The Trenton Times published the following article on October 13, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Trenton native’s after school enrichment program looks to expand into Pemberton

By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton 
on October 13, 2013 at 7:20 AM, updated October 13, 2013 at 7:23 AM

TRENTON — For about 10 years, Bruce Boyd has been trying to show students, especially those coming from poor school districts, that the world is big and if they try, they can achieve more and do more.

“We tell our students that the only difference between you and Princeton, you and West Windsor and these other high-performing school districts is you,” Boyd, the founder of Building Our Youth’s Development, said during an interview last week. “Once you start to believe in yourself you can accomplish anything.”

BOYD is an after school enrichment program for middle school students. Boyd places an emphasis on preparing students for the lives ahead of them, and tries to help them see that there is more to the world than just the neighborhoods they grew up in.

He said part of the program is teaching students how to fill out college applications and financial aid forms. The students also undergo mock job interviews and are taught leadership skills.

“Our program is not the fluff,” he said. “School prepares them for the next grade. BOYD prepares them for the next phase of life.”

Boyd, who grew up in Trenton, said he first got the idea to start the program for young, underprivileged boys after he participated in a program encouraging fathers to become involved in their children’s school lives.