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Greetings, Friends and Family! ⭐️ We are excited to invite you all to MPYD’s 12th Annual Fundraiser Luncheon! This special event helps us continue the important work of mentoring, guiding, and supporting the incredible young men in our program. Join us on Saturday, April 11th at 1PM at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena for an afternoon of community, inspiration, and purpose. Your support allows us to continue providing mentorship, educational opportunities, and life experiences

Greetings, Friends and Family! ⭐️ We closed out Black History Month by celebrating with our young men and enjoying some amazing soul food from Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen 🍗🥬🍠. The young men had the opportunity to come together in fellowship, reflect on the importance of culture, community, and legacy, and appreciate the many contributions Black leaders have made throughout history ✊🏾📚. Moments like these remind us that learning happens both inside and outside of the classr

We welcomed Randel Johnson from Pasadena Unified School District. He spoke to our young men about the importance of communicating through conflict 🗣️. He challenged the idea that conflict is always negative and helped them understand how growth can come from working through disagreements. He also encouraged them to be aware of their feelings and to never allow anyone to control how they feel about a situation 💭💪🏾.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Lauren Gray, a student from University of California, Los Angeles, who came to speak to our young men about the VIP Scholars Program. She shared information about the different opportunities the program offers and the requirements to participate. We were also proud to have a couple of our own students who are currently in the program come up and share their experiences firsthand 🎓✨. It’s always powerful when our young men can hear directly fr

After reviewing our young men’s final semester grades, we were incredibly proud of the hard work they put in this semester. Because of their dedication and effort, we decided to celebrate them with a trip to Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Glendale! 🍕🎉 They enjoyed all-you-can-eat food and drinks and had a great time in the arcade 🎮. It was a well-deserved reward for their consistency and commitment inside the classroom.

We had the opportunity to attend the Young Kings Conference held this year at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. This year’s conference theme was “Never Fold,” and the workshops we participated in truly reflected that message. 💪🏽👑 There were several guest speakers, along with a closing panel where the young men were able to ask questions and gain clarity on anything they didn’t fully understand. 🎤 The young men had a wonderful time exploring the campus and gaining e

Mr. Tripp spoke to our young men about the importance of not wasting time ⏳ or taking it for granted. He shared stories about his upbringing and how those experiences helped shape him into the man he is today 💪. He emphasized that their parents will not always be there to guide or “hold their hand,” and encouraged them to discover what they are good at now so they can continue working at it and improving 📈.

Mr. Jones spoke to our young men about the importance of networking 🤝 and always staying open to opportunities, because you never know who is around you or how they may be able to support your growth. He shared how he got into photography after the passing of his mother and how he continued to push himself and grow in his craft. He also shared with the young men that his photography has been featured in clothing 👕, specifically with Forever 21, where he helped create pieces

We had the opportunity to take our young men on a college tour at Cal Poly Pomona 🎓. The purpose of this visit was to help them better understand what college life is like and to remind them that higher education is a real and attainable option after high school 📚✨. Our group participated in a guided tour, which allowed the young men to ask questions, explore the campus 🏫, and get a true feel for the academic environment and student life. Experiences like this help broaden

We were grateful to welcome Leonardo Ramirez from the County of Los Angeles 🏛️, who spoke with our young men about an exciting opportunity to become lifeguards at Los Angeles County swimming pools 🏊🏽‍♂️. He shared that this is a paid position 💼💰 and highlighted how valuable this experience would be for their résumés 📄. Leonardo also walked our young men through the core programs, expectations, and requirements involved, giving them a clear picture of what the opportunit

We were excited to have Brandon Fuller from Outward Bound Adventures 🌄 join us to introduce another incredible opportunity. He spoke about upcoming trips to Allensworth State Park 🌳 and Wind Wolves Preserve 🐺, where our young men would spend time off their phones, immersed in nature 🌲, participating in hands-on activities, and pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones 💪🏽. Brandon encouraged our young men to not take this opportunity for granted and to jump on it

Ms. Aschheim spoke to our young men about how she began creating public art instead of following the traditional gallery route. She shared how her work can be found throughout airports, rehabilitation centers, and cities including Santa Monica and Pasadena with each piece designed to reflect and resonate with the community it represents. She also discussed her contribution to the Robinson Project at Jackie Robinson Park, giving our students an inside look at what the finished

Mr. Washington shared an inspiring message about the importance of being real rather than perfect. 💯 He spoke about his upbringing in Nebraska and how staying true to himself wasn’t always easy or popular, but it shaped him into the person he is today. He reminded our young men that perfection is unattainable and what the world truly needs is authenticity. He also spoke about the power of vulnerability, encouraging our students that it’s okay to be open and honest, even when

few of our young men shared their experiences from attending the Outward Bound Adventure trip🏕️. They spoke about how impactful the experience was, the challenges they faced, and how stepping outside of their comfort zones helped them build confidence, leadership skills, and stronger connections with one another.

We were grateful to have Stephan McGrue come speak with our young men about the Young Kings Conference. He encouraged them to invite their friends and take advantage of this powerful opportunity because there are not many like it. At the event the young men will participate in workshops, activities, and conversations focused on growth, leadership, and becoming better men.👑📚

Mr. De Cohen spoke about his 32-year career as a firefighter, retiring at the rank of captain. He discussed the Fire Explorer Program 🚒✨ and asked if any of our young men were interested, noting that he ran two Explorer posts during his career. He explained the work schedule of firefighters, including on-duty and off-duty days. He also encouraged our young men to think about their goals 🎯 and what they want to work toward, reminding them that everyone is striving for someth

We took 25 of our young men to Disneyland to participate in the Disney Imagination Campus Education Workshop 🎢🏰. The workshop focused on Leadership and was divided into four parts: Influence, Community, Communication, and Innovation 💡. Our young men were able to see exclusive behind-the-scenes areas of Disneyland and speak with Disney team leaders in leadership roles 🎙️. After the workshop, they enjoyed exploring the park and riding attractions 🎉.

We would also like to extend a huge thank you to Sindee Riboli, owner of Sharp Seating, for her incredible generosity in donating four tickets to the Rose Bowl Game 🏈 and 45 tickets to the Rose Parade, as well as providing our young men the opportunity to work as volunteer parking attendants during the Rose Parade. 28 of our young men woke up at 2:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day and worked diligently in the rain until 8:00 a.m., showing commitment and responsibility despite the ea

Mr. Velasco shared his story of overcoming early hardships and discovering dance through an unexpected audition. He told our young men about appearing in both a Prince music video and a Michael Jackson video, even giving them a quick dance demonstration that they loved. 💃🏽🕺🏽 He also discussed how he expanded his career beyond dance and is now a business professor teaching at four different universities. He encouraged our young men to stay true to themselves and reminded t

Mr. Supercinski spoke about his upbringing in a small Texas town and his journey to California. He shared how he spent three years on the waitlist for the USC Film program and faced multiple rejections, yet used those setbacks as motivation to keep pursuing his goals. He also talked about how an internship jump-started his career and encouraged our young men to explore internships and apprenticeships if they’re interested in the film industry. Mr. Supercinski also took time t