On Sunday, October 26, 2025,the young men of the 1 Brotherhood Empowered program welcomed three distinguished partners from Deloitte for an afternoon of real talk, wisdom-sharing, and future visioning. What unfolded was a powerful exchange between emerging youth leaders and industry leaders who have carved out extraordinary careers in their fields.

A Journey—Not a Straight Line

The partners began by sharing their personal journeys to becoming partners at one of the world’s most respected firms. Each story reminded the youth that success after high school rarely unfolds in a straight, predictable line. Patience, they emphasized, is essential, especially in a world that often pressures young people to have everything figured out immediately.

They reflected on the twists and turns of career exploration, the value of trying new things, and the importance of staying open to opportunities that reveal themselves over time. Their message was simple and freeing: You don’t need to know everything right now. What matters is staying curious, consistent, and willing to grow.

Working Through Challenges Together

The conversation quickly became interactive as the 1 Brotherhood youth asked thoughtful questions about real-life workplace experiences. The partners offered practical advice on:

• Navigating difficult co-workers:

  • How to stay grounded when personalities clash.

  • Building emotional intelligence and perspective-taking.

  • Maintaining professionalism even when others do not.

• Teamwork as a leadership skill:

  • Understanding roles and responsibilities.

  • Clear communication.

  • Showing up for each other, even during challenging moments.

• Discipline and accountability:

  • The discipline to stay focused amid distractions.

  • The power of mutual support.

  • Building habits now that will serve future success.

These themes aligned closely with the youth’s own reflections, which highlighted accountability, leadership grooming, mentorship, and outreach as priorities for strengthening their brotherhood.

Mentorship, Passion, and Purpose

One of the most resonant parts of the dialogue centered on passion, how to discover it and follow up with intention. The Deloitte partners encouraged the Brotherhood to seek exposure to new opportunities, shadow different careers, and work with mentors who can help them identify what lights them up.

This connected with the team’s desire to build stronger connections with mentors, increase programming in schools, and expand opportunities that help them find their pathways to success.

Consulting Session: Planning for Future Sons

The meeting closed with a powerful counseling activity led by the Deloitte partners. Together, they explored one critical question:

“How do we ensure the 1 Brotherhood Empowered program is still here for your future children?”

This lead to new goals for sustainability:

• Strengthening recruitment of younger students

• Building legacy structures within schools

• Creating leadership pipelines and succession plans

• Teaching career and life skills

• Expanding outreach and community interaction

• Securing corporate and community partnerships

• Designing safe spaces where young men can grow for generations

This exercise lit a spark. The youth began speaking not just about their journey, but about the legacy they want to leave behind, how their choices today can build a foundation for the next generation of young people in their community.

A Partnership Rooted in Purpose

The session was more than a workshop, it was a moment of shared vision between the future leaders of today and the leaders shaping industries at the highest level. The Deloitte partners left deeply impressed by the determination, honesty, and brilliance of the Brotherhood. And the youth walked away inspired, seen, and affirmed.

This gathering embodied the spirit of the 1 Brotherhood Empowered program: leadership, accountability, generational impact, and brotherhood.

As the young men continue to develop their skills and shape their futures, partnerships like this remind them, and all of us, that they are not alone. They are, in fact, surrounded by a community committed to helping them rise.