Nonprofit 'Today, I’m Brave' Invites Adland To Support Future BIPOC Creators

Global nonprofit Today, I’m Brave (TIB), launched by David&Goliath founder David Angelo five years ago, is issuing a call-to-action to agencies, vendor partners and production companies to help support the organization’s first camp to serve BIPOC children ages 10-12. “Agency leaders are looking at last year’s challenges to evolve and prioritize what they do in business and in their lives,” Angelo told Adweek. “They are asking themselves how can we evolve from this in a way we never have before. Who we are and where we work are now being aligned with what we love and who we love.” The officially titled “Brave Camp”—set for July 25-31—is designed to help middle school children from underserved communities take on everyday challenges, like bullying, peer pressure, self-expression, through activities including nature hikes, meditation, martial arts, performing arts, leadership and crafting personal life manifestos. In addition to the usual camp activities of kayaking, hiking and other outdoor events, Brave Campers will go on a brave transformation journey, which includes six stages: community, empathy, adaptability, uniqueness of self, confidence and summiting "Brave Mountain." Pictures of Brave Camp attendees. Awakening the brave voice inside us all “Nature is good for everyone, but most of the time only privileged kids can afford to go to summer camp,” said Lindsay Stein, CEO, TIB. “We want to awaken the brave voice that’s inside all of us.” These 100 pre-teens—50 girls and 50 boys—have been selected from foster cares and under-resourced community groups within Sacramento. Brave Camp partner nonprofit Sierra Nevada Journeys and other organizations are making a planned effort to ensure a diverse group can experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I am forever grateful this industry helped me realize my career dreams and achieve success, but launching a nonprofit is about giving back,” said Angelo. “I came from nothing. My dad lived in foster care and spent time living in his car. I know about challenge but there are people that come into our lives to help lift us. They helped me get where I am today.” Angelo and Stein informally reached out to more than 75 agencies and industry companies to solicit their interest, participation and support. All agreed “immediately” to help out, with most sponsoring a pre-teen at $1,500 to attend camp, and in some cases sponsoring multiple children, as well as donating product to the campers. Hint Water is serving as the official hydration sponsor. Agency leaders understand the need to give back “There is a lot of good in this industry,” Angelo said. “Leaders understand the need to give back. There is no competition, no awards or winning business. It was them asking how can we help each other bigger than accolades and fame?” TIB has currently raised more than $150,000 to date with a goal of reaching $300,000 within the next month. "Sponsors receive more than goodwill for their donations," Stein added. “We want agency partners to feel like they are there at camp and part of the experience. We will celebrate all agency partners in a unique way at the end of the week, which will be part of the Brave Camp documentary we’ll be filming,” said Stein. For their part, agency partners recognize the importance of reaching emerging artists. Pretty Bird, an early sponsor, called out on social media that they’re proud to support the next generation of filmmakers. “These children are our future creators,” said Stein. Maximizing resources to give back to others The camp is being held at Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola, California and will feature instructors from Sierra Nevada Journeys, who are experts in social emotional learning, nature therapy, environmental education and more. “It will be entirely safe with all counselors vaccinated and all campers will be tested for Covid,” Stein said. Sacramento-based organizations Improve Your Tomorrow, Breakthrough Sacramento and Project Optimism are helping to identify the children attending camp. “We thought 50 boys and 50 girls is a good start,” Stein said. “We will invite more children next year and these children will also be invited back. We hope in five years these children may even come back to be Brave Camp mentors and counselors one day.” This is a true passion project led by Angelo and Stein. Both have reached points in their careers when giving back and maximizing their resources to benefit others serve as their top priorities. “When you have something from the heart, people just naturally show up,” Angelo said. “We want to make sure all people that are sharing on this, like sponsors, and are recognized and [campers] see you as well. It is not about one or two people, but all of us all lifting together.” Both Angelo and Stein believe TIB’s mission is best summarized by the famous Margaret Mead quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has.” Angelo's ROI is return on inspiration Angelo added, “We are not looking for fame and awards but to create a better world. Our ROI is return on inspiration. Together we serve, together we rise.” To measure success and impact of this program, TIB and Sierra Nevada Journeys will conduct pre-and post-qualitative surveys with the children, while also staying connected to them after camp to see how they are integrating their Brave learnings into their everyday lives. Special guest speakers from various fields of health, wellness and the arts will also attend Brave Camp, such as Rener and Ryron Gracie of the legendary Gracie Family, who brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to America in 1978 and created the UFC; Nadirah X, Jamaican rap/hip-hop artist, poet and Brave Ambassador; Paul Bamba, highly sought-after celebrity trainer, founder of Trifecta Fitness and newly added TIB board member; and Sheila Darcey, founder of Sketch Poetic. With the data in place, TIB and Sierra Nevada Journeys aim to launch Brave Camps for underserved children all across the U.S., and eventually, around the world. This is part of TIB’s evaluation since Stein joined the nonprofit last August. She and Angelo rejiggered the group to establish three core pillars to focus its efforts on going forward: DEI, health, wellness and education. Brave Camp aligns under health and wellness for its concentration on mental health and nature, while also bridging the other pillars for its dedication to BIPOC youth and Brave Curriculum teachings throughout the week. In addition to the camp, TIB will launch its inaugural Brave Week, in partnership with the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), this fall. The captivating event will bring students together with influencers and teachers to explore creative and artistic ways they can collectively make the world a more united one through the lens of DEI. Here are a list of participating sponsors. Agencies interested in supporting the organization can sign up here: 31st StateAJ MediaAllen & GerritsenAlmaAnomalyAPM MusicBaldwin&Barking OwlbarrettSFBBDOBlended Strategy GroupBlueprint NYBob IndustriesCamp+KingCanvas WWCashmere AgencyClio AwardsThe CommunityConill AdvertisingConsensusCourageousCutwaterDavid&GoliathThe Davis ConspiracyDDBDear WorldDeutsch LADirtEdelmanElevenElvove AssociatesErich & KallmanFancyFCBFortnight CollectiveFrankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PCGiant SpoonHavas NYHighdive USHugeInnoceanThe LabLime StudiosLove SongMekanismMischiefMongo IndustriesNative ContentNoble PeopleOberlandOKRPOliverThe One ClubPalette GroupPereira O'DellPrettybirdProofProtoRebecca Halusic RecruitingR/GASaatchi & SaatchiSpecial GroupSpinach ProductionSqueakyStrawberryFrogTBWATeam EpiphanyThe&PartnershipTwo ThingsVaynerXVenables Bell & PartnersVMLY&RWalrusWalton IsaacsonWe Are RosieZambezi And for its education pillar, TIB will unveil the first-ever Brave Library, in partnership with nonprofit Shine On Sierra Leone, a place designed to inspire Sierra Leonian youth to learn more about the world around them so they can give back to the communities they live in. David Angelo Combines Purpose With passion