The 2024 Austin Youth Summit is this Saturday, August 17, at LBJ Early College High School. The summit equips teens with tools for mental well-being, self-care, and self-love by partnering with teens, parents, and community experts to create a supportive environment that fosters open conversations about mental health.
Dr. Jay L. McCullar, founder of J-4 Education Consulting, will be this year’s keynote speaker, which he stated is an incredible honor and a deeply humbling experience. “It feels inspiring to have the opportunity to share my journey and insights with young leaders who are shaping the future,” he added. Dr. McCullar said that this summit represents a powerful platform to connect with the next generation, to encourage them and to empower them to believe in their potential. “I’m excited to engage with these young minds, hear their perspectives, and hopefully leave them with a sense of purpose and motivation to make a positive impact in their communities,” he explained.
So, who is Dr. Jay? We were able to pick his brain a bit to help summit attendees and our soul citizens get to know him better before Saturday’s event. Growing up, he was described as independent and inquisitive by his family. “My Uncle Kirk jokes and says I was reading the newspaper and watching the evening news at 5 years old,” he laughed. He was primarily raised by his grandmother, a very strong Black woman who was born in the South in the early 1940s and decided at 18 years old to migrate to Los Angeles, California, in hopes of a better life. Because of this, Dr. McCullar grew up living between California and Texas, along with his Uncle Keishun, who was a few years older than him.
What led Dr. McCullar to the path of education and ultimately to creating J-4 Education Consulting was a deep belief that education is the great equalizer. Growing up, he witnessed firsthand the struggles of people around him — financial hardships, battles with addiction, and the cycle of limited opportunities. It was clear to him that these individuals weren’t lacking in intelligence or potential; they were actually some of the smartest people he knew. They just didn’t have access to the same educational opportunities or the tools to manage their resources effectively.
In my heart, I believed that if they had been equipped with the right knowledge and skills, their lives could have been drastically different.
Education became not just a way out for him but a way up — a path to breaking the cycles of poverty and addiction that he saw so often. This realization fueled his passion for education, driving him to pursue it as a career and, eventually, to create J-4 Education Consulting.
“Through J-4 Education Consulting, my goal is to empower educational institutions, nonprofits, and foundations to provide the opportunities and resources that can change lives, just as I believe education can,” Dr. McCullar stated. He also noted that he wanted to create a platform that would help others gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to transform their circumstances and reach their full potential.
In 2023, after the passing of his grandmother, Louise’s Kids, a program that helps families prepare for the school year by providing necessary supplies as well as offering support during the holiday season, was created. Dr. Jay’s grandmother was deeply committed to education and believed in making the most of every opportunity. “My grandmother was the kind of person who would give her last dollar to someone in need, especially if it was for their betterment.” He reflected on witnessing her sacrifice so much to ensure that his uncle and he had everything they needed for school, from supplies to encouragement. “As I reflected on her legacy, it became clear that supporting others in a way that would make her proud was the right thing to do,” Dr. Jay said.
Louise’s Kids is more than just a charitable initiative; it’s a way to carry forward his grandmother’s spirit of generosity and commitment to education, ensuring that her legacy continues to uplift others in our community.
Dr. McCullar’s work is deeply rooted in the belief that everyone, regardless of their background, deserves access to quality education and the opportunities it creates. Whether it’s through his teaching, his consulting work with J-4 Education Consulting, or his community initiatives like Louise’s Kids, Dr. Jay’s mission is to uplift and empower individuals and communities. “Education has the power to transform lives, and I am committed to making that transformation accessible to as many people as possible,” he concluded.
Here’s what to expect at the FREE Austin Youth Summit this weekend:
• Powerful and engaging conversations
• Raffle Prizes
• Interactive Workshop
• Haircare vouchers
• Skincare Tips
• Art and Retail Vendors
• Free Hamburgers and Hotdogs
• and much more!
RSVP for the Austin Youth Summit now. The event will be Saturday, August 17, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at LBJ Early College High School. This event is free and open to the public with RSVP.
Learn more about J-4 Education Consulting, and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X. You can also connect with Dr. McCullar on LinkedIn.
