Small hands squish blue, green and yellow playdough, carefully shaping it into a brain. As they mold each piece, the room fills with excited voices:
“Frontal lobe!”
“Temporal lobe!”
“Cerebellum!”
At the center of the activity is Isaiah Buffong, Hope through Housing’s 2025 Bank of America Student Leader intern. This summer, at the affordable housing community of Villaggio on Route 66, Isaiah is helping young minds explore the science of the heart and brain – and discover what’s possible.
“I was able to inspire them and show them paths they didn’t know existed,” Isaiah said.
A rising senior at Ontario Christian High School, Isaiah’s own path into medicine is deeply personal. Inspired by his mother – a medical advisor who offers critical guidance to families – he grew up with a passion for science and a desire to serve. Through his school and church, Isaiah has always looked for ways to give back. Now, Hope through Housing is helping him take that passion even further.
Through our Building Bright Futures program, Isaiah is learning how to connect with students in ways that are both meaningful and fun.
“Working with kids wasn’t something I had experience in,” he shared. “But this opportunity pushed me to find creative ways to make complex ideas simple.”
From colorful brain models to a DIY heart pump made of jars, balloons, straws and red-tinted water, Isaiah brings science to life for our young residents. His hands-on lessons have been a hit – especially among the aspiring young doctors. He also led volunteer teams to prepare balloon car and slime kits for the Life Science Cares fair in San Diego.
Jaclyn Murphy, Hope’s Volunteer Coordinator, says Isaiah’s presence has been transformational.
“Isaiah brought such energy, creativity, and heart to every activity,” she said. “Watching him break down science in ways kids could understand – and watching them light up in response – was truly inspiring. He’s not only a role model, but a reminder of the power young leaders have to make a difference.”
Isaiah is part of Bank of America’s Student Leaders program, which equips high school students with the tools and experiences to become the leaders of tomorrow. It’s part of the bank’s broader commitment to youth employment and economic mobility.
“Breaking the cycle of poverty is at the heart of our mission,” said Alyssa Cotter, Vice President of Hope through Housing. “We’re proud to partner with organizations like Bank of America to create pathways to stability and opportunity for the next generation.”
As Isaiah looks ahead to a future in medicine, he’s already leaving an impact – one playdough brain and heart pump at a time.