Bridging Futures
Melvin Kelly, founder of Brothers 2 Brothers United, says the organization works with the city’s most incorrigible male youth. Many of the young clients have been expelled, suspended or placed in juvenile detention.
Kelly has a long professional history of mentoring and assisting local at-risk youth and leading juvenile delinquency prevention efforts. He is currently the in-school suspension supervisor at Yorktown High School. Kelly previously ran the intake division at the Youth Opportunity Center.
“We focus on children that mostly have been given up on,” Kelly says. “I was one of those kids. I’ve been to boys’ school. I’ve been to prison. I’ve been homeless.”
The nonprofit organization Brothers 2 Brothers United, or B2B, is dedicated to bridging the gap between young and older men in the community by teaching life skills and self-awareness, developing mentorship programs, encouraging entrepreneurship and helping young men contribute to society.
B2B serves as a lifeline for at-risk male youth ages 8 to 18. The mentorship program provides children with a safe space, relatable role models, community connection and life skills for wellness, coping and financial literacy.
Wayne E. Johnson, vice chancellor of enrollment and success at Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County, recalls speaking with Kelly in the early stages of the organization’s development and building construction.
“There were no walls in the building — yet his vision was already clear,” Johnson says. “Brothers 2 Brothers United has worked tirelessly to grow into a strong support system for youth, providing them with meaningful opportunities that positively impact both their present circumstances and their future success.”
The previously dilapidated building on E. Fifth Street in Muncie had no roof, no walls and required a complete renovation.
Edward Fuse, B2B program facilitator and owner of Community Property Rentals, led the property acquisition and building renovation efforts.
“If you go into there today, it’s a new building,” Fuse says. “We’re resilient. We came up against a lot of challenges.”
The rebuilt building now serves as a hub to help rebuild the lives of male youth in Muncie. The facility features a computer lab and hosts community events and classes throughout the year. Ivy Tech Muncie-Henry County donated computers and IT assistance to the facility.
“Brothers 2 Brothers United is more than a program,” Johnson says. “It is a community of support, mentorship and opportunity. Their continued partnership with educational institutions like Ivy Tech plays an important role in expanding possibilities for the young men they serve.”
Johnson says B2B aligns closely with Ivy Tech’s mission of creating pathways to economic mobility through education.
“Both organizations are committed to supporting young people by removing barriers, increasing access to learning opportunities and helping students build a foundation for sustainable futures,” Johnson says.
B2B has strong ties with Muncie Community Schools and the Youth Opportunity Center. The nonprofit is currently developing an alternative program in partnership with the juvenile detention center.
“We are guided by our vision that all young men are capable and fully entitled to lives of meaning and contributions to their families and communities,” Fuse says.
Kelly says Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns has given B2B access to campus, allowing clients to experience the Brown Planetarium, attend football games and participate in campus tours.
Fuse says the tours help students envision a successful future.
“We’re here to build relationships and teach our children about life skills, work ethic and job training and have a safe place for them to come,” Fuse says.
Fuse is in the business of rebuilding homes and rebuilding lives.
“We just meet the needs of the individual,” Fuse says. “We build a rapport with them to understand what their needs look like.”
Fuse says a seventh-grade student entered the center reading at a second-grade level. After completing the programming at B2B, the student is now earning As and Bs and reading at an appropriate eighth-grade level.
B2B hosts community meet-and-greets throughout the year. The meetings focus on conversation, connection and purpose. Ball State students regularly lead financial literacy classes at the center.
The organization hosted its first fundraising gala, “An Evening in the Garden With Bonnets & Bowties,” in October 2025 at Ivy Tech. The gala was a night of elegance, connection and community impact.
Kelly and Fuse list many community members, businesses and organizations as supporters of B2B, including Delaware County Chief Probation Officer Jeff Hansard, Ted Baker, executive director of Innovation Connector, Mayor Dan Ridenour, Molly Harty, community partner and nonprofit relations at The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County Inc., the Ball Brothers Foundation, Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns, A-1 Muffler Shop and Battery Masters.
“We’ve had a lot of support from our community, big and small,” Kelly says.
Brothers 2 Brothers United is located at 306 E. Fifth St. in Muncie. For more information, visit facebook.com/Brothers2BrothersUnited, email info@brothers2brothersunited.org or call 765-702-4215.
