Camp HBCYouth is an educational summer day camp inspired by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Camp HBCYouth was founded by Spelman College alumnus Regan Fresnel and Morehouse College alumnus Brian Wright. Fresnel, originally from Baltimore, Maryland, graduated in 2018 with a degree in political science. Her college years were marked by significant involvement in community programming and politics, including work with the Georgia House of Representatives and the Black Caucus in Atlanta. Despite her promising start in politics, Fresnel felt a pull towards direct social impact.
After interning with JP Morgan while at Spelman, Fresnel realized her passion lay in community work rather than politics. She initially founded Camp Achieve in partnership with Morgan State University, serving over 100 children weekly. Her vision expanded, leading to the establishment of a second camp location at another HBCU, Tennessee State University, in 2022, which included unique activities such as daily tennis lessons.
Upon returning to Atlanta, Fresnel met Brian Wright, owner of Six Degrees Marketing, in 2021. Wright, a Morehouse graduate from Brooklyn, New York, with a degree in marketing, who co-owns the agency, which is dedicated to community initiatives. Together, Fresnel and Wright expanded Camp Achieve, rebranding it as Camp HBCYouth. They aimed to establish programs on multiple HBCU campuses in Atlanta, including Morehouse College and, starting in the summer of 2025, Clark Atlanta University.
“The main initiative of the HBCUs Foundation is to service youth. We want to empower black youth, we want to give them exposure to higher education,” Fresnel explained.
Brooklyn Tea, co-owned by Spelman alumnae Kerri-Ann T. Thomas and her fellow Spelmanite Jamila Wright, embraced the opportunity to support Camp HBCYouth. Thomas, a 2010 Spelman graduate with a dual degree in philosophy and psychology, emphasized the importance of community-focused initiatives. “What’s the footprint you’re trying to leave? What’s the impact you’re aiming for? They knew what we were doing and what we were about, so they connected with us,” said Thomas. Brooklyn Tea regularly hosts monthly events, such as First Saturdays, to support local vendors and artists.
During the fundraiser, Brooklyn Tea, which opened earlier this year, distributed pamphlets and flyers with QR codes linking to the donation site. The money that was raised will be to support Camp HBCYouth, which will operate from June 3 to August 2 at Morehouse College and Tennessee State University. The camp provides a safe and enriching environment for children, featuring academic projects, leadership development, and recreational activities. Registration is currently open at $200 per child.
Brian Wright shared his journey to Morehouse College, influenced by his aunt who insisted he attend despite his initial reluctance. Reflecting on his time there, he expressed gratitude for the supportive network and lifelong connections he made, including his business partner Fresnel and peers like Thomas. Wright says he aims to share with the students that attend the camp, “We could then have a pathway of them kind of understanding like, hey, remember when we were in elementary school, and we went to Morehouse College or remember when we went to Morgan State or when we went to TSU?. We want them to have early experience in that,” Wright told.
