IYT Sacramento Executive Briefing: December 2025
- Kevin Akins
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
State of the Region
As we close out the calendar year, the Sacramento region is operating with exceptional momentum. Our Brotherhood cohorts are currently at or near capacity across all districts, serving over 2,000 students region-wide. Engagement metrics are soaring, with record attendance in tutoring and life-skills seminars, while our seniors are already securing college acceptances for Fall 2025. Simultaneously, we are deepening our community footprint through strategic initiatives like parent engagement nights and financial literacy partnerships.
Strategic Highlight: The Wellness Ecosystem
This month, we successfully launched the inaugural Mental Health is Wealth Summit. This first-of-its-kind event brought together major partners like Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and SCOE to structurally integrate mental health resources into our mentorship model, establishing a new regional standard for supporting young men of color.
Looking Ahead
As we head into the new year, our primary focus remains on FAFSA completion and converting college applications into acceptances.
Leadership Spotlight: Attorney General Rob Bonta Visits IYT
We were honored to take part in a press conference and volunteer service activity on December 2nd at Natomas High School and Joey’s Food Locker with NHS Principal Marcel Baker, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and GO-Serve Director and CA Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday.
Service is inherently powerful, and intentionally woven into the foundation of IYT. We’ve seen time and again the positive change that happens when people step up to serve their community, and put their values into action.
We’d like to thank Attorney General Rob Bonta and Josh Fryday for their unwavering support of programs like ours, and for taking the time to meet with Team IYT.
Watch the video highlights of the visit in the link below:
Operational Update: Fall Recruitment & Academic Engagement
The new academic year is off to a powerful start at Improve Your Tomorrow! Across the Sacramento region—serving more than 2,000 students—our Brotherhood cohorts are at or near capacity, with the seven-week recruitment rosters filling quickly.
Student engagement is soaring as brothers attend tutoring, life-skills seminars, and college-prep workshops at record levels. Parent Engagement Nights across all districts have also been phenomenal, giving families a meaningful look into our mission and inviting them to play an active role in shaping their students’ success.
We’re also thrilled to see our seniors step boldly into college application season. Through FAFSA support, personalized essay coaching, and one-on-one advising, students have completed financial aid forms, and several have already received acceptance letters for 2025. With more than 2,000 young men of color now engaged in our College Academy, Continue to Dream Academy, and IYT CC, we are witnessing true academic momentum.
As we move into 2026, we remain committed to expanding our reach and deepening our impact. Thank you for standing with us—we look forward to another year of partnership, progress, and powerful outcomes for our young men.
Strategic Partnership: Inaugural 'Mental Health is Wealth' Summit
We recognize that the wellness of our brothers, mentors, and youth-serving organizations is essential to the success of the young men we serve. That understanding led us to host IYT’s first-ever Mental Health is Wealth Summit—an event designed to expand access to mental health education and strengthen community collaboration around wellness for young men of color.
This inaugural summit reflected IYT’s deepening commitment to integrating mental health, mentorship, and leadership development across Sacramento County. The gathering brought together young men of color, youth-serving organizations, educators, institutional leaders, parents, and mental health practitioners for a powerful day of learning, dialogue, and connection.
The event began with a networking session, followed by interactive community panels focused on impactful mentoring, effective communication, mental health and wellness, and leadership and learning principles. Each panel created space for honest conversations, stigma reduction, and practical strategies to better support youth well-being.
Throughout the day, participants explored how to navigate mental health resources and strengthen regional support systems. Partners from the Sacramento County Office of Education, Dignity Health, Kaiser Permanente, Brothers of Sankofa (BOS), MENTOR California, and The Center at Sierra Health Foundation shared expert insights on building sustainable, culturally responsive care.
The summit also featured testimonials highlighting how programs like IYT Wellness foster trust, self-awareness, and emotional resilience. Parents and community leaders engaged in sessions modeling how to talk openly about mental health and connect young people to the support they need.
By the end of the summit, attendees left with renewed purpose, tangible tools, and a shared commitment to promoting emotional health and belonging. The success of this first-ever gathering lays a strong foundation for future summits that will continue to expand awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen Sacramento County’s mental health ecosystem.
Community Impact: Pathways to Prosperity with SAFE Credit Union
In October, Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) Sacramento partnered with SAFE Credit Union for an impactful Pathways to Prosperity event at Valley High School in Sacramento. The day focused on building financial confidence for young men and their families through real-life budgeting seminars, interactive banking workshops, and a lively credit-building game.
Nearly 50 participants—including students, parents, and community leaders—engaged in skill-building sessions that covered everyday banking, credit management, and college affordability planning. The event wrapped up with a raffle of gift cards and tech accessories, giving families helpful tools to support their financial goals.
We are grateful to SAFE Credit Union for their sponsorship and to Valley High School administration for championing this initiative. The strong turnout and positive feedback highlight the need for accessible financial education and reinforce our commitment to offering programs that strengthen economic opportunity for our students and families.
Sneaker Ball Recap
Thank You for Making Sneaker Ball 2025 Unforgettable
On behalf of the entire IYT team, we'd like to extend our heartfelt gratitude. Thank you for attending Sneaker Ball 2025 and helping make it the best one yet! Your energy, engagement, and commitment to investing in resilience made the night incredibly special.
See Event Highlights, which features our event recap video and photos taken throughout the event.
Special Thanks to our Sponsors
Our work wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our corporate and community partners. We extend our deepest thanks to the following sponsors for their commitment to our students and programs:
Title Sponsor
California Resources Corporation
Change Agent Sponsors
UC Davis Inclusive ExcellenceHealth Plan of San Joaquin
Accelerator Sponsors
Mercy Medical Group (a service of Dignity Health Medical Foundation) U.S. Bank
Affiliate Sponsors
Los Rios Community College DistrictSutter HealthSierra Health FoundationVisions in EducationXL ConstructionSacramento Region Community FoundationAfrican American Business Resource Group of UPSChris & Christa EvansDignity HealthJoneal Ellison, Partner with New York LifeComcast
Comunidad Sponsors
SAFE Credit UnionInterWest Insurance Services, LLCKP Public AffairsEast West BankCal Poly HumboldtSacramento County Supervisor Pat HumeNextGen PolicySacramento County Supervisor Patrick KennedySacramento County Supervisor Rich DesmondGolden 1 Credit UnionManatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLPBoard of Education, SCUSDPure Gymz GymnasticsSacramento City Councilmembers Lisa Kaplan, Eric Guerra, and Mai VangUmoja
Thank you for believing in our brothers — and for building a tomorrow filled with purpose, opportunity, and hope.
Funder Acknowledgement: Champion Spotlight
At Improve Your Tomorrow, we are deeply grateful for the generous support of funders from across the nation who make our work possible. Your contributions fuel life-changing programs that empower young men of color to achieve their full potential in education, career, and community leadership. Together, we are building brighter futures and stronger communities.
Thank you for believing in our mission!
Brethren Foundation
Farahi Law Firm, APC
Golden 1 Credit Union
New York Life
Sacramento Community Foundation
Kaiser Permanente
NBA Foundation
The Center At Sierra Health Foundation
City of Sacramento
Board of State Community Correction (BSCC Cal VIP)