Across the Bay Area, young people—especially youth of color from historically underinvested communities—are coming of age in a moment defined by deep inequities, rapid economic change, and profound social challenges. While the region boasts immense wealth and innovation, it also holds some of the nation’s starkest disparities in housing, education, health and opportunity. Our young people are growing up in the shadow of systems that too often overlook their brilliance. Yet we know the truth: these young people are not problems to be solved, they are leaders waiting to be unleashed.

Across the Bay Area, young people—especially youth of color from historically underinvested communities—are coming of age in a moment defined by deep inequities, rapid economic change, and profound social challenges.

When people ask me where I’m from, I proudly tell them I’m from “Deep East Oakland.” I was raised in the heart of the East Oakland community where, like many other youths, my loving and nurturing family faced substantial hardships.

Nov 19, 2014, I was on retreat with other CEOs to discuss the “college bound brotherhood initiative”, a subsidiary of President Obama’s “my brother’s keeper” initiative. Being that it was a particularly gloomy day, I was glad to feel the soothing warmth of a crackling fire as we entered the dining area.

Leadership is not just a position or a title, it is action and example.