About Us
Luke is a student at Southfield Christian, a small religious High School in metro Detroit. As a nationally ranked junior tennis player, he brings the same discipline found on the court to his role as a dedicated peer tutor, supporting fellow student-athletes and classmates in navigating their academic demands. This firsthand experience with the challenges of the student-athlete lifestyle sparked a deep-seated passion for educational equity, particularly for minority boys who often face systemic barriers to success. To turn this passion into action, he was selected for the Non-trivial research fellowship, where he conducted independent, impactful research focused on identifying and addressing these disparities. Through this rigorous program, he leveraged expert mentorship and research methodology to advocate for a more inclusive educational future.
Luke Zhang
Tim Carter
Tim is a student at Cass tech, a special high school in Detroit.
Born and raised in the heart of Detroit,
Tim is a young man whose life is defined by endurance, both in the classroom and on the pavement. A high-achieving student who consistently pursues academic excellence, Tim finds his mental clarity and grit through the grueling miles of marathon running—a hobby that mirrors his long-term dedication to his community. Driven by a clear mission to bridge the healthcare gap, he aspires to become a pediatrician specifically to serve and advocate for children of color. This commitment to lifting others up is evident in his daily life as a peer tutor. During the RyseMed summer internship at Henry Ford Medical Group, he met Luke, and as the two bonded over their shared experiences, they discovered a mutual, burning passion for supporting the next generation. This shared drive culminated in the founding of the Detroit Boys Alliance, an initiative born from their clinical rotations and dedicated to empowering minority boys across the city.
Our Core Values
Kindness
Empathy
Youth Leadership
We choose to see the struggle behind a student’s behavior rather than focusing on punishment. By choosing kindness, we build a community where every young man feels empowered to grow without the fear of judgment.
We are peers who walk the same streets. We understand the unique pressures young men of color face in Detroit, bridging the gap between academic potential and the resources needed to truly thrive.
We are not waiting for a centralized board to fix our schools. We are taking the lead as students to mentor the next generation, proving that we are the best architects of our own futures.