BY JATIKA HUDSON, GUEST WRITER TO THE TIMES
ATLANTA, GA. – Twas’ the night before MAN UP left Atlanta and all through the 7-bedroom house not a mentee was stirring not even a mouse…
As MAN UP’s three-day entrepreneurship forum was coming to an end, the mentees realized it was a new beginning for them. The dawn of a new way of thinking, unheard options and heightened expectations. They were introduced to new experiences that opened their eyes and minds to professions that piqued their interest.
In a world where rappers and athletes are idolized and leaders in career options, they can now consider jobs in entrepreneurship, franchising and the hospitality industry.
Last November, MAN UP’s Board Member, Justin Williams, the former general manager of the Grand Bohemian Hotel of Orlando, and now the managing director of Crescent Hotels & Resorts arranged for the young men to have a full Christmas experience at several of his new properties in historical Stone Mountain, GA.
“Growing up in Atlanta, I saw many examples of success among people who looked like me. However, as I traveled the country, I noticed the percentage of African Americans in my field was unacceptably low. Part of my purpose and passion is to show the current generation the steps to break this cycle,” said Williams.
Standing five times as high as Niagara Falls, Stone Mountain is home to the largest bas-relief carving on the planet, a Civil War memorial to Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson also referred to as the largest Confederate Monument in the world. In 1915, the second rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan also took place atop the mountain.
“It was important for the young men of MAN UP to see that a place with a tainted history, like Stone Mountain, now has someone of color managing the Atlanta Evergreen Resort, The Inn at Stone Mountain, and Stone Mountain Golf Club,” Williams went on to share, “Today, my position allows me to leverage opportunities for people of all shades.”
When the mentees first arrived at the Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort, the young men indulged in a fine dining experience at The Commons Restaurant located at the clubhouse of Stone Mountain Golf Club. The gracious staff welcomed them with a warm cup of homemade apple cider. Seated by the fireside the mentees ordered any item of their choice from the menu while experiencing picturesque views of the lake, golf course and mountain.
Chahinaz Williams, Justin’s wife, along with their son, daughter and niece, hosted the young men at lunch as she set out to expose them to available opportunities in the world of hospitality if they were willing to work hard and focus on investing in their future.
“They’re so young and if they keep seeing what they’re familiar with, they won’t know what other options are accessible to them,” she said. “But when they see men like Justin, who looks like them, I want these young men to see themselves and say, ‘I can be stable, family-oriented and successful too.’”
During their lunch, Mrs. Williams made it a point for the young men to try new foods. She understood that expanding their palates might have a broader effect of opening their eyes to bigger and better life options. She even convinced some of the mentees to eat vegetables they’d never tasted before and to their surprise they actually liked them.
“We were all out of our comfort zone. It was a new environment, a very different experience but we really liked it. It showed us a glimpse of how successful people live. It also has pushed me to work harder every day, to stay focused on achieving my goals. One day I want to be in a position, where I can afford luxury experiences for my family, just like Mr. Williams has been able to provide for his,” said Javon, a 15-year-old mentee of MAN UP.
Following lunch, Mrs. Williams took the mentees on a sky lift overlooking Stone Mountain which gave them a bird’s eye view of the mountain and the park.
At the time of their visit, Christmas was a month away and the joy of the season was in the air. The young men took in the twinkling lights, rode the Christmas train, sang carols, sipped hot cocoa and explored the nostalgic atmosphere of the resort’s Stay and Play Christmas.
The idea of teaching them to set expectations for themselves and to love themselves was a consistent theme throughout the evening. “First, love yourself. Take care of yourself. Build yourself up because if you cannot take care of yourself, you certainly cannot take the care of a family,” echoed the words of Mrs. Williams.
The mentees kept saying, “I have never met people so generous and kind, although we’d never met them before, they treated us like family.” The many lessons learned returned home with them and will forever live in their memories.
“Our prayer is that they begin to apply them in their day-to-day lives and that they leave Atlanta inspired and hopeful about their future,” said Chris and Samantha Wallace, the founders of MAN UP Mentoring, Inc.
The life-changing conversations would leave an indelible mark on their minds, as they walked away thinking about what just transpired, but most of all, they learned to never give up.
It was now time to leave Atlanta, the city of dreams and head back to their respective neighborhoods–Ivey Lane Homes, Richmond Heights, and Pine Hills.
There’s too much life to live in a world that is open to their every whim. But now they know the choice is theirs: do you make life decisions that hinder you or do you make ones that promote growth? The choice is yours.
ABOUT MAN UP MENTORING, INC.: MAN UP Mentoring, Inc. is community-based non-profit 501c (3) charity organization primarily serving at-risk youth ages 11 through completion of high school or the equivalent across Metro Orlando, with a focus on delinquency prevention and intervention by providing social, educational, and mentoring services. Established in 2014 by Orlando natives, brother and sister duo Christopher and Samantha Wallace. Currently, it is managed by an Executive Director, contractors and a full-time staff of volunteers. It is overseen by a Board of Directors with more than 150 years of law enforcement and civilian experience, as well as advisors from the Orange County Public School System and social services.
