Keith Brown knows the power of mentoring, so when he recognized the need for more black male mentors in his community he stepped on to center stage to play the role of a lifetime.
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I am 23 years old African-American male on mission to embrace, impact and encourage the lives of young people. I’m dedicated to opening the eyes of youth to not only reality, but the realness in exceeding expectations and performing at their fullest potential. I was blessed to have both parents in my life, which provided me with a firm foundation. Although it wasn’t always peachy and serene in my household, every experience helped me to become the person I am today.
Growing up in South Philadelphia you quickly got used to seeing violence, drugs, abuse, and temptation. It became normal to see your friends hanging out in the streets selling drugs, using drugs, going to jail and getting out and doing it all over again. You were trained to watch your back for what lurks in the dark—it was as if the world you were born in was already upside down. However, my mother made huge sacrifices so that I didn’t become a product of the environment I was living in. I had the opportunity to travel and seek out new adventures.
At an early age I was introduced to somebody that would not only become my coach, but a mentor that would do everything possible to keep me from going in the wrong direction. His name was Steve Bandura, head coach of the Anderson Monarchs and Philadelphia Stars. Through sports, he opened my eyes to the world outside of my small world in South Philly. Under his mentorship, I traveled all across the east coast—playing baseball, basketball, and soccer. During our travels my teammates and I faced adversity, judgment, and racism, but Steve instilled in us to never succumb to that level of disgrace and disrespect that was shown towards us. I learned to treat others the way I wanted to be treated, regardless of what was said or done against me. I learned to work together with people from different cultures and backgrounds, understanding that we, too, are similar in ideas, passions, and life goals.
After coming back home to Philly from our trip(s), I could see a difference—a difference in how people acted towards each other and how they acted as individuals. Sadly, I still didn’t see the change in those individuals that I wanted to see.
As I grew older I felt the need to do something new. Luckily I was able to join a program at the Philadelphia Zoo, which enabled me to travel overseas to South Africa and Botswana. This experience changed my life and the way I think drastically. For the first time I saw what actual poverty was: families sharing a shack with three other families—but they were still happy and joyous about life. I was in culture shock; I couldn’t understand how they could be so happy and still willing to help out those who were better off; those who had more luxuries in life. Then it hit me: they were so happy because they had love and the eagerness to make the best out of what they had – it was humbling.
I came home and proceeded with my life and later enrolled in college at Tuskegee University, in Tuskegee, Alabama. This is where I became my own man and started living on my own, but it wasn’t easy. After my third year in college I was struggling to pay tuition, put food on the table and pay my bills on time. Doing the one thing I thought I’d never do, I began selling drugs. I was arrested, but luckily I was given a second chance. I decided to come back home and start all over again. I enrolled myself at Community College of Philadelphia and then after a year I transferred to Temple University.
Along with a few friends, I started an arts initiative program for inner city youth. My mission for this program is to allow the youth of tomorrow to lead today by giving them the opportunities to express themselves in music, dance and design. I felt compelled to help change someone else life while trying to better mine. As a black male, deeply rooted in my culture, I felt that our culture needed to be heard, seen, acknowledged, and respected! I knew I was not the only one feeling like this so I extended this to my community. U-Ville, the Urban Village, is not only an arts program, but a mentoring program that’s dedicated to embracing, empowering, educating, and encouraging young people. I want youth to be given a chance at an early age—like I was—in hopes they will blossom into greatness and lead others to serve.
Without mentorship lives could drastically be wasted. Without mentorship chances of change would be merely a thought. As a product of effective mentorship, I boldly say: We need more male black leaders in our community! We need more culture relevance in our activities and in the content we consume. Time is precious and I am willing to use mine to encourage our youth to do what is best for tomorrow. I was given the chance and now I’m simply trying to pay it forward.
Happy National Mentoring Month! Celebrate by becoming a mentor today!
CLICK HERE TO SEE BLACK MALE MENTORS IN THE NEWS!
Keith Brown is the Founder and Executive Director of Urban Village.
**Editors note: Christopher “Flood The Drummer” Norris has curated all of these stories from the mentors in his community for a special a series on mentoring. After the series is complete all of the essays will be made into a book by TechbookOnline.
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Hi Christopher, Thank you for this article. I can certainly relate, only I did only graduate last year. Coming from a third world country, and now residing in a first world one, on a recent trip back I suddenly realized how lucky I’ve been to have had two responsible parents, who understood the value of education and being your own person. I appreciate how easy it could have been for me to have been married off once I hit legal age etc. Especially when I see children working school nights at parent’s food stalls etc., instead of being home and… Read more »
I meant that for Keith btw. Sorry!