​Five years in, Leader Breeders has proven what can happen when belief meets consistency. But this is only the beginning. The next five years are about building on that foundation—turning impact into infrastructure and stories into systems that last.

Coach Tiny Adams describes the vision clearly. “The next five years are about sustainability,” she says. “We’ve shown what mentorship can do. Now it’s time to grow it—to make sure the next generation of leaders has the tools, spaces, and people they need to keep going.”

​Tiny remembers that moment vividly. “Once Coach Beasley brought her to my attention, I reached out, and it wasn’t long before she was breaking my records. I already saw her potential. And knowing at that age how much I needed mentorship, it was a no-brainer to take her under my wing. She was so receptive. Every time I came back, she was excited. She wanted to hang out, she wanted to work out. We built a great bond over the course of her career. So when she passed away, as tragic as it was, I wanted to always keep her name going.”

Their connection reflects the culture of Morgan State women’s basketball, a program known for reaching back, supporting one another, and shaping leaders beyond the court. Tracey lived that tradition. She supported younger players, carried herself with pride, and poured into others with a maturity beyond her years.

But her leadership went far beyond athletics. Tracey worked as a substitute teacher in Baltimore City. She mentored young people. She created spaces where kids felt understood. She showed up with patience, humor, and consistency. She also took her talents overseas, experiencing life outside Baltimore and expanding her worldview. She wanted kids to feel that same possibility, that same freedom to dream bigger than their circumstances.

When Tracey passed away in 2018, the loss left a deep ache in the community. But Tiny knew her name could not fade. Through Tray Day, she honored Tracey each year by bringing alumni together to celebrate her, laugh, tell stories, and continue the traditions she loved. Still, Tiny felt called to build something more lasting — something that connected directly to youth, mentorship, and leadership.

That desire grew into the Tracey Carrington Scholars and Interns Initiative, a program designed to connect Tracey’s passion for youth and education with the work Leader Breeders does every day. Scholars will support after-school programs, mentor students, and learn the real-world side of youth development. When funding is available, they will receive stipends in Tracey’s name, easing the burdens many college students, especially athletes, face while balancing school, work, and service.

​The inaugural Scholar is Morgan State senior Jala Bannerman, a women’s basketball player who plans to open her own daycare. She has already volunteered with Leader Breeders as a mentor and shown a clear passion for working with children.

Tiny’s reasoning comes directly from her heart. “Jala applied through our process, and it was a no-brainer. She’s a Morgan State women’s basketball player, she’s a senior, and she wants to open her own daycare. It all aligns with what Tracey stood for and what we are trying to do. We want to give her direction, help develop her, and be a support system for her. Her carrying the name of being a Tracey Carrington Scholar, the hope is that it inspires her to fulfill her wildest dreams.”

For Tiny, choosing Jala keeps Tracey’s legacy alive in exactly the right way — through leadership, service, and community.

​Tracey lived fully. She gave freely. She believed in young people. And she showed what it looked like to lead without needing recognition. The Tracey Carrington Scholars Fund ensures her impact continues by creating pathways for students who want to serve, grow, and lead in the communities they care about.

Hope feels stronger when we stand together.

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​Now a 10th grader, Makya reflects on how mentorship helped him find focus. “I’ve learned how to balance everything — school, life, goals,” he said. “It’s helped me grow as a person.”

Coach Laura, who oversees the mentorship program, explains that this cycle of guidance is intentional. “It’s about reliability and consistency,” she said. “We want kids to see that support doesn’t end after one season or one grade level. It continues through every stage — because even mentors need mentors.”

Through this structure, Leader Breeders has built more than a program — it has built a pipeline of leadership. College mentors gain experience guiding others while receiving their own professional and emotional support from program leaders. Younger students grow into leaders themselves, becoming role models for the next generation.

In Baltimore, where so many young people face instability and isolation, this kind of continuity matters. It helps them envision a future that feels possible—one built on trust, commitment, and care.

When you give to Leader Breeders, you’re not just donating to a youth program. You’re investing in a mentorship model that multiplies its impact at every level. One mentor. One student. One relationship at a time — that’s how the village grows stronger.

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Through that support, Destiny found her confidence, not only to participate but to lead. “Now I’m part of the media team at school, and I even mentor someone else,” she said proudly. “My mentee’s like my little sister. My mentor showed me someone could be there for me, so now I can be there for somebody else.”

That same sense of belonging is what Makya Vaughn values most. “Leader Breeders taught me how to be myself and how to balance everything, school, life, goals,” he shared. “It’s helped me grow as a person.”

Coach Laura, who helps guide the mentorship program, says that growth is the point. “We start by building relationships,” she explained. “From there, it’s about exposure to new environments, careers, and ways of thinking. Baltimore’s kids deserve to know there’s a world waiting for them, and people ready to walk with them toward it.”

Every story, like Destiny’s and Makya’s, reminds us that change does not start with a lesson plan or a scoreboard. It starts with presence, with someone saying, I’m here.

When you support Leader Breeders, you are helping young people find that presence and helping a village grow stronger with every story of belief, resilience, and becoming.

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“Be who you needed when you were younger.”

For Tiny Adams, that phrase has been the heartbeat of Leader Breeders since the very beginning. The program started with a simple idea—to give Baltimore’s youth the kind of guidance and support she once wished she had.

​“When I think about the start of Leader Breeders, it came from my everyday interactions with young people,” she says. “I always wanted a space where kids could go, not just to stay busy, but to feel empowered and mentored.”

Those early days were filled with big dreams and even bigger determination. Tiny remembers applying for million-dollar grants and scouting commercial properties before the organization had the resources to make it real. “Every great entrepreneur is a little naive in the beginning,” she admits. “But that dream — to have our own youth development space — never left.”

Five years later, that dream still fuels the mission. Leader Breeders now works across Baltimore through recreation and after-school partnerships, offering mentorship, sports, and life-skills programs that continue to grow in reach and impact. “We still don’t have a permanent space yet,” Tiny says, “but the work proves our vision is needed and appreciated.”

The lessons along the way have been just as meaningful as the milestones. “At first, I had the vision but not the plan,” she says. “Now I understand how to build capacity, find funding, and execute strategy. The mission has always been the same—it’s just grown far beyond what I imagined.”

Tiny leads with both humility and heart. “I consider myself a servant leader,” she says. “It’s never about me. It’s about the kids, my team, and the mission. Leadership can be lonely, but it’s worth it when you see the impact.”

As Leader Breeders celebrates five years, Tiny keeps her eyes on the next chapter—one built on sustainability, growth, and that same unshakable dream of creating a permanent home for Baltimore’s youth. “We’ve come so far,” she says, “but this is just the beginning.”

Join the Power. Fuel the Next 5.