Black Professional Network Launches Youth Edition
The first Can We Talk Cville: Youth Edition connected Charlottesville students with coaches, entrepreneurs and wellness groups at the Boys and Girls Club on Cherry Avenue.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Youth
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Black Professional Network hosted the first Can We Talk Cville: Youth Edition at the Boys and Girls Club on Cherry Avenue in Charlottesville. Students chose which community partners they wanted to speak with in breakout rooms, and organizers plan another Youth Edition in the spring.
Why it matters
The event gives young people in Charlottesville direct access to mentors, business leaders and support services as they prepare for adulthood. Organizers said the goal is to give youth a platform and the support they need to navigate that transition.
The event was held at the Boys and Girls Club on Cherry Avenue and was organized by Black Professional Network. Breakout partners included sports coaches, entrepreneurs, and mental health and wellness groups, though the total number of students and partners was not reported.
The players
Black Professional Network
Black Professional Network is a community organization that hosts networking and mentorship events for Black professionals and youth in the Charlottesville area.
Boys and Girls Club on Cherry Avenue
The Boys and Girls Club on Cherry Avenue is a local youth development center in Charlottesville that offers after-school programs, sports and mentoring for young people.
The details
Students were split into breakout rooms and selected the community partners they wanted to talk with. Other groups joined to lead the rooms, and students were asked to be honest about what adults are doing well and where they can do more to support youth. Legend Hayes, a 10th grader, said he learned more about starting his own business and now wants to connect with the entrepreneur he met. Daequis Nowlin, a sophomore, said he and that entrepreneur have been texting about a plan to start a website.
Timeline
November 14, 2026: Article published about the first Can We Talk Cville: Youth Edition.
Spring 2027: Organizers plan to host a second Youth Edition.
Youth Voices
The Youth Edition extends the adult-focused Can We Talk Cville dialogue series to high school students, applying the same community-partner format to young people. It signals an effort to bring youth into the same local conversations that have previously centered on adults.
Charlottesville students interested in business, coaching or mental health support can connect directly with community partners at future Youth Edition events. Students who want to follow up with a partner can reach out through the organizers' networks.
The takeaway
Young people who want to start a business or find mentors can use events like this to make direct contact with local adults. Students who attend should follow up with the partners they meet to turn a single conversation into a lasting connection.
What happens next
Organizers hope to host another Youth Edition of Can We Talk Cville in the spring of 2027.
Further reading
For more on local young people and community programs, see Youth coverage on Charlottesville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 29news.
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