Blog

Celebration is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / August 10, 2026

While eating burgers, visiting Hollywood, and relaxing poolside might seem like standard summer vacation activities, these “normal” experiences carry life-changing weight for our Mentees. During our recent graduation trip to Southern California, these fun moments doubled as breakthroughs in exposure—standing on Hollywood Boulevard envisioning themselves among the stars, and exploring the Hollywood Wax Museum unlocked entirely new…

Congrats to our 2026 M.U.S.T. Mentee Graduates!

By MUST / July 1, 2026

New Beginnings are a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / June 1, 2026

Movin’ on up — the M.U.S.T. office has moved to a new, bigger space! We are excited to announce that we have officially moved into our new office space in Seattle’s Melbourne Tower. From our humble beginnings in a small home office to the thriving organization we are today, our journey has been fueled by…

Shaping Leaders Through Experience

By MUST / May 4, 2026

History. Brotherhood. Experience. From walking the trails at Millersylvania State Park and unpacking how racism impacted the Civilian Conservation Corps… to turning up in Portland as the Trail Blazers took down the Grizzlies… Our young men are learning, growing, and experiencing the world together. This is more than a trip.
This is development. “I never really…

Proud Moment: Two Mentees Earn Student of the Month Honors

By MUST / April 15, 2026

Please join us in giving big congrats to 2 of our Mentees for being awarded Garfield High’s March Students of the Month! Elijah Brown Durron Kirvin We are so proud to see their hard work and dedication recognized publicly, giving them the recognition they deserve!

Learning Life Skills in Unexpected Ways

By MUST / March 2, 2026

M.U.S.T. Mentees took part in an adrenaline-filled experience at K1 Racing, where they raced high-performance electric go-karts on a professional indoor track. This experience was designed to reinforce focus, discipline, and confidence under pressure. Kart racing requires quick decision-making, emotional regulation, and respect for rules—skills that directly translate to leadership, academics, and life. Click here for K1…

Honoring Ourselves

By MUST / February 5, 2026

“Learning my history made me realize I come from more than struggle — I come from strategy, survival, and strength.” ~ Mentor

Celebrating is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / January 5, 2026

Work Hard, Play Hard. The M.U.S.T. Staff ended the year laughing together and recognizing our 2025 successes. We also awarded our first-ever quarterly staff member, Dom Hebert, one of our outstanding Full-Time Community Mentors! Thank you for all you are doing, leading by example to help our young kings dream big and reach for new…

Experience is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / December 4, 2025

Our Mentees and Mentors had the incredible opportunity to once again step into the kitchen with world-renowned chef Edouardo Jordan for a hands-on cooking demo! They learned essential kitchen etiquette, knife skills, and teamwork while preparing a delicious breakfast and dessert sorbet. Beyond the recipes, the conversation was rich — we explored the challenges of entrepreneurship, what…

Gratitude is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / November 6, 2025

November is National Gratitude Month, and we couldn’t be more thankful for our M.U.S.T. family and community, who make everything we do possible. The 2025-2026 school year is off to a strong start, and we’re excited to carry this momentum forward together. In partnership with The Nature Project, M.U.S.T. mentees and mentors received first-hand instruction…

Riding with the Buffalo Soldiers: Why Our Heritage Connection is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / October 21, 2025

“This generation deserves to know that black history is American history. We had a role in this country before DEI said that we belonged there.” ~ Buffalo Soldiers member Every year, as the freedom of summer break nears its end and focus shifts to the return of early mornings, textbooks, and pop quizzes, M.U.S.T. Mentees,…

Celebrating Success is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / September 8, 2025

“I recently graduated and will be attending Morehouse College this Fall to study Business Finance. I don’t know if this life would be my life without being in M.U.S.T. Thank you all for believing in me, the mentorship, and the support. This Senior trip was the best outing ever for me!” ~K. Johnson c/o 2025…

Possibility is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / August 11, 2025

At Seattle District 7 Fire Department, our youth got a firsthand look at the high-tech world of fire safety. From exploring cutting-edge equipment to engaging with firefighters about their career journeys, the boys walked away inspired and fired up about new possibilities!

Graduation is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / July 14, 2025

The 2024-25 school year has officially ended, and M.U.S.T. is celebrating the achievement of our 16 M.U.S.T. Mentees graduating from high school and 1 Mentor graduating from grad school! As we look forward to summer fun and prepare for our annual senior trip to LA, we want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication they…

Opportunity is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / June 3, 2025

As we welcome Men’s Health Month and the end of the school year, students finishing up their sophomore and especially junior years of high school start thinking about what’s next for them when they graduate in the coming years. Overall health incorporates the physical as much as setting goals for the future. Hearing about the plans…

Community Support & a Mother’s Love is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / May 1, 2025

The best gift for a mother can be seeing the community come alongside your family during the most trying times — something Freshman Mentee, Victor Okolomike’s mother and entire family have experienced this year. We are grateful that Victor is alive after being involved in a hit-and-run that almost took his life on March 1st.…

Adventure is a M.U.S.T.

By MUST / April 10, 2025

For M.U.S.T. Mentees, the snow-topped mountains that line the eastern skyline of Seattle on a clear day seem a world away. Most have never had the chance to hear the crunch of snow under their feet, throw a snowball at a friend, or catch a snowflake on their tongue. Indeed, those far-away mountains can seem…

Women’s History Month

By MUST / March 5, 2025

March is Women’s History Month, and we want to recognize the essential women that make M.U.S.T. successful — the mothers of the Mentees. Every mother is significant to our program, and this year, we are highlighting Ms. Quisa Wright, mother to Elijah, who is in his first year of the M.U.S.T. program. A little about…

The Bahall Brothers

By MUST / February 4, 2025

As we talk about every year, Black History is every month here at M.U.S.T. As the nation acknowledges BHM, we want to highlight those who have become a vital piece of M.U.S.T. history. This February, we recognize 2 of our Alumni Mentors, Davanand and Donovan Bahall. Davanand “M.U.S.T shaped my understanding of the power of…

January Mission Moment

By MUST / January 9, 2025

As we step into 2025, we’re reflecting on the incredible milestones we achieved in 2024. From impactful outings to meaningful connections, M.U.S.T. continues to liberate Black youth through mentorship and community. Here’s to building on our successes and making 2025 our best year yet!