ASEP Youth
The decisions teenagers make about education and opportunity shape the rest of their lives. ASEP Youth walks alongside young people during those critical years — building skills, confidence, and a clear guided pathway forward toward college, career, entrepreneurship, civic leadership, or engagement.
What Is ASEP Youth?
ASEP Youth is Building Minds Building Communities' advancement pathway for young people ages 12–18 in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn. As one of B2MC's Access & Advancement Pathways, ASEP Youth serves as a primary entry point into the B2MC ecosystem — connecting teenagers to the knowledge, skills, resources, and opportunities they need to prepare for college, careers, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership.
ASEP Youth is free. Every young person is welcome.
Why ASEP Youth Exists
The teenage years are a critical window. The decisions young people make about education, identity, and opportunity during these years have long-term consequences — and too many young people in Bedford-Stuyvesant navigate this window without adequate support, guidance, or access to the resources that can make a difference.
B2MC believes that every young person possesses value, potential, and purpose — and that opportunity should not be limited by zip code, income, or circumstance. ASEP Youth exists to walk alongside young people during these formative years, equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to shape their own futures.
What Young People Learn and Experience
ASEP Youth programming is designed to meet teenagers where they are and prepare them for where they are going. Programming builds academic readiness, life skills, digital competence, and civic awareness.
Youth Wellness, Mental Health Awareness, and Connecting to Resources
B2MC recognizes that teenagers today are navigating more than academic and career decisions. The mental health challenges facing young people — including anxiety, depression, stress, peer pressure, identity development, and the complex emotional landscape of adolescence — are real, documented, and deserve to be acknowledged honestly.
The CDC reports that nearly 4 in 10 high school students experience persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Young people in under-resourced urban communities face additional stressors — including community violence, housing instability, and systemic barriers — that compound these challenges significantly.
B2MC is not a mental health or clinical service provider. However, we are committed to creating a program environment where young people feel safe, respected, and supported — and where mental health is not a topic that is ignored or stigmatized. Our staff and volunteers are attentive to the wellbeing of every participant, and when concerns arise, B2MC endeavors to connect young people and their families with appropriate mental health information, community resources, and support services available in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brooklyn.
B2MC's MindBuilders™ program — a free community wellness initiative offering workshops, peer support, and healing-centered education — is available to youth, families, adults, and seniors. Young people in ASEP Youth and their families are encouraged to explore MindBuilders™ as an additional resource for wellness and emotional support.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are not alone.
Part of Something Larger
ASEP Youth is part of The BUILD Initiative™ — B2MC's community development framework for Building Up Individuals and Local Development. Young people in ASEP Youth are not just program participants — they are future scholars, entrepreneurs, leaders, creators, and engaged residents in the making.
ASEP Youth connects naturally to B2MC's program portfolios, including Digital Empowerment by Design™ and MindBuilders™, as well as future programming in entrepreneurship, workforce development, and leadership.
Who Can Participate
ASEP Youth serves young people ages 12–18 residing in or near Bedford-Stuyvesant and Stuyvesant Heights in Brooklyn, New York. The program is free and open to all.
For participants under 18, a parent or guardian must complete the enrollment form and provide written consent. In accordance with New York State requirements, parental or guardian consent is required for all minor participants regardless of age. B2MC is committed to maintaining a safe, structured, and supportive environment for every young person we serve.
A Note for Parents and Guardians
We recognize that trusting an organization with your teenager's time and development is significant. At B2MC, the safety, wellbeing, and growth of every young person we serve is our highest priority.
For all participants under 18, a parent or guardian is required to:
While ASEP Youth programming is designed to foster independence and leadership in young people, parental and guardian involvement and awareness are valued at every stage. We welcome your questions and your partnership.
A Note for Young People
If you are between the ages of 12 and 18 and looking for a community that believes in you — this is it. ASEP Youth is a space where you can grow, explore your potential, build real skills, and connect with people who are invested in your future. If you are going through something difficult, you do not have to face it alone. We are glad you are here.
Register for ASEP Youth
Enrollment requires a parent or guardian to complete and sign the consent form on behalf of all participants under 18.