Blog

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Brace Lowe, Sr.

December 17, 2025

While we, at A Second Chance, Inc. (ASCI), feel the deep loss of Brace Lowe, Sr., we also take this moment to celebrate the incredible impact he had on all of us both professionally and personally. Brace was not only a leader – he was a source of inspiration, passion, knowledge, and vision that shaped who we are and what ASCI is today.

Brace, who mostly recently served as the Deputy Chief Executive of Program and Organization Operations, has been employed in the child welfare arena for more than 30 years. His prior work experience includes positions as caseworker, supervisor, Director of TECD, Program Master Director for Vision Quest, as well as Youth Counselor for Allegheny County Shuman Detention Center. Mr. Lowe’s wealth of experience and leadership has propelled him into one of the organization’s most charismatic and influential leaders.

More than 15 years ago, Brace developed the initiative called Camp C.O.P.E.S. (Children Optimizing Personal Experience through Sports) which is designed to give youth in kinship care the opportunity to develop teamwork, relationships, discipline, and competitive awareness skills. The camp serves as positive distraction for children who face real life challenges every day. Camp C.O.P.E.S. works with the agency Transitional Living program which serves as positive redirection for youth who are seeking the opportunity to further their education, work ethic, and overall knowledge of independence, and it continues to be impactful in the lives of its participants.

Brace served as President and CEO of Lift Empowerment, LLC, which is an organization designed to help children in care and the community, as well as, providing advocacy against racial oppression and social injustice. Brace’s vision was to counsel and provide mentoring services for all student athletes both high-school and college. Additionally, the organization would focus on empowering black youth to thrive within their communities.

 Previously, Brace was selected as one of Western Pennsylvania’s 50 Men of Excellence and was responsible for heading the Young Men & Boys Symposium. He served as a board member for BACW (The Black Administrators in Child Welfare). BACW is an advocacy, membership, research, training and technical assistance organization. Registered as a 501C3, BACW was founded in 1971 and incorporated in 1975 in New York to respond to the need for culturally appropriate services to the overrepresented African American children and families, and to provide a support network for individuals serving as executives managing child welfare and other human service agencies. Brace also served as a board member for the African American Strategic Partnership (AASP), whose vision is to play an active role in correcting disproportionality in child welfare, education, and other deep end systems where equality is achieved through the skill and experiences of African American organizations.

As a passionate, compassionate and skillful advocate for children and community improvement, Brace shared his vision of a brighter future for children and families…through the promotion of leadership development, speaking engagements, conferences, trainings, publications and coalition building.

Brace had a presence that could light up any room. His big personality was matched only by the size of his heart. Whether sharing a laugh during a busy day or offering a word of encouragement when it mattered most, Brace had a gift for making people feel seen and valued. He approached every challenge with optimism and every person with thoughtfulness, leaving behind a legacy of connection that will continue to inspire us all.

As we honor Brace’s memory, let us carry forward the values he lived by: integrity, kindness, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of youth in care through his work with  ASCI as well as in the community.