Are you ready for DYD’s Built By Us Youth Summit? We’re hosting this fantastic, free event filled with food, music, resources, youth-centered workshops and hands-on activities—all focused on youth leadership and empowerment.
Join us Friday October 16, 2026 at The Beehive in
Los Angeles for DYD’s Built By Us Youth Summit!
Build in 3D: Intro to 3D Printing Design – Science and technology help to create a world of innovative and functional tools. This session is designed to learn more about the wonders of 3D printing. In this workshop you’ll learn about 3D printers and their functions and discover how you can use 3D printers to create fun and useful tools.
Build Your Future: Turning Ideas Into Opportunity – Whether it’s college, trade school, entrepreneurship, a creative career, or a side hustle, every future starts with recognizing your strengths and taking the next step seriously. This session helps youth explore different pathways to success while building a personalized roadmap for their goals, ideas, and future opportunities.
Build the Beat: Make Something From Nothing – Music is one of the most powerful things communities have ever built, and in this hands-on session, participants will learn the basics of beat-making and create their own original beat. No experience needed, just creativity, rhythm, and the chance to build something that reflects their sound and energy.
Build Through Art – Creativity is another way we build and express ourselves. This interactive art space offers mural activities, coloring, sketching, and hands-on creative materials for anyone who wants to reflect, decompress, create, or communicate beyond words.
Build Your Platform: Turn Your Content Into Your Brand – Social media is more than likes and followers. It can be a tool for storytelling, creativity, advocacy, and opportunity. In this interactive session, youth will learn how to build an authentic personal brand, create content with intention, and use their online presence to support their goals. Whether interested in entrepreneurship, creative careers, community impact, or professional growth, participants will leave with practical strategies for turning their ideas and interests into a platform with purpose.
Building to Avoid Burnout (Adult workshop) – Supporting young people and building systems change can be rewarding, but it can also be emotionally demanding. This session is designed for the adults doing the work, providing practical tools to recognize burnout, manage stress, build resilience, and prioritize their own well being while continuing to support youth and communities.
Build the Pathway: Providers Reimagining Healing(Adult workshop) – Explore how Youth Organizations can create healing centered environments while connecting young people to careers in health and wellness. This session will highlight pathways such as Community Health Workers, wellness coaches, EMTs, and paramedics, with EMS Corps as a model for connecting young adults to training and employment. Organizations will also explore how opportunities like Medi Cal can help support and sustain this work.
Building the Continuum: DYD’s Care-First Approach to Youth Justice (Adult Workshop) – This session will provide an overview of DYD’s Care-First approach to supporting system involved youth across the youth justice continuum, from arrest and detention through reentry. Attendees will learn about current and planned programs designed to reduce the length of time young people spend in the justice system, support successful reentry, and reduce recidivism through community based services and supports.
12:20PM Lunch & Special Performances
1:40PM Keynote Speaker: Jarrett Harper, Founder and Executive Director of Better Days
2PM – 4PM Partner Acknowledgements, Community Connection Session
Building a Village Discussion Panel:Join us for a dynamic conversation focused on building connection, fostering healing and accountability, centering those impacted by harm, and strengthening approaches that support youth and communities. This panel will bring together community-based organizations, youth leaders, parents, and community members for a meaningful conversation about how we can strengthen the ways we show up for young people and one another.
