Thank you for attending Forging the Future: A Season of Partnership. We are grateful for your presence and active participation, which set the tone for an inspiring and energizing morning built on collaboration. It was incredible to see so many partners, donors, board members, volunteers, and mentors gathered in support of our young people as we kicked off a new sponsorship season and worked together to secure support for CYC’s mission.
We shared our impact, as reflected in the voices of the young people we serve, through our REACH survey results. Based on research on the principles needed to grow into a successful adult. Our work is ensuring young people are Rooted, Empowered, Ambitious, Connected and Hopeful.
Vice Mayor Jan Michelle Lemon Kearney and Mayor Aftab Pureval joined us to share the importance of coming together for our youth and the strength of the City of Cincinnati’s investment in CYC, with over $290,000 in funding as part of the youth gun violence reduction initiatives in the Human Services Fund this year. This funding is an investment in CYC’s Career Exploration and Mentorship work to empower students both now and into the future.
Our mission was brought to life by Armonte Bohannon, who expressed gratitude to her mentor-turned-dad, Lamont Bohannon, and the GEAR UP team. “I was hesitant because… I didn’t want to be at the Honors Night and see everyone else with their parents being supportive, but Mr. and Mrs. Bohannon committed to supporting me. That night, I walked away with $20,000 in scholarships that the CYC team helped me find and complete.”
In addition, we were thrilled to announce that Chuck Ackerman, longtime CYC mentor, volunteer, and dedicated head of our Golf Committee, has been named this year’s CYC Hall of Fame Recipient. We can’t wait to celebrate Chuck and his incredible impact at Dream Makers on April 23rd, 2026, at The American Sign Museum this spring.
The morning couldn’t have been more inspiring, and we are so thankful to everyone who showed up to forge partnership, purpose, and possibility.
In the words of Armonte Copeland, “Thank you to everyone here today for pouring into students like me,… for being the workers and partners who make the harvest possible.”
We are looking for partners who want to make a meaningful, high-impact difference. Willing to learn, engage, and build a community with us. As you consider where to make your next community investment, choose to make an impact that lasts. Partner with Cincinnati Youth Collaborative because together we build brighter futures.
Sponsorship Opportunities
