Driving Change & Building Belonging: A Conversation with Ray Green, Executive Director of IYT Sacramento
Driving Change & Building Belonging
A Conversation with Ray Green, Executive Director of IYT Sacramento
For young men of color navigating educational and systemic hurdles, finding a space where they feel seen and supported can make all the difference. At Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) Sacramento, that mission is a daily commitment.
In a recent conversation with Ray Green, Executive Director of IYT Sacramento, he shared what inspired him to join the organization, the power of relational mentorship, key milestones in educational equity, and his vision for expanding opportunities for young men of color across the region.
Inspired by Purpose and Alignment
Ray Green’s journey with IYT began long before he assumed leadership. After moving to Sacramento in 2014, he crossed paths with IYT CEO and Co-founder Michael Lynch.
“He was a young Black executive director doing phenomenal work throughout the region, and that really drew me in,” Green reflects. As his career evolved and he began doing health equity and racial justice work, IYT and Michael Lynch kept coming up. “There are a lot of nonprofits in Sacramento, but IYT has always stood out because they’re focused on young men of color and they have really great outcomes.”
What set IYT apart for Green was its comprehensive, long-term commitment to young men of color, guiding them from middle school through high school and into higher education. When the opportunity arose to lead IYT Sacramento, the decision was seamless. “IYT aligned with my own personal vision and goals,” Green shares. “I wanted to be somewhere that I felt I could continue to drive change. And this was the place I felt I could do that.”
What keeps him energized day after day? The human impact.
“Seeing young men smiling. Seeing families feeling that their dreams, hopes, and ambitions for their son are actually met… that keeps me energized,” says Green. “Seeing young men that I worked with prior to IYT, who are now in IYT being served, and now serving... seeing them step into their own leadership roles keeps me inspired.”
The Impact Firsthand: “IYT Saved My Life”
For Green, the power of IYT’s work became unmistakably clear during a Brotherhood event. Entering a room filled with over 300 high-energy young men from diverse backgrounds, all united in enthusiasm, and to talk about education, left a lasting impression.
“Over and over I heard so many of them say, ‘IYT saved my life.’ And I remember sitting there thinking, wow, this is the impact,” Green recalls. “When you can bring together young men of color from different parts of the city, different backgrounds and ethnicities, and they’re creating a brotherhood with one another… I just knew IYT had something special.”
Navigating Sacramento’s Unique Landscape
Sacramento is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States and the capital of California, offering unique opportunities for local and statewide civic engagement. However, serving youth across Sacramento County comes with distinct challenges, ranging from transportation barriers across expansive geographic areas to navigating a complex, highly politicized region.
“You have to be diplomatic in how you navigate Sacramento to move the needle here,” shared Green. “It’s a special place. We’re impacting change here locally, be we also have the ability to impact what happens across the state. For that, I’m proud to represent Sacramento.”
To create lasting change, IYT goes beyond direct service programming to focus on changing systemic policies and campus practices.
Highlights of IYT’s policy impact include the 1300 Campaign, which centered around the 13th Amendment and established a nine-point policy plan and secured commitments from five to six of Sacramento County’s largest school districts, including a moratorium on school suspensions. Another was our collaboration with Sacramento Youth Forward on Measure G, to advocate for policy measures that supporting the arts, and providing resources for unhoused youth.
Stronger Together: Building Community Coalitions
Holistic support for our members requires strong, multi-sector partnerships, and Green and his team have been hard at work building those bridges, collaborating with school districts, universities, and organizations to create and offer a wealth of opportunities.
For Green, his vision for the future of IYT Sacramento relies on strong partnerships. “I’m thankful for our partnership with Sierra Health Foundation, which has enabled us to continue moving the needle when it comes to wellness and mental health for young men of color. Our partnership with Sutter Health is allowing us to establish the first ever College Success Center at our headquarters here in Sacramento,” he shared.
“I’m proud to partner with SCOE (Sacramento County Office of Education), which has allowed us to continue our efforts across the board for second chance youth. Partnering with Los Rios Community College, Sacramento State University, and UC Davis has enabled us to remove barriers to higher education.”
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Footprint
Looking to the next three to five years, Green’s goal for IYT Sacramento is ambitious but clear: to expand IYT into more districts and schools, and make IYT a household name throughout the region.
“I want it known that if you are a young man of color within our program, you have the opportunity to thrive,” Green says. “I want them to feel confident in their own agency.”
For prospective donors, community leaders, corporate partners, and mentors looking to support IYT’s vision, Green emphasizes that investing in young men of color is an investment in the entire region’s future.
“I want them to know that these young men aren’t just looking for a handout. They have potential that just needs to be supported, and through IYT, any investment is going to have a high yield of return,” Green says. “There’s that famous quote: If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. And with all of the amazing, rich resources in Sacramento, at IYT we want to go together.”
Interested in learning more about how you can invest in IYT Sacramento to build a better tomorrow? Hit the button below and let’s talk!