For Jesús Andrade, Executive Director of IYT Central Valley, the mission to uplift young men of color is deeply personal.
Guided by a public servant’s heart and a firsthand understanding of how mentorship can open doors, Andrade is leading the charge for his region, and guiding students towards higher education, career success, and lifelong stability.
Grounded in Personal Purpose
Andrade’s commitment to youth development comes from a deeply personal place. Reflecting on his own journey, he recognizes how crucial guidance was in shaping his trajectory. “Mentorship saved my life. Looking back I didn’t realize it while I was being mentored, but it’s what kept me out of trouble and gave me options. It changed my life completely, as did going to college.”
Before joining IYT, Andrade was transitioning out of public office and into the private sector, but found himself yearning to return to public-focused work.
“I went into the private sector, but I wasn’t really satisfied with the work I was doing. I’m just a public servant at heart. This opportunity came up and it married well with my professional experience and my passion. What brought me to IYT was just that I was able to pay it forward. And it’s been like ministry since then, it’s something that’s from the heart.”
Amid broader societal shifts, Andrade finds daily motivation in the resilience of the youth IYT serves. “Something that keeps me hopeful, especially in these times of political drama and chaos, is that kids will still be kids. They still need good mentors, role models, and leaders. They need to have hope for the future, and know that their future is bright.”
Navigating the Central Valley’s Unique Landscape
The Central Valley is defined by its agricultural abundance. It’s a region whose rich, fertile soil produces a vast portion of the nation’s food supply. Yet alongside that agricultural wealth lies a challenging educational and economic landscape.
Andrade notes that despite the region's agricultural output, long-term educational opportunities for young men are lacking. The Central Valley remains the least educated region served by IYT, facing a scarcity of resources compared to other areas.
“The opportunity to get ahead for young men here is still lacking,” explained Andrade. “Overcoming these systemic barriers requires consistent, deliberate support to ensure young men of color are equipped to thrive.”
Intentionality, Culture, and Real Impact
From the day Andrade joined IYT, the organization’s unique operational intentionality stood out. “I felt the impact of what we do at IYT from my first days at IYT… during my orientation, really,” he recalls. “I hadn’t even set foot on a campus yet. We spent time talking about working styles, the mission, and different communication styles. We got to hear from Brothers that have had success, mentors, and staff. There was so much intentionality behind how we bring staff to the organization. We really zeroed in on the importance of the mission. It’s unique really, for a smaller nonprofit like we are to do an orientation like that.”
That intentional culture translates directly into transformative student outcomes across the region:
Academic Turnarounds: Andrade highlights students who have completely reshaped their futures, including one student who brought his GPA from a 0.7 to a 3.2 and earned admission to Fresno State University.
College Enrollment: Last year, nearly 87% of IYT Central Valley high school seniors enrolled directly in college.
These outcomes stem from a highly collaborative, team-oriented culture focused singularly on the organization’s mission. “We’re working to truly make a difference in the lives of these young men,” said Andrade.
Building an Ecosystem of Community Support
To sustain and expand this impact over the next few years, Andrade aims to build deeper roots in the Central Valley, expanding IYT’s presence into more school sites. Achieving this vision relies on close alignment with local educational and corporate partners.
School Districts can attend IYT’s program showcase events to get a first-hand look at programming and the opportunity to engage directly with students.
Universities can host and organize campus tours to make higher education feel tangible and achievable.
Corporate Partners can sponsor college trips, host internships, and open professional networks for students.
Andrade emphasizes deep gratitude for the cornerstone partners who continue to make this work possible. “We’re very grateful to our partners. Some of them that have been really valuable have been Stanislaus Community Foundation and Central Valley Community Foundation, as they’ve both opened so many doors for us to school districts, funders, and community partners. California Resources Corporation and San Joaquin A+ have also been amazing by helping to connect our students to future jobs and internships here in the Central Valley.”
Ultimately, Andrade views community involvement as the engine behind student success.
“We’d love for people to get involved regardless of what role they play in the community,” he explains. “Our Brothers need positive role models around them as much as possible, and they deserve to know that a whole community is behind them cheering them on across the finish line.”
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