Dy Brown is Deputy Executive Director at Young Invincibles, a nonprofit focused on amplifying young adult voices in the political process, especially in the areas of healthcare, higher education, workforce development, and civic engagement.
From an early age, Dy knew she had the power to make a difference in the world. Her mother was an educator and entrepreneur and showed Dy that women can do it all.
“She put that fire in us to understand that this world is big and it’s ours. Whatever we want can be ours with hard work, determination, and love,” Dy shares.
Dy left her home state of Louisiana to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. Here she met an amazing community of people who showed her the power of staying true to yourself.
“I was born in Louisiana but when you think about who made me, it was my time at Howard University” she explains.
Although she initially planned to become an attorney she decided to study business and got heavily involved with leadership organizations on campus. She worked in corporate America for a few years after college before realizing something was missing.
She moved into a position with her local government and started to find her true passion.
“I worked for two mayors and had a fabulous time. They really helped me understand how much I love young adults and how much volunteerism matters to me,” she shares.
Around this time her first cousin was tragically murdered, which further pushed Dy to focus on supporting the next generation.
“It was the moment that I recognized the power of trying to make sure our young adults have everything that they need to be able to be whole and to be supported,” she says.
Setbacks and Support
Dy poured herself into her work with local government. But after the politician she worked for lost their election, she didn’t know what was next.
“Your net worth truly is the power of your network,” she adds.
She used this transitional period to build her network and was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime – to run a national nonprofit called Jack and Jill of America, Inc..
“It was an amazing experience, it taught me so much about leadership, the power of women, working together, the power of the Black family, and just really understanding how to build community,” she shares.
After seven years as the national executive director, Dy experienced burnout due to multiple board leadership transitions. She left the position and took a step back to breathe. When she decided it was time to look for her next opportunity she found Young Invincibles almost immediately.
“Sometimes you just have to know that God is working in His own way,” she shares.
She started as a Senior Director of Regional Strategy and eventually moved up to her current position as Deputy Executive Director.
While she calls herself a “Jill of all trades,” Dy says working with Young Invincibles allows her to really focus on what she loves to do most.
“It all circles around young people, young adults, volunteerism and really helping people understand the power of their voice,” she says.
Keep Shining
After experiencing burnout firsthand, Dy makes sure her team focuses on their mental health.
“Boundaries are important in the workplace. Rest is important,” she says. “You can’t be about the people and for the people if you’re not remembering yourself first.”
This has been especially important since the start of the pandemic when her team had to switch their operations from feet on the ground to virtual overnight. They’ve instituted Mental Health Mondays to give everyone in the organization time to breathe.
“It’s been powerful,” she shares. “It just really matters to care about young adults because people can’t do their jobs if they don’t feel safe and if they don’t feel trusted. This requires a partnership and strong worth ethic.”
With both Young Invincibles and her personal role as a godmother, Dy works hard to inspire all young people to keep shining the light inside them.
“It’s a matter of always making sure that we’re feeding our own soul to make sure our light shines,” she adds.