I have just created a Not for Profit Corporation in Washington State, United States, that will focus on supporting Non-Profit Organizations (NPO's) in the recruitment and retention of at-risk young men by marketing their existing programs through a local and then national Get In Gear marketing campaign with the support of professional athletes. This marketing campaign will only add to the existing marketing programs these organizations already have and Get In Gear will focus on reaching the youth who are not participating in these programs (typically programs are successful at the younger age, but there are many young men who are at-risk, and not participating in positive development programs). We will support organizations focusing on young men's development (later young women) in the areas of:
Job Readiness
Civic Engagement
Health and Wellness
Multi-Cultural Leadership
and my support and implementation of Young Men's Leadership Boards (YMLB)
**Young Men's Leadership Boards will give young men a voice and the ability to become facilitators and leaders in their communities as well as have a hands on ability to create their own programs. These young men will help address issues of programming, recruitment, retention in existing programs. Through the Get In Gear Incentive program, we seek to pull in the young men who need this programming the most.
Seattle is the pilot city for 2008. We get our funding through professional athletes, grants, and community partnerships. Get in Gear will move the program to other locations in the U.S. and will someday seek to expand the program globally.
Get in Gear also facilitates relationships between professional athlete foundations to create a better system of communication, Get in Gear will become the connector for all professional athlete foundations and athletes that wish to participate, we will facilitate silent auction item exchange and support of their programming and fundraising efforts.
I took a trip to Kenya and it was the most amazing, humbling experience. although I have traveled to a few places in the world, Kenya is by far the most meaningful spot to me. I came back to the states with an appreciation for what I have and a sense of the world around me. I would advise a trip to Africa to anyone.
There are so many positive changes I would like to see happen around the world, but at this point in my life I choose to focus on the development of young men. I would like to see at risk young men become a productive part of society and become changemakers themselves.
I currently work for several professional athletes in the NBA and NFL putting on charitable events for a cause of their choice, their foundation, or something as simple as a sports camp. My expertise originates from my many years of volunteering, then working for the Seattle Supersonics as a Community Relations Intern turned Assistant while in college at the University of Washington.
I also work part time for the City of Seattle in Teen Signature Programs, which creates, runs and monitors city-wide teen programs through grants and other sources of funding.
I have worked with all ages of youth, worked in the social and private sectors, and have been able to see how the relationship between the two can create positive social change for members of our communities locally, nationally, and globally.
