Elevating the Game: Inspiring the Next Generation
Empowering Youth Through Social Impact with NBPA, Dove Men+Care, and Digital Storytelling
The Challenge
In 2020, the world reached a tipping point. Following the murder of George Floyd, conversations about racial injustice became impossible to ignore. For Black men, these conversations extended to challenging harmful stereotypes and reimagining narratives shaped by systemic bias.
Dove Men+Care, in partnership with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and 11 NBA stars, took on this challenge. Their mission was to humanize Black men by sharing their stories—stories that could inspire understanding and drive meaningful change.
The Approach
That’s where I came in. Partnering with JOY Collective, I was brought on as the Lead Digital Designer to design the Dove Men+Care Black Men C.A.R.E. website. More than a site, this platform became a space for NBA stars to tell their stories, highlighting their lived experiences as Black men in America. Every element of the website was designed to ensure these narratives resonated deeply, sparking empathy and transformation.
But the work didn’t stop there. Recognizing the need to reach the next generation, Dove Men+Care and the NBPA expanded their focus to empowering youth. That’s when the Tech & Talk Virtual Camps became a key initiative.
Engagement
As part of this initiative, Dove Men+Care licensed my curriculum, Beyond Social: How to Build a Personal Website, and integrated it into their campaign. I led six Tech & Talk camps, each a 4-day virtual experience co-sponsored by Dell, reaching 150 young people selected by NBA star foundations.
Through these camps, students gained more than just tech skills—they learned how to harness digital platforms to share their stories and express their individuality. A particularly memorable experience was guiding 20 immigrant youth as they adapted to a new country. Some even crafted their websites in their native languages, celebrating their cultural roots while navigating the challenges of learning English as a second language.
The camps didn’t just teach digital literacy; they fostered confidence, creativity, and a sense of empowerment. Participants walked away with tangible skills and a deeper understanding of their own voices' value in shaping narratives and driving change.
The Impact
The Tech & Talk camps became a cornerstone of the movement, embodying the mission of humanizing Black men and uplifting underrepresented voices. By combining storytelling, technology, and mentorship, we created a space for youth to see themselves as authors of their own stories and changemakers in their communities.
This project built upon the work I had been doing for years—leveraging digital platforms to empower voices and foster meaningful connections. The camps served as a testament to how digital empowerment, paired with purpose-driven partnerships, can drive lasting change. For me, this mission continues: to build platforms, amplify voices, and equip the next generation with the tools they need to shape their future.
Continue the journey to see how partnership and digital product design helped a visionary expand her impact and empower more with innovative, scalable solutions.