matthews.
Carter Higley
Carter is a graduate of the Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship program in Austin, Texas. Previously, he was a teacher at an inner-city school in south central Los Angeles, California through the Teach for America Program. Through this program, he witnessed firsthand the inequality in education that is so prevalent among the lower income population and saw the need for more enrichment outside of the classroom. Carter also attributes his inspiration for starting LEAD to the Acton program, where students are encouraged to use their business skills to lead a life of meaning. Carter can be reached at CarterHigley@camplead.org.
Jamil Higley
Jamil graduated from Barnard College in New York with a degree in Cultural Anthropology. Since college, Jamil has worked with children in various capacities and saw educational television programming as a means to reaching the masses. Jamil has produced and hosted numerous television programs for pre-school aged children to adults. Jamil is dedicated to bridging the gap in education that exists in the financially challenged population. Like the other founders, she is determined to make a lasting impact on the lives of students who participate in the LEAD program. Jamil can be reached at JamilHigley@camplead.org.
Our LEADers
Students apply to participate in the LEAD program during their 6th grade year. We ask our LEADers to commit to the program through their senior year in high school. LEADers must meet certain academic, social and service requirements during the school year in order to stay in the program. In addition, we ask that our LEADers demonstrate a general willingness to try new activities, to develop relationships, and to consider new ideas
