BUILDing Communities

By breaking down individual and institutional barriers, we dismantle the stereotype of certain students not being perceived as “college material”. And as students prosper, so too does the community. BUILD students give back.

Student Profile

Helping Young People to Reach Their Potential

BUILD students have enormous potential. Like all young people they want to succeed, but they lack the opportunities that many of us may take for granted:

  • They’re from low-income communities with a 50%-70% high school drop out rate.
  • They're from ethnic backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in college: Latino, African American, and Pacific Islander.
  • They don’t have many positive role models.
  • They’re not perceived as “college material”, and thus don’t get the support that “high achieving” students receive.

The Power of Opportunities


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

They start businesses selling shoes, jewelry, poetry books, 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, UC Berkeley, and UC Santa Barbara. The results are impressive.

Instead of merely becoming self-sufficient, our students evolve into productive individuals. They return to their communities as role models and civic leaders.

They reach their potential - and then some.