A focused perspective
Atiba’s work centers Black boys’ development, connecting identity, character, and opportunity with meaningful pathways into adulthood.
WHERE CHANGEMAKERS FIND OPPORTUNITYVISIBILITY. AUTHORITY. LEGACY.
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Celebrity Boss Speakers / Atiba Saleem Jones
Youth development · Education · Purpose
Atiba
Saleem Jones
Founder & Executive Director, SAVE Institute
Helping young people discover their purpose—and build the skills to live it.
A perspective shaped by education, youth advocacy, agriculture, and the arts. A message for young people and the adults helping them grow.
In conversation
Meet the voice behind the mission.
Explore Atiba’s perspective on youth development, purpose, and the work of SAVE Institute.
Listen to his On The Square interview ↗Featured video
Open the featured clip on Facebook.
Watch on Facebook ↗Facebook may ask you to sign in to view the video.
Why invite Atiba?
Purpose becomes powerful
when young people can practice it.
Experience across disciplines
Teaching, youth mental health counseling, school leadership, farming, and spoken-word poetry inform his approach to engaging young people.
Practical possibility
SAVE Institute brings together service, agriculture, vocational training, and entrepreneurship—connecting learning with contribution.
Speaking topics
Conversations that connect
potential with direction.
Explore these topic directions for your event. Share your audience and goals to discuss the right session and format.
Beyond Potential
Helping Black Boys Build Purpose and PossibilityExplore how purpose, supportive relationships, and practical opportunities can work together in the development of Black boys and young men.
For: Educators, mentors, youth organizations, and community leaders
Focus & takeaways
- Connect personal interests with meaningful responsibility.
- Explore service, practical skills, and enterprise alongside academics.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen purpose and contribution.
Your Purpose Has Work to Do
Turning Potential into ActionA youth-focused conversation connecting personal strengths and everyday choices with useful skills, character, service, and a sense of direction.
For: Middle and high school students, mentoring groups, and youth summits
Focus & takeaways
- Identify a strength and a constructive way to use it.
- Connect a future goal with a skill or habit to develop.
- Recognize service as a way to practice leadership.
Parenting for Purpose
Helping Young People Grow into ResponsibilityExplore encouragement, accountability, and opportunities for contribution, with attention to the development of boys and young men.
For: Parents, caregivers, school communities, and family-engagement programs
Focus & takeaways
- Connect a young person’s interests with future goals.
- Create age-appropriate opportunities for responsibility.
- Strengthen connections among young people and supporting adults.
Learning That Builds a Life
Service, Agriculture, Skills, and EnterpriseDiscover the four-part SAVE approach and consider how learning through practical work can deepen engagement and purpose.
For: School leaders, educators, workforce organizations, and youth-program teams
Focus & takeaways
- Understand the four pillars of the SAVE model.
- Connect learning with useful work.
- Identify a practical project or community partnership.
Character in Action
Preparing Young People to LeadConsider how choices, relationships, and responsibility help young people practice integrity and leadership in everyday life.
For: Youth leaders, mentors, educators, and student leadership groups
Focus & takeaways
- Translate character expectations into everyday actions.
- Create opportunities to lead through service.
- Connect reflection and accountability with growth.
Audiences & formats
For the next generation.
And the people beside them.
Schools. Youth organizations. Parents and caregivers. Mentors. Educators. Community and workforce leaders.
Atiba’s documented experience includes in-person youth presentations, facilitated discussions and exercises, public community addresses, and podcast interviews.
Tell us whether you are planning an assembly, keynote, workshop, panel, or virtual conversation. Format, session length, and availability are discussed with each inquiry.
Meet the speaker
Education.
Advocacy.
Opportunity.
Atiba Saleem Jones
Atiba Saleem Jones is the Founder and Executive Director of SAVE Institute and a youth advocate whose work connects purpose, education, and practical opportunity. His career spans roles as a schoolteacher, mental health counselor, program director, school leader, urban farmer, and spoken-word poet, with experience working with young people locally and internationally.
At SAVE Institute, he leads work focused on expanding possibilities for Black male youth through service, agriculture, vocational training, and entrepreneurship. The organization connects character and purpose with learning experiences that help young people contribute to their communities.
Atiba holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Morehouse College and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. His professional credentials include Certified Anger Management Specialist, Certified Life Coach, and Certified Journeyman Farmer.
His speaking interests include motivating young people, supporting parents, and guiding educators and youth leaders.
Explore SAVE Institute ↗Experience & recognition
A perspective grounded in the work.
SAVE Institute
Founder and Executive Director of an organization centered on service, agriculture, vocational training, and entrepreneurship.
Empower Summit
Led presentations, discussions, and exercises with the SAVE team at the Florida Young Men’s Leadership Initiative in 2024.
Read the event article →Featured by WHYY
Quoted and photographed addressing a Philadelphia gathering supporting opportunity for Black boys in October 2023.
Read the WHYY article →Featured stories & interviews
Explore the work.
Hear the perspective.
The Fight to SAVE Our Black Boys
Atiba joins On The Square for a conversation about youth development and SAVE Institute.
Listen to the interview · May 2023 ↗Building connections across communities
WHYY explores the connection between Philadelphia’s Philly SAFE program and Atlanta’s SAVE Institute.
Read the story · October 2023 ↗Event planner resources
A clear introduction.
A thoughtful starting point.
Short biography
Atiba Saleem Jones is the Founder and Executive Director of SAVE Institute. An educator and youth advocate, his experience spans teaching, mental health counseling, school leadership, urban farming, and spoken-word poetry. His work expands opportunity for Black male youth through service, agriculture, vocational training, and entrepreneurship. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Morehouse College and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
Stage introduction
Our next speaker works at the intersection of youth development, education, and practical opportunity. As Founder and Executive Director of SAVE Institute, he brings together service, agriculture, vocational training, and entrepreneurship to help young people build purposeful lives. His experience spans teaching, mental health counseling, school leadership, urban farming, and the arts. Please join me in welcoming Atiba Saleem Jones.
Frequently asked questions
Plan the right conversation.
What does Atiba speak about?
Youth motivation, parenting, and guidance for educators and youth leaders. His work emphasizes purpose, character, practical skills, and the development of Black boys and young men.
Who is his message relevant to?
Students, parents and caregivers, educators, mentors, and community leaders seeking to expand young people’s opportunities. Share the audience’s age range and goals in your inquiry.
Can we request a virtual session or a particular format?
Include your preferred format and session length in the inquiry. Availability and the final scope of the engagement must be confirmed.
How do we discuss fees and travel?
Include your event location and proposed budget range. Fees, travel arrangements, and other terms are discussed before a booking is agreed.
Does an inquiry reserve a date?
No. The inquiry starts a conversation. It does not confirm availability or reserve an engagement.
Can we record or livestream the session?
Please include your recording or livestream plans in the inquiry so permissions and usage terms can be discussed before the event.
Request a booking
Bring purpose and possibility to your audience.
Tell us about your audience, goals, and preferred date. Start a conversation about inviting Atiba Saleem Jones to your next event.
Booking inquiries are coordinated through Celebrity Boss.