MINNEAPOLIS | MN — August 20, 2026: Urban Youth Conservation (UYC), a Minnesota-headquartered not-for-profit, and We Educate Brilliant Minds (WEBM), a California not-for-profit, are formalizing a partnership built around a shared goal: helping more young people and families access education, mentorship, college pathways, career exposure and long-term opportunity.
The partnership brings together two organizations with complementary strengths. WEBM has experience helping students and families navigate college options, applications, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) opportunities and individualized pathways toward degree completion. UYC brings more than two decades of community-based youth engagement, violence-prevention work, mentoring, intervention, family support and relationship-based programming.
“This partnership makes sense because we are both trying to do the same thing from different sides: make sure young people can see opportunities, reach them and have people around them who will help them stay on the path. UYC has always been about relationships and helping people move toward something better. WEBM adds another layer of expertise and access that can help us open even more doors for young people.”Ferome Brown · Founder and Executive Director, Urban Youth Conservation
Together, UYC and WEBM intend to build a broader education and opportunity pipeline for young people who may benefit from additional guidance, trusted relationships and direct access to institutions and resources that can help them succeed.
The partnership is expected to expand awareness of opportunities beyond high school, including:
- Helping students and families understand admissions, applications and financial-aid pathways
- Connecting young people with mentors, alumni, educators and professionals
- Increasing college and career exposure for students who may not otherwise have access
- Expanding awareness and access that can help students understand the culture, opportunities and pathways available through HBCUs
- Supporting youth with individualized planning, accountability and long-term guidance
- Creating stronger connections between schools, colleges, community organizations, employers and families
- Developing future programs and experiences that support education, leadership, career readiness and student success
“Our work has always centered on helping students and families understand their options and navigate the path to college. Partnering with UYC gives us an opportunity to reach more young people through trusted community relationships and create a stronger bridge between students, families and higher-education opportunities.”Stephen Bernstein · CEO, We Educate Brilliant Minds
The organizations see the partnership as a platform for long-term collaboration rather than a single project. UYC and WEBM plan to work together on future education initiatives, student outreach, mentoring, college exposure, HBCU engagement, career development and partnerships with schools and higher-education institutions.
UYC is also continuing to expand its own programs, services and experiences through its new organizational platform and website. The organization’s work now spans youth development, violence prevention, mentorship, family engagement, community support, education and employment pathways, and the development of the SAFE. ALIVE. FREE. INSTITUTE™ for youth and practitioner training.
The UYC-WEBM partnership is also creating a pathway for additional collaboration with colleges and universities, including a higher-education initiative currently in development focused on reentry, research and expanded educational opportunity. Additional details will be shared when the work is ready to be announced.