The world is a better place because of the valuable contributions of nonprofits. National Nonprofit Day, recognized on August 17, marks a time to celebrate their value, highlight their goals and remember when support can be given. Jaemellah Jackson, founder and CEO of IT TAKES TWO, INC., leads a nonprofit “creating tomorrow's leaders today.” Over 600 students have been supported through scholarships and hybrid educational programming to date through IT TAKES TWO, INC. Jackson shared updates highlighting the hard work nonprofit organizations and their supporters do to fill needed gaps in communities.

Significant Updates

One of the most significant updates for IT TAKES TWO, INC. this year has been strengthening their organization from the inside out.

IT TAKES TWO, INC.’s mission statement has been refined.

“Supporting underserved families and single-parent households will always remain at the heart of why IT TAKES TWO, INC. was founded. At the same time, we recognize that today's challenges affect many different family structures. Two-parent households, grandparents raising grandchildren, and multigenerational families are all facing increasing financial and social pressures. While we can't meet every need, we can continue aligning our programs with our mission to create meaningful opportunities for young people,” Jackson added.

“As a nonprofit, our mission is to serve youth and families throughout Maryland, but it's equally important that we focus on sustainability so we can continue serving communities for years to come. Over the past several months, our board has intentionally focused on building organizational capacity while preparing for our next phase of growth,” Jackson further stated.

Jackson explained that mid-week working sessions following the nonprofit’s Saturday learning sessions give students dedicated time to complete artifacts such as budgets, vision boards, scholarship resumes, and professional resumes. 

Another update involves the launch of Achievement, Accountability and Guidance (AAG) sessions, which provide students with an additional opportunity to complete assignments if they miss either the Saturday learning session or the working session. 

“We wanted to better accommodate the busy schedules many of our students and families navigate. Our AAG sessions are led by our Program Assistant, Mychael Robinson, who has become an incredible asset to the program. She often shares that she wishes opportunities like this had existed when she was growing up, and that perspective resonates with our students,” Jackson noted.

Looking ahead to IT TAKES TWO, INC.’s 2027 Positioned for Greatness cohort, the nonprofit is focusing on strengthening program outcomes by expanding internship opportunities and increasing meaningful career exploration experiences. IT TAKES TWO, INC. believes that young people should not have to wait until adulthood to begin discovering what is possible. They need opportunities to explore careers, develop confidence, build relationships with mentors, and gain experiences that help shape informed decisions about their future, according to Jackson.

Jackson mentioned that a partnership with Christopher Gibbon, founder of CAG Multimedia, led to Gibbon generously volunteering his professional photography, videography, and content-creation expertise while mentoring one of the nonprofit’s students through an internship. 

“We'd love to expand opportunities like that across multiple industries because exposure matters. Young people deserve the chance to explore careers, ask honest questions, build practical skills, and determine whether a profession is truly the right fit before they graduate,” Jackson stated. “As we continue growing, we're looking for volunteers, businesses willing to host interns or career exploration experiences, community partners, and donors who believe every young person deserves access to opportunity. Every investment—whether it's time, expertise, or financial support—helps us create experiences that can change the trajectory of a young person's life.”

 Jaemellah Jackson founded a nonprofit where the mission is to ensure more young people have access to opportunities before they need them. It is believed that opportunity changes outcomes.

Photo credit: Digital Reflections Media, LLC

Youth & Community Awards Brunch 2026 

This year's Youth & Community Awards Brunch is especially meaningful because it is more than an annual event: it is a celebration of the young people, families, volunteers, and community partners who make  IT TAKES TWO, INC.’s mission possible on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

“For the first time, the brunch will also serve as the closing celebration for our 2026 Positioned for Greatness Youth Program cohort. Seventeen students completed this year's program, where they explored financial literacy, budgeting, vision planning, college and career readiness, scholarship preparation, and community service,” Jackson said.

Over 20 students across various recognition categories will be honored during the Youth & Community Awards Brunch 2026.

“Supporting IT TAKES TWO, INC. is an investment in the future of our young people,” Jackson added.

Learn more about how you can volunteer, partner or donate to IT TAKES TWO, INC. by visiting www.ittakestwoinc.org and https://ittakestwoinc.org/donate. Follow the nonprofit via https://www.facebook.com/ittakestwoinc and https://www.instagram.com/ittakestwoinc.