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We’re excited to share the latest updates, stories, and opportunities happening at BBAY. Each quarter, we highlight the incredible work happening in our community and keep you in the loop on how we’re building a more connected and supportive Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park for young people.
We are in the final stretch of Reimagine’s first three years! Over the last few months, our focus has been on evaluation and wrapping things up in a way that positions us for the future. This is a time to reflect, celebrate, and prepare for the continued work ahead.
You're Invited to the Sneaker Ball!
📍 August 28th from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center
The Sneaker Ball will be a community celebration to honor the champions of the Reimagine Initiative, showcase three years of impact, and launch the next phase of our work. Come dressed in your finest outfit paired with your flyest sneakers! We’ll highlight:
- our Advisory Council, Black Youth Space, and interns
- The Black Joy Project, Summits, and Demonstration Project
- Collective contributions to mental health and wellbeing in our community
We will dance, eat, celebrate, and be in community together. RSVP HERE by using the QR code on the flyer and reach out if you have questions. Hope to see you there!
 Communities that Care Grant
Starting June 1, 2025, BBAY will receive funding for five years from the Minnesota Department of Health through the Communities that Care Grant to continue and deepen the work of the Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health Initiative.
The Communities that Care framework uses a proven social development strategy, which aligns closely with BBAY’s current approach. This includes:
- Creating opportunities for youth
- Building skills to engage in those opportunities
- Providing recognition for using those skills
- Setting clear expectations
- Building bonding and connection
Funding from CTC will continue to support ongoing evaluation and program development as well as efforts to reduce risks such as violence, racial trauma, and substance use. Reimagine will also continue to implement strategies to strengthen youth empowerment, connectedness, and culturally affirming supports. In the coming months, we will:
- Expand and strengthen the Advisory Council
- Equip youth leaders with prevention science tools
- Move through each phase of the Communities that Care process: Get Started → Get Organized → Develop Community Profile → Create a Plan → Implement & Evaluate
Through it all, our work will remain Black-centered, youth-led, and community-driven.
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Stay connected to Reimagine by subscribing to their newsletter here and follow Reimagine on Instagram.
 Year One Highlights
In its first year, Elevate Youth! engaged nearly 600 students across four high schools with afterschool and summer programs that center cultural relevance, equity, and youth leadership.
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300+ students received culturally responsive tutoring
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70+ youth leaders served on local boards, councils, and commissions
- Affinity spaces supported identity-based connection and belonging
- Summer program delivered 115 hours of youth-designed activities
Summer Programming Overview
This summer, Elevate Youth! came alive across Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale, and Brooklyn Park with a six-week program designed by youth, for youth. Rooted in our theme Learning Through Joy, the program created space for 70 youth in grades 8th–11th to explore joy, their community, and their futures, all while having fun.
Each week brought a new focus shaped by input from the 2024 Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) survey:
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Nature – Time outdoors exploring local parks and learning environmental stewardship.
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Holistic Wellness – Mindfulness, nutrition, and healthy movement.
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Sports – From competitive games to playful challenges, teamwork was at the center.
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Digital Storytelling – Youth told their stories through photography, video, and media projects.
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Arts & Leadership – Creative expression tied with leadership development.
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Looking to the Future – Goal setting, career exploration, and life skills.
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What Youth Said:
- 84% rated the program “good” or “great.”
- 71% said this was their first summer program as a teenager.
- Many shared that they made new friends, gained confidence, and discovered talents they didn’t know they had.
What Staff Saw:
Staff celebrated the diversity of youth at each site and the genuine connections they built. They saw leadership in action as youth interns helped plan and lead activities, and were inspired by how quickly participants from different backgrounds began sharing ideas, supporting each other, and even exchanging contact information to stay in touch after summer ended.
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Looking Ahead:
For 2026, we’re working to expand access by addressing transportation barriers and connecting with more local BIPOC tutors and mentors. We want every young person in our community to have the chance to experience the joy, growth, and connection that Elevate Youth! brought to so many this summer.
Stay Connected with BBAY:
College and Career Pathways Newsletter
Brooklyns Connect (FREE activities and events) Newsletter
RBYMH Newsletter
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