Unlocking Opportunities with Youth Energy Academy

Exposure starts with conversation. A mentor with 100 Black Men of Coastal North Carolina spends time with students during a chapter mentoring session. Experiences like the upcoming Youth Energy Academy build on that work by helping young people discover careers, ask questions, and see possibilities they may not have considered before.

Ask a middle school student to name careers in energy, and you may hear “engineer” or “electrician.”

Those are real paths. They are not the whole picture.

On Saturday, November 14, middle and high school students and youth groups will have an opportunity to explore STEM and the energy field during the Youth Energy Academy at the Brunswick Energy & Education Center in Southport.

The program is being presented in partnership with the North Carolina chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The program runs from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., with breakfast and lunch included. Registration closes October 23.

That location matters too.

The Brunswick Energy & Education Center includes exhibits on nuclear science, electricity, energy, and the Brunswick Nuclear Plant. Duke Energy says visitors can also learn about careers in the nuclear industry. (Duke Energy | Nuclear Information Center)

That is where education meets economic empowerment.

Career planning should be bigger than asking a young person, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” That question assumes they already know what is possible.

Sometimes the better move is exposure.

Let them meet people doing the work. Let them see the technology. Let them ask questions. Let them discover jobs they did not know existed.

For mentors, this creates an easy conversation. Before the academy, ask your mentee to name three energy careers. Afterward, ask again. Then talk about what education, training, certifications, or college pathways might lead there.

For families across Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties, this is another chance to help young people connect what they learn in school with what they may someday do for a living. The chapter serves young women and young men across all three counties through mentoring and educational programs.

That is Economic Empowerment the 100 Way.

Not choosing a future for a young person.

Helping them see enough possibilities to choose one for themselves.

What They See Is What They’ll Be®

👉 See Youth Energy Academy details and registration information

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Source and verification notes

Checked October 2, 2026.

1. 100 Black Men of Coastal North Carolina, Chapter Happenings: Confirms the Southport Youth Energy Academy for November 14, 2026; middle and high school participation; partnership with NC AABE; doors at 8:30 a.m.; 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. program; breakfast and lunch; and October 23 registration deadline. (100 Black Men of Coastal North Carolina Chapter Happenings)

2. North Carolina AABE: Confirms the organization’s North Carolina presence and its emphasis on education, STEM initiatives, scholarships, and broader participation of African Americans and other underrepresented groups in energy. (North Carolina AABENorth Carolina AABE)

3. Duke Energy: Confirms that the Brunswick Energy & Education Center near Southport includes energy and nuclear-science exhibits and information about careers in the nuclear industry. (Duke Energy | Nuclear Information Center)