Motivational Mentoring: Coffee with Jahmeer Reynolds
I sat down over coffee to chat with Jahmeer Reynolds, founder of I-Promise, a new male mentoring program, to converse about the art of advice and the power of giving back.
Dorian: Where are you from, and what has shaped you into who you are today?
Jahmeer: I was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey in a housing development called Miller Homes. Trenton is a blue-collar town full of hard working people who struggled to make a living after most of the industries that built the city moved away. Watching my family members, especially my mother and grandmother, work 12 to 14 hour days and not complain made me realize that the only way to get ahead was through hard work and sacrifice. I applied that same work ethic to my life to achieve the goals I set for myself.
Dorian: What does mentoring mean to you?
Jahmeer: To me, mentoring means actively supporting someone as they grow, helping them define their dreams, gifts and talents and using one’s life experience to help others avoid certain pitfalls and mistakes. How many people have ever felt that if they just had someone in their corner on a consistent basis they might have achieved more? Mentoring is really all about paying it forward. The people I have assembled and I want to be there for young men in the UAE. We aim to be a group that allows mentees to explore their thoughts and ideas openly.
Dorian: I wasn’t mentored as a child and suffered a lot of loneliness because of that. Have you been mentored?
Jahmeer: I have been lucky enough to have both formal mentoring as well as role models who provided informal mentoring. When I was in high school, I was mentored by my track coach, Mr. Al Jennings. I also attended Granville Academy, which was a local mentoring programme for students aged 13 to 18, that offered introductory knowledge about business and industry. Mr. Jennings showed me that although life could get hard, I was not in it alone and that I could count on him.
Dorian: How did this shape your life later on?
Jahmeer: His impact on my life was a major influence in my decision to go away from home for college, to pledge Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and to ultimately become an educator.
Dorian: Are there currently mentoring programmes in the UAE?
Jahmeer: I am not aware of any mentoring programs in the UAE servicing expat youth.
Dorian: Why an all-male mentor group? Who will be allowed to participate and what is the cost, if any?
Jahmeer: While the mentors are all male, some of the support staff and workshop leaders and assistants are women. We want to include everyone who wants to support young men, but it is most important to create a safe space for the mentees to fully express themselves. I noticed there was a large number of single mothers with sons or women whose husbands are working in their home countries, and we wanted the young men to be as comfortable as possible discussing unique issues that they are facing in this country. The programme is exclusively for expat male youth aged 10-17, and there is no cost to participate in the programme meetings or mentoring relationships. All mentors are working as volunteers. Parents will be asked to cover the expenses associated with field trips and some other activities. Donations will be accepted to cover programme expenses and further enhance the experiences of the mentees.
Dorian: Describe some of the objectives of the mentoring program.
Jahmeer: The mentoring programme will include lifestyle coaching, hygiene, dressing and behavior, as well as nutrition classes. We will provide financial literacy workshops, creative activities such as healthy cooking classes, poetry and photojournalism workshops. We will take field trips as they relate to topics being covered in the programme as well as for fun and cultural enrichment. The young men will learn about responsible social media usage, cultural norms and laws in the UAE. We want to create a family-like atmosphere for young men who may be far away from their home countries, or who may need or desire positive male role models.
Dorian: How will programmes be offered and how often will you meet?
Jahmeer: The program will consist of both after-school and weekend meetings and activities. The weekday meetings will be informal, voluntary, and include homework help, discussions and check-in. Our evening and weekend meetings will include formal classes, activities and field trips that cover a wide variety, so each young man is sure to find something that piques his interest, builds on his individual strengths and develops confidence. We will meet at least twice a month to start.
Dorian: How can parents, potential mentors, and mentees get involved?
Jahmeer: We can be reached on our Facebook page for the I-Promise Program: www.facebook.com/groups/1647351958867681/?pnref=story or by email at ipromiseUAE@yahoo.com.
Dorian: What do you hope to achieve from a programme like this?
Jahmeer: Our primary aim is to help expat young men build self-esteem, and to spark intellectual curiosity, encourage teamwork, enhance academic and interpersonal communication skills, and encourage youth to explore their personal interests and expand their worldview. These children often have a unique set of experiences and they can benefit from connecting with others with similar life experiences as well as adults who understand their particular needs and issues. Such positive relationships can encourage children to overcome many difficulties and create a sense of belonging that encourages accountability, comfort, and a desire to achieve.
Dorian: Will there eventually be mentoring programmes for young women? And will you also have a presence in Al Ain, Dubai, and other Emirates?
Jahmeer: I would love to see this programme expand to include young ladies and other cities and Emirates. We want to start small, in order to be effective, but if we have the support, staff, and necessary resources and funding we would definitely be interested in serving a larger demographic and area.
Dorian: I was hoping you had already received funding because I’m short on my share of the bill. Can you cover it for me?
Jahmeer: *blankly stares*
