Breaking Chains Academy of Development, Inc.

What an incredible day at the Old Nampa Poker Run Block Party!

What started as a fun Saturday afternoon filled with laughter, great food, cold drinks, and community connection turned into something truly amazing. In just hours, our incredible community came together and raised nearly $5,000 for the youth of Breaking Chains Academy!

We are continually humbled by the generosity, compassion, and support that make Nampa such a special place. Events like this remind us why
we are so proud and grateful to call Nampa home. When our community comes together, amazing things happen.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, and helped make this event possible. Special shoutout to:

⭐️ Ryan and Heather Driscoll - Pre Funk Bar
⭐ Byl & Aubrey Kravetz – Odin's Eye Embroidery
⭐ Jay & Jenee Snyder
⭐ Lance & Marie McGrath
⭐ Jimmie & Sheryl Wisler – International Minute Press Nampa
⭐ Chrome Comb
⭐ Mariscos El Guero
⭐ Jalapeños
⭐ Mesa Tacos
⭐ Holy Cow
⭐ Flying Sauce Company

Your generosity and support directly impact the lives of the young people we serve, and we couldn't do this work without you.

Thank you, Nampa, for showing up, giving back, and believing in our youth. Together, we're building a stronger future, one young person at a time!

Congratulations to Jehle Wheeler on earning her GED/HSE yesterday! This accomplishment is the result of her hard work, determination, and commitment to her future. ⛓️‍💥

Jehle earned her GED/HSE in just 3 weeks, demonstrating incredible focus and dedication to reaching her goal.

We are proud of everything Jehle has achieved and grateful to have been part of her journey. As she looks ahead, she is exploring opportunities in either cosmetology school or the medical field, and we are excited to see where her future takes her.

Congratulations, Jehle! 🎓

A huge thank you to Churchill Mortgage Corporation NMLS 1591 and Mike Teeter for throwing our graduates an incredible BBQ last Friday. Over 42 of our graduates from over the years were in attendance, including their friends, families, and BCAD supporters & partners! 💚

In addition to setting up, cooking and preparing all the food, they also presented a $5,000 check to BCAD and pledged to make this graduate BBQ a tradition moving forward. 🎉

Also, a HUGE honorable mention to DJ Bounce for always showing up for us. He provided the jams and good vibes for the celebration!

THANK YOU Mike, the Churchill team, DJ Bounce, and those who worked behind the scenes to make this a success! They truly went above and beyond to ensure this was a memorable day for graduates and staff. ⛓️‍💥

Congratulations to Ariana Mendoza on earning her GED/HSE today! 🎓

When Ariana joined our program, she had already passed 3 of her 4 GED tests and was just one test away from graduation. Although math was a challenge, Ariana stayed determined and continued working toward her goal. After 1.5 months of studying, she passed her final test and earned her GED/HSE! 🎓

We are incredibly proud of Ariana for staying focused and seeing it through to the finish line. Congratulations, Ariana! We can’t wait to see what comes next for you. 🎉

Happy Birthday, Mando! 🎂🎉

Today we are celebrating someone who does so much behind the scenes to support our students and staff.
Thank you for the care, dedication, and hard work you put into making sure everyone is fed and taken care of each day.
We appreciate everything you do and the impact you have on our program!

I've been trying to find the right words to describe what happened last Friday. It was something I've been waiting 13.5 years to say and do:

"Welcome and thank you all for being here tonight for our very own and very first Breaking Chains Academy Graduation."

It was a historic moment for our organization, for our graduates, for their families, and for our entire community. We celebrated a group of students who refused to give up on themselves. Each graduate sitting there overcame challenges, pushed through obstacles, and continued moving forward even when the road was difficult. That night was a celebration of their hard work, determination, and resilience.

This milestone was not achieved alone. Graduation represented a community coming together to make this possible. Family members and loved ones who offered support and encouragement. Staff, mentors, and volunteers who walked alongside our students. Donors and supporters who believed in our mission and invested in the lives of kids they knew were worth fighting for. It was truly a reflection of a collective belief, the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to grow, to learn, to heal, and to succeed.

To our graduates, in the words of Fr. Greg Boyle, “It’s not about the place you go to, but the place you go from.”

You all landed at Breaking Chains Academy for your own reasons, and we have had the privilege and honor of being a small part of your journey. But now the excitement begins. You get to leave Breaking Chains Academy and pursue your greatness. We celebrate not only who you are today, but the incredible potential of who you are becoming.

To our community, as I looked out into a standing-room-only crowd, I saw something incredible. I saw people from different religious and political backgrounds. People from different parts of town who would normally consider each other enemies. People who might otherwise go out of their way to avoid one another or even harm one another. Yet that night, I saw peace. I saw love. I saw people sharing time and space, all brought together by one common denominator: our kids.

A dear friend and mentor of mine, Luis Caloca, told me that it felt like we were able to share our classroom with the community that night. The truth is, that's what every day feels like at Breaking Chains Academy.

My only ask is that we continue to embrace, love, and support our kids as they transition into adulthood. Not only in their successes, but through all their falls as well.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 and to every person who helped make this moment possible.

Look how powerful we are when we come together.

With Gratitude,
Luis Granados

🎉 Happy Birthday, Shayla Acuña! 🎉

We are so grateful to have you as part of the Breaking Chains family. Your love, compassion, and dedication have made a lasting impact on countless young lives.

Thank you for all you do to inspire, support, and empower our youth. We hope your birthday is filled with joy, laughter, and all the love you deserve!

A huge congratulations to Anthony Cascio on graduating in just 5 days! 🎓✨

Although our time together was short, we are so grateful to have had the chance to meet Anthony and be part of his journey. His determination and commitment helped him reach his goal quickly, and we couldn’t be happier for him.

Congratulations, Anthony! We are excited to see what the future holds for you! ⛓️‍💥

Back to back graduations today! 🥳

Congratulations to brothers Enrique & Isaac Rios on graduating in just two short weeks! 🎓

From day one, these two showed determination, focus, and a drive to succeed. It has been amazing watching them work hard together and accomplish their goal side by side.

We are incredibly proud of Enrique & Isaac for everything they achieved during their time with us, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for both of them. ⛓️‍💥

Today we are celebrating Mystery Broberg and her incredible accomplishment of graduating in just one month! 🎓

While her time with us may have been short, it has truly been a pleasure getting to know her. Mystery quickly became part of the BCAD family, and we are so thankful for the positivity and determination she brought with her every day.

We are so excited for Mystery and this next chapter of her life. We know she has a bright future ahead, and we can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes! ⛓️‍💥