Torry Labon

Name: Torry Labon

Age: 26

College: California State University Dominguez Hills

Major: Business Administration: Finance concentration

Grad Year: 2010

Master's Degree: Accounting

Grad Year: 2013 (December)

About Torry: My mother was addicted to crack from the time of my birth until I was about 16 years old, maybe even longer. I've never met nor have I ever known who my biological father was and I was raised by my grandmother. Though battling a drug addiction, my mother still managed to be around throughout my childhood. Dealing with my own family issues and living in South Central Los Angeles, I sought to find a way to progress and not be trapped by the ills of my surroundings. At an early age I discovered the importance of money management, which would later prove to be what I was most passionate about.

After graduating from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles I chose to stay local to pursue higher education. I chose Cal State University Dominguez Hills because of its close proximity to my home. Just as I enrolled in the fall of 2003 I was hospitalized which forced me to withdraw from classes my Freshman year. I picked back up on my studies in the fall of 2004, at which point I was a math major. In 2006 I became interested in Real Estate so I took 2 years off of school to pursue a career in real estate. After the collapse of the housing market I went back to school in 2008 to pursue a degree that was more fitting to my interest, which was Finance. In 2010 I completed the requirements for my bachelors degree in Finance.

While studying for my degree in Finance I found that I had become as passionate about people as I had been all my life about numbers. With that said I began to find different ways to give to those who were in need. In 2011 myself and one of my good friends, Jarred Wilkins, began feeding the homeless at downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row. During the year we had four events there called “Help Us Serve Us” where we were able to feed nearly 1,000 people.

Growing up and being passionate about sports and finding out the importance of higher education, I started a company on December 21st 2011 called The Athletic Corner. At The Athletic Corner we specialize in custom Letterman Jackets, Varsity Sweaters, Chenille Patches, and Fitness apparel. Every sale that is made by The Athletic Corner a portion of the proceeds are given to The Athletic Corner Scholarship Fund. The purpose of the TAC Scholarship Fund is to provide financial assistance to graduating High School seniors who are both needing and deserving. This past December we hosted a #31DaysOfFitness Challenge in which we challenged our followers on twitter to stay fit and help us raise money for scholarships. Far too often we hear of kids not pursuing higher education because they can’t afford it. With these two companies I plan on changing that one, scholarship at a time!

What is your life's mission?

My life's mission is to bring financial literacy to those in the inner city who don't have access to and/or know about how to manage their finances. Philanthropy is also one of my goals in life. I want to make more money to be able to give more money!

What does being a black man mean to you?

The way that I feel about being black is similar to how many felt during the late 50's & 60's. In those times Black people forged bonds with one another on more than just the family level, primarily due to the fact that oppression was so overt. During those times we all shared at least one thing in common, whether you were poverty stricken or from the middle class, being oppressed. Over time as conditions became better the sense of community and the need to care for one another turned into the crabs in a bucket mentality. So being a black man means being a man of strength, not in stature but will! Being a family man and most importantly being a community leader!


"Dealing with my own family issues and living in South Central Los Angeles, I sought to find a way to progress and not be trapped by the ills of my surroundings"

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Ashley Causey

Name: Ashley Causey

Age: 26

College: Wilberforce University of Ohio

Major: Business Management/Marketing

Grad Year: 2008

Masters: Media Communications

Grad Year: 2010

About Ashley: I am a servant-leader who desires to leave a legacy of being civically engaged, culturally connected and spiritually led. Dedicated to my life's mission, I aspire to teach and instill a sense of purpose in everyone I come in contact with. I have been given many platforms throughout classrooms, communities, air-waves, programs and initiatives across the country, which has allowed me to bring a guiding light on pressing social issues.

Growing up I had one passion and that was people. No matter what activity I’ve been involved in or what job I had, one thing that motivated me the most was my compassion to help others. Through that, I’ve been able to collaborate, volunteer and work with many non-profit organizations in the Bay Area, including but not limited to, BUILD, Public Allies; Silicon Valley, the Princess Project, Asian American Festival, Gardner Community Center, Social Justice for Teachers Inc. I’ve also facilitated numerous workshops with youth including my most popular titled "Self Justice is Social Justice" and "Media Impact: The Influence on Urban Youth". Any aspect of personal development through education, and religion has been the driving force in all that I choose to embark upon.'

Despite all of my various appointments I understand “I am” because so many people who have gone before me “were.” I am a beneficiary of a family and community that has wrapped their arms around me, demanded greatness and physically, mentally and spiritually supported all my pursuits. I am currently traveling and working abroad in Europe. Completing my first book "Dreams Of Joy: A Journey to Find Power, Love, and Sound Mind" set for distribution in 2013.

My business, Ashley Joy Speaks (ashleyjoyspeaks.com), offers professional and personal development for those men, women, and youth who desire to go higher. I offer one-on-one coaching, seminars and workshops, live presentations, syndicated content (print, online, tv), etc. I believe that greatness resides in all of us and I want to be apart of the process of helping you discover that greatness.

What is your life's mission?

My mission in life has always been to be a builder of confidence not a destroyer of spirits. I love celebrating the life of each individual I come in contact with. It's vital to me to nurture others gifts, while encouraging them live up to their full potential. My heart is with the people, I don't approach any work with the mindset of doing anyone a favor. I have a life-long commitment to service, and I fight for the weak and understand the hurt. I am a woman of conviction and not conformity. Through my faith I am commanded to live differently according to a higher loyalty, I am for the people and not myself.

What does being a black woman mean to you?

Strength, endurance, resiliency, tenacity, faith are a few words that comes to mind when I think of my position as a black woman. I am a descendant of Queens who freed themselves from the oppression of slavery, who fought for my right and position to vote, who liberated themselves in accepting the complexities of their beauty, all while raising, supporting and loving their families and others. Since I was in my Mothers womb the journey that was set before me as a black woman is that of a standard of excellence. It also enables me to be a greater spiritual being whose able to enlighten the masses about the divine power of God and his artistry, who has created so many distinct differences in all human kind. In a world today were media influence has portrayed Black Women in a negative light, I still stand with my head held high, proud of who I am, my heritage and the legacy of the women who have carried this world on their back so that I can be of service to others. I will forever be proud to be a black woman!

"I have a life-long commitment to service, and I fight for the weak and understand the hurt. I am a woman of conviction and not conformity. Through my faith I am commanded to live differently according to a higher loyalty, I am for the people and not myself."

                                             

Contact Ashley:
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George Stewart II

Name: George Stewart II

Age: 33

College: University of Southern Mississippi

Major: Sports Administration with a minor in Business Admin

Grad Year: 2004

Awards: Toastmasters Best Speaker Award

About George: George Stewart II is an award nominated educator, author, writer, and speaker who is dedicated to helping young men realize their potential and empowering them to live their best life.

Aside from teaching and mentoring, George is also an education, fatherhood, youth development, family, and relationship issues contributor. His work has appeared on several websites and in national magazines, where his work has gained thousands of viewers. He is currently a contributor to Healthy Black Men magazine. George has also been interviewed on issues such as the “black man”, love, and family.

George is constantly gaining opportunities to further his education in the hopes that he can help other young men become successful in life. He has obtained the credential of Fatherhood Practitioner and Healthy Relationships Educator and studied exercise science and counseling on the graduate school level. George’s passion for young men's development stems from his belief that “strong men = strong families and strong families = strong communities". George is a proud husband, father, and member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. 

At the beginning of 2013, George published his first book entitled, Words Of Wisdom For My Son. "I wrote this book in hopes that it would help change a young man’s life or help a young man continue down the right path."

What is your life's mission?

My mission in life is to help young people, especially young men, realize their potential and empower them and help equip them with the tools needed to live their best possible life.

What does being a black man mean to you?

Being a black man means understanding that “black male” stereotypes still exist. “We are angry, we are violent, we don’t take care of our children, we are cheaters, we’re not as smart as our white counterparts, etc.” However, I, along with other black men, know that we are blessed with the intellectual capacity and moral fiber needed to destroy these “black male” stereotypes. Finally, being a black man means that I am a part of a brotherhood. And as brothers, we must do what we can to elevate one another.

"Being a black man means understanding that “black male” stereotypes still exist ... However, I, along with other black men, know that we are blessed with the intellectual capacity and moral fiber needed to destroy these “black male” stereotypes"

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Jasmine Crowe

Name: Jasmine Crowe 

Age: 29

College: Northern Carolina Central University

Major: Broadcast Journalism and Communication

Grad Year: 2005 

Master's Degree: Business Administration

Grad Year: 2007

About Jasmine: Compassionate, Zealous, Visionary and Inspiring are just a few of the words that describe Jasmine Crowe, the 29 year old MBA graduate who is working to make the world a better place, one day at a time. The impetus behind Jasmine’s drive is simply making the world a better place. With an uncommon goal of fostering change and creating awareness on the world’s leading socioeconomic issues and challenges including: poverty, health, education and energy to name a few. Jasmine created Black Celebrity Giving (BCG) in 2011, the site serves as a platform to inform audiences of ways to give back in black communities across the world.

"I wanted to create a paradigm shift, I wanted to create a site where people can come and get information and insight on how to make the world a better place. As we began our work, I knew that we could do more if we worked with nonprofits on a grassroots level, so we are creating an Urban Giving Center to serve as an incubator both in person and online for non-profits to truly reach their potential." 

Born in Texas and growing up as a military child, she has resided in Texas, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, and North Carolina where she attended high school in Charlotte and college at North Carolina Central University in Durham with a background in public relations, celebrity foundation management and events. Jasmine has successfully created events and fundraising initiatives for organizations: The Boys & Girls Club, All in For a Cause, Discoverlaw.org, Mack's Miracle's and The Miss Black Arizona Scholarship Foundation, which she founded in 2008. In addition to her most cherished work in the non-profit arena, she has spearheaded campaigns and executed events across the United States for some of the country's preeminent venues, brands and acts including: Studio 54 in the MGM Grand Las Vegas, Grammy award winner Common, Soulja Boy, boxing champion Wink Wright, NFL Pro-Bowler Marcus McNeill, former NBA All-Star Allen Iverson, Peter Kent Luxury Leather Handbags, Belvedere Vodka, Cadillac, Vitamin Water, Hummer, Nike and Tiffany & Co. 

A public and motivational speaker, Jasmine has delivered a message to audiences around the country and has served and moderated panels in business, education, technology and entertainment realms. Jasmine lives by the saying, "if God is for me then who can be against me," and knows that in her life the sky is the limit. Her hobbies include: mentoring, traveling, reading, writing, giving back, church, spending time with family and friends and working out. Jasmine currently resides in Atlanta, GA where she plans to open the first office for BCG and launch the Urban Giving Center to serve nonprofits. She is working on her first book titled Lessons Learned in my Twenties, slated to release fall 2013. 

"I have overcome so much in my life, since being a teenager, I have had good days and bad days. I made a lot of mistakes as a young entrepreneur as it related to credit, business partners you name it; but I like to look at them as life lessons and I've learned from them."

What is your life's mission? 
I am guided by the vision of what I believe BCG can be. Originally my goal was to uplift, enlighten, spotlight, encourage and entertain through the medium of an online website. Now, my life's mission for BCG is to use this platform to transform people’s lives, to make our readers know that even the simplest form of giving can help create social change. I want to train nonprofit leaders and help them reach their individual goals. And although it may sound a bit cliche, I do hope to make the world a better place.

What does being a black woman mean to you? 
Being a black woman to me, means handwork, power and perseverance. I know the sacrifices that have been made for me to be here today. I take pride in representing all black women in a positive light. 


"I want to train nonprofit leaders and help them reach their individual goals. And although it may sound a bit cliche, I do hope to make the world a better place"

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Howard Jean

Name: Howard Jean

Age: 30

College: Claflin University

Major: Elementary Education & Teaching

Grad Year: 2004

Masters Degree: Social Philosophical Foundations in Education

Grad Year: 2009

Awards:  2011 UNCF Young Alumni of the Year Award Recipient, 2011 Recipient of the “Key to the City” Award, Columbia, SC, 2010 Community Service Award Recipient from the Germantown Community & Local Churches, 2010 Honoree for the 10^th Anniversary of Call Me MISTER Scholars Program at Claflin University

About Howard: Howard Jean has served various roles in the field of education as a teacher, coordinator, consultant, curriculum developer and on-air personality throughout the country. As a mentor and public speaker, Howard has influenced students across the nation with his message of “Embracing your own celebrity, celebrating your own identity” and empowering them to make a deliberate decision to be great and rise above mediocrity.

Howard has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Tavis Smiley Radio Show, USA Today, Associated Press Articles, Jet Magazine, Essence Magazine and was recently featured on the cover of ARETE Magazine for his humanitarian work as an educator. Howard regularly travels across the US speaking to youth groups, professionals in the field of education, parents and related members in the areas of student development, teacher training, community development and self-empowerment.

From 2008 to 2011, Howard served as Director of the Call Me MISTER program at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. The MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Towards Effective Role Models) is a collegiate program designed to encourage and support African American males to dedicate their lives to becoming role models in the field of education. As a product and partner with the program for the past 11 years, Jean created a pilot and complimentary program for women interested in teaching Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The program is entitled Teach STEM Scholarship Project (TS2 Project) and is in its 4th year of programming. In 2012, Howard served as the Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Augusta Richmond County in which he supported in increasing the graduation rates of high school students in the Richmond County Public School System, utilizing “Race To The Top” Funding.

Howard is the Principal of SEIL (Success through Education, Inspiration & Leadership); an education based consulting firm and speaking bureau that specializes in working/partnering with organizations and institutions to help develop unique and innovate programs to address multi-faceted issues that affect specific communities. The organizations core focus is program development, leadership training and teaching innovations. SEIL also offers various services that help enhance an organizations profile through branding strategies, marketing and the development of strategic plans to meet the goals of the client.

Howard's accomplishments didn't come without its obstacles. Howard grew up without his father in the home leaving his mother to raise him. "I was blessed to have a mother who did her best to never let me feel the pain of a fatherless home by doing everything in her power to be everything any kid would ever need. Overcoming those hardships were possible because of a sound household, great rearing, a lot of love and discipline. Tragedies have a habit of shaping the person you become. Through the pain and abandonment came a man who only wants to serve, give & love as much as he can during his time on this earth."

Howard currently resides in Philadelphia, PA where he volunteers with educational programs for youth, mentors the next generation of classroom educators and serves on various boards that allow him to give back, empower others and increase entrepreneurship among young people and minorities.

What is your life's mission?

My life’s mission is to build sustainable communities (local & global) through innovative programming, influencing policy decision, philanthropic endeavors and developing leaders who will perpetuate the same.

What does being a black man mean to you?

Being a black man in today’s society means to bear; honor, shame, fear and hope. There’s honor, not only in the uncanny resemblance our President has with the once lauded “lower common denominator” is now at the head of the global table of leadership. The same resemblance of ethnicity cloaks the souls of many ancestors who gave their lives so that we can have a seat on the chariot, bus, board rooms and in the Senate Chambers. 

We as black men bear the shame of our families, communities, ancestors and future generations because of the disease stricken seeds we harvest in the lives of our young people; bearers of our darkness rather than our light. We as Black Men bear the shame displaced on us from our former oppressors which we in turn displaced on one another.

We know as black men, it is not enough to go to the best schools, work the hardest, be the smartest, run the fastest, write the best, speak articulately, be the best stewards of our religion and know all the correct answers. We know that hope and faith are the variables that allow us to continue our journey.

The complexities that exist within our culture as men who are black are results of hardships, institutionalized agendas, psychological conditioning and generations of damaged souls. Those same complexities and misfortunes produced some of the world’s most iconic, talented, controversial, dynamic & strongest human beings. America has dealt us an interesting hand that we’ve learned how to manipulate and because I’m a betting man who sees that images of success have an uncanny resemblance to me; betting on black are the only odds I chose to play. I’m playing to win and for keeps.

"The complexities that exist within our culture as men who are black are results of hardships, institutionalized agendas, psychological conditioning and generations of damaged souls. Those same complexities and misfortunes produced some of the world’s most iconic, talented, controversial, dynamic & strongest human beings."

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Chad Nevills

Name: Chad Nevills

Age: 26

College: Southern University A&M - Baton Rouge

Major: Computer Science Major

Grad year: 2007

Masters program: MBA w/concentration in Project Management

College: Florida Institute of Technology

Grad date: 2012

About Javon: I'm the eldest of three boys, growing up in small town with dreams of becoming a professional athlete.  Most of my childhood was spent on video games and playing sports. I think I was a "jock" for the most part; football, baseball, and track practice were the highlights of my days. I made "ok" grades while in high school as my main focuses were on whatever sport I was playing at the time.  By the time graduation time came around, I was ashamed of myself after realizing just how much I'd played around in school after finishing with a GPA of 2.5. Then reality kicked in, there was no more football... no more baseball... no more track, it was either go to college or go out and find work somewhere to make a living for myself.

There were two distinct instances where I was motivated to do more for myself; Sometime during my sophomore year my mom told me, that during a school visit, my calculus teacher, Coach Heintz, told her that I'd never make it through college because my math skills were so poor. I was more determined and motivated to do well after this; as learning became my top priority, I simply applied myself and everything sort of just fell into place. The grades, the internship, the growing knowledge, it all started happening for me and after 4 years, I graduated. This time around, I felt a lot better about what I'd accomplished. Then, the summer prior to graduating, I'd worked at a Wal-Mart Distribution center loading trucks in the sweltering heat of the summer. I knew for sure I did not want to do that for the rest of my life so I decided to follow my best friend and go to college.
  
My knowledge and love for computers led me to pursue a degree in computer science. I figured computer science was basically going to be the "engineering" of computers, but boy was I ever wrong. The next step was to do something I'd not done probably since grade school (pick up a book and actually read it!). I was determined to do well, especially after ending my high school tenure on such a bad note. I was the first male on either side of my family to EVER graduate college. After a few months of job searching, and interviews, I got a couple offers and ended up accepting a job with a Fortune 500 company,  Boeing, in Herndon, Va and the rest is pretty much history.

I did make sure to pay a visit to Mr. Coach H about a year ago to let him know what I was up to these days ;-). Of course I didn't let him know that I was aware of what he'd informed my mother of but it felt good to let him know that not only had I made it through college.... but I finished in the ever-so math heavy subject of Computer Science... and was an engineer!


What is your life's mission?
I am constantly learning more and more about myself and how this world operates.  Nothing pleases me more than seeing our black people succeed in life. My mission is to serve as a role model, I want to be someone who my fellow African American men and women look up to; someone they can come to when they need to talk whether its career related, life, or what have you, I just want to help. It's always a pleasure to talk to college students to inform them about how they should prepare themselves before they step out into the real world.  I'm constantly searching the job search wire for internships that I may be able to forward over to one of my professors back at Southern University so that she may distribute them out to students. Whatever I can do to help, every little bit counts.

What does being a black man mean to you?
PERSEVERANCE!  It isn't a matter of black is beautiful as much as it is white is not all that's beautiful.  I am black. We black men have come a long way since the days of slavery through perseverance. I am black, I am man. That means to the public eye, I have to work that much harder to be accepted in society. The world is hard on black men, but I refuse to be stuck in a limited image. I realize that I'm black, but I like to be viewed as a person, and this is everybody's wish. I am here to show that I can do anything I want, I can be as successful as I allow myself to be, no stereotype is ever going to get in my way just as my ancestors did. I want to take responsibility for future generations and how they carry themselves. We're more than just athletes that can jump extremely high, run extremely fast. We can be more than just entertainers; we can be whatever we want to be. If I can make 1/10 the difference the likes of MLK, Malcolm X, etc made, then I consider that successful. Every little bit counts :).   


"I am black, I am man. That means to the public eye, I have to work that much harder to be accepted in society"

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Trimaine Davis

Name: Trimaine Davis

Age: 27

College: San Diego State University

Major: Education & Africana Studies

Grad year: 2006

Masters Program: Education w/concentration in Eduational Leadership

  

Highlights: Trimaine Davis Leadership Award, Presidential Leadership Award, The Ko-Alition, Greg Ashford Memorial Scholarship, Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB)

About Trimaine: I was born in Pittsburg California a small city in the Bay Area and lost both of my parents to drug addiction. I was raised by my grandmother, she taught me the importance of having strong values such as self- determination and focus.

Throughout my life I've always enjoyed playing basketball. It has always been a Davis family tradition to be an athlete and I decided to fully pursue the dream of playing basketball on a collegiate level. In high school I was heavily recruited by universities such as Kansas State, Oregon, Oregon State, USF and Texas A&M, but ultimately chose to attend San Diego State University where I dedicated my collegiate career to my late, great, close friend, Greg Ashford who served as the Men’s Basketball captain my junior and senior year in High School. My passion and leadership were incredibly felt on the basketball court and inspired Coach Steve Fisher to create an honorary award, the Trimaine Davis Leadership Award for the Men’s Basketball Team. Not only did I strive to be a leader on the basketball court, I made sure my leadership influence shined through on the campus of San Diego State University. Ultimately I was one of the few student-athletes to blend in with my fellow African American student-peers.

At SDSU I majored in Africana Studies / Education and remained heavily active in many organizations such as the San Diego State University Afrikan Student Union, (ASU) Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB) and the Association of Africana Studies Majors and Minors. I feel as though one of my best student accomplishments was the creation of my own organization called, The Ko-Alition. I created the Ko-Alition  to help bridge the social gap between African American students and student-athletes on campus and it's still in existence. I went on to become the first student-athlete to receive the 2006 Presidential Leadership Award from the Associated Students of SDSU.

I'm currently employed at San Diego State University Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) as an Officer of Outreach, in the Recruitment and Admission department. The EOP Office is a program dedicated to educational equity and college access for underprivileged low-socioeconomic future first-generation students. I also oversee the Men’s Leadership & Mentor After School Program called the VitaMEN, that was housed at the Nubia Leadership Academy. The VitaMEN is now undergoing plans to move to O’ Farrell Middle School in Southeast San Diego. The biggest accomplishment of my young career came this past January in my home town of Pittsburg CA, as I planned the 1^st Annual Greg Ashford Memorial Scholarship Alumni Basketball Game. The Alumni Game was a great success raising over $5,000 for two $1,500 scholarships for two graduating seniors at Pittsburg High School.

What is your life's mission?
I believe my life mission is to continue the legacy and tradition my Fore Fathers. My purpose in life is to be the living example of the motto Be More & Live Life Striving. My calling is to educate my young people who have been deemed as unreachable. I believe it is my calling to help inspire a habitual vision inside of our young people. I also realize in order to educate I must be educated, so my calling is a humbling calling because I understand my road to greatness is always under-construction.  

What does being a black man mean to you?
Being a Black man is both the greatest gift I have ever received and also the grandest challenge I have ever faced. I am now at place in my mind, heart and soul of understanding the essence of where I from.  Without a doubt I know I am the original man. I know I am a descendent of my past legends and it’s because of them that I am giant today! I also feel the effects of my history in this country I am force to call home.  I still feel the lingering effects of 1619. I still feel the pain of the 3/5 rule,  There strife still remains from the treatment of the second class citizenship and The Jim Crow laws. These are reasons that makes being a black man that much more challenging. However, my ace in the whole my ultimate gift my true source of power lies in a Black woman! Black women had it way worst then Black men and she still can smile, love and support! Therefore there is no reason for me to feel discouraged!

"I also realize in order to educate I must be educated, so my calling is a humbling calling because I understand my road to greatness is always under-construction." 

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