Our Projects

Our main project is our 16-week mentorship program. The basic idea is simple: show at-risk youth from underserved communities that, with the right support and inspiration, they can achieve anything. To accomplish that, we bring in professionals from across New Jersey to give testimonials on the potential within each and every young person. Here are some of our excellent mentors:

Mentorship Program

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones is a native of Neptune Township, New Jersey. He graduated from Kean University and currently works in Washington DC as a contractor for the United States Armed Forces. Kevin Jones exemplifies the idea that excellence can come from humble beginnings. Raised in a single-parent home, Kevin Jones dreamed of escaping poverty. His testimonials touch on the power of hard work, following your dreams, and having mentors in your life to guide you. We are so happy to have Kevin Jones as part of our mentorship program.

Monica Ellis

Monica Ellis is a native of Newark, New Jersey, and has been an educator there for close to two decades. Recently, Monica has pursued her dream of fashion design, creating the line Monica’s Revamp’d. She has styled for artists ranging from Tasha Cobbs to Fantasia. Touching on her early life in foster care and her experience as an entrepreneur, educator, and mom, Ms. Ellis’ testimonials are both powerful and empowering for the young women of our mentorship program.

JD Williams

JD Williams is an actor, writer, producer, acting trainer, blogger, and activist. He has performed on the big and small screen, and is a dedicated father as well. Despite this busy schedule, JD Williams made time to speak with our mentees, for which we are very grateful. His testimonials touch on growing up in a similar environment to many of New Jersey’s youth, and the struggles that come with that. He is a living example to young people that with enough focus and discipline, anyone can thrive.

Jamil Cross

Jamil Cross was one of the first mentors to speak to the participants of our program. As an ironworker, Jamil knows what it means to take pride in your craft. He knows that it takes effort, dedication, and bravery to perform your best 1,700 feet above the ground. What Jamil really takes pride in, however, are his achievements as a father. We were so grateful to have Mr. Cross contribute to our program, delivering a testimonial that emphasized the importance of legacy and passing on knowledge.

Edward Hall

Detective Edward Hall is an Officer for the Orange County Police Department. A Newark native, Detective Hall is always thinking about ways to give back to his community. With such a professional background, Hall was able to educate the group on the importance of black entrepreneurship. In these times the dynamic of a police officer in a room of at-risk youth is usually one of hostility and distrust. But Det. Hall was able to articulate himself as a black man first, proudly performing a duty that other black men and women could feel empowered by.

Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell was no stranger to trouble as a youth, following an all-too familiar direction towards violence. What changed his trajectory was fatherhood. Sean decided to join the military, hoping that the culture and brotherhood it offered would give him the discipline to be a great father. Sean did two tours of Iraq and honorably served for 14 years as a combat medic. Now a father of three, Sean’s testimonial emphasized both the struggles he has faced and the experiences he can pass on as a result.