Gail Akins is a social butterfly with a passionate and understanding personality. She strives to live a life full of smiles and laughter. She works as a notary public and as site director for an early childhood education center. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration with a concentration in management, she has been leading, mentoring and coaching in the field for more than 20 years.

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Akins is a strong advocate for investing in, empowering and giving back to communities—especially to youth. Whether by lending a listening ear, providing advice or simply spending time with young people, she believes older generations play a vital role in helping them thrive. She is especially committed to uplifting those who face bullying, peer pressure, exclusion or feelings of inadequacy.

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She also enjoys the little luxuries that make life meaningful: reading, traveling, fine dining, going to the movies, spending time with her family, having good conversations and bringing people together. For Akins, creating lasting memories—big or small—is a priority.

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At Youth Empowerment Day, Akins facilitated the workshop “Coping Kits,” which reflects her own journey. From early childhood education to graduate school, she has faced life-changing experiences that required resilience. To protect her mental health, she created coping kits filled with tools to navigate challenges. Her workshop equips youth to build their own personal toolkits and encourages them to share what they learn with others who may need support.