Our Work
It’s About Us! – A Local Legacy. A National Movement.
It’s About Us! is more than a name—it’s a rallying cry for change across the nation. Born in the heart of the District of Columbia, our work is rooted in the real struggles and extraordinary potential of our neighborhoods—and we’re carrying that energy to cities and towns across America.
We are boldly confronting the social, economic, and public policy barriers that continue to hold communities down—and we’re not doing it alone. Our strength lies in collaboration. By joining forces with grassroots organizations, business leaders, and changemakers across the country, we are building a united front to challenge injustice, spark innovation, and drive sustainable, community-led transformation.
We envision a future where every resident—from Southeast DC to South Central LA, from the Bronx to Birmingham—has not only the right but the real opportunity to thrive. Together, we are rewriting the story of our communities—centered not on struggle, but on strength, self-determination, and success.
This is our time. This is our mission. This is our movement.
Join us—and help us create a brighter, more just future for all.
Seats for Seniors:
A Transit Tech Hub for
Dignity, Comfort & Justice
Our Seniors Deserve More Than a Ride. They Deserve Respect.
Every day, countless seniors in underserved communities of color wait for buses and trains without the most basic form of support—a safe, dignified place to sit. For many, this small omission carries huge consequences: isolation, exhaustion, vulnerability, and even the choice to stay home rather than risk the journey.
Seats for Seniors is a bold, compassionate pilot program created to close this gap. It’s not just about benches—it’s about dignity, independence, and inclusion.
Why It Matters
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Dignity in Motion: Aging should never mean being invisible. Seniors deserve to be seen, respected, and supported at every stage of life—including while they wait for the transportation they rely on.
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A Critical Health & Equity Issue: Standing for long periods puts seniors at greater risk of falls, fatigue, and health complications—particularly in disenfranchised communities where healthcare and mobility options are already limited.
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A Tool for Belonging: A seat is more than furniture—it’s an invitation to stay connected, engaged, and part of the community.
The Innovation
Our transit tech hubs go beyond traditional seating. Each installation is designed with seniors at the center:
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Ergonomic comfort & stability to reduce physical strain.
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Digital notifications for bus/train arrival updates.
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Temperature control features to ensure safety year-round.
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Peace of mind for seniors and their families, knowing transit is safer and more accessible.
The Impact
With every hub we install, we create more than comfort—we restore confidence, mobility, and agency. Seniors who gave their lives to building and sustaining our communities deserve nothing less.
The Call to Action
This program is more than innovation—it’s justice in action. It sends a powerful message:
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Our elders matter. Their comfort matters. Their journeys matter.
We invite you—neighbors, leaders, and changemakers—to stand (and sit) with us in this groundbreaking effort. Together, we can create a transit system where aging with dignity is not a privilege, but a promise.
Because when we care for our elders, we strengthen the foundation of our entire society.
The Smart
Mobility Experience
Driving Opportunity, Connectivity, and Innovation Where It’s Needed Most
The Challenge
Across America—especially in rural towns and underserved regions—students face barriers that should have been solved decades ago. Outdated infrastructure, long commutes, and limited internet access are keeping too many young people, especially those at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), from unlocking their full potential.
MOTOCROSS D.C. [MOTO X D.C.]
More than a program, Motocross DC is an adrenaline-charged pathway to education, empowerment, and emotional wellness. For youth searching for an outlet, a community, and a future, we fuse the thrill of motocross with the discipline of safe, responsible riding—creating a space where passion becomes purpose and resilience is built one ride at a time.
The Need
Too many young people—especially in communities of color—are weighed down by trauma, depression, and limited opportunities. Without positive outlets, stress and frustration can spiral into destructive choices.
Motocross DC provides a new lane forward. The roar of an engine, the precision of handling a bike, and the rush of competition become more than excitement—they become:
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A release valve for stress
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A tool for emotional regulation
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A channel for confidence, teamwork, and growth
This is therapy in motion.
The Training
Motocross DC equips youth with the skills, discipline, and knowledge to thrive as riders—and beyond:
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Hands-on workshops in motorcycle safety, maintenance, and repair
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Education in street laws, competition rules, and riding ethics
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Pathways to professional careers—from pit crews to racing circuits, event production, and engineering
Every ride is built on the foundation of safety, responsibility, and respect—ensuring our participants protect themselves, each other, and their futures.
The Industry Opportunity
Motocross is a billion-dollar global industry, but youth of color remain vastly underrepresented. Motocross DC changes that by introducing minority youth to every aspect of the sport and its ecosystem:
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Amateur & professional racing
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Engineering, mechanics, and design
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Event management & production
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Leadership roles in a growing industry
This is diversity in motion—breaking barriers, creating representation, and fueling inclusion in spaces where it’s long overdue.
The Impact
Motocross DC is where passion meets healing and athletic training meets life skills. Participants gain:
Riding Toward Healing, Excellence & Opportunity
The Solution
The Smart Mobility Experience, powered by Atlas Transit Solutions, is more than transportation. It is a movement for equity, access, and innovation.
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🚍 Solar-Powered Smart Transit: Sustainable, tech-integrated shuttles designed for 21st-century campuses.
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🌐 Mobile Wi-Fi & Hotspot Hubs: Ensuring every student, wherever they are, stays connected to digital learning and opportunity.
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⚡ Clean Energy Innovation: Vehicles powered by solar energy, creating greener, healthier communities.
The Vision
Imagine rural HBCU campuses transformed into vibrant innovation zones—where mobility is seamless, solar energy powers daily life, and every student has equal access to digital tools. These hubs don’t just move people—they move communities forward, bridging the gap between isolation and opportunity.
The Impact
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Expands access to education by reducing transportation barriers.
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Closes the digital divide by providing campus-wide connectivity.
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Creates living laboratories for students, faculty, and local residents to learn, test, and thrive.
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Models a blueprint for equity and sustainability that can be replicated nationwide.
The Call to Action
This isn’t just a tech upgrade. It’s a commitment to digital justice, educational equity, and environmental sustainability. By supporting Smart Mobility, you’re investing in smarter campuses, brighter futures, and a connected world.
✨ Join us. Let’s drive innovation into the communities that have waited long enough. Together, we can power a future where opportunity flows as freely as the ride to class.
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Confidence and resilience
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Conflict resolution and teamwork skills
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Problem-solving and focus under pressure
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A supportive community of peers and mentors
The Call to Action
Motocross DC is not just about riding—it’s about rewriting the narrative. One rider at a time, we are building a safer, stronger, and more united community.
✨ Join us. Invest in the future of our youth, and help us turn helmets and handlebars into tools for healing, inclusion, and success.
Because when our young people find their lane, they don’t just ride—they soar.
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Take Flight Academy
Take Flight Academy (TFA): Healing Through Flight, Building Futures in Aviation
Imagine building a career that not only supports your family, but also allows you to soar above challenges, discover your potential, and heal in the process. Take Flight Academy (TFA) is more than a program—it’s a life-changing pathway that blends aviation training, mental wellness, and opportunity for young people ages 14–24.
Guided by the motto “The Sky’s the Limit,” TFA transforms curiosity into confidence, skills, and careers.
The Opportunity
Aviation is one of the most rewarding and high-demand industries in the world. Through TFA, participants begin their journey toward careers as certified drone pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation professionals—roles that provide stability, strong income, and the pride of providing for one’s family.
By completing this program, students aren’t just preparing for jobs—they are opening doors to careers with purpose, dignity, and long-term growth.
The Experience
From the first day, participants are immersed in hands-on aviation training:
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Assemble and fly FPV drones built with your own hands.
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Train on professional flight simulators before outdoor flight labs.
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Practice mission-based flights—mapping routes, capturing aerial video, and telling community stories.
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Learn the rules of the skies: FAA regulations, airspace, weather basics, and pre-flight checklists.
We also provide a direct window into the world of Air Traffic Control (ATC): headset drills, phraseology practice, and cognitive exercises modeled after the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (AT-SA). These experiences let participants test their abilities and prepare for one of the most respected, high-demand careers in America.
Healing Through Flight
What sets TFA apart is our commitment to mental health and emotional growth. Aviation is not just about flying—it’s about focus, calm, and decision-making under pressure.
Through our Healing Through Flight wellness module, students learn:
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Breathing and mindfulness techniques for stress management
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Reflection journals and identity mapping for self-discovery
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Peer circles for support, confidence, and leadership
This approach helps participants heal from trauma, find inner strength, and make better life choices—while also reducing crime and building safer, stronger communities.
The Results
By the end of the 12-week program, graduates walk away with:
✅ A functioning FPV drone they built themselves, plus logged flight hours
✅ A résumé-ready Certificate of Completion and a $300 stipend
✅ Exposure to the FAA Part 107 Drone Certification Pathway
✅ Preparation for ATC careers and other aviation roles
✅ An alumni network and mentors for ongoing guidance
Why It Matters
TFA isn’t just about aviation—it’s about transformation. Students gain discipline, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and a supportive network that fuels long-term success. For many, it’s the first step toward a stable career, financial security, and healing for themselves and their families.
Who Should Apply
We welcome motivated youth—especially first-generation and underrepresented students in STEM—who are curious about technology, love hands-on learning, and want to build something real for their future.
Requirements:
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Ages 14–24 with a minimum C average
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Commitment to a drug- and violence-free lifestyle
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Parent/guardian consent if under 18
Ready to Take Off?
✨ Build a drone.
✨ Fly your mission.
✨ Discover a career you didn’t know was possible.
Visit www.itsaboutus.net for program dates and applications, or email takeflightacademy3@gmail.com with questions.
Because when you take flight, you don’t just rise—you lift your family and your community with you.
From Boys to Men - Breaking the Stigma
Across our communities, too many young African-American boys are carrying burdens no child should bear—trauma from broken family relationships, the weight of peer pressure, the fear of gun violence, and the quiet battles with self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. These struggles are real. The silence is heavy. And the stigma around seeking help keeps far too many from getting the support they need.
From Boys to Men – Breaking the Stigma was created as a lifeline—a safe space where young men can breathe, speak, and be heard. It’s more than mentoring—it’s about healing.
Why This Program Matters
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The Crisis: Without support, pain often turns into isolation, anger, or destructive choices.
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The Solution: Breaking the Stigma pairs young men with mentors who understand. These are men who’ve walked the same streets, faced the same pressures, and overcome the same obstacles. Their stories aren’t lessons from a textbook—they’re testimonies of survival, resilience, and hope.
What We Do
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Real Conversations: Honest, judgment-free dialogue that helps young men see vulnerability as strength.
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Life Skills Training: Conflict resolution, stress management, emotional regulation, and goal-setting—all tools to navigate today’s challenges.
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Mental Health Support: A licensed counselor provides group guidance and confidential, one-on-one sessions for youth facing deeper trauma, depression, or anxiety. No one is left to carry the weight alone.
The Transformation
Breaking the Stigma is more than a program—it’s a movement to reclaim futures and rewrite narratives. Young men learn that:
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Their pain does not define them.
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Their stories have power.
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Their choices can shape a brighter tomorrow.
The Ripple Effect
When we heal our boys, we heal our families.
When we uplift our boys, we strengthen our communities.
When we break the stigma, we build the leaders of tomorrow.
✨ Join Us
Your partnership makes this healing possible. Together, we can provide young men with the mentors, counselors, and safe spaces they need to grow into the strong, resilient leaders our communities deserve.
Because when boys heal, men lead. And when men lead, communities rise.
IT'S ABOUT US!
The IAU is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to educating, enlightening, and empowering minority communities. Our goal is to help them understand the power and influence they possess to effect positive change within their communities.
Our team of visionary influencers is committed to providing innovative solutions that challenge the status quo and empower our constituents and their families. We believe in creating pathways to opportunities that go beyond traditional approaches.
We invite you to join our team, volunteer, donate, and support our efforts to bring about a brighter future in communities where doubt and mistrust have bred apathy. It is important to recognize the impact of structural barriers to growth and opportunity and work towards overcoming them.
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