Central Valley Impact Update: January 2026
Month in Review: Character & Commitment
This month at our Central Valley school sites was all about character development. Our Brothers showed that being a leader means serving your community, balancing your responsibilities, and staying committed to your own personal growth.
Throughout the month we witnessed powerful moments that truly showcased the heart of our Brotherhood. From deep, vulnerable conversations in our workshops to record-breaking academic turnarounds, our Central Valley Brothers are proving what happens when you commit to yourself and your community.
Academic Achievement Highlights
We are proudly celebrating a few outstanding Central Valley Brothers this month, including Dominic, Claudio, and Alejandro!
Dominic maintained an impressive 3.75 GPA while balancing the heavy demands of athletics (basketball) and academics. His dedication, discipline, and commitment to success truly reflect the values we strive to instill in our Brothers. After graduation, Dominic has a clear path forward: he plans to attend Delta College to pursue a trade in electrical work. We are incredibly proud of the leadership and focus he continues to demonstrate!
Claudio (not pictured) has shown immense character development and has grown socially and academically this year. His commitment to personal growth is evident through his consistent participation in workshops and mentorship sessions, where he always shows up ready to learn and lead. He maintains a positive attitude, supports his peers, and serves as a strong role model within the program. His resilience and determination have resulted in noticeable improvements in his grades, and he continues to embrace new challenges with confidence and enthusiasm. Keep pushing forward Claudio, your journey is just getting started!
Hard work, resilience, and determination were on full display this month as senior Alejandro reached a major academic milestone. He earned his very first honor roll certificate in his high school career!
Starting his freshman year with a 0.33 GPA, Alejandro committed himself to improving year after year, and he now proudly holds a 3.0 GPA. His journey is a powerful example of what focus, accountability, and dedication can achieve. As he prepares to pursue junior college, we celebrate not only his academic success but the massive mindset shift that made it possible.
We couldn't just celebrate his grades without celebrating Alejandro, a third-year Brother and our newest Junior Mentor. He truly exemplifies outstanding character and dedication. Beyond his incredible academic turnaround, he is always ready to lend a hand in the IYT space. In fact, his experience has been so transformative that he has expressed a desire to continue working with the program next year as he pursues his studies at San Joaquin Delta College! We are so proud of his progress and excited to see the bright future ahead of him.
Workshop Recaps
This month’s workshop cultivated a profound sense of togetherness through a simple activity. Unfurling long strings of yarn, we asked students to each hold an end to symbolize our familial connection within the Brotherhood. Taking turns, each Brother shared something personal about themselves, then tossed their yarn to someone they didn’t interact with often. This simple but powerful activity helped students learn each others stories, experiences and backgrounds, strengthening their bonds and building trust.
Brotherhood Culture: Event Recaps
This month our program teams and Brothers from multiple school sites proudly served the community on MLK Day at the Salvation Army. Each year we encourage our team to join IYT Brothers in honoring Dr. King’s legacy through service, unity, and giving back to their community. It was a powerful reminder that our Brotherhood extends far beyond the walls of the school.
In addition to the events to celebrate MLK Day, this month we also hosted raffles at some of our school sites to reward student engagement. At Stagg High School our Mentor Fellow Fabian presented Brother Mateo with the grand prize. Mateo took home an IYT drawstring bag, water bottle, t-shirt, and book.
Lastly, we also hosted a highly successful 8th Grade Night, where our Brothers at Edison confidently connected with prospected members to share the vision of our program. A special shoutout goes to our third-year member James for his exceptional efforts in bringing in new Brothers to help strengthen our community!