TheMAYMDegree
student profile:
BREEAHNA BRITT
worked in the corporate world after earning her undergraduate degree in business administration and serving as an AmeriCorps member twice. A desire to positively influence the younger generation led her to volunteer throughout her adult life at various organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters LA and work as an Upward Bound Summer Tutor/Mentor for rising firstgeneration college students. Involvement in children’s ministry in her church led her to explore ministry as a vocation. She discovered the MAYM program in 2018 and, once she had paid off her personal consumer and student loan debt, she enrolled in 2021. She was placed in a faith-based non-profit organization in Memphis, Tennessee, and made the move from Colorado. Her primary focus has been leading an afterschool program for high school students who “have so many odds stacked against them as young Black men growing up in a poverty-stricken, violent, inequitable environment,” she says. “Even so, these young men are role models and don’t let what they see around them stop them from having vision and sight beyond what meets the eye (I love and try to encourage this outlook on life!). They choose to show up day in and day out: to learn, to challenge themselves, to gain hard skills
(carpentry) and improve their soft skills (through leadership development curriculum). They’re dreamers and excited about their futures while stewarding the present day well. I’m so grateful to have the ability to pour wisdom into them while also being open and expectant to receive wisdom from them, too.” Bree acknowledges this is challenging work but is confident that it “will only make me become a better teacher, servant-leader, advocate for the marginalized, and Christ-follower!” The goals she has set for the after-school program include teaching students from a faith-based curriculum that is tailored to how they communicate; exposing students to opportunities and providing experiences that will continue to help them see their value in Christ; and ensuring the students feel loved and supported, especially by themselves, the staff, and Christ. Bree is enthusiastic about the design of the MAYM program that includes studies, coaching, real work experience, and a community going through the same things together. “Each element works together to provide a comprehensive experience that is designed to train, develop, sustain, educate, and support each student,” she says. “That makes this such a unique experience! I couldn’t imagine trying to go into youth ministry without this program—I love every aspect of it, especially the people.” v
Spring 2022 | 9
