BUILDing Communities

“I know that this is important. In the future I see myself sitting in an office, designing equations to make 3-D images move. That’s what I want to do. And then I want to come home and be the same person I’ve always been, near my family…I want a better life for myself but I don’t want to change the person I am. BUILD has made me realize that I can exceed the limits I thought I had. It’s helped me to be sure of myself, sure of what I know and what I want to do.” – Alex Martinez, BUILD student

Our Students

Helping Young People to Reach Their Potential

Like all young people, students in under-served communities have enormous potential. They want to achieve and succeed. But because of circumstances out of their control, they don’t have the same opportunities:

  • They’re from low-income families, and from cultural backgrounds that have been historically under-represented in higher education (Latino, African American, and Pacific Islander).
  • They’re from communities with a 50%-70% high school drop out rate.
  • They don’t have many positive role models.
  • They’re perceived as not being “college material”, and thus don’t get the support that “high achieving” students receive.

The Power of Opportunities

Through our program, students get the educational and entrepreneurial opportunities that would otherwise not be available.

They start businesses selling shoes and jewelry, poetry books and clothes and much more. They gain pride, build self-confidence, develop leadership skills, and learn how to succeed.

That’s why 100% of BUILD graduates have graduated from high school and enrolled in universities – places like Columbia, Emory, Harvard, Loyola Marymount, Stanford, U.C Berkeley, and U.C Santa Barbara.

Using the skills they've honed through the program, they become role models and civic leaders. And instead of merely becoming self-sustaining, they evolve into productive individuals and community partners.

They reach their potential. And then some.