We recently had the chance to connect with Alysia Lee and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alysia, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now, my days are a whirlwind of activity, starting early and ending late. I spend most of my time working closely with my team at BCYF on process improvements and refining how we operate. It’s a lot of problem-solving and strategic thinking—from developing new grant programs to reflecting on our theories and approaches to making sure everything works together as a cohesive system. Every day feels like a blend of tackling both the big picture and the smaller, tactical pieces. What keeps me grounded through all of this is that outside of work, I actively make music—I sing every day, work on new compositions, and prepare for upcoming concerts. Having that creative outlet alongside the strategic work at BCYF gives me this fulfilling mix that keeps me both energized and centered.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I serve as the President and CEO of the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF) in Baltimore, Maryland, where I oversee both our strategic direction and manage our organization’s daily functions. BCYF provides grants and training to support organizations that offer programs aimed at improving the well-being and opportunities for young people in Baltimore. Our approach to grantmaking is dual-faceted: we invest not only financial resources but also dedicate substantial hours to providing valuable learning opportunities for our grantees. This includes offering comprehensive training in areas such as program development, budgeting, and marketing to ensure the organizations we support are well-equipped for success. By strengthening these organizations, we are directly advancing our mission to empower young people and foster a more inclusive ecosystem that ensures every youth has the resources and support they need to thrive.
This work is deeply personal to me because of my own journey. When I was in middle school, I participated in Youth as Resources, a youth-led grant-making program right here in Baltimore. Through that experience, I learned how to review funding proposals, handle marketing, and organize presentations. What’s amazing is that today, Youth as Resources is still going strong in Baltimore, and now BCYF supports them as one of our community-selected grantees.
I never imagined that my early days in fundraising would lead me to run a foundation like BCYF, but here I am, steering the work of this incredible organization. Leading BCYF allows me to combine my creative interests with strategic leadership, working hands-on with young people while making the big decisions that shape our programs for greater impact. It feels like I’m finally doing the work I’ve been preparing for all these years.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
The women in my family, especially my aunt Blossom Lee and my mom, Stacey. My aunt Blossom, a single Black woman who migrated during the Great Migration, opened a store in Baltimore and became a community fixture, providing jobs and carving out her own path as an entrepreneur. She taught me that you can build your life on your terms, regardless of the challenges. I have the fondest memories of visiting her store as a child, always in awe of the dedication and commitment she poured into it. My mom, who dedicated her career to helping young people, always approached her work with authenticity and integrity. As she built charter schools and classroom spaces, she instilled in me the importance of investing in others, particularly the next generation. Both of these women taught me that work is not just about individual success, but about contributing to something larger than yourself. Whether through creative collaboration or collective action, I believe in the power of coming together to achieve something greater.
My experience at the Maryland State Department of Education, where I engaged with parents, teachers, and principals, reinforced this idea, showing me that involving people in the process leads to stronger, more meaningful outcomes. This philosophy of community ownership, which I see reflected in organizations like BCYF, continues to guide my work helping others and creating lasting change through collective effort.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell myself to slow down and learn to appreciate the quieter moments just as much as the big, exciting ones. I remember performing “Carmina Burana” in high school and realizing that I should’ve enjoyed the rehearsals more than the performance itself. As a singer, I spent hours rehearsing for just a few minutes on stage, and in hindsight, I realize that those rehearsal times were just as important, if not more so, than the performances themselves. I used to get impatient going over the same lines, songs, and measures again and again. But now I understand that’s exactly where the growth happens. It’s in those moments of repetition, failure, and success that you truly learn. I wish I had embraced the collaboration more and focused on the experience of creating together rather than being fixated on the end result. Life is a bit like making a cake—the real joy is in mixing all the ingredients together and watching it come to life, not just eating the finished product. If I’d understood back then how much the journey itself mattered, I would have savored those moments of practice and growth.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A belief I am deeply committed to is investing in youth leadership in our city, specifically through our upcoming Youth Master Plan. I’ve been hearing people talk about the need for a real framework for youth development since I was young myself, and I think it’s finally time we give young people genuine opportunities to make decisions and actively shape our city’s future. The Youth Master Plan allows us to harness the incredible energy, ideas, and passion that young people bring, showing the world how essential their voices are to creating lasting solutions. Too often, young people are underestimated, but this plan creates space to demonstrate their incredible capacity for leadership and innovation. It’s about allowing young people to be in positions of power—influencing policy, practice, and tactics. By engaging with them meaningfully, we’re not just listening to their perspectives; we’re empowering them to lead. I’m really energized by the process we’re creating, where youth voices are at the center, where there’s room for big thinking and imagination, and where we’re building a vision for a future that’s shaped by the people who will be living in it. I know the next few years will bring challenges as we work on this, but I’m also expecting incredible moments of celebration along the way. The process will be inclusive, generative, and transformative, and I’m fully invested in making sure it succeeds.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will say that wherever Alysia went, she made space for creativity. She encouraged people to slow down, dream big, imagine possibilities, and share their ideas. I want to be remembered as someone who created an environment where people felt free to plan, build, and grow—places where mistakes were seen as part of the learning process.
I also hope they’ll remember that I didn’t settle for the status quo, but instead, I always asked, “This is where we are, but where could we be?” My legacy should reflect someone who wasn’t afraid to take risks, who had the audacity to challenge the way things had always been done, and who had the courage to push boundaries while encouraging others to do the same. I hope people will say I helped them see what was possible when you’re willing to think differently.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bcyfund.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcyfund/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bcyfund/posts/?feedView=all
- Twitter: https://x.com/bcyfund
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BCYFUND/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyGMbVrqFO8SM9fTJZ1Ynmw
Image Credits
Kyle Pompey
