The BUILD Health Challenge community – including awardees, alumni, funders, and partners – gathered in San Diego in May 2025 to observe a decade of BUILD. While we celebrated milestones, we also focused on the lessons learned and power gained from the community-led approach that is at the heart of BUILD collaboratives, and looked ahead to our shared future.
Read more about the convening.
To capture the convening through the eyes of those shaping this work every day, we asked two Awardee Council members – one from BUILD’s first cohort and one from our current cohort – to share what the 10-year celebration meant to them, in their own words.
Reflection from Kellie Teter – BUILD 1.0 Alum, Denver, CO
The convening gave me exactly the recharge I needed. It reminded me that I’m not alone in this fight. I left hopeful and inspired by others who are continuing to push for change and movement building at the local level.
Before I even got to the sign-in desk at the 10-year celebration, I could almost taste it: that warm blend of the BUILD cup of tea – excitement, comfort, and spice. The taste that I have come to crave, from that special blend we call BUILD.
“The BUILD Health Challenge 10-year celebration was a perfect pick me up – like a spicy cup of tea.”
My mind jumped back to 10 years earlier. We were gathered in a large lecture hall among a new group of people: the BUILD 1.0 awardees. The message we heard was exciting: “We are engaging here in an experiment…together. We are declaring a new way of funding, of improving health, and of building collaboration.” Back then, there was cautious excitement and a healthy dose of discomfort in the face of something new, but gradually, something really special developed.
I’m someone who says “no” until I am a “yes.” I’m not a skeptic – I just need to see action. Over the 10 years, even though the project I was part of was only funded by BUILD that first round, I kept coming back to participate in this community.
My experience at the celebration was so affirming. I kept catching glimmers of the growth that we had all made as grantees, colleagues, and partners. Being part of BUILD changed my expectations of myself, funders, and organizational leaders. There is just something about the mix of that opening promise 10 years ago combined with the folks in the room today that spiked a whole lot of heart for justice and real wellbeing.
There I was, across from the water in San Diego, sipping that special blend of tea – the kind that is collectively created, that somehow both changes and sustains us, sip after sip. This convening reminded me why I keep coming back.
Reflection from Moyosore A. S. Buari – BUILD 4.0 Awardee, San Diego, CA
As a current BUILD Awardee, it was fulfilling to see our San Diego team take the stage at the convening to share our collaborative work through Neighborhood Networks. We were intentional about how we presented our story: centering housing stability as a critical health issue and uplifting our Housing Navigation and Community Health Workforce teams as equal partners. That moment of visibility for our partners was a highlight for me.
Beyond our team’s presentation, what stood out most was the atmosphere of joy, connection, and abundance that flowed throughout the convening. It felt like a peaceful space where everyone could exhale, connect, and be nourished. You could feel the care that went into the event – from the movement breaks to the creative networking, the awardee/alumni voices, the healthy food (300% bonus points for the fully halal menu!), and the location with beautiful scenery.
“In a field often clouded by scarcity, I observed leading with abundance within the same industry – and it further inspired my own leadership for improved health services to communities.”
The benefits of operating from abundance as leaders were evident: there were no limitations or competitions, rather meaningful connections were sought with each other. This approach allows partners to be creative, innovative, resourceful, and supportive of others.
Observing this community and network building approach in Atlanta’s convening a few years ago as an attendee, and later in closer proximity as part of the planning committee for the San Diego convening, has been a humbling privilege. Realigning with the inherent abundance of the collective, and the support to make intuitive ideas become reality, has been a transformational learning experience.
The convening was a celebration of BUILD’s past, and a glimpse of the future we are all trying to build together. To keep that momentum going, I am looking forward to continuous engagement as part of the National Network where we can continue collaborating, sharing ideas, and nurturing the relationships that make all this possible.
Kellie and Moyosore’s reflections remind us that this convening was a source of inspiration because of the folks who showed up and the environment they create. The people present represented a living network of changemakers committed to making the world a healthier place for everyone around them.
BUILD is deeply grateful for Kellie and Moyosore’s leadership on the Awardee Council over the past year, their contributions to the convening, and the many ways they’ve strengthened the community through their BUILD collaboratives and beyond.
With the launch of the BUILD National Network, there will be even more opportunities for collaboration and connection. If you are a current or past BUILD awardee, email us to receive updates on how you can get involved, contribute your voice, and join us in building what’s next!
