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🍑✈️ Peaches & Possibilities: Atlanta 2026

Fresh off of our #melaninandmedicine2k26 event Build 2 Lead is heading to Atlanta with our Youth Executive Committee — turning exposure into opportunity, and opportunity into legacy.

We’re not just taking a trip.
We’re building a PIPELINE!!

🎓 ACCESS IS THE NEW ADVANTAGE

HBCU tours that shift what’s possible.

🩺 PROXIMITY CREATES POWER

Direct connection to Black & Brown healthcare professionals.
#RELATIONSHIPS → ROOMS → RESULTS

Mentorship that opens doors most never see.

This is what our community asked for:
➡️ Representation
➡️ Exposure
➡️ Real pathways

So we built it.

💥 INVEST IN THE EXPERIENCE. IMPACT THE OUTCOME.

Your support fuels:
✈️ Travel + access
🎓 College exposure
🩺 Career pathways
💼 Leadership development

BE PART OF WHAT’S NEXT & HELP US RAISE MONEY OR BECOME A CRITICAL PARTNER

📲 https://www.build2lead.org/donors
🤝🏽https://www.build2lead.org/partners
🙌🏾 https://givebutter.com/c/build-the-pathway-investing-in-generational-greatness-nammek

EMPOWER! ENGAGE! EDUCATE!

📅 June 22nd- June 27th

#Build2Lead #PeachesAndPossibilities #fundthefuture taken in Atlanta, GA by @build2lead

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5 months ago

🎤 YOUTH DID THE RESEARCH. NOW THEY’RE ASKING THE QUESTIONS.

Build 2 Lead was built from youth voice—and that voice continues to guide our work.

Through our Y.E.C. listening sessions, young people shared what it means to navigate housing instability, community violence, substance use, and barriers to opportunity. They also brought ideas, solutions, and a clear desire to help shape what happens next.

Now, we’re bringing that conversation to the decision-making table.

Join us for the Build 2 Lead Youth Executive Committee Town Hall, a youth-centered community conversation connecting lived experience with the people and institutions that can help move solutions forward.

Youth Data. Youth Questions. Public Commitments.

📅 November 18, 2026
📍 Thomas Jefferson High School
🕟 Doors open at 4:30 PM | Doors close at 8:00 PM

The live podcast will be hosted by @tbe_ermiashagos , creator of The Black Experience Podcast, with featured panelists
⭐️Executive Director/Founder of Build 2 Lead- Jimmy Brown
⭐️WA State Senator, 30th District- Claire Wilson
⭐️King County Executive- Girmay Zahilay
⭐️Former State Rep. - Jesse Johnson
⭐️City of Federal Way Mayor-Jim Ferrell
⭐️City of Federal Way Police Chief- Andy Hwang.

Together, we’ll discuss what safety, stability, wellness, and economic opportunity can look like when young people help shape the solutions—and how our community can follow through after the microphones turn off.

Thank you to our community partners, UW Medicine’s Center for Firearm Injury Prevention and the Statewide Poverty Action Network, for supporting this work.

Youth, young adults, families, educators, and community partners: your presence matters. Register using the QR code on the flyer, bring your questions, and share this invitation with your networks.

Youth Voice. Youth Action. Youth Impact.

Youth and Community Serving Orgs. Register Now!

https://form.jotform.com/262701139120041
#Build2Lead #YECTownHall #YouthVoice #YouthLeadership FederalWay SouthKingCounty taken in Federal Way, Washington by @build2lead

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8 days ago

Build 2 Lead and our Youth Executive Commitee Peaches & Possibilities 2K26 was more than a trip, it was an experience rooted in exposure, access, leadership, and legacy.

Our Build 2 Lead Youth Executive Committee traveled to Atlanta for a College & Career Experiential National Trip where youth explored what is possible for their futures through campus visits, career exposure, cultural connection, and real conversations with current college students.

During this powerful experience, our youth visited:

Morehouse College @morehouse1867
Morehouse School of Medicine @morehouseschoolofmedicine
Georgia State University @georgiastateuniversity
Georgia Tech
Spelman College @spelman_college

They also connected with a panel of current college students from around the nation, led by the Atlanta University Center Consortium @aucconsortium (AUCC), gaining firsthand insight into college life, leadership, identity, and the pathways that can shape their next chapter.

At B2L, our Legacy Work is centered on creating REAL Access, through college and career readiness initiatives, workforce development events, mentorship, leadership development, and now national experiential trips.

This is what it looks like when young people don’t just hear about opportunity, they step into it.

Special shoutout to our sponsors: @blackfuturewa and @communitiesofopportunity

Your investments make things like this possible!!

Exposure. Access. Possibility. Legacy.

#Build2Lead #B2L #YouthExecutiveCommittee #YEC #PeachesAndPossibilities AtlantaTrip CollegeReadiness CareerReadiness taken in Atlanta, GA by @build2lead

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3 months ago

From certificates to stipends, STEM kits, gift cards, and even an Xbox One—our Reaching for Greatness youth showed up and earned every moment of celebration. 🎓🎮

This year’s graduates demonstrated resilience, leadership, growth, and commitment to becoming the best versions of themselves. The awards were exciting, but the real win was watching our youth grow in confidence, character, and purpose.

Thank you to our families, staff, and supporters for helping us create opportunities that inspire the next generation to dream bigger and lead boldly.

This is what investing in youth looks like. 💙

#ReachingForGreatness #Build2Lead #YouthLeadership #YouthEmpowerment #FutureLeaders CommunityImpact taken in Tacoma, Washington by @build2lead

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4 months ago

Reaching for Greatness 2026 is a wrap!!

Today we celebrated our rising middle school and elementary students at #jenniereedelementary for the final day of our Reaching For Greatness program.

Young scholars spoke about advocacy as they received end of year honors, prizes and certificates.

Help us continue to shape the next generation. Click the links in bio to learn how to get involved!!
#build2lead #reachingforgreatness #youthleadership #socialandemotionallearning taken in Tacoma, Washington by @build2lead

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4 months ago

YOUTH VOICE CONTINUES TO LEAD THE WAY 🔥

Today, Build 2 Leads Youth Executive Committee (YEC) hosted our SECOND Youth Listening Session and once again, the stories, honesty, and leadership from young people reminded us exactly why this work matters. ✊🏽

Build 2 Lead was founded from youth voice.Not assumptions.Not statistics alone.But real conversations with young people about what they were experiencing, surviving, and dreaming about.

From day one, we’ve used youth voice, lived experience, and community data to shape our programs, campaigns, and decisions and today’s listening session continued that legacy.

Youth spoke openly about:🏠 Housing instability🕊️ Community and gun violence💨 Substance use and mental health💼 Barriers to opportunity and economic mobility

The stories we’re hearing are powerful, emotional, and necessary. They are helping us better understand the root causes impacting young people and shaping real solutions rooted in healing, safety, and opportunity.

Huge thank you to:💙 @tbhs_careercenter Todd Beamer High School @federalwaypublicschools

…for creating space for youth voice and partnering with us to help build stronger futures for the next generation.

This is more than data collection.
This is community healing.
This is systems change.
This is youth leadership in action.

#Build2Lead #YouthVoice #YouthLeadership #FederalWayPublicSchools #toddbeamerhighschool taken in Federal Way, Washington by @build2lead

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5 months ago

🚨 PAID YOUTH LISTENING SESSION 🚨
Calling all leaders, changemakers & outspoken voices from TBHS! 📣

We’re partnering with Build 2 Lead’s Youth Executive Committee for a powerful after-school listening session focused on issues impacting OUR communities. We especially want students involved in LSU, BSU & ASU to attend! ✊🏾✊🏽✊🏿

🗓 Wednesday, May 20
⏰ 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Todd Beamer HS

💵 Participants who complete the full session will receive a $75 gift card
🍕 Food provided
⚠️ ONLY 15 PAID spots available — first come, first served!

Topics include:
🏘 Housing Instability
🧠 Mental Health & Substance Use
🛡 Youth Violence & Community Safety
💼 Economic Mobility

This is your chance to:
✔ Share your story
✔ Speak honestly about issues impacting youth
✔ Connect with community leaders
✔ Help create real change in our community

Youth voices from LSU, BSU & ASU are strongly encouraged to apply!
@tbhs.bsu @tbhs_acc @tbhs.lsu @build2lead

🔗 Sign up here:
https://form.jotform.com/261268205094153

#TBHS #Build2Lead #YouthVoice #CommunityChange #BSU ASU LSU by @build2lead

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5 months ago

🎤🔥 LISTENING SESSION SEASON HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN 🔥🎤

The Youth Executive Committee (Y.E.C.) just hosted our FIRST official listening session and the energy in the room was powerful. ✊🏽

Young people showed up ready to speak truth about:
🏠 Housing instability
🕊️ Community & gun violence
💨 Substance use & mental health
💼 Barriers to opportunity and economic mobility

Through stories, reflection circles, live polling, and honest dialogue, 41 youth helped lay the foundation for solutions rooted in healing, safety, and opportunity for the next generation.

And we’re just getting started.

🎯 Listening Session Season = ACTIVE
🎯 More schools. More youth. More stories. More impact.

Huge shoutout to our Youth Executive Committee for stepping into leadership and creating spaces where young people feel heard, seen, and valued. The future is youth-led. 🌱

Sponsored by:
@grandmothersagainstgunviolence
@kcpubhealth
@ymca
@raikesfoundation

#Build2Lead #YouthVoice #CommunityChange #YouthLeadership #southkingcounty taken in Family Life Center by @build2lead

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5 months ago

✨ Melanin & Medicine 2K26 ✨

More than an event.
More than exposure.
This was about helping our youth SEE what’s possible. 🩺💡

From hands-on experiences to real conversations with healthcare professionals, this day was filled with purpose, representation, and community.

The future of healthcare is already here.
We just have to keep opening the doors.

🔥 Join the movement.
#MelaninAndMedicine #Build2Lead #ItsInMe #HealthcareEquity #closingthegap

🎥 @grandryzeproductions by @build2lead

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5 months ago

Leading with purpose. 💛

Honored to facilitate a Dance Therapy & Social Emotional Learning workshop at the Build2Lead event—thank you to Build2Lead for having me and trusting me to pour into your youth. Creating space for young people to move, express, and process in ways that go beyond words is powerful work.

Through movement, we’re building confidence, emotional awareness, and leadership from the inside out.

This is more than dance… this is healing, growth, and empowerment in motion.

#FearlessDanceStudio #DanceTherapy #SocialEmotionalLearning #SEL #YouthEmpowerment Build2Lead TacomaYouth HealingThroughMovement LeadershipDevelopment CommunityImpact PierceCounty BlackExcellence MoreThanDance FearlessMovement by @build2lead

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6 months ago

Build 2 Lead (@build2lead), an organization working to empower youth through civic engagement and workforce development, recently hosted a three-day Melanin and Medicine event in Federal Way, Washington, providing young people a direct pathway to explore medical careers. The event connected students with practicing healthcare professionals who hosted workshops and provided job shadowing opportunities.

Founded in 2020 by Executive Director Jimmy Brown, Build 2 Lead aims for youth, particularly those from Black and brown communities, to see themselves as future leaders across sectors like healthcare, criminal justice, and education. The ultimate goal of Melanin and Medicine was to ensure every young person believes they can pursue a professional career, regardless of their personal or financial circumstances, Brown said.

Community activist Deaunte Damper (@dampeyalife1) emphasized the strategic importance of Build 2 Lead, saying that underrepresented youth drive the organization’s core message. "Black health matters, Black health professionals matter, and above all else, Black youth, your health matters,” he said.

Learn more about Build 2 Lead and their upcoming events at build2lead.org

#WWConverge #Build2Lead #FederalWay #YouthAdvocacy by @build2lead

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6 months ago

Over ten presenters. One powerful purpose. 💫

We’re beyond grateful to the incredible professionals who showed up, poured into our youth, and made this years Melanin & Medicine event something truly special. From breaking down the path to becoming a doctor or nurse, to teaching hands-on, life-saving skills; each and every one of you brought knowledge, passion, and real-world insight that our young people will carry with them long after this day. You didn’t just present… you connected, you inspired, and you made these futures feel possible.

To our speakers: thank you for your time, your energy, and your commitment to building the next generation of leaders in healthcare and public service. Representation matters, and you showed up as living proof of what’s possible.

To our youth: your curiosity, engagement, and openness made this experience meaningful. Keep asking questions, keep dreaming big, and keep showing up for yourselves and your communities.

Thank you to all of our partners, schools, and supporters who showed up to make this day memorable for the youth, yourselves, and our team. 🤍💛💚❤️🖤

@moreincommonalliance
@morehouseschoolofmedicine
@virginiamasonfranciscanhealth
@commonspirithealth
@stannehospitalfoundation
@southkingfire
@shadesofdivinity_
@benaroyaresearch
@fearlessdance_co
@communitiesofopportunity
@kingscountypublichealth
@federalwaypublicschools @decaturbsu @healthpoint_chc @tjhs_healthpoint
@therealrentonhs @rentonschools
@auburnschooldistrict
@rainierscholars.tacoma @rainierscholars
@amirmfigueroa

#build2lead #melaninandmedicine2k26 taken in Federal Way, Washington by @build2lead

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6 months ago